Fry, Elizabeth Gurney, 1780-1845; Prison reformers -- Biography
In the summer of 1844 she attended her beloved meeting at Plaistow once
more. She had been so long in declining health, that meeting with the
associates of former years, for worship, had been of necessity an
enjoyment altogether out of the question. But Sunday after Sunday, as
the "church-going bell" resounded on the still morning air, her spirit
yearned to worship God after the manner of her sect. Still, for weeks
the attempt was an abortive one. The difficult process of dressing was
never accomplished until long after 11 o'clock, the hour when the
meeting assembled. The desire was only intensified, however, by these
repeated disappointments, and finally it was resolved that the attempt
should be made on Sunday, August 4th, at all risks. It succeeded. Drawn
by two of her children, in a wheeled chair, she was taken up to the
meeting, a few minutes after the hour for commencing worship. Her
husband, children and servants followed behind, fearing whether or no
the ordeal would be too heavy for the wasted frame. But after remaining
for some time in the wonted quiet of the sanctuary, an access of
strength seemed to be granted her, and in somewhat similar spirit to
that of the old patriarchs, when about to bid farewell to the scene of
labor and life, she lifted up her voice once more with weighty, solemn
words of counsel. The prominent topic of her discourse was "the death of
the righteous." She expressed the deepest thankfulness, alluding to her
sister-in-law, Elizabeth Fry, for mercies vouchsafed to one who, having
labored amongst them, had been called from time to eternity. She quoted
that text, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they cease
from their labors, and their works do follow them." She dwelt on the
purposes of affliction, on the utter weakness and infirmity of the
flesh, and then tenderly exhorted the young. She urged the need of
devotedness of heart and steadfastness of purpose; she raised a tribute
of praise for the eternal hope offered to the Christian, and concluded
with these words from Isaiah: "Thine eyes shall see the King in His
beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." Prayer was
afterwards offered by her in a similar strain, and then the meeting
ended. Shortly after this, a removal to Walmer was effected, in the vain
hope that the footsteps of death might be retarded.
From one of her letters, written at this date, we quote the following
passage:--
I walk in a low valley, still I believe I may say that the
everlasting arms are underneath me, and the Lord is very near. I
pass through deep waters, but I trust, as my Lord is near to me,
they will not overflow me. I need all your prayers in my low
estate. I think the death of my sister, and dear little Gurney, has
been almost too much for me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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