(1890) Lucy Webb Hayes

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LUCY WEBB HAYES H

/IDemortal ^hctcb MRS. JOHN DAVIS,

As Read at the Annual Meeting of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, HELD AT Indianapolis, November, 1889.

poem:

^emortam*

fTn

BY

MISS M.

A.

LATHBURY.

/iDemorial paper^ BY

MRS.

R. S.

RUST.

DELIVERED AT SEVERAL ANNUAL MEETINGS.

CINCINNATI

:

PRINTED BY CRANSTON & STOWE For the Woman's Home Missionary Society. 1890.

myI

-U^f^-i-

Copyright by the

Woman's Home Missionary 1890.

.r^5^_

^)

•60 "

\

A^P

Society,

Mientnrtal ;§kBfr^. BY

MRS. JOHN DAVIS.

;§IjB

appears on

ffje

paitc nf Ijistorjj

illnminafrti tnifial Icffpr."

^,1/

t/

T

\*

as an

-^^^:^^^:;^^^^

OF

WEBB HAYES.

liUGV

••Raised above clouds and tears, Into the deep serene."

@N

the 25th of June, 1889, at her home, Spiegel

Grove, in the town of Fremont, Ohio,

Wkbb, slept

wife of Kx-President

away her

life,

Hayes, peacefully

and entered into the

that remaineth for the people of God. ness,

Lucy

Her

rest ill-

which was apoplexy, lasted but four days;

then came the announcement of her death.

It

sent a shock of pain and grief over the whole land,

and even

across

name was known.

the

Letters

sea

wherever her

and telegrams of 5

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

6

sympathy came

numbers from the high

in large

and the low, the rich and the poor, the learned

The

and the unlearned. b}^

one

common

biographical

impulse, gave generous space to

The

tions of respect.

and of

her

house was

wreathed

officers,

sympathy

day

her

for

funeral

into

In several of the

air.

A

fragrant

vast

emblems of gifts

of

the

place

in

blossoms, affection-

friends

and

points of the compass.

all

and towns

cities

w^as

and a hush as of a

busi-

On

living.

with

— the

half-mast, business

the

its

esteem for the

its

available

beautiful

from

suspended

every

filled

remembrance,

societies, sent

the

State Republican Conven-

upon record

ness to place

ate

societies passed resolu-

then in session at Columbus to nominate a

governor and State

dead

philanthropic,

Military,

sketches.

and religious

educational,

tion,

press of the country, as

flags

were

at

temporarily suspended,

common

multitude

grief

from

all

pervaded parts

of

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

7

many

her native State, as well as from

came

States,

time.

As

on her dear face

to look

other

for the last

she was borne by her sons and nephews

out of the doors of her beautiful home, where she

had so often beamed her welcome on the coming guest, followed in his struggle

by her husband, white and stern for

composure, and her j^oung,

motherless daughter, every heart stood

still,

every

wore an expression of sorrow.

face

The

funeral cortege

was preceded by the 23d

Ohio Regiment, a Post of the Grand

Army

of the

Republic, and the Sons of Veterans, the bands play-

ing selections from her favorite music.

She was

followed by a great throng of sorrowing friends,

and

laid

away

in the earth.

Her grave was sides

up

couch of flowers, and the

were lined with roses

to the very top

and evergreens, a

must

a

find

faint

expression;

symbol of the love that a

love

which blended

with a respect so wide-spread that the words

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

8

of General Fisk were hardly an exaggeration:

"The Nation

Since then there

is

uncovered

with

stands

scarcely a city or village in

the land which has not had, through

memorial services

ciet}^,

had she done thus

to

some

concentrate

upon

she had

filled

her^

Surely there

must have been something more than the that

so-

What

her honor.

in

attention of the people?

self the

head."

fact

the highest station in the

country to cause such profound expressions of interest.

The

relation she held to the

Missionary Society of the

Church, as well as the

which that fitting

Methodist Episcopal

warm

personal friendship

relation rendered possible,

that

question.

Woman's Home

makes

we should seek an answer

Our age

is

artistic,

to

it

this

literar}-, scientific,

philosophical, ever ready to stud}' the principles

of business and mone^'-getting.

we

stop long

enough

to dwell

How

seldom do

upon the

results

!

LUCY WEBB HAYES. our

of

character

To

!

few moments.

this

If

embodied

as

civilization

we

stud)^

we

the qualities which,

shall

9 in

invite

individual 3-

ou

for a

be able to present

when combined, made

dear friend, in w^hose

memory we

so noble, so gracious,

this

are gathered,

and so beloved, we

shall

spend a profitable hour. Besides, our societ}^ has for its chief purpose

the educating, ennobling, and elevating of domestic It

life.

becomes our duty

ideals, that

we

may

ma3^ sa}^

here

is

the

imitate.

If,

serve as object lessons

Here life

to seek for models, or

are

lived

;

of

whom

the principles embodied,

which we want you

to

then, in Mrs. Hayes, the president

of our societ3^ our standard-bearer for nine years,

we

find the

qualities

part a model, an ideal,

which make her even

how

suitable that,

in

though

dead, she shall yet speak to us

Before enlarging further, the principal events of her

let

life.

us briefly review

She was the only

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

lo

daughter of Dr. James and Maria Cook Webb,

and was born 1

83 1.

stock. all

On

August

Chillicothe, Ohio,

in

28,

her mother's side she came of Puritan

Her

grandfather, Judge Isaac Cook, and

four of her great-grandfathers served in the

Revolutionary

War

cut and Virginia

who was

Her

line.

Webb,

Dr.

father,

of an old Virginia family, but born in

Kentuck}^ served of the

in regiments of the Connecti-

in the

War

of 181 2 as a

When

Kentucky Mounted Riflemen.

subject of this sketch

his

Ohio home

manumitting the slaves of the intention of sending

Webb, her mother, was sense, educated,

convictions.

refined,

From

for the

them a

the

he died

had

purpose of

his inheritance, with to Liberia.

woman

of

rare

Mrs.

good

and of deep religious

her infancy Lucy was familiar

with the sad and pathetic side of of her father

infant,

I^exington, Ky., whither he

of cholera in

gone from

was but an

member

life.

The death

almost broke the mother's heart.

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

ii

Doubtless this familiarity with sorrow, always battled with, but always its

more or

influence on the child in

less present,

making her the mar-

velously tender and sympathizing

we

so profoundly

had

woman whom

mourn.

But her sunny and joyous nature was only subdued, not suppressed, and perhaps few dren have

known

a happier childhood.

educated in part with

Wesleyan University,

She was

her brothers in the Ohio at

Delaware, Ohio, having

Her education

been admitted as a special pupil.

was completed

chil-

in the Cincinnati

Wesleyan

College,

then under the charge of Rev. P. B. Wilber, a school

time

high character, where

of very

many

of the

women

that

at

of Ohio, as well as

those of neighboring States, were educated.

was here I

so

am

met her

I first

in

the

autumn of

It

1848.

surprised at myself that after the lapse of

many

years

tone, her dress,

I

distinctly

and the

recall

first

her looks, her

words she

said to

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

12

me.

was

It

in

must be that the intense personaHty which her so

makes her

marked

a

feature,

that

which

so vividly present with us this even-

ing,

which enables us almost

and

rejoice in her smile as

we

to

hear her voice

did last year,

equally characteristic of her then.

was

--^^^.^Mtv^standing, with, reluctant

Where the brink and

Womanhood and

She was cent

childhood

meetfleet."

A

sixteen years of age.

pure, inno-

somewhat shy and demure

face,

pression,

feet.

river

large

with mirth

or

hazel

eyes

capable

melting into

in

ex-

dancing

of

tenderness, abun-

dant dark, glossy hair, worn in a style not unlike that

with which you

sweet

and

are

expressive,

arched eyebrows,

full,

all

classically-formed

intellectual

medium

nose,

forehead, and

complexion known as rose brunette. of

mouth

familiar,

She was

height, with a slender, girlish form,

in a dress of gray cashmere,

of simplicity.

The

tout

made

in the

extreme

ensemble gave the im-

pression of a certain naive refinement, not un-

Hke that of the Puritan maiden picture

is

Priscilla,

whose

so exquisitely drawn for us by Long13

:

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

14

This

fellow.

"

She

Something

how

my

standing by book.

is

Mother

is

arose and put

looked up from

is

my

embarrassed way

half

a

"What

coming

sick girl myself, I I

in

I

in school,

In some

going to happen to-day."

surprise I asked: "

saw her that day

desk as

said is

I

going to happen?"

to-day," she said.

A

home-

was immediately sympathetic.

my arm

of school-girls, and then

around her

in the fashion

we somehow

entered into

an unspoken compact of intimacy, which lasted

with ever-increasing affection for forty-one years.

She was

a

good student.

The

veteran teacher

of advanced classes sometimes said to the less

studious pupils, at the close of recitation: " ladies, I

commend

to

you the example

Young

of Miss

Webb." Several names, more or less prominent, are

found

among

her school-mates.

I

can not forbear

mentioning one to

whom

ferred with special

pride and affection. Professor

she and

all

of us

re-

1

LUCY WEBB HAYES. Rachel L. Bodle3^ Dean of the College of Philadelphia ship,

a

;

15

Woman's Medical

woman

of ripe scholar-

an honored member of several

scientific as-

country, an enthusiastic pro-

sociations of the

moter of the higher education of women, and devout Christian.

She made

age in which she

lived.

mark on

a deep

a

the

She, too, has recently

passed over to the majorit3% and ere this perhaps these two friends

may have met

in the

heavenly

courts to which they have ascended.

Miss

Webb

and soon

after

finished her school course in 1850,

became engaged

Birchard Hayes, a young lawyer

known

for several

established

years,

himself in

to

Rutherford

whom

she had

and who had recently

Cincinnati.

If

were

I

writing a biography instead of a brief sketch,

should enlarge upon the fact that she had

developed

into

a

vivacious

beautiful,

should try to describe to you her

with her mother and brothers

;

I

life

should

girl

at

I

now ;

I

home

tell

you

6

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

1

something of the

which she moved,

social circle in

of the day of her bridal, the dress she wore, the

guests w^ho were present, the grave and dignified

young bridegroom, of wedding journey It is

enough

their

return after their

modest housekeeping.

to their

to say that as her

lished the reputation of being a ability in his

profession,

and

husband

man

filled

estab-

of superior

one position

of trust after another, his wife's character deep-

ened and broadened with his own.

The peace last

of these

happy years was broken

at

by that appalling anachronism of the nine-

teenth century, our Civil War.

Mr. Hayes, and the

two brothers of Mrs Hayes were among the to join the

army

;

and

she, in

common

first

with other

wives and sisters both North and South, entered into the

gloom

shadowed every home

She was an intense

country.

woman,

that

a

fit

wife for a hero.

ever heard her complain.

I

I

in our

patriot,

a heroic

doubt

any one

doubt

if

if

she ever

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

17

discouraged her husband even by a look. she patiently lay

da}'

down on her couch

One

of pain,

and gave the absent father their fourth son, the little

A year and a half later he died in her

Joseph.

arms while she was with Colonel Hayes

W.

White, near Charleston,

Va.

Camp

at

Such were the

exigencies of war that the babe was sent for burial

unaccompanied by any member of

to Cincinnati,

his family.

have heard her say that the

I

was when she stood within the

hour of her

life

door of the

little

cottage used for head-quarters,

and saw the

train

bear away the

boy

home

in

to his last

Her

life

in

lonely

the camps in

diers early learned that she

They

of use to them.

woman

"

little

Spring Grove Cemetery.

West

Virginia was

almost as busy as that of her husband.

blooming

bitterest

The

was ever ready

called

the

sol-

to be

young and

Our Mother," because

of her

motherly ways, of the delicacies she prepared for the sick, of the

hymns

she sang for them as they 2

8

:

—

!

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

1

gathered around her on Sunday evening, of the brightness she sought to bring into their anxious Hves.

It

amount

their love for her

There must have been some

eration.

martial

made

inherited

life

warrior ancestors.

Martial music was her delight.

She was indeed

flag.

On

affinity for

by Mrs. Hayes from her

She would kindle into enthusiasm our

at the sight of

a patriot

the occasion of their silver wedding the

23d Ohio presented her with a silver

which were engraved the following

by one of the private "

to ven-

plate,

written

lines,

soldiers

To

thee,

We

bring this token of our love; thy boys

Our

INIother,

on thy

silver troth.

Give greeting unto thee, with brimming

Take

it,

for

it is

made of beaten

Was worth To

gentle,

it,

Of thy

Our

rare

a gentle

speech,

word

the surgery of a hundred schools

heal sick thought,

Take

when

liearts.

coin,

Drawn from the hoarded treasures of thy Kind words and

on

and make our bruises whole!

jNIother; 'tis

but some small part

bounty we give back

to thee

!"

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

19

Perhaps among the most valued things in her possession

were two gold badges, one a

six-

pointed star bearing a finely embossed eagle with the inscription, " Society of the Virginia,

the

of

West

Lucy Webb Hayes, Honorary, 1883;"

other a pin bearing her

full

which hangs a pendant inscribed, lief

Army

on the reverse,

Corps;"

Ohio Woman's

**

Woman's Re-

Presented by the

Corps to

Relief

"

name, below

Webb

Lucy

Hayes, in grateful recognition of her distinguished services in

behalf of the Ohio soldier and his

children, April 18, 1888."

Both of these badges

were worn on her breast when she was dressed for the grave.

have just been reading afresh

I

the pathetic story told for

her husband after he was of South

battle

read

by herself of the search

it

Mountain.

unmoved.

It

wounded is

at

the

impossible to

Through an omission

easily

explained by the confusion usual after a battle, the telegram she

received

merely stated

that

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

20

Colonel Hayes was wounded, and asked her to

come

at once.

Neither the severity of his

wound

nor the place where he was to be found were given her.

She

started, in

Mr.

in-law,

Piatt,

companj' with her brother-

of Columbus, with only

They spent

vague information.

this

on the

six days

journey, and in their search in the hospitals in Baltimore, Washington, and other places, only to

be met always with the word, "Colonel Hayes's

name At

is

last,

went

not to be found in our

list

of wounded."

worn out with

and

despair, they

fatigue

a second time to the Patent Office, then an

improvised hospital.

As she was descending

the

steps after another fruitless morning's search she

saw several wounded and battered

soldiers with

the badge of the 23d Ohio on their caps. frantic,

she called out to them to

astonished

Hayes," the}

said.

dismay.

her where

The boys looked

she might find their colonel. their

tell

Almost

"

Why,

it

is

They gathered around

Mrs. her,

:

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

21

gave her the desired information, and comfort her with their pit3\

In relating

" I

remember how

it all

day, the

wounded men

all

said,

wretchedness cance

;"

since."

says

:

she

it

my own

and adds, with pathetic

signifi-

in the Patent Office

She reached her husband twelve hours

later in the little village of

"I

to

looked, the time of

around me,

"I have never been

:

tried

Middletown, Md.

She

found him in a small room, in a little brick

house, doing well, but very anxious about me.

He

me

greeted

'And

so, dear,

with the sorrowful badinage

you stopped

Washington before coming

and

to do Baltimore to me, did you?'

"

In 1866, General Hayes was elected to Congress, fill

In

and afterwards was three times

called

to

the office of Governor of the State of Ohio.

1876 he was chosen for

the high office of

President of the United States. of official tired

to

life

his

at the

home

at

After four years

head of the Nation, he

re-

Fremont, where he and

MEMORIAL SKETCH,

22

Mrs. Hayes spent the succeeding nine years of their

life.

Here the hands, so

full

of holy en-

deavors, were destined to be suddenly folded for rest.

Here the angel of death found her and

bore her away.

.¥:

---^^^^I^^tv-

,ET us look now if

we

united to pressive,

can,

a little

more

what were the

make her

life

closely, to find,

characteristics that

so symmetrical and im-

and how circumstances had combined

to

prepare her for the high position to which she was

We

called.

mestic

life.

shall

begin with her home, her do-

Every woman should be

the closest scrutiny here. tion.

Any failure

is

say

self-evident

is

key

to the situa-

at this point will defeat

individual happiness, but

there

It is the

able to bear

must defeat the best

in the people at large. ;

not only

nevertheless

that

This you will

we wish

it

might

sink deep into the heart of every one, especially the young.

Mrs.

Hayes had

a practical knowl-

edge of household duties, and

held that such

knowledge was the accomplishment of the true 23

—

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

24

woman. is

She believed that the education of books

not the only education of

when

days,

of her

own

still

a

life.

young mother, she did much

Her garden, her

sewing.

poultry, the beautiful Alderneys,

of pleasure.

Her

how

dairy, her

were

all

their tables

hands.

She knew

own

to instruct her servants in every detail

In later years,

of practical housekeeping.

she had become the president of the

Home

when

Woman's

Missionary Society, she was watchful

jealous, indeed

the

sources

had on

friends often

golden butter made by her well

In the early

young

— that

girls in

the literary education

of

our industrial schools should

always be subordinate to the intimate practical

knowledge of household this

industries.

Let us make

statement as emphatic as possible.

reach the ear of every j^oung

girl

that

Let

we

it

are

trying to influence through our organization, and let

us hold ourselves to

than ever,

now

it

even more strongly

that her voice

is

silent.

LUCY WEBB HAYES. She was

good mother.

a

When

her comrades. that they their

own.

were

pleasures with an

Up

to

manhood

She entered

abandon equal

them

joke.

One

with great amusement, that

and mother were

New England

at

into

to their

There was no

as to play off

some innocent prank or tells,

felt

there was no fun perfect to

her boys without their mother. delight so great to

children were

they were together you

of an age.

all

Her

25

upon her

of the sons

when

his father

an immense reception

in a

town, he stood an hour in line in

order to shake her hand, and repeat the not unusual greeting that for the stand 3^ou

"we

old farmers thank

you

have taken on temperance;"

and she thanked him cordially in return, without the slightest idea that she was speaking to her

own

son.

Her enjoyment

the best part of

it.

genuine reverence their law.

And

little

story

was

yet they never failed in

for her.

As might be

of this

Her wish was

really

expected, her sons and

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

26

daughter were to her an if

iinallo3^ed joy.

any one of them ever gave her cause

We

ment's anxiety.

doubt

I

mo-

for a

dare not invade the sacred-

ness of the relation between herself and her hus-

band, except to say that

it

was

The

perfect.

re-

spect which each held for the other, and the perfect

accord of their

which

tiful relations

made

dren,

their

other household.

No one

lives.

lives,

the}-

together with the beau-

both held to their

home an example It

was the best

chil-

every

for

side of their

ever came under their roof without

going away cheered by the obvious happiness of their family relations.

She came of educated and refined parents,

who

in turn

worth.

Her

sprang from people of standing and early j^outh

had been spent

in the

social life of Chillicothe, the first capital of Ohio,

and one of

its

education was

most cultured

cities.

much beyond

was already somewhat

Her

literary

the average.

familiar

with

the

She social

|

LUCY WEBB HAYES. etiquette of

27

Washington from her residence there She had been the wife of the

for four years.

Governor of Ohio

for

three terms.

She was

in

the full

maturity

server, a

keen and somewhat incisive judge of

of middle

character and motives.

and dignity.

life,

a

close

She had beauty,

She had such

ob-

grace,

that she

was

sure to be mistress of the situation however

diffi-

cult.

But, best of

science,

all,

tact

she had an exacting con-

an unselfish nature,

quick sympathies,

and that rare common sense which kept her steady and unspoiled.

With

this

generous equip-

ment, she entered the station where the eyes of the whole country were focused

some

her, with

trepidation, but with the courage born of

self-respect.

no

upon

woman

tinction

The

ever

verdict of the

filled

and grace.

country

that position with

None

more

dis-

ever gave to the Ex-

ecutive Mansion a sweeter atmosphere or a elevated moral tone.

that

is

more

Judging from the eulogies

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

28

since pronounced

upon

her,

more surely enthroned

We

people. linger a

little

ing interest.

moment

in the aifections of the

should like to hide the hour-glass and

upon

Naturally

life.

no one has ever been

it is

culminating period of her

this

to her friends

Indeed,

one of absorb-

why may we

not spend a

few of the circumstances

in recalling a

of the time, and in relating one or two instances

which

will

she met

its

show the

tact

demands?

I

was present, with

tives,

know

I

will better illustrate her

When

scene.

genuineness of character.

a few other friends

It

and

rela-

was a profoundly impressive

seen more than once,

be a fascinating spectacle.

must

still

To unaccustomed

eyes

was even much more than First

its

its

it

that.

was the noble room

assembled, worthy in

and

of nothing that

on the day that General Hayes was inaugu-

rated President.

it

and grace with which

in

which we were

architectural proportions

dignity of adornments of the scene about

LUCY WEBB HAYES. to take place.

of the countr}^

The

galleries

The members

Representatives, Senators, of the

were

29 of the Hite

full

House

of the

distinguished ofl&cers

army and navy, the Supreme Court

of the

United States, and the Diplomatic Corps came

announced by the proper another, and took ators

their

officer,

one body

The

usual seats.

and Representatives were

American

in,

after

Sen-

in the dress of the

and navy

citizen, officers of the arni}^

in glittering

of

uniform and equipments

then came

;

the black-ro"bed Justices, and the gorgeous array of

the Diplomatic

Corps

— many

them

of

resenting the nobility of foreign courts.

rep-

After

all

these distinguished people had been seated, there

came

a

moment's pause, a hush over the house,

a stillness of expectancy.

The

officer

announced

States,

and Gen-

the

President of the United

eral

Grant and General Hayes, the outgoing and

incoming Presidents, walked in arm-in-arm, amid the silence of the whole body,

who

at

once arose

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

30

and stood

they

until

were

All

seated.

this

was eloquently suggestive of the glory

scene

and dignity of the position our friend was about In some trepidation

to assume.

lest

might be overwhelmed by the same

where she

to the seat

below

w4th

General Grant and

posed in manner. fancied

us,

sat in

company

own

her

little

She was intensely absorbed, but com-

daughter.

I

flutterings

overcame our courage, we looked

of heart that

Mrs.

she, ^too,

As her husband

that his eye sought

seated himself,

hers

;

were both outwardly serene during

but they this

cere-

monial scene, and so remained throughout the reading of the inaugural before the great sea of

upturned faces

in the

taking of the oath of historic

their

office,

mansion which

home.

At the

we gathered round House,

square of the Capitol, the

where

for

for

and the return four years

was

to the to

close of this wonderful

be

day

the dinner-table in the White the

first

time

Mrs.

Hayes

LUCY WEBB HAYES. assumed the duties of a

3^

Perhaps she was

hostess.

subdued, but, with that exception, she

little

was her usual

self,

considerate, cheerful, watchful

of the comfort of every one.

But

for the stately

dining-room and the presence of the corps of servants, she

Fremont, so

might have been

little

own

inimitable

said she at the all

all

home

at

seem perturbed.

After

around her, and,

in her

did she

dinner she called us

in her

manner of

half pleasantry, she

was confronted with an embarrassment

very outset of her of&cial

life

;

that,

while

the rooms were spacious and elegant, there

was one that was known which was, par

as

excellence,

the State bedroom,

the

one

for

distin-

guished guests, where even Royalty had sometimes head.

rested

its

wise a

woman

may

to

**

Now," she

make

a choice

said, " I

am

among you who

each be supposed to have a right to this

tinction,

and thus make you

my

too

enemies.

I

dis-

have

thought of an expedient; you shall draw cuts."

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

3^

We

laughingly agreed to abide by this decision.

One

of the gentlemen ran to the steward for the

broom-straws, and, breaking them into the quired to

number

draw.

you

I

of pieces, held

them

each one

for

speak with authority when

that the friend

who

much more impressed

slept in that

with

the

re-

I

tell

room was

tact

of

the

hostess than even with the carved old furniture,

the satin hangings, exquisite laces, or the historic associations of the room,

and the greater richness

of landscape as seen from the windows. clear that

one who could turn a corner

It

in

was this

graceful fashion might be safely trusted with even

greater difficulties of social diplomac}'.

During one of my

visits in the earl 3^ part of the

administration, I found the house full of the stir

and excitement of preparation President

for a great event.

and Mrs. Ha3'es were about

to

their first reception to the Diplomatic Corps.

their

honor they had invited

all

give

In

the distinguished

LUCY WEBB HAYES. officials in

33

Washington, and many notable people

from various parts of the country.

was a busy hour

Naturally

Hayes,— seeing

for Mrs.

it

that the

dressing-rooms were in perfect order; consulting

with

officials

adornments

about

for the

flags,

house

;

saying some

about the dress she was to wear to the

and

flowers,

steward about the banquet,

;

last

officer,

the work in her

words

giving orders etc., etc.

while each of these duties belonged to pointed

other

for,

;

its

ap-

Mrs. Hayes kept the guidance of

own

At the

hands.

ment one of the sons came

to his

busiest

mo-

mother with a

look of annoyed anxiety, and told her that a

man

and two women, Quakers, insisted on seeing her

and

his father.

They

said

they

were charged

with a religious message, and would -tarry until they could be received. at least fifty

He

added: "There are

people waiting to see father, some of

them on important business by appointment.

Of

course he can not see them, and of course ^•ou

:

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

34

can not stop to see any one.

we have had

bility

with

"What But

do

moment

are

walked into the

?

turning

How

added,

can "

I

all

them

right,

and

to

me, said

stop just

now?"

They may have come

sat the

library,

preceded by the President,

grave Friend, with his hat planted

firmly on his head, and beside

sweet-faced companions.

we

just tell

way; we must see them;" and quietly

a long

where

'11

His mother stopped his volu-

look, and,

a

shall I

in a

we

praj^ers, that

send them away."

I

all sat

down

what seemed

him two

placid,

After greeting them,

together in perfect stillness for

a long time, waiting

till

the Friend

should be ready to deliver his message.

At

last

he said he had been sent by the Yearly Meeting of their body to bring a message to them, and calling

them each by name, Rutherford and Lucy,

he opened the Scriptures and read various passages in

which denunciation and promises

fol-

lowed one another somewhat evenly balanced,

LUCY WEBB HAYES. charged Rutherford that to the great

and

these woes

of the

infinite

if

he

35

obedience

failed in

Ruler of the universe,

Book would come not

all

onl}'

upon him, but upon

all

larged at great length

upon the blessedness of

that people after

whose God

is

the

the Lord

and en-

and then,

;

another long and impressive silence,

bowed our heads, and he uttered At

people,

its

close

the

all

a solemn prayer.

shook

President

we

thanked him, and excused himself.

hands,

and

Mrs. Hayes

took them leisurely through the private rooms of the house,

showed them

ments, pointed

out

the

its

beautiful

lovely

views

appoint-

from

its

windows, and then bade them a kind good-b}^

They never knew

her door.

that they

had

nearl)^

consumed one of the busiest mornings of her

As she turned said

:

them." I

"It I

to her interrupted

at

life.

work she simply

would never have done not

saw she was quieted and

to

see

rested,

and

repeated to myself the quaint Saxon proverb

:

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

36 "

Prayer and provender hinder no man."

haps

this

is

not the time and place to say

Per-

how

our beloved friend acquitted herself during her first

diplomatic reception as the Queen of the Re-

public, but I can not forbear giving

my own

as-

sent to the universal verdict of the time that she

was the most regal-looking woman of that tinguished company. as hostess

Her

communicated

frank, genial

pecially

where cial

welcome

to the magnificent

pany an atmosphere of ease and

dis-

com-

sociability es-

appropriate to a republican gathering,

all

are equals, and unfamiliar to the

gatherings of royal courts.

^^^^^ V v^\#.5i

offi-

7\

5^

Zbc

IV

^^N

(Sluestton of Wiinc.

She had come

to a conclusion

Hayes together could have

for,

;

as she repeatedly said, she

done nothing without

She reasoned

after this fashion

not a fanatic, but

always in favor

I

do want

am

I

may be

still

States,

am

I

:

my

am

trust I

influence to be

Now,

my

I

have

my

family or

not willing to begin to do so now.

to be mistress

and

hostess, even

though

the wife of the President of the United

and

my

table be laid in

Washington instead

of Cincinnati, Columbus, or Fremont. I shall violate a

precedent

the Constitution, which

husband,

support.

his

"I

of temperance.

never hitherto offered wine to

I

this mat-

going to Washington, she and General

ter before

guests.

upon

I

;

is

It is true

but

I shall

all

that,

not violate

my

through

have taken the oath to obey.

If I 37

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

38

be a guest in foreign courts

were

to

pect

my

I

should ex-

entertainers to dictate the table courses

according to their individual customs

;

I

certainly

should not expect them to 3neld a conviction in

my

these gentlemen and ladies

I believe

behalf.

and other foreigners

of the Diplomatic Corps

much

concede as them.

As

my own

for

customed

to

them, too."

to me.

I

am

willing to trust

countrymen, they are

independent action.

And

so,

will

trust

shall

I

ac-

without reflection upon her

predecessors, she quietly acted according to her best

judgment, and dispensed her hospitality without

That so simple a matter

stimulants.

upon the me^iu casioned so prise.

It

for

her

own

much comment,

was

as deciding

table should

oc-

caused her some sur-

easier for her to bear

unkind

icism than the expostulation of friends it

have

who

crit-

feared

would be considered an unwelcome innovation,

and cause embarrassment cident to their

in the

official position.

festivities in-

But she held her

LUCY WEBB HAYES. She

ground.

said she

hoped

39

to provide so gener-

ously in other respects that there would be no occasion

reasonable

complaint, and begged

members of the Cabinet would

that the in

for

showing that

wit, anecdote, repartee,

join her

and

brill-

iancy of conversation were possible at a banquet

without the accessories of stimulants; and so

it

That she had not measured the wide

proved.

and far-reaching influence of her decision, does not lessen

its

Like most exalted

value.

souls,

she was humble, and builded better than she knew.

But

not true, after

is it

all,

that the real value of

the action lay in the fact that she

unmoved be right

in supporting that

was brave and

which she believed

Good, strong convictions

?

— convictions

and may even become ex-

that are aggressive,

—are

to

due

to in-

creased intelligence and large thinking;

but a

asperating

great

they

many call

it

rare.

Perhaps

people are so

—that

is,

**

it

is

judicial," I

they want to be so

believe

fair to all

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

40 sides

—that they are not ready when

a direct,

ing blow must be struck for the right.

was not one of fined, clear

cut,

convictions. is

these.

Her

Mrs. Haj^es

was sharply

dut}^

tell-

de-

and she had the courage of her

That

is

one reason

why

to-day she

one of the prominent characters of the century.

^\\t

ttti

nof

iBf ":3

bare ncf

inatf

upon H

raoulb."

:

^^M^W:^^ TLcBtimonialB.

Out have

at

of the great

amount of material which

command,

select

I

a ver}^ few

tributes

They

paid her for her course on this subject.

we

give additional proof that character of a great

are dealing with the

woman — one who

the world, and not to a locality. of

them

in

belongs to

I

most

find

the volumes presented by the ladies

of Illinois to Mrs.

Hayes

at

the

They

husband's Administration.

of her

close

consist of sen-

timents by people distinguished in literature, politics,

Some but

if

philanthropy, journalism, and

of so,

I

them may have been

in

art,

religion.

print before;

they were sent by their authors,

who

themselves applied them to Mrs. Haj-es Lucy Webb Hayes greatest loss in 1889.

is,

humanly speaking, the world's

How

few indeed had 4

it

to lose

41

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

42 like

her,

woman,

ideal

Church and State

!

she

that

was, of

Home

a standard-bearer as

this

noble woman, and centuries

from now, when other incidents in our National this period

and

Total abstinence has never had such

life at

be recalled but dimly, her -steadfast

shall

adherence to the truest Christian hospitality will be told as a

memorial of

Frances

her.

The woman who, standing

in the chief

home

bravely for the sake of every

who

stoops to

lift

wili^ard.

home, stood

in the land.

ADEIylNE "Highest,

E.

D. T.

WHITNEY.

The fragrance

the low."

of her goodness wili linger forever about the Executive

fred

Mansion.

To perform plicity is to

one's functions with fidelity and sim-

be both hero and

saint.

EDWARD Her country

dougi^ass.

and

also,

it

EGGI.ESTON.

praiseth her.

LOUISE CHANDI^ER MOUI.TON.

When

high moral worth and courage combine with

gentleness, matronl}^ dignity, graciousness, and sweetest charity, the

charm

is

complete.

President National

God

bless

the greatest

the

enemy

woman who of

d.

Academy

mankind!

huntixgton, New York.

of Design,

fearlessly

antagonizes

JUSTICE BARNEs,

Of the Superior Court

of

Dakota Territory.

;

LUCY WEBB HAYES. Look

in our eyes

43

your welcome waits you there,

:

North, South, East, West, from

all

and everywhere.

OLIVER WENDEI.1. HOivMES, In welcoming- Mrs. Hayes to Boston.

Her

If

presence

who come woman lost restore

lends

its

before

and

health

then

such

all

as

she

alone

WHiTTiER.

it.

Whene'er

a noble deed is wrought.

Whene'er

is

Our

to

it

Eden,

us

warmth

spoke a noble thought.

hearts in glad surprise,

To higher

levels rise.

Pr< a) 'TO

i,ongfel,l,ow.

-^'^^i^)^i:^fi^f^^^

1ber presl^encp ot tbe

Moman's 1bome

/IDtssionar^ Society,

I

HAVE had

a purpose in recalling

and

hastily

touching upon some of the more prominent events of her sa}'

I

life.

that

its

wonder

seem too much

if it will

opportunities and distinctions had an

even wider significance than had thus peared

work than any she had thus

submit the question whether there in this

famil}', It

world

ap-

far done.

is anj^

I

greater

duty to home and

after one's

than the helping to uplift a race?

was urged upon Mrs. Haj-es that she had

this rare opportunity-

Missionary Societ}^

purpose

;

president 44

far

that they were to be a contribution to a

;

greater

work

to

;

that the

was formed

that she could do a in

calling

Woman's Home for this especial

work

attention

to

for it,

it

as 'its

and com-

LUCY WEBB HAYES. manding confidence

in

45

that at this stage of

it,

existence perhaps no one else could do, not

its

only because of her prominence, but because she

was known a

loyal

to

be a

Methodist.

suggested Mrs. hesitated

her

;

home

public

life

woman (It

Hayes

of rare judgment and

was Dr. Rust who for

this

first

She

position.)

she coveted the ease and retirement of in ;

Fremont

after

many

her

years of

besides, in her modesty, she doubted

her essential fitness for the

ofiice.

Her

objections

were overruled, and she became our President.

Her

interest in the society

She presided

at

grew from year

to year.

each of our annual sessions, and

many

of the meetings of

the General Executive Board,

coming from Fre-

was

also present at

very

mont

to Cincinnati for that purpose.

trust

myself to speak of what she was to us

at

we

es-

these meetings.

It is

teemed her invaluable.

enough

I

dare not

to say that

As one

said,

most modest and the wisest of us

she was the

all.

Her

love

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

46

of countr}^ approached a passion

and, while a

;

generous giver to foreign missions, she kept the

She was

at

home.

familiar with the needs of the black

Her husband had

race.

to

work

place in her heart for the

first

helped, with his sword,

She well knew that the

break their chains.

Christian philanthropy of the next half century at least

should devote

as possible, the in slavery.

mon

wrong

itself

She gave her best thought, b}^

which

The Freedmen's Aid and

were chiefly engaged in their

is,

its

it

work should be

this

other societies

Society decided

largely industrial

Negro

girls

;

that

and women, and seek

make them good housewomen, good

mothers, and daughters that,

might

should undertake the domestic or family

training of to

com-

in

literary education.

The Woman's Home Missionary that

them

that had been done to

with others, to methods

be done.

repairing, as far

to

while

we

sit

And

so

it

wives,

comes about

together this evening in this

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

47

house of worship, there are many places through-

we have

out the South where

comfortable,

commo-

dious buildings, called industrial or model homes,

where are gathered numbers of j^oung women,

many

of

whom

have hitherto known no home

but the plantation cabin, who, under the charge of Christian matrons or superintendents, are being

taught habits of order, neatness

home

industries

all

indeed of the

—and the higher duties of chastity, and the transforming

purity of thought, ciples

—

of Christianity.

Recently

jected two such model

homes

prin-

we have

for the

pro-

illiterate

white girls of the South, which will doubtless soon be

built.

In other portions of our country, missionary territory,

known

we pursue something

as

of

the same methods, modified to suit the need of different localities.

territory here

In Utah

we have

dotted the

and there with school-houses, where,

under the charge of missionaries, we are teaching

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

48

the industries of

life

and the pure gospel of

home.

The same

general

plan has been adapted to

work among the Indians and New Mexicans, and recently in

Washington Territory and Alaska,

while a great deal of what

we

call local

being done in some of our

cities.

the support of missionaries

among

rived immigrants in

New York

is

This includes the newly ar-

and Boston.

Hayes's whole heart was in the work. specially interested in the

work

Mrs.

She was

department of supplies.

Nothing touched her warm heart

as did the needs

of the poorly-paid ministers and their families on

the frontiers.

The

barrels

and boxes sent from Fremont she

helped to pack with her

may be found

hands, and

j^ou

sure that no worn-out or unfit clothing

its

You

own

way

into the

Fremont box.

will find in the later

graph the

" last

pages of this mono-

words" of our beloved President,

i

LUCY WEBB H4YES. her address given

to us

other of her addresses.

only the great

much feel

work

to found, but as

at

You

of the

49

Boston, as well as will there see not

society she did so

you read you

will, I think,

the beat of her heart, the spirit she brought

into the work,

and get some idea of our

arable loss.

*^^^tV

irrep-

.^^. ---^^^ll^tvi—

1ber Cbristtan CF^aracter*

Her

creed was short, but

we

contained

the

all

At our annual meeting

law and the prophets. last 3^ear, as

it

stood together one morning be-

fore starting for the church, gravely talking

the important

we

felt

work

w^e

had before

us, of the

upon me and try to

said: " O, I

am

full

of tears

not good, but

keep the Golden Rule.

I

need

and divine

of great faith, of consecration,

wisdom, she turned her sweet eyes

of

I

do

do try to do to

others as I would they should do to me."

Those who knew her best

sa}^

that this

her working principle, the law of her

had so assimilated

was under

its

50

It

She

into her character that she

constant control.

say of any one.

tainment.

it

life.

was

is

This

is

much

the highest Christian

If true of her,

it

explains

why

to at-

she had

1

LUCY WEBB HA YES.

on the hearts of the people,

SO strong a hold

and it,

it lifts

eulogy of her

this

5

into a safe place

—into

you so

life, if

a eulogy of the law

If there be a principle which,

itself.

transform imperfect

can

plied,

revolutionize

it,

like the angels,

make

why

it

all

made her

so

ap-

nature,

sweet, unselfish

and

not exalt the principle?

warm and

human,

when

human

Obedience to this law made her ous, unselfish,

call

just, gener-

ready in sympathy.

shall

we

call it?

A

It

friend,

on the day of her funeral, in answer to the question

there had assembled this great mul-

of respectful, sorrowing

titude

"It

why

is

tribute

a

of the people.

of

the

people, replied

people

Lucy Hayes was

to at

a

:

woman

one with

humanity." It

that

was the influence of

made her

people

who

affairs as

this

law upon her

life

as genuinely interested in the plain

entertained her with their homely

she was in the refined and educated.

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

52

There was not the

least

trace

of affectation,

of condescension or patronage in her bearing

ward them, because she one helpfully

to

felt

none.

to-

She would be

prepare for and welcome the

kindly village people to a church festival with

They

sincere cordiality. friend,

because in her heart she was their friend.

She judged people by position.

One whose

so high an altitude his

lest

believed she was their

own

is

character, not

by

social

estimates are taken from

not liable to be disturbed

He

dignity be jostled or upset.

does not even think of his dignity.

A

friend told

me

that once

church with Mrs. Hayes, soon

Washington, she

when she was after

in

they went to

suggested to her

that

there

ought to be an unwritten law, a kind of com-

mon

consent

in place

rule, that

would keep the audience

until the Presidential party

retired,

to

save the crowding and crushing by the curious,

which rendered egress almost impossible.

She

LUCY WEBB HAYES. looked a mild rebuke, as she

we

here

are

all

on one

53

said:

"No,

level."

have heard one of her neighbors

I

when

the

dear;

that

tell

Annual Conference of the Church was

about to meet in Fremont, her pastor went to her to

know how many

tertain.

She replied she would take ten

but she said for

ministers she could en-

:

" Brother, I

want you

me some of the hard-worked

wives cuits.

who have had Send them

a pleasant week." place " principle

(you ve '

all

ministers and their

rather a poor time on their

to us It

and we

was

will try to give

this "

put yourself

which made her stop her

cir-

them in his

carriage

,

the street, and take her to her home.

night, at

tired to her

Fremont, Mrs. Hayes had

re-

room, after doing duty to a houseful

of guests, to be

awakened

heavily falling rain. of a

to pick out

heard of it) and pick up a poor, drunken

woman from One

or fifteen,

at

midnight by the

Suddenly fears

humble old neighbor, who

for the safety

lived

down by

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

54

She could not

the river, began to disturb her.

She got up,

rest.

called the

him through the darkness

coachman, and sent

to the little cottage, to

find the rapidly rising waters already in the

of the riage,

lonely

woman.

and driven

She was put

to Spiegel

Hayes had prepared her and stood ready ing she was

to

a

Grove, where Mrs.

introduced to the

hostess, she

in

the

night,

was made

to

guests

at

the

had rained down

and,

feel

clothing,

In the morn-

her.

breakfast-table as the friend that

upon them

in the car-

room and dry

welcome

room

seated

by her

welcome and un-

embarrassed amid the elegant company.

But

w^e

might multiply examples

Her neighbors, supply I

friends,

many more

have given.

indefinitely.

and acquaintances could

quite as impressive as those

They throw strong

side-lights

on

her character.

Shakespeare makes Shy lock say with you,

sell

:

"I

will buj^

with you, talk with you, walk with

LUCY WEBB HAYES. you, and so following; but

I will

55

not eat with

you, drink with you, nor pray with you." spirit of caste its

thus strongly paragraphed found

rebuke in the daily

The

This

life

press of the time

of Mrs. Hayes.

made frequent

refer-

ence to the "Sunday evenings" at the White

House.

I

recall

one of these evenings with

especial pleasure, as I think

so

many

it

was not often that

people whose names are the property

of the Nation happened together informally at the same time.

Perhaps the reason

is

found in

the fact that though the ceremonious reception in

honor of the

wedding of President and

silver

Mrs. Hayes occurred the next (Monday) evening, yet this

was the

real

There were perhaps

anniversary of that event. thirty or forty people gath-

ered around the piano. selected the

hymns and

Vice-President Wheeler directed the singing.

He

would have reminded you of the teacher of a village singing-school, in his earnest

and hearty

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

56

interest in leading his choir, as

he called

it.

There

were Chief-Justice and Mrs. Waite, Justice and Mrs. Harlan and their daughter, Secretaries Evarts,

Sherman, and Devins, Mr. Bancroft the Generals Sherman

rian,

and McCook, Senator

Dawes and daughter, and many names

I

do not now

recall.

heartily in singing the

histo-

others,

whose

Most of them joined

hymns

of Watts, Toplady,

Montgomery, Cowper, and Charles Wesley. Wheeler had

little

Mr.

patience with the ephemeral

compositions found in the revival hymnals; but

once in a while, as on this evening, his Presbyproprieties were overruled

terian florid

and

and enthusiastic members of the company,

all

would

the chorus of

burst, as

own

seemed an voice,

with one consent, into

"The Sweet By and

Thee Every Hour," and last

by the more

especial

"

By,"

" I

Need

Hold the Fort."

favorite.

I

hushed

This

my

and looked around on the assembled

company, as they made the beautiful room ring

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

57

with the inspiring melody; each one seemed tent on singing the chorus with his

The enthusiasm was

emphasis.

too

own

much

in-

special for

Mr.

Wheeler; he deserted his principles, and, beating time with his hand, he sang with of his splendid lungs.

the power

all

General Sherman, though

not singing, was captured by the martial chorus,

and seemed

to enforce its

command

muscle of his mercurial body. parently unstirred one of the

President himself, his

little

who

The only

ap-

company was

the

with his arm around

sat,

looking grave and preoccupied.

girl,

above

Immediatel)^

with every

him

hung

length portrait of Washington.

Stewart's It

full-

did not need

a great stretch of fancy to inform his splendid figure with

below,

or

life

to

and with

suppose

interest in

that

the scene

he also might be

chanting the chorus for the encouragement of the thoughtful

man whose

shoulders were

pressed with the cares akin to

those

now

he once

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

58 bore.

We

all

know

the tendency there

Sunday evening.

dent to show you istic

of Mrs.

for her

how

Hayes was

I

to relax

and conversation

into secular habits of thought

of a

is

have recalled

this inci-

the wise tact so characterused, not only to provide

family and the friends

habit of dropping in a pleasant

the time, but that in this

way

who were way

in the

of spending

the atmosphere of

the day " set apart " might be unobtrusively rec-

ognized and preserved, while at the same time she

was the

ascetic or

farthest

from having

possible

from

an}^ officious

being

an

sanctimony.

--^^'^^^^^^tvConclixQion.

The literature of eulogy,

found

in editorial

and

other notices of her death, makes interesting reading.

It is a

hopeful sign

journalists of the day.

goodness

The

when genuine

is

at a

means

It

upon these

As one

them.

for herself;

held, doubtless

qualities.

writer says

:

"

will

It did

fixed

not create

She made

a

name

without controversy she represents

the highest type of American

hope there

that unaflfected

premium.

lofty position she

attention

qualities

such emphatic language from the best

call forth

will

We

womanhood."

be a biography written of her that

include the noble words said of her by the

press, as well as letters

written

some of the touching personal by the great and good of our

country. 59

;

MEMORIAL SKETCH.

6o

can imagine the amazed incredulity with

I

which she would run her own eye over these In her modesty she would utterly

words.

them

claim

who

as applying to her.

Nevertheless

clasp that never failed us before

is

— rejoice that the sentiment of the country

self

must now

close this sketch, written in sad-

While wTiting

ness.

and

gifts"

you

for

—that

the

all

—

its

Golden Rule graven rule

pel,

which

all

—

3^es,

I

I

wished a wish

which if

is

lived

it

most beautiful

we

the

epitome

literally

shall

"

best

lesson, that

heart

is

the

the pen of our Lord

b}'

and the world, too

be that

my-

take from the study

the best missionary rule in

Shall

for

covet for us the

adornment of the

glorious

that

it,

we may

that

is,

of this character

is

who knew

so nearly true.

We

us

—we

we

warm

reach out our hands in vain for the

her best

dis-

of

would

— into

the

gos-

transform angels.

It

the whole Bible.

no longer

let it float in

a

—

LUCY WEBB HAYES. chaotic

way around

and sweetly

us,

times

6l

touching us most nearly us,

and

leaving us often to grope amidst the mists of

self-

at

and imprison

it

in

we

shall capture

our deepest consciousness

dominate every thought, every word, every

it

action

?

The

question she asked us last j^ear

now

nitely touching to us

the

evading

!

but that from henceforth

will;

let

then, alas

;

night?"

How

" :

soon,

molding principle of

if

is infi-

Watchman, what this

this world,

rule were the

might we "wave

the answer back to heaven," beloved friend,

the Prince of Peace

come

!"

dwells

;

lo

the

!

ineffable

glory,

"

Lo

!

Son of God has

If she could speak to us from in

of

with

quished, labor ended, Jordan past,"

"

where she

sorrow

van-

we might hear

her solemnly say to us at this hour: "All things

whatsoever ye would that

do ye even so to them."

men

should do to you,

J

Jn M^moxxam

:

M

J^OBtn.

BY

MARY

A.

LATHBURY.

—

"•^^^^ OF

LUCY WEBB HAYES. BY MARY

I

,3

,

And

A.

FRIENDS, who

LATHBURY.

sit

silent grief

ill

Before her vacant place,

seek,

through blinding mists of

The loved and vanished Lift

face!

up your eyes; though mists

Upon

tears,

lie

low

the path she trod.

She walks transfigured

in the light

That crowns the

of God.

We know Of love

hills

the sweet and sacred spring

—beyond

all art

That gave her smile the potent charm That won the Nation's 65

f

6

heart.

——

!

]N MEMORIAM.

66

We

saw the halo and the crown,

By

other eyes unseen,

That placed upon her

The woman and

We

saw

— yet

rightful throne

the queen.

diml}^ did

we

see

That where our leader stood

The heavens

bending down

w^ere

to

meet

Her growing angelhood.

Then from

Upon So

the heights there

heart-alluring, low,

He

a voice

her inner ear,

That now *'

fell

—she

is

and sweet,

not here!

giveth his beloved sleep."

He

also sends the

morn.

Into that rare and radiant day

A

child of earth

The Lord be with

And

then

—

all

is

us

born. till

we

sleep.

labor done

Into the light of that long day

Receive

us,

every one

i

MBmortal

J^apsr

BY

MRS.

R. S.

RUST.

^jTtHIS paper was prepared and read as introductory to ^-^ a special service, held

November

i,

1889, in

pursu-

ance of the following resolution, which had been sent out

by the General Executive Board of the "Woman's

Home

Missionary Society, earlier in the summer: ''^

Resolved, That

we

invite the Auxiliaries, Circles,

Bands, and Friends of the Society to contribute offerings, precious memorials, and forward them to the General

Board of Managers, to meet in Indianapolis the

last

of

October.

"These offerings

will

be presented, through the Con-

ference Secretaries, at an

hour designated during the

Convention, and will be consecrated to the establishment of a Deaconess

Home

and Training-school

aries.

The

institution will bear the

Ivucy

Webb

Hayes, and prove, we

for mission-

honored name of

trust,

an unfailing

inspiration to secure those elements of character which

rendered her

life

so useful and beautiful.

It will

com-

memorate her deep interest in behalf of home missions, and serve as a humble memorial of the love cherished for her

68

by the good people of this Nation."

^^^^^^<-^

]V[E]V[Ot{IAL

^S^

DISTINCTIVE

PflPBH.

feature of the latter half

i^^^J^A of the nineteenth century

many good and

the develop-

is

We

ment of

so

esteem

a special evidence of divine favor that

it

one of the most times

— one

illustrious

whom

delighted to honor president of the ciety.

the

—has

true

women.

women

of modern

Church and the Nation been the

first

and only

Woman's Home Missionary

Nearly nine years she rendered most

Soval-

uable service, presiding at our annual sessions,

meeting with the Executive Board, and in times of darkness and despondency counseling, encouraging, and inspiring us with faith and hope.

We

meet

in

sorrow to-day.

For the

first

time

in our history our beloved president is not with 69

MEMORIAL PAPER.

70

We

US.

The

are bereft.

pressive.

"

God took

her."

When

it

sense of sadness

She walked with God, and

seemed

as

is

is

op-

not; for

though home and friends

and Church and countrj^ needed her the most, she

was suddenly taken from our midst

— from

the

sphere of love and service, and translated to the

The

realm of a blessed immortality.

gence of her death sent sorrow

all

sad

intelli-

over our land,

and the occupants of palace and cabin

partici-

pated in the general lamentation.

The

society

was

called into existence,

by the

providence of God, to meet a great want in our land.

It

was organized

of June the at

first

in

meeting

1880,

and on the 8th

in its behalf

was held

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincin-

nati,

Ohio.

In arranging for the work, and in the selection of our president,

knew

not.

we were

led in a wa}^

we

In devising means for developing and

I

I

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

71

organizing the latent forces of the Church

women, we

its

that

felt

God was with

duty and guiding

ing out

in

its

among

us, point-

performance.

After our plans were made, with our inexperi-

we shrank from assuming

ence and timidity,

The

responsibility.

cial

selection of officers

lowing day, and,

meeting

final

had been

at the last

for

We

the

called for the fol-

moment, no one had

been found available for the responsible president.

offi-

office of

had counseled with one another;

we had sought

divine aid;

but, as yet,

no one

answering our need had been found.

In our

we counseled

together

home,

a

at

late

hour,

around the family

altar,

and submitted the

cult

problem to our Heavenly Father

and

still

we

bended knee

again, on

cried for light

and

After midnight, band,

who

said,

I

at

diffi-

for solution,

our bedside,

help.

was aroused by

" Elizabeth, I

my

have found

hus-

a presi-

dent for you," and then suggested Mrs. Ruther-

MEMORIAL PAPER.

72 ford

Ha5^es

B.

Home

for

president

of the

Woman's

Missionary Society.

She was then

at

Washington, preoccupied by

her duties as the wife of the President of the

United States.

Hayes the It

At

first I

urged objections.

will not be able to give

management

of a

might subject her

denominational work.

much

attention to

new missionary to criticism for It

Mrs.

enterprise.

engaging

in

might be deemed too

insignificant an office to receive indorsement from

so high a source.

Our motive

in

approaching one

occupying so exalted and conspicuous a position

might be misjudged, and we seem presumptive

and intrusive.

To he

every objection Mr. Rust answered that

felt

office

she was the providential

woman

of president of our society,

would not cause so

hesitate to give

full

for the

and that she

her influence to a

of promise to our country.

The next day

the ladies met at the church,

I

—

;

:

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

73

and the minutes of the meeting

as appointed,

furnish the following report ''July loth.

—At

an adjourned meeting, Mrs.

Bishop Wiley in the

Mrs. Rust presented

chair.

the report of the Committee on Nomination, as follows

President,

:

Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes

Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Bishop S.

I.

W.

Wiley, Mrs. F.

Hoyt, Mrs. Bishop Clark, Mrs. A. Shinkle,

and Mrs. tary,

J.

Mrs. R.

M. Walden S.

Rust

;

;

Corresponding Secre-

Recording Secretary, Mrs.

James Dale; Treasurer, Mrs. A. R. Clark."

The

report of the

committee was adopted,

and the corresponding secretary communicated to

Mrs.

Hayes, through her pastor. Rev.

Lanahan, the information of her first

she hesitated to accept the

duties at

election. office,

Washington might prevent

operation with the society. nest solicitation

her

life-long 7

At her

active co-

After the most ear-

from her numerous

among whom was

lest

Dr.

friends

and esteemed

MEMORIAL PAPER.

74

associate, Mrs. sition,

and

John Davis— she accepted the po-

in her letter of acceptance said:

the ladies of the ciety believe that

Woman's Home Missionary

my

"If So-

name, and such service as

I

ma}^ be able to render, will aid so good a cause,

I

can not decline."

wisdom

Her

The event has proved

the

of the action.

influence as president has been of inesti-

mable value

to the society.

teem with which

vShe w^as

The honor and

es-

regarded by the good

people of this Nation led to a favorable consideration of the cause vShe

had espoused

;

while her

quick grasp of the principles involved, her clear

understanding of the details of the work, and her wise judgment as to

the policy and methods of

reformatory work, have been of great value in the administration of

its affairs.

Mrs. Hayes was beautiful in person and character.

She impressed

all

who came under

influence with the genuineness of her

her

womanly

LUCY WEBB HAYES. She was

qualities. thetic,

of

suffering.

visiting

good and sympa-

heart

and took a deep

human

when

at

75

interest in

every phase

She was never happier than

and reheving the needs of the poor,

blending the consolations of religion with the comforts of hospital

life

;

never happier than when

and on the

battle-field,

in the

aiding the sick

and wounded, and cheering the dying with the blessed truths of eternal

House, the recipient of

enced

less

engaged

real

Even

life.

its

in the

White

honors, she experi-

enjoyment than when actively

in Christ's service in

cabin, in hospital or

on

humble cottage or

battle-field.

In the rich

cluster of graces that adorned her character, her

love for suffering humanity

the welfare of our

As she

own

and her

interest in

land shone the brightest.

studied the destitute portions of our

country, and became more fully acquainted with

the needs of the people, she appreciated more

highly the mission of this society, and gave most

MEMORIAL PAPER.

76

cheerfully her best efforts to

In a

:

"I

ever the significance of this

my

advancement.

received by the writer a few days be-

letter

fore her death, she said

and

its

realize

Home

love and interest in

it

more than

Mission work,

grow stronger

every da3^" It is fitting that

this

to

work

those associated with her in

of love should bring precious offerings

commemorate her

beautiful character

and

Ufe.

Nothing could more appropriately express her wish, represent the purpose of her Hfe, hold her in grateful

memory, and perpetuate the influence of

her character, than the erection of a memorial building, consecrated to the ciety

improvement of

and the elevation of woman.

*1

so-

3ftbbr^00BS

x)f

TTurn

W^hh ^ag^^

k Bll tbincjs whatsoever

men

#^

^e \vouI& tbat

sboulD Do to sou, Do sou even

60 to tbem.

~>v

Jlnnual Mttlmc^^ of i^2

Woman's !|omc

MJtsstonary Sotiti}},

[he seven Annual Reports

^^

presidency of Mrs. Hayes contain either ex-

tracts

from her addresses, or concise abstracts

of them. fore

issued during the

What

relates to her

words has there-

been obtained from the reports, and

will fol-

low in chronological order, closing with the delivered in Boston, which

tlbc JFtrst

Was

held

in

St.

is

Bnmial Paul

given in

last

full.

/iReetina

Methodist

Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, October

30,

Episcopal 1882.

After a service of prayer for half an hour, con-

ducted by Mrs. Prof. Wm. G.Williams, of Delaware, 79

ADDRESSES.

8o

Ohio, in which Mrs. Dr. Leavitt, of the First Baptist

Church, and other ladies participated,

at 10.30 A.

M.

the president, Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, opened the

first

annual meeting of the Board of Man-

agers of the

Woman's Home Missionary

In kind and cheering words she

Society.

expressed

deep interest in the work of the society, and

cor-

purposes and plans.

It

dial

sympathy with

its

gave her especial pleasure to meet with the ladies in this their first

annual gathering.

As her

dis-

tance from the General Executive Board had compelled her to be absent from most of their meetings,

and hence had kept her from an intimate

acquaintance with the workings of the Board, she felt

unable to assume the responsibility of con-

ducting the business sessions of the convention.

Assuring the friends that her heart was with them in all the plans for

advancing the interests of the

society, she transferred the

Mrs. John Davis, the

first

work

of direction to

vice-president.

I

:

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

8i

At the second annual meeting, held

at

St.

Paul Methodist Episcopal Church in November, 1883, Mrs.

Hayes was not

tlbe ^blrD

Was

held

at

present.

Bnnual

Cleveland,

/iReettng

Ohio,

October,

1884.

Mrs. Haj^es delivered the opening address in a

and impressive manner, her rich voice

distinct filling

the large

She spoke

audience-room.

as

follows "

The women

Church

of

the

Methodist

at Cincinnati, in 1880,

formed a National

Missionary Society, whose work

among "

is

the needy populations of our

The

last

Episcopal

to

be done

own

country.

General Conference of our Church,

after

ample consideration, gave

tion,

and adopted

it

as

it official

recogni-

one of the trusted instru-

mentalities of the Church, under the

Woman's Home Missionary odist Episcopal Church.

name

of the

Society of the Meth-

ADDRESSES.

82

"At

this,

this ver}'

the

first

meeting of the society since

important and

maj^ well pause to express our gratitude to that the

we

conclusive action,

good and wise men who

God

legislate for the

Methodist Episcopal Church have, with entire

unanimity and w4th the greatest

zeal,

thus recog-

nized and adopted our society. "

We may

now, having the solemn and

re-

sponsible sanction of our Church, devote ourselves

with the special "

utmost confidence to the interesting

work devolved upon

Our

field

us.

of usefulness

is

of great extent.

Our home population embraces elements more less

or

extensive of ever}- important race, nation-

ality,

and language.

material, intellectual,

"Coming

They

are of

all

conditions,

and moral.

originally from

every part of the

world, the}' are here seated in the midst of this central continent,

which looks out from widely ex-

tended coasts and almost countless harbors upon

LUCY WEBB HAYES. the two oceans on which of

commerce of the

advancing

globe.

of

affairs, in

By

the agencies of our

near future this peo-

commanding

influence in

the education, and in the religion

mankind.

all

"The

inspiring and attractive field which in-

vites our efforts is the

tance and

first

uninformed,

own

carried the larger part

civilization, in the

ple will surely wield a

the

is

83

race

in

number

First in impor-

are the

homes

of the

and unfortunate of our

destitute,

—those

home.

of our

own

kith and kin.

To

these

we must add

lately

emancipated people and their posterity,

the

just

claims

of

the

of the Indians, of the Mormons, of the Spanish

Americans, and of the Chinese borders

—

claims

upon us

all

of

whom,

it

now

within our

has been well

said,

for Christian civilization

have

not to

be surpassed by those of the heathen of foreign lands.

"We

believe that the character of a people

:

ADDRESSES.

84

depends mainly on therefore

home

to

is

education,

Our

homes.

its

improve

home

special

aim

home environments,

industries,

and home

in-

fluences.

"We

wish to strive

for the

attainment of these

worthy ends by means upon which we can, with an assured

hope,

conscientiously

invoke

the

Divine blessing."

Zbc

Was

3fourtb

Bnnual Meeting

held at Philadelphia in October, 1885.

Mrs. Hayes said

is

summed up

as follows

"The Fourth Annual Meeting

Home copal

Church

duty

is

finds our society in

marked and

Woman's

bL'cii

a condition of

so encouraging that our

with grateful hearts to return thanks

for the signal blessings

have

of the

Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis-

prosperity so first

What

which by the Divine favor

showered upon

us.

The

been emphatically a year of growth.

past year has

The

official

LUCY WEBB HAYES. reports

will

be made to this meeting

show

believed,

is

it

which

85

a

large

and most

will,

gratify-

ing increase of Conference organizations, of aux-

and of mem-

iliary societies, of juvenile societies,

bership.

the

A

funds

corresponding gain will appear in

and

means

other

of

usefulness

in

work which we have undertaken

the benevolent to do.

"At our annual meeting held was our sad

in

Cleveland

dut}^ to record the death of

Simpson, whose name w^ork gave to

it

in

Bishop

connection with

all.

are

we

He died, soon

recall the

after

our

post of duty in Foochow, China. is

which

engaged, are mingled with feelings of

deepest sadness as

Wiley.

re-

So, to-day, our mutual con-

gratulations on the advance of the cause in

we

our

strength and dignity, and whose

tender S3^mpathy and wise counsel will be

membered by us

it

an especial

affliction

death of Bishop

last

meeting, at his

To

us his death

and an irreparable

loss.

ADDRESSES.

86

From

the earliest beginnings of our enterprise he

was our trusted and earnest adviser and

helper.

Thoroughly acquainted with the foreign

field of

missionary labor, and personally engaged in

during

many

of the most active years of his

it

life,

he was so well persuaded that missionary work at

home

furnished the only sure foundation for

success and progress abroad, that he

whole influence and power

its

to the organization of

Woman's Home Missionary

the

gave his

Society, and to

recognition and adoption by the Church.

shall

always remember him as the accomplished

scholar, the eloquent

and devoted preacher, and

as our wise, generous,

and loving friend

days of our weakness and greatest need. us to bear in mind, while

we

cherish his

that the most honorable memorial

him

We

will

in the

It is for

memory,

we can

erect to

be to carry forward to triumphant suc-

cess our benevolent work, to inaugurate

and

which he did so much

establish."

LUCY WEBB HAYES. ZTbe jplttb

Was

Bnnual

87

/Iftectlng

November

held at Detroit, October 28 to

2,

Mrs. Hayes vSpoke with a clear voice and

1886.

distinct utterance that insured careful attention "

The

Annual Meeting of our

Fifth

held under circumstances which

may

society

well

fill

:

is

our

The welcome

hearts with gratitude and with hope.

extended us bj- our associates and friends of Detroit assures us that the days beautiful

and hospitable

satisfaction

may

also

and

joy.

we

shall

city will

spend

be days

Our prayers

are

of the

needy.

This

is,

indeed, the

and heed who hope

realize the blessings

"

which he came

The

of

that they in-

humble, the neglected, and the

work of the Divine

Master, whose example and teachings

ligion

full

be days wisely devoted to the best

terests

imitate

in this

in their

all

wish to

own

lives to

and consolations of that

re-

into the world to establish.

corner-stone to practical religion

is

the

ADDRESSES.

88

How

Golden Rule.

best to obey

mandate

its

is

We would reflect on no other benevolent enterprise. We would discourage no We would say nothing to beneficent measure. the vital question.

dishearten any

man

or

woman who

with good

We know

motives seeks good ends.

that

many

paths lead to the same goal.

But our conviction,

our

hope of mankind

in

faith,

is,

America.

that the surest

Within our

limits, Avithin

are gathered representatives of

mankind.

is

our reach,

the races of

all

In our borders are Africans, Asiatics,

The

and Europeans.

apostles were told

that re-

pentance and remission of sins should be preached

among were

all

also told

Jerusalem.

it

is

will

Christ's

name, and they

that the beginning should be at

Is not the

injunction

divine

mand

nations in

obeyed by

meaning and

clear all

and plain

whose work

accomplish most

to

^

is

spirit of this

This com-

done where

win souls from the

paths of sin to the paths of righteousness.

LUCY WEBB HAYES. "

We

rejoice

most

our distinguished zeal, sagacity,

89

sincerel}^ in the

brother,-'^

who

has, with

We

our Church

home and

support of missions at

abroad.

can not, however, forget that the fountain

from which he draws be

found,

and must

is

in

the future

under Providence, in the Christian

homes of our own beloved

land.

our neglect of home-work, christian tendencies

overwhelm the

If,

the

by reason of

stream of un-

from abroad, and the flood

of indifference and vice of our institutions

own

of

country, shall

our fathers, the

missions of every Christian Church, both

and

such

and singleness of purpose, labored

to raise the splendid contribution of for the

success of

foreign,

calamity.

will

suffer

alike

we must *Rev.

by the common

If our eyes are to be gladdened

sight of heathen lands rapidly direct our efforts

C. C.

McCabe, D.

D.,

home

by the

becoming Christian,

and

strain every nerve

Corresponding Secretary Missionary

Society, Methodist Kpiscopal Church.

8

ADDRESSES.

90 to protect

we

see the

Africa,

paganism of other lands

and of Europe

our shores,

we must

Missions, that

'

recall the

That duty

is

JVoma?i's

nothing can exceed the deg-

has touched only with '

Asia, of

pithy statement

periodical,

whom

radation of a heathen people

'

— of

—which has poured in upon

published in our monthly

Home

When

from heathenism our own land.

civilization

its vices.'

of highest obligation which

is

With America and

nearest in time and place.

American homes what they should

be,

we need

not greatly fear the evils that threaten us from

We

other lands.

them,

if

our duty

the weak,

own

is

faithfully

done

in behalf of

the ignorant, and the needy of our

country.

litical,

can easily shun or safely meet

If our institutions, social

are imperiled to-da}^

it

is

and po-

largely because

the wealthy and the fortunate, engrossed as they are in the midst of our vast material progress

prosperity, are not sufficiently mindful of

and

what

:

LUCY WEBB HAYES. wavS taught

by the words and

of our blessed religion that

men

sity

should do to

And

them.'

' :

while

we

life

91

of the

Founder

Whatsoever ye would 3^ou,

do ye even so to

so deeply the neces-

feel

and importance of our own work, we would

pray most earnestly for glorious results

work of our In

Society.

sisters

of the Foreign Missionary

conclusion,

Wommi's Home Missions lowly of our

ber

I,

report,

at Syracuse,

1887.

'

:

quote

The

again

lifting

from

up of the

to interest every

"

XLbc Stitb

Occurred

I

own country ought

man and woman.'

in the

Bnnual

/iReeting

N. Y., October 28 to Novem-

Mrs. Hayes presented her annual

from which we preserved the following

words ''The reports of the

several

Woman's Home Missionary which

will

officers

of the

Society of our Church,

be read before the society during the

ADDRESSES.

92

Annual Meeting,

sessions of this

will sufficientl}^

spread before you the work of the past year.

It

now

do,

remains therefore

for

me

to thank, as I

our friends in this beautiful

cit}^

for the

welcome they have extended

dial

state,

very cor-

to us,

and to

without dwelling upon them, a few of the

reasons on which the friends of rest their claim for increased

Home

Missions

encouragement and

substantial aid, especially from the devoted

bers of the

Church of our

choice.

mem-

Before doing

this, I

beg leave to repeat from the remarks made

by me

last 3'ear

Our conviction is

in

America.

at

is,

Detroit a single

that the best

hope

paragraph:

for

humanity

Within our borders and within

our reach are gathered representatives of races of mankind.

If,

all

the

by reason of our neglect of

home-work, the stream of unchristian tendencies from abroad, and the flood of indifference and vice in

our

islicc^

own

country, shall overwhelm

institutions, all

missionary work,

our cherat

home

LUCY WEBB HAYES. and abroad,

will

suffer

alike

93

by the common

calamity. "

The

friends of

Home

Not

than

miliar facts.

now added

are in

less

Missions rely on five millions of

people

to the population of our country

each ten years by emigration

lands.

fa-

Among them

are

from

foreign,

no doubt persons of

education, of morality, and of religion, who, in spite of

and

want of

familiarity

institutions, will in

with

our language

good time become valu-

able citizens without special effort in their behalf.

As

to a multitude of others,

it

may

be truly said

that the missionary to pagan lands will find noth-

ing more hostile to Christian civilization than the evil influences

which immigration brings

very bosom of our American society. sions seek to protect our

heathenism.

own

into the

Home

Mis-

land from imported

Again, the condition of the emanci-

pated race in our Southern States

still

engages

the attention of the patriot and the philanthropist.

ADDRESSES.

94 It

represented by well-informed

is

and consci-

entious observers that the colored people increase

more rapidly than the whites their

proportion to

in

number, and that the proportion of the

norant and unchristian does not diminish. facts

ig-

The

do not permit us to indulge the hope that

the Christians

America have done and are

of

doing their whole dut}^ with respect to the Africans within our "

own

borders and at our

doors.

Never before was the progress of settlement

in our is

own

new

now.

sionary

States and Territories so rapid as

The Michigan Conference Home Society

recently

published

an

of

that

prosperous

new

Mis-

appeal

which should not be passed by unheeded. statements as to the situation in the

it

Its

counties

and enlightened State are

equally true of other vast regions in our country.

The

report

says

an

missionary ground.

extensive area It is rapidly

is

largely

filling

up with

a population mainly of Protestant proclivities, and

LUCY WEBB HAYES. They

generally very poor.

are unable to support

ministers, but they need the gospel,

have

it

95

preached among them.

and wish

Many

to

them

of

look to our Church as their religious home. is

It

unjust that missionaries should be sent into

these difficult

fields

and allowed oftentimes

suffer for the necessaries of

Church has been

to

The Methodist

life.

No

called the Pioneer Church.

true Methodist will neglect the pioneer mission-

work of the Church.

The Indians

logue.

The cloud Utah

I

is

of

might continue

still

claim

this cata-

our attention.

Mormonism which hangs over

spreading to other Territories.

have said enough

to indicate at least

the

But

I

num-

ber and magnitude of the demands on our Church for missions in

our

own

country.

missionary work whose aim of American

Homes such

homes

are

is

The

claims of

the improvement

attractive

and urgent.

as they should be, neat, orderly,

where punctuality and good methods

prevail

and

— in

ADDRESSES.

96

short, comfortable Christian to

train

chiefly

homes

— tend strongh'

the j^oung to abhor those vices which afflict

civihzed

societ}^

and

to

practice

those virtues which are the best securit}^ of wise institutions.

Such homes

are the fruit of

woman's

work, and the instruction that gives the household

skill

which creates them can be imparted

onh' by female teachers, workers, and missionaries. "

In conclusion, ma}-

matter

in

not

these few words

cradle of the future

ture of

we

America

is

'

?

sum up

America

for all the world.

in her

and importance

whose work our

is

done by

own beloved

of

missionary

women

country."

is

'

The

the fu-

homes, and her homes

depend on the mothers of America. value

the whole

in the

Hence

the

societies

homes

of

^*>^^illl^^<1^^5^

DELIVERED AT THE SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING,

NOVEMBER

BOSTON, MASS.,

i,

1888.

•o^o«

"Watchman,

Does

own

demand

American to

The

mand

who

see

Is the call, is the

work of women rarely heard

Even

coming

in

?

in

The

our

reply

near at hand, and clear

and consider.

for Christian effort are

is

Men

is

wane ?

necessity, the opportunity,

and the de-

more and more

at

our

the champions of unbelief in the

doctrines cherished

"

at the hearth-stones

more

society,

to all

very door.

that

do good

special

questions

these

enough

Missions grow less?

land on the

for the

us oi the night."

Home

the need of

Is the opportunity to

of our

tell

by our

upon

fathers, seeing the tide

us, are forced to exclaim,

can not do without the Christian religion." 9

97

ADDRESSES.

98

We know how

" distance lends

enchantment

And, indeed, the benighted people

to the view."

of Africa, of China, of India, and of other pagan lands,

have claims upon

us.

None

of

them should

be excluded from our thoughts, our prayers, or

our

gifts.

repeated "

But

it

has been well said

and heard

in

—

let

every Christian

it

be

circle:

There are needy souls under our own eyes and

within reach of our

own

and appalling

is,

ing

—largely

fact

and

hands."

that their

rapidly

The

significant

number

is

gain-

The most

gaining.

casual glance at the elements of our American society

which are deprived, or

at

least destitute,

of Christian privileges, will convince the candid

observer that this evils

and

perils

is

not an over-statement of the

which

it is

the aim of this society,

under Providence, to mitigate, and,

if

possible, to

remove. It

is

generally agreed that the Negroes of

the South are

not dying out by reason of the

LUCY WEBB HAYES. now

freedom they

At

enjoy.

99

their

rate

of in-

crease in the past few years, before the end of the

next century they will exceed

in

number

the total

present population of the United States.

Devoted men and women, generous philan-

and

thropists,

organizations

religious

influential

have labored with zeal and intelligence to

The Negroes them-

these wards of the Nation.

wherever

selves,

they

uplift

have

been

adequately

reached, have been more than willing, they have

anxious and

been

and true still

religion.

The

remains.

ing, are

in

still

eager,

to

accept

education

But the lamentable situation multitude, vast and increas-

chains to pagan superstition and

the ignorance and vice of generations of bondage.

To sionary

deal

work

deal with life,

with this condition

it

is

Home

in the large general sense

most

effectively

is

;

to reach

Mis-

and to family

and to teach correct family habits and true

family duties.

To do

this is the peculiar province

ADDRESSES.

lOO of

women, and

Home It

the special object of the

Woman's

Missionary Society. not

is

easy

women

duties of

to

marshal

the

missionary

in the order of their importance.

Christians can not look, even in the most thoughtless

and careless way,

at the

map

of our country,

without having their attention fixed by the crime against is

women

that

now

holds Utah, and which

spreading almost unchecked in

That center of bad political

— the

all

directions.

influences, moral, social,

government and the law

they threaten and condemn,

fail

and

— while

utterly to abolish

or even to control.

There

surely

bosom of any

never

civilized

before

existed

community such an

fense against

women, and such

the home.

any one asks the reason

Missions,

If

organized and

Mormonism The

in

in

a

the of-

crime against for

Home

managed by women,

Utah furnishes the answer.

influences

and elements of population

LUCY WEBB HAYES.

loi

brought into our country from abroad, and the questions arising out of immigration, have under-

gone vast changes during recent years.

These

changes are not friendly to American institutions.

For the most Declaration

part, in the

of

from the most

Independence civilized

increasing

brought from the tions

of Europe, and

for

homes.

number come

Now, or

are

enlightened European na-

and from heathen countries, seeking simply

better wages,

and caring

little

or nothing for land

The}' are sadly lacking in education

or homes.

and

less

immigrants were

nations

were seeking liberty and land however, an

century after the

first

religion,

and are by no means well

the citizenship of a republic.

ciency

is

fitted for

Their great

defi-

the want of home-life and a due and

practical regard for

women.

How

can their needs

be better supplied than by means of missions,

under the direction of the

No

part

of the

women

inhabitants

of our Churches? of

the

United

ADDRESSES,

T02

members

States are nearer to the hearts of the

own countrymen,

the Methodist Church than our

the patriotic Americans

numbers Mexico

to

of

who have crowded

in

such

our Western frontier settlements from

to British

No

America.

one of the old

States contains so large a proportion of the vet-

army and

erans of the Union

Never before were

children.

citizens braving the hardships

pioneer

life

extended

as

so man}^

American

and privations of

may now be found on

our wideh*

frontiers.

Our Church, with an the

of their wives and

future

of

instinctive foresight of

West,

the

has built a host of

churches, and sent out her ministers to do and to suffer in the wilderness.

odist preacher plains, little

and

One hundred wife,

on his circuit

in the

known

and the

The

in

is

on the

rarely heard

and

old and prosperous States. a year for the

minister, his

ones, often in a

cold climate,

dollars little

in the forest,

mountains,

the

story of the Meth-

LUCY WEBB HAYES. where almost everything all

things

are

costly,

103

lacking,

is

and where

has been truly

it

said, is

barely enough, not to live upon, but to starve

upon.

Could

ful letters

our good friends read the grate-

all

coming from devoted clergymen when

the box or barrel of the is

Woman's Home

received, this part of the

work

Mission

of our society

would gain a much needed impetus,

fruitful of

beneficent results.

The appointed work

of our society reaches

also the neglected poor of the cities, the Spanish

Americans, the misfortune.

I

Indians, and

need not

for

other children

my

of

present purpose

try to complete the catalogue of our aims.

Our

objects and our methods, after full consideration,

have been sanctioned by the highest authority of the Church and the General Conference, and they are approved

The

by the bishops.

vital question

is,

Shall this society have

an increasing and hearty support ?

Our appeal

is

ADDRESSES.

T04

to the clergy

The

and the membership of the Church.

clergy and the Church depend under Provi-

dence, in

some measure

of their congregations. fore,

we invoke

at

least,

With

on the women

confidence, there-

their aid in our efforts

to carry

the gospel of Christ to the "needy souls at our

very doors."

rC-96

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