The Longest Lived Triplets Named Faith, Hope And Charity
The longest-lived triplets got their names from a well-known Bible text that speaks about the longevity of three virtues. Yes, society’s longest-lived triplets in recorded history were Faith, Hope and Charity Cardwell from the United States of America. They were born on May 18th, 1889.It is said that when their parents Elza and Eliza could not settle on a name for the triplets that the wife of the 22nd President of the United States, President Grover Cleveland, suggested to them the names they eventually were called by. Their lives turned out to be mostly a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The longest-lived triplets got their names from a well-known Bible text that speaks about the longevity of those three virtues. This is what 1 Corinthians 13:8,13 says:
8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Who would have thought that their lives would have imitated the words of Paul? Whoever said that thirteen was an unlucky number? Their longevity is not just expressed in 1 Cor. 13 but it is explicitly shown in 1 Cor. 13:13 – two thirteens. These Texas triplets topped the list of The Guinness Book of Records’ longest-lived triplets. They lived from the times of President Grover Cleveland to President Bill Clinton, from the 22nd President to the 42nd. They lived through two World Wars. If only they had written a book to document the changing times of our world as seen through the eyes of triplets who had lived in two centuries. Surely they could assess changing eras or epochs better than any Johnny-come-lately historian.
Alas, the time came when they died one by one. Faith Cardwell Davis died first on October 2nd 1994 at the ripe old age of 95 years and 137 days. Unlike the text, Charity Cardwell Lawson died next reaching the age of 95 years 233 days. Hope Cardwell Brock died last at 97 years 242 days. On a point of interest, it is said that both Faith and Charity had blue eyes while Hope had brown eyes. Charity also sent Faith to a date that she, Charity, did not want to go to. Now that is Charity! I guess it took Faith to go!
8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Who would have thought that their lives would have imitated the words of Paul? Whoever said that thirteen was an unlucky number? Their longevity is not just expressed in 1 Cor. 13 but it is explicitly shown in 1 Cor. 13:13 – two thirteens. These Texas triplets topped the list of The Guinness Book of Records’ longest-lived triplets. They lived from the times of President Grover Cleveland to President Bill Clinton, from the 22nd President to the 42nd. They lived through two World Wars. If only they had written a book to document the changing times of our world as seen through the eyes of triplets who had lived in two centuries. Surely they could assess changing eras or epochs better than any Johnny-come-lately historian.
Alas, the time came when they died one by one. Faith Cardwell Davis died first on October 2nd 1994 at the ripe old age of 95 years and 137 days. Unlike the text, Charity Cardwell Lawson died next reaching the age of 95 years 233 days. Hope Cardwell Brock died last at 97 years 242 days. On a point of interest, it is said that both Faith and Charity had blue eyes while Hope had brown eyes. Charity also sent Faith to a date that she, Charity, did not want to go to. Now that is Charity! I guess it took Faith to go!