Middletown transcript., 1901-03-16
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED AT THE FUNERAL OF mrs
MARY WRIGHT VAIL
RH Rev. z. ". CaswalI.

L
after brief illness, March 9TH, 1901, b.
ing in her 8Sth year. Mrs. Vail was III
tied in marriage to Alexander M. Val
in the year 1892. Her husband entere
into rest little more than nineteen yeal
ago. The surviving children are, Mr.
Jacob H. Emerson, Mrs. Andrew Z
Grow and Mrs. Mary Appleton. 500
after her marriage, she removed to MID
dIetown, where she continued to re-sid
till called to her Eternal Home. Siste
| Vail united with the Bethesda M. E
Church at the age of nineteen, and wa
one of its most consistent and devotet
members during the entire period of he
long and eventful life.
Among the beautiful qualities of he
character was that of her disinterestet
/ devotion for the welfare and happiness
of those about her. She seemed to b.
among US as one that ministered to the
needy and suffering, wherever found
Her devotion to the loved ones of hel
home was distinguishing characteristic
of her affectionate nature. She was un
ostentatious, humility and meekness
marked and adorned her life. She rarely
referred to her own doings or attainments,
but ever exalted the love and mercy Of
Christ. The more the grace of God
abounded in her life, the more she could
say, II am less than the least of all
saints - and the humblest and poorest
child of God always felt at home in her
presence.
From the hour that Sister Vail was
stricken with her fatal illness, she was
unable to converse with the members of
her household. The devoted children,
from day to day, listened longingly for
the loving tones of Mothers familiar
voice, but farewell words were not to be
spoken, no dying testimony given. The
long, devoted life spoke louder than
words with the inexpressible eloquence
of silence. At last, she did give her
testimony, just before her happy spirit
took its flight, she spoke in the unutter-
able facial language of heavenly look.
Suddenly, as if angels and departed
loved ones had come to accompany her
spirit homeward, her face was illumined
with unearthly beauty, more expressive
than speech. 0, it was wonderful look
Of triumph, Of victory and of brighten
ing glory. That beautiful picture of
Mother being ushered into the presence
Of angels, with the shining halo on her
brow will remain in the minds OF dear
ones forever.
There is one picture of Jesus painted
b! Raphael that exceeds all the faces of
Christ in all the galleries of the world.
It is the wonderful expression of ming
ed tenderness and majesty, of compass
sion and grandeur, making combination
If the man of sorrows and the King of
kings. People have crossed the ocean to
zee that painting; princes have coveted |
t for their palaces. Thousands have
tood transfixed with awe before its en-
RANGING beauty, never wanting to leave
t. Such must have been the expression
lpon the face Of Mother when she was
'eholding the light eternal, when the
whole of her beautiful life was concen-
rated, mirrored into one single look, one
beautiful smile of rapture, as the spirit
aw the glory beyond the shadows of
eath. In that moment, soul looked
nto soul and the weeping children held
weet converse with the dying, rising,
almost glorifed mother,
n the unspoken and unwritten language
t intuition and recognition.
The tiny shellfsh, lying at the bottom
t the ocean, though filed with the
cean and satisfied with its life, knows so
tile of the vastness OF the waters above
or Of the spaces and worlds beyond the
cean surface. 1t is the same with our
oor, earthly sight and knowledge. The
/
Diritual universe environs us about. on
very side and everywhere. Only when
e see one of our dear ones spreading
er wings for the heavenly flight, while
le flashes OF glory mantles the face, do I
e behold glimpses of the life eternal
Id long to see the unseen holy.
The dearest words in all earthly Ian
lage are Jesus, home and Mother.
hat beautiful recollections are associ-
ed with the precious word, Mother"
0 wonder the noblest men have uttered +,
le sweetest words Of tongue or pen
bout her who was dearest to them Of all
we'd ones. Henry Ward Beecher saws of ]
s mother, mo devout catholic ever saw
much in the Virgin Mary. Do you know
ny so often | speak what must seem to c
me of you rhal sody Of woman? 1t is a
'cause had mother and, if were to o
'e thousand years, l could not express c
hat seems to me to be the least that l a
re her. From her l received my love n
the beautiful, my poetic temperament;
om her also | received simplicity and n
ildlike faith in God" b
1t is said that Wendell Phillips love ii
his mother was passion. Her one o
unset for him was to be good and do ii
od and he never forgot to keep his o
lst where his mother first taught him k
place it. The distinguished Carl
ldi, speaking of his mother, said: n
)ften, amidst the most arduous scenes al
my tumultuous life, have in fancy h
IN her on her knees, before the Most h
gh my dear mother, imploring for the is
g OF her son, and / have believed in d,
efficacy Of her prayers. N
You, dear ones, have had such a 9
'ther. The memory of her life will "
er be blessed and the hope Of reunion -
ways an inspiration. To you she seems
best woman in the world; as such, T
e will be enshrined in your affections.
e is your angel mother now and al l
pugh her lips a'e silent, she will speak =
yoH in the memory of her sweet min B
nes and in the beauty Of her character
u Won can we'll axclai,n