Chapter XXXVI: Testimonials and Letters of Condolence

I've found a Friend; oh, such a Friend!
So kind, and true, and tender,
So wise a Counsellor and guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From him, who loves me now so well,
What power my love can sever?
Shall life, or death, or earth, or hell?
No, I am his forever.

The following resolutions and letters furnish, in a pre-eminent degree, conclusive evidence of the high estimation in which His servant and handmaiden were held by ministers, elders, and Sabbath-school workers generally:

NEW YORK, January 12, 1869.

MRS. JAMES KNOWLES:

MY DEAR FRIEND--At the Annual Meeting of the Teachers' Association
of the Sabbath-school of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, held last
evening, the following action was taken:

"On motion, the cordial thanks of this Association are voted to
Mrs. James Knowles for her faithful labors in behalf of our
School during the past year."

The following extract from the Annual Report was also ordered to be
forwarded with the foregoing:

"Mention must be made of one of our own church members, Mrs.
Knowles, who has labored most devotedly for our School. In
behalf of the School, the Superintendent would take this way of
expressing our gratitude for her cheerful, earnest, and
persevering labor. She has taken a deep interest in our School,
and has shown it by hard work in its behalf."

I am very glad that the pleasant duty of making you acquainted with
this action has been imposed upon me. Without your help I would
oftentimes during the past year have been very much discouraged.
Your readiness for Christian work, and your thoroughness in it,
have both cheered and satisfied me. May you fully realize the
promise given to those who are always abounding in the work of the
Lord. (1 Cor. xv. 58.) And may the present year show us a
continuance of your willing labors and be marked by a stronger
faith in expectation and more new-born souls, as your joy and crown
in realization. (Psalm cxxvi. 5-6.)

Respectfully yours in the Master,

SAMUEL B. W. MCKEE,
_Superintendent_.

* * * * * *

When we take into consideration the time that elapsed between the penning of the foregoing resolutions as no vain and unmeaning compliment, and the departure of her concerning whom they were voted upon, we are led to see the importance of those words in the Apocalypse: "He that is faithful unto death shall receive a crown of eternal life." How significant are the words employed to denote their hearty appreciation of her worth. "We express our gratitude for her _cheerful_, _earnest_, and _persevering labor_. She has taken a _deep interest_ in our School and has shown it by _hard work_," etc.

We trust that our Sunday-school workers may be greatly encouraged to go and do likewise through a careful and prayerful examination of the above communication.

The following additional affectionate and deeply instructive tribute to her worth to the church and Sabbath-school is from one who was her beloved pastor for seven years--years of pure and uninterrupted Christian fellowship and disinterested devotedness to the cause of Christ.

UTICA, N.Y., November 8, 1886.

REV. DUNCAN M. YOUNG:

DEAR BROTHER--In the removal of Mr. and Mrs. James Knowles _we_
sustain a personal loss. The fact was unknown to us previous to your
letter. To enjoy such friendship as they admitted us into from our
first acquaintance, was not unlike a continuous salutation with the
impressiveness of an unqualified _good-will_. Heaven is indeed
richer for their entrance, and by so much is increasingly endeared
unto us.

They were not time-servers, but, in no mere sentimental sense,
God-servers. The feverish world, greedy and rushing, will know
little of their value, nor miss their humble crafts so quickly
trackless, and yet they really laid the world under obligation. If
its life, and aim, and effort were not purer and higher, it was in
spite of their actual godliness, at all times apparent.

My first introduction to Mrs. Knowles was on the first Sabbath in
February, 1874; also, my first acquaintance with the Allen Street
Church. Mrs. Knowles was then teaching in the Ludlow Street Mission.
As a teacher, she was _simple_, _fearless_, and _Scriptural_. Her
ruling passion, perhaps, was a desire to be useful in some way,
adjusting herself with good grace to the requirements of advancing
years. If just a little disturbed at the thought that she must
contract her labors, or "hold up" at some point, the spirit was ever
the same, perhaps too exacting of a body not excessively vigorous.

As a "Bible reader" she did some of her best work, and made her
greatest sacrifices. Faithfulness characterized her covenant
relation--seldom absent from the scenes of public worship; and the
more remarkable in view of her untiring zeal and devotion in her
specially God-given calling. Many will rise up and call her
blessed, because, so true of her, "she went about doing good." My
own indebtedness to her, as a pastor, was great. Her sympathy with
the ministry seemed innate. Full of faith, and rich in peculiar
experience, she was the one "to step in" at the minister's for a
half-hour; and here, incidentally, I may say, that her practical
views of life and knowledge of human ways turned to my advantage on
repeated occasions, whenever she reported a case as worthy or
unworthy. When an application for aid or comfort required
investigation--that is, ultimate cases requiring delicate, careful
treatment, often impossible for the pastor to do--her feminine
instinct and sagacity of experience took it in hand with a
readiness that was surprising, in view of her always full hands. A
gentle, trustful soul, a frank, unwavering friend, a pious, useful
woman, and a faithful wife and mother, her rest will be sweet.

If the beginning of my acquaintance with her companion dates
somewhat later, it ripened early, I suppose mutually so, into a
strong attachment. Integrity of character was my first impression of
the man; whether an instinct or a judgment, there never was a doubt
as to its correctness. Strong in faith, also--_the old-time faith_,
of apostolic color, for he took no pleasure in "new departures."
Sound in doctrine, fervent in spirit, wise in council, stable in
action, he was truly a strong "pillar in the house of the Lord." If
he wrought obscurely, as the world moves, my impression is that he
did some excellent work for eternity in the most quiet sort of way.
I do not think Heaven could be a surprise to one of his habits and
trend of life. He could assimilate the good easily. Though positive
in his feelings, and sensitive of attachment, he was no mere
man-worshipper, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, so long as it
was the _Word of Christ_, faithfully, earnestly preached; he was a
responsive hearer. The chief desire was that the _word_ should be
successful. Perhaps simplicity was as characteristic as any other
distinct trait. If he did not choose the uppermost seats he occupied
them becomingly when once bidden to take them.

I remember him not so much by means of incidents--his life was not
formed on that plan; but by the deep impression of genuine,
unpretentious godliness.

If I have written at too great length, my heart is full. In deep
sympathy with those who will so surely mourn their loss, and
grateful for the privilege of a tribute, I am,

Sincerely yours,

GEORGE O. PHELPS,
_An Ex-Pastor_.

* * * * * *

The more I read and study the phraseology of this letter, welling up out of a full heart, the more I am convinced of its adaptedness to impart encouragement to others the same in kind and degree as was doubtless reciprocally experienced in days of yore, "for as iron sharpeneth iron, so does the countenance of man his friend."

Here is another tender and terse tribute from the same source to their only son--the request for particulars regarding their last illness, which produced the leaflet entitled "A Short Account of the Last Hours"--that has been already a rich spiritual blessing to many souls.

UTICA, N.Y., November, 1886.

MR. WM. KNOWLES:

DEAR BROTHER--We have just learned of the departure of your dear
parents. Our attachment to them was exceptionally strong, even as
our association in the Master's work was intimate.

I have been looking over your father's letters, too few in numbers;
how full of human kindness, how intensely godly.

Be assured of our sincere regard for you and others in this great
bereavement.

May we not receive, at your convenience, particulars of their last
illness and going? We have no knowledge of either case.

Very sincerely yours,

GEORGE O. PHELPS.

* * * * * *

The subjoined is the answer to the reception of the account of their last hours on earth.

UTICA N.Y., November 30, 1886.

MR. WM. KNOWLES:

MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER--You have laid us under great obligation by
your lengthy and painstaking statement respecting your lamented
parents. Seldom have we been affected so deeply as in the reading of
it, which came so appropriately as to time and feeling, just as we
were closing one of the sweetest meetings of our little "_Gospel
Band_." Yes, truly, those dear, true friends of ours were as "little
children" in "the Kingdom of Heaven."

Nothing would afford me greater satisfaction than to be able to add
further by word or incident what you desire to gather up by way of
a grateful memorial. As I stated in my letter to Mr. Young, my
impressions were made by their uniform consistency of character,
and not by any particular event or circumstance. Perhaps the
enclosed letters will afford characteristic illustration of your
father's habitual godliness or tenor of life. As to your mother,
why, she was always "going about doing good," seemingly never
tiring.

What death-bed scenes! If those faithful words of hers are ever
forgotten, somebody will have a hard witness against them at last.
Their memory is indeed blessed. We will all try to profit by their
examples of godly fidelity, and faithful admonitions. With the
sincerest sympathy, I am,

Gratefully yours,

GEORGE O. PHELPS.

* * * * * *

UTICA, N.Y., February 17, 1887.

MR. WM. KNOWLES:

DEAR BROTHER--You have laid us under new obligations. On my study
table is a picture of the pastor of my childhood--It has been there
nearly my entire ministry. You can conceive the influence it is
designed to exert over me. Now there will be, if not in my study
exclusively, in our house itself, the constant stimulus of such
reminders of devotion as these two most welcome pictures.

We are indeed very grateful to you for them; your filial love was
strong while they lived, and must be quickened by their death, but
if anybody _outside_ of the circle of kindred exceeds our veneration
for your parents, _they_ deserve it all. We certainly cannot fail
to cherish what has been so well done by the artist, the expression
in both pictures is so characteristic. It seems, when we dwell
intently upon them and let thoughts come and go at liberty, that the
lips must open and pleasant words come from them as in life; but
they do speak, nevertheless, and as distinctly, and as
affectionately. Oh! that we were more worthy to hear. And that
blessing upon yourself, how valuable and hopeful, or encouraging it
must be.

I know you will share it with others, and so make a saintly life
still reproductive. The world needs nothing so much as _positive
Christian character_.

Permit me to say that we are greatly prospered in our work, and
have hand and heart seemingly full; but, old Allen Street has _a
warm place_ in our affection always. Our united regards.

Affectionately yours,

GEORGE O. PHELPS.

* * * * * *

The reader will surely notice the true, touching, and graphic account of their work in the next letter.

UTICA, N.Y., April 8, 1887.

REV. MR. YOUNG:

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER--While my mind is full of impressions
concerning the life and work of Mr. and Mrs. Knowles, it is not easy
to withdraw the details, and give you any real satisfaction. The
very simplicity and humility of their ways and deeds render it
impossible to make any adequate illustration--not that incidents are
lacking. Why, there are families in the vicinity of Allen Street who
could relate incidents by the hour touching the gentle care of Mrs.
Knowles for the needy and sick.

Here her life can never be written in full. "Oh, Mr. Phelps, how
sad it is about Mrs. K---- and her little family." "Poor L----, she
is going just like her brother, and they don't want me to tell her
of our fears." "I have just been to see poor Mr. H----, he cannot
live--he doesn't seem to realize it; and then what will become of
his family? I have tried so long to get them into the
Sabbath-school." "I have just come from Mrs. F---- (a woman of
means and Christian charity), who encouraged me greatly in the care
of that family where the father is in the hospital." "Mr. Phelps,
can you go to No. 12 ---- Street, and see a young man who is sick,
and will have to go to the hospital? No friends, and I have been
trying to make him comfortable." "Mr. Phelps, can you attend the
funeral of a child on ---- Street? It did suffer so much--its
mother is on the Island."

These were common to her work, as I now recall them; not
sentimental products of imagination, but facts, only lacking the
details to make the tenor of her life stranger than fiction. To see
her quietly enter some abode of the lowly, her soft and gentle
greeting to the housewife engaged in her home duties, the aspect,
perhaps, a forlorn one, and hear her words of heart-felt sympathy
and encouragement, her solicitude for the little ones, that they
might be "trained in the way of the Lord," and that simple,
fervent, trustful prayer, which seems so befitting as to excite no
repellant feeling; and that parting word which would go straight to
the mother-heart. Here is a picture of Christian-following which
even Munkacsy could not paint.

The Master reserves some things for future inspection. We have no
sufficient canvas for these in such humble, useful lives.

Her faithfulness in dealing with the erring was remarkable;
seemingly without fear of man, and yet always full of gentleness.

We had a way of investigating cases appealing for charity. One day
a girl, nine or ten years of age, came to the door with a basket
asking for something; her mother was a widow and poor, baby sick,
etc., etc.

We asked Mrs. Knowles to look into the case. She went to the place
given, and at first there was some mistake, or, perhaps, a purposed
misdirection; but, nothing daunted by the difficulties encountered,
she succeeded in gaining admittance to apartments on the second
floor, where, instead of poverty and sickness, she found the mother
in the midst of evident comfort, seated at her piano, who at first
denied all knowledge of the little charity girl, and was only
confronted successfully by the entrance unguardedly of the child
herself.

If confusion ever overtook a mortal fraud, in which an active
apprehension and deep humiliation were successfully involved; it was
then and there in the presence of _holy indignation on fire_. Mrs.
Knowles was simply irresistible in such cases.

Now, dear brother, I hardly know what use you can possibly make of
this, but my prayers shall go with your work of perpetuating their
memory.

Very sincerely yours,

GEORGE O. PHELPS

* * * * * *

The thought that the servants of Christ are praying for us is very cheering in the prosecution of our work.

The facts enumerated in the following letter from Pastor Chambers contain a thousand thoughts as descriptive of what every Christian ought to pray for and strive after, namely, to be, as he expresses it, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.

How expressive in this connection are the words of the apostle, "_Take heed_ lest there be found in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."

NEW YORK, November 9, 1886.

REV. D. MCNEILL YOUNG:

DEAR BROTHER--Your letter informing me of the death of Mr. and Mrs.
Knowles was forwarded to me from Harrisburg, to this city.

I had seen a notice of Mr. Knowles' death in a New York paper, but
had not known of the departure of his wife, whose death, under such
circumstances, had a pathos peculiar to itself. Her presence at his
funeral, it would seem, was more than her affectionate testimony to
their past devotion to each other. It was her unconscious prophecy
of their speedy reunion in the presence of Him whom they both loved
and served.

You ask me for some information in regard to them, during the time
of my ministry in this city. They both illustrated the truth of the
remark, that "to be useful, it is not necessary to be conspicuous."
Mr. Knowles was "an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile." Gentle
and peaceable in spirit, loving the house of God, rejoicing in the
spiritual prosperity of the church, _speaking evil of no man_, a
firm friend of his minister, relishing all conversation upon divine
things, frequenting the place of prayer where he was often heard
leading the devotions of the people in simple, earnest, Scriptural
petition, and ever willing to help in Sabbath-school work, or any
other form of Christian activity in which he might be of service--he
was just such a man as any pastor is glad to have as a friend and
helper. He was a ruling elder in the church from the time I first
knew him, and in that capacity was one of the first to welcome me to
New York. He was unobtrusive in all meetings of session, but never
failed to give his suggestions on all matters that came before him,
but was happiest when it was his privilege as an elder to welcome to
the communion of the church those who confessed Christ.

Mrs. Knowles I knew as a warm friend of the church, while at the
same time a faithful member of that band of Bible readers whose
blessed work is best known by the Divine Master. She enjoyed that
service for Christ; she loved to talk about it. Her fidelity and
consecration are known to those under whose superintendence she
labored; but the results of her devotion are a matter of divine
record. May it not be that she has now discovered the real dignity
and the glorious consequences of a service which she humbly, yet
lovingly followed here, and that in Heaven's high fellowship the
faithful Bible reader has a place of peculiar honor?

I can only say, in conclusion, that a church is bereaved indeed
when two such Christians are taken from it. The Providence that
calls them away should not only stimulate those who remain to a
holier activity, but should also elevate our thoughts and
affections, and make us the more glad that at the end of our
journey, and the cessation of our earthly activities, we will
discover the still grander meaning of Christ and Heaven.

Yours fraternally,

GEORGE S. CHAMBERS.

* * * * * *

The next letter is from one who materially aided her in helping the necessitous.

November 21, 1886.

REV. DUNCAN MCNEILL YOUNG:

DEAR SIR--Absence from the city has prevented my answering your kind
note received only last evening.

I have no statistical facts to give you, relative to our dear Mrs.
Knowles, but I can testify to her interest in her work until the
last, her lovely Christian spirit shown under all circumstances,
and her love for her Heavenly Father.

She seemed to me to be supremely happy and content with whatever
lot was given her.

I was not able to be with her when she was ill, but was at her
funeral.

She must be missed in her field of labor, and I am sure I shall
miss her prayers for myself.

Hoping this will be of some use to you, I am,

Yours sincerely,

M. T. FISKE.

* * * * * *

The annexed note of commendation from the Rev. Dr. Conkling, of this city, who formerly labored in word and doctrine with the deceased, in connection with the Allen Street Church, is concise yet comprehensive. How much is implied in these words--_faithful, loving, earnest, prayerful and consistent Christians!_

NEW YORK CITY, November, 1886.

DEAR MR. YOUNG--My acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Knowles was so
limited that my knowledge of them could be only of the most general
character. I knew them, as all who knew them could testify, as
earnest, loving Christians, faithful in their church duties,
prayerful and consistent; and evidently living always near to
Christ. I prized their friendship much; I feel how deep the loss to
the church must be in being deprived of their active influence and
their believing prayers.

With thanks for your kindly note, conveying the sacred request, I
remain, dear sir,

Sincerely yours,

NATH'L W. CONKLING.

* * * * * *

To show how greatly beloved they were by all denominations we insert this closing tribute from a dear servant of Christ, whose calm, clear eye of penetration recognized that, by prayerfully studying the character of Christ we became assimilated to His glorious image. He is a member of the Society of Friends.

CLINTONDALE, N.Y., June 23, 1887.

DUNCAN M. YOUNG:

DEAR BROTHER--Yours received, bearing us news indeed. We had not
heard before of the demise of our dear Brother and Sister Knowles.

The effect of it at first, to me, was that I could scarcely speak
for a fulness of feeling which it produced, and a home-sickness for
the home where they have gone.

My memory was immediately taken back to the visit I paid them a year
ago last spring, which was _very pleasant_ and soul-refreshing, and
especially to the parting _kiss_ that the dear Mother in Israel gave
me on my parting from them; and also she gave me a supply of
beautiful tracts, which I had the privilege of using to the comfort
of two souls on the cars as I was returning home, and some of the
tracts I have yet, and you can depend on it I place higher value on
them than ever before.

The little leaflet you sent us is very appropriate indeed, but none
can do them justice in writing of them, for we do not know of all
their heart-yearnings and achings over poor wanderers, and their
personal private labors for their salvation, neither can we ever
know until we see the record of it all up there.

And may you, dear Brother, as the honored minister of God, carry
out literally her exhortation to you, "Preach the Gospel
Uncolored."

Accept my sincere thanks for your kindness in writing us, and
sending the leaflets. You asked if I could use any of them? I can,
certainly, and there are a few around here yet living who remember
our departed sister and brother when they boarded at our house.

I unite in interest and prayer with you for your important Work in
the abundant ripe fields of Harvest, and pray that you will receive
many souls for your hire.

I am, yours sincerely, and in the love of the pure Gospel of the
Kingdom of our Christ,

ERASTUS S. ANDREWS.

* * * * * *

"They lived, and they were useful; this we know.
Oh, take who will the boon of fading fame!
But give to me
A place among the workers, though my name
Forgotten be,
And if within the book of life is found
My lowly place,
Honor and glory unto God redound
For all His grace!"