"During my somewhat lengthened ministerial life," says the Rev. John
Rattenbury, "I have met with no female class-leader, that surpassed,
and with but few that equalled, your sainted mother. Her religious
character was beautifully moulded by the Divine Spirit. Tranquil,
fervent, spiritual, devoted; she was a pattern to her people: she was
successful in attracting people to the Society, and what is of
more importance, and perhaps more difficult, she was successful in
retaining them. Her classes, though large, were well preserved, and
seldom did the column for backsliders gain addition from them. She
was of the earlier school of Methodists, and combined the simplicity,
plainness, and fervour of the past age, with the generous and more
aggressive spirit of the present." One of her members says: "It was my
privilege to be a member of her class about eight years. She was both
deep and clear in her own experience, and never failed to impress upon
her members the necessity of daily growth in grace; and was especially
faithful, in warning them against worldliness and trifling. In her
we had a pattern worthy of imitation." As respects the improvement of
time and talent, she was always well employed, and ever had for her
object, the good of others. Another writes: "As a class-leader, Mrs.
Lyth appeared to stand almost alone--talented, punctual, humble,
and faithful. Once she reproved a young person in my presence for
frequently neglecting the class. When she had finished speaking and
the party was gone, she turned to me and said, 'I think I was faithful
with Elizabeth,' 'Yes, 'I replied, 'and rather sharp;' she answered,
'I don't want to have the blood of any of you on my skirt,'"
As to her general Christian character and usefulness, the following
testimonies by the pens of well-known and esteemed Ministers, will be
read with interest.
Pages:
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327