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IN MEMORIAM.
Ripley.?Mrs. Mary A. Ripley departed
this life at her home in Hendersonville,
N. C., May 28, 1909. She was a native of
Ireland, born near Belfast, December 7,
1828, and came with her parents to this
country at an early age. The family
first sojourned at Albany. X. Y., but
shortly removed to Columbia, S. C. She
was a daughter of James McMahon and
his wife, Mary Ewart. Their children
were, Eliza, wife of Joseph Ellison Ad
k?i'? ''r., lung a resiaeni or tsossier Parish,
La.; Mary, the subject of this
sketch; James S., first Lieutenant, then
Captain of the Richland Rifles, to the
end of the Civil War; Anna S., wife of
Rev. J. H. Nail; Louisa, the first of the
family circle removed by death; Laura
and Margaret. Of all these she was, for
many years, the only survivor. All, we
are assured, "died in faith."
Our departed sister made profession
of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at
an early age, uniting with the First Presbyterian
Church, Columbia, S. C. In the
same city she was married in 1848 to
James B. EJwart, and became the mother
of four children. Of these, one son, Augustus,
died in childhood, and three survive?Hon.
H. G. Ewart, and Misses Minnie
and Juliet all r?f Heniioponnvlllo
Left a widow, she removed about 1861,
to Hendersonville; there she married, in
1862, the late Col. V. Ripley, one of the
most prominent citizens of that region.
He died in 1879, leaving her with one
daughter born of this second marriage,
Lila, widow of R. I. Barnwell. The three
daughters remain in the home in which
they so long lived with the loved, revered
mother.
When Mrs. Ripley settled in Hendersonville,
one of her first steps was to
identify herself with the Presbyterian
Church, then a struggling, almost extinct
band. Then began her heroic efforts in
behalf of her church, which were continued
through many years, even after she
became unable to leave her home. It was
a brave battle against heavy odds and in
the face of many and sore difficulties.
When the writer first visited her home
at Hendersonville, he went to the church
in time to see the Sunday-school, and
found her conducting the exercises,
leading the music (both instrumental
and vocal), and teaching a class. In the
public worship following she again led
in the service of song. Probably but one
or two families beside her own remain, of
those then in the church. That was be
rore the advent of railroads opened up
that beautiful region to the influx of
population. With that change the town
has grown, and so has the church; and
that the latter survived to meet that
growth and share in it, has been very
largely due to the courage, fidelity and
consecration of Mrs. Ripley and the devoted
little band inspired by her example.
At one time, it might almost have
been said that she was the church. During
all those years, ministers of the
foospel, both of her own denomination
and of others, were assured of shelter
in her home with cordial greetings and
Christian welcome, as not a few who
tffe? ? - ?
r ;
IE PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU'
rest from their labors, as well as those
who remain, could testify, each in his
own day.
This brief sketch of the life of our
departed sister sufficiently portrays her
character as a woman and as a disciple
of the Lord Jesus Christ. The tender relationship
and intimate association of
nearly fifty years enables the writer to
bear loving witness to her life of faith,
her self-denying devotion to her Lord
and His Cause, and her patient, trustful
submission to the will of her Heavenly
Father under the manifold bereavements
and the many years of bodily suffering
through which she was called to pass.
Able to leave her bed only with the ten
aer, nual Help that was never lacking; almost
blind and thus almost cut off from
the reading in which she so greatly delighted,
and especially that of God's
Word, she appreciated the company of
those who could be permitted at her bedside,
to many of whom she was still the
faithful friend and wise counsellor. During
that lingering period, so wearisome
to the ilesh, she still guided her affairs
with discretion, still cherished a lively
interest in the welfare of the Church and
the growth of the Kingdom. To the end,
the gracious presence of her Saviour and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit brought
blessed assurance of the unfailing love
of her Heavenly Father, making her
chamber another "Bethel, the House of
God, the gate of Heaven"; and there she
awaited trustingly, peacefully, the sum
mons from her Lord; thence, at His call,
ARKANSAS C(
Thirty-eighth session opens Septem
work is the controlling aim. College b
iences. Students' Home to be enlarged
catalogue.
Vanderbilt Universi
partment of Vanderbilt University, insures a
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CENTRAL MISSIS
French Ca
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If you have a daughter to educate you are
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For catalogue containing particular Inform
rH. August 4, 1909.
she passed within the veil, to go no
more out forever, to suffer no more, and
to enter upon the employments and enjoyments,
the service and blessedness
of the Life internal. J. H. Nail.
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
RICHMOND. VA.
A fully equipped seminaty, w'th seven inst uctcrs.
modern methods of Caching arda practical course of
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In the English Bible. Sunday School Work. Evaneellnm
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Spacious cam us and a-hletlc grounds Ninety-eighth
air ual session begins September 15th, 1909. For catalogue
or olher It.f^rmat.on. apply to
W. W. MOORE. President.
FASSIFElfN
LINCOLNTON, N. C.
A PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
Situated in the healthy Piedmont section.
This school offers unusual advantages
in the way of care for the health
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Certificate accepted by Converse, Randolph-Macon,
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MISS KATE C. SHIFP, Principal.
(Diploma Cambridge University, Eng.)
IUIHVC.R3I I T UULLtUE, I
OF MEDICINE "JESS?
leads all medical schools In Virginia, and Virginia I
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HIGH CLASS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEN
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Students limited to SO in each class.
Send lor Catalogue and Bulletin - B
tY ACADEMY I A
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r>I V FfiF BOESVIUE
U' Vjr ARKANSAS
ber 21, 1909. To excel in substantial
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4?? Department of Dentistry
THIS SCHOOI. BRING A D Rhlgh
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SIPPI INSTITUTE
imp. Miss.
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now looking for a'school. Central Miss. In- *
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'atory advantages In Music, Art and ExpresJld
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pleasant portico. (10) Buildings and campus
k, butter, etc., from the college farm. (13)
>1 in the South,
atlon, address,
J. A. SANDERSON, Principal.