Some time ago, sister Blakeley being obliged to resign the leadership of her class, owing to the failure of her health, the leaders' meeting requested sister Hague to take charge of it. She felt reluctant to leave brother Norris's class, of which she had so many years been a member, and in the meetings of which, in her own house, she had so often been richly blessed; but duty seemed imperatively to call, and she obeyed. She was cordially accepted by the class, and continued to be its leader till the time of her death. In Our late sister was a worker. She did not act like too many professing Christians, who neglect duty, and then frame excuses to palliate their conduct. She felt that she had a work to do, and she did it. The love of Christ constrained her. She was no neglecter of God's house. At the Sabbath services, at the weeknight preaching, at the band-meeting, as well as her class-meeting, she was sure to be present, unless circumstances interposed an insuperable barrier. Her last Sabbath on earth was a well-spent one. addition to attending the preaching of God's Word she was present at the quarterly love-feast in the afternoon, and related her experience; she was also at the prayer-meeting in the evening, after the public service, and prayed most fervently for the prospering blessing of God to rest on the services of the day. Little did we think that we should see her face and hear her voice no more at a Sunday night prayermeeting! On the following Thursday night-the last night of her life-she was more than ordinarily cheerful and happy in the class-meeting. The meeting altogether was more lively and profitable than usual, and at its close, in parting with some of the members, she remarked, as though she had a presentiment of what was about to take place, that "if it was sudden death it would be sudden glory." It is somewhat remarkable that she made a similar observation to several of the friends about the same time, although not worse than ngual in health. Our sister was not afraid to recommend to others the religion she herself enjoyed. She not unfrequently spoke to the neglecters of the "great salvation about their eternal interests. She invited to the sanctuary, expatiated on a Saviour's love, dwelt on the advantages of religion, and warned sinners to flee from the wrath to come; and in some instances she has been rendered signally useful. She has been known to stagger and put to silence sceptics and unbelievers by the plain unvarnished tale she has told about the excellence of religion, and the peace, comfort, and happiness it can impart. She " visited the fatherless and widows," and others, too, "in their affliction." In this "work of faith and labour of love" she was frequently employed. She was often sent for, and she often went unsent for. This was a work quite congenial to her disposition, a work for which she possessed an adaptation, and the Lord made her useful in it. On the night before she died she visited two sick persons before going to her class, and spoke to them about Jesus, and prayed with them. That night she seemed to be specially happy in all she did. But she is gone. She has done her work, and the Master has called for her to receive her reward. On the morning of November 3, 1871, while in bed, and probably in her sleep, she passed suddenly and quietly away to her eternal rest. Thus was her presentiment realized -"sudden death, sudden glory." This is another loss, added to many previous ones, to our church at Stalybridge. Our sister was not only beloved but useful, and we greatly miss her; but we must not sorrow as those without hope. Our loss is her gain. On earth she has often sung about heaven, and she now shares its company and its joys. She dwells before the throne, wears her crown, and sings the new songthe song of the redeemed. Happy spirit! May we meet thee again where parting shall be unknown! She was interred in the burial-ground connected with our chapel at Mossley, where her husband was interred four years before. The death of our dear sister was improved by the writer, to a large congregation, in our chapel at Stalybridge, and the season proved solemn and profitable. L. SAXTON. THOMAS COXAL L, OF WOLVERHAMPTON, DIED in the Lord Oct. 1st, 1871, in the forty-ninth year of his age. For nearly fourteen years he was connected with our church at Mount Zion, and was one of its most active and useful members. He was one among the many converts that were gathered during a revival of religion which the Church enjoyed in the years 1858 and 1859. Where he found his good he abided, living and working; commending himself to the highest esteem and confidence of all who knew him. He filled the offices of assistant leader, leader, prayer leader, superintendent of the Sabbathschool, and tract distributor. He was a labourer in the vineyard, a busy bee in the hive, and his place will not be readily filled. A few weeks before his death he commenced a cottage prayer-meeting in the district in which he distributed tracts, in a house where neither husband nor wife could read or write. He was of humble ability, yet of earnest piety. When he began to pray, said one of his class-mates, he went straight on, yes, like one accustomed to the road knew its every step. His death was sudden and unexpected. He was at the earthly sanctuary on one Sabbath, in his place, at his work, but rested in the upper sanctuary the next. He took the small-pox, which was, and is, very prevalent in our town, and a few days sufficed to take him home. When made acquainted with the nature of his complaint, he stated his conviction that he should not recover, and proceeded to set his house in order: this he had long done as regards spiritual things, and had only to continue his accustomed diligence a little longer, and all would be well. But in addition to this he had parting words to utter, directions and counsels to give respecting the little earthly all; to tell his wife what she must do, and his children what they must be and do; and so he set his house in order. He was much in communion with God, praying, meditating on God's love and truth. He had no misgiving about the religion he had embraced. He found the plank to bear; the foundation on which he rested was immovable. His hope JOHN JONES, LONDON FIRST CIRCUIT. OUR esteemed brother, John Jones, first joined the Brunswick Society in April, 1836, but owing to his leader being involved in dissension, he left for awhile, but soon returned, and felt that Brunswick was his home. Some time after he became a member in brother S. Hobill's Sunday morning class, and there he enjoyed much spiritual profit; and though I am not prepared to give the details of his conversion, his experience of God's favour through Christ was undoubted. He retained a lively recollection of the preachers who have laboured in this circuit, and cherished an esteem for them for their work's sake. He was quiet in spirit and gentle in manner; and in his unostentatious way endeavoured to do good to others. He read, loved, and enjoyed his Bible. I have seen a number of verses marked by his pencil-precious passages which, having afforded comfort to his own mind in affliction, he copied and enclosed in letters which he occasionally wrote to his friends. Our brother's character was very much respected in the workshop by his fellow-workmen. Even men of sceptical minds were compelled to admit that Mr. Jones was "all right." They sought his counsel and valued his judgment. His consistent life was a power for good. He was for some months laid aside from his daily calling by an attack of asthma, a complaint to which he had been more or less subject for many years. Still, having a good home, and the careful nursing of an affectionate wife, there was hope that he would again rally a little. That hope was not to be realized. Pleurisy set in, and it was too active for his weak constitution to resist. Sink he must; but in the prospect of death he was peaceful and confident. He enjoyed prayer. He said to me, "All is right." And an hour before his death, his dear wife asked, "Are you resting on Jesus?" He answered, "Yes." He died, trusting in Jesus, on Monday morning, August 28th, 1871, and in the sixty-fifth year of his age. May his sorrowing widow be comforted by the hope of a meeting in the heavenly kingdom! D. ROUND. REV. JAMES HENSHAW. WE have received the following intimation from Alnwick, of the death of our venerable and greatly esteemed brother, the Rev. James Henshaw : "In affectionate remembrance of the Rev. James Henshaw, who entered into rest on the 11th day of December, in the 68th year of his age, and was this day interred in the cemetery. "He giveth his beloved sleep.' "Alnwick, December 14th, 1871." [Respecting the above announcement, we append the following short note which we have just received from brother Walker. Our friends everywhere will desire to know the particulars of the death of our late venerable brother, and waiting a fuller account in the memoir, we give the particulars as now furnished. -ED.] "South Street, Alnwick, "Dec. 15th, 1871. "My dear Sir,-You would this morning receive the intimation of the death and interment of the Rev. James Henshaw. No doubt a suitable memoir will be prepared for insertion in the large Magazine, but as you may probably refer to the event in your next issue, I send you a few particulars respecting his sudden death. "Mr. Henshaw was in his usual health up to Sunday, Nov. 26th. On the morning of that day he was at chapel, and, the weather being very severe, he caught cold. During the following week he had a slight attack of gout in his toe, which confined him to the house. On Saturday and Sunday last he was much better, and purposed coming to chapel on Tuesday morning, but as the streets were wet he did not do so. On Sunday evening he conducted family worship before retiring to rest, and prayed with unusual strength of voice and fervour, offering special petitions for the Prince of Wales and the sorrowing Princess and Queen. He intimated his intention to take his customary walk in the morning if the weather were favourable. When the servant went up to his bedroom with a cup of tea, a little before eight o'clock on Monday morning, she found that he was dead. He had evidently passed away in his sleep, for the servant who slept in an adjoining room never heard him move or speak during the night, and there were no indications of any shock or struggle. "The interment took place on Thursday. In accordance with his known wishes, the funeral was of a private character, but such was the esteem in which he was held in the town that many voluntarily joined the funeral procession, and followed his remains to the grave. As the funeral passed through the town, I observed that several of the friends had drawn down their windowblinds, and several tradesmen put up their shutters, to testify their regard for our deceased friend. "We shall miss him very much in the church here; but we know that our loss is his gain. With very kind regards, I remain, yours truly, "R. WALKER. "To Rev. J. H. Robinson." GEORGE LYNAM, OF DANESMOOR, CLAY CROSS, ENTERED into rest on the morning of the 4th September, 1871. He was born on the 11th February, 1835. His early life was not surrounded with those genial influences which are calculated to develop early piety. He was accustomed, with his father, to visit public-houses on a Saturday evening-the one to fiddle and the other to sing-and in this way to earn a precarious livelihood. Notwithstanding that he was sent to our Sabbath-school, he continued in sin until he was thirty-three years of age. He had formed an attachment for a young female who was taken ill and called to die. This so deeply impressed his mind that he resolved to give his heart to God. He began to meet in class with us, and he joined the choir. Religion soon made a difference in his outward appearance, for whereas he had been accustomed to go about the streets in clothes that were "tattered and torn," he soon began to respect himself and to make his appearance in improved apparel. About twelve months ago he had a serious sickness, which threatened to terminate his life. He had ruptured a bloodvessel in the region of his stomach. From the effects of this he never recovered, but rallied so far as to walk about, and attend chapel. A second attack laid him prostrate, and brought him to death's door. I repeatedly visited him during his illness and found him resigned to God's will, and awaiting his change. "Pray that I might have patience was amongst his last utterances. He died in faith. His death was improved in the presence of a large congregation, by the writer, on Sunday, October 8th, 1871. Our brother had to contend for a long time with ill-health and poverty; and was known but seldom to murmur with his lot. The Church endeavoured to supply his need; and he is now doubtless in that place where there is neither "sickness nor suffering." DIED. W. JAMES. MISS JANE SMITH, of Blyth, the beloved daughter of John and Charlotte Smith, expired on Monday, November 13th, 1871, aged 18 years. George Smith, brother of the above Jane, expired on Saturday, November 18th, 1871, aged 20 years. Mary Frances Smith, sister of the said Jane and George, expired on Tuesday, November 21st, 1871, aged 21 years. These three lamentable deaths, occurring within about a week's time, were occasioned by fever. The event produced a deep impression on the town. A sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Orme on the sad occurrence, on Sunday evening, November, 26th, 1871, when every part of the church was crowded, and great tenderness and solemnity of feeling pervaded the whole assembly. They had all three grown up in union with our Connexion; they were connected both with the Sunday-school and Society. They were interested in all that concerned the welfare of the Church. Mary was blind, but she dwelt in the light of life. All have left behind them lives distinguished by great blamelessness and many virtues. J. ORME. JAMES TRUEMAN. THE subject of this memoir was born at Shotwick, in Chester, on September 7th, 1820. His parents were poor, and in early life he was a farm-servant. When quite a young man, there was a revival of religion. The services were held chiefly in a farm-house of the late Mr. Woods, of Capenhurst, and our brother, with others, yielded his heart to God and gave himself to his people. He became a useful and an acceptable local preacher, labouring hard with steady unwearied zeal to preach Christ. He was a Christian at home. His wife, who lives to deplore his loss, and a large family, which he brought up in the fear of God, can testify to his piety and example, some of whom are following him to heaven. For a number of years he filled the office of station-master at Hooton, on the Chester and Birkenhead Railway. This office he was obliged to resign through failing health a short time before his death, which took place May 27th, 1871, and he was interred in his native vil. lage churchyard May 30th, 1871. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." W. KNOWLES. DIED. December 14th.-Mr. John Ramsden, of Halifax, aged 75. A memoir may be expected. At Liverpool, Mr. Richard Hughes, Dec. 4th, 1871. Aged 64. 47 Connerional Department. EFFORT FOR ITS EXTINCTION. To the Ministers, Members, and Friends of the Connexion. DEAR FRIENDS,-It is already known to many of you that our Connexional Chapel Fund has long been heavily burdened with debt, and that in consequence of this, the operations of the Chapel Committee in the settlement of trust properties and the relief of embarassed estates, have been in many instances seriously impeded, and in others rendered absolutely impossible. Having suffered this state of things for so many years, and to a point almost beyond endurance, the Chapel Committee made a strong representation of the case to the last Conference, when the grievance was found to be so palpable, and the injury thus inflicted on the Connexion so manifest, that after mature reflection the following resolution was adopted: "That, believing the time has How come when a general Connexional effort should be made for the liquidation of the Chapel Fund debt, amounting to £3,950 (£150 since paid), the Conference resolves, that a special effort shall be commenced, at the earliest convenient period, and advanced as rapidly as possible, with a hope that it may be completed within the present, or the following year." At the same time, a special committee of twenty-eight ministers and laymen was appointed, to cooperate with the Chapel Committee, and assist them in carrying this important project into effect. That committee met in Leeds on Thursday, October 19th, and took the whole question into serious consideration. The chapel reports show that the enormous sum of £4,150-being more than the whole debt now existing on the fund, has been already consumed in interest on borrowed money alone. In 1863 this worse than useless expenditure reached £227 13s., and thus absorbed eight shillings in the pound, or forty per cent. on the entire income of the year. Since then, the debt has been slightly reduced, and the interest proportionately diminished, but still, the burden is intolerable, and cannot be borne. These facts showed, and must demonstrate to every reflecting mind, that the only hope for the Chapel Fund will be found in the immediate payment of this old and vexatious debt. Convictions like these led to a cordial and unanimous determination to deal with the whole difficulty at once, and in such a manner as its nature and importance so obviously required. It was therefore resolved unanimously that an effort should be inaugurated forthwith, in harmony with the expressed desire of Conference, and that the whole debt should be liquidated by subscriptions by instalments payable in March, 1872, and March, 1873. At the meeting then assembled, subscriptions were announced towards this object, amounting to ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE POUNDS. Since then that amount has been brought up to the gratifying sum of Two THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS. A few of the subscriptions have been already paid, and the committee confidently hope that a large amount of the whole will find its way to the Treasurer in March next, or before Conference. The sums already promised stand thus: JosephLove, Esq. (Durham)... ... £ s. d. 1,000 0 0 105 0 0 ... 52 10 0 105 00 J. G. and T. Heaps, |