The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-07-10
OBITUARY..

sorrow, that that bright spirit, who seeed
born to overcome weakness and weariness and
to defy the encroachments Of disease, had at
last departed. that Emily M. Hall;was no more.
I We, who had seen and heard her, became in
| credulous of death, but as matter OF fact, on
the S0th of June, in the early morning, she
who had languished valiantly for months
closed her eyes and breathed her last, and was
no more a child of earth, but daughter of the
immortal prime"
For weeks past it had been the habit and
last duty of the writer, the pastor, and his
wife, on Sunday evenings, to go to the cham
Der where she sat, to spend an hour, to refresh
their spirits with her splendid courage. and
then to have worship and come away. Last
evening it seemed as if we were emitting
something; but the room where she sat was
dark and silent, like the grave in which her
mortal form reposes.
Peaceful be thy silent slumber."
1t is now nearly thirty years since the writ
er, coming to lecture in Winterport first made
the acquaintance of Miss Hall and her friend,
Mrs. Lord, since deceased. 1t was not in his
thought that at future date he should be-
come her pastor, but whenever he thought of
the beautiful town by the riverside where he
had bee n so pleasantly received, the memory
was associated with the blithe presence of the
little woman who kept the store, and who was
alive in every fibre of her frame, and doubly
alive in that mercurial essence of her indomit-
able spirit. For Emily Hall was personality,
and no one who had spent an hour with her
ever went away and straightway forgot her,
or if he did he must have been dolfsh.
But it was for five years the writer's sacred
privilege to be her pastor, and to get, it may
/ be, more good than he gave. 1t did not matter
who her minister might be, if he was in any
sense worthy, she was his friend, and stood by
him in every way. In the virtue of loyalty
she was unsurpassed. 1--we travelled much
this weary mortal round" and l have yet to
meet her equal at once in fidelity and gener-
osity. 1. When she had given her confidence or
her word there was no doubt and no question.
Consequently she had troops of friends. All
who did business with her became her life
long friends, and clustered about her, and
none of them in absence did she fail to remem-
ber.- As to her generous liberality, many who
have been helped by her in time of need will
be willing witnesses to that.
An English poet told US in his splendid
verse that if his heart were opened we should
find engraven on it the name of Italy, the land
he loved. If Emily's heart could have been
laid open We might expect to find there writ
ten the names of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Winterport and its Sabbath school,
with which she was SO long efficiently related,
and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
of which she was through successive years,
and until her death, the President. In her re-
lation with the last. she was the trusted friend
of Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, who sent touching
message read at her funeral, and also of Miss
Emily NJ. Miller of Belfas t. the County Presi-
dent, who also sent kindly message. She
was, until her death, also the Treasurer of the
church, and it touching to witness her
solicitude when she had become so weak that
she could with difficulty administer the affairs
committed to her; yet she did it and refused
to be relieved. Without inherited patrimony
this long -alling woman accumulated consid-
cradle estate, which was by her will distributed
among her immediate friends and helpers,
whom she felt should be remembered. She
had in case of need, made up the deficiency in
her pastors salary, and was always liberal
giver to church and charitable societies. A
pipe organ in the church. and various improve
ments to the church and parsonage property,
were largely due to her literally.
She had most buoyant and cheerful dispo-
sition, firm will, high spirit and principle, a
quick wit and ready answer for all who came
Her love for young people was marked char
acteristic, and she often spoke with pleasure
of the classes of boys she used to teach, some
of them grown to manhood; and of the concert
exercises,-and here she was an artist-and of
of the old teaching days, when she was mis-
tress in the schoolroom In her last days moth
ing she could need was denied her. The care
and affection of her housemates, Mr.. and
Mrs. Isaac Dunham, attended her to the last;
and their care and love were supplemented by
her intimates-some of them life long-be-
longing to the village and it's environs. All
knew it was best, but were reluctant to have
her go. If anyone could say it she could: Il
will begin my work again in the morning.
Her funeral services were at the Methodist
Episcopal church, on Thursday, July 3rd. at 2
o'ciock The remains were placed in the
church at 10 a. m., and the casket was banked
with flowers, wreaths, and some beautiful de-
vices from the W. C. T. u. Epworth League
Floral pieces from Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Dunham,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hubert Hall, Mr.. and Mrs. p M.
Hall, Mrs. H. H. Simpson, Mrs. Geo Marden,
Rev. Mr.. and Mrs. Banghart, Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank E. Burns, Mrs. E. Flemant, Mrs. A. E.
Treat, Mrs. E. M. Chase, Miss Sophia Chase,
Mrs. Fairfield Cole, Mrs. A. P. Richie, Mrs.
Geo. Shaw, Mrs. Ralph Lane, Mrs. D. H. Smith,
Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Hatch. Mr.. and Mrs.
Dickie.
The service was conducted by the pastor, as
sisted by her former pastor, tried and faithful
friend and co-laborer. Rev. J. W. Hatch, D. D.
Sweet music formed part of the service,
with organist and choir engaged. Tender a6.
dresses and prayers were offered. The w. C. T.
U. and Epworth League were present in their
united bodies. and the church was we'll filed
with sympathetic audience. All looked at
the placid features of the dead. and many fol-
lowed to the last resting place in Oak Hill
Cemetery. PASTOR FELIX.
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.
Realizing our loss in the death of our be-
loved co-laborer, Miss Emily M. Hall, we, the
members and officers of the Methodist Epis-
cooal SUNDAY school of Wipterport desire