3IR, CHARACTER OF MRS. MARY-ANN ATHERTON. To the Editor of the Christian Disciple. the Disciple you will oblige a constant reader. THE death of Mrs. MaryAnn Atherton, late of Amherst, N. H. has caused a vacancy in society, which cannot easily be supplied. I am persuaded you will accord with me in opinion, that the characteristic traits of a woman so truly excellent should be widely known and faithfully preserved. An obituary notice recently appeared in a weekly journal, which has only a limited circulation. I now send it to you with the request, that you will gratify many of your readers by introducing it into your very useful publication. To confirm what is said in it of the faith of that eminent Christian; to perpetuate her dying testimony to what she believed to be "the truth as it is in Jesus;" as well as to correet some uncandid representations respecting her principles of religion, I send you also a Memorandum, which every reflecting person will consider deeply interesting and impressive. As you will perceive, it was written immediately after the solemn scene which it records, and appears originally designed for the consolation of an afflicted husband. Being a precious remembrancer, reflecting honour on the understanding and heart of a distinguished female; and suited to promote public utility, consent has been obtained for its publication. By annexing it to the obituary notice, and inserting them in Vol. V. No. 12. 47 Obituary Notice of Mrs. MaryAnn Atherton, who died October 15th, 1817. Eulogies of the dead are bestowed with so little discrimination, that I have often thought it better to omit them even where they were deserved. But silence in this case would be to resist a clear intimation of Providence, and to neglect an important means of doing good to her sex by exciting their emulation. All who knew Mrs. Atherton perceived that her character was a rare assemblage of female excellencies. By her temper and mind she was peculiarly formed for private friendship. A heart naturally susceptible and kind inclined her to sympathy and candour. The ease and frankness with which she communicated her feelings and thoughts inspired confidence; she possessed also a magnanimity and elevation of sentiment, which preserved her from the corrosions of envy and from every unsocial passion. Correct ideas of duty and a realizing sense of responsibility happily fitted her for domestic scenes. "She looked well to the ways of her household. The heart of her husband did safely trust in her." More just views of the obligations of a mother were never exhibited. Persuaded that education forms the human mind, it was her great aim to increase the knowledge, to form the manners, and to impress the hearts of her children. She fulfilled these duties by instructions and counsels, which were dispensed with wisdom, under direction of the law of kindness. Being their school mistress until her sons were prepared to enter into the higher classies of the Latin language; she taught them reading, writing, geography, common arithmetic, and the English and Latin grammars, with a fidelity and correctness, that left to professed scholars no room to find fault with the imperfections of their tuition. She held up for their admiration and imitation the most perfect examples. She availed herself of the peculiar privileges of the present day by providing for them books, which should amuse and enlighten them. For their instruction she made a selection of cate chisms, exhibiting the plainness and excellence of the Saviour's sermon, being from mature inquiry convinced that the Westminster Assembly's Catechism is too abstruse for youthful minds, and leads to speculations and views promotive of dangerous error and scepticism. One estimable motive for her daily perusal of the Bible was, that she might find in the historical and other parts of it, portions snited to enlighten and captivate the opening minds of her offspring. Her solicitude for them seemed to control every other feeling and passion. When upon the bed of sickness, against the advice of friends, she persisted in performing her usual course of instruction. How strong must have been her attachment to them! How deeply must she have been impressed with the importance of her duty! Yet when informed that the nature of her complaint admitted no hope of recovery, she with ease and complacency gave up this care, and resigned the objects of her dearest affection to a merciful Providence. With a retentive memory, discriminating and comprehensive mind, she had an ardent thirst for knowledge. Her early and subsequent condition in life were favourable to its acquisition. Not ignorant of the ephemeral productions of the age, her delight was in the standard works of literature. But the bible was that fountain of light and truth to which she had constant recourse. Her recollection of its contents and her critical knowledge of it were surpassed by few even of those, whose profession it is to understand and expound it. At about seventeen years of age she openly professed her faith in the Son of God. This was the result of an enlightened view of his gospel, and a firm conviction of the reasonabless and moral tendency of his ordi nances. Her thirst for general knowledge and assiduity in amassing it did not lead her to Mrs. Atherton lived at that period with her parents in Hampton, N. H. and sat under the ministry of President Appleton. Visiting her during her last sickness, she assured him of her pleasing recollection of many instructions she had received from him, and that she traced her general views of creased and strong confidence, to the religion, in which she now felt an inprivilege of having him for the guide of her youth. neglect "the one thing needful." She studied with more than common interest the evidences of Christianity, and was competent to judge of their intrinsic and comparative weight. Her religious views were collected, not from detached portions of scripture, but from a general survey of its spirit and object. Not swayed by a regard for the doctrines or commandments of men, her system of belief was catholic and evangelical. None who were witnesses of her life, sick, ness or death, will deny the practical influence of her faith; that "it wrought by love ;" "purified her heart;" helped her to "overcome the world;" and was a source of unostentatious and genuine piety. 66 get, she recited the grounds of her present exultation and joy. Having "proved all things," she in this moment of severe trial held fast that, which in a season of bodily and mental vigour she had found to be good." Her religious theory, which she repeated, was a happy imitation of "the simplicity that is in Christ." When reciting her views of the Redeemer, she spoke of him as one "highly exalted; and who had a name above every name." With the solemn thought that she must soon appear before him as her Judge, she declared her belief in the language in which he had taught her to conceive of Him; not as God himself, but "the Son of God," the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person." In this declaration she persisted as long as the power of utterance continued. Her other religious sentiments were not encumbered by useless and unedifying speculations, but were such as reearlier stages of her disease she flected most honour on the charwas oppressed with doubts and acter of God; and most likely fears concerning her spiritual to influence moral and accountcondition and prospects. The able beings. The uncharitable, meditations she then indulged who dare to sit in judgement when viewing her relation to upon the faith and conscience the Omniscient Being, are hap- of their fellow christians could pily expressed in the language, not have failed of being admonhe hideth his face, and I am tshed by her dying accents of troubled." This season of the evils of a censorious spirit, darkness was the harbinger of and of the obligation always to 66 a morning without clouds." speak and act under an impresLanguage can poorly describe sion of human fallibility. She her ecstacy and triumph, when declared her faith in the allshe believed that God "lifted sufficiency of the Saviour, and upon her the light of his recon- that the ground of her hope was ciled countenance." With an the mercy of God through Him. earnestness, an emphasis, a dis- To the closing scene her confierimination, and force, which dence and joy were unshaken. those who heard can never for- She died with a triumphant Her last sickness, which arose from an almost incredible in flammation of the kidney, and which was accompanied with agonies which are rarely exceeded, was in mercy prevented from suspending the activity or energy of her mind. In the "hope of seeing the glory of God." "The woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised." Such was the life, the faith, and the hope of this wonderful woman. Let those, who, for the ideas which she cherished of the Saviour and his gospel, deny that she was entitled to the name and the hope of a Christian, remember the solemn admonition: "Why dost thou judge thy brother, and why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ." When an afflicted husband and children with bereaved parents and friends are pondering on the magnitude of the privation, which a righteous God has dispensed, let them be constrained to silence and submission by the belief, that she in possession of the inheritance she most highly prized. Her treasure was in heaven, and her spirit, they may hope, is there also,” the praise of men. My greatest desire is to be found worthy of the praise of God." To this I replied, "I do not mean to praise you. I only mean to express my joy at the intelligence I have received of your submission and resignation to the will of God. It is also my consoling belief, that a review of your life, of your endeavour to perform your duty, must be a ground of hope that you shall share in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and be pardoned and accepted.” Mrs. Atherton said, "I know that God is merciful, but I tremble when I read those words of my Saviour, "Strive to enter in at the straight gate." "Many shall seek to enter, but shall not be able." You know also what he has said of the foolish virgins, who took no oil for their lamps, and against whom "the door was shut." She added, "I know I have received many talents. I fear I have not improved them as I ought. I am convinced that I am a great sinner. My only dependence is on the merits of my Redeemer. I do not despair. I hope, but my hope is mixed with many fears. I desire to be humble and penitent, and I pray that God will not cast me off." Finding her thus in doubt, and diffident of her own attainments, believing her to be truly contrite and a proper subject for consolatory address, I entreated her recollection of these passages of scripture, "I never said to any of the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain." " Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I wil "Let not your give you rest." heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." "Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I also brought to her view the vision made to St. John in the Apocalypse: "I beheld and lo "I beheld and lo a great multitude, which no man could number of all people, and nations, and tongues stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palms in their hands." On hearing these, Mrs. A. said, "I know that these are very delightful promises and views, but for myself I have still very great fears.' This conversation closed with her requesting me to pray for her. She added, "I do not wish you to pray for my recovery, for I think it a mockery of God, when a person is so near death as I believe myself to be, to pray thus, but I wish you to pray, that if it be the will of God I may be relieved from my present distress; that I may be patient; that I may be prepared to die; and that God will have mercy on my soul." I had no farther interview with her in relation to her spiritual state, till I was awaked about 3 o'clock in the morning by one of the watchers, who informed me that Mrs. A. wished to see me. On entering her chamber, I perceived her countenance greatly animated. She immediately addressed me thus in apparent ecstacy. "I sent for you Mr. Thayer, that I mercy might tell you the God has shown me. He has given me a perfect assurance* I shall be happy. I feel that he has accepted my penitence, and that I shall go to be a partaker of the joy, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man.' I think it would be next to a miracle should I be raised and restored to health. If this be the will of God I desire to submit; but I have no wish to live and mingle again with the suf ferings and sorrows of the world, 'I desire to depar and to be with Christ, which is far better.' Tell my friends net to shed a tear for me. They cannot wish to keep me from the blessedness which is promised me." I expressed to her my joy in her present state of mind and my hope that God would continue to "lift upon her the light of his countenance." Mrs. A. then delivered me a message to Mr. L. with a request that "I would communicate it to him, if she should not live to see him." Dr. Spalding upon this informed me, that at Mrs. A's. request he had sent for Mr. L. By Mrs. A's. desire I awaked Mr. Atherton, who, on entering her chamber, received from her in my hearing information of her joy and prospects, similar to what she gave me. * From subsequent conversation it was collected as her belief that this assurance did not arise from any sudden change in her character, but that a review of her whole life and her reflections on the character and revelation of God were now blessed to the giving her this "full assurance of hope." |