Person:Julia Hookland (1)

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From a letter to Martha Hookland Iverson:

Sunnyside Wash. May 6, 1903. Mrs. Martha Iverson:

Dear Friend:- At Brother Westfield's request I write to inform you of the death of his beloved wife. She died of pneumonia Apr. 29th. All that could be done to save her was done. Many were the friends who offered their services. But the end came and she [gap] triumphantly home to the savior she delighted to serve.

Her last words were "Washed in the blood. Washed in the blood. Glory to God. Peace on earth and good will to men. The gates are open wide. I see my Jesus and his holy angels coming for me. I shall soon be with them." And she was gone. Bro. W. is broken hearted but resigned to the will of God. May he have divine guidance in regard to caring for the motherless children.

The funeral was a very large one. Everybody loved her she was so patient and devoted to God and to her family.

It is very sad. God's ways are past finding out. Pray for the family.

Yours in Jesus, W. C. Meacham

The following poem was written in memory of Julia by her brother Seibert:

First Sunday in heaven--What dear ones you meet! The souls you here brought to the mercy-seat. The loved ones of earth, whose home is with God, Whose forms we so tenderly laid 'neath the sod. The cherubim, seraphim, guardians of love, And He, of ten thousand, the fairest above.

First Sunday in heaven--What a joyous thought!-- Your soul, after travail, has found what it sought, The reward--"Faithful servant! thine is all that is best," Thou wert faithful in small things, in greater be blest. O Jesus our Saviour, thrice praised be Thy name! The reward for They loved ones is ever the same.

First Sunday in heaven--Is it true? Is it true? Yes, Jesus hath said He made heaven for you. For all who believe and obey Him on earth, Who follow His footsteps, who live the new birth, Whose sins, though as scarlet, were washed white as snow, 'Tis for them He prepared heaven's mansions, we know.

-Seibert Hookland, Sunday, May 3, 1903.

Sunnyside Sun 5/8/1903 Obituary of Mrs. Westfield Mrs. Julia Westfield was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, May 6 1867, and died of pneumonia at her home in Sunnyside, Washington, April 29th, 1903. Her early years were spent in her father's home. In 1888 she was united in marriage to Simon P. Westfield. To this union were born five children, four of whom survive her. The following year they moved to Duluth, Minnesota, and shortly afterward went to South Dakota. In the fall of 1890 they took work in the South Dakota Conference of the Free Methodist church where they labored successfully for nine years. At the time of entering the work of the ministry, the thought of never having a home of her own caused her quite a struggle, but she felt that the Lord gave her a promise that a home would be provided for her before she died, and when, during the past year, a comfortable home was secured for her, she regarded it as the fulfillment of the promise given so long before. From Dakota they removed to Washington in 1899, and were appointed to the Roslyn circuit, which they served for two and one half years, being appointed to Sunnyside about a year ago.

Sister Westfield was clearly converted to God at the age of 18 years, uniting with the M.E. church. She united with the Free Methodist church in the spring of 1890, of which church she remained a faithful and consistent member while she lived. Hers was a life of devotion to others. No labor too hard no sacrifice too great for her to make for the welfare and good of others. Though frail in body she was never known to shrink from duty. her life is best portrayed in the following lines, found in her bible:

"For other's sake to hush the moan / And speak in gentle, cheerful tone; / For other's sake to hide your tears, / and keep unspoken all your fears; / For other's sake to be quite strong / When sore beset by foe and wrong. / Herein is love / For other's sake to seek to bear / The heaviest part of all life's care; / Nor show the weary ache and strain / That falls on heart and soul and brain; / But in it all to seem to rest, / And not as standing any test. / Herein is love. / For other's sake to make life sweet, / Though thorns may press into your feet; / For other's sake to walk each day / As though joy helped you all the way, / While in your heart may be a grave / That makes it hard to be so brave. / Herein is love." Sister Westfield was an ideal wife and mother. A few moments before she passed away she called her family around her bedside, bidding them good-bye and requesting them to meet her in heaven, and then exclaimed: "Washed in the blood. Washed in the blood. Glory to God. Peace on earth and good will to men. The gates are open wide, I see my Jesus coming with his holy angels for me, I shall soon be with them."

She leaves a husband, four children, a father, mother, one brother and five sisters with many other friends to mourn her loss. The funeral was conducted by Revs. B.F. Smalley and S. A. Milton at the Episcopal church Friday, May 1, 1903. Text, "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Rev. 10:13. Her mortal remains were borne in a white casket to the Sunnyside Cemetery where she was laid away to rest, there to wait the resurrection of the just. --S. A. Milton