The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-02
DEATH OF MISS McQUBRNS

DEATH UE MlSS NlCQUERNS.
THE CLOSE OF A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE.
Notable Events in the Life of Re.
markable WOman--Hcr Death and
BuriaI..HOnors to the Dead..Trib-
utes Of Affection to Her Memory.
Miss Elizabeth Mcoucrns, for twenty-seven
years teacher In the Due West Female Col
lege, died at the house of Rev. j. o.. Lindsay,
S5th year Of her age.
The veteran teacher Of the County, and per-
haps of the State has at last g1ne to d neT ber re-
enfeebled condition, her death was not sur.
prise to her friends. Though she had enjoyed
remarkable good health during long life
had given evident signs Of failing strength.
She had spell of sickness last winter from
which she never fully recovered, but 6E her
wonderful energy and iIfdomitable VIII she
resumed her work at the College, though she
was so weak that she would be often compcll-
ed to rest on the way from her boarding house
to the College. She continued her Work un-
til two weeks before her death, when hen she she
taken with an asthmatlc affection and had
great difficulty in breathing. She was relieV.
cd Of that trouble, but she gradually wasted
away until the END came at two 9SloeR Sarda on
Administered to her wants; Kind friends Wis
tied her often earnest prayers were made for
her comfort and restoration. But Sne nau
mons Of death, and she answered 1t. Her
end was peaceful. A little while before she
died, she said, ~ want to 60 to Sleep" and
she slept the sleep of death: During that
sleep the angels bore her spirit to q fairer
and purcr world, where she received the joy,
full welcome, "Well done, good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over few
things: enter thou into the JOY Of the Lord"
Out Of respect to her memory the exercises
In the Colleges were suspended on Thursday:
She was buried in the Due West cemetery at
five o'clock Thursday evening, in the presence
of q large assembly OF our citizens.
Rev. W. L. Pressly conducted the interest
ing and instructive funeral exercises. lie
read the sOth Psalm, and called upon Rev. j.
marks were based on the 36th verse OF the
18th chapter of the gospel Of John: "Simon
Peter said unto him. Lord, whittier goest
thou tho 5esus Soa soa me- now but he
shalt follow me afterwards"-the preacher
discoursing on the latter part OF the verse
particularly. He said:
REMARKS BY MR. PREssLY.
We stand again to-day in the presence Of
death. wish to speak on death, not so much
the necessity and certainty OF death, but the
idea of 1t as 1t Is contained In the verse men
toned above. One of the affective crcum-
stances connected with the last scenes OF
Christ and his disciples is strikingly shown In
this chapter. This circumstance was tho dr.
heading his meaning. He had occasion to
speak to them about his approa: ching death
this event which was so nnar at hand. But
with tender regard for their feelings he stu
diously avoided any term that would have
aroused them. lrstead of using the term
death he usei y clrcumlocuton he spoke Of
his going away. This was not the only occa-
sion on which he employed euphemism when
speaking of death. 1t seems to have been his
Eabit. He used some softer, pleasing term
The maid, you will remember he said, Is not
dead but slecpeth. And again, "our friend
ous Of seep II wss only sheer
rus is dead THIS manner Of speaking OF
death was no mere euphemism. There was
embodied In 1t by the Divine Saviour fact,
important fact, comforting fact. They needed
such comfort, rest, rcpose, the awakening on
the morn Of the resurrection were embodied
in IL.
An interesting extract from q writer in Ney
York Observer was then read by Mr.. Pressly
setting forth the same idea. Continuing lie
said:
away; Il carries with 1t an idea of an uncon-
pleted existence, continued being. The discl-
Piles did not understand hi m. They failed to
catch his meaning, and asked him, "Whither
goest thou?" Jesus answered them, "Whith-
er go, thou canst not follow me now; but
thou shalt follow me Afterwards
These words suggests three thoughts to our
mind {: 1st That this way over which we are
called 10 pass is not an untrodden way. tbs
not an unfrequented way: Countless genera
tions have gone along this way. When We
enter we join the vast procession, innumer-
been passed by the excellent Of the earth, the
great. the good, the gOuly, all have gone be-
fore us. We can say with Elijah we are not
better than our fathers. = We will have IL to
q pleasing thought Among those that hayc
gone along this way Is the Divine Master, the
Divine Saviour himself. Thou shalt follow
me. The servant Is not above his master.
Death to the Saviour was very different from
death to his people. We do not mean to say
he was cruclfleG. that he was transfixed upon
the cross, the difference is not that 1t would
be all the same if they had been crucihed-
they have been. When on the cross or nt the
agonizcd, he tainted. The difference results
from the fact that he hos gone along this way:
He has smoothed the way, he has illumined
coined death. Death is q conquered enemy.
He was exposed to the sting OF death, they to
its stroke.
2nd AS this is the way which he passed, SO
am Al a thither We cannot come" but ye shall
come hereafter. Death to the child Of God is
an Introduction into the presence of his glory.
wG pc he ord desI tend
voting. to be with Christ Is far better than the
pleasures earth could give, Peter, James and
John felt 1t good to be there. With Christ Is
heaven. At his right hand are pleasures ev-
ermorc. "Blessed are the dead VINO Ole In the
Lord"
3rl Canst not and shalt not express not
ability but lack OF privilege. IT Is not my Will
that you should have this privilege genow. The
Saviour has occasion for his people. There Is
n work TO be accomplished in Gods people. so
there is work TO be done by Gods people
his vineyard. They constitute the army OF
occupation. Battles are to be fought; v!cto'
ries are to be won.
My Christian friends how many long years
has this friend been engaged in this work.
Before was born, before most OF you were
born, she was In Christ; more than sixty
years ago she gave herself away to him. fos,
been carried on by her until yesterday. Her
character has been ripening for the harvest.
What q busy, consistent Christian life she
lived. She held fast to her faith. Nor was
she satisfied with being a silent witness for
Christ. / would like to know how many
could rise In this place and say she had spo-
ken to them concerning their souls salvation.
Nor did the work cease while She was SICK.
Prayer was her constant language. She call
ed this one by name and that one by name
for many of you she wrcstled with God IN
prayer. Her end has come: Her work has
cljSeQ. Inc DuTueu lS llIlCu lIOll ucl. iiNi
hands are folded, She has entered. we trust,
into that rest that remains for the people of
God. Let US cherish the memory OF this goou
fixed upou your heart. No Christian was ever
freer from ostentatlon In showing forth the
beauties OF q gOdly life.
When Mr. Pressly's remarks were ended the
congregation sung the 23rd Psalm, and her
body was borne TO its resting place.
NOTABLE EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE DE-