Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-03-21
Tribute to Mother Matthias.

Tribute to Mother Matthias.
Death is not an infrequent event. 1t
comes when and where it wills. 1t is
indeed no respector of persons. While
it strikes here and there without dis
elimination the old and the young, good
and the bad, the result is different.
As all do not live alike, SO all do not die
alike. Of the good it is written, "pre-
cious in the sight of the Lord is the death
of His saints" and again, "the right
eous shall be in everlasting remem-
brance." A precious death is possible
only to precious life. Thank God there
is the precious life, lived by Gods own
dear elect.
Mother Matthias lived such life, there
fore, her death was precious in the sight
Of her Lord. 1t was my pleasure to
know Mother Matthias. At first meeting
she impressed me as few do. There was
a winsomeness, an attractiveness about
her that could not have resisted if / had
tried. The impress of her beautiful life
and noble character abide like benedic-
ton upon me. am the richer and her
debtor for knowing her. What was the
secret of her influence and attractiveness
do you ask? 1t was not hard to discern,
it is not difficult to answer. 1t was her
simple goodness, the result of life
hid with Christ in God. Christ in one the
hope of glory transforms and makes life
beautiful and attractive.
Mother Matthias life was beautiful be-
cause truly Christhke, she loved her Sa-
viour, she loved her church, she loved
Gods people, she loved all. Love, love,
was the pervading, the dominating pow
er and influence controlling her thought
and regulating her conduct. Love is ir-
ristible. 1t attracts unconsciously, yet
no less truly, and holds on when other
virtues fail. The love sentiment domi-
nant in her life constrained to acts OF
kindness and self denial. Like minis
tering angel she might have been seen
vending her way to the home Of suffer-
ing and need. Let this little incident
suffice to Indicate the noble christian SEN
timent that controlled the sweet sanctifi-
ed soul of this good mother in Israel.
Grief hung Xix. pail upon the home of
a neighbor. Learning OF the sad bereave-
ment, though weak and suffering her
last sickness, she sent for the firstborn
of the grief stricken family, to bestow
upon him, and through him, upon the
family, her benediction of love, sympathy
and hope. Mother Matthias W as given to
prayer, she loved to commune with her
God. l shall never forget the beautiful
and touching prayer l once heard her Of
fer in behalf of another. 1t was direct,
pathetic and fervent, indicating the souls
deep yearning. have lived long enough
to know that her prayer has been an
swered and the threatened trouble avert
ed. How could one help being attached
to such soul. Not alone in these spec
ial and separate acts do the worth and
virtue of this good woman appear. They
are but incidental to the real intrinsic
life of the departed. In the home as
mother, among her neighbors asa friend,
in the congregation as helper in the
Lords work, in times of joy as we'll as
sorrow, anywhere and everywhere, to all
who knew her she was the same true
noble hearted christian mother, neighbor
and friend. But alas, her days on earth
are numbered, her race is run, life's
work is done, and she rests from her
labors. "There remaineth, therefore, =
rest to the people of God. I heard a
voice from heavsn, saying unto me,
write, blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord, yea from henceforth, saith the
Spirit that they may rest from their Ia
Dor and their works do follow Them"
"Let fate do her worst, there are relics
Bright dreams of the past which she can
not destroy,
They come in the nighttime of sorrow
and care,
And bring back the faces that joy used
to wear.
"Long, long be my heart with such men,
cries filled,
As the vase in which roses have been dis
titled,
You may break, you may shatter the
vase as you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang
round it still.
A FRIEND.