This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.counties.knox/3800.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Galesburg Mail Friday April 19 1901 page 7 Death of Miss Anna Judson Passes Away at Her Home afte a Long Illness. Passed on to her larger life, from an earth-life of rare Christian activity on the morning of the 18th of April, a loving, devoted daughter and sister, a helpful, loyal friend, and earnest co-worker with all laborers in the Master's needy fields - Anna Bartlett Judson. To those who have known of her gradually-failing health during the past months, this message will not come as a surprise: to those who have realized what days and night of weariness and pain and exhaustion she has been passing through, it must lead to rejoicing with her, that "every peril past" she is "within the sheltered haven at last", and to all who have known her well it will be the passing into blessed memory of one whose history has been a revelation of the possibilities for good of an individual life whose every purpose and plan and activity has been consecrated to a noble and beneficent end. To those who knew her best it was a constant marvel, in view of her delicate health, what she was able to accomplish in her home and church, and in ministries to her friends. Her whole life was a struggle with physical frailty, but she seemed determined never to allow her bodily weakness to stand in the way of carrying out her plans for work, when it could possibly be kept in abeyance, and there were times when it seemed as though her resolute determination and strong will had vanquished the ills that preyed upon her health. But it was not so to be; and her disappointments and discouragements from this cause developed a rare patience and resignation with the passing years. Throughout the long battle with failing health, and in the intense suffering whcih came with her last sickness, her faith in Heavenly Father's goodness and wisdom and mercy never seemed to waver or falter for a moment. She always found blessings to recount that filled her heart with thanksgiving. She smilingly said, in an hour of pain, that her prayer for " more patience in suffering" was always followed by "more praise for relief." She voiced the feelings and experiences of her heart, as she "communed upon her bed." In Scripture-texts and lines from favorite hymns, with all of which she was wondrously familiar. She would readily cite chapter and number of verse for what she wanted read to her. Her Bible, with its worn pages and careful system of markings, reveals the secret of her patient, brave and beautiful life and shows what the fountains of her strength and courage and unwavering love. These stored up Bible truths fed and sustained her during the weary night watches and the hard days of suffering and exhaustion, and her face was radiant with the light from within. Her Christian faith was a development of her earliest years, and those nearest her can scarcely remember when she had not on the Christian armor, when she did not wear the insignia of the King's daughter. A deep spirituality characterized all her thinking and doing. She was most conscientious, and was exacting of herself to a degree that made her unduly self-reproachful and unjust to herself. At an early age she united with the Presbyterian church of this place, and her whole after-life witnessed to her full appreciation of the solemn responsibility attending this step. She threw all the weight of influence of her consecrated young life into the work of her church with a love that ever waxed deeper and a zeal that was constant and tireless. The blood of missionary ancestry flowed in her veins, and mission work lay, probably nearest her heart of any other interest. She was always ready to lend herself, with an eagerness that showed how deeply this work had taken hold upon her. But it was her especial delight to train the children of the church to understand and love this cause, so dear to her, and as leader and assistant and helper in many ways she inspired and encouraged and directed the mission band of "Pearl Seekers", and later of the Junior Endeavorers, for many years. Her quick sympathies were enlisted in the cause of the "shut-ins," and in the "relief work" of the church; and many messages of comfort and encourangement, accompanied by those silent comforters, the flowers, found their way through her hands to grateful, tired and sad hearts; and surely it was "bread cast upon the waters," for when she , too, was "shut-in" from her larger field of usefulness, friends vied with each other in showing their love and remembrance by gifts of the flowers she so loved so well, and with many other offerings and messages of cheer. But while the weary body was restricted within the walls of her home, the ceaseless activities of heart and brain could not be "shut in" and up to with in a few hours of her departure she was planning many things for the enjoyment and comfort of relatives and friends and afflicted ones, and even the far-off toilers in mission fields. She spent many days of her failing strength in helping prepare a box to be sent to a h! ome mission girls' school and found much happiness in it. It was characteristic of her to give of herself unresevedly and unsparingly. To the very last she struggled successfully with the depression that always accompanies failing physical health, and her mind was thus clear and strong and ready to grasp such opportunities as might remain of ministering to others. Many will remember her paper, printed a few months ago entitled "Songs in the Night," in which it was made evident that in the midst of her affliction she found much to rejoice in, and that "the night was light about her." To the Presbyterial Missionary meeting, lately assembled here, she sent a beautiful message of welcome, couched in verse, to which the ladies responded with most appreciative and tender resolutions. Her devotion to her home was, in its way, as complete as that to her church. The happiness of every member of the family was very dear to her heart, and she was constantly planning for its futherance. Her artistic skill has left many reminders upon the walls of her beloved home, to be especially cherished, now that the skillful fingers are busy with the new tasks in the other home, just a little beyond. The loosening hold upon the life here was as gentle and beautiful at the last as her life had been. The peace which comes from perfect submission to our Father's will was hers in rich measure, and the lessons of hope and faith and courage taught from the radiant Christianity of that sick room will never be known or their value fully estimated, until we are reunited as co-workers in that higher field of usefulness to which she has preceded us by a little space. L. Funeral is Held. The funeral took place this afternoon at 3 o'clock, at the home on North Chambers street. The services were in charge of Dr. W. Hamilton Spence, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by Dr. C. A. Vincent of the Central church. The singing was by a quartet consisting of Miss Elizabeth Snyder, Mrs. Geo. Harrison, LeRoy Wharton and L. H. Jelliff. They sang "Saved by Grace," "Beautiful Isle" and "My Jesus, I Love Thee." A large number of beautiful floral offerings reposed upon the casket, and among them were a representation of "Gates Ajar," from the family; a spray of carnations, from Kewanee friends, and a spray of roses from the Ladies Missionary society of the First Presbyterian church. The remains were interred in Linwood cemetery, and the pall-bearers were A. A. Sigsbee, J. H. Gordon, Armor Moreland, John Moreland, Dr. A. Watson and A. W. Snyder. Among those present from out of the city were Mrs. O. N. Bartlett, Hary and Louise Bartlett, Alexis; Mrs Geo. Kent and Miss Emma J. Scott, of Washington, Ill. What a beautiful obit. I have a feeling the first part was actually read at the funeral service. This took up a column and a half of the newspaper page. She was well thought of.