Such demonstrations reflect an honor on those who make them, as well as on the character of him whom they are designed to commemorate. As opposed to the too common and heartless ingratitude of the world, the veneration shown for men who have widened the horizon of human knowledge or helped to confirm our souls in virtue, is something beautiful and desirable. When human society shall be regenerated from its blind debasement, such benefactors will. receive the reverence of nations.

lantic represented the Methodist Episcopal Church in the proceedings of the day-Dr. M'Clintock, lately editor of the Methodist Quarterly Review, and the Rev. W. H. Milburn, lately chaplain to the Congress.

CHAPTER III.

THE PHILANTHROPIST.

“THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." The good works of the Christian derive their life and splendor from love, without which they would be "dead works," and nothing worth. Of this principle the venerable man whose history we are now reviewing had an abiding conviction. That "vital spark of heavenly flame," the love of God kindled in his soul, by the Eternal Spirit, revealed itself in a life of humble piety toward the great Supreme, and ceaseless efforts to promote the welfare of mankind. The more he knew of Christ his Saviour by a communion which grew more intimate with his years, the stronger were the impulses of his mind and heart to walk as he also walked who "went about doing good." This living Christianity took one of its many forms of expression in sympathy for the friendless poor, and especially for those who were of the household of faith, whom he called "the representatives of Christ, and God's best friends." A few words from an early letter, written in Guernsey, will show the nature of this feeling: "William Mahy, our local preacher, was obliged to put his four little innocents to bed in the day-time, and cover them up, to prevent them from starving; not having a morsel of coal to burn, nor money to purchase any. Had a portion of the cash wasted in the above way" (referring to a piece of extravagance) "been appropriated to the relief of this distressed good man, how gladly would the first scribe in heaven have registered it in the annals of eternity! When I consider the suffering state of these 'more righteous than I,' I can scarcely eat my morsel

with contentment. If there is meaning in the expression 'a bleeding heart,' I think I have it for the poor. My very soul seems to feel for them throughout the world, as my father, my sister, my mother, and my brethren. Forgive me, if, in detailing on this subject, which oppresses my heart, I have forgotten to write about the full salvation you inquired after; but is it not found in the compassions of Christ? And were not these exercised in continual outgoings for the poor? He lived for the poor, he died for the poor; and blessed is he who remembereth the poor, even supposing he is not able to help them. I know I feel the spirit and power of Christ, as I feel love modified into compassion and pity." And this feeling led him to do whatever in him lay to relieve the distressed, and to do it in the Christian way, without the trumpet-tongue of the Pharisee, and not letting his left hand know what his right hand did. When he had little, of that little he gave willingly. He literally broke his bread and shared his morsel with the hungry, and taught his children to do the same. We have given an illustration of this on a former page. * Writing to Mrs. Clarke from the Bristol Conference, in 1798, he says: "I have just found out poor Mrs. C., with her mother and sister, living together in an indifferent upstairs room, St. James's Churchyard, Horsefair. I must give her something. But what shall I do? I have but 2s. 6d. I must break in upon my conference guinea." We transcribe these words with delicacy; but do it to show what manner of a man Dr. Clarke really was. In after life, when Providence gave him more, he was able to make his donations more weighty: "Give poor Ellen that guinea for me." "Give Mrs. a guinea for me.” "I have just heard that Mr. has become a bankrupt, and is in great distress. Can you show him any kindness? I have sent by Mrs. S. two guineas, which you will give to him, with my love. Do not delay."

* See page 214.

+ I find from his letters, that in his journeys in Ireland he went about

The exercise of his medical skill often gave him great consolation, as he was enabled thus to relieve distress and to save life. He exulted, also, in witnessing good done by others. Writing on a journey, he mentions an inscription. on a house in Rochester with which he was delighted: it set forth that Mr. had by will bequeathed a certain sum to be laid out at all times upon poor travelers, “six of whom every night (provided they be neither rogues nor proctors) may have their supper and a night's lodging, and fourpence a man next morning." "Was not this noble?" says he. "Peace to the manes of this honorable fellow!"

He set others to do good; not only by the general tenor of his doctrine and life, but by organizing associations for works of mercy to the body and the soul. Of this the Strangers' Friend Society is a blessed monument.

But Dr. Clarke's benevolence took a wider range than the necessities of the body. Not content with supplying according to his power the hungry with food, and clothing the naked with a garment, but recognizing the loftier destinies of our nature, he used every means at his command to meet the wants of the immortal mind. In the poorest orphan he beheld a being who could be brought to the knowledge of God as a Father, and become the heir of an endless life. To further the great cause of religious education was with him, therefore, a prominent duty; and by his long-continued appeals on behalf of Sunday schools, those important institutions were greatly aided. But in the year 1830 his attention was especially attracted to a providential opening for the establishment of some day schools in certain destitute neighborhoods in that part of Ireland where he himself had spent his childhood. A Christian friend, Miss Birch, who had already greatly aided him in his charitable enterprises, now united with three other ladies in placing funds at his disposal for this good work. The Rev. Samuel

At Millbrook one severe

with an open-handed bounty among the poor. winter he gave shelter and food to some twenty poor sailors from Liverpool.

Harpur, superintendent of the Coleraine Circuit, had corresponded with him on the subject, and pointed out such localities as, having been left in entire destitution, presented the strongest claims. These preliminaries were followed up by a personal visit on the part of the doctor himself, who in the spring of 1831 accomplished a long itinerancy in the north of Ulster, "about Magilligan, on Ahadowey; the upper part of the parish of Mocosquin; a place called Cashel, near the mountains of Newtownlimavaddy, and on the side of the river Bann; the sea-coast parts of the county Antrim; Portrush and its vicinity, where there was a large and increasing population, and where for miles there was no school of any kind, nor any sort of instruction, and where, consesequently, ignorance and vice had almost uncontrolled sway." As soon as the means were in existence, he gave Mr. Harpur the power to commence operations; so that, before his arrival, schools had been opened at Portrush and some other places, and suitable masters engaged for those yet contemplated. We give a specimen from a copious diary kept on his pilgrimage of mercy:

66

'April 13. Mr. Holdcroft and myself left Coleraine in a car, and proceeded to Port-Stuart and Portrush.

I have scarcely ever seen a sight more lovely; though the children are all miserably poor, and only half clothed, they are all quite clean, their hair combed, and even their bare feet clean also. There are eighty children, and all behaving with decorum-thus strangely changed in their conduct and habits. Wicked words no longer heard, and decency of behavior everywhere observable. They have not only learned prayers, but how to use them. I discoursed with some of the principal inhabitants, who bore the strongest testimony to the great good already produced not only among the children, but also among the parents. They are at present ill off for a place sufficiently large; and I am struggling hard to get a piece of ground, on which a chapel and school-house may be erected, and believe I shall ultimately succeed,