Memoir of Mrs. Mary e. Van Lennep...Missionary in Turkey...

Front matter

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MEMOIR

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Preface

complete subjection into which she had brought her every wish and purpose, to the one object of promoting the happiness of others, and their spiritual welfare, that made her daily life such a steady light, and gave to her manners that indescribable sweetness, so that none saw her but to love her. Perhaps I ought to make one exception. I think there was in Mary's disposition, a very uncommon share of afFectionateness and simplicity, but of course I cannot judge as well as those who knew her in childhood, whether those traits were as striking then as in after years ; though it seems to me that no self-cultivation, nor even the grace of God, could have supplied them, had they not always existed in an unusual degree. But on this account I should think her character would be a difficult one to delineate with distinctness."

The traits to which this friend of Mary alludes, the writer of this never expects to portray so that those wdio did not know her, could see them as exhibited in her life. The beautiful symmetry of her character, embodying as it did every social virtue, and every Christian grace, must have been seen, to be fully known and appreciated.

There is one circumstance, which, more than any other, prompts the wish to try to sketch something which shall do her justice. She was early called away from the field of her labors; and as she was eminently qualified and disposed to do good, it does seem to be no more than a suitable tribute to the promise she gave of future usefulness, to attempt to extend her influence beyond the brief period of her life.

Another reason for writing this memoir, is found in the melancholy satisfaction of recalling the incidents of a life, which, while its few fleeting years were passing, was the source of so much happiness to the mourning survivors.

As this little work was not entered upon, under the impresssion that the subject of it possessed extraordinary powers, so neither was it attempted under the impression that she was

PREFACE.

V exempt from the faults and imperfections incident to our fallen state. Should a perfect character be held up to view as always having been such, it would immediately be felt by all, not to be just, nor true to nature. Mary had faults, but by the grace of God, she was able to correct them ; and on this account her character seems a suitable one to present as an encouragement to those, who, conscious of their own imperfections, are attempting to reach some standard of excellence, which appears almost, if not altogether, unattainable.

It is hoped that this little volume will come to the aid of some such, as a star to guide their trembling steps, on their first entering the straight and narrow way ; and it is believed that if her character could be truly presented, it would serve to allure others also into that path, which, to her, was as the "rising light, shining more and more unto the perfect day*"

Chapter I. Reminiscences Of Childhood

Mary Elizabeth Hawes, second daughter of the Rev. Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, Connecticut, was born the 16th of April, 1821. The incidents of her childhood, if not remarkable, were yet such as to subject her to a somewhat severe moral discipline. By the time she was four years and four months old, a sister and brother had been removed from her by death, and, as she said, M she had been left alone two times."

When Mary was five years old, she was sent to school. The following summer, the parent whose office it was more immediately to watch over and guide her unfolding faculties, observed with pain, that she was contracting a habit, which if not checked and overcome in childhood, would be a blight upon her otherwise lovely character, and greatly endanger, if not destroy, her happiness and usefulness in after life. It is a humiliating fact, that the propensity to deceive is one of the most common faults of childhood ; but because it is thus common, it is not the less to be dreaded. Neither because it is a fault of childhood, should it be passed by under the mistaken impression that it will be felt and corrected in mature life. So thought not the mother of Mary. Under a full impression of the evil, 2 - .

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and desirous that the best means should be adopted for its correction, the father was applied to, for advice and assistance. Having admonished Mary of the evil, he concluded by announcing, that the next time any thing of the kind occurred, he should apply the punishment* recommended by the wise man, little thinking that it would ever be necessary to put the threat in execution. Ah, he little thought what ascendency an evil habit might acquire in a short time even, over the mind of a little child, or he would not have expected that the fear of punishment would of itself be sufficient, not only to deter from the fault, but also to form the opposite one of truthfulness. It was not long before there was a repetition of the offence ; not an aggravated one, but enough to show that even a beginning had not been made in its correction. 64 Why did you tell me of it ?" exclaimed the agitated and grieved father, as he remembered his threat. But the word had gone forth, and the father's veracity must be maintained. Mary was sent to her room, and the bible was put into her hand, from which, portions had been selected for her to read and apply to her own case. As she was about being left to spend a long summer afternoon alone in her chamber, while her companions were abroad, enjoying the cool breezes in the fields and groves, she said in a tremulous voice, u I think 1 know what you and pa' are going to do with me ; I think you are going to keep me on bread and water till I am penitent." The dear child, if penitence had been the only object aimed at, might then have been set at liberty But something more must be gained — such an impression must be made upon her young mind, as should lead her to feel that she must make SGme effort herself to correct the fault, and she must not be left to suppose that saying " I am

* See Proverbs, 19 : 18.

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sorry," and even feeling so too, would of itself be sufficient. When her piece of bread and c ip of milk were carried to her in the evening, she was in deep thought, and had evidently spent the afternoon in faithfully consulting the bible, with self-reflection and prayer. In the morning, her father took her into his room, and having tenderly admonished her, he covered his face and inflicted upon her little hand enough of pain, to save himself from the charge of falsifying his word.

Mary spoke of this scene with gratitude in after life, and particularly of the delicate manner in which the thing was done ; and said she had " always loved her father for it and it is believed that the recollection of her father's face, covered with his handkerchief while inflicting punishment upon his cherished and only daughter, following as it did a season of retirement and reflection, assisted her more than any thing else in forming that character for truthfulness, of which hers was ever afterwards, so beautiful an illustration.

Amongst the plans adopted for her improvement, was one which is now recollected with much satisfaction. This was the daily reading of the bible to her. The practice was commenced when she was very young, and was continued with more or less interruption, long after she was able to read it herself. At first, selections were made, suited to her tender age, and it was also sometimes necessary to " translate" the language, to make it intelligible to her. In this way, the Old Testament, commencing at Genesis, and ending with the building of the second temple, had been read to her several times, before she was seven years old. A half hour after tea, is now recalled with pleasant associations, as having been spent in this way, often for months uninterruptedly, when her own inter-

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est in the exercise made it not only a useful, but also a very desirable season.

Of scripture biography she would never tire ; and as her mind unfolded, she could be easily interested in those beautiful specimens of Hebrew poetry, scattered along in the first books of the Old Testament ; the song of Deborah,* for instance. The vivid sketches of Hebrew life and manners which this song contains, the beautiful country where the scene is laid, between Mt. Tabor and " Kishon, that ancient river," — the relief too which the country experienced, when delivered from the oppression under which it had groaned for so many years — much of this she could enter into and comprehend.

Even at this early age, there were pleasing indications of the facility with which she could afterwards throw herself into the situation of others. For instance, when at the close of the song just alluded to, the mother of Sisera is described as calling through the lattice, 44 Why tarry the wheels of his chariot r" and then comforting herself that the delay was only the necessary result of victory — that having conquered his enemies he waited to divide the spoil — even then, she could comprehend something of the disappointment and anguish of that mother, when the terrible reverse should be made known.

But her sympathies were not all expended upon the stories and the poetry. The details of history were often listened to with as much interest as the more glowing and picturesque descriptions. A single instance shall suffice. She was listening one evening to a passage in the history of the Israelites, when, after having been recovered by severe judgments from their idolatrous practices, they were beginning again to relapse, unable longer to restrain her grief, she exclaimed, u O, mamma, I know what you are

* Judges, chap. 5.

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going to read about, the people are going to be wicked, and then God will have to punish them again."

On the approach of her eighth birth day, it was feared that before another anniversary of the event occurred, Mary would be deprived of the watchful care of her mother, who was suffering from protracted illness. The probability that in her tender age, she would be thrown upon her own resources for improvement and happiness, made her mother anxious to turn her attention more to the sober realities of life. The usual preparations to make it a day of gladness, were therefore exchanged for others more suitable to the circumstances of the occasion. Many little articles for the exercise and improvement of her taste were procured, such as paints, pencils, drawings, &c; but one thing was done, which doubtless gave a decided turn to her religious feelings, which had heretofore appeared only in an incipient state.

Her mother had long been anxious for some evidence that she was safe in the fold of the good Shepherd, and this anxiety increased, as the probability strengthened that she would early be left without a maternal guide. To aid her in her efforts to fix in the mind of her child a sense of the importance of u seeking first the kingdom of heaven," she requested a friend to call and converse with Mary, on her birth day, on this important subject. After a short interview, in which he had endeavored to impress upon her mind, the happiness it would afford her through life, to have God for her father, followed by a very affectionate appeal to yield her young heart to him, he made this remark to her parents, " I shall expect to hear soon that Mary is a Christian, for I never saw truth sink into the mind as it did into hers, without being followed by such a result."

Little is recollected of the following year, as her mother 2*

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was brought near to death, and Mary was left very much under her own guidance, but her sweet docility, and tender watchful care of her little brother, come as gleams of sunshine to relieve the mind as it recals those long and wearisome months of deprivation and suffering.

During this period, her studies were very much interrupted, in consequence of her accompanying her brother to an infant school, and also her care of him after he was removed to another, collateral to the one which she attended. Still she made some progress. Some occasional exercises at home, were of use in eliciting her mental powers, which although slow in their development, were yet not deficient in interesting qualities. A friend of the family was preparing a course of elementary books for children, and to test them, frequently read parts of them to Mary and her brother. The same friend had another little exercise, which he carried on with her in a somewhat playful manner. He directed her to shut her eyes and describe external objects ; gradually leading her mind to an attention to its own processes. In this way she very early acquired a tolerably correct knowledge of the simplest elements of mental philosophy ; and although her studies at school were of little use to her, yet at home she was making some progress in mental as well as in moral culture.

Chapter II. Religious Development

The spring of 1831, is remembered as an important era in her life. It was seen at this time that her mind was more than usually tender in reflecting on religious truths. Whenever such truths were presented, she felt that she had a personal interest in them. Many tender and deeply interesting seasons are here recalled, which gave intimation that she had begun to realize her state as a sinner, needing pardon and peace with God. The impotency of the pen in describing such scenes, almost forbids the attempt ; but one shall be briefly noticed here, which may serve as a feeble specimen of many others. Mary was sitting with her brother one Sabbath evening, when he asked her to sing one of his infant school songs. Turning to her mother, she said in a voice trembling and half suppressed by deep emotion — " I wish Thomas would like to have me sing,

" A fallen creature I was born, And from the birth I've stray'd ; I must be wretched and forlorn, Without thy mercy's aid."

Here her feelings overcame her, and she covered her face and wept.

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It was near the close of her tenth year, when the scarlet fever, which had been in the city for some time, entered the family, and prostrated the brother before alluded to. Mary was soon taken with the disease herself, and her mother being occupied with her two little sons who were ill at the same time, she was obliged to consign Mary to the care of others. Those who attended upon her, were surprised and gratified to see her so composed and peaceful, while she was very ill, arid fully aware of the dangerous nature of the disease ; and they soon learned from herself, that she had been endeavoring to prepare for the issue, should the disease prove fatal to her. But she was spared, and her brother was taken.

A little previous to the death of this brother, an incident occurred which drew out her strong powers of sympathy, and very strikingly illustrated her forgetfulness of self, when she saw others in affliction, and also her very felicitous manner of imparting consolation. The disease had assumed a very alarming form, and the little sufferer was rent with convulsions, which it required no ordinary share of fortitude only to witness. The poor father, una ble longer to endure the sight, turned away from the bed and sought his room. Mary followed him. He threw himself upon the sofa, exclaiming, u I can't bear it, I can' bear it and he seemed to be struggling with emotions too painful to be borne. He had already been bereaved of three children, and now a fourth was about to be taken and in a very distressing manner. He again exclaimed " The hand of God is upon me ; I don't know but I am to be written childless." Mary drew her seat closer to his and laying her hand gently on his knee to gain his atten tion, she looked up in his face and said, " Father, you tol us that God always had a good reason for every thing h did. And has he not a good reason nowl and is it no

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right for him to make my little brother suffer so ?" Finding her arguments unavailing, as she. supposed, to soothe him, because that now he wept more freely, she took down from the shelf a hymn-book, and opening it, said, fe< dear father, let me comfort you, let me read a hymn to you, shall I ?" The father's heart was too full to speak, and she opened to that very appropriate hymn of Doddridge, commencing,

" Peace, 'tis the Lord Jehovah's hand"—

When she came to the verse,

" Fair garlands of immortal bliss He weaves for every brow, And shall rebellious passions rise When he corrects us now ?"

Her countenance shone as if a beam from heaven had shed its light there, and her voice and manner were such as seemed better befitting an angel than a frail child. A relative of the family had followed Mary and her father to the study, and had been a silent, but almost unnoticed observer of the whole ; so absorbed was the father in his grief, and Mary in her attempts to soothe him. She said the scene was more touching, on account of the state of Mary at the time, who having just risen from a sick bed, was still weak and pale. She seemed also to be overwhelmed with the consciousness of her little brother's sufferings, to whom she was tenderly attached, and to feel that she must not now lay her bursting heart upon her father's bosom, for he needed comfort and support himself. In the trying emergency, she looked away from human sympathy, and sought in God something which might meet the painful circum-

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stances of the case ; and she thus, meekly, though unintentionally, taught a lesson of submission to His perfect will.

Her father, in speaking of it afterwards, remarked, that he u had never before been so dealt with;" that "she talked like an experienced Christian."

Her brother's death took place soon after this, and she passed through the trying scene, with a considerateness, unusual for one of her tender age ; and the result showed that it had been to her a season of rich spiritual improvement.

About this time, there were many meetings in the place, where children were addressed on the subject of religion, in a manner suited to their years. Mary was unable to attend any of them, but God was evidently teaching her, although in a different manner, at home. She was told that several of her young companions, who attended these meetings, were becoming interested in religion. This information made her increasingly thoughtful and serious.

Her father was expecting soon to go abroad, and her mother being occupied in making the necessary preparations, a little brother was committed to the care of Mary, and for a short time she was fully occupied in attending upon him. Though she never neglected her little charge, but always contrived to make him happy, still it was evident that her thoughts were on other things.

A week or two had passed in this way, when one day she was seen to be more than usually tender and thoughtful. An invalid friend was in the family, and this, together with other things, so constantly occupied her mother's attention, that Mary was necessarily passed by, without even a word, or any other attempt to ascertain the cause of her deep solicitude. But God was not passing her by, as the result showed. Soon after tea, having requested permission to retire, she went to her room. It was late in

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the evening, when her mother, hearing a soft voice which seemed to proceed from her chamber, went up to see if she was needing any thing. On opening the door, she found Mar/ in the attitude of retiring, and singing forth her thoughts in a low, sweet voice. Her countenance was beaming as with heavenly light, and she exclaimed, with an expression wholly indescribable, " O, mamma, I am so happy, I have found God." Her mother stood in silence, her hand still upon the latch, having been arrested by the grateful surprise ; when Mary, supposing that she waited for an explanation of her not having retired earlier, offered as a reason, that she " had been praying a long time, and that it made her so happy she could not leave off." She said, 4< While I was speaking, God seemed near. It seemed as if he heard me ; and I felt that I was speaking to a dear friend, and that He was near as when I speak to dear father." " O, mamma, I am so happy ! I can pray now!" "I have found God!" she again exclaimed; and her shining countenance bore testimony, that although she might not have seen God u face to face," yet that He had met her, and had blessed her.

Some weeks after her father left home, she was visited with dangerous illness. Of the many remarks she made during this season, indicative of pleasant and profitable reflection, a few have been preserved in writing. An affectionate and valued friend,* in writing to her father says, 44 Mary, as you have probably heard, has been ill. While suffering from fever, I was permitted to watch with her, and was delighted to find her mind in such a frame as was most desirable. The first thing she said to me was, ' O, Miss Chester, I have been thinking of the Saviour a great deal to-day; of his sufferings on the cross.' While look-

* Her Sabbath School Teacher, Miss Jane Chester.

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ing at some beautiful flowers, she spoke of her own garden, and said she could not keep it free from weeds, without assistance ; adding, 4 it is just like our hearts,' and continued the comparison in a way to which I could not do justice."

After her recovery, it was thought not best to confine her to the school-room, but to keep her abroad in the open air. She cultivated her garden, gathered mosses, and collected pebbles and shells, to build a mimic hermitage. For this purpose she used to ramble through the fields and groves, accompanied by her little brother ; and at such times, her heart used to flow forth in sweet and joyous communings with nature and its great Author. There was for many months an indescribable expression of peacefulness and joyousness, beaming from her countenance ; it seemed to proceed from a sweet sense of her acceptance with God.

Some years after this, when she was about leaving the home of her childhood, to go to her Eastern home, she spoke to her mother of this happy season in her youthful days. She said is was in her memory u like a long, bright, happy dream u it was unlike the rest of her life, it was so free from care, and so full of happiness and peace.'' And it may be added, that to one who witnessed it, it seemed like a continual hymn of praise to God.

There was one circumstance, which, even more than the happiness she enjoyed, showed that she was at this time under divine teaching, and that her heart had indeed been touched with the love of God. It was this. From the moment she found relief in prayer, or, as she said, H could pray," she set about attempting to persuade her young companions to pray, and others also, whom she could influence. It is not known, whether she was successful at this time in her efforts, except in one instance. A poor

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girl, who lived at service in the family of a relative, was an object of much interest to Mary, and she attempted as she had opportunity, to impress upon her mind a sense of the importance of prayer. After laboring long, and waiting patiently, her feeble efforts were at length crowned with success.

To avoid a wrong impression being made by the fact just related, an impression that Mary was obtrusive, in her efforts to promote the spiritual welfare of others, it should be said, that in all her attempts of this nature, there was so much of quietness and secrecy, that butfor their results, they would never have come to the knowledge of any, except the individuals concerned. In the case just mentioned, her efforts were wholly unknown to any, excepting the poor girl and herself. But when there was reason to hope that the object of her interest had indeed become a child of God, she could no longer refrain from telling her mother ; and she did this, not to relate her own agency in the case, but to find relief for the fullness of her joy. Her heart was overflowing with gratitude for the happiness which this poor girl now experienced in the duty of prayer, and which Mary regarded as evidence of her having become a child of God. She hoped also, to impart something of her own joy to her mother.

It was somewhere about this time, perhaps earlier, that her powers of voice began to be developed. Before this, she had indeed been able to bear her part in the music of the family, and in the infant school, but now she had the instructions of a master. The scene is still fresh in the memory of the writer, when Mary, and a group of young companions used to assemble to practice singing. An hour in the cool of the long summer mornings, was devoted to this exercise. While yet the air was fragrant with the breath of flowers, and the birds were pouring forth their 3

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glad notes, the teacher was training the young voices of his pupils to a soft toned violin. The little pieces which were given them to practice, were full of pure sentiments. They were the natural expressions of joyous and grateful hearts ; and there was also much in them, that was fitted to inspire and to cherish a taste for natural enjoyments.

Mary had a high relish for all the appropriate amusements of childhood. Among these, the rural party, and the song, were her favorites. Alwa}^s happiest when contributing to make others happy — delighting rather to place the May crown on the. head of a friend, than to wear it herself. At the little concerts in which she bore a part her gratification rose to its height, when some young friend sung with more than ordinary sweetness. At such times she would listen with breathless attention, and then when all was over, she would offer her congratulations with such affectionateness, as left no doubt of her sincerity

From the time Mary was ten years old, she had a stron desire to make a profession of religion ; but her fathe being absent, she waited patiently the first half year; an after his return, another half year passed, and still this wis remained ungratified. Ever docile and confiding toward her parents, and yielding to their slightest wishes in othe matters, yet in the matter of a profession of religion, sh felt that she had a right to know why she w T as deprived o the privilege.

One Sabbath, when her mother returned from a com munion season, she found Mary sitting in her room, appa rently in deep thought. As she entered, Mary addresse her thus : " Mamma, when our Saviour said, e do this i remembrance of me, 5 did he not mean to include children ?' She was told as she had before been, that her father though her too young to take so important a step. With grea seriousness of manner, she asked, " how old must I be

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before I obey Christ ?" She was told that her father thought twelve, a suitable age to make a profession of religion; when bursting into tears, she exclaimed, "I shall have to wait another year, and I have waited a whole year now.""

During the following summer, the cholera, which had ravaged many parts of the country, entered New England, and there were such indications of its approach to our principal cities, as to arouse the vigilance of health committees and others, to prepare to meet it. One day Mary addressed her mother on the subject in this way. a Mamma, if you should be sick, I should not be frightened; I should know just what to do." She was asked if she should be frightened, if she herself were to be sick, and also, if she had done every thing she would wish if the disease should prove fatal to her. The momentary uneasiness occasioned by her answering in the negative, was removed by her saying, " I should like to make a profession of religion first." Thinking she might be making a merit of this, she was asked if she thought it would make her any better. f O no," was her prompt reply ; u but I do want to leave my name for Christ." When she was twelve years old, this wish of her heart was gratified, and with several youthful companions, she took her place at the table of the Lord; and seldom, it is believed, is that ordinance approached in a more acceptable manner.