Carlile, Marie Louise

As in those days too often happened, within the space of about one year diphtheria took its deadly toll in the lives of three of her little playmates. So keenly was this sorrow felt, that Mr. and Mrs. Carlile deemed it wise to remove the family to a house in Richmond that would be less associated with so sad an event.
Recalling this change of residence, in later years, Marie reflected: “It was the loving hand of God that inspired them to move from the backwater of Clapham into the stream of life where spiritual surroundings helped us all.”
The Reverend Evan Hopkins, “that inspired Saint of God,” was then the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church. Mr. Carlile, an earnest Christian previously connected with Nonconformity, found in “Holy Trinity” his Spiritual Home, and before long made the decision to become a member of the Church of England.
Marie was only twelve years of age when her brother who had become careless of spiritual things, or―to use his own terminology―“a rank outsider,” underwent a definite change of heart said to be strangely akin to that described by Charles Wesley when he wrote:
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee!
At that age Marie Carlile was just old enough to appreciate the wonder of her brother’s conversion, and throughout her life she never ceased to stress the need of that vitalizing experience, although the vitalizing came to her so differently.
It would seem as if the door of her heart had ever been open for the incoming of Jesus Christ. Now the call came to consecrate her life to Him. If ever there was a complete and once-for-all handing over of a life to God for His Service it was when Marie Carlile at the age of twelve, or before, in words such as these made her covenant:
In the glad morning of my day,
My life to give my vows to pay,
With no reserve and no delay,
With all my heart I come.
And He, Jesus Christ, the Lord of her life, accepted and sealed her offering. At his vicar’s request, Wilson Carlile, with all the enthusiasm of his recent conversion, agreed to “work up” a Sunday-school in a somewhat difficult area recently added to the parish. Characteristically he began by “conscripting teachers,” his young sister, who was as eager as he was himself, among them. To the interest and work of this Mission School, Marie continued to give of her best until, some thirteen years later, she enlisted as a full-time worker in the Church Army.
In Marie’s girlhood no dutiful daughter would think of making an important decision without the knowledge, and if possible the blessing, of her father.
In this case, very reluctantly did Mr. Carlile give his consent to her going to London to help in a work, the dangers of which he fully understood. Marie herself had read in the newspapers of “infuriated mobs” attacking the Church Army in their open-air marches, but such reports spurred on rather than deterred her. The parental permission stipulated that she should go for a short time “purely as a temporary worker.”
And so, in September, 1888, she went to the Training home in Edgware Road “just for a few weeks at a time.” In March, 1889, she became resident Superintendent of the Women’s Training Home. The “temporary appointment” ended in a life time of service for God and humanity in the ranks of the Church Army.
Marie’s first experience in this adventurous life is best told in her own words: “How well I remember my first night in the Nurses’ Training Home! What a long one it seemed! Sleep was impossible, partly because of the thoughts of the responsibilities of the work, and partly because of the noise in the streets and the hardness of the bed. I am afraid I was very cowardly, and rather dismayed at the condition of the house.
“The Superintendent’s sitting-room had in it all that was necessary, but it looked dreary without curtains, and only a box of matches to adorn the mantelpiece. There was one “ornament” in the room in the shape of a bag for string, with pink and blue roses in Berlin wool upon it which hung upon a nail. When evening came the room was lit up by a very smelly lamp, with a reflector behind it (also hung on a nail) like those often seen on costermongers’ barrows. But what happy times those were! Hard beds, blue Berlin wool roses, and smelly lamps cannot take away the real joy, for it is often when circumstances are most trying that we discover how very precious our dear Lord and Master is to us.”
So much for the indoor “comforts.” Out of door experiences were unbelievably exciting for Marie. “What stirring times we used to have,” she wrote. “My brother would take all the brothers and sisters to Lisson Grove, and they were taught how to divide up into small bands, and hold short meetings at different corners―as a rule people were most kind, but sometimes we were honored by being pelted with shrimps’ heads, dirty water, and other choice things.”
Marie Carlile in throwing in her lot with the Church Army had taken over a work beset with many difficulties. Lack of finance was a nightmare; luxuries were unknown; comforts were few and far between. Resolutely she left her sheltered home behind. For sixty years she lost her life as she might have known it; but she gained life in devoted service to her Lord and Master. She gained also the love and deepest affection of the hundreds of “Sisters” whose lives were molded by her loving hands. It has been observed that in a remarkable degree she stamped her personality on the women of the Church Army. By their devotion, sympathy, quiet-thought, frequently in smile or word, Church Army Sisters are her reproductions. And the stamp is indelible. The result of her work has been that thousands of men and women of all ages have been influenced for good, and thousands, through her influence, brought to the feet of Christ.
When Marie Carlile first left her home to take up this work, certain of her friends had exclaimed, “Oh, what good can such a small frail person do there!” but those who so spake knew not love’s strength. A member of her family has described her as “a great soul aflame for God in a fragile body.” Fragile she certainly was, and inevitably she experienced several breakdowns in health! On one occasion a voyage to Australia was advised, and there were other periods of enforced rest; yet, from each one she returned with a renewal of spiritual force which enabled her to pass on blessing to others in ever more generous measure.
How loyal she was to her brother! She understood his difficulties and shared his anxieties. In the evenings when the Headquarters closed, she would go over the problems of the day with him. It was a lovely partnership. Her womanly intuition meant quite as much to him as his “wise” counsel did to her.
On the 22^nd December, 1950―which proved to be her last Christmas on earth―she wrote to her great-nephew, the Rev. E. Wilson Carlile, on his appointment to the succession to her brother’s leadership: “God has called you to a great work for Him. . . . I wanted you to know how full of gratitude I am about it all, and how my poor prayers will go up much for you through this Glad Season. May the sweet lowliness and glorious power of Christmas rest upon you in deep blessing.”
When at last the shades of evening fell and her work was done, in joyful anticipation she said: “How amazing that notwithstanding my unworthiness, I, even I, shall see my glorious Lord Whom in my humble way I deeply love and adore!” . . .
For several years before, and during the World War II, the author of this tribute arranged that Lenten Services for Women should be held annually in Weston-super-Mare. Among her most loyal and self-effacing helpers were two sisters of the Church Army. These young women with their hearts’ devotion aflame with heavenly love, counted it joy to care for tired mothers and little children in a Holiday Rest Home by the sea. They so served because Marie Louise Carlile had first opened a door and led the way through.
On 21^st October, 1952, Lady Cynthia Colville unveiled a plaque to the memory of Marie Carlile in St. Paul’s Chapel which is part of the Church Army’s Headquarters building. It may be seen there close beside a similar one in memory of her brother. The inscription includes . . . “In affectionate remembrance of Marie Carlile” . . . “Beloved leader of Church Army Sisters for over sixty years.”
A life’s work does not end with what we call death. In the lives of these Sisters, she carries on her love-service and will do so as year succeeds year. And when in their turn these, who have spent their strength in caring for others, grow tired and are ready for rest, they will be cared for themselves in a beautiful Home in Croydon―the Marie Carlile Memorial Home. Love is eternal.