Shortly after her trip to Akpap, Mary was honored by the king of Great Britain.  She was chosen by him to be a member of the order of St. John of Jerusalem.  This was an honor given only to English Christians who had done great things for God.  The government people of Calabar decided that they must have a public celebration of this great honor.  They sent the government boat for Mary.  The little old missionary, now nearly sixty-five, was brought to Duke Town.  Here a great crowd filled the biggest hall in town.

The governor made a speech and pinned the cross on Mary’s left shoulder.  During the speech Mary sat with her head in her hands.  When it came time for her to speak, she found it hard to talk.  Turning to the boys and girls who were in the hall she said, “Be faithful to the government.  Be Christians.  Be friends of the mission and be followers of Jesus.”

Later she wrote to her friends in Scotland: 

Don’t think there is any change in me
because I received this honor.  I am Mary
Slessor, nothing more and none other
than the unworthy, unprofitable but
most willing servant of the King of kings.

The only change the honor made in Mary was that she worked harder than ever.  A government road was opened to Odoro Ikpe.  Mary at once started a mission there and reached out into the small jungle settlements.  There she talked with the chiefs and the natives.  At last she won their consent to build schools and churches.  They gave her the land to do this.  Now she was beginning all over in a new territory.  She had the same hard work, the same troubles, the same heathen customs to fight.  But Mary was glad to do it.  She thanked God for the chance to bring the Gospel to people who had never heard about it.

Mary saw to it that a house was built and then began teaching in the school, holding services, settling quarrels, winning souls for Jesus.  In August, 1914, rumors reached her that Europe was rushing into war.  This made her feel sick.  She knew that this war would not only bring suffering, horror, and death to many of her dear friends, but it would also hinder the work in Calabar.

Several months went by.  The mail came.  Mary opened the newspaper.  There she read the headlines:  Russia declares war!  France declares war!  England declares war!  Mary fainted.  The trouble and excitement were too much for her.  For two weeks more she carried on her work but it was too much for her.  She became weaker and weaker.  On Sunday, January 10, 1915, she held her usual church service.  After the church meeting she fainted.  Dr. Robertson arrived from the Slessor Hospital at Itu.  He was able to bring her to, but on January 12 she found it almost impossible to talk.  Her last words were a prayer in the African language called Efik.

“O Abasi, sana mi yok,” said Mary.  “O God, release me!”

Janie, the first twin Mary had saved, was now a beautiful black woman.  She and other children Mary had saved and adopted were watching beside Mary’s bed through the night.  A rooster crowed.