Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-03
remarks At FUNERAL OF
MRS. EMMA ". TOMSON.
WIFE OF REV. GEORGE W. ToMsON
BY REV. FRANK MOORE.
Published by request.l

edty morning papers on Friday last
One could but stop to read. One who
was minister himself especially could not
help being interested.
So my heart was touched. So your sym
pathy was awakened. So a regret and a
sadness took hold of this entire community
for the minister's wife who was dead was
the elect companion of him whom we all es-
TEEN, and hold so highly in our affections
But it was not for his sake merely that
we dropped tear; it was also because of
the loss we ourselves had sustained. For
she who had passed into the great beyond
was one of sterling worth.
She was decended from good ancestry,
born of gentle blood and was a gentle
woman in every fibre of her being. All
the graces and accomplishments of refine
Ment belonged to her as if they were in
bred. She did not put on, or effect the
ways and manners of perfect ladyhood; i;
they were hers of right. She was by nature
and constant practice real gentle-woman.
And in saying this l say no small thing
For one constantly to be mild and consider
ate and gracious means that ones soul is
under the sway of the finer sensibilities,
and that ones heart is unselish and mag
nanimous; and it is the gentlewoman, it is
the gentleman of society to-day that is
eariching the earth and sweetening the
lives of mankind.
But Mrs. Tomson, the minister's wife
Fl whom we read, let me also say, was a
woman who loved LIFE. Particularly did
-sS lsso the Fueysa as and cheerful life u she
young. Not that she did not care for and
respect those Of older years It was not
that. But it was that she seemed to see in
those on the threshold Of life, those who
we're of congenial spirit and those whom
We wished especially to help. Hence, she
was always the centre of a large circle of
young men and young women, who were,
wherever she went, peculiarly drawn to her
and who, in return for the interest she took
in them, were always bestowing upon her
some token OF love-
The minister's wife, now gone, too was a
great admirer of the beautiful.
Fair herself to look upon, and always at
tired with becoming taste, she seemed to
have peculiar fondness for all that was
leyely around her.
She loved beautiful books and beautiful
pictures and beautiful flowers, and delight
ed to have them in her home. And it is
therefore most fitting that now she should
be surrounded with such rich floral offer
ing.
She especially, however, loved the beauty
Of nature. Gods great and beautiful out
doors had real and rare charm for her
It's grass and trees, its mountains and lakes,
its ceaseless- rolling sea and ever-changing
sky gave her a joy which more than once
caused her to say to her friends that this
earth was quite lovely enough for her. She
loved it as Gods wonderous handiwork
But Mrs. Tomson, the minister's wife. of
whose death we read, was also a devoted
wife. minister's wife-there is no more
difficult position. So many claims are
made upon and so many criticisms are
made about the woman who lives in the
nance or the parsonage. Yet why should
this be? Why should the minister's wife
be expected to take on herself a super
abundance of church work any more than
the physicians wife should be required to
be nurse for his patients, yet, Mrs.
Tomson always did her part when she
was able, and did it well.
In these latter years she has born the
tortures of a hidden foe within her frail
body with patience perhaps all too heroic
and which has caused her, it may be, to for
felt the abundance Of sympathy that might
have otherwise been hers.
But she always did her best-taught
Sunday School classes, entered into the
work Of missionary societies and ladies aid
affairs so far as strength would allow. Be
side this she always met the lowliest as
well as the famous with gentle and cor
dial welcome that assured them of true
kindness in which there was not the slight
est trace Of condescension or undue famil-
iarity. Truly strong supports has been
taken out from under our brother. May
the God Of all grace be 70 him all that be
needs. But she was real Christian and
that was better thap anything else that can
be said. Her religion was not Of the dem
enstrafiye kind. 1t was quiet and unOb-
sraaive. Her faith MAS simple one in her
kord and his love and spirit made her
whst she was. Her life MAS hid With