The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-14
IN MEMORIAM.
Mary Pieasants Gordon Thorn.


Died, at her residence. on Charles street.
| Baltimore, May 3. 1892. in the thirtieth year
of her age, MARY PLEAsANTs, wife of De Cour-
/ cy w. Thorn and eldest daughter of Douglas
| II. and Anne Eliza Gordon.
word from the pastor who baptized and
married and buried her. 10 whom she was
| dear as one of his own during all the years Of
! her life, may help those whom she has left,
/ who miss her and 10 whom her memory is
| blessed. 1t may help others, too. whose ewes
! may chance 20 read this notice TO DO told OF a
| young woman who was happy in the temporal
blessings of life; who had all that the world
| could bestow. and yet was 80 willing 20 give
| 1t up when the summons came 20 60 away to
the better life.
! With gentle ancestry: with social distinc-
ton and wealth in a city of exceptional OPP
pOrtunlties of refinement and culture. with
| faithful husband and a home gladdened with
children, the external conditions of her life
were bright and promising beyond those
which fail to the lot of most of rs. But
years ago there came 70 her. AS there comes
10 us all in some way, from the spirit of God
and Christian teaching, a sense of need a
hunger OF the soul for God and for peace
with him. Truthful in character and strong
IN cultured intelligence she was, perhaps,
morbidly reserved in the expression of her
deepest feelings. Alone she struggled for
religious peace. praying and reading her
Bible going out OF herself and ministering to
the needy the fallen and the wandering in tho
out-Of-the-way places of the great city. where
not even tho eyes OF her intimate friends
would follow her. In the world and moving
in the midst or its social scenes. as she con
ceiyed it her duty TO do, underneath there
was this strong current of unwOrldiness this
beautiful spirit of Christian sacrifice: this
passion for doing good which. perhaps. sho
found by an instinct of grace the best way 10
the peace OF Christ. She formed the peace
long before the end came. 10 made her pa
tent in the pitiful lbodily pain Of her
last sickness. and like the sunshine
frightened and blessed her closing hours.
In sorrowng for ourselves We are tempted 10
sorrow for her who has been taken from her
earthly life with so much OF its promise OF
useful activity unfulflled. as If It's education
and opportunities. its energy aud Christian
enthusiasm were thrown away. as if hamo
had gone out in the dark. But surely in the
rational. In that she lives she lives unto
God-not power Is wasted not an oppOrtu-
nifty is lost not fibre of character is thrown
away. not truth she learned in this world
but goes with her as q part OF her I'M
mortality. With our dead in Christ.
that which is earthly in them goes
back whence it came lbThe sins are washed
away the faults. aud how many there are in
the best OF US. perish like dross in the furnace
and the pure gold of character is left behind.
For them we must not mourn. but we may
mourn for ourselves. for 10 us there remains,
it may be, many o sin, surely many tempta.
ton. many a batlled effort. many a disap.
pointed hope
To us, who sorrow over this sweet life
taken away. should como q sense OF sacred
duty to see that the memory Of all tina. was
good in her abides III us refining and
purifying and Christ-like influence IN our
ives. A. Mr.