YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY fcrfl Or TflH wmrny THE LIBRARY OF THE DIVINITY SCHOOL * THE DAY MISSIONS LIBRARY MADAME HENRIETTA FELLER. HENRIETTA FELLER THE GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. $, gstsmovial. By WALTER N. WYETH, D. D. PHILADELPHIA, PA. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day that I do make a peculiar treasure.— (R. V.) Philadelphia, Pa. : 3920 Fairmount Avenue. W. N. WYETH. Entered according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1898, by W. N. Wyeth, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Printed and Bound by C. J. KREHBIEL & CO. Cincinnati, O, gjetficatijcrrx. <5 C in 3° ft To THE GRANDE LIGNE MISSION. In Gratepul Honor op the Dead, In Glad Recognition of the Living. Very Sincerely, The Author. Hi >~T"VHE grateful service performed in behalf of Mis- ¦*- sions by the Missionary Memorials has now reached the eighth volume. While the general subject grows in interest, a peculiar pleasure has been experienced in tracing the course of the Grande Ligne workers ; in lay ing a tribute of -regard upon the graves of the dead, and adding words of commendation for the living who have entered into their labors and spirit. Materials have not been wanting to make an extended history, and the interest of brethren in Canada, in the object, has made them available to the author. The manuscript has been examined by the most competent men related to the Mission to assure its accuracy. If the author's part and pleasure in preparing this Memorial shall have a good response from the people, as buyers and readers, and prove gratifying to the Protestants of the Canadas par ticularly, he will be glad that he has devoted to it time and means. Like other numbers of the series, its pages have been electrotyped, that it may go on doing good after he shall have been called home. W. N. W. 3920 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., July 4, 1898. IV ©antewte* PAGE i. In Switzerland— Geneva ; Lausanne ; The Gay Girl ; The Guileless Daughter; In Hospital and Society, 7 II. Early Events — Marriage ; Devotement, Maternal and Religious; A Great Awakening; Maternity and Loss; Persecution; Strong Staff Broken 16 III. In Course of Training— Tried by Sorrows ; Disciplined by Business ; Instructed in the Truth ; Trained for Service; Sanctified by the Word of God and Pray er; Consecrated through Charities 28 IV. Missionary Preludes— M. Fivaz ; M. Henri Olivier ; Henrietta Feller, Deaconess; Rise of Missions; Canada the Field ; The Oliviers Go and Return ; Madame Feller Enters 38 V. Sighting the Field ; The Hudson, Lake Champlatn, Richelieu ; St. Johns, Montreal ; Reception, Warm and Cold ; Impressions, Repression ; Missionaries at St. Johns; Mrs. Lore; Her Conversion and Death,... 52 VI. The Grande Ligne — The Leveque House ; Incurring Danger ; Some Longing for Light ; Priests Inter fere ; Mr. Roussy Itinerating ; Heroine in the Gar ret ; First Church Formed ; School-House Erected ; Patriots Rebellion; Exile, 65 VII. Advances, Accessions— First Substantial Edifice ; "High Day " at Dedication ; Notable Conversions ; Rev. Leon Normandeau, Dr. C H. O. C6te ; Madame Feller as a Field Woman ; Tours in the United States ; Signal Encouragements 80 VIII. Chief and Associates— Binary Orbs; Girls' School; Louis Roussy ; First Church ; Perils Oft ; Grace at St. Marie ; Roussy vs. Chiniquy ; Chapels Built ; Mr, Cyr ; Mr. Lafleur; Mr. L. Chas. Roux ; Mr. Tous- SANT RlENDEAU 97 IX. Trials and Triumphs— Dual Hymns ; St. Pie and Lon- gueuil ; Colporters Eloi Roy, Z. Patenaude, Joseph Gendreau ; " Sorel and its Shame " ; Colportage a Force; One Score Years, 112 X, Shadow and Sun— Madame Feller in Decline ; Goes South ; Grande Ligne Incorporated ; Health Gives Way ; Goes to Switzerland ; Returns and Resumes Duty ; Notable Conversion and Death of Mrs. C6te, 129 XI. The Heroine Crowned— Her Arena ; The Good Fight ; Closing Wrestle ; The Funeral ; The Cemetery ; Madame Lafleur 140 XII. Field Men— T. Brouillet ; N. Gregoire ; G. N. Masse ; L. Chas. Roux ; A. L. Therrien ; M. O. Therrien ; J. N. Williams : 150 XIII. Story of Maskinonge— The Village ; "The Cursed Chap el " ; Impressive Baptism ; Changes of Faith and Church; Priestcraft vs. Christian Courage 171 XIV. Canada, Past and Present— Its Homes and Lands ; Farm ing Customs; Quebec— Its Trend and Need; Stoning the Prophets, iS° XV. The " Continued Story "—The First Edifice ; Its Day and Doom; Noted Enterprise; A Score of Years 194 XVI. Other Great Decades — Converts, Three Thousand; Home Mission Society Comes ln ; New Mission aries ; New Stations 207 XVII. Status and Onlook— Words for All 227 Uet tn tire ewe of life's «U-»eeitta &xxn 5E»e shall behols a something xve have oaxxe ; Shall of ilje tt»orb together- we hawe wrowahi, geyonb owr aspttration axxo oxxv thought, gjoroe not unworthy issue net r-eeetxte. Arthur Hugh Clough. VI MADAME FELLER. J*tt *&WittSVl(Xnil— GENEVA; LAUSANNE; THE GAY GIRL; THE GUILELESS DAUGHTER; IN HOSPITAL AND SO CIETY. SWITZERLAND, a federal republic with Berne as its capital, is one of the noted countries of the earth. It contains more mountain scenery than any other, in proportion to its area, on account of which it draws travel from every enlightened quarter of the globe. Its inhabitants, who are herdsmen and shep herds, incline to peace, and there is no standing army ; yet every citizen is obliged to serve as a soldier, and military drill is taught in all the schools. The major ity speak German, and the larger part of the remainder French. Elementary instruction is general — parents are compelled to send their children to school, or have them privately taught, from their sixth to their twelfth year. Universities naturally follow, and are modeled on the German or on the French plan. The settlement of this country dates in antiquity. The principal mountain ranges, the Alps and the Jura, separate the people into distinct communities and pre- 7 8 MADAME FELLER. vent mutual helpfulness, and also necessitate local laws and independent governments. That wonderful chain, the Alps, runs from east to west along the southern, the Italian, frontier, and sends out its spurs over more than one half of the republic northward. At the southwest extremity lies the beautiful crescent- shaped Lake of Geneva — Lake Leman; and pendant at its most southernly point is the renowned, most populous and flourishing city of Switzerland — Ge neva. On the northern shore and bend of the lake, in the canton of Vaud, is the city of Lausanne ; and as this life-Story takes its start there, the following de scription of it will aid in awakening the reader's inter est : " The city of Lausanne is situated above the Lake of Geneva, and is built on three hills, which, with the valleys between them, are entirely covered with build ings. The surface is therefore very uneven. There are few streets in which there are not ascents and de scents, in which respect it has been thought to resem ble Jerusalem. The highest hill is called The City. It is- approached on one side by a flight of steps, cut in the rock, and on the other by a wood-covered pas sage, containing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred stairs. . . . There is the Academy, and the Cathedral, called Notre Dame. This is a mag nificent edifice of the tenth century, very grand and spacious, ornamented by a splendid dome which is supported by two rows of tall marble columns, two hundred and seventy-two in number, almost all of which are single stones." — (/. M. Cramp, D. D.) Lausanne is sufficiently near to the lake to admit A MEMORIAL. g of a distinct view of its entrancing beauties from the heights mentioned. Nearer, and in one of the most beautiful spots on its border, is a small village named Montagny, having the form of an amphitheater. At the latter began a life which entered into and trans formed a multitude of other lives, imparting light and love, and freeing them from the most dangerous forms of delusion. It sprang from the Protestant element of the community, which was not only contemptible in the sight of the Romanists, but also was itself in a low religious state. The spiritual elevation of the time of the Reformation, and afterward, had been meas urably lost, and the circumstances were not favorable to the development of eminent religious characters. And yet, as in some other cases, the difficulties were not too many for souls brought under good human influences and wholly submissive to the Holy Spirit. Some thus moulded, one in particular, will form the main subject of this narrative. Henrietta Odin was born at Montagny, April 22, 1800. The coming of such a character as she proved to be, at the beginning of the century, was timed with great events in Christian enterprise in different parts of the world ; notably in Great Britain and America. She appeared at a time, too, when witnesses for pure religion were specially needed throughout Switzerland and adjoining countries. Persecution for two' centu ries preceding had been succeeded by depression of spiritual life and consequent worldliness. Of the four hundred thousand Protestants driven from France by the despotic act of Louis XIV., in revok ing religious liberty, a considerable part had taken IO MADAME FELLER. refuge in Switzerland; and these were "among the most industrious, the most intelligent and the most religious " of the French race. They were, therefore, by their traditions, remembrance of past persecutions and superior cultivation, a good people from which an energetic Christian community might spring. They affiliated readily with those who received them, and in time all were awakened from their slumbers, and stirring scenes ensued. Henrietta was the fourth child in a family of six, and was suitably endowed to become devoutly religious and a Christian heroine. Her domestic rearing served to the same end, in part. " Her father was a very intel ligent man, well educated, of a determined cast of char acter, and well qualified for government. He spent his early life in the French army, for Switzerland was then in alliance with France, and every year supplied many thousands of soldiers for the king's service. When he returned home he at first engaged in teach ing, but his administrative talents were discovered and the government appointed him director of the Cantonal Hospital at Lausanne, to which place he removed his family in 1803. His management of the institution was so satisfactory that he was placed at the head of the penitentiary, a large establishment which had been constituted recently, on the most approved principles, for the employment and instruction of persons sen tenced to long terms of imprisonment. This office he held until age and infirmities incapacited him for serv ice. Henrietta's mother was a woman of great discern ment and of a very affectionate disposition. Wisdom and love distinguished both parents, and their influence on the family was of the happiest kind." — (Cramps A MEMORIAL. II The removal to Lausanne was of much importance to Monsieur Odin and his family, while it proved to be very advantageous to Henrietta. The city contained twenty-five thousand people, was the capital of the canton of Vaud, and the educational center of Switzer land. Besides numerous other good schools, it had the best college in the country, and in connection with it a theological seminary and a law school. There Alex ander Vinet, eminent divine and author, was born, lived and taught. It had attractive architecture, partially due to its three-hilled site, including a beautiful Gothic cathedral, in which John Calvin often preached and Madame Feller worshiped. Its construction was commenced in the tenth century and completed in the thirteenth. Henrietta was but three years of age when the Odins settled in Lausanne, and her development into girlhood and womanhood naturally partook of the spirit of the place and people. She early manifested superior intellectual faculties, and having a lively dis position and ardent affections, soon became a general favorite. M. Odin took charge of the mental development of his children, while the mother guided them in religion and morals, and thus united they were assiduous and successful in training them. Henrietta was also fa vored in having in her elder sister, Catharine, a com petent and pious guide, showing the value and power of sisterly attentions in forming character. Genial influences in Lausanne bearing upon the genial dispo sition of Henrietta Odin wrought together likewise in making her one of the noblest missionaries of her time. On reaching her fourteenth year her missionary life 12 MADAME FELLER. began, though unconsciously to herself, by visiting the wards of the hospital and rendering assistance to the suffering. It soon became evident that her tender and affectionate manner qualified her to give relief to the patients, particularly those afflicted with wounds and dislocations. " These received such gentle hand ling that everyone wished to be on her list of patients, and the physicians entrusted to her the necessary dressings after the most difficult operations. She en joyed so much pleasure in these engagements that she actually entertained a project for the foundation of a hospital where she could devote herself entirely to the work." Her experience proved to be a preparatory. education and discipline for trying scenes in after life in distinctively missionary work. At this time two circumstances combined to give her a sense of approaching womanhood, and to observ ing persons about her a belief that her future would be a brilliant one. These were her entrance into the church and her debut in society. The first was little more than a formality, for " the church," of that coun try and time was simply Protestant — a protest against Rome — without being genuinely spiritual. However, her natural disposition to be seriously in earnest caused her to be very devout in her preparation for admission, and so she read the " Imitation of Christ," and studied deep questions of the moral nature and of God, con stantly praying that she might become a true Christian. " The communion " was a great thing on the church program, and meant more to the mind than to the heart. It seems to have been a way or a door into the church, and was so to Henrietta. But after she had A MEMORIAL. 13 become familiar with churchianity and the emptiness of mere forms, she exclaimed : " O, if the love of God in Jesus Christ had been made known to me, I should have embraced it with transports of gratitude and joy." But her pastoral leading was not evangelical, and time was lost in vague forms of outward religion. The teaching she received flattered the self-love and pride of her unregenerated heart. Her virtuous and regular life, her care for the poor and general kindnesses were thought to be sufficient righteousness to entitle one to everlasting life. The second event, her entrance into society, was a critical circumstance in her career as a young woman who had taken the vows of the church. She became a powerful attraction among the fashionables of Lau sanne. Says her biographer : " Her father encouraged her to go into the world, and accompanied her to the parties to which she was invited. For her part, Hen rietta had no desire to shine. Willingly would she have remained in the bosom of her family, and she valued society rather as the means of intellectual and moral development and a source of lawful pleasure than on any other account. But at this time the Swiss nation was emerging into new life. The long political dis turbances by which Europe had been distracted at the close of the last century and the commencement of the present, issuing in the overthrow of all that was good, had come to an end. The imperial crown had fallen from the head of Napoleon, and the huge colossus which his arms had reared, and at the feet of which almost the whole continent had lain prostrate, was broken in pieces. The powers of Europe, weary of 14 MADAME FELLER. war, eventually guaranteed to the people the blessings of peace ; and the Canton de Vaud, whose independence was confirmed, determined to enjoy those blessings to the utmost. Progress of every kind enlivened the country, and a spirit of association spread everywhere, producing the happiest results. Societies sprang up in all places — for the promotion of the natural sciences, the fine arts, music, singing, various projects of indus try, etc. — celebrating their fetes and anniversaries, and keeping the young in a perpetual whirl of excitement and pleasure. Henrietta greatly enjoyed those meet ings. She was a fine singer ; her voice was clear and powerful, and when she sang the patriotic songs which were then so popular, she threw so much soul into them that her father could not listen to her without tears." — ( Cramp.) The social and intellectual advantages furnished by the institutions of learning at Lausanne — the profess ors and students and the genius and thought with which they moved society were sources of great delight to Henrietta. They provided an atmosphere suited to her tastes and qualities. They revealed in her such life and spirit, and made observable such harmony be tween her mind and countenance, that she was known as " Mademoiselle Odin the transparent." She partici pated in literary performances, and in dramatic presen tations, displayed a positive, imitative talent, eliciting much applause. Still her heart was not right in the sight of God ; she knew and felt that something was lacking. Her naturally happy disposition did not as sure peace, even in her delightful surroundings. There was " an aching void," an uneasiness, an agitation A MEMORIAL. 15 which she was unable to quell. Supposing herself to be religious she could not understand why she should be so unhappy. There was scarcely an element of "pure and undefiled religion," as an outward profes sion, which she did not manifest. But "the love which unites the soul to God, flowing from grace, the enjoy ment of pardon and the experience of holiness was as yet unknown." 1 6 MADAME FELLER. II. ©GXljJ (&Vimt& — MARRIAGE; DEVOTE- MENT, MATERNAL AND RELIGIOUS; A GREAT AWAKENING ; MATERNITY AND LOSS; PERSECUTION; STRONG STAFF BROKEN. THE next important event in her life, one of great moment to a young woman, and of peculiar inter est to all the friends, was her marriage. She had almost reached her twenty-second year. In the community lived a man of standing, who could show a record run ning through the aristocracy of the Swiss Republic, and whose years were nearly twice the number of hers. He was a widower and the father of three children. The interested forethought that characterizes many promptly pointed to Henrietta as his second wife and a mother to his children. Her sympathetic interest in a bereaved family, strengthened by the common grief of her parents and the community, gave some occasion to the prediction ; yet greater cause was her fitness for a high rank or station. However, she did not share in the sense of her fitness indulged by others, and nat urally recoiled in view of the responsibility thus thrust upon her attention. But she could not long hold out against the popular suggestion, an affectionate pro posal and her own longing for some opportunity for A MEMORIAL. 17 service worthy of her mind and heart. About one year after the bereavement mentioned Mademoiselle Henrietta Odin became Madame Louis Feller — Feb ruary 6, 1822. Her life career now fully began, and the develop ment of the heroine appeared. " The day before her marriage she went to the cemetery to visit the tomb of the first Madame Feller, and there, before God, promised the departed mother, with all the affectionate earnestness of her soul, to be a Christian mother to the children from whom she had been taken, at the same time imploring the divine blessing on the union into which she was about to enter." Another occurrence at this time, leading on Ma dame Feller to still greater and farther reaching experiences, was contact with one who became her spiritual guide — Rev. Mark Fivaz. It was on her wedding-day and at the meeting of the Feller family. This clergyman, a man of clear discernment and pos itive religious character, was impressed with her voice, remarkable intelligence, superior powers, and " lively sensibility and imagination." Neither she nor her husband had yet found rest in Christ, but being of religious disposition they at once established family worship, sang from Clement Marot's version of the Psalms and read from a prayerbook. " The large family Bible, illustrated by numerous engravings, rep resenting the principal facts of Scripture history, was sometimes placed on the table, and the Madame em braced the opportunity to instruct the children in a knowledge of the Word of God." " She broke away from many of her social connections, judging it neces- 1 8 MADAME FELLER. sary to adopt a plainer and more retired mode of life. She shared her husband's labors, encouraged him in his difficulties and sympathized with him in every thing. He, too, regarded her as an enlightened asso ciate, relied on her sound judgment and warm sym pathy, and found her ever an affectionate counsellor, a 'helpmeet,' in whom he could always fearlessly trust." He gave up the club meetings for more delightful and profitable evenings with his family. The children loved their stepmother as they had their own. " She took great pains with their education, studying their respective talents and characters, correcting their faults, and helping them by hints and explanations when they met with difficulties in their preparations for school or college." The religious activity of Madame Feller had al ready fully begun. Her hospital work, commencing in her fifteenth year, had opened her e3'es and heart to the possibilities of life, and much that she did was both humane and spiritual. The enjoyment de rived from this devotement to the good of others imbued her mind with Christian sentiment more and more, so that when a spiritual religion came fully into view she was prepared to understand and em brace it. A revival of spiritual life in the Canton de Vaud commenced about one year before her marriage, and was now progressing well. It came as a wave of divine grace from the lower or southwestern end of the Lake — from Geneva, a city made famous for all time as a center of theology, through John Cal vin, of the sixteenth century. It was more imme- A MEMORIAL. 19 diately due to the eminent Robert Haldane, of Eng land, who had lived and labored there several years before it became a noted movement. This great ex pounder of truth found theological students dazed by rationalistic instructions, expelled from the Academy for protesting against the course pursued with the doctrines of grace, and ready for the faith delivered to the saints. All that remained of evangelical truth and life had taken refuge among a small number of pious persons, and especially in the remnant of a little flock of Moravian brethren, gathered about the mid dle of the eighteenth century by Count Zinzendorf. The expelled students and some of their friends joined the Moravian body. They formed also an association of the "Society of Friends," for common edification by prayer and reading of the Scriptures, feeling deeply their need of increased knowledge and faith, and ex pecting that in this way the Lord would come to their help. Those meetings were happy seasons. "It was under these circumstances that Robert Haldane entered that city, chosen of God and des tined to become a source of blessing to the students and many others. In a short time there was a revival in Theological Hall. More than twenty of the stu dents regularly clustered around Mr. Haldane, receiv ing instructions that they were afterwards to spread abroad in Switzerland, France and elsewhere. The young converts became missionaries and communi cated the truths which they had received to the jun ior clergy throughout the Canton de Vaud. The Lord blessed the work. Famished souls, thirsting for salvation, embraced the truth with joy, and evangelical 20 MADAME FELLER. associations were formed in different parts of the country. Then ignorance, prejudice, formalism and unbelief took the alarm and the cry of danger was raised. In a very short time fierce opposition was roused against the ' Sectaries,' who w^ere nicknamed momiers (mask-faced), and who were driven from the churches, as intriguers, hypocrites and impostors, and loaded with contempt and insult." Madame Feller and her husband were as yet in the general current, but not indifferent to the hated evangelical movement. The popular good will which they enjoyed lulled their consciences; yet they were greatly shaken betimes by a zealous relative who had espoused the unpopular cause. Madame Feller, in particular, was very susceptible to pointed appeals and finally lost her sense of security and looked with foreboding to the judgment and beyond. The chaplain of the penitentiary, of which her father was governor, greatly interested her by his evangelical and eloquent preaching, and this she came to prefer to that of others. His tender, spiritual words led her forward, though slowly, to a full sense of her sinful ness, and to severe struggles for deliverance from the thralldom of Satan. And finally she submitted humbly and gladly to the Savior of Sinners. Another experience greatly affected her mind. She became a joyful mother, with sufficient cause for pa rental pride and gratitude. The tiny daughter, Elize, occasioned the development of her rich affections in a new direction. She is mentioned as having been remarkably gifted, a statement that was shown to be well founded, so soon as she could express her A MEMORIAL. 21 thoughts. The pictures in the family Bible awak ened her mind, and she wished to be told of Jesus. " Her father and mother were admiring, from the terrace of their house,- the magnificent prospect be fore them — the lake, the Alps, the beauty of the sky, which was reflected in the transparent waters, the smiling cottages and the lovely landscape. The sun set added greatly to the beauty of the scene, and as they admired their hearts were lifted to God, whose hand had formed the whole. Their lovely child was with them, all eye and all ear — her countenance shin ing with joy. She threw her arms around her mother's neck and fixed her eyes on the firmament, exclaiming, ' Oh, dear mamma, show me God ! Dear mamma, show me God ! '" At the age of three she died, exclaiming, as she passed from the caresses of the distressed parents, " Why do you weep, dear mamma? I am going to Jesus; He is taking me in His arms." As in many similar instances, this affliction had a close relation to other experiences ; it was preparative to higher usefulness. A precocious child is not given that it may be taken away, but that the glory of God may better appear in the lives of the parents, whether it live or die. Its coming, like that of an effulgent ray, enlivens the sense while its brightness blinds to objects around ; and the cloud that cuts it off is a blessing in disguise. Madame Feller was blessed in the giving and in the taking of her darling ; in the one case by the enrichment of her heart's affections, and in- the other by the consequent devotement of her enriched life to a cause that yielded to her an hundredfold in 22 MADAME FELLER. time and in eternity rewards that no one can fully esti mate. " To her heart-sorrow," says M. Fivaz, " were added certain mental disturbances arising from medita tion on difficult subjects. It was a time when there was much discussion on ' the election of grace,' and she engaged in the discussion with all the ardor of her spirit, seemingly desirous of sounding the heavenly decree, that she might clearly discern the mystery and depth." The same pious adviser admonished her in a manner to arrest the danger and produce tenderness and humility with rejoicing in the light already granted. Still Satan strove with her, and only after much retirement, reading of Scripture and prayer did she gain full release. One day she took with her to her retreat a small treatise, entitled " The Evangelical Doc trine " in which " the work of Jesus Christ was ex plained in a clear, simple, practical manner, and the sinner encouraged to cast himself, with all his sins, just as he was, into the arms of the Savior. Then light beamed on her spirit ; she understood, as she had never before, the work of redemption, and laid hold of it and embraced it with joyful ardor. So powerfully was she moved that she exclaimed : ' What, Jesus, is this all ? Is this all ? Simply to believe — to believe, and leave all to thee ! Thy blood blots out all ! Oh, Lamb of God ! Eamb of God ! ' And then, falling upon her knees and weeping for joy, the place seemed to be filled with the light which had penetrated her soul. She could scarcely leave it, and when, after several hours there, she appeared again in the family, the peace and joy expressed in her countenance struck the children and servants with astonishment. Her husband was so A MEMORIAL. 23 thoroughly impressed that he begged her to pray for him that he might also become a true child of God." It will be remembered that at this time the perse cution of the Protestants, the real Christians, was vig orously sustained. M. Fivaz, a subject of violent ha tred, had been condemned to banishment for two years for having attended a prohibited meeting. An appeal secured the reversal of the judgment, but did not stop the violence of the enemy. Many young ministers were banished ; others were cast into prison. Houses were forcibly entered, meetings dispersed, and those attending them insulted. In some instances these de plorable scenes issued in bloodshed. Yet they occurred according to enforcement of law. In such circum stances the evangelical preachers, determined to main tain their faith and worship, preached wherever they could be accommodated — in houses, barns, fields. The converts organized for work and worship ; bore testi mony faithfully to the gospel of the grace of God, and thus provoked the fury of their adversaries. And, under the iniquitous law, their tribulations continued for ten years. At one time, says M. Fivaz, " obliged to take some steps in order to avoid the search, which was becoming more active and determined, we divided our congrega tion into four or five groups, which met in as many different places, at each of which I met them every Sunday. The first meeting was held at seven in the morning in the wood of Sauvebelin. This wood is two miles from Lausanne, near the top of Mount Joral, a very rough district and difficult of access. We found more persons there than I expected. It was in De- 24 MADAME FELLER. cember and the weather was very severe. We kept close to each other and encouraged one another to be faithful. We sang the praises of the Lord and offered our prayers, without fearing the police or regarding the rain which fell heavily upon us. We were filled with joy and peace in the Holy Spirit." As a friend, this devoted man of God enjoyed the protection of Monsieur Feller, superintendent of the police of Lausanne, so far as he could possibly render it without violating his official obligations. He was necessarily brought into collision with the dissenters, who were very determined and would hold their sep arate services at great risks. Madame Feller joined her husband in favoring them. He quietly permitted meetings to be held, and took the part of the innocent worshipers, sometimes releasing a minister or other person from the hands of a mob that cried, " Down with the momiers! To the lamppost ! To the pillory ! To the pillory! Let us cut out his tongue! Club him ! " She was accustomed to give such information to M. Fivaz as enabled him to avoid danger by chang ing the places of meeting. He was complained of for negligence of duty, and after much vexation on account of the position in which his office placed him, ex pressed to her his wish to resign. She held him to the place in order that he might find opportunity to render service to the persecuted Christians. It was she that suggested the avoidance of publicity on Sunday morn ings. " If anyone had assured me," she once remarked, " that a person had passed through pouring rain with no umbrella, without receiving a drop of water, I should have believed it more willingly than that you A MEMORIAL. 25 and the little flock of the Lord could pass through those years of persecution with so little injury." The former biographer of Madame Feller, having , full knowledge of her deep Christian experience, speaks in this positive strain : " From the moment of her conversion she gave herself to Christ before the world. She confessed Him boldly, spite of the persecution which was urged with redoubled fierceness by the agents of the Government, who hunted the poor mo miers with the greatest cruelty, in order to suppress their meetings and arrest and banish those who con ducted them. In these circumstances she gave clearer proof than ever that she was the Lord's instrument in strengthening and encouraging His poor persecuted disciples. She sought their friendship and became the object of their affection, their esteem and their grati tude." And in this school of terror and testing it was seen of what heroic qualities she was composed, while the training thus received prepared her for greater conflicts of her own an another continent. And she did more than defend and encourage the saints. It was her constant aim, amidst the tumult of the people and rage of the enemies of the Cross, to enlarge the number of believers ; not to secure a stronger army of defense, but to multiply the trophies of the Savior's love and the number of the saved. She was particularly anxious for the salvation of her hus band and his children, and her incessant pleadings with God in their behalf were rewarded in conversions. M. Feller and many relatives yielded their hearts to the Spirit's saving work. Her loving heart found its complement in that of her husband, one of the noblest 26 MADAME FELLER. of the community, and more of a man because a serv ant of Christ. To him she rendered assistance in his official or other business, and thus had a schooling in affairs that was of much advantage in the events that followed. Meantime the loveliness of her piety diffused a charm and endeared her to all, while her Christian influence increased and helped in all directions. The poor, the afflicted, the sick, the prisoners were sought diligently, not only for the bestowment of temporal relief, but also for the benefit of their souls. A new discipline was now added, evidently for the special consecration to be required of her. The loss of her child, Elize, of recent occurrence, left a lingering cloud in her sky, but it had been given a silver edge, if not a transparence, by the rich Christian experiences that followed —the conversion of herself and her hus band. This incoming of the Spirit, to make His abode with them, had driven out the darkness which death created and brought in the light of life. Their home had become cheery. The thought that Death was not through with its immediate work may not have oc curred to them. But typhus fever appeared in Lau sanne, and being general it attacked Monsieur Feller ; and notwithstanding that the resources of medical skill were not spared, he fell a victim of it. The distress that the event caused the loving, loyal wife, whose sen sibilities were so delicate, can well be imagined. Her married life of a few years had enabled her to come into the fullest harmony with him, one of the best of men, and to be so established in her affections as to make his death a crushing blow. The recently formed oneness in the faith of the Gospel sweetened and A MEMORIAL. 27 strengthened the marriage bond. But Death did not pass over her cherished home ; it entered and took away the strong staff and beautiful rod. This most sorrowful event, like her first bereave ment, seems to have been ordered for wise ends — for enlargement of her call to world-wide beneficence. She had become familiar with business, and M. Feller, feeling that he should not recover from the fever, placed all his temporal affairs in her hands to be ar ranged and settled at her discretion, and wisely oc cupied his last hours on the concerns of his soul. Losing his hearing, then his sight, and then his voice, he had only the sense of feeling by which to recognize his friends, when flesh and heart failed and he entered upon his everlasting "portion." Great comfort came to the wife and others by what he had said when able to speak : " Soon I shall see you no more. But I am happy. Be not overcome with sorrow. The Lord takes away in order that He may give the more. His will is best." Extending a hand to his pastor, M. Manuel, he expressed the liveliest satisfaction in what had been done for his soul : " This is my best physi cian, for he taught me to love the Savior who died for me." 28 MADAME FELLER. III. &n ®0itv&e of ©raining — tried by SORROWS; DISCIPLINED BY BUSI NESS; INSTRUCTED IN THE TRUTH; TRAINED FOR SERVICE; SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER; CONSECRATED THROUGH CHARITIES. THUS bereft of husband and child, and only in her twenty-seventh year, she was " a widow indeed." With memorials of the lost in the drawers and on the walls, piercing her tender heart upon ever}T appearance, what could have been predicted for her if not suffering, and that continually ? A severe testing had come to her, as a Christian, and while bewailing her situation she diligently besought God to show compassion. The highest sentiments of trust and submission prevailed, and she had an experience with God which promised the richest results. " So far," she said, " from the mem ory of this dear one becoming a trouble to me, a snare to my soul, I desire on the contrary that it may be a bond between me and my God, to detach me more fully from earth and all that is fleshly, in order that I may lead a holy and exalted life." It will scarcely be be lieved that her faith was further tried by the contempt and hatred of the persecutors of the little church, who indulged in railing on account of her affliction, declar- A MEMORIAL. 29 ing it to have been deserved. And here is discovered a characteristic of heathenism — a charge of guilt as a cause of affliction. How excruciating, if permitted to have force on the heart ! Madame Feller rose above her sorrows and became superior to all circumstances. Life was real ; life was earnest. It had two sides, a domestic and a business side. Three step-children, two sons and a daughter, were still about her. A loving regard for the departed father was adequate cause of special regard for them. She loved them, and this affection lightened the load that she carried in their behalf. She desired to fit them for a useful career and to make them heirs with her to eternal life. The business she conducted with energy and skill, not with a view to permanence in it, but in the hope of keeping it in prosperous condition and finally disposing of it for the benefit of the children. The son, in his seventeenth year, proved a valuable helper in all her affairs. Conversion to the evangelical faith, on the part of both Monsieur and Madame Feller, was entirely inde pendent of church relations. Yet, while they did not submit to that with a view to changing their relation ship, the renewal of soul which they experienced made the latter at some time necessary. They could not be sincere and spiritual, renouncing the world, and yet fellowship the National Church. Monsieur did not reach the point of renouncing the state religion, nor for some time after his death did Madame do so. How ever, her sympathies were with the little persecuted church, because it was in condition to excite sympa thy, and because she believed it to be correct in faith 30 MADAME FELLER. and practice. And when her views of the nature of a Gospel church and of separation from the world had become well established, she regarded such personal action a duty. The independent church was mostly composed of poor persons, who were regarded with supreme con tempt by others, but who were rich in spiritual bless ings and remarkably honored in the conversion of souls. She tenderly loved its members — a love which persecution tended to strengthen. The law against the "dissidents" reached her, and to her it was given, not only to believe in Christ, but likewise to suffer for His sake. Two of the pastors had been banished; a third, M. Henri Olivier, with several of his members, shared a similar fate. " On one occasion the Council of State ordered that the buildings in which the churches held their meetings should be closed, and the police sev eral times entered them and turned the congregations out of doors. Happy were they who were not at the same time insulted by the mob ! ' What a shame ! ' they said, as they saw Madame Feller come out when the con gregation was broken up, ' that she should have joined those momiers !' 'It is a great pity, indeed,' was the reply ; ' she was such a fine dancer ! ' " The chaplain of the penitentiary, " a gentle, benevolent man," re monstrated with her in a long interview, but without avail. About a year and a half after the death of her hus band a favorable opportunity for disposing of his busi ness was embraced. She sold her beautiful house, wound up the mercantile affairs, paid all the debts and invested the surplus for the benefit of the children. A MEMORIAL. 31 The son, nineteen years of age, went to Germany for the study of the language, married there after two years, and finally settled in his native country, and be came a respected and prosperous citizen. The daugh ters, fifteen and seventeen, were placed in an excellent Moravian institution, in the Canton of Neuchatel, in a beautiful valley of the Jura range, and after satisfactory results as to their education they married and lived in Lausanne. In these movements for their good she ex ercised the most scrupulous maternal care. In her early young womanhood Madame Feller entered into a partnership with her sisters in Lausanne in a store for women's clothing. On being married she withdrew from the firm, and on the death of her husband, yielded to the advice of her sisters and re sumed her place with them, it being thought that a regular employment would be conducive to the good of body and mind. But while she engaged in business with her usual activity, she lamented the loss of oppor tunity to be useful to the poor and distressed, and after one year resolved to make a change which would per mit her to respond to the calls of benevolence. A competent person was employed, while she retained charge of the books and correspondence and managed domestic affairs. The enemies of the Independent Church, appar ently wearied and satisfied with the havoc they had made, for a time desisted from their wicked work. The disciples of Christ had "rest" — rest from being pursued in their own villages and homes. For about two years they were not molested. That season of rest was diligently improved by the employment of 32 MADAME FELLER. means for the diffusion of the knowledge of the Gos pel, and a revival followed, which greatly cheered the hearts of the Christians and exerted a happy influence on society in general. During this time of excitement Madame Feller was busily engaged, and her skill in guiding souls fully tested and developed. Another crisis in her history occurred at about this time — A. D. 1828. The death of her early guide and helper, her sister Catharine, brought a great strain up on the whole family, especially to herself and her aged parents. In a few months, ere this wound was healed, she was seized with typhoid fever of a virulent type. She fully expected to die, and though resting in God she felt extreme anxiety for the objects of her benevo lence who, she feared, might suffer by her death. " My poor ! my widows ! " she exclaimed, and entreated the sisters of the church to undertake the care of them. When despair of recovery had settled upon her own and others' minds, she was heard to pray in her lucid moments for the Lord to come; saying, repeatedly, " How slow the Lord is in coming ! " On Lord's day morning the physician entered the church in haste and announced that her last hour had come. "Nothing but a direct interposition from God can save her. Pray — pray for her ! " The assembled people fell upon their knees, and pastor and people prayed — pleaded hard with God. At noon the church was still pray ing, when the physician entered the place again. " Thanks ! " he exclaimed, " give thanks ! She is saved ! saved ! The disease has taken the most favorable turn that could be desired." Then joy filled the souls of the waiting saints, and the exercise was turned into one of thanksgiving. A MEMORIAL. 33 M. Fivaz, visiting her toward the close of the day, informed her of what had taken place in church. She was so overpowered with emotion at the recital that it was feared that the excitement would be too much for her. On regaining composure, she said : " You were not willing to let me die. I hope it is the Lord's will that is done, and not yours. It seems strange that I who had no expectations of continuing on earth, should now have to learn to live." And this was but one of the occasions on which prayer was the apparent means of rescue for the little flock. Often amid direct diffi culties and persecutions and official surveillance their prayers were heard and deliverance granted. On advice of her physician Madame Feller retired to the country for the summer months. She repaired to one of the elevated valleys of the Jura, just beyond the French border, a healthful district, covered with immense firs, many of which were centuries old. It was rugged in general appearance and calculated to entertain the mind and elevate the soul. But the moral and spiritual condition of the people could not be over looked by such a pious person as the invalid from Lau sanne, and it was anything but good. The country was " a moral desert, covered with the darkness of popery, which no ray of Gospel grace had ever pene trated. Some efforts to introduce evangelical truth had been made at the time of the Reformation, and afterwards, but without success. A dead, ignorant, superstitious Catholicism reigned supreme. The crisis in the matter of health was a clear occa sion in Madame Feller's life for an appearance of the Hand of Providence. In being placed among the 34 MADAME FELLER. Roman Catholics, she, quite unexpectedly, acquired her first special qualification to become a heroine and angel of love among them in after years. She had not opportunity theretofore, as now, for studying closely the Romish system, or of observing it in practical oper ation. She was now in a farm-house, receiving the kindest attention and being supplied with choice fruits and other luxuries, but not favored with Chris' 'an sym pathy. The keepers were full Romanists. They were satisfied with their church and their priests, in which they placed the fullest confidence. Their chambers were adorned with pictures of the Virgin and the saints, which were the objects of their veneration. Such a person as Madame Feller could not remain silent in view of their delusions, and, moved with compassion, spoke to them of Christ and the way of salvation. Her manner, as well as the substance of her talks, excited thought and touched their hearts. Yet prejudice against Protestants awakened controversy and all good impres sions were effaced, or seemed to be, though such work of love can not be wholly in vain. As soon as she was strong enough she spent her mornings in the open air, seated at the foot of a gigan tic pine, and engaged in reading and prayer ; the Bible on her lap, with a hymn-book, or such a work as the Life of Henry Martyn, the perusal of which filled her soul with earnest longings for missionary life. Her meditations in this mountain district were at tended considerably with heart searchings, followed by ecstatic praise. The Bible became a treasure of life and light to her soul beyond any of her previous ex periences with it. She read it over and over; she A MEMORIAL. 35 prayed over it ; she underscored the statements and promises which peculiarly interested her. She was revived; her faith and love were strengthened and developed, and her covenant with God and consecra tion to His service renewed. Thus her mountain so journ was an epoch in her career. On her return to Lausanne the church, which had continually remembered her in prayer, received her with liveliest demonstrations of joy. Her house was besieged by visitors. There was in the church at that time a rare constellation of excellent women, many of them mothers, who understood and sympathized with her in respect to her religious experiences, which others regarded as mysticism. The genuineness and intelligence of her piety was proven by its fruits. Her zeal was according to knowledge, as shown in the great renewal of spiritual life in the church and the effects soon witnessed in the world around. Sinners were found to be desiring to know the way of salva tion. Meetings for prayer were held from house to house, and mothers' prayer meetings were soon estab lished, which continued for several years, and proved to be sources of great blessing. Madame Feller, her health being well restored, " resumed her benevolent activities, and entered on a career of large charity. In addition to the usual objects of her kindness she became particularly en gaged on behalf of distressed persons, not reckoned among the common poor, who suffered in silence, liv ing in barns, lofts, and places of that description where they were unnoticed. She sought them out in their hiding places, and administered such help and relief as 36 MADAME FELLER. were needed. These visits were paid in the evenings and often prolonged far into the night ; her affection ate sympathy making her unmindful of the lapse of time. When she returned home all was silent in the city. She seldom met any persons but the watchmen who were going their rounds, and who, recognizing her by her little lantern, sometimes walked behind her for the sake of protection till she reached her own house. The sick were especially cared for and promptly relieved. When she heard of any who were confined to their beds, and was unable to attend to them immediately, she sent assistance by her servant, and followed in person as soon as able. Her experi ence in the treatment of the sick and her knowledge of medicine enabled her to render effectual aid. But she did not confine herself to the alleviation of phys ical sufferings. It was her custom to call the family together, read to them a portion of Scripture suited to their state, and exhort them to receive the word of God, always closing with prayer. " In cases of death she was not satisfied with ming ling tears with the survivors. Orphans were often left in a state of destitution or dependence, and she took charge of them, superintending their education and otherwise supplying their wants. When they reached a suitable age for apprenticeship she exerted herself to secure good places for them, and even took. upon herself the expense of the premiums required. She was known to have as many as twenty on her list in a single year. A large number of them became useful members of society, and rendered good service to the church." Her own resources scarcely justified A MEMORIAL. 37 so much expenditure, but her influence enabled her to obtain assistance from friends, who willingly shared the responsibilities of this form of benevolence. And an other mode of usefulness was correspondence. Per sons in the neighboring cities and even in distant parts of the country, hearing of her, wrote for instruction, advice, or consolation, and received cheering, helpful replies. Her mother's death, occurring at this time, was a great personal affliction, yet who shall say that it was not timed for the new and special " separation unto the Gospel of God" which soon followed? While sojourning on the mountain Madame Feller had studied the New Testament teaching on the sub ject of baptism, and her investigations had resulted in the conviction that the ordinance was intended for believers only. On returning she mentioned the mat ter to her pastor and her physician, and learned, to her great surprise, that they, too, had been similarly en gaged, and that their convictions agreed with her own. Neither of the three reached the doctrine of immer sion, as baptism, still, though Madame and her physi cian yielded to aspersion only, they were greatly in advance of the community and church in respect to the ordinance, with the important, the real step yet before them. Theirs was the first baptism (aspersion) in the city of Lauzanne — the first on profession of faith in Christ and of death to sin — and it occasioned great astonishment. 38 MADAME FELLER. IV. t#tte*rt