Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-15
EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
JANE GREY 5SWISSHELM
A Remarkable Woman of
Ante-bellun Days
1815-1865

mercy in that region of despair. Then
I preferred my petition, that God
would write his name upon my fore.
head, and give me that new name"
which should mark me as his; that
he would bring William into the fold,
and do with me as he would. l would
be content to spend my whole life In
any labor he should appoint, without
a sign of the approval Of God or man,
if, in the end, l and mine should be
found among those "who had washed
their robes, and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb"
fell asleep-slept hours-and when
the sun was setting, woke in perfect
peace. My proposition had been &C.
cepted, and wonderful grace, which
had given what I had not dared to
ask, assurance Of present acceptance.
I should have all the work and priva.
ton for which I had bargained-
should be a thistle-digger in the vine.
yard; should be set to tasks from
which other laborers shrank, but in
no trial could I ever be alone, and
should at last hear the welcome "well
DONE"
I arose as one from grave to a
joyous resurrection; but kept all
these things in my heart. Personal
experiences being altogetherobetween
God and the soul, were not considered
fit subjects for conversation, and
when came before the session ap.
plying for church membership, no
mention was made of them, except as
a general confession of faith.
Rev. Andrew Black addressed the
table at which sat in my first com.
muniOn, and said:
"The Lords Supper has been nam.
ed the Eucharist, after the oath taken
by Roman soldier, never to turn his
back upon his leader. You, in partak.
ing of these emblems, do solemnly
vow that you will never turn your
back upon Christ, but that you will
follow him whithersoever he goeth.
Let others do as they will, you are -
follow the Lamb, through good and
through evil report, to palace or to
a prison; follow him, even if he should
lead you out Of the church."
This was in perfect harmony with
my private agreement, and no other
act Of my life has been so solemn or
far-reaching in it's consequences, US
that ratification of my VOW, and it is
one have least cause to repent.
However, it brought new phase
to an old trouble. How should l fol-
low Christ? I could not do as he had
done. I could not go to meeting ev-
cry Sabbath, and society every Fri
day; and if I did, was that following
Christ who never built a meeting
house, or conducted any service re-
sembling those now held? I read the
life Of Jonathan Edwards, and settled
back into the old Sabbath-keeping
rut. Resolving to do my best, pray
ed all week, for grace to keep the next
Sabbath. l rose early that trial-morn'
ing, prayed as soon as my eyes were
open, read a chapter, looked out into
the beautiful morning, thought about
God and prayed-spent so much time
praying, that Elizabeth had breakfast
ready when I went down stairs. While
I ate it, I held my thoughts to the
work of the day, worshiping God;
but many facts and fancies forced
themselves in and disturbed my pious
meditations. After breakfast, I went
back to my room to continue my lab
or; but mother soon came and said:
"Do you intend to let Elizabeth do
all the work."
l dropped my roll of saintship and
| went and washed the dishes. Had
been taught that he who does any
honest work serves God and follows
Christ, what world of woe wOulC
have been spared me.