St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-04-07
Tributes to Mrs. c. NJ. Stone.

The following ,appreciative tribute
appeared in the last Congregationalist
from the pen of former pastor of the
North church, Rev. E. NJ. Chapman.
Mrs. Stones personal presence, combin-
ing as it did unusual comeliness, dignity
and ease OF manner, was an index to her
character. Culture is a term that is
worn pretty nearly threadbare, but
that type of culture which has been
defined as the exercise of balanced and
regulated faculty" she possessed in high
degree. Deeply religious, her spiritual
life was still free from any trace of senti-
mentality; Jealous in good works and
feeling her full share of responsibility for
the tone OF the community life, she yet
steadily grew in that rare quality OF
tolerance which respects the bounds of
Others freedom. One needed to share
her serviceableness in cases which involv-
ed not merely sorrow but wrongdoing
to realize how humble and childlike her
naturally high spirit could become and
how in dealing with the needy and the
erring she put away every suggestion OF
patronage. Her character, indeed, was
OF that humane and wholesome type to
which all experience pays tribute; she
loved the goodly frame of earth and had
seen much of it; the humorous elements
IN life made as quick appeal to her as
did the tragic and she felt their mysteri-
Gus intermingling. She was devoted to
the welfare OF the North Congregational |
church, which she joined in 1885, and |
her knowledge of its history and person
mel made her service to ministers and |
tellow-members unique. Her physical
vigor remained little impaired up to the
last illness, and her interest in life was
with her to its close. Death has claim
ed rare example of what we are wont
to call the old New England type yet
her quality was such that those of us
who knew her best must always think
OF her as belonging to the present rather
than the past, and ever growing ingrace
and in the knowledge of her Lord.
Mrs. Stone was greatly interested in
the work of the Vermont Branch of the
Woman's Board of Missions and the
EDITOR Of that department in theVermont
pays this tribute to her
memory:
AT. the going down of the sun on the
afternoon of March eleventh the earthly
life of Sarah Fairbanks Stone ended. We
who knew her best and therefore loved
Ter most are assured that she aWoke in
His likeness-satisfied. The following
ines are from her pen and were quoted
y her pastor at the last service:
For you, will come; where am you may
be;
Rich blessings for you are in store;
'ou believe in God, oh! believe in me too
Let your heart be troubled no more"
N, there's fullness of joy in Thy presence,
Lord
There are pleasures forevermore.
1y treasures are there, 1, too, shall be there!
Dear Savior, what can I wish more?
Much can be truthfully said Of the ma
i've endowment and mature Christian
haracter of Mrs. Stone We wish to
peak briefly of her connection with the
ermont Branch. Many Vermont wo-
len will feel personally bereft who only
new her in missionary work. She made
erself felt there as real vital power.
rom the time of the Branch's organiza-
on she was an interested, intelligent
nd most devoted working member. {
or years as vice president of Caledonia s
ounty and later as recording secretary
ne gave untiring and efficient service. {
Ter annual reports were not merely cor
ect statements of work accomplished or
1T undone but were so we'll written as
} be consid red most inspiring reading
hen printed for circulation. |
The younger women turned to her for
dvice and found her wise in counsel and k
'er ready to give of her time strength t.
nd means-not sometimes" but "al- \
avs" =
Many who were at the meeting of the
ranch in Springfield in 1907 will recall
lrs. Stone as leading the morning de-
otional hour her subject being Inter
ssory Prayer" We doubt not her mes
ge for us today would be the same =
veet pleading for q closer walk with 4
cd" and the same earnest desire for us E
lat we clay hold on His promises" 3
his was her last public service for the '
ranch but she loved it, and prayed for
5 welfare to the end.
A strong, sweet life is ended here" She
wv sees him who is invisible, having
e treasure of her heart above, rich for
e life to which she now has gone" !.