The Life And Ministry Of Ann Maslen

Gospel Standard 1897:

Death. On July 1st, 1895, aged 89, Ann Maslen, of Avebury.

She was born in the parish of Overton, near Marlborough, in the year 1806, and ran in the way of Adam nature till about 1823, when she was seized with a severe affliction in connection with the spine. The doctors attending her, with her relatives and friends, looked for a speedy dissolution, but after a few years our friend began to improve, and finally recovered. This affliction seems to have been the means, in the Lord’s hand, of bringing her to see a need of something more than earth can bestow, and a longing went out of her soul to him who heareth even the prayers of the destitute, that she might find that one thing needful; and in secret, especially, her heart went up to a throne of grace for that blessing and comfort which she felt the Lord alone could bestow. When sufficiently strong she came over to Avebury, and felt that the things she heard advanced in the little mud-wall chapel were suitable to the experience the Lord was working in her soul; but although she felt that she met Sabbath after Sabbath with the Lord’s people, it seems to have been a great question in her own soul as to whether she was one, as under the preached word she seemed to feel more of her sinnership, and often had to go groaning home, “Lord, undertake for me; I am oppressed.” But as in the days of Hezekiah, so it was in her days. The Lord in due time came to the relief of this burdened heart, and set her soul at liberty by the words, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). How often in her after pilgrimage she has had to stand trembling before God with her case, and feel, ‘Will he deliver? Will he go before? Will he bow down to such a poor sinner?” But oftentimes my heart has been gladdened, my eyes moistened, and the faith in my soul deepened, as I have heard this dear old saint, in her sick chamber, extol and honour her wonder-working God in reference to his delivering hand, and again and again tell of his goodness to a poor old sinner like she felt herself to be. When in company with her in that little bedroom, and conversing on better things, she has broken out with—

“Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, 

The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue; 

Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, 

Has won my affections, and bound my soul fast.”

And when coming to the fifth verse, and third line, I have heard her say, with such a confidential expression of speech, “No sinner, Lord; no sinner.’—O what a mercy to be a sensible sinner! Ah, Lord, what a sinner! What a sinner! ‘At war with heaven, in league with hell!’ but, mercy of mercy, ‘Loved when a wretch defiled with sin!'” and then she would seem to go off in thought from those around

“O Love! how high thy glories swell! 

How great, immutable, and free!

Ten thousand sins, as black as hell,

Are swallowed up, O Love, in thee.'”

She was united in marriage to a member, I believe, at Ailington, Wilts., at that time. We read (Deut. 8:2) that “the Lord led the children of Israel forty years in the wilderness, to humble them and to prove them, that they might know what was in their heart.’ This one step in marriage union seems to have been permitted by the Lord for wise purposes, as a family of three sons and five daughters was the result. But in a few years the husband was afflicted with nervous debility, rendering him unfit for any occupation for a space of twenty years. What this tried and exercised woman went through, in moving from place to place, trying one way and another for an honest living, no mortal on earth ever did or will know. But our friend was led off: from the creature self as to what they can do, more, I think, than any woman I have ever conversed with. It was obnoxious to speak to her of creature merit. She loved such hymns as “Sovereign grace, o’er sin abounding.”

Poor Ann, through these twenty years, had severe trials in providence, and in it learnt the great truth that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,” and that she could not keep her mind steadily stayed upon God; and yet in wonderful ways the Lord brought her through, and caused her to see “His goodness pass before her in the way.”

Nine months before her husband’s death, which I believe took place at Yatton-Keynell, her daughter died at the same place, leaving a husband with a family of six children. I believe that Ann, after burying her own husband, and looking after her daughter’s children for seven or eight years, removed to another married daughter’s in London, and ultimately came back to Avebury, about twenty-six years ago, and lived with her other daughter, who proved a most kind nurse to her mother till the end. I never knew much of her when able to get to the chapel, but my acquaintance was in visiting her in her own home. She was very hard of hearing, which made it difficult to converse with her, but her mind seemed generally going out to the theme of Christ and him crucified. She was laid aside in bed for five years, during which time and for several years previous she was provided for in measure from the funds of the Aged Pilgrims’ Friend Society. How many times, when taking her pension to her, as sent from the Society, have I seen her put up her dear withered hand, as the money laid on the bed, and bless God, the Society, and the givers to the Fund, for providing for such a poor old sinner as she. The tears would roll down her cheeks, and you felt them to be tears of gratitude to him who is the source of all good. I have had to stand quietly, and look on, as I have seen the uplifted eyes, the glow of pleasure, and, to me, the real worshipping saint, and have felt, whilst looking on, “Ah, dear Ann, I would rather be a door-keeper in the company of such as you, than with ten thousand (so called) pleasures in the palace of the great.” Sometimes, when visiting her, she would be under a cloud, and then, poor soul, she was shut up, and would wonder how it would be in the fords of Jordan. It would seem useless, at such times, even to repeat such hymns as—

 “Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near;

Thy Saviour’s gracious promise hear,” &c.

When in the dark, she felt she had no power to get into the light. I have heard her say, “Ah! do, Lord, come.

“In vain I charge my thoughts to stay, 

And chide each vanity away;

In vain, alas, resolve to bind

This rebel heart, this wandering mind; 

There’s nought, except a power divine, 

That can this roving heart confine.'”

I think I shall best show how the Lord supported this dear old Christian in the hour of death, which she so greatly feared throughout her pilgrimage, by copying from the Avebury Strict Baptist Church-Book a letter written to the Secretary of the Aged Pilgrims’ Friend Society at the time of her death:

Mr. Hazelton. Dear Sir, I have to write and inform you of the death of dear old Ann Maslen, of Avebury, a pensioner on the books of the Aged Pilgrims’ Society. She passed away on Monday last, July 1st, 1895, aged 89 years. It would indeed have cheered some of the givers to the funds of the Aged Pilgrims, if they could have seen this dear old saint let her hands fall upon the bed-clothes in the weakness of death, and have heard her gently say, “All settled, all settled.” What a privilege to minister to the temporal necessity of such souls as these! May those who are favoured with this world’s wealth feel it, and thus be led to give as unto the Lord, is the prayer of your unworthy yet well-wishing and thankful friend,

George Siteford

Avebury, Calne, July 8^th, 1895

Pro Avebury Strict Baptist Chapel