Part 25 (1/2)
CHAPTER XII.
CLOSING LABORS FOR THE POOR-- SICKNESS AND DEATH.
During the last two years of her life, Mrs. Graham found her strength inadequate to so extensive a course of visiting the poor as formerly; there were some distressed families, however, that experienced her kind attentions to the last. She would occasionally accompany the Rev. Mr. Stanford on his visits to the state-prison, hospital, and to the Magdalen house. This gentleman was the stated preacher employed by ”the Society for the Support of the Gospel among the Poor,” and devoted his time to preaching in the almshouse, hospital, state-prison, debtors'-prison, etc., with great a.s.siduity and acceptance.
Mrs. Graham now spent much of her time in her room, devoted to meditation, prayer, and reading the Scriptures; she seemed to be weaning from earth and preparing for heaven. Prayer was that sweet breath of her soul which brought stability to her life. Genuine humility was obvious in all her sentiments and deportment. Religious friends prized her conversation, counsel, and friends.h.i.+p; sometimes they would venture on a compliment to her superior attainments, but always experienced a decided rebuke. To her friend Colonel L----, who expressed a wish to be such a character as she was, she quickly replied with an air of mingled pleasantry and censure, ”Get thee behind me, Satan.” To a female friend who said, ”If I were only sure at last of being admitted to a place at your feet I should feel happy.” ”Hush, hush,” replied Mrs. Graham, ”There is ONE SAVIOUR.”
Thus she was always careful to give her divine Redeemer the whole glory of her salvation.
This example of humility, self-denial, and sensibility to the imperfection of her conduct, is the more to be valued, as it is so difficult to be followed. Flattery is too commonly practised; and there is no sufficient guard against its dangerous consequences, except a constant and humbling recognition of the spirituality of the law of G.o.d, and our lamentable deficiency in fulfilling it. Pride was not made for man: ”I have seen an end of all perfection,” said the Psalmist, ”but thy commandment is exceeding broad.” It was by cheris.h.i.+ng this sentiment, by studying her Bible, by searching her heart and its motives, and above all, by grace accorded of heaven in answer to her prayers, that Mrs. Graham was enabled to maintain such meekness of spirit, such an uniformity of Christian character throughout her life. May all who read her history be directed to the same sources of true peace and genuine happiness.
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 pet.i.tion, signed by about thirty ladies, was presented to the corporation of New York, praying that they would a.s.sign 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 pa.s.sing away. She consented to have her name inserted on the list of managers, and to give what a.s.sistance her age would permit in forwarding so beneficent a work. Although it pleased G.o.d 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 establis.h.i.+ng 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 G.o.d'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.
Mrs. Graham was very partial to the works of Dr. John Owen, Rev.
William Romaine, and Rev. John Newton, and read them with pleasure and profit. One day she remarked to Mr. B----, that she preferred the ancient writers on theology to the modern, because they dealt more in italics. ”Dear mother,” he replied, ”what religion can there be in italics?” ”You know,” said she, ”that old writers expected credit for the doctrines they taught, by proving them from the word of G.o.d to be correct: they inserted the scripture pa.s.sages in italics, and their works have been sometimes one-half in italics. Modern writers on theology, on the contrary, give us a long train of reasoning to persuade us to their opinions, but very little in italics.” This remark of hers has great force, and deserves the serious attention of those who write and those who read on theological subjects.
On the two Sabbaths preceding her last illness she joined in communion at the Lord's table. On the 10th of July, 1814, at Greenwich, and on the 17th at her own church in Cedar-street. On each week preceding these seasons she attended three evenings on religious exercises; on Thursdays at the Orphan Asylum, on Friday evenings the preparation sermons, and on Sat.u.r.day evenings at the prayer-meetings.
She appeared lively, and expressed comfort in those religious seasons, and continued actively useful until the very day on which her illness commenced.
On the morning of the 17th she attended the Sabbath-school with her daughter and grandchildren. Thus the Lord was pleased to direct that she should lead her children's children into the walks of usefulness before she took her flight to heaven, and impose a pleasing obligation on them that they should follow her steps. Of the same date is the last meditation in her diary.
”COMMUNION SABBATH, July 17, 1814.
”'Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls,' 1 Peter, 1:8, 9.
”I had requested to be brought to my Lord's banqueting-house, and to be feasted with love this day. I ate the bread and drank the wine, in the faith that I ate the flesh and drank the blood of the Son of man, and dwelt in him and he in me. Took a close view of my familiar friend Death, accompanied with the presence of my Saviour, _his sensible presence_. I cannot look at it without this; it is my only pet.i.tion concerning it. I have had desires relative to certain circ.u.mstances, but they are nearly gone. It is my sincere desire that G.o.d may be glorified, and he knows best how and by what circ.u.mstances.
I retain my one pet.i.tion,
”Only to me thy countenance show, I ask no more the Jordan through.”
Thus she arose from her Master's table, was called to gird on her armor for a combat with the king of terrors, and came off more than conqueror, through Him who loved her.
On Monday she appeared in perfect health, and visited and gave religious instruction to the orphans in the asylum.
On Tuesday, the 19th of July, she complained of not feeling well, and kept her room; on Thursday her disorder proved to be a cholera-morbus, and her children sent for a physician. She thought this attack was slighter than in former seasons. On Sat.u.r.day, however, she requested that Mrs. Chrystie might be sent for; this alarmed Mrs.
B----, knowing there existed an understanding between those two friends, that one should attend the dying-bed of the other, Mrs.
Chrystie was a very dear friend of Mrs. Graham. For upwards of twenty-four years they had loved each other, feeling reciprocal sympathy in their joys and their sorrows; the hope of faith was the consolation of both, and oftentimes it had been their delightful employment to interchange their expressions of affection towards Him whom having not seen, they loved, and in whom, though they saw him not, yet believing on him, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory. On Mrs. Chrystie's entering the chamber of her friend, Mrs.
Graham welcomed her with a sweet expressive smile, seeming to say, ”I am going to get the start of you, I am called home before you; it will be your office to fulfil our engagement.” When she sat by her bedside, Mrs. Graham said, ”Your face is very pleasant to me, my friend.”
During Sat.u.r.day night, a lethargy appeared to be overpowering her frame. On Sabbath morning she was disposed to constant slumber; observing Mr. B---- looking at her with agitation, she was roused from her heaviness, and stretching her arms towards him and embracing him, she said, ”My dear, dear son, I am going to leave you; I am going to my Saviour.” ”I know,” he replied, ”that when you do go from us, it will be to the Saviour; but, my dear mother, it may not be the Lord's time now to call you to himself.” ”Yes,” said she, ”now is the time; and Oh, I could weep for sin.” Her words were accompanied with her tears. ”Have you any doubts, then, my dear friend?” asked Mrs.
Chrystie. ”Oh no,” replied Mrs. Graham; and looking at Mr. and Mrs.