Last Sickness
353
itude. At times she talked with her nurses and with her office helpers
concerning the need of making wise selections of matter for the youth
to read.
“We should advise the young,” she urged, “to take hold of such
reading matter as recommends itself for the upbuilding of Christian
character. The most essential points of our faith should be stamped
upon the memory of the young. They have had a glimpse of these
truths, but not such an acquaintance as would lead them to look upon
their study with favor. Our youth should read that which will have a
healthful, sanctifying effect upon the mind. This they need in order to
be able to discern what is true religion. There is much good reading
that is not sanctifying.
“Now is our time and opportunity to labor for the young people.
Tell them that we are now in a perilous crisis, and we want to know
how to discern true godliness. Our young people need to be helped,
uplifted, and encouraged, but in the right manner, not, perhaps, as they
would desire it, but in a way that will help them to have sanctified
minds. They need good, sanctifying religion more than anything else.
“I do not expect to live long. My work is nearly done. Tell our
young people that I want my words to encourage them in that manner
of life that will be most attractive to the heavenly intelligences.”
[449]
The end came on Friday, July 16, 1915, at 3:40 P. M., in the sunny
upper chamber of her “Elmshaven” home where she had spent so much
of her time during the last happy, fruitful years of her busy life. She fell
asleep in Jesus as quietly and peacefully as a weary child goes to rest.
Surrounding her bedside were her son, Elder W. C. White, and his
wife; her granddaughter, Mrs. Mabel White Workman; her long-time
and faithful secretary, Miss Sara McEnterfer; her niece and devoted
nurse, Miss May Walling; another of her untiring bedside nurses, Mrs.
Carrie Hungerford; her housekeeper, Miss Tessie Woodbury; her old-
time companion and helper, Mrs. Mary Chinnock Thorp; and a few
friends and helpers who had spent many years in and about her home
and in her office.
For several days prior to her death, she had been unconscious much
of the time, and toward the end she seemed to have lost the faculty of
speech and that of hearing. The last words she spoke to her son were,
“I know in whom I have believed.”