St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-14
A Tribute to nrs. BeuIah PIimpton
Lane.

| LdHGs
| (By her friend, and sometime Pastor, Albert
| @. Uphan.)
It was with sincere sorrow that
heard of the passing Of my friend, Mrs.
Beulah Plimpton Lane. For her can
not but rejoice that she who has so long
been fitted for it has entered into the full
ness OF the life everlasting. But while
heaven is richer by her presence earth GER
tainly is poorer by her absence.
| l became her pastor in 1877, and from
that time to this | have ever found her a
true friend. She was a person formed
for friendship. Gentle, gracious, modest
and unassuming, and withal, filled with
the rich fruit of deep Christian expert
ence, she was well fitted to make friends
and be a wise councillor. And as she
had been a pastors wife she knew how
to sympathize with and encourage one
at the beginning of a pastoral career.
She was both receptive and responsive.
She could give and take. She led while
she seemed to follow, and by her very
graciousness diffused an atmosphere
which invited confidence, and drew out
all that was best in one without his
realizing it.
She helped me by her Christian cathol.
lefty. She had learned by experience
that it is only by communion with all
saints that we are able to apprehend
what is the breadth and length and
depth and height, and to know the love
OF Christ, which passeth knowledge. And
so she was ever learner. Inheriting
the best, both spiritually and intellect
ually of the old time New England ira
dltions, she was person of high ideals.
Her mind was ever open to the influences
OF the Spirit OF truth whencesoever they
might come, and she encouraged her
children and allabout her by her example
to cultivate the spirit of mental and
spiritual hospitality. To the last she
read the best books of the time, and was
eager to know the latest thought of those
who believe that God is still working in
His world, and who delight to try to
think His thoughts after Him. She was
never "afraid OF that which is high" but
always set her face toward the rising
sun.
Not that she was drifter, far from it.
Her hope was in God. She had her full
share of the common human lot of trial,
but she bore her trials with the faith and
patience that inherit the promises. She
knew whom she had believed, and was
persuaded that He was able to keep that
which she had committed to Him against
that day. | dare say that many of her
religious opinions were changed or modi-
hed as she passed through the vicissitudes
OF long and earnest life. But her relig-
ion, the kno wledge of God which bound
her soul to Him in trustful love and glad
obedience to His Word, and which came
to her through His revelation of Him
self in Jesus Christ, only broadened and
deepened as her life flowed quietly on.
At the last | am sure she could have said
with all the humility and all the 6rmness
and rejoicing of the great apostle,-"I
have kept the faith"
Who can estimate the value of a life
like hers in community She represent.
ed the best of what we delight to call the
New England character, and all her
natural graces and gifts were sanctihed
by the grace ofGod, and were freely given
in Christ's name to the service of her
fellow men.
"The dear Lords best interpreters
Are humble human souls;
The gospel of life like hers
Is more than books or scrolls.
From scheme and creed the light goes out,
The sanity fact survives;
The blessed Master none can doubt
Revealed in holy lives"