April 17, 1883

Obituary Notices

Lawrence—Died at Falmouth, Mass., Aug. 5, 1882, Mrs. P. D. Lawrence, in the eighty-eighth year of her age. Grandmother was among those who looked for the coming of the Lord in 1843, and was also one of the earliest believers in the third angel’s message. She was among the earliest subscribers for the Review, and with a brief interval, had taken both Review and Signs since their first publication. Yet so diligently had these been circulated, that one year before her death she had but one or two numbers of either paper in her possession. Though both hands were crippled, she took pleasure in correspondence, and wrote many letters and circulated papers and tracts as she was able.RH April 17, 1883, par. 1

During her last years especially, she manifested a spirit of simple and childlike trust in God. Her faith was greatly strengthened by a remarkable answer to prayer, when a painful swelling, pronounced a cancer by her physician instantly disappeared as alone she presented her case to the Great Physician. In her age and isolation from those of like precious faith, she received great comfort and encouragement from the letters of a few members of the New England V. M. Society. May God reward these sisters for their labor of love!RH April 17, 1883, par. 2

Her death seemed to be without pain. Feeling weary, she retired to rest, and in a few hours gently sank into the sleep that knows no earthly waking. No more fitting tribute to her memory could be offered,—none which would have been more precious to the dead, or will be more highly prized by the living,—than the following words from Sr. White:—RH April 17, 1883, par. 3

“We became acquainted with Sister P. D. Lawrence and her daughter Mary Ann in 1845, when she received us into her comfortable home at Falmouth, Mass. The passing of the time in 1844 had shaken the faith of very many; but Sister Lawrence^{*The original publication had the spelling “Larwence.”} was among the few who held fast the integrity of the faith. The word of God was her text-book. Her language was, ‘We have the sure word of prophecy, “At the end, the vision shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it;” not one jot or tittle of all that is written shall fail.' Sister Lawrence gave freely of her means to help in the cause at a time when helpers were few. She was as a mother to us, and thus we always addressed her. We enjoyed precious seasons in prayer and in social meetings at her home.RH April 17, 1883, par. 4

“After our first visit to Falmouth, Mary Ann, who loved the truth, and whose society was a great comfort to her mother, was stricken down by consumption, and the widowed mother was left alone. In her great bereavement she still found comfort in the living oracles. Soon her heart was made glad by seeing another daughter, Mrs. E. O. Davis, and not long after, her husband, accept the truth.RH April 17, 1883, par. 5

“Sister Lawrence was for many years the only Sabbathkeeper in Falmouth, and she very rarely enjoyed the privilege of meeting with one of like faith. But she stood as a light amid the darkness. She loved the truth to the close of her life, and died firm in the faith which had sustained her for forty years. A mother in Israel has fallen. She sleeps in Jesus, and when the Lifegiver shall call his people from their graves, we expect that this faithful Christian will come forth, clothed with immortality.RH April 17, 1883, par. 6

“One after another, the standard-bearers are falling at their post. With whom shall we next be called to part? God grant that all these aged soldiers may continue faithful until they lay off their armor because their work is done. ‘Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.’”RH April 17, 1883, par. 7

Mary A. Davis.RH April 17, 1883, par. 8