Saul, Eva Elizabeth (1860-1892)

Transcription of obituary in the Christian Messenger by S. Brock

AMONG the eleven members recently called to heaven from Doncaster Second circuit was Miss Saul, daughter of the late  Rev. W. Saul who passed away November 1st, 1892, in the thirty-third year of her age. Of her early life we know but little; but her’s was the two-fold blessing of a godly parentage, and intelligent Christian training. Thus early prepared, we find her early engaged in God’s service, and ‘faithful unto death.’

When Mr. Saul was superannuated they took up their residence in the neighbourhood of our Highfield-road church. Here Miss Saul took a deep interest, and was instrumental in obtaining a good American organ, hymnals, &c., as means for improvement, but disease soon kept her from their use. Consumption claimed her as a victim. Change of air and medical treatment all failed. In the struggle she had to yield. During the last few months of her life I visited her frequently. She was for a good while hopeful, always trustful, lovable, thankful. One incident of all others which cheered her later life was the conversion of some of the lads in the school, whose life she had watched with concern. ‘I am so glad,’ she said, ‘I do hope they will hold on, and be faithful.’ This event gave her much satisfaction, as the truth forced itself upon her, ‘I shall never meet with them in the chapel again.’

Our dear sister had no gush or demonstration about her religion. It was too deep for that. It assumed more of a conscientiousness before God, an intelligent uprightness, a loyal service, a loving trustfulness, as in a father. To one friend who visited her after a night of severe suffering she said, ‘I shall rest soon,’ to another, ‘Safe, safe on the rock of ages, ever my trust shall be.’ One day after we had read some verses from the fourteenth chapter of John and the eighth of Romans, she said, ‘O how beautiful, that is grand.’ Thomas A. Kempis’ ‘Imitation’ was a close companion to the end. We oft read portions of it with great delight. In this trustful, longing, loving frame dear Eva finished her course.

And soon after her sweet spirit joined her sainted father in heaven we laid her dear dust in her father’s grave to await the Master’s call to final re-union, where the inhabitants shall not say I am sick, and there is no more death.

A dear friend of Miss Saul’s, Miss S.A. Duckett, a good woman, who served the Lord well for over twenty years, passed on just five weeks before, and they have met again earlier than they expected. May we meet them again in the ‘sweet by-and-by.’

Family

Eva was born in July 1860 on the island of Guernsey , to parents William and Esther Saul. Her parents and two siblings all predeceased her.

References

Christian Messenger 1893/221

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers