HENRIETTA GREEN,

MISSIONARY TO CHINA,

DIED FIFTH MONTH 24TH, 1890.*

HENRIETTA GREEN, the third daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Green, of Stansted Mont Fitchet, Essex, was born on the 3rd of Second month, 1851.

As a little child her bright happy disposition and love of fun made her a very sunbeam in her home, where she was one of seven brothers and sisters. Naturally possessing a very strong will and a quick temper, she would have been a difficult child to manage, had it not been that she was intensely affectionate, pouring out on all her friends a wealth of love which only grew with her years, and of the depths of which they were constantly making fresh discoveries. She was always far from strong, and had many dangerous illnesses which hindered her education. But this was amply compensated for in after years by her persevering industry and real love for acquiring knowledge, and her ability to grasp all sides of a subject was often noticed. She was always a thoughtful child, and though

* H. Green's name appeared in the volume for 1891.

it is believed she could never look back to any definite period when she became a Christian, her spiritual life gradually deepened, and it grew to be her one desire to win others to Christ, and to serve the Master she so dearly loved.

After leaving school in 1867 she very soon became interested in mission work of various kinds, teaching a class of girls, holding a Bible Class for young Friends, Cottage and Mothers' Meetings, &c. Of this period of her life the following extracts from her letters and journal show how earnestly she desired to live to God's glory.

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Twelfth month 31st, 1872, 11.30 p.m.—In looking back at the past year, I can see so very much undone which I ought to have done, and so much done that I ought not. I have sinned so grievously in many ways, but God in His great mercy has given me a fresh sense of His pardoning love. It is strange that I can so often forget and grieve so loving a Father. Oh! that in the coming year I may be helped to resist temptation! I want to keep close to Jesus. Iso often forget how weak I am, and try to do things in my own strength; again and again I fall, and am forgiven for the sake of my dear and

adorable Redeemer. I want so much to be more loving and gentle, to be less selfish, and try to live for others, and in all to glorify our Father which is in Heaven. I am thinking of many dear friends to-night. I do long that Jesus will be very near to them all, and bring back any who have wandered from the fold. The future looks so uncertain, we none of us know how much of joy or sorrow this year may bring

to us."

On Second month 18th, 1874, writing of the Bible Class before mentioned, she says, "I hope they may be a means of good to all of us. It is such a relief to me to have got this first one over, I have felt so fearful about it; but this evening, after tea, Christ seemed to say so distinctly to me, that I must just leave it with Him, and that He would be with us Himself and teach us; and I could not doubt it after that. Oh! is not such love wonderful! I have indeed done nothing to merit it. I am so often grieving Him, and yet He is always ready to forgive and bless ; -it is amazing."

This year she was very much out of health and spent some time at Harrogate, where the subject of holiness through faith was prominently brought to her notice, and she derived much

help from seeing, as never before, that "Of God, Christ is made unto us sanctification," as well as justification. Her letters after her return home show how she was being helped by the power of God to overcome her natural impatience. Being so quick to hear and act, it was difficult to her to be always patient with others less gifted. She greatly mourned over this easilybesetting sin; and trusting Christ she found He did keep her from it in a way she had not before experienced.

"Fourth month 12th, 1875.-I feel He is teaching me now many things I could not have learnt in health. Oh! that I may listen now to His voice, and really learn what He would have me. There seems so much I want teaching about; but when Our Father is the Instructor He makes all easy, and only gives a little at a time, as we are able to bear it. He is good and loving and tender; no words can express how good He is, can they? And yet I often feel so cold and ungrateful, and now I am getting better I know I shall be more tempted to be cross and impatient; but He can keep me, and I believe He will, from this sin.

"Seventh month 14th, 1875.-I have been seeing lately, more than ever before, how much

one loses by not giving thanks. I have been so sadly remiss in this, and now I find much joy and blessing comes with thanking Him for everything. We have such constant cause for praise, have we not?"

In 1878 or 1879 H. Green became much interested in the people of Elsenham, a village near Stansted, and re-opened a cottage meeting there. There seemed a great readiness among the people to listen to the simple Gospel message, and she was asked to come on First-day evening as well as on a week-day, and very soon a larger cottage which had been secured became crowded to its utmost capacity. This state of things led to the building of a mission-room in the village, and here also the blessing continued, others coming forward to help in the different branches of work which were now started. It would be difficult to give any idea of how much the people loved her. She would often spend some time in visiting them in their own homes. Those who accompanied her in these visits, both at Elsenham and Stansted, were much struck with her tact in getting to the hearts of the people, her sympathy with them, and also her very plain and faithful reproof, when she found this was necessary. The grief of those among whom she