Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1913 — QUEEN OF CHARITY HAS PASSED AWAY [ARTICLE]

QUEEN OF CHARITY HAS PASSED AWAY

Death Has Called Mrs. Charles A. Roberts, One of God’s Noble Women Whom We All Loved. Mrs. Charles A. Roberts, frequently called by the name she was known by as a girl, Abbie, and recognized in Rensselaer and throughout the surrounding country as the leader in works of charity, has passed away, death coming Thursday evening at 5 minutes after 8 o’clock. Her death is a public calamity, for she had so long been depended upon to look after the needs of the‘poor that her place can not be filled and grief at her passing will be in many hearts and sorrow in many homes. Mrs. Roberts had long worked with the needy classes and understood them as few people do. She seemed to have an intuitive familiarity with the needs and capacities of those who were constantly or occasionally in need of help, and she had a practical way of dealing with them that helped to educate them to take care of themselves. She would enter a home where there was sickness and where the sanitary conditions were not good and see that things were cleaned up, she would see that mothers in need had encouragement as well as financial aid and that fathers were given inspiration to get out and work and accomplish something for themselves. Money was used only when there was emergency for it. and Mrs. Roberts proved that it is the least essential of charity. Her work was of the quiet kind and she often implored the writer not to use her name personally in connection with what had been accomplished. She possessed a tender heart that beheld suffering with great pain, but that would not surrender to sentiment, and this made her work of charity one of reform, which is the profitable fruit of giving. With no children of her own, she loved the young with all the tenderness of motherhood and was always beaming with happiness when she took some neglected child to a store to fit it out with a new frock, a new pair of shoes or a warm pair of gloves. One could recount many incidents of her work that illustrate the practicability of her charity, and one incident is here related. A woman of meagre intellect had been given some financial aid at a time when she seemed to be very needy. The money did not pass through Mrs. Roberts’ hands or it would have been given out as it was actually needed, but the money was given to the woman herself She proceeded to go down town and buy a fine hat with a $9 parrot perched on the side. With considerable display s)ie went to Mrs. Roberts’ home to show her purchase and she was given a severe lecture, which served little more purpose than water on a duck’s back. A few days later, however, the woman was out of funds and out of provisions and she appealed to Mrs. Roberts for something to eat.

“You just go right hack home and eat that bird oil your hat," she was told and that was all the satisfaction she got at the time. She continued to<be a charge of Mrs. Roberts, however, but was compiled to work and was given very stintingly even when in considerable need. She was routed out and put to work when she did not want to go and Mrs. Roberts made her earn her own living much of the time. Mrs. Roberts began to fail during the last sickness of her father, Simon Phillips, in July, 1911, and had never regained her health since that time During the winter she had a severe cold and soon after the death of her little niece, the child of Mr. and Mrs. Pred Phillips,

she suffered a nervous collapse and her decline was steady from that time. Tuesday morning she suffered a slight paralytic stroke, accompanied by a hemorrhage of the brain. Physicians realized that this was certain to result fatally and prepared the family for the sorrow. Friends were devoted in an effort to stay the march of death and the good lady was remembered in many prayers and many loving hands ministered to every act that might bring comfort to her. She sank slowly away, and peacefully surrendered her life at the hour stated.

Mrs. Roberts’ maiden name was Abigail Phillips. She was born June 8, 1855, and was therefore 57 years, 10 months and 23 days of age. She was married In 1875 to Charles A. Roberts, who survives her. Two sisters, Mrs. Frank W. Vanatta and Mrs. S. S. Barnes, of Fowler, and two brothers, Fred A. Phillips, of Rensselaer, and Augustus Phillips, of New York City, survive her.

The funeral will be held at the late residence on West Jackson street Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock and will be conducted by Rev. J. C. Parrett, pastor of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Roberts was a member of the Church of God and had often said that she would continue her membership there during the life of Elder David Halstead and then expected to transfer it to the Presbyterian church, with the ladies of which she co-operated in many works of good.