The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-24
Large Attendance in Yestry Of Sec
Ond Parish Church.
Beautiful Tributes by
Mrs. A. B. Cole.
Last Letters of Two Portland
Missionary Girls Read.

There was msmorial service in the
vestry Of the Second Parish Congrega-
tional church yesterday afternoon for
Miss Mary A. morrill, and Miss Annie A.
Gould, the two Portland missionaries
who recently lost their lives in china.
The vestry was well FLIED with ladies
from nearly all denominations.
Mrs. W. Ii. Fem pres ided and after an
appropriate hymn had been sung she read
selections from the scriptures. A prayer
was then offered by Mrs. Hunt. 81 have
never in my life expefisnoed such q
mysterious dealing of Providence M In
these cases." said Mrs. Fem. .'This
comes to MS, especially to us who loved
these two girls. Tney came from among
ourselves, belonged to us and were ours.
Our love for them, / think, was re-
turned" Mrs. Fem said that papers had
been prepared for this occasion by Mrs.
A. d. Cole and would be read by Miss
Swasey. The latter first read the memori-
al on Miss Morrill,
A part Of the paper was as follows:
"TheIe came into the Second Parish
church one OF Portland's youngest school
| teachers She was rather below the aver
age height and was slight. Her face was
one OF loneliness, one OF sadness. Her
eye showed singular directness when
she was looking at one. She was at times
particularly brilliant In conversation
Who that ever heard her voice could for
get her. she was not then "a years OF
age. She was resoluts, courageous and
strong and added to this was the well
trained mind. She was q singularIy
symmetrical woman. She gladly accepted
the opportunity to take Chinese class
In the Sunday school. She devoted herself
TO 1t with ali the strength Of hsr nature.
Her intensely religious nature was stirred
to its depth as she studied the Chinese.
One of her pupils spoke of his mother
with a contempt nous scorn and this
| seemed to the more arouse her In her
work In the summer OF 1888 DIR. Alden
| OF the American Board Of Foreign Mis-
sions held missionary services In this
church Miss Morrill, was invited to meet
him. She forgot her ditfidence and with
courage told him of her deairs to become
a missionary. He took her name but
| days and weeks passed before she heard
| from him. Then DR.. Daniels, the pastor
OF the church, took the matter up and So
cured for her the appointment as mis-
sionary TO China. Her parents did not
| take kindly TO her pans. There were
hours and days of suffering and then her
faith and loyalty were rewarded by her
parents acquiescing in her desire. The
Maine branch were to assume all her sup
port and not long before she set sail there
was a union service in the Second Parish
church. When her turn came she spoke
for more than thirty minutes and after
the meeting she was greeted by hundreds
of her trends. In the sight OF God ana
His people she was Amounted and sent
abroad. In March Is s, when 20 years
ola, she started on her long journey.
..Her letters at this time were full CT
interest Among her gifts was that Of an
entertaining writer. In diligent study
CT the language Of the people her days,
and might say, her nights We're spent.
When sufficiently acquainted with the
language SO that she could tell her people
of One who could care for all of their
troubles, she was overjoyed, No matter
how weary or sick, ths daily rounds of
her labors never ceased. Her health broke
down and she returned home. She spoke
at several meetings, telling Of the great
needs of the Chinese women and children.
She remained In her home land not quite
year and half. Then she returned to
China and soon afterwards wrote that she
was glad to get back. She wrote thai
no work WAS as blessed as the missionary
work, In the last iettsr under date Of
May 3lst, she wrote, Don't worry about
US, God is greater than our enemies and
we have committed our lives to His care.
Then she entered the portals of paradise
and met Him face to face. Can we
imagine the joy of that meeting. We
leave her joy and satisfied"
| After singing hymn the paper on
Miss Gould was read by Miss Swassy. II
began with letter from an aunt of Miss
Gould, recounting her days as school
ana college girl. An abstract Of the pa
| per follows; Annie father served all
through the civil war, enlisting as a
private when Sumter fell. Her mother
taught for two years In the mission field.
Of such are martyrs made. There Is nc
claim that she was wonderful child
From her earliest days she played mis-
sionEry, her dolls being set up as
heathens. she was the first school girl
who ever led in prayers at our Christian
Endeayer meetings. She had given her.
self to God and to this particular work In
China for Him. She was inst plain
| Christian girl. AS child she was In the
forefront. leader, taking the leading
part If need be or leaving 1t to othsrs II
they desired It. she was an organizer.
some ef tue young people. especially the
boys, we're inclined TO be rough at times.
She was always amiabie and even tenn