USA > North Carolina > Historical papers of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society and the Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society > Part 4
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Despite the fact that Ellen Morphis was a continued strength unto her friends and those who came under her influence, yet . she had seasons of depression and often mistrusted herself. Day by day, she set a watch over herself lest she be led away from her one pur- pose to put her Lord first.
In her diary, she refers to a great revival held in West Market Street Church. Of this occasion, she writes under the date of April 28, 1855: "What has God done for me this day? Oh, would that I had the language to express one idea, but, alas, until this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave, and an angel tongue is given me, I can never sound the praises of God abroad or tell what great things He has done for me as I would. Today, He redeemed me from endless death-has turned my weeping and anguish into joy and gladness. O, Father, until I can praise Thee as I ought, accept my heart's desire! Today my name has been written in the Lamb's Book of Life with a brighter, purer and deeper impress than ever before. Today, the sun rose upon earth to wit- ness the full consecration of all my powers to God and His service. Keep me, O, my Saviour, keep me 'till the storm of life is past! How can I ever thank Thee sufficiently for thy goodness, O Lord, in sparing my unfrofitable life to view this day that has been to me the most eventful, the happiest of my life? When I think of it, I am lost in wonder, love and praise. May its remembrance ever send a thrill of joy and gladness, gratitude and love through every fibre of my being, for today my simple, polluted and unworthy soul was redeemed by the blood of that dear Jesus who died for me. O God, eternity itself will be far too short to utter all Thy praise, too short to praise Thee for what Thou hast done for me. My faith in God is so strong that I can trust Him for all that is to come and praise Him for all that is past. But a few hours ago, the future was dark and dreary before me; all my temporal and spiritual prospects seemed gloomy and hopeless. But glory and honor and praise be given to our prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. He has turned all that darkness to light and made all within me rejoice. Oh, that the world knew what Jesus has done for me, keep me, O my Saviour, near Thy bleeding side. Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, and lead me in the path of righteousness. Thou hast my heart's best affections: ever keep them, O Lord, and wean from this world. Let me be all Thine own and in everything ask counsel from Thee."
On another leaf of her diary, dated December 16, 1855, she says: ."I want to live only to do good in the world-Oh, what happiness to
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be counted worthy to hear the glad tidings of the Gospel to heathen lands!"
, After her graduation, she was principal and also music teacher in a school conducted by Mr. J. W. Thomas at Thomasville, N. C. The daughter of Mr. Thomas, now Mrs. Jennie T. Cramer, was one of her pupils at that time and writes of her thus: "I was aroused from my sleep by her energetic, wide-a-wake way of doing things. No one could be a laggard in any thing if she held the reins, and I began to practice in earnest."
"Miss Ellen" was a frequent visitor in their home and not so many years afterwards, Mr. Wood, on his return from China, brought his two sons with their Chinese nurse to pay a visit to the friends and admirers of his faithful wife.
Mrs. L. L. Hendren who was her room-mate at Greensboro Female Collège, being afterwards associated with her in the faculty there, says: "I owe my earliest missionary impressions to the influence of her words and acts and through all the years, her memory has been an inspiration and an incentive."
At an Annual Meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society held at Littleton, N. C., in 1896, there were several who attested to the influence of her life and character, notably Miss Blanche Fentress, Mrs. Lucy A. Cunninggim and Mrs. L. L. Hendren, all of whom have been leaders in the Woman's Missionary Society.
The prayer of Ellen Morphis that she might be sent as a mis- sionary to any benighted land was about to be answered, so she writes in March 1859, but in a way which she had never suspected.
It is said in her child-like enthusiasm to go out as a mis- sionary, she would often beg ministers to go and take her with them to China .. Now, there came a minister, in the person of Rev. M. L. Wood, who was begging her to accompany him to China. The oppor- tunity lay before her, and the decision must be immediate.
She confesses that she had been a missionary in spirit for several years but now there arose a double conflict in which she must fight out two distinct battles. In this crucial hour, she believed her Lord was bringing her to a test. To refuse this opportunity would be to forfeit all her chances of heaven. Accordingly, she accepts Mr. Wood and later on writes: "God has given me one of the best of men for my husband."
Ellen Morphis was not a woman of brilliant intellect, though she graduated with first honors. She was timid, and shrank from leaving old friends and familiar scenes to form new associates amid strange surroundings. She ever sought some one on whom to lean-some one to whom she could unburden her heart and upon whom she could lavish her hearts' affections. But, when once Ellen Morphis was convinced of her Lord's will, her courage was unmeasurable. She was ready to defy all the forces that might combine against her.
However, the leave-taking was a bitter experience for a tender, affectionate nature like hers. Greensboro, to her, was "the dearest spot on earth," for there her mind was trained, her soul-lite expanded and there she had learned to look on life with a world-wide vision.
It was hard indeed to break away from dear Fannie Ogburn
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(afterwards Mrs. Louis Andrews), the bosom companion of her col- lege days. Their very souls seemed to have been knit together. The first message back from China came to Miss Fannie, then teaching at Greensboro Female College and, to this day, girls of long ago remember how Miss Fannie received the letter-her ecstatic scream of joy and the sensation that the news from Shanghai created in the college circle.
After the good-byes were said in Greensboro, she then went to Raleigh to take final farewell of her sisters whom she expected never to see again. From there she hurried to New York, where she embarked with her husband for a strange new country.
In her diary, November 21st, 1859, she speaks of parting with friends as dear to her as life; of being separated from Fannie, exclaiming: "O, I shall miss you, Fannie. But when I think of China and her perishing millions, I can freely give you up. I love you, but I love my Saviour better; for his sake, I leave you, with all my friends, my country, my all; and go to distant lands. I know not what shall befall us there, but one thing I do know, Jesus will be with us."
With the present accommodations of ocean travel, it would require a vivid imagination to begin to appreciate what a voyage around the Cape of Good Hope in a slow sailing vessel meant. The trip was generally made in about five months. But Mr. and Mrs. Wood, together with Dr. Young J. Allen and wife, were on the sea for seven months, being out of sight of land for one hundred and fifty days. Their ship was thought to be lost. Heavy storms had driven them out of their course, damaged the ship and necessitated repairs. Provisions had been provided for about four months, so the passengers were reduced to a fare of corned beef and stale biscuits. The beef was three years old and they had to break the biscuits and rid them of weevils before they could be eaten. Water was scarce and had such an odor that they had to hold their noses to be able to drink it. When they reached the Indian Ocean a refreshing fall of rain came. The passengers took advantage of this to catch water on deck to wash their clothes.
But the long voyage was at last ended, and on July 18th, 1860, we find the first entry in her diary made at Shanghai, beginning: "Verily, I am in China, seated in my own snug, little room at Brother Cunningham's. God has been good to us. His watchful care has been continually over us, and his merciful providence has brought us in great safety to the end of our long journey."
Hardly four years were allotted for her work in China. Disease began to prey upon her body; and on March 18th, 1864, Ellen Mor- phis Wood died. On March 18th, the burial service was conducted by Dr. Matthew Yates of the Baptist Mission. On the following Sun- day morning at eleven o'clock the Rev. William Muirhead of the London Missionary Society. and pastor of the English Church of Shanghai, preached the funeral sermon from the text, "Not my will, but thine be done," Luke 22:42.
A description of her grave is to be found in Bishop Marvin's book, "To the East by Way of the West."
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The Civil War in America made it impossible to communicate with our missionaries. They had a severe struggle. It became neces- sary for Mr. Wood to return to America where he labored for years afterwards. The Rev. C. A. Wood, of the Western North Carolina Conference, the son of Ellen Morphis and of Rev. M. L. Wood, is con- tinuing the life work of his father.
It can be truly said: She gave "the white flower of a blameless life" as love's offering for sin-stained China.
MARY FLEMING BLACK
Every Methodist interested in the children, owes a debt to Mary Fleming Black who was born in Georgetown, S. C., August 4th, 1848, being the daughter of William H. Fleming and Agnes A. Magill.
Her mother was the daughter of Dr. William Magill, a prominent physician of Charleston. Something more than the bond of affection between father and daughter existed between William H. Fleming and Mary Fleming. A peculiar kinship of mind and spirit produced a comradeship that brought the highest joy to them both. He is characterized thus: "In disposition, he was genial and kind; in judgment, clear, judicious, and safe; in all intercourse with men, frank and honorable." He was one of the leading men of his conference, and his death was considered all too early for his promised usefulness.
The childhood of Mary Fleming was spent in Charleston, S. C., where her religious life began in the Sunday School work. She gradu- ated at Spartanburg Female College and pursued her studies at Wofford College, under Dr. J. H. Carlisle and Dr. A. M. Shipp. Soon afterwards she was married to Rev. W. S. Black, at the Spartanburg Methodist parsonage, on December 9th, 1866, in her eighteenth year. The ceremony was performed by her father who was at that time Presiding Elder of the Spartanburg District.
The state boundary line having been made the dividing line between the North Carolina and the South Carolina Conferences, Rev. and Mrs. Black transferred to this state, as their appointment was in North Carolina. For eleven years they labored in the terri- tory now embraced by the Charlotte and Wilmington Districts. Dur- ing this period, there were given to them three sons and a daughter.
In 1877 Dr. Black was sent to Edenton Street Church. The fol- lowing year, in May, the General Conference authorized the organi- zation of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and Mrs. Black at once began the work in her own church, being elected president of the auxiliary. In November of the same year, she was elected one of the Vice-Presidents of the Conference Society.
These twelve years spent in Raleigh seem to have been crowded with every good work. Though the missionary cause was dearest to her heart, yet she delighted in every work for the cultivation of the higher life and the up-lift of humanity.
From her childhood, she engaged in Sunday School work; in her
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maturity, she was a teacher, usually being in charge of the class composed of young ladies. The benevolent work of the King's Daught- ers appealed to her sympathetic heart and claimed a portion of her strength. Also, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union found in her an ardent advocate.
It would appear that a woman so capable of working in the various organizations for social betterment and spiritual growth would possess inferior adaptability to home making. But such was the versatility of Mary Fleming Black that it is hard to tell where her success was greatest.
At one time there was a preacher boarding at her house, wlio came from a section of the state where custom dictated pie and other sweets for the breakfast menu. Learning of this, she never failed to gratify the taste of the minister for his home diet.
She had inherited a certain masculinity of intellect from her distinguished father, yet she was distinctly feminine in handling a needle or in constructing some piece of fancy-work that so readily appeals to a woman's love of the beautiful. Her special fondness for flowers was known to all her friends. Her kindness of heart and genial manner threw open the doors of her home and many friends were often gathered there to enjoy her hospitality.
In an issue of the Raleigh Advocate dated January 25. 1882, there was an article entitled: "A Talk to the Children"-closing with these words: "The Children of Virginia have a good, kind friend, 'Uncle Larry,' who takes great interest in the little ones and helps them to form little mite societies and they have raised about eighteen hundred dollars for missionary purposes. Now, dear children, you must every one pray that God will put it into the kind heart of some one in North Carolina to help you in so doing to be blessed by Him who, in tender, loving tones, whispers to His faithful followers: 'Feed my lambs.'
Affectionately,
Aunt Mary."
On February 15, 1882, an unknown writer signed "Little Mary" replies to the above, describing herself as being nine years old and having two little sisters and a younger brother, who wants to be a preacher. She adds: "Now, it seems to me that you are just the right person;" and continues to tell how her mother had read of "Uncle Larry" in the Richmond Christian Advocate two years before.
February 22, 1882, "Little Mary" gets an answer to her letter. "Aunt Mary" urges her (Little Mary) to get her mama or someone to help organize, saying the Editors had joined in her request though she had not thought of being leader. Other letters were published in March, 1882, and soon afterwards Mrs. Black organized the Children's Missionary Society, giving the band the name of Bright Jewels.
The silver star was chosen as their badge to remind them that "They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for- ever and ever." "Shine for Jesus," was adopted as their motto.
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These little bands of "Bright Jewels" sprang up quickly through- out the Conference and their superintendent became known to them as "Aunt Mary," who conducted a correspondence column in the Raleigh Christian Advocate. The little workers were glad to write and let "Aunt Mary" know what they were doing and she, in turn, loved the work so devotedly that she took an interest in each little letter, always being careful that each one received an answer just underneath in their column of the Advocate.
In the meantime, the work had grown so extensively that it was concluded to establish a paper of their own with Mrs. Black as editor. This paper was called The Bright Jewel and continued until there was need for a connectional organ for the juvenile work when it was bought and merged into The Little Worker.
Mrs. Black began the movement for the Children's Missionary work and put into it the best of herself for eleven years-and so great was the growth of the organization that when death called her away, others could see by the light she had given how to lead the little ones into further paths of service.
The children who learned to work for Jesus through her hearty words of inspiration are now glad to tell other children how "Aunt Mary" taught them to "Shine for Jesus." And even the tiny tots who trudge along with their little mites for the "Bright Jewels" know that "Aunt Mary" was a beautiful woman who wanted to make them good. Even the Chinese children are acquainted with the name of Mary Black. In Soochow, China, near our Woman's Hospital, stands the Mary Black Memorial Hall, the gift of the two Conference societies of North Carolina. The building is used as a Children's Hospital and contains the "Bright Jewel Sun Room" for convalescent patients.
However, it might be mentioned that Mary Black conceived the idea of the children's organization from "Uncle Larry"-Dr. Lorrens- of the Virginia Conference, who was the editor of the "Rose-bud" column in the Richmond Christian Advocate. The Rosebud Society was first organized by Mrs. T. H. Campbell in the Methodist parson- age at Gatesville, N. C., January 1, 1879.
Following the division of the two conferences, Mrs. Black was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the North Carolina Conference. This position gave her membership in the Woman's Board of Missions. She usually served on the Committee on Missionary Candidates, and had so clear an in- sight into all phases of the woman's work that she was requested by Dr. I. G. John to prepare a history of the Woman's Foreign Mission- ary Society, which was published as Hand-Book of Missions No. 10.
Dr. Black was elected Superintendent of the Oxford Orphanage in November, 1890. This threw a new responsibility on Mrs. Black, who at once tried to mother the two hundred little orphans in the insti- tution about her door. In all the details of the management of the institution, Dr. Black relied upon his wife's judgment and it was through her influence that the system of water works was installed.
Soon after her death, Rev. L. L. Nash, referring to the affection that the orphans had for her, writes in the Atlantic Methodist : "It
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was indeed a touching scene to see these little ones gathering in groups with tearful eyes to ask after 'Aunt Mary' while she lay in the Cottage in conflict with the last enemy; and when it was known that she was dead, their grief was inconsolable."
The late Dr. Jesse A Cunninggim said of her: "She was a woman of superior native endowment, which with culture and piety, gave her prominence and large usefulness in the Church of God. Her work as a minister's wife was wise and largely helpful in every field where her lot was cast."
Mrs. Black was a handsome woman who would easily win the admiration of a crowd. Her interests were diversified and her ability recognized by those beyond her immediate circle of friends. In a large volume entitled Women of the Century, containing nearly fifteen hundred biographical sketches of leading American women in all walks of life, edited by Frances E. Willard and Mary A. Livermore, -Mary Fleming Black is given a place, being the only North Carolinian thus honored.
But her untiring efforts in various directions had been gradually draining her strength until nervous exhaustion, in the autumn of 1893, confined her to her bed. For nine weeks she suffered the most intense pain. Her daughter, Mary Black, and her son, Rev. B. H. Black, were summoned to her bed side but with her devoted husband and kind friends were unable to bring any relief.
On the 29 of October, as a glorious sunset brought to a close a perfect Sabbath day the spirit of Mary Fleming Black took its flight. The next day her body was taken to Raleigh where it remained in Edenton Street Church until Tuesday noon, when, amid a pro- fusion of flowers that she loved so well, it was borne to its final resting place.
FRANCES M. BUMPAS
Frances Moore Webb was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, September 26th, 1819.
She began life under most favorable auspices. She came into a . home well prepared to receive one of these little ones. While her sires did not seek to attain high position at the hands of the people, yet for many generations they were men of a strict moral sense and of independent thought, always maintaining a high standard of Christian living.
Her father, Isaac Webb, belonged to a family that emigrated to this country from the southern coast of Wales, about the middle of the seventeenth century, and settled in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
On the maternal side, her ancestry is linked with our early military history. Harriet Dickens, the mother of Frances Moore Webb, was a daughter of Jesse Dickens and Frances Moore, whose father was General Stephen Moore of Revolutionary renown. Jesse
(
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Dickens was the eldest son of Robert Dickens who was a Colonel in a cavalry regiment in the Continental army.
Isaac Webb and Harriet Dickens had much to bring from the past into the making of their new home. When Frances was a small child, they moved to Person County, North Carolina. Here Frances enjoyed all that was best in the old-time southern plantation life.
However, it is to be noted that her father took an advanced stand on the temperance question. While it was a common custom in his day for the decanter to be kept on the side-board and for visitors to be made welcome with a glass of wine, Mr. and Mrs. Webb, after considering the matter, concluded it best to adopt a strictly temperate standard of living. They also appreciated the value of educational training and gave to Frances the benefit of home instruction under private teachers. Later, she was under the tutelage of Miss Caroline Patillo while living with her grandmother, Mrs. Amy Webb, a woman of deep piety, who fostered religious thought in her young mind. Afterwards she went to the home of her aunt in Gran- ville County and attended school. Still further she continued her studies under Rev. D. G. Doak, a Presbyterian ministed in Orange County.
In her autobiography, she says that in early life she received an impression that she was not to spend her entire time in the ordinary rounds of domestic life. Not that Frances Moore Webb would not make any duty divine, but there seems to have come to her a call to prepare to minister in the higher realm of the spirit. Conscious of this, she must have profited by every opportunity of mental training; for when subjected to a public oral examination, she not only answered the questions with a clear intelligence but succeeded in making a profound impression on her examiner, the Rev. Sidney Bumpas.
The following four years were spent teaching in Granville County in her aunt's family and in the home of Mr. Nathaniel Daniel near Oak Hill. In the meanwhile. Rev. Mr. Bumpas was pondering yet another question of more vital concern to him than those Miss Fannie had answered with so much promptness. He sent her as a love-token, a Reference Bible. On opeining it, there were found little strips of white paper, marked with certain passages of scripture, which read as follows: "The elder unto the elect lady, whom I love in the truth, for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in me: Now, I beseach thee, lady, that we love one another; this is love, that we walk after His commandments."
These fully revealed his intentions but Frances Webb was not an impulsive creature, nor disposed to assent readily to such a proposition. However, after serious consideration, she concluded a happy companionship would arise out of their congeniality in religious matters. Consequently, they were married in December, 1842, and went to make their home in Raleigh where Mr. Bumpas was stationed. For three consecutive years they itinerated to the following places: Pittsboro, Louisburg and New Bern, always believing they had the place that was best for them.
At New Bern, Mr. Bumpas's health was so seriously impaired by
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, a severe attack of pneumonia that he requested Bishop Capers not to give him an appointment. The Bishop appointed him to the Greensboro District, assuring him that he could hold the Quarterly Conferences, if he was unable to preach. Within a short while, his health improved and he was able to meet all the demands of his new office.
Mrs. Bumpas and the children were placed as boarders in Greensboro Female College, during the presidency of Rev. Solomon Lea. During this year, Mrs. Bumpas found a deep interest in College life. She enjoyed the social contact with teachers and pupils and became a valuable help in the religious life of the girls. Even after she moved to her own home, just over the hill from the college, slie denied them not the strength and power of her consecrated life but was ever to them the perfect pattern of a Godly woman. Frequently, after age brought feebleness, and she was no longer permitted to visit the college, the inmates of the college delighted to enter her home and receive the inspiration of her refined presence.
At the time that Mrs. Bumpas came to Greensboro, the Methodists were worshiping in a small church on South Elm Street, under the pastorate of Rev. Peter Doub. She immediately identified herself with this congregation and remained with them until her death. In the days of the class meeting, she was appointed leader. Afterwards as other organizations were substituted, she was depended upon for her wise counsel and her ability in conducting devotional services.
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