The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-22
IN MEMORIAM.

devoted and useful life which we're |
embodied in the person of Miss Blma |
l.. Rutledge, whose spirit on April 8, |
1910, was waited on angels wings !
to swell that innumerable host that
are forever before the throne of God. |
Beautiful beyond expression was
the patience, thoughtfulness of
others and the Christian fortitude
that was displayed by this young
Christian, and which manifested
those lovely traits that had endeared
her to so many. It did not require
this severe trial of afIliction to purify
the gold of her character, and truly
in her departure she has left leg
acy of beautiful memories. Lonely.
indeed, are the hearts in the home,
the church and the community, yea.
of all who have known her. Yet
she lives with them in the life, the
example, the influence which
Spreads fragrance all around" No
pen-sketch that we can give of this
young and noble life can do her JUS
tice, nor interpret the worth of her
modest and self-sacrifcing life, for
she was given to hospitality, royalty
considerate of the welfare of others.
her place is only attainable by those
/ who have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the
/ Lamb.
Elma was born at Rileyville, Pa,
/ August 1st, 1891. She was the
/ youngest child and only daughter
of MIR. and Mrs. Isaac S. Rutledge,
! who have been residents of West
! Damascus for number of years.
/ On December 81, 1905, under the
pastorate of Rev. George Merrill,
she became identified with the Pres
byterian church at Rileyville, and
! though living at a remote distance,
/ from thence forward to its life and
prosperity she contributed her
strength and influence, but her home
was but a short distance from the
West Damascus appointment on the
Carley Brook charge of the Methodist
Episcopal church and it was there
that the Sunday school and the
church found in Elma a christian
jewel of valuable worth, and it is
from there incidents grew an inti-
mate knowledge of the life and char
acter to which this brief tribute is
devoted. She was the organist for
both church and Sunday school, and
one whose devotion to her religious
duties a pastor could depend upon
for punctuality and attendance and
a willingness to help, and her rich
voice was used in Gods service both
in song and in testimony. Her
church and friends remembered her
in ways most helpful and pleasant.
She was loved by all who came with
in the sphere of her influence, and
her memory is a benediction and a
source of emulation to all who would
do well. She was of a quiet and re-
served disposition.
In some manner she contracted a
heavy cold, but under careful home
nursing she seemed to rally from its
! effects but the disease of whatever
: nature it was, proved to be deeper
seated than was at first supposed
and gradually grew worse. Then a
I physician was summoned who found
J it necessary to call another physi-
clan for consultation; then the SER
I vices of trained nurse were secured
? and everything that could be done
to restore her to her usual health
] was done, but-a cloud was hover
I ing over the home-under the ply
2 sicians skill and loving, tender nurs-
/ ing she seemed to get better-a rift
of hope appeared in the cloud, $50
! she could sit in chair on the porch
fond hopes were cherished that the
Sunshine" of the home was going
: to get we'll and continue to shed
, her radiance around, but, as g
. gardener who is requested to pro.
h cure flowers for a choice bouquet
! plucks the brightest, fairest, mos
beautiful and most fragrant flowers
. so the Master looked down upon the
a flowers in His garden on earth anC
i, saw a most lovely flower, a beauti
\ full plant and wanted it for trans
planting into His heavenly gardeI
= where the flowers never fade. He
;, sent an angel to gather the flower
" and that flower was Elma. Ough
we to say, nay, Master, not yet; le
it bloom a little longer here for Vi
to look at, then you may have her
All, when the Master wants the flow
er He has the place prepared for it
and He knows best. Some woulC
say, that they cannot understand
;, why one so young, so bright, so use
full here in many ways, whose pros
( pect for a long life of usefulness
) seemed so promising, and was 81
/, dearly beloved by the community a
= large had to be taken while so man!
old and feeble people, and some VIII,
: are not so useful remain. Viewing
it through the mists of our humanit!
Is our vision is not clarified sufficient I,
e behold what the future of our pres
u ent life contains for us. Sometime
q we will understand the why, but no
d now. Thus it proves that heaven i
e not composed of all old people.