WHEN, in the course of human experience, our dear friends are no longer visibly with us, we are reassured by the promise of the sweet bard of Israel, that the rod and staff of our loving Father-Mother God will comfort both them and us. In the words of our Leader, "The transition from our lower sense of Life to a new and higher sense thereof, even though it be through the door named death, yields a clearer and nearer sense of Life to those who have utilized the present, and are ripe for the harvesthome" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 84). We rejoice in the firm conviction that our beloved associate has not ceased to be an heroic worker, a devoted tender, in His vineyard. Her good works, so fruitful in their blessings, will continue to bless till time shall be no longer. Hers was a labor of love, performed in a graciously Christian spirit; and it will never cease to fulfill its healing mission.
Mrs. Hoag was a student in Mrs. Eddy's class of 1888 and received from our Leader the degree of C. S. D. She also had the priceless privilege at various times of serving Mrs. Eddy in her home. After many years of successful experience as a teacher and practitioner of Christian Science, she was called to the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church in June, 1918. In the following year, she was elected an Associate Editor of The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, and the French and German Heralds, a position which, with the exception of a brief interval, she has filled until the present time. Several beautiful messages from Mrs. Hoag's pen will be found in the immediate issues of The Christian Science Journal. Mrs. Hoag also served as President of The Mother Church for the year 1927-1928. Her devotion to her work, uniformly done in a spirit of joy, humility, and thanksgiving, has been a constant inspiration to all with whom she has been associated. Her fine poise, her undeviating consecration, the outgrowth of a profound sense of the divine presence, made her a beautiful example of the ennobled Christian.
We whose great privilege it has been to work with her intimately day by day have been constantly inspired by her lofty idealism, firmly held to under all circumstances. To us in her daily life she symbolized true Christianity. Now that she has passed to a new experience, we cherish the memory of her fine companionship, patient, true, enduring. Our Leader has truly said (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 204): "It is only by looking heavenward that mutual friendships such as ours can begin and never end. Over sea and over land, Christian Science unites its true followers in one Principle, divine Love, that sacred ave and essence of Soul which makes them one in Christ."
