Mary Matilda Hurlbut

Mary Matilda Chase was born in the town of Halliston, Massachusetts on June 29, 1845, and died in New Haven, Connecticut, where she was visiting on February 15, 1913. Most of her unmarried life was spent in the city of Boston, and the New England atmosphere was ever with her. While living in that city she came under the influence of the Rev. Henry W. Warren, who later became one of our most distinguished bishops, and by him was led to deidcate her life to the service of Jesus Christ. Her education was received under Methodist influences. She attended the Tilton Seminary until the school building was destroyed by fire, when she entered the Pennington Seminary, from which she graduated in the class of 1866.

In 1867 she was married to the Rev. Jesse L. Hurlbut, and as an efficient Methodist minister's wife labored with him in Montclair, Market Street, Paterson; Trinity, Staten Island; Plainfield, and Hoboken, in the Newark Conference. In 1879 her husband was appointed assistant in Sunday school work to Dr. J. H. Vincent, and in 1888 became his successor as Sunday School Editor and Secretary. During most of this period the family lived in Plainfield, New Jersey, but in 1893 took up their residence in New York City, where they lived until 1901, when Dr. Hurlbut returned to the pastorate, and was stationed successively at Morristown, South Orange, and Bloomfield. In 1909, when her husband was made superintendent of the Newark District, they came to Newark to reside, their place of residence at the time of Mrs. Hurlbut's death.

Wherever Mrs. Hurbut lived, friends sprang up about her, for she had that rare gift of winning and keeping friends in every walk of life. Her sincerity was so evident, her manner so unaffected, and her love so constant, that all who knew her quickly learned to trust and love her. While a gentle and retiring disposition, Mrs. Hurlbut was a woman of great moral strength and excellent judgment; whose heart was easily touched by suffering and whose wrath was easily kindled against injustice. Loyally did she stand by her church, giving those who ministered unto her noble and inspiring support. She was the mother of seven children, of whom thre survive her, Charles C. Hurlbut, of Montclair; Mrs. Hinman B. Hurlbut, of Washington, D.C.; and Mrs. George P. Dougherty, wife of the pastor of Saint Paul's Church, Newark.

The funeral services of Mrs. Hurlbut were held in the Saint Luke's Church, and were very largely attended. They were conducted by the pastor of Saint Luke's, assisted by Dr. A.H. Tuttle, Dr. George W. Smith, and Dr. W. H. Morgan. Interment was made in the rosedale Cemetery, Orange, New Jersey.

SOURCE: Minutes of the Newark Conference of the MEthodist Episcopal Church on Google Ebooks.