The leader., 1897-12-15

bath Day and hallowed it,; for never
did the sun shine more brightly on the
18th of December than on last Sunday ;
and never was day made more sacred
by a deeper sorrow than that which
rested with leaden wings over the
hearts and home of Rev. E. III. Noun
ger and family. On the Wednesday
morning previous, after several days
of activity in the work of the Ladies'
Aid Society of the NJ. E. Church, Mrs.
Mounger, seemingly in the bloom of
health and strong womanhood, was
suddenly stricken with paralysis, from
which she never recovered. Her chill
dren were summoned from their re-
spective homes at a distance and were
with their beloved and devoted mother,
when her eyes last closed in sleep,
Saturday morning at four o'clock.
On Sunday at IL o'clock a. m, the
Methodist church, which she so loved
and honored, was the scene of vast
gathering of sympathizing friends, who
came to pay tribute to the noble
woman, whose life had so suddenly
become memory. A select choir rem
dered the music; a portion of Scrip
ture was read by Pastor B. +. Jones,
succeeded by prayer from Pres. J. W.
Chambers, of Whitworth College, a
Scripture reading by Rev. j. A. b.
Jones, sketch of her life by Rev. B.
F. Jones, followed by a touchingly
beautiful address from Bishop Chas.
b. Galloway, who paid highest tribute
to the deceased. Her life exemplified
every Christian virtue and will surely
serve as an inspiration to children and
friends who follow after.
Mrs. Mary Jane Mounger was born
in Jasper county, Miss, So years ago,
Sept %, 1S41. She was the daughter
Of Rev. r. ]. Jones, Sr., and his wife,
Effic McInnis. She was a niece of
Rev. Richmond McInnis, d. d., of the
Presbyterian church, we'll known in
Mississippi.
When she was 10 years of age, a
beautiful girl, admired and loved 10y
all who knew her, she was married to
E. Fl. Mounger, who shortly after en-
tered the ministry, and then the Mis-
sissippi Annual Conference of the NJ
E. Church South. Since that time she
has lived in many homes; among them,
in Starkville, Yazoo City, Brookhaven,
Beauregard, Port Gibson, Meridian,
Edwards, Natchez, Port Gibson sec
ond time, Hattiesburg, Jackson, and
Brookhaven a second time. where her
willing feet rested.
One incident indicates her character:
In 1878, when the yellow fever was
raging in Port Gibson, where her hus-
band was serving as pastor, she was
urged by him to go to place of safe
ty. She replied: mo, you cannot go,
and 1 will not" She had the fever,
came perilously near to death, recov
cred from it, and did much good in
town and country, in ministering to
the sick.
She leaves a grief-stricken husband
and five children-four. sons and one
daughter-all grown except the young
est son.
"The heart of her husband safely
trusted in her." and "her children
arise up and call her blessed"
Christianity helps the broken heart
ed to bridge across
The solemn waters which do roll
Between our fearful sense of loss
And every other human soul,
and as over this bridge, so strong and
sure we 90, the wrath of our dark self
ishness and sin loosens it's hold upon u.s.
Through faith, we behold on the shores
beyond, the joys attained I; and since
our beloved are resting where there is
no more pain, neither sorrow nor weep
ing, we grow submissive to our grief,
showing that our loss is their eternal
gain.
"She passed with love that would
linger
On the dark borderland,
Then quietly slipped thro' the shadows
With a wave of her hand.
Her soul to the gates of the morning
Has scared like lark;
To the source of all life is regathered
The eternal spark.
We feel that the heavens are brighter
Though earth be so dark"