The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23
Two Elect Ladies'.

MEssRs EDITORS: The historic little
village of "Old Pendletop," the home of
John c. Calhoun, Judge Cheves, Judge
Huger, the Bees, Pinckneys and other
distingue residents, has not produced ar.y
more worthy than two holy women who
have recently passed within the gates of
the celestial city. The nsme of one was
Miss Warley, the honored teacher of se-
lect classes for girls. The other one was
the meek and modest wife of the village
pastor, Mrs. Mary w. McBryde. Side by
tian womanhood, each In her own wey,
moulded the lives and characteristics Of
those who came under their influence
into noble excellence.
Miss Marley was educated at time
when Pendleton was noted for the best
school in the up country. Mr.. Calhoun,
DR.. Adams, Mr.. T. Sloan, Mr.. Maxwell,
with other gentlemen of culture, who
were earnest advocates of high grade of
scholarship for girls, were Trustees of
this Academy, and united in procuring
the best teachers from the North. ven-
ture the assertion that not many OF the
modern female colleges, with all their
paraphernelia, sent out pupils more thor
oughly equipped for life.
Miss Warley was the select instructor Of
a few favored friends at first, but her
sphere was gradually widened until most
of the parents Of the village considered it
a high honor to have daughters under her
care. Her sway over her girls was that OF
q queen. She was sovereign by divine
prerogative In their estimation, and they
were her loyal subjects. They desired no
higher incentive to duty than her wish
no greater stimulus 10 difficult attainment
than her qualification. There was to their
youthful imagination no more perfect
ideal than her character, for was there not
in it all that was beautiful and pure and
good? We cannot measure the occult In
fluences which inspire the young and aid
in moulding noble natures, but nothing is
more stimulating than high ideals. So,
with this noble example before them, her
pupils sought to attain to her standard
and with laudable pride, may she have
pointed to many of them, saying with that
noble Roman mother, "These are my
jewels" They we're not graduated with
high sounding diplomas, nor did gold and
silver medals attest their proficiency, but
with the divine stamp Of true womanhood
on them, in spheres of usefulness as wives
and mothers, they are to-day filing
worthy places in life. Let each one Of
these old pupils "rise up and call her
bless ed"
Not less did the humble pastors wife,
Mrs. Mary McBryde, impress her holy
influence on oil with whom she came in
contact What was the secret Of her
power? "Only the ornament of meek
and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight Of
God, of great price," In world of shams
and counterfeits, where the false and
fraudulent often gain the highest favors,
how refreshing is 1t to see simple goodness
recognized and honored, as 1t was in the
character Of this Christ-like woman.
Some one has said that goodness is the
strongest force in the world" 1t was
this which made the human life of the
"Christ of History" the grandest character
of all the ages. It was not His States
manship, nor His oratory, nor His gener-
alship of armies. He was not born to
wealth nor aristocracy. BE did not dress
Sin purple and fine linen and fare sumpt-
uously." Yet his name is above all other
names to-day, and will be to the end of
time. What did He do ? HE went about
doing good" he fed the hungry. He
healed the sick, He comforted the sorrow-
ing. Something of this wondrous power
existed in the life of this dear saint as she
trod the weary path of sorrow and suffer.
ing through long life on earth. From
Him she drew her ideal of what was true
and beautiful and good. By close com.
munion with Him the lines of His beauty
were imprinted on her life, until all who
knew her loved and admired her. Dr.
Adger said, "if all Pendleton lived like
Mrs. McBryde Pendleton would be par
disc on earth." s*@