Semi-weekly herald., 1910-03-28
UNTO A LIVING HOPE.

UNTO A LIVING HOPE.
The Presbyterian church was filed
Friday with friends assembled
30 pay their last tribute of regard to
the late Mrs. Mary E. Alexander, whose
long life on earth closed Just before
| midnight Tuesday. II seemed emf
nently fitting that In the church of
which she had been n faithful mem
Der for thirty nine years those who
knew and loved her should gather for
the last rites.
Between Two lines OF members OF
the Eastern Star To which order the
dead woman had belonged for over
| forty years, the casItet, heaped with
beautiful floral offerings, was carried
Fred Goble. John Melton. A Bernard.
c. Graden, b. +. Houx and James Otis.
During the service the quartette
sang Abide With Me-" Nearer. My
My Soul" The firstnamed being Mrs
Alexander's favorite hymn. Rev. w $
Crozier took for his text, | Peter I q,
reading the entire verse but selecting
the words, "a living hope" as the
basis for his remarks lie spoke of
the barrenness of life without hope
and showed how the Christian relig
ion differs from some others in its
promise for the future after death
The speaker brougi,c out much OF com
fort for those In sorrow. in the GER
tain hope of life eternal secured
through the resurrection OF Jesus
Christ.
On sunny September day-the
eighth of the month--almost seventy
live years ago, Mary Eila Brown was
born in Rockenham county. y. q. Her
parents were Quakers, and in the sim
Pile and peaceful atmosphere of a Chris
tian home the little girl received her
first training in the religious princi
pies which bore such beautiful fruit In
after years.
After her parents died, Mary spent
resbyterian minister, Rev. Mr.. Col
Ilins of Madison. Ind. period which
she looked back upon in later life, as
a happy and peaceful time, full OF op
portunities for spiritual growth.
In August OF the year 1864 she was
married a Carthage, Ind. to William
ALEXANDER, who like herself. had been
reared in the Quaker faith. The young
people almost Immediately set up their
family altar In Knightstown, Ind. liv-
ing there for the succeeding six years
There, their three children. Gurney, G.
| VIII, and Nellie were born. II Is of
This period OF her life that her two
children who survive her, can look
back and remember their mother as
one who knew
| The way 10 rear up children .
| Who knew simple. merry, tender
| knack
OF tying sashes. fitting baby shoes.
And stringing pretty words that make
| no sense,
| Which things are corals to cut life
| upon.
Although such trfles."
She was beautiful mother when
her children we're small, and she kept
IL up all her life She and her house
hold began the day and ended II with
family prayer and no meal was eat
the Giver of all good. The influence
of those early years has remained
with her children all their lives and
nothing can take away the sweetness
of their memories
In 1870 the family moved to Che
topa, Kans. where they remained till
| 1900. when they came to Silyerton
The altitude did not agree with the
| mothers health, and in the fall OF
the same year, Mr.. Alexander came
| to Durango where he has remained
ever since.
The death of their son, Gurney,
about seven years ago, was sore
trial to Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander. and
from that time. the family date the
beginning of the latter's failing health.
The grief and worry seemed to result
In a complication OF stomach and nerv.
Gus troubles, which have caused the
family anxiety most Of the time since
her sons death. Two months ago she
'took to her bed which she did not
again leave