Fisher, Susanna (1814-1837)

1814-1837

MEMOIR OF SUSANNA FISHER,

(Dudley Circuit)

“All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field.”

Isaiah, xl. 7.

“So blooms the human face divine,
When youth its pride of beauty shows:
Fairer than spring the colours shine,
And sweeter than the virgin rose.

“Or worn by slowly rolling years,
Or broke by sickness in a day,
The fading glory disappears,
The short-liv’d beauties die away.

“ Yet these, new-rising from the tomb,
With lustre brighter far shall shine:
Revive with ever-during bloom,
Safe from diseases and decline.”

In the bloom of youth, in the to flower of her age, was the subject of the following memoir carried to the tomb.  Her maiden name was Pearson.  She was born at Willenhall, near Wolverhampton, Oct 8th, 1814.

At a very early age, serious and religious impressions were made upon her mind by the operation of the Holy Spirit.  She continued, however, in an unsaved state till about the year 1830, when she and her sister (Barbara Harvey, whose memoir is inserted in the P. M. Magazine for 1835), were induced through curiosity to hear our preachers.  Under their preaching she was awakened to a sense of her true state, and returned home under a burden of sin.  She laboured under “the spirit of bondage unto fear” for a few weeks; when, on retiring to her bed-chamber, and spending some time in earnest prayer, she was enabled to cast her guilty soul upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.”

In the year 1834 she was united in marriage to James Fisher, one of our local preachers.  But her married life was greatly embittered by circumstances of a very afflictive character.  Her first child, an interesting little girl, was instantly killed by a cart passing over it, within a few yards of her own house.  This mournful occurrence occasioned the death and premature birth of the second.  Soon after the birth of the third, she took a violent cold which brought on a consumption, and from which the best medical aid that could be obtained proved incapable of removing.  For about seven months she had to endure severe affliction.  During the former part of that time she evidently clung to life, and strongly indulged hopes of recovery.  When, however, informed that her death was in all probability rapidly approaching, the information produced a hallowing effect upon her mind.  She became in great earnest about her future well-being, and manifestly ripened for the garner of God.  Her patience under affliction, her submission to the will of her Heavenly Father, and her confidence in seasons of severe conflict, were exemplary.  She was truly enabled to glorify God in the fire.  Her end was likewise peaceful and triumphant.  Not long before her death, she shouted with all her remaining strength, “Glory, glory, glory. I say for ever glory.”  Just before her departure, she said to her mournful husband, “Don’t weep for me: I shall be better off: I’m sure I shall.”  Her last and dying words were, “How long, Lord? How long?

She changed mortality for life on Monday morning, November 20th, 1837.  Aged 23 years.

Her death was improved on Sunday evening, Dec. 10th, in our chapel at Brierley Hill, to a densely crowded congregation.

John Petty

(Approved by the adjourned Qr. Day.)

 

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838.  Pages 346-347.

 

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