Oakland, California, February 4, 1902.
My dear Brother:
Mrs. Rule has already written you to let you know of my being away from home and so unable to respond to your invitation. I have just heard from her, and have received your letter, and now send this line to assure you and your sister and Mr. of my sincere sympathy with you in the loss of your mother. The word comes to me as a kind of shock, not having heard of anything out of the ordinary with your mother. I knew she had not been well for a long time, but I was not looking for this.
Well, it is a comfort to think of her as with the Lord — all her sufferings and trials past forever. You will miss her. It is always so. But everything here breaks up. It is a shifting, changing scene. Nothing is abiding here. The creation groans, and we groan. Yet out of this ruin God is gathering the trophies of His grace and of His love, for another sphere, where no sorrow ever enters. And for us who believe, infinite love and infinite power and infinite wisdom all unite to secure our blessing. All that infinite love could dictate of blessing has been planned for us. Infinite wisdom is arranging all, and infinite power is carrying out the dictates of infinite love. And this is the resting place for faith in the midst of all that tries the heart in this scene of suffering and sorrow. How good our God is! “If God be for us who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
May the thought of His love, and the hope of soon being in His blessed presence, along with our loved ones gone before, comfort all your hearts....
Now with much love and sympathy in the Lord to you all, your wife included, I remain yours affectionately in Him,