F 
 
 BtSss 
 
In ittcmoviam. 
 
JILk 
 
Un ittemoiiant^ 
 
 Mrs. Marmmne Fitch Stranahan. 
 
 REV. SAMUEL T. SPEAR, D. D., 
 
 PASTOR OF TUB SOLTII PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
 
 NEW YOKK: 
 PRINTED BY C. A. ALVURD, 
 
 15 VANDEWATER STUEET. 
 1867. 
 
 ^ 
 
•B'j/ 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 T. 
 
 PAOF. 
 IXTHODUC'TIOX 7 
 
 II. 
 
 Funeral Skumox, uy Rev. .S.^mcel T. Spear, D. D 27 
 
 III. 
 
 ObITLARY Al'l'EARlXG IX T1IR^"'Ne\V YoRK EVAXGELIST.'' OCTO- 
 
 BKu 11. is(.;(; r)9 
 
 IV. 
 
 Extract from the Report of the Sessiox of the South 
 
 Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, (Jctober, 18G6.... G3 
 
 , V. 
 
 Action of the Board of Managers of the Graham Ixsti- 
 
 tutiox 67 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Correspondence — p^^.p, 
 
 1. Letter of tlie Rev. Henry W. Bellows. D. D 71 
 
 2. Letter of the Rev. James Eells, D. D 75 
 
 y>. Letter of the Rev. Mark Ilopkius. D. D.. LL. D., Presi- 
 dent of Williams College 78 
 
 4. Letter of Rev. Frederick A. Farley, D. D bO 
 
 5. Letter of Rev. E. H. Canfield, D. D 86 
 
 G. Letter of Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D 89 
 
 7. Letter of Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D. D 91 
 
 8. Letter of Rev. J. Biiddiugton, J). 1> 98 
 
 Extract from the Annual Report of Mrs. A. R. St. John, 
 Corresponding Secretary of the Graham Institution, 
 
 PRESENTED JANUARY lil. 18G7 105 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Third and Final Report of the Woman's Relief Asso- 
 ciation OF Brooklyn and Long Island 109 
 
I N T ]{ 1) r r T 1 N 
 
 In submitting this Memorial- Volume of the 
 hite Mrs. Mariamne Fitch Stranahan, to her 
 relatives and other personal friends, the com- 
 piler deems it proper to offer a few introdue- 
 tory remarks. 
 
 The contents of the Volume will speak 
 for themselves, in reference alike to their 
 nature, and the sources whence they came. 
 They consist of the Funeral Sermon, preached 
 by her Pastor on the occasion of Mrs. Stran- 
 ahan's death ; an Obituary, appearing in the 
 New York Evangelist ; Resolutions passed by 
 the Managers of the Graham Institution, located 
 in Brooklyn, of which Institution she had been 
 the First Directress for eight years prior to 
 her decease ; an P^xtract from the Annual 
 
8 JIKS. STKANAllATS'. 
 
 Report of the Session of the South Presby- 
 terian Church of Brooklyn, of which Church 
 she was <a member ; an Extract from the Annual 
 Report of Mrs. A. R. St. John, Corresponding 
 Secretary of the Graham Institution, presented 
 January 31. 1867; an Extract from the Third 
 and Final Report of the Woman's Relief Asso- 
 ciation of Brooklyn and Long Island; and several 
 Letters written by distinguished Clergymen, the 
 most of whom reside in Brooklyn, and some 
 of whom, by personal acquaintance and official 
 relations, had enjoyed very good opportuni- 
 ties to know the life and character of the 
 deceased. These Letters were addressed to 
 the compiler in response to a note to these 
 Clergymen, suggesting that he was engaged 
 in gathering the materials of this Volume, 
 and conveying the wish that they would 
 aid him by the expression of their view\s. 
 As to the character and position of the 
 late Mrs. Stranahan, the estimate in which 
 she was held, and the tender and affection- 
 ate memories which still linger around her 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 useful life, these sources of information con- 
 clusively prove that she was indeed a very 
 remarkable woman, highly gifted, and using 
 her gifts for the glory of God and the good 
 of mankind. 
 
 This Volume is the fruit of the sponta- 
 neous and coincident suggestion of several 
 minds. It seemed highly proper, as they 
 thought, that some tribute in some perma- 
 nent shape should be paid to the memory 
 of one who had so richly deserved it. The 
 compiler being her Pastor as w^ell as her per- 
 sonal friend, the task of preparing the work 
 naturally fell to him. He has felt honored 
 in the privilege of performing such a duty. 
 
 This Volume is not published with a view 
 to sale at all. It is specially designed, as 
 already intimated, for the relatives and other 
 personal frifends of the deceased, Avho will 
 receive it as a gratuity, and retain it in their 
 possession as the memorial of a most excel- 
 lent woman "one to the skies. Into what- 
 
10 MRS. STEANAHAIS^. 
 
 ever hands it may fall, may the blessing of 
 God go with it, and make it useful to the 
 reader. 
 
 To the class of persons who will be the 
 readers and keepers of this Volume, a brief 
 sketch of the deceased will doubtless be wel- 
 come. Such a sketch is presented in the fol- 
 lowing statements : — 
 
 Mrs. Mariamne Fitch Stranahan was born 
 March 7th, 1813, in the town of Westmore- 
 land, Oneida County, New York. Her father's 
 name was Ebenezer Eoot Fitch, who was 
 born September 26th, 1772, in the town of 
 Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut, and 
 who died Auoust 19th, 1820, being forty- 
 eight years of age at the time of his death. 
 Her mother's name was Sarah Dow Fitch, 
 who was born in 1776, and who died March 
 7th, 1842, being in her sixty-sixth year at 
 the time of her decease. Both of her parents 
 were members of the Christian Church, and 
 died in the faith of the Gospel. The Fitch 
 
IlSrTRODUCTION. 1 1 
 
 family in Connecticut held a good position in 
 society, ,'in<l was indeed somewhat noted in 
 the State, some of the members thereof hold- 
 ing offices of public honor and trust. Mr. 
 Ebenezer Root Fitch, the father of Mrs.' 
 Stranahan, was a descendant, in the fourth 
 generation, from the Rev. James Fitch, who 
 was born in Rocking, England, 1622, who 
 came to this country in 1638, and who was 
 also the first Pastor of the Church of Say- 
 brook, Connecticut. The second wife of Rev. 
 James Fitch, and maternal ancestor of Ebe- 
 nezer Root Fitch, was Priscilla Mason, the 
 daughter of Major John Mason, deputy and 
 acting Governor of the Colony of Connecti- 
 cut for eight years, and the conqueror of the 
 Pequot Indians. The mother of Ebenezer Root 
 Fitch was the niece and ward of Chief-Justice 
 Jesse Root, of Connecticut. 
 
 In 1837, when she was twenty-four years of 
 age, the deceased was married to Mr. James S. 
 T. Stranahan, who at the time of the marriage 
 
12 MES. STEANAHAN. 
 
 was a manufacturer and merchant in the town 
 of Florence, Oneida County, New York, and 
 who was born April 25th, 1808. Two chil- 
 dren survive her, both of whom were born 
 in the city of Newark, New Jersey. 
 
 The educational opportunities of Mrs. 
 Stranahan, in early life, were such as could 
 be supplied by the Common School, and Acad- 
 emies for Young Ladies as conducted at that 
 time. She received what was, at that period, 
 deemed a solid and thorough female educa- 
 tion. It embraced a practical and useful dis- 
 cipline, and made her an accurate English 
 scholar. The correctness of her deportment 
 in childhood, and the general style of her 
 mind in youth, gave ample promise of the 
 future woman. Her remarkably even temper, 
 industrious and active habits, fondness for 
 useful knowledge, and compactness of mind, 
 suggested a future character of very much 
 more than common power. What she said 
 and did, or what she refrained from saying 
 
INTEODUCTIOlSr. 1 8 
 
 or doing, was rarely lost upon the minds of 
 her companions. The religious tendencies of 
 her mind and heart date from her early 
 youth. Though she did not connect herself 
 with the Christian Church till a much later 
 period, still she was conscientious in the dis- 
 charge of religious duties, fond of reading 
 the Bible and other religious books, a regu- 
 lar attendant upon the public worship of God, 
 and was indeed deemed a Christian by those 
 who knew her best, long before she ventured 
 to cherish the hope for herself. A profound 
 sense of the sacredness of religion, combined 
 with a tendency to a strong degree of self- 
 questioning and self-suspicion, led her for 
 many years to doubt whether she was in a 
 proper state of nund to become a member of 
 the visible Church ; and when, in later years, 
 she finally concluded to take this step, it was 
 not done without the most careful self-exam- 
 ination. Her early thoughts on the subject 
 of religion, like her more mature ones, were 
 
14 MRS. STRAISTAHAIS^. 
 
 solid and practical. She was never a doubter, 
 and never a caviler with the Word of God. 
 Her difficulties Avere not with the truth as 
 revealed in the Bible, but wholly with herself. 
 Passing up into womanhood with these 
 general features of mind and character, the 
 deceased, after her marriage, resided three 
 years in Florence, Oneida County, New York. 
 In 1840 the family removed to the City of 
 Newark, New Jersey, wdiere the two children 
 surviving her, were born ; and in February, 
 1845, she commenced her residence in the 
 City of Brooklyn, where she continued to re- 
 side until the time of her death, making a 
 residence in this City of a little more than 
 twenty-one years. Soon after coming to 
 Brooklyn she became a member of the Con- 
 gregation known as " The South Presbyterian 
 Church of Brooklyn;" and in 1855 she con- 
 nected herself with the Church by a public 
 profession of her faith, '^her husband uniting 
 with her at the same time. In 1851 she 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 5 
 
 made, with her husband, a visit to Europe, 
 traveling through the principal countries of 
 Europe. Her husband was elected by one of 
 the Congressional Districts in Kings County 
 as a Representative in the Thirty-fourth Con- 
 gress ; and with him the deceased spent most 
 of the time during the sessions of this Con- 
 gress in the city of Washington. Here she 
 was brouii:ht in contact with Washington so- 
 ciety ; and here both her intelligence and 
 excellent traits of personal character secured 
 for her many lasting friends. 
 
 The Letters contained in subsequent parts 
 of this Volume, refer with special emphasis to 
 Mrs. Stranahan's services, as the President of 
 " The Woman's Relief Association of Brook- 
 lyn and Long Island." This Association was 
 organized November 23d, 1862, at which time 
 Mrs. Stranahan was chosen as its President, 
 Miss Waterbury as its Secretary, and twelve 
 other ladies of high standing and patriotic im- 
 pulses as an Executive Committee. There 
 
16 MES. STRANAHATSr. 
 
 was a deeply felt want which this Association 
 undertook to meet. The efforts previously 
 made in behalf of the soldiers, in the City of 
 Brooklyn, were scattered and inefficient, and 
 did not at all express the patriotism or 
 develop the strength of the people. Various 
 organizations w^ere trying to do something for 
 the soldier ; and though perfectly united in 
 object, they were nevertheless acting without 
 concentration, and without the certainties of a 
 methodical and orderly plan of effort. It was 
 especially true, that the strength of the Chris- 
 tian Church was not adequately called into 
 service. The feeling was good ; but the plan 
 was wanting. This state of feeling, without 
 any sufficient mode for its practical expres- 
 sion, led to the formation of " The Woman's 
 Pv^elief Association," as an auxihary to the Uni- 
 ted States Sanitary Commission. The War 
 Fund Committee, already established in the 
 City of Brooklyn, called the Clergy of the City 
 together for the consideration of the subject. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 1 7 
 
 This meeting of Clergymen was largely attend- 
 ed ; and after a thorough comparison of views, 
 it was decided to hold a public meeting in 
 the Academy of Music, and also to invite the 
 Rev. Dr. Bellows, President of the United 
 States Sanitary Commission, to be present, and 
 give a detailed statement of his views in 
 regard to the wants of the soldier, and the 
 best method of co-operating with the Govern- 
 ment in meeting them. The Academy of 
 Music was crowded to its utmost capacity on 
 the occasion referred to ; and after hearing 
 fully from Dr. Bellows and other Clergymen 
 present, the audience resolved to invite the 
 ladies of Brooklyn to meet by delegates from 
 the diiferent Churches in the Lecture Boom 
 of the Church of the Pilgrims. Such a meet- 
 ing was held at the time designated ; and 
 here " The Woman's Relief Association'' was 
 formally organized. Such, briefly, is the his- 
 tory of its origin. 
 
 The history of the work accomplished by 
 
18 MES. STRANAHAN. 
 
 this Association, during the progress of the 
 late civil war, is worthy of all praise. It 
 places Brooklyn in the very first rank of 
 patriotic Cities. It was largely, though not 
 exclusively, a C7nirck-\\0Y\<, drawing its chief 
 life and support from the Churches of Brooklyn 
 and Long Island, and being most heartily sus- 
 tained by the Clergy. Some eighty Churches 
 of different denominations w'ere united in the 
 effort; and these Churches were held together 
 and co-operated in perfect harmony till the 
 occasion ceased for their labors. Mrs. Strana- 
 han, in her final report, says : " The aggre- 
 oate of our eflbrts, includina- the results of 
 our Great Fair, represents a money-value of 
 not loss than half a million of dollars." Three 
 hundred thousand dollars of this sum were 
 paid into the treasury of the United States 
 Sanitary Commission in cash ; and hospital 
 supplies were furnished to the amount of 
 over two hundred thousand dollars more, em- 
 bracing tlie various things needed for the 
 
l.NTROJ)r( TI().\. 19 
 
 comfort of the sick or wounded soldier. The 
 Great Fair of Brooklyn had its origin in 
 " The Woman's Rehef Association." At tirst 
 it was proposed to nnite the efforts of Brook- 
 lyn with the Metropolitan Fair to he held in 
 New York ; hut on reflection it was thought 
 that a much larger result wouhl he gained 
 hy an independent effort on the i)art of 
 Brooklyn and Long Island, and the result 
 fully justified the opinion. " The Woman's 
 Relief Association," from first to last, was a 
 great and glori(ms success, not e([ualed by 
 any otlier like association in the country. 
 
 It is due to truth, and due to the mem- 
 ory of the deceased, to say that this success 
 depended very largely upon her wisdom and 
 her efforts. She was the right woman in the 
 right place. She gave her time to the work 
 with a zeal and perseverance that never fid- 
 tered, and with a hopefulness for her countiy 
 that yiehled to no discouragement or despond- 
 ency. As a presiding officer, she discharged 
 
20 MRS. STEANAIIAN. 
 
 her duties with a self-possession, courtesy, 
 skill, and method, that commanded universal 
 admiration. She had a quick and judicious 
 insight into the various ways and means by 
 which the meetings of the Association would 
 be rendered interesting and attractive. The 
 business part of the work was constantly un- 
 der her eye. No woman ever labored in a 
 sphere more honorable ; and but few women 
 could have filled her place. Her general tem- 
 per of mind, her large and catholic views as 
 a Christian, and then her excellent discretion, 
 eminently fitted her to combine all the Churches 
 in one harmonious and patriotic eflort. This 
 was her constant study ; and well did she 
 succeed. As an evidence of the sentiments 
 with which she had inspired her associates, 
 the following resolution offered at the last 
 meeting of the Association, and unanimously 
 adopted, will speak for itself: — 
 
 Hesohed, That tlie tlianks of the Woinan''s Relief Association 
 are pre-etninontly due to our President, Mrs. J. S. T. Strana- 
 
INTEODUCTION. 21 
 
 iiAX, fur the siiig-ular ability, wisdom, and i)atieiicc witii wliicli 
 slie lias discharged the duties of her office, at all times arduous, 
 and not unfrequently requiring -sacrifices to whicli nothing short 
 of the deepest love of country could have been equal. It is due 
 to justice, and to the feelings of our hearts, to say that the use- 
 fulness, tlie harmony, and the continued existence of the Woman's 
 Relief Association, through the long and painful struggle, now 
 happily endc<l, have been in a large measure owing to the com- 
 bination of rare gifts, whicli have been so conspicuous to us all 
 in the guidance of our public meetings, and which have marked 
 not less the more unnoticed, but equally essential, superintend- 
 ence of the work in private. 
 
 The Letter of the Rev. Dr. Bellows, who 
 was the President of the United Stutes' 
 Sanitary Commission, and who as such Mas 
 brought into official relations to Mrs. Strana- 
 han, shows in what estimate he held her ser- 
 vices, and what Avere the impressions made 
 upon his mind as to her mental and moral 
 character. This Letter contains a very truth- 
 ful picture of the facts and the person. 
 
 For eight successive years [trior to her 
 death, Mrs. Stranahan had been the First 
 Directress of the Graham Institute, a noble 
 charity founded for the relief of " Respect- 
 
22 MES. STKANAHAN. 
 
 able, Aged, and Indigent Females ;" and dur- 
 ing the whole existence of this Institution, 
 she was one of its important supporters. As 
 a human being, and as a Christian woman, 
 she tenderly sympathized with the poor and 
 the needy, and was ever ready to extend to 
 them the helping hand. She knew how to 
 do it with a grace and ftimiliar simplicity, 
 that always made charity from her hands 
 doubly welcome. The resolutions passed by 
 the Managers of this Institution upon the 
 occasion of her death, and which may be- 
 found in this Volume, as also the Letter of 
 the Rev. Dr. Farley, fully show Avhat were 
 her relations to this Institution. 
 
 The compiler of this Volume was for twenty 
 years her Pastor, and had the opportunity of 
 forming a very reliable opinion of her as a 
 woman, and also as to her religious charac- 
 ter. This opinion he has expressed in the 
 Sermon preached on the occasion of her 
 death ; and to this expression, without here 
 
IISrTRODUCTION. 23 
 
 repeating the same, the reader is respectfully 
 referred. In addition to that statement, the 
 compiler desires here to say, what could not 
 so well be said on that occasion, that it was 
 not uncommon for him to converse fully and 
 frequently with her on subjects affecting the 
 political and general interests of the country, 
 especially during the late war, and afterward 
 in relation to the proper settlement of the 
 questions growing out of the war. On these 
 subjects she was a woman of very clear and 
 positive opinions, very much more intelligent 
 and better informed than most of her sex. 
 She was a true patriot; and during the w^ar 
 she held fost to the doctrine, that the Gov- 
 ernment must conquer the Rebellion at all 
 hazards and all costs. She was the earnest 
 admirer and devoted friend of the lamented 
 Lincoln. After the close of the war and the 
 death of Mr. Lincoln, she detected, at a very 
 early period, the unhappy drifting of events 
 as the fruit of what seemed to her a very 
 
24 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 serious mistake in the Executive policy of 
 the Government. She knew the Southern 
 people, having at different times mingled with 
 them ; yet her views on political questions 
 accorded Avell with her Northern birth and 
 education. Without being fanatical in her 
 impulses, she nevertheless hated slavery with 
 an intense aversion. The entire sympathies 
 of her moral nature were on the side of 
 freedom. The earnest prayer of her heart, 
 in respect to the issues of the Rebellion, was 
 that treason might be stamped with its de- 
 served odium, and that the rights of the 
 Freedmen might be thoroughly protected. 
 
 In concluding these introductory observa- 
 tions, the compiler takes pleasure in expres- 
 sing his thanks to those clerical gentlemen 
 who have kindly furnished him the Letters, 
 which appear under the head of Corresj)ond- 
 ence. As he doubts not, they will be gladly 
 accepted and read by the relatives and per- 
 sonal friends of the deceased, as a just tribute 
 
INTKODUCTION. 25 
 
 to her memory. To these relatives and per- 
 sonal friends he offers this Volume as a 
 Memorial- Volume — in so doing, acting as the 
 selected representative of the lion. James 8. 
 T. Stranahan, the husband upon whom the 
 death of his wife fell as the severest afflic- 
 tion of his life. 
 
 Samuel T. Spear. 
 
 4 
 
II. 
 FUISrERAL SERMON, 
 
 BY KEY. SAMUEF, T. SPEAR, D. D. 
 
 " For we know, that if our earthly house of this taber- 
 nacle WERE DISSOLVED, WE HAVE A BUILDING OF GOD, AN HOUSE 
 NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS." — 2 Cor. V. 1. 
 
 I HAVE selected this passage as being 
 specially appropriate for the service, which 
 has been announced for this hour. Some 
 four weeks since, away from her home, and 
 from the society of those with whom she had 
 been accustomed to mingle, Mrs. Mariamne 
 F. Stranahan, a much beloved member of this 
 Church, was called to meet her God. Under 
 
28 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 the circumstances as then existing, it was not 
 practicable, at that time, to hold a funeral 
 service in this City ; and hence it was thought 
 expedient to defer the service till the family 
 could return, and thus give the community 
 an opportunity to share with them in the 
 mournful solemnity. That moment has now 
 arrived; and I am before this audience 
 with the text and the occasion for my 
 theme. 
 
 Calling your attention briefly to the words 
 of the TEXT, I shall ask you to take note 
 of three points. 
 
 The first is the positiveness of the Apos- 
 tle's ASSERTION. — Whatever the assertion means, 
 of that he was positive. It was not a 
 matter of probable conjecture mingled with 
 doubt, but of strong and unhesitating assu- 
 rance. " For we hiowr The ground of this 
 knowledge, as we suppose, was not fixed 
 in any superior natural endowments of the 
 Apostle ; it did not rest upon any scientific 
 
FUNERAL SERMON, 29 
 
 processes of thought ; but it did spring 
 from the absolute truth of God as given 
 to man by the inspiration of the Holy 
 Ghost. This, we take it, was the secret 
 and source of Paul's positive knowledge. 
 lie had a complete faith in the Gospel of 
 the Son of God, and in all the principles 
 and truths revealed by that Gospel. What- 
 ever it declared, that he accepted as true, 
 upon the authority of God. He was him- 
 self an inspired man, specially intrusted 
 with this Gospel, and could hence speak 
 and write with absolute positiveness of 
 knowledge. 
 
 This, let me assure you, is a much 
 higher ground than that of unaided reason, 
 especially in matters pertaining to the after- 
 life. Of many earthly things Ave may be 
 perfectly confident ; but when we come to 
 things spiritual and immortal, future and 
 invisible, in respect to which we have no 
 experience, we want a revelation to guide 
 
30 MRS. STRAjSTAHAJ^. 
 
 US, to give us the objects of faith, and 
 support that faith by the unfailing testi- 
 mony of God himself. The profound rea- 
 soner feels this necessity very much more 
 than the man of careless and superficial 
 thought ; and hence having satisfied himself 
 that the Bible is the Word of God, and 
 that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Truth of 
 God, he rests upon this Word and this Gos- 
 pel with the simplicity, docility, and unwaver- 
 ing confidence of a child, having in his own 
 happy experience that faith which is the 
 substance of things hoped for, and the 
 evidence of things not seen. He walks by 
 faith, and not by sight. 
 
 The second point to which I ask your 
 
 ATTENTION, IS THE SUPPOSITION WHICH THE ApOSTLE 
 
 MAKES. — This is contained in the following 
 Avords : " If our earthly house of this tab- 
 ernacle were dissolved." By " our earthly 
 house of this tabernacle " he evidently means 
 the human body. It is our "house," 
 
FUNEEAL SERMOJS^. 81 
 
 because it is our dwelling-place, for the 
 present the instrument and the abode of 
 spiritual life. It- is also "earthly," because 
 reared upon the earth, being terrestrial alike 
 in its locality and its structure. It is also a 
 " tabernacle," since it is not the jjermanent 
 dwelling-place of the essential man, but 
 merely the convenience of the passing 
 moment, like all other tabernacles suitable 
 to a pilgrim and a traveler, yet not fitted 
 to be his final home. Death is the event 
 which involves the dissolution of this taber- 
 nacle. The powers of animal life are then 
 suspended ; the body becomes Avorthless, con- 
 sidered as a spiritual residence ; we pay to 
 it our tribute of affection and honor, and 
 then lay it away to moulder in the grave. 
 There it lies, just where we place it, 
 unconscious of the darkness and solitude of 
 its lonely home, unpained by its own decay. 
 The laws of nature seize upon it; and soon 
 it is a body no longer. We may visit the 
 
H2 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 spot where we laid it ; the costly marble 
 may tell the passer-by, on whom, and when, 
 and where the ftital blow descended ; yet 
 these tributes of human feeling have no 
 power to rescue us from that common fate 
 which so surely awaits us all. " Dust thou 
 art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 
 Think we or think Ave not, the appointment 
 is sure. Nothing can reverse it, and nothing 
 delay the final hour. With every beating 
 pulse it approaches ; and soon its prodigious 
 experience must be ours. We may banish 
 the subject from meditation ; but this does 
 not alter the fact. In due season, the 
 event referred to by the Apostle, will over- 
 take us all. 
 
 '• Like crowded tbre.st trees we stand, 
 And some are marked to tall ; 
 The axe will smite at God's command, 
 And soon shall smite us all." 
 
 It is, moreover, good for us to pause 
 and meditate upon this fact. It is a seri- 
 
FUNEKAL SERMOiSr. 33 
 
 ous error to think all men mortal but our- 
 selves. Meditation, truthful and frequently 
 repeated, will be conducive to our moral 
 health. The questions which it raises, and 
 for which it seeks a solution, form the great- 
 est themes of thought. It conducts us to 
 the silent, solemn shore of that vast ocean 
 we must sail so soon, bidding us with earnest 
 gaze to lift our contemplations to the amazing 
 problems of the mighty future. That man 
 surely has no discretion, who studiously 
 ignores his own mortality. If of this he is 
 afraid to think, then he is at once the great- 
 est of cowards and the greatest of heroes — 
 timid where he ought to have courage, and 
 bold where he ought to be timid. lie will 
 certainly live as the fool liveth, and then 
 die as the fool dieth. The fatal hour, like 
 a thief in the night, will come upon him, and 
 find him quite unprepared to meet it. His 
 dreams of pleasure will be exploded ; and 
 naught be left but the pangs and curses of 
 
84 MRS. STEANAHAlSr. 
 
 a wasted and mis-spent life. Let us all so 
 meditate our end as seasonably to prepare 
 for it. That life is long which answers life's 
 great end. That life is wisest which one is 
 equally fitted to resign or retain. 
 
 The THIIID POINT IN THIS TEXT IS THE POS- 
 ITIVE ASSERTION WHICH IT MAKES. *' If OUr 
 
 earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- 
 solved, we have a huilding of God^ an house 
 not made nuth hands, eternal in the heavens.'' 
 At a glance you see that the man himself, 
 in the essential elements of his mental and 
 moral humanity, is supposed to survive the 
 dissolution of his mortal body. The body, 
 the house, the tabern.-icle, falls; but the per- 
 sonal man does not fall with it. Ilis 
 spiritual nature is not dissolved. His rea- 
 son, his conscience, his moral alfections, his 
 character — these are not destroyed or even 
 suspended by the event, which has proved 
 so fatal to the l)ody. There is something 
 in the man which the hand of death does 
 
rrNEKAL SERMON. 35 
 
 not ronc'h ; .ami that soinetliiiig-, while now 
 entirely distinct from the hody, yea, giving 
 to this hody of flesh and ))h)od all its 
 significance and vahie, outlives the decay 
 and dissohition of our material irame. It 
 does not die witli it, and does not moulder 
 with it in the tomh. Blessed thought! 
 Responsive to the universal instinct and liope 
 of the race! 8ad, inimeasural»ly and incon- 
 solably sad, would death be, were we denied 
 the comforts and sweet inspirations of this 
 thouglit. Were there a serious doul)t upon 
 the question, tliat doubt would shade and 
 distress us all the days of our pilgrimage. 
 Yes, blessed thought! And blessed be the 
 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who hath in the Gospel of his Son brought 
 life and immortality to light. That which 
 in some respects looks so much like destruc- 
 tion, is but a process of life — a second birtli. 
 by a stated order of (iod. carrying the soul 
 into a new and more extended s[»liere and 
 
36 MRS. STEAJSTAHAN. 
 
 career of being. They are not dead that 
 die, but living. 
 
 "Wliy then their loss deplore, that are not lost? 
 Wliy wanders wretched Thonght their tomhs aronnd 
 In infidel distress? Are angels there? 
 Slumbers, raked up in dust, ethereal fire? 
 They live ! They greatly live a life on earth 
 Unkindled, unconceived, and from an eye 
 Of tenderness let heavenly pity fall 
 On me, more justly numbered with the dead." 
 
 There is more than simple immortality 
 in the words of the text. Grand as the 
 thought may be, it is but the i^rologue of 
 things grander than itself. "A building of 
 God, an house not made with hands, eter- 
 nal in the heavens" — this language, borrowed 
 from earth, and addressed to the children of 
 earth, is designed to assure the Christian 
 that the circumstances of his after-life shall 
 contain the most perfect provision for his 
 future and eternal good. True, he leaves 
 earth behind him, and true also that he 
 leaves the body of earth behind him ; yet 
 
FUNERAL SERMOIS'. 37 
 
 he shall have a home, a structure or dwelling- 
 place, reared by God himself, and hence an 
 house not made with hands ; and this home 
 shall be eternal in the heavens. He will 
 not be a denizen of the spirit-world without 
 a country that he may call his own, or 
 circumstances personal to himself and suited 
 to his everlasting happiness. He will not 
 be a spirit unclothed, or without its robe 
 of light. God will make the amplest pro- 
 vision for him, giving him a place in which 
 to dwell, songs to sing, pleasures to enjoy, 
 and duties to perform. He wdll be more at 
 home in heaven than he ever was on earth. 
 Here he was a pilgrim and a stranger, 
 dwelling in a tabernacle ; but there he shall 
 reside in the palace of his God, in an 
 house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens. Reaching that royal abode, he will 
 sing with triumph, " Home at last !" 
 
 I do not know that I feel any special 
 desire to press these words for a more 
 
.S8 MRS. STRAISTAHAN. 
 
 accurate, what some would call a moi'e 
 analytic and philosophical, meaning, than the 
 one which lies upon their surfoce. I think 
 we sometimes err in an effort to be wise 
 above our measure. The Scriptures are 
 written in plain language : they do not 
 attem})t to gratify our speculative curiosity ; 
 and the better way for us is to take the 
 general impression which they seek to make, 
 and be content with it. I am very far 
 from knowing what are the processes, the 
 modes and circumstances of the future life : 
 I am not as familiar with that life as I 
 am with the scenes of earth : I do not 
 know that I can tell all that is meant by 
 the words of the text ; perhaps my conjec- 
 tures were I to indulge in them, would be 
 very far from the truth : yet this I know, 
 that such language, such a description of 
 the life to come, like hundreds of other 
 descriptions found in the Bible, conveys to 
 earth the intelligence of a good and happy 
 
FUNERAL ser:\iox. 39 
 
 state after death ; and this is just what we 
 w^aiit to know. This is just what the IJible, 
 sometimes by bold and irr;ii)hic figure, and 
 sometimes in more literal terms, is eonstantly 
 rehearsing in our ears, using the utmost pow- 
 er of language to make eternity attractive 
 and weleome to the }>ious sons of earth. In 
 our Father's house there are many mansions : 
 and thither Jesus has gone to prepare a 
 place for us. The righteous sliall shine forlli 
 as the sun in tlie kingdom of their Father. 
 They shall shine as the brightness of the 
 firmament, and as the stars, for ever and 
 ever. Blessed are the dead who die in the 
 Lord, since they rest from tbeir lal)ors, and 
 their works do follow them. An iniieritance 
 incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not 
 away, is reserved in heaven for them, A 
 far nu)re exceeding and eternal weiglit of 
 glory is to be the rich l)equest of God in 
 their behalf. Songs of praises shall be on 
 their tongues, and palms of victory in their 
 
40 MRS. STRAlSTAHAlSr. 
 
 hands. Their treasure is laid up where 
 moth and rust do not corrupt, and where 
 thieves do not break through or steal. 
 
 These and such forms of statement, so 
 familiar to the reader of the Bible, like 
 that of the text, are not designed to ante- 
 date that knowledge of observation and expe- 
 rience which we must die to gain ; but they 
 are designed to impress every man with that 
 great and good reward which God has prom- 
 ised to the children of his grace. Happy 
 will it be for us if we take the broad 
 impression. It is quite enough for our 
 present circumstances. It is indeed all that 
 we are now competent to take. Remember 
 that eye hath not seen, and ear hath not 
 heard, neither hath it entered into the heart 
 of man fully to conceive, the things which 
 God hath prepared for them that love him. 
 It doth not yet appear what they shall be. 
 Content yourselves then with the direct and 
 ol)vious idea of the Scriptures, and learn to 
 
FUNERAL SEKMOX. 41 
 
 say with the Apostle, " For we know, that 
 if our earthly house of this tabernacle were 
 dissolved, we have a building of God, an 
 house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens." When standing on the other side, 
 you will know what this means, as you 
 cannot while standing here. Be sure so to 
 live that you can without presumption appro- 
 priate the language. Obey God ; receive his 
 Gospel ; and then proceed to the grave with 
 the fullest hope of a blessed and happy 
 immortality. 
 
 Having thus developed the thoughts of 
 the text, I now turn in a few closing 
 remarks to the occasion, which is providen- 
 tially a part of my theme this morning. In 
 these remarks I shall not say a word which 
 I do not believe to be true. 
 
 The deceased, Mrs. Mariamne Fitch Stran- 
 ahan, dying at the age of fifty-three years, 
 was born of pious parents iu tlic town of 
 Westmoreland, Oneida County, State of New 
 
42 MES. STFtANAUAlV. 
 
 York. In early life she was well educated 
 in the common Enghsh hranches, excellino; 
 in English Grammar and Rhetoric. Previously 
 to her death, she had been a resident of this 
 city for nearly a quarter of a century. 
 During nearly the whole of this period, I 
 hiive sustained towards her the relation of a 
 Christian Pastor. In the year 1855 she 
 became a member of this Church, joining it 
 in connection with her husband upon a pub- 
 lic profession of her faith. 
 
 My first acquaintance with the deceased 
 was made in the sick-room. I then met 
 her as an invalid and a stranger. This inter- 
 view was mainly devoted to the subject of 
 religion — a theme which I found entirely 
 welcome to her feelings, and upon which 
 she had evidently meditated for years. I 
 saw at once her profound respect for the 
 theme, her knowledge of the Bible, and her 
 entire faitlr in the book as of divine author- 
 ity. She then expressed to me all the con- 
 
FUNERAL SERMON. 43 
 
 victions and all the essential affections and 
 mental habits of the Christian character, and 
 simply foiled, so far as I conld judge by her 
 words, in realizing to herself her own posi- 
 tion, with its privileges as guaranteed to her 
 by the truth of God. She was timid, self- 
 suspicious, and doubtful on the question of 
 her right to the Christian hope. I retain 
 to this day the impression then made ui)()n 
 my mind, and which, in conversation witli an 
 intimate friend, I thus expressed : '* Either 
 Mrs. Stranahan is a Cliristian, or she soon 
 will be. I think she is a Christian without 
 knowing it." This mood of mind delayed 
 her profession of religion for some ten years ; 
 she was waiting for more satisfactory evidence 
 of the work of grace in her heart; and at 
 length, after repeated conversations on the 
 point, after much hesitation and earnest self- 
 examination, and with no little trembling of 
 soul, she finally decided to connect herself 
 with the visible Church. My judgment is 
 
4:4 MRS. STRANAHAN^. 
 
 that she was sph'itually prepared for this act 
 long before she performed it; yet the pro- 
 priety of the step was not so evident to 
 herself, and hence her delay. 
 
 As to the character of the deceased con- 
 sidered in the strictly Clirhtian aspect, it is 
 perhaps enough to say that it was thoroughly 
 Christian. She certainly was an intellk/ent 
 Christian, well instructed and well read in 
 the doctrines of the Gospel. She was a 7'eU- 
 ahk Christian, firm, equable, uniform, and 
 fixed in her principles, conscientious in the 
 performance of that which she deemed to be 
 right, and equally in the resistance of that 
 which she viewed as wrong, without those 
 moods and eccentricities of character which 
 sometimes mar the beauty of grace. She 
 was a in-adical Christian, embodying the moral 
 sentiments of her inner life in the concrete 
 forms of living action. She was large-hearted 
 and comprehensive in the scope of her piety, 
 being eminently free from the bigotry and 
 
FUNERAL SERMON, 45 
 
 sectarian prejudices; which too often dishonor 
 the Christian name. She had great confidence 
 in the truth of God, and thoroughly believed 
 in the visible Church as the divinely appoint- 
 ed agent of spiritual doctrine and practical 
 philanthropy in this fallen world. She w\as 
 not given to idle speculation or useless sen- 
 timentality. Religion with her was a liie to 
 be lived, and a truth to bo illustrated. Of 
 her merely emotional experiences she seldom 
 spake ; and yet she w^as always frank, free, 
 and facile in religious conversation, showing 
 her relish for the theme. Though holding 
 the faith of the Cliurch to which she be- 
 longed, and attached to its forms of worship, 
 she was, nevertheless, by nature as well as 
 by grace, exceedingly liberal in both feeling 
 and practice toward all the other branches 
 of the Christian family ; and this quality of 
 character eminently fitted her to act well her 
 part in some of the positions to which she 
 was providentially called. 
 
46 MES. STRANAHAI^. 
 
 The elements of natural and acquired char- 
 acter possessed by the deceased, were adapted 
 to make her a woman of more than ordinary 
 importance and power in any and every circle 
 of life. A large endowment of excellent sense 
 prepared her to be a truly wise woman. 
 Hers was a sense that served her on all 
 occasions, and under all circumstances, and 
 made her quite equal to every thing which 
 she undertook. Hasty and inconsiderate words 
 seldom fell from her lips. She was a good 
 judge of things, knowing what to do and how 
 to do it. Always genial and sometimes play- 
 ful in her feelings, simj)le and unpretending 
 in her manners, perfectly sincere and genuine 
 in her friendships, she was fitted to enjoy life 
 and minister enjoyment to others. The lowly 
 and humble found her a lady in the truest 
 sense, and the most exalted were impressed 
 by her presence and conversation. Her cul- 
 ture derived from reading, travel, observation, 
 and a large acquaintance with others, rather 
 
FUNERAL SERMON. 47 
 
 than from the mere forms and routine of 
 school-discipline, secured to her a self-reliance, 
 a self-possession, and practical wisdom equal 
 to all the emergencies and occasions of life. 
 Though not pretentious, and far from seeking 
 to ape the brilliant woman, she nevertheless 
 had such a combination of mental and moral 
 qualities, that she was eminently a talented 
 woman, fully competent to s})eak, write, or act 
 so as strongly to im})ress others. Life she 
 regarded as a moral gift, to be used for the 
 glory of God and the good of mankind, rather 
 than as a day to be whiled away in fashion- 
 able parade, or devoted to personal enjo}^- 
 ment. She w^as hence laborious, willing to 
 work both mind and body for the attainment 
 of ends which she deemed desirable. Toward 
 the poor and needy she was kind and chari- 
 table ; and b}' all the tendencies of her nature 
 as well as the principles of her Christian 
 character, she was the friend of the outraged 
 and oppressed. Never gifted with great power 
 
48 MRS. STRA]SrAHA:^. 
 
 of physical endurance, and often for long 
 periods the subject of painful illness, she had 
 been disciplined to patience, resignation, and 
 submission in the school of much suffering. 
 
 The official positions appropriate to her sex, 
 which sought the services of the deceased, 
 furnished an opportunity to bring into efiective 
 action many of the qualities of mind and 
 heart to which I have referred. For several 
 years prior to her decease she had been the 
 First Directress of an Institution established 
 in this City to provide for the comfort of 
 aged and indigent females ; and to the inter- 
 ests of that noble charity she devoted her 
 time and effort, with ' the zeal of a true 
 philanthropist. Iler official associates, as I 
 doubt not, feel that by her death they have 
 lost a wise counselor and a most valuable 
 co-operator. 
 
 The Woman's Relief Association, organized 
 in this City during the progress of the late 
 war to co-operate with the United States 
 
FUNERAL SERMOlSr. 49 
 
 Sanitary Commission, selected the deceased as 
 its presiding officer; and here it was, espe- 
 cially, that the public had an am[»le op[i(>r- 
 tunity to observe her character. Here were 
 the severest and most imjiortant pnl)li(' lal)ors 
 of her life. This Association undertook to cen- 
 tralize and com])ine all the agencies of Brook- 
 lyn and Long Island in one general and 
 methodical system of action for the sanitary 
 comfort of those noble men, who had gone 
 forth to figlit tlie battles of their country. 
 The eminent success of this Association, its 
 large contributions to the Army and the Navy, 
 the Great Fair which it inaugurated, the 
 patriotic spirit by which it was marked, its 
 harmony of counsel, and untiring steadiness 
 of puri)osc, while reflecting the highest credit 
 upon the women of Brookh'n and Long- 
 Island, show" most conclusively that its Presi- 
 dency and general management had fillcn 
 into wise and efficient hands. Those who 
 were present at its various meetings, some of 
 
50 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 which were very hirge, will recall the grace, 
 the ease, the self-possession, the propriety, 
 the correctness, and order, with which the 
 deceased always presided, in this respect 
 evincing an ahility and skill not always 
 equalled by the other sex. Those more famil- 
 iar with the details of the effort, will remem- 
 ber how steadily and earnestly, and with 
 what sacrifice of time and strength, she 
 devoted her whole heart to the service. She 
 was so situated that she could spare the 
 time; and she had the heart to do it. Per- 
 haps she overtaxed her physical powers. If 
 so, it was a willing offering to her country. 
 The Woman's Relief Association will live on 
 the page of history, as a noble tribute to the 
 patriotism, the energy, and executive skill of 
 a true woman. At her invitation, I had the 
 honor to address the Association on several 
 public occasions ; and I alwajs felt that, 
 whatever might be true of the men, however 
 much they might be divided about questions 
 
FUlSrERAL SERMON. 51 
 
 incident to the war, I wus speaking to an 
 a.ssembly of genuine patriots, who expected 
 to win in the pending struggle, and Avlio 
 meant never to pause in the effort till the 
 flag of the nation floated in absolute triuni})li. 
 A more 103'al set of beings never trod the 
 earth. The country owes much to her 
 women; and nobler patriots than those en- 
 gaged in the Woman's Relief Association, no 
 country ever had. I am a personal witness 
 to the fact, as are many who hear me, that 
 the deceased gave to her country's cause 
 the very best offerings in her power. She 
 saw the greatness of the crisis, and labored 
 accordingly. In the last interview I ever had 
 with her — little did I then suppose it to be 
 the last — she spoke some earnest and honest 
 words in respect to the aftairs of the coun- 
 try, expressing thoughts which subsequent 
 developments prove to have been true. 
 
 The domestic relations and cliaracter of 
 the deceased belong specially to that circle of 
 
52 MRS. STRAlSrAIIAN. 
 
 weepers and friends, who knew her best, and 
 to Avhose hearts her death has brought the 
 desolate feelings of real sorrow. My words 
 of comfort and consolation are but poor sub- 
 stitutes for her presence. The kindest feel- 
 ings which humanity can lay upon the altar 
 of another's sorrow, utterly f?xil to meet the 
 wants of an afflicted heart in such a terrible 
 crisis of experience. God himself only is ade- 
 quate to the occasion. Yet let those friends 
 know that many deeply sympathize with them 
 in this heavy trial. No woman could have 
 died in this City, whose death would have 
 awakened more universal regret. While the 
 husband, the son, the daughter, the sister, 
 and other near and dear relatives, feel that 
 they have lost a most cherished object, the 
 people of Brooklyn also feel that a woman of 
 i>reat merit and eminent usefulness has been 
 
 a 
 
 called to her final account. Her name will 
 not be speedily forgotten. 
 
 I was not present at the death-scene. An 
 
rUNErtAL SERMOK 53 
 
 excellent woiiinn of this City, and an intimate 
 friend, who was present, in a note to me, has 
 characterized that scene, in these words: — 
 '' She gave np her spirit with no selfish 
 regret, but calmly, peacefully, even smilingly, 
 as she walked through tlie dark valley of the 
 shadow^ of death." Her life had jn-epared her 
 for such a death, come when, or where, or in 
 what form it might. She accepted tlie ap- 
 pointment as of God, and committed her soul 
 to the covenants of His unfailing Word. Could 
 she have chosen the place, she would doubt- 
 less have selected her own honored and hapity 
 home as the spot for her final exit. She left 
 it, an invalid, in rpiest of health; and though 
 she failed to find the thing she sought, and 
 though God's puri»ose permitted no return, 
 still she did not, as we trust, fail to find 
 that building of God, that house not made 
 with hands, eternal in the heavens; yea, that 
 far more exceeding and eternal weiglit of" 
 glory, wdiich Paul saw in the opening future. 
 
54 MRS. STRANAHAlSr. 
 
 and which the unchanging Word of God pledges 
 to all the good of earth. Her death, though 
 it makes a vacancy here, has but gathered 
 another soul to its eternal home. 
 
 In brino'insx these observations to a close, 
 let me say that my words, so far as I know, 
 have been true words. I have endeavored to 
 speak the simple truth, just as it lies before 
 my mind. And if I have drawn the sketch 
 of a character of very much more than com- 
 mon power and worth, the reason must be 
 souo-ht in the facts of the original. Mine is 
 but an imperfect copy, borrowed from the 
 materials of real life. It is something, yea, 
 it is much, so to live in this world of tempta- 
 tion and danger, sin and error, that when one 
 de])arts, such a record will be left behind 
 him. 
 
 Let me specially suggest to those of my 
 auditors who belong to the female sex, that 
 the history now given of the deceased, is 
 eminently worthy of their consideration. 
 
FUNERAL SERMON. 00 
 
 Woman, I uiii q^iute aware, has her sphere 
 in life, from which she cannot depart without 
 damage to herself and detriment to society : 
 in some respects, that spliere is different from, 
 as well as suhordinate to, that of man ; yet 
 to ])e a (/ood woman, a thoroughly sensible 
 woman, exerting in this world to a high de- 
 gree the womanly })ower, is a task whicli, if 
 well performed, will cover life w^th many 
 jew^els. Woman need not, in this Christian 
 country, aftlict herself with her social limita- 
 tions. Let her do well and truly that wliich 
 belongs to her : and she will find the amplest 
 room for the best use of all her powers. So- 
 ciety will lionor her; and God will honor lier. 
 Earth has a place for such women ; and the 
 service which they render to mankind, differs 
 from that of those light, trifling, senseless, 
 silly, and useless wu:>men, who think of nothing 
 but display, who are mere passive appendages 
 to the other sex, who treat themselves simply 
 as parlor ornaments, who contribute nothing 
 
56 MRS. STRANAHAX. 
 
 to the material, the intellectual, or moral 
 good of the world, and who, when they die, 
 leave nothing behind them fit to grace and 
 honor the memory of a woman sleeping in 
 her grave. The character of the deceased fur- 
 nishes a good lesson upon this subject. Her 
 life shows what a woman may be, and what 
 she may do, and that, too, without any viola- 
 tion of those delicate proprieties, which, while 
 they guard her sex, are equally a large part 
 of her social charm. I invite you, my female 
 auditors, to study this subject. Life for you 
 is a day of action, and of improvement and 
 usefulness by action. You were not made 
 simply to ornament society. You were not 
 made to live an aimless life. God had higher 
 purposes in your creation ; and these you 
 should seek to learn and fulfdl. History 
 records the actions of many noble women ; 
 and among this list every woman should seek 
 to place her name. All the great moral mo- 
 tives which incite the other sex to efibrt and 
 
FUNERAL SERMON. 57 
 
 to action, are as pertinent and powerfnl wlieu 
 addressed to woman. They call her as well 
 as man. It will be her dignity and her glory 
 to respond to them. One of the characteris- 
 tics of a progressive Christian civilization, is 
 always found in the increasing practical impor- 
 tance of woman. She rises with society as it 
 advances, and becomes a ministering angel of 
 good things on earth. 
 
 The general lesson of mortality taught by 
 this providence, I trust we shall all i)ause to 
 ponder and improve. From the circle of the 
 living, from the warm attachments of earth, 
 from circumstances of worldly competency and 
 comfort, and by an ai)pointment which baffled 
 all human skill, the deceased was called from 
 the scenes of time to those of eternit}^ In 
 the programme of Providence her hour canu', 
 and her spirit fled. And thus it will be with 
 us all. Our days are so numbered that we 
 cannot pass the limit set in heaven. We see 
 it not ; no visible flaming sword of fate over- 
 
58 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 hangs the final moment ; no hving messenger 
 stands there with his monitory voice ; and yet 
 God's decree, unknown and unfelt till it as- 
 sumes the form of fact, has fixed the moment 
 when each one of my hearers will die. From 
 this assembly there will be a next one, and 
 after that a next one, and after this a third 
 one, and so on, in a continuous series, till we 
 shall all have passed into the silent realms of 
 death. We surely cannot afford on trifling 
 cares to waste that life which God's compas- 
 sion spares. We shall soon have no life to 
 waste. Loudly does this providence call upon 
 us to do with our might whatsoever our hand 
 findeth to do. I counsel you to hear the 
 warning voice. Wait not till your last mo- 
 ments for your best impressions. Wait not 
 till your last moments before you seek to 
 make your peace with God. Far better will 
 it be to discharge present duty, and by the 
 merits of Christ gain that which death will 
 refine, and eternal ages unfold. 
 
III. 
 OBITUARY 
 
 APPEARING IN THE NEW YORK EVANGELIST, 
 OCTOBER 11, 18G6. 
 
 DIED. 
 
 Stranahan. — On August oOth, in the vil- 
 lage of Manchester, Vermont, Mrs. Makiamne 
 F. Stranahan, wife of lion. J. S. T. Stranahan, 
 of Brooklyn, New York. For several months 
 prior to her decease, Mrs. Stranahan had been 
 an invalid ; and early in the summer she left 
 the City and went into the country, hojiing 
 thereby to recover her health. Though not 
 reaping all the benefits from country air for 
 which she had looked, still it was not until 
 
00 MRS. STRANAIIAN. 
 
 the last week of her Kfe, that either she or 
 her friends had occasion to anticipate a fatal 
 issue. Then her disease suddenly developed 
 itself in a form of great violence ; and after 
 a few days of intense physical anguish, the 
 struggle was ended, and her spirit fled to 
 the God who gave it. 
 
 In the death of Mrs. Stranahan the City 
 of Brooklyn has lost one of its most gifted, 
 ])rominent, and influential women. She had 
 been a resident of that City for some twenty- 
 three years, and died in the fifty-fourth year 
 of her age. She was a member of the South 
 Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, under the 
 pastoral care of Rev. Dr. S[)ear, having joined 
 the Church upon in'ofession of her faith in 
 the year 185-3. Early trained by a pious 
 parentage, and easily yielding her mind to 
 the influences of religion, she had given clear 
 indications of the Christian character long 
 before she connected herself with the visible 
 Church. Tier piety was marked )jy a good 
 
OBITUARY. Gl 
 
 understanding of IJihlo doctrine, a firm faitli 
 in the teachings of God's Holy Word, a trust- 
 ful hope in Jesus as the Saviour of sinners, 
 and a very high degree of those practical 
 virtues and philanthroi)ies which Christianity 
 both demands and inspires. She has left 
 behind her very pleasing evidence that for 
 her to die was gain. 
 
 Grace being added to the natural ((ualities 
 ol" the deceased, she became one of the most 
 efficient and useful of women in the lal)ors 
 of Christian love. For many years she had 
 been the First Directress of the Graham In- 
 stitute, an Institution founded to provide for 
 the wants of respecta])le, aged, and indigent 
 females. During the war she held a like posi- 
 tion in the Woman's Relief Association of 
 Brooklyn aud Long Island, organized to co- 
 operate with the United States Sanitary Com- 
 mission in i)roviding for the wants of the 
 Army and Xavy. Here her rare abilities made 
 themselves obvious to all observers. Her du- 
 
G2 MRS. STEANAHAN. 
 
 ties were arduous, sometimes very difficult ; 
 yet she was always equal to every occasion. 
 No woman could have died in Brooklyn, whose 
 death would be more universally and sincerely 
 regretted. She died leaving behind her an 
 exceedingly perfect record. Being so situated 
 in life that she could devote much of her time 
 to the service of others, she had the heart to 
 do it. Her fine natural qualities were calcu- 
 lated to win for her many friends. Her 
 strength of character, clearness of judgment, 
 and 2:reat executive talent, made her the lion- 
 ored and trusted woman in many departments 
 of social usefulness. Such a life, closing at 
 last in a peaceful death, is fragrant with pre- 
 cious memories to comfort and instruct the 
 living. Blessed are the dead who die in the 
 Lord, for they rest from their labors, and their 
 works do follow them May God make this 
 sore affliction a blessing to the family on which 
 it falls with heaviest power. 
 
IV. 
 
 EXTRACT 
 
 FROM THE REPORT OF THE SESSION OF THE 
 SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BROOK- 
 LYN, OCTOBER, isr.fi. 
 
 While God, in his kind providence, has 
 saved the people from the pestilence that 
 wasteth at noon-day, and graciously preserved 
 the health and lives of the congregation dnring 
 the past year, He has nevertheless called away 
 one of the members of this Church, to whom 
 the Session feel constrained to make a brief 
 reference. 
 
 Mrs. Mariamne F. Stranahan, for eleven 
 years a member of this Church, and for more 
 
64 MRS. STRANAHAN, 
 
 than twenty years a member of the congrega- 
 tion, (lied on the 30th of last August, in the 
 village of Manchester, Vermont. In her death 
 the Session feel that the Church and the city 
 of Brooklyn have lost a woman of rare capa- 
 city and eminent usefulness. Having joined 
 this Church in 1855, upon a profession of her 
 faith, she has left behind her, in her Christian 
 w^alk and conversation, pleasing evidence that 
 for her to live was Christ, and to die was 
 gain. At the time of her death, she was the 
 First Directress of the Graham Institution, 
 founded in this city to extend relief to re- 
 spectable, aged, and indigent females. 
 
 The Woman's Relief Association of Brook- 
 lyn and Long Island, organized during the 
 late w\ar, selected Mrs. Stranahan for its pre- 
 siding officer and executive head. In this 
 sphere of philanthroi)ic and patriotic labor, to 
 which she devoted the best energies of her 
 mind and body, she was found fully equal to 
 all the duties and difficulties of her important 
 
SESSIONAL EEPOET. C)'y 
 
 position. Seldom is woman called to bear so 
 much public responsibility; most women would 
 be inclined to shrink from the arduous task; 
 yet our deceased sister, hearing the call of 
 her countr}^ and anxious to do for its defense 
 all that woman could do, gave her powers to 
 the service, Avith great honor to herself, and 
 eminent satisfaction to the people. Generous 
 and noble in her Christian feelings, kind and 
 conciliating in her manners, practical and com- 
 prehensive in her judgment, energetic and per- 
 severing in action, she was peculiarly qualified 
 to discharge the duties of the position to 
 which she had been called. The whole com- 
 munity both marked and admired her as a 
 Avoman of uncommon ability. 
 
 The Session feel that a life so useful, so 
 practically Christian in its features, deserves 
 a passing tribute at its close. They record 
 their heart-felt sympathy with the afflicted fam- 
 ily in this hour of their bereavement and sor- 
 row, commending them to that comfort where- 
 
66 MES. STEAlSrAHAlSr. 
 
 with God comforteth His own people. The 
 loss to the Church and to the community, is 
 indeed great. May God make the affliction a 
 blessing to the living, and lead us all so to 
 live tliat for us to die will be gain. 
 
V. 
 
 ACTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE GRAHAM LXSTFrUTION. 
 
 Mr. J. S. T. Stranahax : — 
 Dear Sir : — 
 At the regular meeting of the Board of 
 Managers of the Graham Institution, October 
 4th, 18GG, the loUowing paper was read and 
 ado}»ted : — 
 
 Ladies : — 
 
 Having parted but a few months ago for a 
 brief season of rest and refreshment, we meet 
 
68 MKS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 again under peculiar circumstances, fraught 
 with deep interest and unfeigned sorrow. 
 
 The death of our First Directress, Mrs. 
 J. S. T. Stranahan, has caused a void in our 
 Board that cannot be easily filled, casting a 
 shadow of the deepest regret over all our 
 transactions, filling our hearts with tenderest 
 sympathies, and our thoughts also, with her 
 many noble and attractive qualities. 
 
 Let us, whilst not questioning the Divine 
 Will in this dispensation, reverently bow to 
 its decree, acknowledging the great blessing it 
 has vouchsafed this Institution in permitting 
 it the benefits of many years of Mrs. Strana- 
 han's life, consecrated to its cause with a 
 dignified whole-souled devotion, rare as it was 
 great. 
 
 The following Resolutions are offered for 
 your acceptance : — 
 
 Hesolved^ In consicleration of the incstiiimble worth of the 
 late Mrs. Straiiahau, and of her untiring devotion to the 
 interests and advancement of this Institution, from its earliest 
 
THE GKAHAJI INSTITUTION. 09 
 
 conception to its present ])rosperity ; that we owe to la-r 
 memory the hiirliest honor and respect ; and to her kind 
 courtesy and earnest sympathy with those associated witli 
 her in its manajjenient, we give our heartfelt testimony, as 
 also to the faithfulness of her ollicial ministration, her wise 
 counsel, and unshrinking judgment. 
 
 Resolved., That we otter our united sympathy to the family 
 and friends of tlie deceased, in this season of their great afflic- 
 tion and bereavement ; and may the only and great Comforter 
 be their support and guide to that home to which she has 
 gone, with all tiie promises of a glorious rest from her labors 
 of love on earth. 
 
 Iiesolved, That this acknowledgment of the high estimation 
 in which the eminent Christian virtues of the deceased Avere 
 held by this Board of Managers, be placed upon the records of 
 this Institution, and a copy of the same be sent to her surviving 
 husband and family. 
 
 By Older of the Board. 
 
 A. R. St. John, 
 
 Corrc'spouding Secretary. 
 
VI. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 (1) 
 
 Letter of Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D. D. 
 
 Xew York, Ocfober 22, 1866. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : — 
 
 I learii with great satisfaction that you 
 are preparing a Memoir of the Lite ^frs. 
 Stranahan. Her death, during my summer 
 vacation, brought me a sad surprise, with a 
 painlul regret that I couhl not join the many 
 friends who deeply felt her loss, and must 
 have gathered at her funeral. 
 
72 MRS. STRANAHAlSr. 
 
 Knowing Mrs. Stranahan only in her official 
 character, as head of the noble band of women 
 who throngh the war, by their admirable or- 
 ganization and efficient, patient working, made 
 Brooklyn a shining example for all other 
 Cities — I wonder that she shonld have left so 
 deep a personal impression npon my heart ; and 
 that from a dozen interviews confined wholly to 
 one subject, I should have conceived a friend- 
 ship for her which it commonly takes a life 
 of various intercourse and intimate or familiar 
 relations to establish. And this is the more 
 remarkable, because her directness, clearness 
 of intention, and precision of purpose always 
 kept her confined, in the conversations I held 
 with her, to the special subject on which we 
 met to take counsel. 8he had so admirably 
 ordered an understanding, was so business-like 
 and clear in her habits of mind, that not a 
 minute was lost with her in beating the bush. 
 With mild determination, and in a gentle dis- 
 tinctness of tone, she laid her views or wishes 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 73 
 
 belbru me, in ;i \v;iy tliat never needed ;iuy 
 other explanation or enforcement than her 
 simple statement carried with it. In few, 
 precise, and transparent words, she made 
 known her i)usiness, or gavo her o[»inion, and 
 wasted not a precious minute in generalities, 
 or on matters aside iVom our common object. 
 This rendered my olHeial intercourse with her 
 peculiarly satisfactory. She always knew just 
 Avhat slie wanted to say, and left no uncer- 
 tainty as to what she had said ; and what she 
 said, had always been so carefully considered, 
 that her wishes were full of reason, and her 
 advice full of persuasion. She seemed to me 
 to unite the greatest discretion with the finest 
 enthusiasm. As earnest, large, and noble in 
 her views of wliat was due to the National 
 cause, as the most zealous could be, she was 
 yet so practical, judicious, and sober in her 
 judgment, that what she planned, I learned to 
 regard as certain of success. No one could 
 see her presiding with mingled modesty and 
 
 10 
 
74 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 dignity over one of the meetings of the Woman's 
 Relief Association, without admiration for her 
 self-possession, propriety of utterance, and skill 
 in furthering the objects in view. I have 
 always supposed that her wisdom, resolution, 
 and perseverance, had a controlling influence 
 in the glorious success of the Brooklyn Re- 
 lief Association — the most marked and memo- 
 rable fellowship of women, united from all 
 sects and orders of Christians, in one prac- 
 tical enterprise, that the world ever saw. 
 
 I rejoice to lay this brief but sincere 
 tribute of my respect upon the grave of this 
 excellent and patriotic woman. I felt hon- 
 ored by her confidence and manifest friend- 
 ship, and prized deeply the inestimable value 
 of her services to a cause, which was for four 
 years nearest of all to my heart. I shall 
 look with eagerness for the Memoir of her 
 life — expecting to find in it evidences of the 
 depth and purity of the springs from which 
 her beneficent course flowed. Meanwhile, per- 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 7o 
 
 mit me to record my sympathy with tlie 
 houschohl, the church, and the community, 
 that have lost her visible presence. 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 IIenmy W. Bellows. 
 Rev. S. T. Si'EAK. D. D. 
 
 (>0 
 Letter of Rev. James Eells, D. D. 
 
 67 PiERREPOXT Street, Brooklyn. ) 
 Odobtr n, ISdG. ' >' ■ 
 
 Rev. S. T. Spear, D. I). :— 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 It gives me pleasure to know tliat you 
 are about to prepare a Memorial of respect 
 for the character and life of the late Mrs. 
 Stranahan. Both because of what she was, 
 and what she did, she was eminently worthy 
 of such a tribute, and none were more fully 
 
76 MRS. STEANAHAN. 
 
 aware of this than yourself, who was for so 
 Ions: a time her friend and Pastor. 
 
 As she was a native of the same town 
 with myself, I might speak of her ^father's 
 household, and her early life, and find much 
 to commend in both, and not a little that 
 w^as prophetic of her after history. 
 
 But a Memorial will have its chief interest 
 from its reference to her later years, when 
 lier character had attained those very attrac- 
 tive features we so well remember, and her 
 position and energy gave her, by common 
 consent, the prominence which makes her loss 
 a public, as well as social ailliction. 
 
 Though she had been accepted as a leader 
 among the ladies of Brooklyn for years be- 
 fore, it was not until the demands of the war 
 were upon us, that she exhibited all her fit- 
 ness to lead. But as we now recall the 
 Great Fair in aid of the soldiers through the 
 " Sanitary Commission," and the really won- 
 derful work of the "Woman's Relief Associa- 
 
CORKESPONDENCE. 77 
 
 tion," for years, wo find the ever dignified, 
 and devoted, and tireless Mrs. Stranahan, as 
 the presidinp: si)irit of that noble company of 
 women, to be ])roiiiineiit in that review, of 
 which Brooklyn will ever be proud. Prompt 
 and wise in devising, efficient and resolute in 
 executing, infusing her own spirit wherever 
 there was any lack of enthusiasm or any wea- 
 riness because of contiiuu'd demands, she was 
 no doubt the means of doing much to sup- 
 port those who wrought with her, and to 
 complete a record, to whicli it was said the 
 ladies of no other city furnislied a parallel. 
 
 It is especially as thus seen that my 
 memory restores our excellent friend, with 
 wliom my association was, for the most part, 
 ]iubli(' or occasional. Yet I know that in the 
 more private, and the domestic walks of life, 
 she shone with no less beauty as a Christian 
 wife, and mother, and friend. 
 
 All who knew her must regret that in 
 her ver}^ prime slie was removed from us, 
 
78 3IRS. STRANAITAX. 
 
 leaving so wide a vacancy in the number of 
 those to Avhoni it is a joy to care for and 
 sustain whatever is valual)le and ))lessed. And 
 all sympathize with that smaller circle, of 
 which she was the center, now that so much 
 of the light that cheered and charmed them, 
 has ceased to shine. Yet none doubt that 
 she is still active and still shines, in a nobler, 
 better hfe. 
 
 Yours, very sincerely, 
 
 James Eells. 
 
 Letter of Rev. Mark Hopkins, D.D., LL.D., 
 President of Williams College. 
 
 Williams College, Octobt-r 13, 1866. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Spear : — 
 
 My Dear Sir :— 
 ]\Iy acquaintance with Mrs. Stranahan was 
 but for a few weeks, while she was here 
 
CORRESPOJSTDEjSTCE. 79 
 
 last .suiiiiiier with Mr. Straiiahun, previuuri to 
 the graduation of their son. 
 
 The note to which you refer, was in ac- 
 knowledgment of a copy of the History of 
 the great '^' Brooklyn and Long Island Sani- 
 tar}^ Fair," which she sent me on leaving for 
 Manchester ; and as she seems to have valued 
 it, I regret its loss. The i»urport of it was 
 an expression of my appreciation of wliat had 
 heen done, ami of those who had done it. 
 
 My im])ression of what had been accom- 
 plished by the people of Brooklyn and Long- 
 Island was, ]»reviously, altogether inadequate ; 
 and I was glad to know one who had been so 
 efficient and honored a helper in that unpre- 
 cedented Avork. It seemed to me that the 
 representatives of such a work, and the lead- 
 ers in it, were scarcely less deserving of pub- 
 lic recognition and honor than our generals. 
 I still think so, especially when they com- 
 bine, as ^L's. Stranahan did so fnlly, such 
 unusual quietness and delicacy with the com- 
 
80 MKS. STEANAHAN. 
 
 prehension and energy demanded by her posi- 
 tion in that work. I have met with -no one 
 in whom that combination was more remark- 
 able, and can only say, that so fiir as I had 
 the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Stranahan, she 
 seemed to me entirely and greatly worthy of 
 esteem and honor. I rejoice that yon are 
 preparing a Memorial of her. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 Mark Hopkins. 
 
 Letter of Rev. Frederick A. Farley, D. D. 
 
 To THE Rev. Dr. Spear : — 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 Your note of the 9th instant only finds me 
 too glad to render my humble tribute to the 
 memory of the late Mrs. Stranahan, though I 
 may add nothing important to such a Memo- 
 
COKEESPONDENCE. 8 1 
 
 rial as you, her Pastor and intimate })ersonal 
 friend, can prepare. My own acquaintance 
 with her was chiefly in official relations ; in 
 which, however, it was impossible to be un- 
 impressed by the fine powers she had at com- 
 mand, and so efficiently exercised for })i<)iii()- 
 ting the great and pressing- interests to which 
 she was pledged. 
 
 During the entire fourteen years of its 
 existence, and liolding the position of one of 
 the chief }»cnu;inent chanties of the City, Mrs. 
 Stranahan, as one of its Managers, and, pi'c- 
 vious to her death, for several years First 
 Directress of the Brooklyn Society for the 
 Relief of Respectable, Aged, Indigent Females, 
 very largely contributed to the admirable 
 a(hninistration of its atfairs, and its conse- 
 quent usefulness and reputation. Among so 
 many intelligent and devoted women who 
 were associated witli her in that JJoard, it 
 was a high, albeit a well-merited compliment, 
 to be selected and continued from year to 
 
82 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 year, through a long term, in that prominent 
 office, by their unanimous and voluntary suf- 
 frages. The beneficiaries of this most excel- 
 lent charity, many of whom from their edu- 
 cation and previous social standing were fully 
 capable of appreciating her, always regarded 
 and spoke of her with marked attachment and 
 respect. Her wise and careful supervision of 
 the interests of the Institution ; the courtesy 
 and dignity with which she presided over the 
 deliberations of its Managers ; the sagacity 
 with which she foresaw from time to time 
 its needs, and the promptness and good judg- 
 ment with which she set about providing for 
 their supply ; the quick sympathy she always 
 manifested for the aged and the infirm of her 
 own sex there brought beneath her care ; and 
 the large and generous Christian temper in 
 which she recognized no division lines of sect 
 or party in the apportionment of her regard, 
 present to her late associates and her succes- 
 sor in office, an examj^le worthy of all emula- 
 
COEEESPONDElSrCE. 83 
 
 tion, and constitute a lastinfr claim on tlio 
 gratitude of every lover and patron of this 
 noble charity. During the long period of her 
 service, in my frequent visits to the Institu- 
 tion, and intimate knowledge of its concerns, 
 I have had but one impression of the ability 
 and fidelity of its late First Directress. 
 
 In another sphere of action, where patriot- 
 ism and l)enevolence united in a glorious and 
 successful effort to relieve human suffering on 
 the battle-field and in the camp, I have seen 
 the same gifts and graces of this excellent 
 woman more conspicuously called fortli and 
 illustrated. From tlie first organization of the 
 Woman's Relief Association of the Cit}^ of 
 Brooklyn, in th(^ second year of our Great 
 Civil War to the collapse of the Rebellion 
 Mhich caused it, Mrs. Stranahan was the 
 active, efticient, indefatigable, devoted Presi- 
 dent of that Association ; an Association which 
 w\as soon, by its marked " zeal, method, and 
 persistency," three qualities warmly and justly 
 
84 MRS. STRANAHAK 
 
 accredited to it by Dr. Bellows, destined to be 
 claimed and officially recognized as the Brook- 
 lyn Auxiliary to that beneficent United States 
 Sanitary Commission of which he was the 
 head. 
 
 And really, my dear Sir, when I think of 
 the amount of time, thought, anxious and 
 pains-taking reflection, and active personal 
 attention and eftort she gave to this great 
 work ; when I recall how for nearly three 
 years, with other weighty cares upon her, and 
 amid failing health, she contrived to give her- 
 self so faithfully and devotedly to carrying it 
 on, I am lost in admiration. True, here, as in 
 the other case I have cited, she had for coad- 
 jutors a company of noble women, worthy 
 representatives of our great and beautiful City. 
 They represented every phase of our social 
 and religious life ; they were distinguished by 
 all the various traits which are the growth 
 of education and habit ; they had on many 
 subjects few views or associations in common. 
 
CORKESPOISrDE]!^CE. 85 
 
 In one thing-, indeed, they were nnited — the 
 desire to serve their country in her hour of 
 peril, by ministering to the sufferings of her 
 heroic defenders in the field. Acting on this 
 thought — knowing no personal distinctions 
 where this was the prevailing sentiment — and 
 treating all with the like courtesy — she had 
 yet the nice tact to call into requisition for 
 special emergencies the precise talent which 
 was wanted, and give it its right direction. 
 Now and then — strange if it had not been 
 so — there would be some questioning of her 
 proposed measures, some demur to, or reluc- 
 tance to accept, her suggestions ; but among 
 men the case would be found a rare one, 
 where a presiding officer carried so largely 
 and uniformly, from first to last, the concur- 
 rent judgment and api)roval of his compeers. 
 
 I shall always call her to mind as among 
 the remarkable women whom I have had the 
 good fortune to know. With no especial covet- 
 ing of notoriety, she was — as one might say — in 
 
8G MES. STEANAHAN. 
 
 the course of nature, or rather — as I prefer 
 to say — in the order of the Divine Provi- 
 dence, called to occupy very responsible posi- 
 tions bearing largely on the public weal ; 
 and she was not found wanting. Nay, she 
 was found eminently fit. All admitted it. 
 And all find, now that she has been taken 
 to her rest, that they owe her every grate- 
 ful and honored remembrance. 
 I am. Dear Sir, ever 
 
 Yours, faithfully and respectfully, 
 
 Frederick A. Farley. 
 
 116 Pacific Street, October 15, 1866. 
 
 (5) 
 
 Letter of Rev. E. II. Canfield, D.D. 
 
 Erooklyn. October 30, 1866. 
 
 Rev. S. T. Sfear, D.I). :— 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : — 
 I was glad to learn from your note, that 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 87 
 
 you are preparing a Memorial of the late Mr.s. 
 Stranahau. 
 
 A eliaracter so marked, a life so useful, 
 and an examitle in every way so worthy of 
 imitation, ought to be held in eherished remem- 
 brance by all who were }irivileged to know her, 
 and lo be associated with her in works of faith 
 and labors of love. No one could know her 
 well, and fail to be impressed with her calliolic 
 spiiit. lier genuine Christian IxMUMoIence, her 
 untiring energy, and her practical wisdom. 
 These traits were forcibly illustrated in her 
 numerous laI)ors in l)ehalf of some of the pub- 
 lic charities of our City ; but they were most 
 strikingly exemplified in the remarkable execu- 
 tive efficiency and rare administrative talent, 
 which she displayed, during the late rebellion, 
 as President of the Woman's Relief Association 
 of Brooklyn. 
 
 AVithout ostentation or forwardness, without 
 exciting a sus})icion that she desired to be 
 prominent as a leader, she was instrumental 
 
88 MES. STRANAHAJNT. 
 
 far beyond any other single person, in so har- 
 monizing and combining the active sympathies 
 and efforts of the people and various Christian 
 bodies of this City, that in proportion to its 
 population, Brooklyn stands peerless, in the 
 substantial relief it afforded to our soldiers, 
 in the camp, in the field, on the march, and 
 in the hospital. 
 
 Her unusual talent in organizing and con- 
 solidating the various agencies that were em- 
 ployed, was fully matched by her skill in 
 animating and directing them. Under the 
 inspiration of her patriotic and Christian spirit, 
 and under the guidance of her comprehensive 
 judgment and great wisdom, the work went 
 on, from year to year, not only with unflag- 
 ging, but with constantly increasing interest 
 and force, until the disbanding of our armies 
 rendered it no longer needful. 
 
 With these extraordinary powers were 
 blended, in a rare and happy combination, 
 those qualities and graces which made her a 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 89 
 
 powerful center of attraction in her family, 
 and in the social circle. Few have been so 
 gifted and so privileged with opportunity as 
 she ; and very few have employed the talents 
 committed to their trust so wisely and well. 
 Very truly, your Friend 
 
 and Brother in Christ, 
 
 E. 11. Canfield. 
 
 (6) 
 
 Letter of Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D. 
 
 Lafayette Avexie CiiCRCir. December 5, 186G. 
 
 Dear Dr. Spear : — 
 
 I regret that I am not able to pay a more 
 fittiuii; tribute to the memory of that most 
 admirable Christian woman, the late Mrs. Stran- 
 ahan. 
 
 I saw her but seldom, and only in connec- 
 
90 MRS. STRATSTAHAJ^. 
 
 tion with those hibors of philanthropy in which 
 her warm heart delis-hted. Amons: the " hon- 
 orable women not a few," who associated them- 
 selves with that grandest agency of National 
 charity — the United States Sanitary Commis- 
 sion — the name of Mrs. Stranahan stands in 
 well -deserved prominence. Her piety was 
 Christ-like, for she " went about doing good." 
 
 A true woman might well covet such a 
 reputation as our friend won and wore, more 
 than the fame of brilliant authorship. She 
 did her part for her country's salvation as 
 faithfully as the sterner, stronger arms that 
 wielded a sword on the field of conflict. 
 
 I recall now her pleasant, sunny counte- 
 nance and her vivacious conversation — her 
 untiring zeal and her sound practical sense ; 
 and I only wish that her example would find 
 more imitators in the circles of refinement and 
 high social influence. Blessed be her sainted 
 memory ! She resteth from her labors, and 
 her works do follow her. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 91 
 
 When you weave the chaplet which becomes 
 such a noble woman's memory, let me add just 
 this one simple leaf to the wreath. I wish it 
 were more worthy. 
 
 With sincere regard, I remain 
 
 Yours in Christ Jesus, 
 
 Theo. L. Cuyler. 
 
 To Rev. S. T. Spear, D. D. 
 
 Letter of Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D. D. 
 
 Brooklyn', Dactmhtr 24, 1866. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : — 
 
 I am most happy, in response to your note, 
 to give you my personal reminiscences of Mrs. 
 Stranahan; and I only regret that the haste 
 in which I am compelled to write, will make 
 
92 MES. STRAlSTAHAJSr. 
 
 my tribute to her memory more brief and 
 less satisfactory than I wish it might be. 
 
 I had a slight, but a very pleasant ac- 
 quaintance with her for several years, pre- 
 viously to the organization of the " Woman's 
 Relief Association," which, if I remember cor- 
 rectly, was toward the close of 1862. But 
 it was after that, and in connection especially 
 with the operations of that Society, — of bles- 
 sed memory ! — that I saw her most frequently, 
 and received my strongest impressions of her 
 rare character and personal force. 
 
 Combined with entire modesty, dignity, and 
 gentleness of manner, she had an extraordi- 
 nary faculty of accomplishing whatever she 
 undertook, by which no one who met her 
 often, could ftiil to be inq^ressed. I was so 
 engrossed, at that time and afterward, with 
 private as well as with public concerns, that 
 it seemed sometimes wholly out of my power 
 to give to the work for which she occasionally 
 solicited, my aid, the time and attention which 
 
CORRESPOKDElSrCE. 98 
 
 its importance deserved, and which, under less 
 exacting circumstances, I should gladly have 
 offered. But I very soon learned, that the 
 negative answer which it always is difficult to 
 give to a lady, especially when she comes as 
 the advocate of a beneficent charity, was sim- 
 ply impossible when Mrs. Stranahan made the 
 appeal. 
 
 My Study in the church is not remarkably 
 easy of access, as some of my friends have 
 had occasion to know. But she found always 
 a w^ay to reach me, if a meeting was approach- 
 ing at which — in the absence perhaps of some 
 one wdio had been expected — she w^ished me 
 to speak ; or if a movement was under discus- 
 sion in regard to which she wished any sug- 
 gestions from me. And it was really impos- 
 sible to say " No," in the face of so much 
 quiet, intelligent, and persevering zeal as was 
 manifest in her. The recollection of my re- 
 fusal, if I ever had given it, would have caused 
 me too much subsequent regret, to allow me 
 
94 MRS. STRANAIIAN. 
 
 to turn to any thing else, — provided, of course, 
 it had been at all within my power to render 
 the service which she wished. I used to say, 
 laughingly, after a while, in reply to the appli- 
 cations which sometimes came indirectly from 
 her, and were not brought by herself in per- 
 son : " Yes, if Mrs. Stranahan wishes it, I shall 
 be there, of course ! I always do what she 
 desires. The notion of a clergyman's possess- 
 ing free-will, when the claims of her Society 
 are concerned, is a delusion and a snare !" 
 And when it was proposed to me to under- 
 take the Editorship of the little Fair-paper, 
 "' TJie Drum Beat,'' issued in connection with 
 the Sanitary Fair, in the early part of 1864, — 
 an office of more labor than would be imagined 
 by those not familiar with such a work, and 
 bringing a plentiful crop of criticisms for its 
 chiefest external reward, — I accepted it as 
 much out of deference to her wishes as for 
 any other assignable reason. 
 
 Yet there was nothing whatever, as you 
 
COEEESPONDENCE. 95 
 
 veiy well know, of unwomanly eagerness, posi- 
 tiveness, or determination to carry her points, 
 in tlie character or the manner of Mrs. Stran- 
 ahan. Hers was the force of an honest, ear- 
 nest, decided nature, pervaded and emphasized 
 by strong convictions, and thoroughly conse- 
 crated to the accomplishment of a great benev- 
 olent enterprise. The impression which she 
 made, was not so much ])y what she said, as 
 by the influence which emanated from her 
 thoughtful, practical, and conscientious spirit. 
 And I can well understand that this influence 
 must have been, to a remarkable degree, a 
 moulding and an educating element in the cir- 
 cles in which she habitually moved, and most 
 of all in the inmost circle of her beloved and 
 delightful home. 
 
 Others will speak, no doubt, of the unusual 
 dignity and efficiency with which Mrs. Strana- 
 han presided in the business meetings, or in 
 the occasional more public meetings of that 
 Association, of which she was so long the hon- 
 
96 MRS. STRANAHAT^. 
 
 ored President ; of the wisdom of her counsels ; 
 of the courage and faith which in the darkest 
 hours of the cause of the Society, or of that 
 of the Republic, she maintained, and earnestly 
 manifested ; and of the extent to which the 
 success of the " Woman's Relief Association " 
 — which constitutes one of the brightest fea- 
 tures in our history as a City, and which be- 
 came a source of inspiration to other associa- 
 tions of a similar nature throughout the North 
 — was due to her. I have preferred to give 
 you, in this hurried note, simply my personal 
 recollection of the lady for whom so many 
 mourn, and whose apparently too early removal 
 from the societies she here adorned, has left 
 in them so sudden and so great a void. Thank 
 God, the influence of such an one outlasts her 
 presence, and the memory of her usefulness 
 becomes to others an animating power. Flo- 
 rence Nightingale inscribed on the headstone of 
 the grave in Avhich was buried the daughter 
 of a noble English family, who had gone to 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 97 
 
 Scutari as soldiers' nm'se : " She liatli done 
 what she coidd." A Divine eidogy, fitly ap- 
 plied ! It might as properly be placed over 
 the grave of Mrs. Stranahan. It will probably 
 be long before another so signal opportunity is 
 presented to a lady, in any of the Churches, 
 to fill an office of so general importance, and 
 do a work of such National relations. When- 
 ever it shall be, I know iKtthing better to be 
 desired — for the Churches, as an evidence of 
 their educating power, or for the City, as a 
 ]>roof of its best civilization — than that an- 
 other shall come forward, as unostentatiously 
 as she did, ca})able of filling the office as wise- 
 ly and well, and of conducting the work to as 
 complete and noble a success. 
 
 I am, with great respect and regard, 
 Truly yours, 
 
 R. S. Storks, Jii. 
 
 13 
 
98 MRS. STKAJSrAHAN. 
 
 Letter of Rev. William J. Buddington, D. D. 
 
 The Mediterranean, December 22, 1866. 
 
 Rev. S. T. Spear, D. D. :— 
 My Dear Sir : — 
 
 Your letter of the 11th of October, 
 reached me at Alexandria ; and I avail 
 myself of the earliest opportunity to reply. 
 
 You were right in saying, that probably 
 I had already heard of the death of Mrs. 
 Stranahan. The intelligence reached me just 
 as I was beginning my travels in the Holy 
 Land. One of our Missionaries at Sidon 
 gave us in leaving a copy of the " New 
 York Evangelist," which I began to read with 
 avidity on horseback ; and wdiile riding along 
 '" the coasts of Tyre and Sidon," my eyes 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 99 
 
 foil upon an obituary notice of INFrs. Strnn- 
 «'ihan. My wife was riding by my side ; 
 and it will be impossible to convey to you 
 a sense of the surprise and grief we experi- 
 enced. We bad recently called upon her 
 in her own beautiful home in Brooklyn, 
 apparently in the fullness of matronly health 
 and strength; and never more than then I 
 thought her the radiating center of useful- 
 ness and happiness. But our grief was 
 greater than our surprise. My wife wept 
 for her as for a sister ; and I who knew 
 her less intimately, but not the less admi- 
 ringly, felt as I have seldom felt, how much 
 is taken out of this world, and lost to 
 humanity, when such a Christian, so large- 
 minded, so equable and full in dcveloinneiit, 
 is removed from the sphere of her laljors. 
 
 That favorite charity of our City, " The 
 Old Ladies' Home," has lost its main sup- 
 port and ornament. Who would fill her 
 place? who could do it? Her large discre- 
 
100 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 tion, her firmness combined with gentleness, 
 her patience in details, her experience and 
 general influence, were as much required, 
 as they had been eminently useful and 
 widelv recognized. 
 
 But I had known Mrs. Stranahan chiefly, 
 in common with the citizens of Brooklyn, as 
 the head of the " Woman's Relief Associa- 
 tion," and thus as the representative of the 
 patriotism and Christian benevolence of the 
 Ladies of Brooklyn, in that great crisis of 
 our national history which drew forth nil 
 that was best in our countrymen and coun- 
 trywomen, and nowhere more than in our 
 own City. Most naturally — inevitahlt/, I 
 may say — she became the presiding officer 
 of this most useful and efficient Association. 
 Possessed naturally of a strong mind, clear 
 in her perceptions, and logical in her courses 
 of thought, she had, at the outset of the 
 struggle, the most decided convictions of 
 duty, and entered into the work of national 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 101 
 
 conservation with a heartiness and self-devo- 
 tion, which, in a yonnger person, wonhl 
 have been called enthusiasm, but which in 
 her case was only the measure of an en- 
 lightened Christianity and patriotism. She 
 toiled untiringly, in season and out of sea- 
 son ; when others flagged, she supplied the 
 lack by giving more time, and redoubling 
 her exertions; as the war wore wearily on, 
 and disasters came, enfeebUng some, and 
 confounding others, she rose to sublimer 
 efforts, and supplied the ranks of the true 
 and faithful who gathered round her, with 
 the proper watchwords and fresh resources. 
 I both admired and wondered at her in 
 this regard ; and when success came, crown- 
 ing the labors and sacrifices of our people, 
 her soul was less fdled with mere exulta- 
 tion than with sober thoughtfuluess as to 
 what still remained to be done. 
 
 There is beyond all this an inner his- 
 tory, which I do not feel competent to 
 
102 MES. STKANAHAlSr. 
 
 describe. There were trials, struggles, and 
 triumphs, of which but few knew any thing ; 
 there were jarring interests to be reconciled ; 
 there were prejudices to be propitiated, and 
 sinister influences to be detected and coun- 
 teracted. For all this, pre-eminent wisdom 
 was needed, as well as charity and patience ; 
 and it is enough to say, that our deceased 
 friend was equal to each emergency as it 
 arose. 
 
 It was also no small addition to her 
 many graces, and qualifications for the emi- 
 nent post she filled, that she was able to 
 preside at j^ublic meetings with a dignity, 
 propriety, and efliciency, not to be surpassed ; 
 and when persons of the other sex were 
 present, she did not vacate her office ; but, 
 although it many times cost her an effort, 
 she went forward in the execution of the 
 trust committed to her. Possibly, to one 
 who saw her only on these occasions, she 
 might have seemed masculine in her virtues ; 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 103 
 
 but those who knew her, knew that it was 
 simply a sense of duty which hardened her 
 feminine softness into the manly strength 
 which the occasion demanded. 
 
 Let me say in conclusion, that I regard 
 Mrs. Stranahan as one of the most extra- 
 ordinary of that galaxy of women, whom 
 the night of our country's sorrow disclosed, 
 and whose light will shine forever in the 
 l;nid they have done ihcir part — I dare not 
 say, how (jro(d a part — to save. I am glnd 
 that you are pi'eparing a Memorial of her 
 life. It is eminently fitting, that sucli a 
 life should be known and remembered, that, 
 being dead, slie may yet spealc for the 
 Saviour she loved and the country she 
 honored. I have written hastily, and, as I 
 know, most inadequately ; yet these are my 
 honest impressions, and it is a pleasure to 
 me to write them as you request. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Wm. J. BUDDINGTON. 
 
VII. 
 EXTRACT 
 
 FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF MRS. A. R. 
 ST. JOHN, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF 
 THE GRAHAM INSTITUTION, PRESENTED JAN- 
 UARY 31, 1867. 
 
 In recording the death of the Fh'st 
 Directress, Mrs. J. S. T. Stranahan, we are 
 recording also one of the most grievous 
 events of the past year. Her connection 
 Avith the Institution was from its earliest 
 commencement, and her position as First 
 Directress, was held for the past ten years. 
 How faithfully and energetically she labored 
 
 ij 
 
100 MRS. STKANAHAX. 
 
 for its .'ulvancement and prosperity, the pub- 
 lic at large will give their testimony; how 
 devotedly and willingly she gave her time, 
 her energy and strength to the comfort and 
 well-being of its beneficiaries, her associates 
 of the Board must fully attest. 
 
 Her character was an unusual one, com- 
 bining the elements of true womanhood with 
 great mental strength and decision of pur- 
 pose — forming a character of rare executive 
 ability. This was more conspicuously called 
 forth in her interest for her country and 
 its rights in the past national troubles ; and 
 her position at the head of the Woman's 
 Relief Association, and its Sanitary Fair in 
 aid of the great and holy cause, was filled 
 with great ability, honor, and devotion. 
 
 Her remarkable '' gift of speech " in ad- 
 dressing and holding the attention of an 
 audience, as well as her dignity and quietude 
 of address, gained a lasting memory in the 
 hearts of her hearers, and an honorable niche 
 
EXTRACT. 1()7 
 
 in the Temple of Fame, as one of the lead- 
 ing women of this country at a time when 
 every woman as well as man was called 
 upon for its support. Her inner life was 
 one of deep thought — reflective, rather than 
 communicative — which gave to her manner, 
 at times, a seeming coldness or reserve which 
 w^as not her ch;iracteristic in the more sacred 
 circle of family or friendship. 
 
 All philanthropic objects met with her 
 ready sympathy and earnest co-operation, and 
 she was not called upon in vain to sustain 
 them. 
 
 Her physical health, never strong, was 
 very much affected by her great exertions 
 at the Sanitary Fair, and gradually yielded 
 to the fell destroyer of all human hopes 
 and alfections. 
 
 She more recently tried change of scene 
 and air, but without much benefit, and finally 
 sought the beautiful valley of Manchester, 
 in the mountainous region of Vermont, which 
 
108 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 proved to be her last resting-place on earth. 
 Truly, at the foot of Mount Equinox, with 
 its multitude of lesser peaks pointing heaven- 
 ward, as if in welcome of her coming, was 
 a fitting place for this truly noble woman 
 to yield up her spirit to the power that 
 gave it. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 A. R. St. John, 
 
 Correspondiiifj Secretary, 
 
 January 31, 1867. 
 
VIII. 
 
 THE TIIIKD AND FINAL REPORT OF THE WOMAN'S 
 RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF BROOKLYN AND LONG 
 ISLAND. 
 
 The necessity for the Woman's Relief 
 Association terminated with the suppression 
 of the rebellion and the consequent close of 
 the war. At the final meeting of the Asso- 
 ciation, Mrs. Stranahan presented her last 
 Report. From this Report the compiler has 
 selected the following extracts, as specially 
 deserving a place in this Memorial Volume : — 
 
 To THE LoYAi, Women of Bkooklyx and Long Inland: 
 
 Another year of service in the National cause has broiiglit 
 us to the close of the war. The Rebellion is utterly crushed, 
 
110 MRS. STRANAIIAN. 
 
 the Jinnies are (lisbaiidiiig, and Peace dwells once more in our 
 land. Our -work is ended therefore: the pi'ecious labor of love, 
 which during long months and years of war has gone on so 
 cheerfully — part of the great service of patriotic women far and 
 near, of women grown more devoted and more self-sacrificing 
 with every fresh appeal of sick and wounded soldiers, never 
 doubting, always constant. 
 
 So suddenly has the long conflict ended, so abruptly has the 
 need of our service ceased, that our Rei)ort concerns even now 
 a thing of the past. A month ago supplies were pouring in 
 upon us from every side, for the sick, the wounded, the conva- 
 lescent — every thing that love could suggest, or skilful hands 
 prepare : now our Depot has vanished, .and a busy shop is in its 
 place; the soldiers are marcliing home again through ourstreets, 
 and the great Sanitary Commission itself is making ready its 
 glorious Report to the American people. 
 
 We recall the spring of 1S64, and the situation of our armies 
 then, to realize once more how vast were the demands upon us 
 only a year .ago. Our own records show how constantly' tliose 
 demands were met, and liow, through the wise husbanding of 
 our resources, and the undiminished interest of our jjcople, we 
 were able to accomplish more than ever before, and tins at the 
 critical moment when other streams of supply had run low. 
 Whatever may be said of the wr)rk of other communities in this 
 great cause, we are confident in this, that nowhere have more 
 enduring devotion and enthusiasm been shown to the very last. 
 The Commission has never applied to us for supplies that we 
 could not speedily furnish, and we have never appealed to the 
 churches or the people in vain. Our requisitions have covered 
 a wide range, and no provision has been accounted too careful 
 or too comprehensive. 
 
IIEPORT. I 1 1 
 
 Upwards of 55,000 articles Lave boon received and disposed 
 of since the date of our last rejiort, of an airgrcijatc value ex- 
 ceeding $100,000, the ])roi)er classification and pa('kinii:of which 
 has been a work of gi'cnt magnitude. 
 
 The aggregate of our efforts, including the results of our 
 Great Fair, represents a money-value of not less tiian half a 
 million of dollars — a vast sum, viewed in the light of our first 
 iiumblc expectations, but, in a truer light, oidy a fitting ex])res- 
 sioii of our mingled jjatriotism and philanthropy. 
 
 Tt only remains to us now, dear friends, to say a parting 
 word, the tliought of which alone fills our hearts with an un- 
 speakable sadness. F(jr nearly three years we have been united 
 in the sweetest fellowship, which henceforth may only dwell in 
 memory. How much we owe to your kindness we cannot 
 express. Our work has been j)ossible only through your con- 
 stant sympathy, your unwavering confidence in us, your patience 
 with our failings, your unfailing readiness to serve in the great 
 cause. We tharik you, whether present or absent, from our 
 inmost hearts. The work has been yours — not ours; you have 
 been the great givers — and we but the almoners of your love. 
 And with these words of ours, the last that may ever reach you. 
 we woidd tell you how the blessing of the good Father has gone 
 with your every gift, even the humblest; so tb.at nothing has 
 failed to serve a greater good than your fond hearts ever planned. 
 Could you know the precious service of even the poor wrap- 
 pings of your treasures — the coarse paper, the rough boxes, the 
 shavings, the bran — as we could tell it to you. your satisfaction 
 would ask no more. Thousands of brave men sleep to-day in 
 patriot graves whose closing hours of life your goodness made 
 serene and happy with thoughts of mother, sister, wife, in dis- 
 
/ 
 
 1 1 '1 MRS. STRANAHAN. 
 
 tant homes. Thousands more are in your midst to-day, safely 
 returned from the war, wliose lives were saved, through your 
 far-reaohing care, on battle fields, in army hospitals, and dread- 
 ful prisons. 
 
 Your labor has not been in vain: you too have helped to 
 save your country, and make her free forever. This is your 
 true reward — better than words of ours can utter. 
 
 And so we take our parting, kind friends, and say our last 
 farewell. May the blessings of the great multitude of those 
 that were ready to perish return to your own hearts and homes, 
 to dwell there evermore, and bring you peace. 
 
 Mns. J. S. T. Sthaxaiian, 
 
 President. 
 Brooklyn. Awjust \, 18G5. 
 
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