VIII

Onwards

Her Illness – Her Last Visitors – The Funeral at Kamiah-Memorial Services – Excerpts from Letters and Diary

Deep loyalty to the church courts and joy in Christian fellowship were evidenced by Kate McBeth’s faithfulness in attending presbytery. She planned her entire schedule of work to include its meeting and seldom if ever missed a session.

Presbytery convened in Clarkston, Washington, the last of September, 1915, and Kate McBeth was present, surrounded by a full delegation of Nez Perce preachers and elders. How comforting to think that loving Presbytery as devotedly as she did, one of its meetings should have been her last public assembly!

Perhaps she caught cold there, no one knows, and what does it really matter? After her return home she was greatly fatigued and her old-time physical strength and energy were visibly failing. The second week in October, a slight stroke of paralysis affected one side. Previous to this, she had been ill in bed but once in all her long life. Then, although she had a dangerous attack of pneumonia, it took the united efforts of a trained nurse, beloved physician and devoted niece to keep Kate in bed. A woman of this temperament was spared much, when her call Home came suddenly. At first, Dr. Alley ordered absolute quiet, believing she might recover. Very soon the wise physician said that the Indians, one at a time, could see her and for her & the people this was a great comfort.

A group of young Nez Perce returning from a Sunday school convention, brought special greeting to her from the meeting and a huge bouquet of gay, wild flowers, which she held long in her hand – for she dearly loved flowers. The Rev. James Hayes, starting off on his usual Fall missionary trip, stopped over for a day and they had a visit and their customary prayer together.

The last friend to see her was Mrs. John Frank, the daughter of the old elder, Billy Williams. This family had always been most loyal to the missionaries. Elder Billy and his oldest son Robert the first ordained Nez Perce minister, Rachel the eldest daughter who was Miss Kate’s language teacher and all the others, and it was a large family were absolutely dependable. Both Sue and Kate McBeth had leaned heavily, during the forty-two years they had spent in Idaho upon members of the Williams’s family and not one had ever failed wither sister.

It is sweet to know that the last Nez Perce to visit Miss Kate was the youngest daughter of this family, Mrs. John Frank, the grand niece of one of the four who went out in search of the "white man’s Guide to Heaven", perhaps the very year that Kate was born, for there is uncertainty about exact dates. Mrs. John Frank’s home is at Meadow Creek about fifty miles from Lapwai. Her husband had been calling at the mission and brought the first news of Miss McBeth’s serious illness, and immediately she started on her drive across the county.

Arriving at Lapwai in the morning, although Kate was unconscious, the Indian woman sat quietly by her bed all day, ministering to her, sharing the care with the efficient nurse and Miss Crawford. Just before leaving she broke down, cried bitterly and said, "I remember Miss Kate ever since I was a very little girl, and she was always my friend and I loved her; now I am comforted, although she didn’t know me, because I have sat beside her once more before she leaves us."  After this, she knelt by the bedside, offered a most touching prayer, bade all farewell and quietly slipped away. An hour later, Kate Christine McBeth ‘fell peacefully asleep," October 29^th 1915.

The following morning, the Lapwai church was crowded with long haired heathen, as well as Christian Indians, all paying deepest respect to the memory of their friend. That afternoon by train, the last journey to her beloved Kamiah was made. At the depot, Mr. John Frank met the little party, and it was eminently fitting that he, who she had willingly trusted to drive her when her work demanded a trap, should reverently care for her body on this last journey across the Clearwater and up the east bank to the neighborhood of the First Kamiah Church, where in Luke Williams house it rested quietly until the following Monday. It is significant, that the same day of the week, years before, Miss Susan McBeth;s body arrived in Kamiah from Mount Idaho and it too remained over the restday in an Indian home, for the McBeth sisters had not allowed the Nez Perce to bury their dead on Sabbath.

A deeply reverent calm had fallen over the entire community. The following day, at the usual services, the crowds that thronged the little church wore no gaily colored cravats or shawls, or head kerchiefs – but mourning emblems were on all and men as well as women and children quietly sobbed through all the services. One must revise one’s preconceived ideas that all Indians are stoical when learning how the Nez Perces showed their grief when their beloved leader left them! Indian men whom she had trained spoke of what she had done for them personally and for their people

Her first student to be ordained to the gospel ministry, the Rev. Mark Arthur preached from Acts 9:30-3. Referring to the garments Dorcas had made he said. "We have something better than coats and dresses to show for our Miss Kate, because I see before me today redeemed souls won to Christ through her gentle ministry."

They buried her beside her sister under singing pines, just back of the Old First Church of Kamiah. Nearby, still stands the rough little cabin, where many years ago Miss Susan McBeth stared her Indian theological Training Class. In the immediate foreground flows the deep, restless Clearwater, while just beyond is the dusky outline of the strangely shaped mound which, fable claims, covers the huge monster whose death made possible the coming of the Nez Perces people, while rising abruptly back of the little cemetery are the everlasting mountains, with the rows upon rows of even, latterly growing pine. Beautiful Kamiah, spot best beloved by the Nez Perces!

The white people in Lapwai now have a church organization and an attractive building where a largely attended memorial service was held. Among a number of speakers was her old friends and well beloved physician, Dr. Alley, who emphasized her persistence in avoiding publicity of any kind; he had often known of prominent, magazine writers journeying long distances to see Miss Kate who used every possible inducement to secure material from her to write up, which could brings her name prominently before the public – even offering generous remuneration – which was promptly refused. All her time, all her talents were to be used to exalt the Name of her Lord and Savior. So far as she personally as concerned, the plaudits of the multitude were as nothing to her.

A significant memorial service was observed by presbytery at its following Spring session. The stated clerk, the Rev. D.H. Hare sends this account of the meeting held at Garfied, Washington, April. 13 1916. "A committee has been appointed to draft resolutions. This committee reported on the afternoon of April 13. The minutes read as follows;

The time for the memorial service having arrived, the committee on resolutions in honor of Miss Kate C. McBeth reported through its chairman, Rev. J.W. Hood, as follows: "Whereas, our Heavenly Father, in his great wisdom and love, has summoned our beloved sister and co-laborer, Miss Kate C. McBeth the faithful and devoted missionary to the Nez Perce Indians, whose labor of love and sacrifice ahas been so richly blessed; We, the members of Walla Walla Presbytery, desire as a presbytery, to voice our deep appreciation of her pure and consecrated character and of her special ability in Christian Leadership, in which to the Great Commission she gave her life and service. Her witness by word and example has let many of our brothers and sisters among the Nez Perces to know and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Master. She inspired many of us who knew her best to deeper consecration and more devoted service. She, being dead, yet speaketh influences for righteousness, not only among the people for whom she gave her life in service, but with all of us who have known and loved her. Of her it may be truly said, "Blessed are they who die in the Lord.:"

Signed

J.W.L. Hood, Chairman
E.M.Clingan
James A. Hedges.

After the Adoption of the above resolutions by the Presbytery time was given for remarks on the life and missionary labors of Miss McBeth. Rev. J.W. Hood, Rev. James Dickson, Rev. Robert Parson, Rev. W.L. Killain, Rev. W.O. Forbes, Rev. Wm. Sproat, Rev. H. A. Vicker, and Rev. James Hayes spoke with tender feeling upon the consecrated life, great work and holy influence of our beloved sister. Prayer was offered by Rev. H.A. Vicker and Rev Robert Parsons.

Mr. Hare continues:

That, in cold type, gives somewhat of an idea of the service, but it can never be written so one who was not present could feel the deep, tense feeling of the hour. I have never seen anything just like it. The Indian ministers of the Presbytery were all there but one (Peer Lindsley) and all but one of the Indian churches were represented by an elder. Usually stolid, and slow to move or speak, they showed by their countenances and by their tears how tender were the hearts beneath the swarthy skin. As our heart beat faster in common sympathy the remembrance of the missionary we all loved so much, and the living witnesses of the saving grace of the Savior as it had been lived and taught by her, we gave ourselves to prayer, thanking our Heavenly Father for her life and for her influence and pledging ourselves to carry forward the work she loved so much. Simple confiding faith and trust in her Heavenly Father were marked characteristics of Kate McBeth. Her communion with Him and her abiding love for her savior were clearly revealed by her prayers – the very memory of which we jealously treasure. Any, who have been privileged to experience the fellowship of her prayers at early morning or in the evening shadow time, realize how much has gone out of life because this dear old saint’s prayers are now praise in the presence of her Savior.

Twenty-five years ago when heavy Board debt necessitated rigid retrenchment, Kate wrote to Helen Clark, her dear comrade in missionary service; "All of us will feel the pinch this year, because the Boards are so burdened with debt. Well, I know we do not care for that, so far as personal comfort is concerned, only we are anxious for the dear work’s sake. You and I can testify that all our wants are met in Jesus. You will look back upon your first year there, your lonely summer as the richest period of your soul’s history when you felt you could almost touch Him with you hand. I have had just such an experience, not once, but twice, cut off from all dependents but His Presence, have truly seen the "wonder of the deep:" when doing business in great Waters. A few simple lines I used to sing lows, as I went from one cabin to another: I am just as near as near can be For in the person of his Son, I am as near as He. I am just as dear as dear can be For in the person of his Son, I am as dear as He And again to the same friend she wrote:

My heart answers Aah! To all your praises of Him who graciously meets every want of your s and mine. I look back upon the years of isolation when in Kamiah, as the most precious of my soul’s history. Surrounded by home friends, I never could have known HIM. He lured me to the wilderness to speak to me; yes, I did then even understand the doing business with the Lord in great waters, and that His presence is better than his blessing. Sometimes, there I have involuntarily reached out my hand to touch Him, so very near He seemed. Sacrifice in leaving home and friends? All this is more than made up by His presence.

From Kate McBeth’s diary, kept intermittently until a few years ago, the following excerpts are made: "December, 1893; I want so now to give myself afresh to the Lord – old as I am. I am so strong and when the time comes, put me beside my faithful sister; I, too, want to rise with the Nez Perces and her in the morning of the resurrection." "June 1909; Goodness and mercy have followed me all my life. I can trust Him for the rest. Nothing in all my life has been more profitable than the habit of committing to memory my Sabbath school lesson, then saying over several each morning before I get up." "November 1912: Blessed work to sit at my study table and lead a class of men into the truth. All the churches are growing. Goodness and mercy have surely followed us. Oh, what a precious year the last has been in nearness to my Savior; every morning before I rise, I see His face through repeating aloud a number of the Sunday school lessons."

[The rest of this chapter is missing.]