The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-15

with Him and his His work. Foremost
was the mother of His humanity, the
Virgin Mary. With her was her sister,
the same whose character may De as
cerned in the steadfastncss ana IoFeapIe,
ness of her sons, the Apostles James ana
John. Related to Him by no earthly
ties OF kinship, but bound by CORDS OIL
deepest gratitude for speclal nlesSlhss'
were Mary Magdalene, rejoicing IN
bor deIiyerance from the seyen->oid
shackles Of madness. and lastly Mary
of Rethany. whose only brother, weep
ing in tenderest pity he had released
from the thrice scven-fold chains OF
death.
These four Marys were among HIS
earliest disciples. They listened to and
obevcd His teachings, cheered MS
vearicd humanity by their loving MIN
istrations as He journeyed over the
hills and valleys Of Palestine, watched
with fearful sympathy His suffer!Egs
on the cross, and, not at first realizing
His divine nature, sought to render to
his mangled body the last offices or
reverential love.
Among the numberlesS words OF WIS
dom heard by these sanity women from
the lips Of their Master was the doc
trine. in that age new and startling, vet
OIL III'l th'' '''' 'A'O
credentials of citizenship in the Heaven
" Kingdom are not loud professions OF
sanctitv. nor ostentatiouS prayers AMI
aims. nor selfish segrcgatiOns from tie
world, but the taking His words into
the heart. and that divine Love TINS r.
snlting which leads to outward works
Of active benefcencc.
That Master no longer in bodily form
walks upon the earth. but in Spirit Hc
Is with us still. And His glorious teach
ince recorded by the Evangelists, arc
with everything potency, sounding
through the world. ready TO incite to
deeds Of charity all in the realms Of
Christcndom who will to their true mean-
ing opcn the doors of their hearts and
minds.
These words were heard and needed by
the four Marys Of the University. | am
perhaps the only person in tie world
who had the privilege OF personal ac-
quaintance with all these excellent la
dies. Mary Ruffin Smith, of Orange.
was for years q frequent inmate Of my
fathers home and then of my own.
Mary Ann Smith. of Raleigh, was a
member of my church, and | was thrown
with her in the conduct of its charities.
From boyhood I was filed with ad-
miration of the graceful and gracious
manners OF the lovely Mary Shepherd
Bryan, afterwards Mrs. Speight. one
OF the bright ornaments of the capital
city, for many years my home. For
the last ten years of her life | was n
frequent visitor at the dwelling of Mary
Elizabeth Mason ard her husband My
testimony as to the virtues of all has no
element Of hearsay.
1t would be a pleasing task to detail
Son1 ra tpIU tho troitS of ch1 r0rtar af
these good women. but the space is not
at my command. They were, according
to their lights. faithful followers of the
four Marys. glimpses of whom are shown
US by the Evangelists. They too were
humble worshippers of their Di-
vine Master. They too had
the right aim to attain citizenship in
His Kingdom. They were always ready
to give the cup Of cold water to the
least OF Gods creatures. In fine they
were Christian women. possessed abun-
dainty Of the Christian graccs.
Each had in full measure. in greater
or less degree, the Affections which in
evltably await all who attain in this
world their three score and ten years.
Mary Smith, of Orange. a woman of rare
intellectual power and scientific train
ing, Of tenderest heart and noblest VIZ
'tNS, IoAioNNu L lHt grave ltI IlollltT
and her father. Then her favorite
brother, whom she was nursing in her
own bed chamber, died suddenly in the
depths Of night while she was sleeping-
Then her earliest teacher. another Mary.
Maria Spear, her dearest friend for half
a century, to whom in her declining
years she had given a home, the sharer
Of her room, bade her good night and
when the morning light came. it was
found that her spirit had left its earthly
tenement. Her only other near relative.
4 brother, died in her house a raying
maniac, leaving her with only distant
kinsmen on her mothers side and not
one in all the world of the blood Of her
father.
Mary Mason, a daughter OF a grandson
of Mark Morgan, one of the donors of
the Uniyersity's site, saw her only sur
viving children, two cherished ,Iau,h-
ters, Martha and Narina, qualified by
liberal education to become
of their social circle, fade away With
the autumn leaves, leaving her and her
lntirm husband childless. After a few
years Of severe suffering. relieved as far
as was practicable by her tender ;lurs-
ing, the father joined the daughters
Ill the Gods Acre on the bank of the
winding creek, and, G~ricvously weak
ened by the rapidly terminating seeds Of
a fatal disease, the mother was alone in
lldr downward journey to the Dark
River.
Mary Smith. of Wake. an only child.
a strong-mindcd, true-hearted woman,
but without tastes for social ~enjoymentS.
modest. retiring. satisfied for years with
the companiOnship of her aged mother:
after that mothers death lost her rt.-
son, and ended her days in a distant
home for the insane. Mary Speight.
for years a widow and chiidless, had
a favorite brother killed in battle. n
the service of the C~onfederacy and then
successfully lost father and mother.
whom She loved with deepest devotion.
Under these terrible Affections no an
cry resentments against Gods dealings
entered the breasts of those whose rra-
son remained. no rebellious revolt n
gainst their Savior. On the contrary
their natures were sweetenel and puri-
fed. They looked abroad to see how
they could. after the examples of th.,
first -Four Marys. give loving service 10
the Master. They saw thar the minds