MRS. MAUD E. WILLIAMSON.

Many were the sad hearts in Olathe last Wednesday evening, the 1st, when word was received of the passing away at the home of her sister, Mrs. George Halley, of Mrs. Maude Egelston Williamson, the beloved wife of Dr. H.E. Williamson of this city after an illness of over a year.

 She was the daughter of Dr. J. Q. Egelston and wife of this city who came here from Independence, Mo. She was brought up in this city and educated here in the schools of this city and was a graduate of the Olathe high school.  She was a member of the Methodist church of this city and was a devoted wife and mother and a consistent Christian.

Her body was brought to Olathe for interment and the funeral services were held in the M. E. church on Friday afternoon.at two o'clock, the services being conducted by Rev. J. S. Ford, the presiding elder, assisted by the Rev. J. A. Greer of the U. P. church and Rev. R. V. Maloney of the M. E. church of this city.

The sermon by the Rev. J. S. Ford was a touching and eloquent tribute to the departed one. His general topic was, 'The influence of a good woman.' The text was Prov. XXXI, 30: "A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." He said in substance: "Solomon's ideal woman is described in this chapter. …The Jewish woman was unique in the history of the world at that time. All pagan nations looked upon women as slaves. They were expected to keep themselves isolated from society of men…. But the Old and New Testament scriptures assign to woman a higher sphere. - She has an exalted sphere. She is the equal of her husband. Standing before her husband as the queen of his household and the idol of his heart, sharing his sorrows and his joys, and giving of her counsel.

 "It is very, inspiring to read in the scriptures the stories of Miriam, Ruth, Esther, Hannah, Deborah, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Martha and Eunice. No wonder that Solomon pronounced a eulogy like this. He had the scriptural view …Every characteristic which is mentioned by Solomon in this chapter applies with emphasis to her whose form is before us.

"This woman has lived from her childhood in this place. ' rom child hood she has made herself a great and positive force for good in this citv. Thousands of lives have been enriched by this sweet life. Verily, this entire community will rise up and call her blessed.  The sweet incense of purity and gentleness, kindness and love has been a. benediction to this entire town. Her life was one sweet song. The love of music which was a passion to her was not confined simply to that which came forth from the skillfully and delicately tuned instrument at the touch of her well-trained and sensitive finger tips, or that flowed forth in melody of song from trained voices, but in that larger passion, for music in which the soul comes into such  sensitive touch with the Infinite that it enters into the harmonies of the divine, and catches the  music of the universe as directed by the will of the Infinite God.

"Her life and death is but an exemplification of a sublime faith in God. She loved the Christ, believed in his promises. This was illustrated in my visit to her just before she passed away. She talked freely of death and her purposes. She had her plans. Her beautiful faith was an inspiration to me. She had walked with God during her life, from childhood.

"The saintly Miss Frances Ridley Havergal when about to die asked for the reading of Isaiah XLII. When the reader came to the sixth verse, 'I the Lord have called you into righteousness and I will hold thine hand and keep thee,' Miss Havergal stopped her, called – held-  kept  - used' , she whispered. 'Well, I will just go home on that.' How well this applies today.

"This beautiful woman called early in life, held by the Divine hand, and kept and used, has gone home. She has been given 'the fruit of her hands' and her own works praise her. Mr. Francis Greenwood Peabody, professor of Christian Morals in Harvard University uses a few dedicatory verses for his book, 'Jesus Christ and the Social Question,' which seem very appropriate at this hour:

 “Through sunny days and through Stormy weather,
Yet ever hand in hand, beloved wife.
 We two have walked our quiet way together .
Along the dusty road oi common life. –

" 'Bright  were the vistas on our journeys seen,
And dark the valleys of the shadows lay
 But your dear love, like Israel's God, has been
My light in darkness, and my shade by day.-

“I cannot give you what a scholar ought,
Learning or wit or  insight for the true.
 I but transcribe what you have daily taught, -
The spirit of the Mster seen in you.”

Thea plans for her funeral were all made by Mrs. Williamson before she passed away and her  wishes were followed in everything. The music was furnished by a ladies choir composed of Mrs. W. H. Blankenbeker, Mrs. Clifford Elder; Miss Cora Cole, ; Miss Stephenson, Miss Bee Glover, and Mrs. Frank B. Gregg. Mr. Melvin Bushong presided at the organ.  The pall bearers were all members of the "Jolly. Twenty," an organization of married people, and were as follows: J.J. Parker Lawrence Shepp,  George H. Hodges, Frank Hodges, Harry Keefer, Fred Pickering.

Those who were present from a distance were Rev. W. C. Williamson, D. D. of the U. P. church at Burlington Iowa, and his wife, the father and mother of Dr. Williamson; Mr. Glenn Soule, of Monmouth, 1Ill.;  Mrs. Lightshaw, Mrs. George Halley, Miss Mamie Egelston, John Egelston, and Miss Eleanor Fowler, of Kansas City,  Mo. Mrs. Williamson's father, and mother had preceded her and she leaves a husband, a 10-year-old daughter, Dorothy, a brother and two sisters to mourn her loss with a host of loving friends and neighbors and those to whom she has been a present help in the hour of need. The sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved ones in their loss.

Olathe Mirror
August 9, 1906
Page 2, col 4,5