The Portland daily press., 1900-11-08


one Il Miss Gouid's strongest charac-
teristIcs was a sturdy, unfaltering deter
mination TO do her duty, as u came 20
her. regardless OF the cost. Conseorateo
from. her very birth to the missionary
work, we are not surprised to ind her
little mors than q child, the treasurer OF
the Young Ladies' Mission Band OF Port
land, an organization numbering three
hundred. Mrs. Daniels, at that time
president OF the Band, recalls the COM
fort oflAnnie's prayers In the meetingt
when those older and more experienced
refused such service. When asked why
she was so willing to do 1t, she ieplledc
"It seems to me l ought, and so DO u. =
when she came to see me just before
what loving. sheltered Christian home
this only daughter was going out upon
an untried way, asked, "Don't you dread
| the good-byes2" she answered simply,
"I suppose should II thought much
about theta, but think it,s right Tor me
to 90, and think God win take care OF
all those Things when lthey come" The
same strong, calm spirit shone forth
| through ell the seven years OF daily Nv
ing together, steadying the more emo
| tiona1, high strung temperament OF her
companion, connseli9g and insisting on
dent spirit unwisely tasked the frail body
and when In 1897, the over strained nerves
gave way, and Miss Morrill, was sent
hastily home, taking mp the double bur
den and carrying it bravely alone for
Before that, however, she had assumed
gradually much OF the care OF the school
work, thus releasing Miss Morrill, for the
work which had become more and more
her passion, the telling Of the story in
| the regions beyond as she was won't
to say, where the women had never heard
| it, nor even seen the face OF Christian
woman. Concerning these tours, her
vivid letters have made 30 strong an I'm
| pre- ssion on the friends at home that over
and over It has been said to me during
| these past terrible months, IL have never
seen Miss Morrill,, but she has become my
personal friend through her letter." !" and
| Miss Mary Partridge. who has shared her
| sacrifice says, II have always held Miss
Morrill, mp 20 myself as q model, and
| stirred myself to fresh endeavor by men,
ory OF her zeal and earnestness,"
| do not need to dwell ON those fifteen
months OF Miss Morrill's furlough. for
she went 10 and FRO among you, and
| you heard those quaint, surprising little
addresses. full OF psthos and yet lighted
| by flashes OF herxown tender humor. Her
saddest days were those when her going
back to he~ beloved little hock,' as she
called them, seemed to be doubtful, and
| those of us who love her best cannot for
get the Joy which spoke In word and look
when it was finally decided that she
might return, Her last words written
on American soil were these, written
| from Vancouver on the eve OF her sail.
ing Septem Der, 1898: "Tell those people
VINO are inclined TO pity me. that do
| not need their pity, Let them save IL for
to save China Millions" and we who
know her best feel reverently sure that
she would have said the same had she
known how great was to be her part In
the redemption Of her people.
| OF the two years since her return,
must speak but briefly. Preceding the
baptism OF suffering, as you all know,
God poured out baptism OF blessing
| upon our North China mission, and hun
dreds OF women heard the gospel message
/ for the first time from Miss Morrill, lips
during those last months Of unwearied
service. Concerning one OF these tours,
she wrote to me the words which stand
beside her name on our calendar, this
year ar,-words OF such strange Significance
to1ay ~ have seen such opportunities
OF work as an angel might be glad to use,
and l am only one woman, but 1 can
do that one woman's work and trust God
for the multiplying of results"
when the first murmurs OF touble began
| to be hsard, Miss Morrill's sole regret
seemed to be that she must give up these
country tours, and Mrs. II. e. CLARK, the
| last of the home friends to see these brave
girls, says, II could not give them up,
for they had SO many friends among the
| Chinese, and even when L was there In
May, Miss Morrill, went fearlessly about
the city as II no Boxers existed" When
the outbreak OF heathen rage came which
| tore up the railroad and left them vir-
tually prisoners In the city, Miss Morrill,
wrote her father, "Annie and could not
leave II we would, and We would not II
we could' Can we doubt that the sa me
spirit of unraltering devotion sustai ned
| them in the hour OF final trial?
Or the months OF anguished suspense,
of the alternate hope and despair, OF tn
story, now confirmed, OF their suffering,
sharp but mercifully brief and without
special indignities, as we may believe.
may not speak, nor is there need.
| Two things we must keep in mind in
all coming days: Our God who spared
not His own Son, does not err in His
choice OF those who shall enter into the
closest possible fellowship with Christ,
and He knew that He could trust those
| whom we commemorate here today with
this supremest test; nor must we dwell
| upon their sufferings, since four months
In heaven, as we measure time, Is to
them an eternity of blessedness, long
enough to etfaoe all memory of the fiery
path they trod that July Sabbath, when
most OF us peside the sea or among the
hills were seeking rest and peace.
One witness only may we bear that to
ue the sacrifice has not been in vain, the
witness OF more steadfast, more loyal,
more unfailing conservation to the work
In China,-a work they love not less now,
but Infinitely. more than when they served
on earth.
| For those of us that remain for these
| dear ones who have escaped from the
"snare OF the fowler" and are with us
today, to thrill our hearts with the story
of miraculous deliverance, there must
still be days OF care and toll, nights of
vigil and sorrow, but for these who have
entered into the joy of their Lord in
measure beyond our comprehen sion,
there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain," for the former things
are PASSED away.
'"rhey stand those halls OF Zion,
All jubiiant with song,
And bright with many an angel.
And all the martyr throng;
And they who with their Leader
Have conquered in the fight,
| Forever and forever