The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.Graham, Isabella
Religion
The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.
Graham, Isabella
Christian biography; Graham, Isabella, 1742-1814
In the spring of 1814 she was requested to unite with some ladies
in forming a society for the promotion of industry among the poor.
This was the last act in which she appeared before the public. A
petition, signed by about thirty ladies, was presented to the
corporation of New York, praying that they would assign them a
building in which work might be prepared and given out to the
industrious poor, who being paid for their labor, might be saved the
necessity of begging, and at the same time cherish habits of industry
and self-respect. The corporation having returned a favorable answer,
and provided a house, a meeting of the Society was held, and Mrs.
Graham once more was called to the chair. It was the last time she was
to preside at the formation of a new society. Her articulation, once
strong and clear, was now observed to have become more feeble. The
ladies present listened to her with affectionate attention; her voice
broke upon the ear as a pleasant sound that was passing away. She
consented to have her name inserted on the list of managers, and to
give what assistance her age would permit in forwarding so beneficent
a work. Although it pleased God that she should cease from her labors
before the House of Industry was opened, yet the work was carried on
by others and prospered. Between four and five hundred women were
employed and paid during the following winter. The corporation
declared in strong terms their approbation of the result, and enlarged
their donation, with a view to promote the same undertaking for the
succeeding winter.
In the month of May, 1814, a report was received from Mr. Stephen
Prust of Bristol, in England, of the Society for establishing
Adult-schools. Mrs. Graham was so delighted with a perusal of it, as
immediately to undertake the formation of such a school in the village
of Greenwich. She called on the young people who were at work in some
neighboring manufactories, and requested them to attend her for this
purpose every Sabbath morning at eight o'clock. This was kept up after
her decease as a Sunday-school, and consisted of nearly eighty
scholars. She was translated from this work of faith on earth, to
engage in the sublimer work of praise in heaven.
For some weeks previous to her last illness she was favored with
unusual health and much enjoyment of religion; she appeared to have
sweet exercises and communion in attending on all God's ordinances and
appointed means of grace. She was also greatly refreshed in spirit by
the success of Missionary and Bible Societies, and used to speak with
much affection of Mr. Gordon, Mr. Lee, Mr. May, and Dr. Morrison, with
whom she had been acquainted when in New York, on their way to
missionary stations in India and China.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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