August 23rd 1898—September 9th 1917.
Son of Robert Vesey Stoney, Rosturk Castle, Westport, Ireland.
IN a quiet room in the, west of Ireland, a lady knelt in prayer asking God for a son, like Hannah of Old, and vowing that she would lend him to the Lord as long as he lived. She rose from her knees with the assurance that her petition was granted; and when a year later the little son was born, the, grateful parents named him Samuel, “Asked of God.”
The child grew―sunny, bright and happy, a peculiarly roving’ and lovable disposition; and for nineteen years was the life and joy of his home. He was brought up in the belief that the Bible is true from cover to cover, and the boy learned the truths of thy Gospel, and to love his Saviour as a flower turns to the sub. There was no special religious crisis in his life―just a gradual development from the baby, prayers learned at his mother’s knee to the mature faith of the man. Cane such prayer, constantly repeated, gives a clue to the joyousness of his life, “O God, please make us enjoy ourselves”; and indeed he did enjoy life to the full, having such high spirits that it was often hard to get him to be serious for five minutes at a time.
He was educated first at St. Clare School, Walmer; and the manly type of Christianity taught there contributed not a little to the making of his character. Then he went to, Harrow, where he worked steadily, becoming in 1916 the head of his Noise (Mr. Vassall’s). The previous autumn, when seventeen years-old, though not caring for a military career, he entered his name as willing to join Kitchener’s Army. His mother said to him, “Sam, have you counted the cost?” He replied, “I have thought it all out, and am quite ready to die, if that is what you mean.” She said, “It is quite easy to die; to live is much more difficult; and if it should be that you have but two more years to rive, what work will you have to show your Saviour when you meet Him?”
This train of thought probably matured the boy, and made him throw the whole strength, of his nature into his subsequent responsibility as head of his house. He loved Harrow with a passionate affection, and the good of the school was of supreme importance in his eyes.
When he left the school. Mr. Vassall wrote: “He became head at a very difficult moment. The sudden departure of all the older boys to become officers left a serious danger that good tone and tradition might disappear, and a laxity of discipline take their place. Proceeding gently at first, Sam gradually established himself as a respected and trusted leader. His high principles, transparent honesty and justice won “for him the highest regard of all the house. Never has the moral tone and general character of the house been higher. The testimony I should like to bear to him is my deep thankfulness for having known him, and my gratitude for the glorious help he was to the younger boys here. He always ascribed any good in himself to you and his friends, but his humility was such that he never saw what he was giving.”
From the Harrow Cadet Corps, Sam obtained a commission in the Irish Guards, and, went through the training with his usual keenness and spirit. He was sent out to France on September 20th Writing to his father on starting “I am perfectly safe; soul and body in God’s keeping, so don’t worry.” He was a favorite with his brother officers and men, though life was not altogether easy, as this letter to a relative shows: “I should like to witness for Christ, but I find it pretty hard. You say one should only mix with Christian people. To start with, that is almost impossible, especially in the Army; and also one’s mission in the world is to help others. A Christian man’s influence on non-Christians can be tremendous; and one will become much more of a muscular Christian by mixing with others, and a muscular Christian is the only sort worth having.”
On October 8th he writes: “It is a great comfort and joy to me to know that I can always pray to God in every trouble and difficulty, and ticklish moments, and that He will always hear me, be with me, and give me help and guidance. His presence with me grows more and more evident, and more of a reality day by day. I know too, that He will be with you, to keep you from being anxious or worried.”
On the 9th Sam went into action for the first and last time. The Times says: “The Guards did to perfection all that was asked of them... there was obstinate fighting about a point known as Strode House, but it was finally rushed by a frontal attack.”
The Colonel writes: “He was a good, keen boy, and would have made a splendid soldier. I saw him just before he was killed, and just before we reached our final objective. He was full of keenness and excitement, and was doing splendidly. “He was killed instantaneously leading his platoon, and died a very gallant death.”
He left a letter to his parents to be posted in case of his death, of which the following is part: ―
... ... ... “I am going into the line tonight; tomorrow at 6 a.m. I go over the top. The 1St Battalion Irish Guards have the honor of taking the furthest objectives...... Another thing you have done for me, for which I can never thank you enough, is leading me to Christ. At the present moment I feel perfectly happy. I know that God will be with me during the attack, to help, guide and comfort me, and —if He sees fit —protect me from all harm and danger. I know that if I die I shall go to my Father’s House, and be there before Him till you come; and that in case of my death He will comfort you.... This knowledge is enough for any man, and I thank you and Him for it.
“I do not want you to think of my death, I have merely been called on in front to get your abode ready for you. When you think of me, think only of the day when I, your well-loved firstborn son, shall usher you into the Presence of my God and your God, and lead you round the blissful abode of the saints of God, and kneel with you before the great and glorious King, and give Him praise and thanks.
“During my life I have tried in a sort of way to follow Him, and with His help to do what He would have me do, and I am content that at Harrow I did something of what, I should have done, and did serve Him a bit―To God be the praise.”
Thus did the Lord re-call the gift He gave, and has promoted him to the glorious life above, where “at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.”
This little sketch is written for the glory of God, and to show how, Christ can strengthen and help one who trusts Him. The power is not in man’s virtue or goodness, but in the living God.
Should anyone who reads this not know Christ as his Saviour let him come at once to Him who “died for our sins―and rose, again” (1 Cor. 15:3, 43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4)), and is now sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us. Let him ask Him to forgive all his gins through. His precious blood, and to enable him to lead a, new life. Then let him believe that Christ has put away all, his sins, and that now in the power of the Holy Spirit he has been given the strength he needs to live to the glory of God, for Christ is able to “save to the uttermost,” and “Able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”