The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-09
OBITUARY.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HENRIETTA
SMEDES McVEA.


SMEDES McVEA.
81 am come that We might have life,
and that ye might have it more abund-
antly."
On the afternoon of Tuesday in Holy
Week, Henrietta Smedes McVea entered
into the fuIness of joy, and into the
power and freedom of the higher life.
The youngest child of the late Judge
John McYea, of Louisiana, and of Emile
Watts McVea, she was born in Abingdon,
Virginia, August %, 1874. After the death
of Judge McVea in 1876, Mrs. McVea came
to Raleigh, where she lived until about
two years ago. Her three daughters were
all educated at St. Mary's, and for many
years their home in Raleigh was one of
unusual cheerfulness and happiness Miss
Henrietta McVea united with a keen
sense of humor peculiarly delicate APP
probation Of all that was best in music.
literature and the vital topics of the day
Her dominant mental characteristics
were clearness of apperception, ease of
grasp and an intuitive spiritual under
standing Her interests were varied
and her extensive reading gave her a
variety of information on many sub
jects, while the logic and force of her
printed articles showed the clearness and
originality Of her thought Her vivacity,
her case of manner and of conversation
made her always a charming companion,
while a certain reserve and innate dig
nifty compelled the admiration of all who
came in contact with her. She was never
very robust and last December signs OF
great deicacy caused her mother to go
with her to Asheville, North Carolina
There, on April the second, she fen
peacefully asleep.
The days of her age were few as men
count years, and its events were largely
the experiences of the hidden life-ex-
periences which to q greater or less de-
gree are common to all, and which are
of value 'only when they contribute to the
growth Of the spirit. Six years ago, in
her early girlhood, her health failed. and
for two years she lived in Colorado. The
most eminent physicians in Denver pro-
nounced her recovery impossible, but not
withstanding their verdict, her health
was established, and for four years
after her return home, her strength, ac-
tivity and enjoyment were greater than
they had ever been before her illness.
This recovery, she and those who loved
her attributed entirely to her won
derful realization of the power of
the mind and soul over the body To
her the body was the instrument Of
the spirit and as such, could be
controlled by the spirit. Material things
were significant, because they were the
opponents of the real things, the things
Of the higher life. All life was one life,
and life in this world could not be sep
arated from the life of the world to come.
Her belief was that the redemption that
our Lord brought to the world, was re-
demption of body, as well as of soul: that
God meant the body to be strong, well,
and perfect so that it might fifty serve
the soul.
This she believed, could only be per-
fectly attained when all men should real
ize that life, not sickness and weakness.
ought to be their portion, even in this
world, but the effort of each individual
to realize health and power brought the
ideal closer, and so helped the race. To
her death was not an end, it was not even
an interruption to life it was only one
of the deep experiences of the soul. The
steadfastness of her faith. the clearness
of her spiritual vision, her mistaken be-
lief that love and 10y and life were the
true things, and that the power of God
within man would enable him finally
fully to realize them, were constant up
lift and inspiration to all whose life
touched hers, God gave her
"The power to bring high thought to them
that seek.
The honor that must come from being
true to the Heavenly Vision"
A friend who loved her writes: 81 be-
lieve her perception of the true things.
the spiritual things, has helped me, and
will always help me more than any thing
else in her beautiful character, because
it has helped me to feel the reality of
God. and His surrounding peace, His ALI
pervading Presence One who knew her
only q short while said of her:
"She has been help and support to me
so often when have suffered discourage
ment, that / owe her a debt of gratitude
that can only repay by trying to cul-
tivate and develop the best that is in
me-" And yet her influence was wholly
unconscious; her faith was too deep to be
greatly talked about. Only those who
owed her best, only those who were most
closely with her during the last year
she was with us here. can fully compre-
bend the triumph of her spirit.
She lived near God. and for her the
change was not great to His immediate
presence.
Right from the hand of God her spirit
came,
Unstained, and she hath ne'er forgotten
whence
IT came, nor wandered far from thence,
But laboreth to keep her still the same,
Near to her place of birth, that she may
Soil her white raiment with an earthly
spot"
The thought of life was ever in her
heart, the words of life were on her lips
and now the victory is won, and EMBODIED
in the eternal peace Of God, she is "aliye
foryermore.'
Some Easter Reflections,