West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-12-20
Obituary.

might, at first thought, be- supposed to
present a sameness Of aspect.
This might be so expected from the
fact that it is an event happening alike
to all; but is far from being the same
TO all, or alike under various circmm-
stances. No two persons, no two lives
and no two deaths are identical. Each
individual. each life and death has a
personal distinctive feature, aside from
all others. Even this oc casiop has
some things that distinguishes it from
any and all other. A beloved mother
has gone from her home on earth-from
her husband-from her children, and
from her near and dear relatIves-from
father, mother, brothers and sister.
She has left her household cares for
her Masters presence.
A devoted wife has been called from
her cherished duties in this life to her
final home and the dwelling-placs of
the Most High. Although young and
tender in years, her children are not in
absolute infancy, nor left without care.
There has been o close affection and q
happy married life Now the time
never comes in such a union when il is
felt that either party can be spared.
II often seems to me hat Divine be-
nevolence would lengthen such a life,
would protract such 6lial and maternal
tenderness and devotion, for the super
vision, comfort, and constant loving
guidance of the bereaved offspring.
We are human, and therefore can not
understand it; SO we resign ourselves
to the stroke and know that our gra-
cious Creator is too wise to err, and too
good TO be unkind.
BY such events, and the lessons we
learn from them, God is constantly
teaching us that our wisdom is but
folly, and thereby weakening our re-
lance in all human calculations. This
is doubtless to call us back to Him
self. BY such lessons which appeal to
u deepest and best natural sympa-
thies He is saying: "Be still and know
that l am God" Were we living in
a sinlesS world, and sinless ourselves,
like the angels breathing in heavenly
wisdom, such severe lessons might not
be necessary to teach US cheerful resig.
nation. AS it is, we are SO apt to
murmur at the providences of Divine
permission, that these hard and aflic-
tive lessons must be repeated again and
again.
We are part Of a sinful. fallen race,
abiding a short time in a world where
God is acknowledged only where He
commands attention. The precious
seed Of life must be planted in uncon-
genial soil, and the breaking up of the
ground is forcible and persistent. We
are bound together in the relation of
families and communities. It is an
admissible truth that mo one liveth
to himself and no one dieth to him
self" While no Divine injustice is
ever done to individuals, yet many
times providences are overruled SO as
to affect strict discipline to the family
left, and important instruction to the
community = 4 = Our sister,
whose remains are before us, Florence
j. ShaffSr, formerly Thomas, was born
Aug. 26, 1862 and died Dec. 10, 'Ss,
at 1855 q. m.
o how recently was she the light and
JOY Of the household She vas a lady
of Independent mind, and good judg-
ment, always sverse to both artificial
and superficial life. From her early
days she had been under religious in
h%uonce, and in her mere childhood she
embraced religion-the religion she
saw at her home, and FIVE days before
she was thirteen years old, was received
into full connection into the M. e.
Church-the church Of her father aud
mother. Her name stands on the
church record which shows that she
was received into the church Aug. 8,
1875, having been received a proba-
toner Jan. %, 1875, when w. G
S~nodgrass was pastor Of Kingwood
charge.
/ am informed she was never known
to give either Of her parents a single
unkind word. About thirty days be-
fore she passed to the better life, the
Fell Destroyer laid his hand upo her
IN form Of = fever, which assumed a
remarkable type. Il was unoontrola-
hNn b. ---N-