The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-02-05
In MEMORIAM.
Rev. f. NJ. Rule Delivered a Me-
mortal Sermon i'm the MethO-
dist Church on Sun
day Night.
Touching Upon the Life and Character
of the Late Mrs. Ed. Andrews.

The Methodist church was crowded
to its utmost capacity Sunday night
by an attentive congregation who
were present to listen to the memorial
service of Mrs. Ed. Andrews.
Mr.. Rule selected for his text Psalm
XVII, II verse: "Hope thou in God,
for shall yet praise Him." In part
he said:
''The great sorrow which has come
to our friends and which led to the
request for these services is known to
US all. 1t has touched our hearts as
it has the hearts Of many others and
awakened true Christian sympathy
for them in their deep suffering and
especially in the loss by such a sad
death of the sweet singer, Mrs. Nan
ME Wilkinson Andrews. The pur-
pose of this service-aS of any memoir
ial service, is to show respect for the
dead, comfort the sorrowing, recog-
nize certain great truths and learn les
sons of helpfulness from the Ways of
Providence, mysterious though they
may be. For, while
''God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,
Planting His footsteps in the sea-
And riding upon the storm"
we believe that
"Deep in unfathomable mine
OF never failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His Sovereign will
and in such way that
THE clouds we so much dread
Are big with mercy and vii break
With blessings on our heads"
1T was not my privilege to be &C
QGainted with Mrs. Andrews, but
have been informed by those who
= knew her, and some of her traits Of
character which were highly COM
mendable. She was a true and de-
voted wife, a tender and loving
mother. l am told that she was I'M
selfish and always willing to help
others Of the company when they were
tired and was keenly ObServant of the
needs of her friends and was ready to
render them any service she could.
Her public life was given for the
amusement and entertainment of
others. In her role, | am told, she
was very capable. But this is not the
time to pronounce upon the character
rOf the entertainments, l presume it
could be said of her that in what she
undertook, she did her best and in her
way she has delighted thousands. But
she has appeared for the last time to
entertain mOrtalS. Her sweet voice
is hushed to earth and while her body
was being wrapped in flames, her
soul, imperishable in its nature, went
out to Him, who is too wise to err and
too good to be unjust.
/ am told that she prayed and that
she taught her little daughter to
pray. This fact led to the choice of
my text. which reveals the only source
of comfort to the bereft and sorrow
ing, suffering friends"
After picturing suffering as eX-
perienced by humanity, he said:
'"This company had furnished
pleasure and music for the people of
one city and were on their way to
make merry hearts in another. Alas!
In moment were plugged into a
!, deeper sorrow than words can express.
At considerable length Mr.. Rule
went on to show where rest and COM
fort can befound. The pictures drawn
were very beautiful and suggestive
and moved many of his hearers to
tears.
In conclusion he said: st is in God
alone our weary hearts find rest. He
the source Of truth, beauty, holiness
and purpose OF our lives. Be of good
courage, this is a short pilgrimage. If
rightly used, there are mansions in
heaven for US. Again !, say, Hope
thou in God. 1t will strengthen thy
heart and lead to
''The land Of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign,
Infinite day excludes the hight
And pleasures Danish pain"