Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-13
TRIBUTE OF APPRECIATION
 TO MRS. H. L. REYNOLDS.
Given in Morning Service at Christ Church by Rev. NsiIson Poe Carey.

\ character and influence of the late
 Mrs. Mary Reynolds, long member of Christ church, made up large part
 son Poe Carey. It the morning service on Sunday. basing his words upon the ! text from II John I: 3, 12, "The pres
 byter unto the elect lady and her chill
 dren -. Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us from God, the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in l truth and love =. I trust to come unto l Joy may bs full.,' Briefly referring to the different theories as to the author ship of the book Rev. MT. Carey said ] in part: The value of this gentle and loving little letter, so personal, so inr timate, so filled with the spirit of Christ, simply spoken as friend speaks to friend. direct from the heart, is very precious to us. no matter by whom written nor to whom addressed. For my own part have always liked to think of this letter as one which was written out of q full heart by someone
 to whom tho oversight of a religious community had been intrusted. to an 1 individual, and that individual a gra- cious Christian lady, whose womanli- ness and modesty, however much they would, cannot hide her sweet beneh- cence, her strong yet silent influence upon those about her. An elect lady, l indeed, one chosen by God for noble leadership and recognized by her fel- | low Christians as steadfast in the faith of the church and in constant readiness in works of charity and love. Who can reckon the blessing that such an one may be to a church or a community or Q family? Who shall limit the ex- tent of her wholesome Christian influ- ence,. her loyalty to her church and home. her interest in good works? An, I n1s <sRA ~f~,t~k and freedom and privileges of women There are many who demand for her and she demands for herself in increas- | ing numbers a larger horizon for ef- ! fort, a freer stage for the exercise of her gifts and talents, commingling among men upon an equality of posi- ton and opportunity. The right to vote. the right to buy and sell in the markets of the world, the right to gov ern and 1egislate. We learn of the carrying of banners and the excite ment of the mob. We read of speaking from rough platforms in public places, 1 of brawls and police courts. Perhaps such things much needs be if progress :! is to be made along the lines of eman- 1 c1pation of our women from what they call tyranny and undue restraint. But 1 in the midst of 1t all my mind turns back to the gentle Phoebe or Priscilla or most of all to the elect lady who i found a sufficient stage upon which to 1 live her life and fill out her useful- ness in bringing up her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and in .ministering to those fellow members
 of her church so that they rejoiced to some into her presence and speak with her face to face. And it seems to me the type of woman whom the world has 1 had most reason to call blessed is not l the type which strives for rights but finds in the quiet circle of home. the
 sacred walls of the church. 9 sufficient scope for her gracious ministrations. She it is who in her quiet steadfast
 devotion to those canters of our social organization upon which all the whole someness and security of life depend,
 blesses and saves the world of man kind.
 l .a1t must have long ere this point be-
 come evident to you. my friends, why this should be the theme and the l thoughts with which we occupy our minds this, morning. For there has gone from us since we last met here ! together in our church one who sum med up in her life in marked degree just those gracious qualities which we
 have been considering. Christ church has suffered under the will of God a grievpus loss. For many years Mary Reynolds has stood as type of reso- lute faith and deep piety in this church. As teacher, as worshfpper, as secretary | of our Woman's auxiliary, she was an
 
 modest Christian womanhood. To the very end of her life her interests in her church were as quick and vital as at the beginning. Prevented during
 the past winter by bodily weakness from attending the meetings of our woman's auxiliary in others. homes, l she pleaded with the gracious hospital 1 ity which was her gift that our meet 1 ings be held at her home. And at the very last she fell asleep to the sound Of the words of the Christians creed, that symbol of the faith by which she had lived her life. o my friends, the
 most precious possessions which we of this church hold dear are rot to be found in building or material of wood
 and stone and painted glass, but in the 1 lives of such as this dear elect lady, the memory of her quiet consistent faith, the power which comes from a life which by prayer and sacrament.
 us the reality of the spiritual. And so
 as We look upon the witness which
 this life bore to our belief in the wis., dom and love of our God and the saw | ing power of His Son, OUT Lord, the message which your presbyter brings to you of this church this morning
 shall echo that old message written so long ago, Grace, mercy and peace be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, in truth and love. Some day in Gods good time we trust to come unto you and to speak face
 to face. And in that home of our Fa-
 theris. OUT joy, which here on earth again be full"
 A Cincfs.
 .Tt,s easy to find out what time it is." says a married man. eff the 1an11 n1<x nd