After two years of gentle ailing from complications difficult to define, Celia Adelaide Sanderson, wife of Paul J. Loizeaux, entered her eternal rest on the 4th of November, 1908, at the age of 66 years.

Eighteen months before, she had joined her husband in Canada, where open doors in the gospel were holding him. She would not have him disturbed from such work, but she loved to be at his side, and to perform various little services which a loving wife can best render; and though ailing already, and reluctantly let go by her loving children and "beloved physician " at home, .she went, and tor seven months shared, for the last time, his pathway in all its ups and downs Her ailments increasing, and her husband realizing that his mission was fulfilled, they returned home to Plainfield, N J., where, under the tender and assiduous care she received, it pleased God to preserve her through several strokes of paralysis, and to restore to her a good measure of health and comfort. During the last six months she was absent but a few times from the table of her dear Lord. She knew what His death meant, and she loved above all things to remember Him according to His request. When even her friends would have advised her not to venture out, she listened not, but, seated in a wheel-chair, she made her way to her loved place in the company of worshipers.

She was born at Athens on the Hudson, in 1842; was converted in her teens in Milwaukee, Wis., under the ministry of Dr. Pyper, a faithful Baptist minister. She afterward attended the Abbot School for Young Ladies, in New York (1860-2), where she formed strong friendships, and where she, by witness of all, maintained a devoted Christian character.

In 1866, soon after being bereaved of both her loved father and mother, finding it impossible to reconcile existing conditions in the various denominations of Christendom with the word of God, she left the one she was in to identify herself with a few in Milwaukee who were gathered to the name of Christ alone, and on this principle, that there is but one church, one body-the body of Christ (Eph. 4:4). There she faithfully and joyfully stood to the day of her death.

One of the many incidents in her life tells of her faith:

When she pledged her hand to Paul J. Loizeaux, he was in a prosperous business in New York. When he resigned it for the path he has been in since, though she was pressed by some of her friends to break her engagement with him, she remained unmoved, and became his wife in 1868. One year after, her husband was laboring in the gospel at Plainfield, a small town in Iowa, where he was finding a harvest of souls. But as she was in a delicate state of health, he broke away from the work, and, returning home to Vinton, Iowa, found her in want of the various necessaries of life. He had brought with him what would relieve all this, and soon her skillful hands had prepared as cozy a tea-table as two who loved each other could sit at together.

But a strange letter had come from New York that day, and was awaiting his return. It said that the chief of the establishment there with which her husband had been connected was failing in health, and that it was an important establishment, and prosperous ; that he knew no one so well fitted to manage it as her husband; would he not therefore return to it, and carry it on ? He passed this letter to his dear wife as they sat together at tea, at the same time putting to her the question, "What am I to answer, my dear ? " As she read, her cheeks flushed, and, looking up, she said, "Is there any more than one answer to this ? " "Yes, it asks a direct question, which may be answered by a ' yes' or a ' no':which shall it be ? "

Her husband knew how deep her attachment was when, spite of the great change in his circumstances, she had become his wife. She had in that one year of their life together seen what his path was, and what was involved in following it. So he was anxious that she should now be the one to decide what answer should be given to the letter in hand. To say "Yes" to it meant a life of ease and luxury in keeping with her past; to say "No," meant poverty and much self-denial. Her faith rose to the need of the hour. Casting her large, tender eyes full into his own, she said, in sweet, gentle tones, " No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." How deep then the fellowship between them! They were partners indeed in the holy affairs of the Lord Jesus Christ and of Eternity.

The forty years which have elapsed since have proved how real was the step which she had now deliberately and knowingly taken, and she never complained of its difficulties. She ever encouraged and sustained her husband. A few days before her end he was finding encouragement in the gospel in the parts of Fredericksburg, Va., and, knowing he was anxious not to be away from her too long, she wrote him, "I hope you are not leaving the work in Virginia too soon."

Her hospitality was indeed " without grudging "; there was with her no favoritism:while able to enjoy the most refined, her door was ever open to all, and "the brother of low degree" was as sure of a cheery welcome as any. Some, homeless, came there to die; others, to be cared for in times of need or affliction.

The mother of eight children, all now grown to manhood and womanhood, her incessant effort was to instruct them in all the word of God; and her importunate prayer was that they should be found humble and devout worshipers at the feet of Jesus. We believe we speak aright in saying that her chief suffering in life was not to have seen this in each and every one of them before her end. Repeatedly she said to her husband, " Pray on, my dear; for if, for some good reason, the Lord does not answer my own prayer, He will answer ours yet some time." May we not, in that confidence which, in Christ Jesus, we have one toward another, ask those who have loved her in sincerity, now to add their prayers to those she has poured out to God to that end, while not forgetting to praise Him for what goodly measure of it she already realized in life ?

On the Lord's day morning (Nov. 1st) previous to her death, she was, as usual, at her wonted place in the assembly of His people. She wrote to her husband of the excellent remarks which had been made on the words of John, " Behold the Lamb of God," and of a most enjoyable visit she had from two dear brethren in the afternoon. On the day of her death she was not feeling as well as usual, yet in the afternoon she wrote a long, affectionate letter to her husband, saying in it that she hoped to be herself again by the time he returned home. In the evening she refused her usual meal, and retired early. Being prepared for the night by one of the loving daughters who constantly waited on her, she walked to her bed, was gently assisted to her usual position for sleep; then, in an instant, showed signs which alarmed the daughter. She called the others, but they had only time to see her turn her head toward them, hear two gentle breathings, and she had left their loving arms for the loving breast of her Saviour and Lord.
Beloved people of God, these details would be kept for the bosom alone of her family circle, or sent you privately, but your letters of love toward her, pouring in from all sides, and her path in life making her your property too in a way, are sufficient apology for putting them in public print. None could shrink more than she did from being placed in public view.

She was buried on Lord's day afternoon (Nov. 8th). Her friends had assembled from far and from near; also all her children, save one who is in California. We had asked that Christ might be exalted in this last service we could render her, and we believe "that day "will show that He was-as also the sorrowing hearts comforted. Prayers drawing us all to the throne of grace; hymns so elevating; an address from Rom. 8 :28-39, with 1 Thess. 4 :13-18 forcibly recalling to our hearts the rich grace of God by which we are eternally saved, and the blessed hope before us.

Another, from Rev. 20:6, while ministering rich comfort indeed to bereaved hearts, remembered pointedly and affectionately those who might not be yet of the company of whom it is said, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection."

At the grave, prayer and an address of rich comfort was given from 2 Cor. 12 :2-4, showing the actual state of departed saints; and the singing of Hymn 323 in the Little Flock Hymn Book filled our hearts with sweetness in leaving the sacred spot.

To the God of all grace be glory and honor for making it possible for poor, fallen man to have such a future before him in our Lord Jesus Christ, and to have already here, in this scene of darkness and death, the light, and peace, and comfort, of it all by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Her friends all over the land will accept the grateful thanks of her husband and children for such proofs of their love and sympathy as reach them from day to day. They will kindly accept them in this form, as it would be beyond their power to reply to them individually, much as they would delight to do so.