Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-28

1
sionaries OF the Cross. need not enume-
rate them. but may say they are to be
found occupying conspicuous positions
and everywhere recognized and honored
for their successful labors. One Of the
most distinguished OF these, of whom 1
must say few loving words. was the
! late Edward Lane. missionary to Brazil.
The literal history OF his life would read
IKE romance. He seemed 10 possess
all The endowmcnts needed for the work
TO which he consecrated his life. IL was
one OF noble Christian chivalry. He died
like a hero. al the post OF duty. II was
my privilege 10 render him n small SER
vice at critical time In his life. which
he abundantiy overpaid by his loyal affec-
| tion. He was my guest during his last
visit 70 Richmond. As we parted he ted
me that should he be disabled by any
cause from service in the missionary-feld.
he would come back TO me and connect
himself with my church again. and spend
, the remainder of his days In the humblest
work chose to assign to him. Alas, that
ne never came-or rather. blessed be
| God. that he never came, for when his
| earthly work was done he had a higher
call. and went up to engage In the nooler
service which God assigns 10 those who
| have been faithful unto death. -Four OF
| the former members OF this church, three
| Of them women. are now In the foreign
field
And OF the men trained here for the
ministry In the home fed. / may men,
ton that OF the four sons OF my ever-la-
mented friend and elder. John Il. Martin.
| three still survive. honored and useful in
| their respective charges
With humble and devout gratitude
thank God for making me the pastor OF so
| many young men who have become lead
ers In the sacramental host both in the
home and foreign field.
A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE
| In this connection yield to the impulse
| which constrains me 10 pay an affection
ate tribute to the memory OF two OF the
| most remarkable women that ever took
part In the benevolent work Of this
church. Mrs. Elizabeth II. Brown, wife
OF the late DR. William Brown, secretary
| Of our Ladies' Benevolent Society, had
the capacity. beyond that of any woman
| / ever knew, Of carrying more things at
| one time In her mind and heart and OF
| attending to them all. with the most won
derful success. without confusion. with
| out embarrassment. without waste OF
| time and without forgetfulness. There
| was no society organized for benevolent
| purposes In which she was not the in
| spiration and the most earnest worker;
and yet for twenty years OF physical
| weakness there was probably not day
when she was exempt from pain. She as
| sisted her husband IN the Central Presby-
| terrain Office all the forenoon Of every day,
| visited the afflicted. the lonely. and the
| poor in my congregation every afternoon.
and at night wrote innumerable letters of
| business and friendship. / once advised
| her TO take every Sunday afternoon Tor
| quiet physical rest in her own chamber.
| What" said she. lin my room at the
| very hour when all my friends are wcr-
| shipping in our church, Oh. no! After
| the tolls of the week and Sunday fore
| noon worship. the services OF the AFTER
noon give him my most delightful
repose. ] find my best refreshment and
| IMMIGRATION in waiting upon God at the
second service" II was thus that she
| prepared for the tolls Of the secular week
| and for the heavenly rest.
During the late war between the States
| rarely did a train. an ambulance or
messenger leave this city for the lines
that did not convey some parcel of cloth
Ing. or OF books or Of something prepared
by her own hands that might minister to
the comfort of her soldier boys in camp;
or II these could not be sent, then, re-
memberng how many young man In
his hours OF loneliness, privaton, and
inconsistencies would be cheered by let
tiers filled with sympathy and encourage
ment from a Christian woman--perhaps
the lflenQ OIL MS IlplUeT OF slsltf-sHt
sent in numbers never TO be known. mes
sages Of comfort whose value can never
be estimated.
She died in Fredericksburg, but II was
every way fitting that she should be
buried IN Hollywood Cemetery. and that
she should be followed 10 her last resting
place by a great retinue of weeping
friends to whom her life had been bene-
dicton.
npc IANL, c,CIIOOI f.p AE--r HOW ARD
Another remarkable woman who lived
and died in the communion Of this church |
was Mrs. Jane Schoolcraft Howard. Not |
one Of those who daily met this plain |
looking, plainy-dressed little woman on |
the streets of Richmond. intent on some |
benevolent errand. would have dreamed |
that her life had been one full of dramatic |
interest and strange vicissitudes, such rs |
fiction sometimes invests with romantic |
charm.
During the reign of Queen Anne an |
English gentleman OF the name of School |
craft, OF distinguished lineage and aristo-
cratic bearing. emigrated TO America.
one Of his descendants was Colonel Law
renee Schoolcraft. an officer OF great ca
pacity and courage during the Revolu- |
tionary war. The youngest son or this
officer was Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. the |
renowned explorer Of the head waters |
of the Mississippi river, the ethnologist, |
antiquarian. and historian. lie published |
work on the Indian tribes OF North |
America, and another entitled. THE Myth |
of Hiawatha." He gave to Nr. Longfel- |
low the suggestion on which he founded |
his beautiful poem OF l1iawatha. While re-
siding near Lake Superior Mr.. School |
craft became acquainted with John John |
ston, Esq. an Irish gentleman CT great |
culture and courtly manners. Rinsman |
of the Attorney-General of Ireland. Du- |
ring Mr.. JohnstOn's residence in the vi |
oinity Of Mr.. Schoolcraft he was attract
ed by the great beauty Of the daughter |
Of the renowned chief Of the Chippewa |
nation, and married her. His eldest |
daughter. Jane. was sent 10 Europe 10
be educated. and on her return her
charms Of person and character won the |
love of Mr.. Schoolcraft. who married her
OF the four children born 10 this pair
one was Jane Schoolcraft. who became
the wife Of the late Benjamin 5. Howard |
who died last year at his old home, in
South Carolina. Mrs Schoolcraf;, her |
mother, through pride in her descent from
one of the native kings OF the country,
perfected herself In the knowledge of the
Indian languages Her daughter. Jane, our |
Mrs Howard. assisted her father in all |
of his literary work. and became ac-
quainted with many Of the distinguished
statesmen and scholars. who We're fire.
quent visitors at her fathers house after |
his removal TO Washington city.
CAME NEAR BEING RICH.
Among the remarkable incidents Of her
life WAS the frequency with which she
came near 10 the possession of great
wealth without obtaining 1t. and the grace
with which she afterwards submitted 10
4 lie OF poverty after a youth spent In
afiiuence. l cannot relate the history of |
the manner in which her father lost his
interest in greE domain belonging 10
the Indian Princess. her grandmother,
through the trickery of land agents. and
which. had Il been retained. would have
enriched the entire family. Nor can |
take time TO speak Of the Joss of another
fortune which seemed 10 be within her
reach. Mrs. Howard was never heard 10
murmur at these great reverses. Poor
in this worlds goods. she was rich in
faith and in good works
For many years she was the efficient
teacher OF the children's department OF
our Sabbath school. She was the secre-
tary and treasurer OF the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Society, which she maintained in Il
state OF the highest efficiency. Mind and
heart We're devoted TO the advancement
of the welfare OF her church I'm all the |