Brief Notices concerning the life and happy departure from this world into eternity of the Sgle Sr Marianne Spence who fell asleep in Jesus on Monday Morning. June the 18th 1866 at Fulneck.
Our late Sister was born on October the 10th 1844 at the Mission Station of Bethabara in the Island of Jamaica where her parents laboured in the Lords Vineyard as esteemed and useful servants of the Brethrens Church. From her very birth and more especially on the day of her baptism on November the 24th she was by them dedicated unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls as His redeemed property with the fervant prayer that He himself would tend and keep her as one of his sheep This prayer was answered; for the Lord our Saviour was ever mindful of her and through the days of her childhood youth and to the very end of her sojourn here below manifestly led her with his rod and staff. The blessed name of Jesus she learnt to know and to love from her earliest years. Brought up as a little child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord under the parental roof she early learnt to love the house, and the word of the Lord, and to pray. She was naturally not of a robust constitution a weakness in her chest was perceptible even in her youngest years tho’ as far as I can hear she never materially suffered from this cause at that time. In the year 1851 her late father brought her and her older sister here to Fulneck for education. She remained for 8 years a pupil of the Ladies Boarding school here and throughout the whole period approved herself a well conducted obedient, & attentive scholar who by her gentleness, and amiable peaceful disposition gained the love alike of her superiors and companions. Her natural abilities although not of a very striking and superior character were such as to render her aided by her diligence and perseverance a very efficient scholar. Her health was upon the whole pretty good during this period although she never was very strong and her rapid growth and tall slender figure often made her an object of notice to those who knew her age This was particularly the case when she was received into the Girls Choir in the year 1854. She was of a very placid disposition and did not freely speak about herself and her spiritual life, but it was very evident that she grew in grace as well as in stature and with the lessons of secular wisdom diligently learnt the lessons of heavenly wisdom that made her wise unto salvation Those to whom her spiritual culture was more especially entrusted often observed with much pleasure her serious department and manifest relish for eternal truths and heavenly pleasures. She ever meekly & thankfully received the spiritual advice of her labouress towards whom
she always cherished feelings of grateful esteem and sincere affection. In the autumn of 1854 she removed to the Ladies School at Neuwied where she remained for two years. Here she enjoyed the faithful and efficient instructions of Br Menzel preparatory, to her confirmation at Easter 1861, on which occasion she surrendered herself anew to the Lord her Saviour who had been the God of her childhood imploring him to be with her throughout her youth and even for ever. From the School at Neuwied she proceeded to Montmirail in autumn 1861, where after another years instructions she completed her schooldays and at once was engaged upon her return to England to enter into the ladies School at Gomersal. She had previously at Montmirail been received into the choir of Single Sisters, & now forthwith began to trade with the talents her Saviour had entrusted to her keeping. For above three years she faithfully discharged the important duties of a teacher of the young. How her services were appreciated may be best learnt from the following letters received by me from Br K, and Sr R (–) At Easter this year she came home for a few days to her mother. A severe cold prevented her from returning immediately after the Easter vacation to her sphere of duty. She hoped a few days rest and careful nursing at home might restore her health. But when this hope was blighted her desire was to return upon her duties at any rate at the middle of the quarter, and when this also was denied her, she at first greatly felt her inability to return to her post where she was so happy and so beloved. But as she had been a willing and useful teacher, she now once again was willing to be an attentive and obedient scholar. The Lord wished her to learn how to give up all for Him and die happily.– It was truly edifying to witness, the perfect resignation with which our dear Sister acquiesced in the will of the Lord and how calmly and content edly she submitted her wishes and her will to his over ruling gracious providence. It was not the natural placidity of her temper nor apathy which enabled her thus to be resigned and quiet. For she herself keenly felt the pang of seperation from her beloved mother and other dear relatives and friends, and her affectionate disposition made her anticipate the grief her mother would have to endure by her early removal. But she knew her Saviour, who had given her a heart to know him, that He is the Lord and she believed that He did all things well she trusted Him and therefore could confidently commit herself and her dear friends into this most faithful hands. It soon became manifest that rapid consumption would speedily terminate her course through life, and as the complaint gained ground from week to week, she ripened more and more for heaven and eternal glory. She bore her sufferings with exemplary patience, her deafness occasionally caused the sorrow casting a momentary gloom over
her bright hopes of eternal joys. In general her mind was kept in perfect peace stayed upon the Lord. Whenever asked respecting the ground of her hope, or her prospects for eternity, she expressed simple childlike confidence in her beloved Saviour. He was near to her indeed even Christ in her, the hope of glory. There was no triumphant rejoicing in her last illness and death, but there was the work of righteousness, peace, and there was the effect of righteousness, even quietness and assurance for ever, and there was joy, the joy unspeakable and full of glory. Her own set in the serene horizon of God’s love after a calm bright day of genial summer. We do not here dwell at length upon those utterances of her last days and hours, which are the sacred property of her sorrowing mother and will no doubt cheer her often in the remembrance of the past when the loss of her beloved child would otherwise overwhelm her with grief But we magnify the grace of God that enabled our late Sister every to desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better than the possession and enjoyment of all temporal treasures here below. Our Saviour was very gracious unto her sparing her the conflict of a painful separation of soul and body.– She literally fell asleep in Jesus, and slept herself away into eternity. Her ransomed spirit fled from the frail tabernacle, early on Monday morning last; to join the spirits of just men made perfect Her end was peace. Her age was 21 years 8 months, and 8 days.
Christs sufferings have delivered
her from misery, woe, and death
His word Tis finished proved to be
The triumph of her faith.
Happy soul thy days are ended
All thy mourning days below
thou by angel guards attended
Dids’t to Jesus presence go
Trusting on thy Saviours merits
Thou hast seen thy Lord above
Waiting to receive thy spirit
Reaching out a crown of love
For the joy He set before thee
Thou didst bear a moments pain
Die to live a life of glory;
Suffer, with, thy Lord to reign
Fulneck June 21st 1866
