It is as a friend and as a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, that the writer himself knew her, and in both which spheres she was eminently great. So vivid, indeed, are the remembrances of the friendship that existed between her and ours, in view of her sudden demise, we find most pertinent the words of Montgomery:
"Friend after friend departs,
Who hath not lost a friend?
There is no union here of hearts
That finds not here an end;
Were the frail world our only rest,
Living or dying, none were blest."
When the sad announcement of her death was made at our own dear fireside, "Dead! Dead, Papa!" were the only words that first passed from lip to lip, while a silence ensued that was painful.
But the real greatness of soul we purpose noticing, was that that evidenced itself in regard to the Church of her choice. A more zealous African Methodist never lived. She had convictions in regard to the work and the economy of the Church organized by Allen, and these shaped her every course in life. Nothing could turn her against the organization itself. Her love towards it was proof against episcopal misjudgment or pastoral insufficiency. She looked from men to principles. Though exceedingly intelligent, she shrank not back from identifying herself with a class, known to be generally ignorant. Well to do in the affairs of this world, she was content to remain as the equal of the poor. And lastly, it might be in place to mention a peculiarity of the locality in which this very attachment to a despised Church was evidenced. The reader of this volumn will already have learned that Gouldtown, N. J., is a peculiar place. Of descent in blood by no means low, and of the strongest Presbyterian proclivities, the Goulds have ever been thought exceedingly conservative—utterly free from that fire which many suppose to be the substance of Methodism. Upon the correctness of this thought it is no intention of ours to pronounce. Sufficient is it to say, that the general bearing of the community, secular and spiritual, is in keeping with their recognized descent and religious bias. Such being the case, the wonder is that they should have maintained their identity with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Nor is it certain that they would, had it not been for the uncompromising zeal of the subject of this volume, who ever stood like a very breakwater in its defence.
When we call to mind the scores of our people who have left us, on account of our ignorance, our poverty, and our color, the fidelity of Rebecca Steward is but an indication of that greatness of soul with which we credit her, and which is yet to be the admiration of generations unborn.
From our heart we say:
"Requiescat in pace."
Mrs. Rebecca Steward
BY REV. T. GOULD.
What I have to say is after thirty years' observation, to say nothing of my early boyhood days, when I used to visit her house with my father, who esteemed her as his own daughter and her husband as his own son. To me they both seemed as elder brother and sister.