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serve in singing for Jesus much beyond her strength. To those hallowed hours memory now reverts with pleasure, and the effects of the sacred influences then enjoyed will never pass away.

At an early period she became connected with the Sunday-school, and for many years was an efficient teacher. She never trifled with this impor

tant work, but was anxious for the spiritual welfare of her class. As the Sabbath returned it found her cheerful, trusting that God would bless her efforts. She carefully prepared her lessons, and her scholars appreciated and loved her for her pious labours, and some are to-day witnesses that the good seed sown is already bearing fruit. With the infants she was a great favourite. For them she ever had a kind word and a smile. She worked agreeably and disinterestedly with her co-labourers, and in the singing department wrought good service. On April 21, 1869, she was united in marriage to Mr. T. E. Hepper, one of our local preachers, and he regards the past five years as the happiest of his life. Two years ago she was compelled, through domestic duties, to resign her post in the Sundayschool. She loved the school to such a degree that this step was taken with great reluctance and deep regret. At the same time she was willing that her husband, who was the superintendent, should employ time which might properly have been devoted to her in the good work, saying "Go, because you can be useful at Ebenezer." When the work did not make the progress expected, and he appeared discouraged, she was always ready with a cheering word, and urged him to persevere. The path of duty is frequently the path of difficulty, and occasionally is beset with danger, but when entered with Christian fortitude and perseverance, noble traits of character are developed which otherwise would have remained dormant. Our sister Hepper worked assiduously (at first alone, and afterwards with her husband) in the distribution of tracts, in one of the districts in Manchester Road. There she found a sphere of labour in which her soul delighted; her visits were anticipated with pleasure, and she acquired a considerable influence over the people. In eight years she has made thousands of visits, and often with one hand relieved the pressing necessities of the poor, while with the other she has presented the message of mercy. She made it a point to invite the children to the school, and the people to the bouse of God. One incident connected with those labours is worth a record. There lived at one home an old man and his wife. The wife was pious, but no impression could be made upon the husband. Death came, and the wife was taken to her rest. After that event, by her loving perseverance she won the old man, we believe, to trust in Christ, and he has since gone to the grave. As a mother she was anxious to train her boy for Christ, and in the formation of his habits took great pains in small matters. We may reasonably hope that by a continuance of such training, he will, as he grows in years, grow "in favour both with God and man." She had no desire to travel for the purpose of seeing great or ancient cities, and the glories and beauties of other lands. When absent for a week or two during the summer season at some neighbouring watering place, her letters were full of anxiety regarding her spiritual life, and she esteemed it a high privilege if she could meet and converse with some pious friend. When the term of absence had expired she was ever glad to return to home, and friends, and "dear Ebenezer." Her regular practice when she went away, was to take her Bible and text book, and a friend writing from Leeds, says: "During her stay with us I observed her reading her Bible, which she had brought from Bradford, before retiring to rest. This incident pleased me at the time, and with pleasure I now mention it." As a friend she was sympathetic, warm-hearted, and sincere. She was lively, ready to converse, and prepared almost at any moment to run on an errand of mercy. Mr. Green, of Sheffield, writes: "I retain a vivid recollection of the happy freedom and loving-kindness she exhibited during my stay at her house some time ago." At the funeral of one of the teachers many years since, while

the friends stood around the grave, and were singing that soul-cheering hymn,

"Come let us join our friends above
Who have obtained the prize,"

she said to a companion, "Is not this like heaven below?" In connection with several young friends, she was engaged successfully in collecting funds for the support of our Foreign Missions. We shall miss her from our young ladies' sewing meeting, and school anniversary, from the Christmas tree and Band of Hope entertainment-indeed, there were few meetings at Ebenezer, when she was well and at home, from which she was absent. For the ministers she had a high regard, and many of them can call to mind her natural and winning manner, when for a season they have enjoyed the hospitalities of her home. The evening of last Good Friday she spent at the house of a friend, and sang for the first time,

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They did not think it would prove to be her final visit, and that she would so soon afterwards realize the deep meaning of these simple lines. Her husband writes: "The last time she was at Ebenezer was on Sunday evening, May 3rd. She was anxious to go to the service, for, as she said to me, "it will be the sacrament, and it will be a long time before I have another opportunity of taking it." Our little boy had been very ill during the week, and she was uncertain whether she ought to go or remain with him. Í pressed her, and she finally consented. After the service she said, "I am so glad that I have been," little thinking that it would be her last. Having been blessed by Divine Providence with her second child, and when, as all friends thought, progressing towards convalescence, from some unknown cause she suffered a relapse on Whit Monday. No fatal issue was even then anticipated, but from that time her strength decreased daily. During her affliction her mind was assailed at times by strong temptation, but when directed to the precious promises and assured of the love and strength of the dear Redeemer, she was enabled to vanquish the tempter. Unable with her voice to join in singing, yet she joined in spirit while the hymn was sung:

"My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Saviour Divine;

Now, hear me while I pray,

Take all my sins away,
And let me from this day
Be wholly Thine."

When her senses became impaired and delirium had ensued, she was still employed in praise and prayer, and expressed desire for the spread of the work of God. The following account of her last moments is from the pen of her father: "On Whit Sunday, our esteemed pastor, the Rev. A. R. Pearson, preached in the morning from 2 Peter, i., 10, 11, on Christian diligence and its reward. She was then an invalid and unable to leave her room. In the evening I paid her a visit, and in conversation referred to the morning service as a truly profitable one, and along with her husband gave her an outline of the sermon. This she enjoyed very much, especially as it was accompanied by an account of the death of the late Rev. John Hunt, a Wesleyan missionary in Fiji, who shouted Hallelujah! nearly thirty times, a short time beforehe went to his everlasting rest. She was evidently greatly cheered by this conversation. On the day

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following, in the midst of a very severe attack, when seemingly unconscious about other subjects, she exclaimed unceasingly for a lengthened period, 'An abundant entrance !' 'An abundant entrance!' And when her strength was apparently all but gone she continued to whisper, An abundant entrance!" Nor was this an illusion of the brain caused by delirium, for on the day following, when she was calm and collected, she said to me, 'What a blessing it was that you told me about Mr. Pearson's sermon on the abundant entrance. Oh!' she continued, 'I have had such a deliverance from all my fears that I shall never doubt again. I am sure the Lord will take me to heaven if I die.' This conviction she repeated in other words to her mother, who, with other relations, ministered to her. On one occasion she said, 'I want to live for the sake of my dear husband and children, but if I am to be taken I know that I shall go to heaven, because the Lord has promised me, though I don't deserve it, an abundant entrance.' This happy assurance was mercifully continued until Monday evening, June 1st, when she peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, in the twenty-ninth year of her age. And so we believe, an entrance has been ministered to her abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

"There is the throne of David;
And there, from toil released,
The shout of them that triumph,
The song of them that feast;
And they, beneath their Leader,
Who conquered in the fight,
For ever and for ever

Are clad in robes of light."

On Thursday, June 4th, her remains were laid to rest in the Scholemoor Cemetery. A large concourse of friends were present, and testified by their tears the esteem in which she was held. Amongst the number were some of her dear scholars, who, we trust, are emulating her example and following her to the land of eternal rest. Five years ago she stood a radiant and happy bride at Ebenezer Communion, and only five weeks prior to the service for the improvement of her death, she knelt at the same Communion to receive the emblems of the Saviour's broken body and shed blood. Doubtless the Master knew that He would soon say to His dutiful servant "Come up higher," and strengthened her for the impending trial. Her chair is vacant by the fireside, and her place is vacant in the class and in the pew, but another citizen has entered heaven, another palm waves before the throne, and another voice has joined the song of the redeemed. The grass may grow green over her grave, and the snows of winter may cover it, yet it is impossible that either her holy deeds or memory will be forgotten. How loud is the call, while the Master's foot is so near, to ponder the momentous words memory now revives, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." Many letters have been received by the family from ministers and friends, and resolutions of condolence from the Quarterly and Leaders' Meetings, also from the School Committee, bearing testimony to her moral worth and Christian character, but want of space precludes their insertion. They have, however, been a source of much comfort to the bereaved in their deep affliction. In conclusion we may add that the dear babe joined her in the better land on July 29th, having attained the age of only three months. How brief a period have they been separated! They have now become companions for J. W. GREAVES.

ever.

Bradford, September 24, 1874.

ELIZA BARLOW,

DUKINFIELD.

WE desire to place before the readers of our Magazine a brief account of the manner in which a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus Christ sought, in her own humble sphere, to manifest the love she cherished for the Master. It was her happiness to experience the joy of conscious pardon when about nineteen years of age, and the time was one Sabbath morning in the year 1827. Her feelings at the time were similar to those which many others experience under like circumstances, varying most, perhaps, in their deep intensity; her eyes communicated to every visible object some of the brightness by which her own mind was blessed, so that everything appeared changed, even the trees and houses looked more beautiful now that she gazed upon them as a child rejoicing in the sunlight of God's newly-found favour. Going home she said to her parents, "Father, mother, I have always loved you, but I love you now more than ever I did; indeed, I love everybody, and wish to take everybody with me to heaven."

This love of everybody because she loved Jesus was no merely transient feeling, but the active principle which dwelt in her ever afterwards, and became the motive to a life-long endeavour to make the world better for her presence. In the mill, where she was a weaver, her quiet deportment and high Christian integrity won for her the confidence of her employers, and the respect of her fellow-workpeople. In the Sabbath-school, where she was a teacher, her intelligence, forbearance, punctuality, and general devotion to duty made her of inestimable value to superintendents, and set before other teachers a most praiseworthy example; while her passionate desire for the salvation of her scholars prompted her to use all the means that lay in her power to bring them to Jesus. In the church, where she became a class leader, her rich experience, her extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, and the power she possessed of readily clothing her thoughts and feelings with suitable words, made her largely helpful to the maturing of Christian graces in many hearts. The following testimony to her worth, from the pen of Mr. Samuel Mills, will give some idea of the great amount of good which may be accomplished through the influence of one devoted Christian :

"I had previously known sister Barlow from having seen her in the public services of the sanctuary, and having listened to her experience in our love-feasts; but it was on my appointment to Dukinfield school, many years ago, as superintendent, that I became more fully acquainted with her. That fuller acquaintance, I am bound to say, only served to enhance the esteem in which I had already held her character as a Christian and as a Christian worker. Very valuable, and always most willingly rendered, were her endeavours to promote the efficiency of the school, and nothing so much contributed to her happiness as signs of prosperity, whenever such signs were visible. How earnestly she longed for the salvation of her charge, and how zealously she laboured and prayed to secure it must yet be fresh in the recollections of those who enjoyed the benefit of her oversight and instructions. Sister Barlow's attachment to the school was only equalled by her attachment to the Connexion, of which she was a member. Few of its members have ever been in more perfect sympathy with its principles of church government, or more firm and tenacious in their adherence to its ordinances, doctrines, and institutions. For its ministers, as a body, and more especially for some of them under whose ministry she had been accustomed to sit, she entertained a deep and sincere esteem ; and I know that by most of those ministers this feeling was as sincerely reciprocated; by the Rev. David Barker, for example, the Rev. C. J. Donald, Dr. Stacey, the Rev. W. Mills, and others. Speaking of her attachment to our community, I am reminded of a circumstance which may very properly be mentioned as an illustration and evidence of it. The

Conference which had just taken place (1841) had found it necessary, after trying every other expedient to obviate the painful necessity, to remove from its ministry one, who, while a gifted and popular preacher, had sought to bring into disfavour certain doctrines and institutions of the Connexion. Disaffection and secession on the part of many were the results. The Ashton Circuit did not escape the fury of the storm which ensued. There were a few, however, who refused to be led away by the unreasoning passion and excitement of the crisis. Sister Barlow was among the number, and it is known that all the influence she possessed was most zealously employed to appease and remove the prejudices of the disaffected portion of the people. At a special meeting of the Circuit, convened in Ashton chapel, to hear the Rev. John Bakewell and others in vindication of the action of Conference, it was noticed with what deep and intense interest sister Barlow and another excellent sister, a leader in the Ashton Society, listened to all that was advanced. I feel as though I saw them now in the gallery of the chapel, to the right-hand side of the pulpit, bending over the pew to catch every word of the speaker, and appearing as though thrilled by the hope that success might attend the meeting.

"The ministers ever found in sister Barlow a devoted and efficient coworker in all revivalistic services, and the wrestling fervour of her prayers did much to render such services productive of their important results. She attached great value to revivalistic efforts, and was never wanting when it was arranged by the Church executive that they should be employed.

"Having, in fact, given her heart to God, she most thoroughly gave her heart and hand to God's Church; she loved it, she lived for it, and of her it may be said that she did what she could' to promote its honour, stability, purity, and progress."

The later years of her life are well described in the following remarks by our friend, Mr. J. Shaw :-" The disastrous cotton famine which affected so seriously thousands in this district made Miss Barlow also one of its victims, but not until her little all was spent did she avail herself of the world-famed charity that prevailed in the form of public relief. As our sister was getting advanced in life, it was evident to many of the friends that she would not be able to resume her work in the cotton-mill after the revival of trade, and therefore with a kindness, which was as useful to the Church as it was opportune for her, they engaged her as a village missionary in the neighbourhood. To this work she applied herself with all the energy she could command, and her ministrations as Scripture reader and religious counsellor were highly appreciated by the people. But in this work, so congenial to her tastes and disposition, she was not permitted to labour longer than for about two years. God, in His inscrutable wisdom, so afflicted our sister as to render her incapable of further prosecuting her work. But in all the years of her severe affliction she never murmured; was ever trustful, patient, and loving to the end."

My own knowledge of Eliza Barlow does not extend over about one year, but during that time I was frequently led to admire the intelligence of her mind and the deep-toned piety of her heart. Her affliction was the result of nervous debility and partial paralysis, so that she was not at all times able to help herself. During the last week of her life her nervous system seemed much weaker, but no fears were entertained of her being so near to death. Those with whom she resided had to earn their daily bread, but were always careful when leaving her alone in the house to place food within her reach, and the neighbours were accustomed to look in during the day and see that all was right. On the morning of Friday, July 24, a little before six o'clock, her friend, Miss Garside, gave her the Christian farewell to which they were accustomed. "Now, Miss Barlow, be sure you take care of yourself, I'm leaving you in the hands of Providence." "Well, you must go, good bye, and the Lord be with you." "Good bye, and the Lord bless you." Then she was left alone, and yet not alone. No mortal eye saw her breathe her last; but think you that she was forsaken

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