Falling Asleep of Mrs. Yapp on 21st May 1911.
THE tidings of the home-call of our sister will come as a surprise to many and will recall many memories of loving service to the Lord. Those of us who met her at the Hereford Conference (May 11th and 12th, 1911) little thought she would so soon be called hence. She looked very frail, it is true, but that had been remarked for years. She had an attack of pleurisy and was obliged to take to her bed on May 17th, and on the morning of the Lord's Day, 21st, she entered into rest. Her desire was that when her course was finished, she might be taken quickly, and this was granted.
From the time our sister, then Miss [Mary Harris] Warren, was led to the Lord, she pursued, by God's grace, a course of steadfast devotedness to Him. In this, she was helped when she became the wife of the late Mr. William Yapp, and his faithful helper in his earnest service, for both were truly one in seeking the honour of the Lord and the welfare of those of His people whom they were able to reach, until he was called to rest in the autumn of 1874.
In the spring of that year, Mr. Yapp, with the co-operation of Dr. Maclean, arranged for conferences of servants of Christ at Leominster, and several were held during that year to which brethren from different parts were invited, about forty at a time. Before he was taken from her, his wife asked him if he had any wish respecting Waterloo House, where the conferences had been held. His answer was, "It is the Lord's; He will take care of that, if He takes me away." As these conferences were valued, having proved helpful, it was decided to continue them. Mrs. Yapp, with her helpers, carried out the arrangements for bodily necessities, while Dr. Maclean, Messrs. R. C. Chapman, H. Dyer, H. Groves, H. Heath, and others, took the lead in the meetings themselves. The numbers attending them increased and they were continued till the end of 1905, when, on account of Dr. Maclean's serious illness and then his home-call, it was thought better that they should be discontinued. All the helpers named above had for some years been with the Lord.
In the early days of The Golden Lamp, which was at first conducted by Mr. Yapp, pieces from Mrs. Yapp's pen often appeared, though this was not indicated. In later years, her booklets were valued. At the conferences at Leominster, she and her sister, Mrs. [Harriet] Maclean, had Bible readings for sisters by which many were helped.
Mrs. Yapp visited many places once a year and held similar meetings for sisters, always confining herself to such, in accordance with the teaching of Scripture (1 Tim. ii. 12; Titus ii. 3-5). At other times, her house was full of visitors, sisters who had returned from missionary labours for rest; younger ones who were desiring to go out into similar work, and others whose life-work was to be found in other spheres; these were invited with the desire of their being helped in the study of the Scriptures and in the carrying out of what they learned. In the entertaining of the many visitors at Holly Mount, Mrs. Yapp was greatly assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Brewer, who shared the house with her, and who had previously been her helpers in all conference arrangements. They should have a place in our prayers, especially as our brother is feeble.
When Mr. Yapp was taken from us, many thanked God for his fruitful service, and many will thank God for the continued service of his widow during the thirty-six and a half years that have elapsed since he was called to that rest in which she has now joined him. We thank Him above all for such a true example of unworldliness, of devotedness to the Lord and of using what He had given her for Him and His service instead of for self-indulgence. We are assured that "a full reward" will be hers, and may we, considering the end of her conversation, be followers of her faith! (Heb. xiii. 7, last clause).
