E. Grace Kernick Clare

Wife of Rev. Herbert H. Clare

MRS. H. H. CLARE. E. Grace Kernick, daughter of Rev. E. M. and Elizabeth Kernick, and wife of Rev. H. H. Clare, was both daughter and mistress of the Methodist Parsonage. She was born in Fairview, Butler Co., Pennsylvania, September 21, 1871, and followed the fortunes of the family in the changes incident to her father's work as a Methodist minister. From childhood, her deep and beautiful religious nature became evident and between her and her scholarly and zealous Christian rather a pecular sympathy existed. She early, took active part in the work of the church and was a great factor for good among the young people of her father's parishes. It was therefore no marvel that when living in Dunkirk she should have attracted the attention and won the love of the young theological student, Herbert H. Clare. They were married in the beautiful parsonage, just completed by her father, in Dunkirk, on August 25, 1892. Together, the next month, they entered the Erie Conference, and for two decades she was a faithful and successful pastor's wife. In the church at Linesville, Pa.. is a beautiful window, lovingly placed there by the church in recognition of the splendid work of Rev. and Mrs. Clare. Not only her work in the church and community is to be noted, but the hospitality of her home and the loyalty of her friendship. At her fireside was a welcome for all and she had friends everywhere because everywhere she was a friend.

She was possessed of a peculiar love of good and an aborrence of evil. There was never any question as to her stand on questions involving right and wrong.

When into the home came the little girl, she was admitted to the warm affection of a mother's heart. Her devotion to the little daughter was the subject of common remark. Her repression of her own affectionate nature in behalf of the child's safety during the last months of her illness was heroic. Craving with all the wealth of her nature the caresses of affection, she denied herself for the sake of her beloved.

But deeper and more important than any other were her services as the wife of her now greatly bereaved husband. She was his constant inspiration. She guarded the door of his study. She spurred him by her courage. She lifted him by her prayers. She shielded him by her unwavering faith.

For several months she suffered from that dread disease, consumption. Human skill was exhausted in the efforts to abate its ravages but all in vain. The loving hands of those dearest to her ministered to her needs and she passed away with their loved faces bending over her.

She was a beautiful soul who lived and loved and worked. The Christian's faith and consequently the Christian’s hope were hers, and we know she but "sleeps to wake."

By H. G. Odgen, Memoirs of Deceased Wives of Ministers, Journal and Yearbook, Erie Conference, 1912, pages 128-130