Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-08


she had aVOwed all. she Sald1and
il is one of the s;.ddest, bitterest
lrOnieS of the whole Tragedy that
she seems not TO have known that
all she had avowed was not suffi-
cient. even under German law, to
justify the judgment passed upon
her. The German chaplain had been
kind and she was willing for him
to be with her al the last, if Mr..
Gahan could not be. Life had not
been all happy for her. she said,
and she was glad to die for her
country. Life had been hurried.
and she was graf sful for those
weeks OF rest in prison.
Patriotism is not enough" she
said. Il must have no hatred and
no bitterness toward any one"
She received the sacrament, She
had no hatred for any one, and she
had no regrets.
Those as far as we know, were
her last words. She had been told
that she would be called at
o'clock.
At six they came and the black
van conveyed her and the architect
Baucq TO the Fir National, where
they were shot. Miss Cavel was
brave and calm at the last, and she
died facing the firing squad, an
other martyr in the old cause of
human liberty.
Mr.. Gahan later gave out this re-
port of his last hours with her:
"On Monday evening, October. II,
I was admitted by special pass
port from the German authorities
10 the prison of St. GILES, where
Miss Edith Cavell had been con-
fined for ten weeks. The final SEN
tence had been given early that
afternoon.
ITO my establishment and relief
1 found my friend perfectly calm
and resigned. But this could not
lessen the tenderness and intensity
of feeling on either part during
that last interview of almost an
'Her first words to me were upon
a matter concerning herself per-
sonally, but the solemn assevera-
tion which accompanied them was
made expreSsedly in the light or
God and eternity. She then added
that she wished all her friends 10
know that she willingly. gave her
life for her country, and SAID:
have no fear nor shrinking: ! have
seen death so often that it is not
strange or fearful to me. she
further said: L thank God for TINS
ten weeks quiet before the END;
Life has always been hurried ana
full of difficulty. rms tune OF resi-
has been a great mercy They nave
all been very kind to me here. But
this would saw, standing as do
in view of God and eternity, rear
lie that patriotism is not enough.
1 must have no hatred or bitterness
towards anyone
eve partook of the Holy Commu-
Mon together, and she received the
Gospel message of consolation with
all her heart At the close OF the
little service 1 began to repeat the
words, Abide with me, ana she
he ND
I'VE sat quietly talking until II
was time for me 10 ego. she gave
me parting messages Tor relatlohs
and friends. She spoke or heI
souls needs at the moment ana
she received the assurance OIL Goas
Then I said Goodbye and she
smiled and said: We shall. meet
SThe German military CHAPLAIN
was with her at the end ana AFTER
wards gave her Christian burial
"He told me: She was brave ana
bright to the last. She protessed
Ter Christian faith and that she
was glad to die for her country
She died like a heroine.
"H. STIRLING T. GAHAN, =,
british Chaplain. Brussels.
In the touching report there rs
statement. one of the last tnat
Edith Cavell ever made, Wnlcn III IL
exquisite pathos illuminates the
whole of that life or stern uutSt %
human service and martyrdom- She
said that she was grateful Tor the
six weeks of rest she had Just De
fore the end. During those weeks
she had read and reflected; her conn
panions and her solace were her
Bible. her prayer book and the I'M
itation of Christ. The notes she
made in these books reveal her
thoughts in that time, and VIII
n touch the utteTmost depths or any
nature nourished in that DeautiIul
faith which is at once so tehdeT
and so astute. The prayer Dooh
with those laconic entries on its fly
leaf in which she set down the SAD
and elouuent chronology of her rate.
the COPY of the Imitation wnlch She
had read and marked during those
weeks in prison. weeks when az
she so pathetically said had given
ber rest and quiet and time to think
in a life that had been so hurried,
and the passages noted in her nrm
hand. have a deep and appealing
pathOs.
Quotations in Her Prayer Book
p I24-It is no small prudence
10 keep silence in an evil time.
Chapter XXIX.-p. 125 and Chap
ter XXX, p. 126.
Psalm XXX.-Into thy hands
commend my Spirit-for thou hast
redeemed me o Lord thou goa OF
5C2 p.-'T was the last watch of
night.
Except what brings the
morning quite
When the armed angel, con-
Science-clear
lis task nigh done, leans
Ger his spear
And gazes on the earth h,
guards
Tul God relieve him at his
post.
the same countenance al
-- ways with thanksgiving.
both in prosperity and in
adversely. weighing all
things with an equal bal
ance.
IS p.--Man considereth the deeds
but God weigheth the inten-
tions.
&C p.-Thou must pass thro' fire
and water before thou come
to the place of refreshing.
% p-OccasiOns of adversely best
discover how great virtue
or strength each one hath.
los p.-Without a combat thou
canst not attain unto the
crown of patience.
.IOs p.-Grant me above all things
that can be desired, to rest
in Thee and in Thee to leave
my heart at peace.
Thou are the true peace of
the heart: thou its only
rest: out of Thee all things
are hard and restless. In
this very peace that is in
Thee. the one Chiefest
Supply,