The Road Home... Another Black Angel

The Black Angel of Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City is often confused with the Black Angel of Fairview Cemetery in Council Bluffs Iowa.  One can understand considering their blackness and angelness and all.  Since we were passing through Council Bluffs that morning on the way home, why not visit both.  Again, we were rewarded.

From http://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov

"Locally known as "The Black Angel," this statue honors Ruth Anne Dodge, the wife of General Dodge. Sculpted by Daniel Chester French, creator of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Black Angel commemorates Ruth Anne Dodge's 1916 death.

The sculpture is said to be the translation of a dream experienced by Mrs. Dodge on the three nights preceding her death in 1916. According to the legend, Mrs. Dodge related to family members that she had a vision of being on a rocky shore and, through a mist, seeing a boat approach. 

In the prow was a beautiful young woman whom Mrs. Dodge thought to be an angel. The woman carried a small bowl under one arm and extended the other arm toward Mrs. Dodge in an invitation to partake of the water flowing from the vessel. 

Then, according to accounts later published by Mrs. Dodge's daughter, Anne, the angel spoke twice, saying: "Drink, I bring you both a promise and a blessing." 

The daughter wrote that the vision came three times to her mother and, on the third visit, Mrs. Dodge took the drink as offered and felt "transformed into a new and glorious spiritual being." Mrs. Dodge died soon after the third vision. The monument was dedicated in 1920 and carries these inscriptions: 

"Blessed are the Pure of Heart,for they shall see God. " Matt. 5:8 

"And he showed me a pure river of the water of life; clear and crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. " Rev. 22:1. 


"Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. " Rev. 22:17"

Indeed.

     The remainder of the journey home was uneventful, though pleasant.  More music, more singing, more laughter... then home.