Sunday-school, and when fifteen years of age became a very zealous Sundayschool teacher. At the age of sixteen his mother took him with her to the class-meeting, and there is every reason to believe that about this time his religious character was decided-even at this early period of his life he was in the habit of leading family worship at home. About this time also one of his sisters died, and during the time of her illness he was constantly praying with her. Three months later another sister died, and the sister who survives him is the last of the family now left, and she was so impressed at the time that she took notes of his conversations with his dying sister, which she used afterwards to read to her own children. When a little over seventeen years of age he preached a watch-night sermon, and at eighteen years of age he was received on the plan as a local preacher, preaching his trial sermon at Milburn-place Chapel, North Shields. Last summer he paid a visit to the same place, and preached in the same chapel, and at that service three old friends were present who remembered hearing him preach his trial sermon. At the age of nineteen he returned to Sheerness, and when only twenty he married his first wife, but in three years' time lost her by death. Owing to his removal to Sheerness he was severed for a time from the New Connexion, and for some time he was connected with what was then known as the Wesleyan Association. Subsequently he laboured amongst the Independents, by whom he was highly esteemed, and to whom he rendered valuable service as a lay preacher. It was amongst them that he met with his second wife, who survives to mourn his death. Our departed brother had a strong desire to enter the ministry of the New Connexion, a desire that was never realised, and it was a constant sorrow to him that circumstances had separated him from that Connexion which was the Church of his choice. In 1873, however, Providence opened the way for his removal to Halifax, and there at last he was able to enjoy Christian fellowship with the Church he so much loved. He was a frequent contributor to the press, and his labours in connection therewith were so harassing and incessant that his health broke down. He was also for many years associated with the Northern Counties League for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, and for about six years was travelling agent to the National Association for Repeal. About a year and a half ago, while arranging for a public meeting at Dover, his health failed, and the foundation of an illness was laid from which he never fully recovered. In the year 1877 he settled in London, where he joined the Southville Society, labouring as a local preacher in the circuit, and filling the office of treasurer circuit steward, being very highly esteemed and beloved by all our friends. On leaving the National Association (his health and strength being unequal to the arduous duties required), he became Secretary of the Commercial Travellers' Christian Association, and laboured very zealously in connection therewith. A short time before his death the writer received from him the first number of a serial representing the above Association, and which, with characteristic zeal, he had consented to edit. At the same time he laboured hard to raise £1000 for the purpose of providing Bibles and libraries to hotels frequented by commercial travellers; but in the midst of his labours he was stricken down. For ten years he had suffered, more or less, from illness, and his energy and zeal often led him to overtax his strength, and indeed he may be said to have died in harness, for while engaged in his duties on Thursday, the 7th of December, he was taken very ill, and had to be removed to his home. He never rallied, and died peacefully, but suddenly, on the following day, at the age of sixty years, and was interred at Norwood Cemetery on the 13th December, 1882, a large concourse of sorrowing friends attending his funeral, and showing their respect for his memory. For many years our departed brother was a zealous labourer in the cause of Temperance, and amongst the advocates of that cause were many of his warmest friends. In addition to his own bodily suffering, he had been bereaved of his first wife and four of his children, and he also felt very keenly the loss of a beloved brother. He left behind him his widow, a son in Australia, a daughter and a son-in-law; and to these bereaved relatives all who know them have tendered their warmest sympathy. Our departed brother owed much to the Sunday-school, and to the training and example of his mother. How many saints now in heaven, and how many here on earth, are in like manner indebted to a mother's piety and a Sundayschool teacher's devoted labours! The early piety of our brother is worthy of special notice, training him as it did for a useful and devoted life. A religion that had fairly taken hold of him at the age of sixteen, and that had been his support through all his varied circumstances, in health, in sickness, in labours, and bereavements—a religion which he loved to preach, and to commend to others by his example-a religion which sustained him to the day of his death, and when he had begun to verge on old age, must be a grand reality. We thank God that our brother's life has been one long proof and manifestation of the reality, the power, and the blessedness of the Gospel of Christ our Saviour. In his general characteristics our brother was distinguished by great and varied intelligence, by deep earnestness, and keen conscientiousness. He was also very sympathetic and warm-hearted, of mild and winning manners, and invariably gained the respect and affection of those who knew him. But the best of all was that all his varied gifts were consecrated to the service of God and his fellow-men. He himself would have been the first to deny that he was a perfect man, for, like the best of us, he doubtless had his failings and imperfections; but he was what grace had made him—a good, a useful, and a devoted man. I hesitate not to say that every philanthropic enterprise has lost in him a friend, and the Church a devoted labourer. May God raise up many more such men, for our world sorely needs them! and may we be comforted by the thought that he has been taken to a higher platform, and to a wider sphere of labour, where his ransomed, consecrated, and now glorified powers will still be employed, but in larger and fuller measure, in the service of the Master and Saviour of mankind! Both at our Southville and Brunswick Chapels the death of our brother was improved to full congregations, and at Brunswick Chapel the presence of a goodly number of local preachers testified to the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-labourers in the Lord's vineyard. God buries His workmen, but still carries on His work; a soldier of the Cross has fallen out of our ranks, but the Captain of our salvation is still with us, and, blessed be His name, since our brother's death God has encouraged and compensated us in London by beginning to revive His work amongst us. A large number of letters of sympathy have been received from ministers and others who knew and highly esteemed our departed brother. The Rev. Dr. Cooke says:-"Those who knew him best loved him most for his many excellencies, and will deeply deplore his death, on your account, and on account of the loss to the Church of God and the public at large." The Rev. W. J. Townsend says:-"I had a very great esteem for him. He was so kind in manner, so devoted in spirit, and so pure in principle, that he could not but be loved where he was known." The Rev. S. Meldrum says:—“ I have often admired his great calmness, equanimity of temper and great patience in affliction, and in circumstances of a very trying nature. I never remember hearing an angry word escape his lips, however great the provocation might be. His ardent attachment to the Church with which he was so intelligently identified quite won my admiration." Another friend writes :-"Our feeling, for I speak for others as well as myself, was that he was being a martyr to the cause of duty and benevolence for the weaker members of society." The Rev. A. Collinson writes:-“He was a kind, generous, good man, who lived a conscientious Christian life." The Rev. T. W. Slater writes:-"He laboured much for the social, moral, and spiritual well-being of his friends, neighbours, and country. Surely to him there would be a 'Well done.'" These testimonies might be largely multiplied, besides which there are resolutions of sympathy from our London Circuit and Local Preachers' Meetings, and from various societies with which our brother was connected; but enough has been given to show that he was beloved and esteemed as one of the precious of the earth. We conclude by commending his bereaved widow and family to the God of all consolation, assured that our prayers on their behalf will be heard, and that they will be guided, comforted, and upheld to the end of their journey, and until they rejoin him who has gone before, where parting will be unknown, where "All the shadows melt away W. G. D. MRS. WATTS, widow of the Rev. Henry Watts, and mother of the Rev. Dr. Watts, died February 28, aged 78 years. "He giveth His beloved sleep." Ox Monday, February 26, 1883, Mr. THOMAS PRECIOUS, of York, died suddenly, in the forty-fifth year of his age. MBS. REYNOLDS, widow of the Rev. William Reynolds, entered into rest on the 18th February, aged 73 years. THE REV. J. P. Treloar has sustained a terrible loss by the early removal of his beloved wife, JANE VAUGHAN TRELOAR, who expired February 1, aged 26 years. Their infant child also was snatched away about the same time. MR. GEORGE CHADWICK, of Armley, well known and much esteemed in our Leeds First Circuit, died November 19, 1882, aged 54 years. ELIZABETH, wife of Mr. Joseph Hampshire, also of the Leeds First Circuit, entered the rest of heaven, after much suffering here below, on December 29th last, in the 67th year of her age. MISS LEVADA ARZONA NANKIVELL, of West Kensington, a devoted lover of and worker for our Bethel cause, was suddenly called away to her exercises above, on February 12, aged 19 years. DIED, on Sunday, March 4, at Lindley, Mr. JOHN BINNS, in the 73rd his age. "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." year of Our Connexional Outlook. PACKINGTON-STREET CHAPEL, LONDON. MONDAY, February 26, was the occasion of an exceedingly interesting event at this chapel. A "welcome home" tea-meeting was held, to give expression to the gratitude and pleasure felt by the ministers and Churches belonging to our Churches in London, on the safe return of the Rev. C. D. Ward, D.D., from his official visit to the Mission Churches in Australia, as deputed by the last Annual Conference. After partaking of an excellent tea in the schoolroom, the friends adjourned to the chapel for the public meeting. On the platform were the Rev. C. D. Ward, D.D., the guest of the evening, Rev. W. Cooke, D.D., Rev. E. Wright, Rev. J. E. Radcliffe, Rev. J. Dudley, Rev. W. D. Bainbridge, Rev. T. Boycott, Rev. F. Jewell, with Messrs. Johnson and Webber. A hymn having been sung, the Rev. T. Boycott offered prayer and praise to God for the safe return of His servant. Another hymn having been sung, the Rev. W. Cooke, D.D., who presided, stated the object of the meeting, and congratulated the friends on again having amongst them their valued friend. The Rev. E. Wright (Chairman of the London District) expressed his own pleasure at the presence of Dr. Ward. He should almost envy him the pleasing reminiscences of those sunny climes to which it had been his lot to journey. He had seen so much more of God's earth than most of them, and it must be a great delight to him. He had visited the southern sphere, and the great continent which in many respects was in its infancy. Most of the great achievements of men have been on this side of the equator, but greatness is slumbering in the south, and it will awake and make itself felt in coming times. The Evangelical work which has been done there will help to develop its resources. Among other greatness there will be felt the greatness of Methodism, which they had done something to plant there. The Rev. J. E. Radcliffe was in full sympathy with the objects of the meeting, and greatly rejoiced in the safe return of Dr. Ward. After another hymn the Chairman rose to formally welcome and introduce Dr. Ward, amid prolonged applause. Dr. Ward, who was received with great heartiness, said he had many thoughts and feelings rushing through his head and heart, yet felt utterly unable to give expression to them. But he would take this first public opportunity of expressing thanks to God for his preservation and return. He had been" in perils on the deep" during those ninety-six days and nights which it took in going and coming. There was no heart so full of joy as his own, for no one knew so well as himself his love for home. Not that he regretted the visit-he could never do that-indeed, he was glad of it now that it was over. He was ready to go anywhere and do anything that duty to the Connexion required of him. And this he would say, whatever may be the result of his visit to the Australian Churches, he would always have this satisfaction, that he had done his utmost to fulfil his mission. He would not mind the perils through which he had passed if he served the cause of his Divine Master. When they left Plymouth on September 10, last year, the captain said, "All being well, we shall be at our journey's end in thirty-three days;" but instead of that it took them fifty-four days. Twice during the voyage their high-pressure engines broke down, and they had to take to sailing, with the help of the low-pressure engines, while gales knocked their big ship about as if it had been only a toy. For eight days they lay off Simon's Bay, while the Admiralty repaired their engines, and of the 800 souls on board, not one was allowed to go ashore, because the small-pox was prevalent there. Two passengers, contrary to orders, did go ashore, but they fell into the hands of the officials, and were sent to prison, and the ship went on without them. In three days after leaving Simon's Bay, and during a heavy gale, the engines broke down a second time, and then came a head-wind, which made it all the more difficult to make any progress at all. However, after fifty-four days they reached Melbourne. There they had been preparing a magnificent welcome for him; but, owing to the delay in the voyage, the impatient colonists held the meeting two days before his arrival, and gave him a thorough welcome in their own way. When, however, it was known that he had arrived, nothing would suit them but they must have another welcome tea-meeting. And the chapel was covered with flowers, plants, palm-trees, and ornaments, making it look like paradise regained. He was rejoiced to find a good deal of old-fashioned Methodism in that land -earnest singing and responses, fervent speaking, and every sign of life. They have no State Established Church there-as in this land-overshadowing and looking patronisingly down upon Churches more independent than itself. They were all brethren there and equals, and it was beautiful to see this. Another pleasing thing which he noticed was the loyalty of the people to British institutions and to our Queen, He was perfectly amazed at the storm of applause which always followed the mention of Queen Victoria. It was the universal feeling, except among Roman Catholic priests, and they were an exception. On board the same ship, going to Australia as missionaries, were sixteen Roman Catholic priests from Maynooth College, and even on the voyage they could not suppress their disloyalty. When the passengers sang "God save the Queen," as they often did, these priests always refused to take part-refused to uncover their heads, or in any way to show the least respect for our Sovereign Lady. He could not help thinking that if all Roman Catholic priests were like them, Ireland would be better without their influence, and that it was a pity these men should be allowed to go to the ends of the earth to sow the seeds of disaffection there. And the thought would come, too, where had they imbibed these feelings? Had they learnt them at Maynooth? and if so, it is but poor return for Government grants. Many other deeply interesting things did the reverend gentleman say of the Christian people of the colony, of the kindness of the ministers to him, and of the high estimation in which our missionaries are held in the country. He said their church in Adelaide is one of the best in the city, and stands on a site which is worth a very large sum of money. He had a great deal more to say of an official character, but that must be stated to the Missionary Committee in his report. When he had had time to attend to those things which are most pressing on his attention, he would have great pleasure in giving them a lecture on his travels and what he had seen, and also in showing them some of the curiosities he had gathered together. He had a good deal to endure, but much more to rejoice over. felt very grateful to the friends and his ministerial brethren for the hearty reception he had met with on his return home. He would publicly thank Dr. Cooke for the manner in which he had filled his place as Editor and Book Steward during his absence. And he hoped, now that he was home again, to resume his duties with increased vigour, to work harder than ever, for hard work was easy when He |