"The course of her religious life was even; there were no sudden changes ever observed in her. From the time of her conversion she sternly set herself against sin in every form. Her companions were those who feared God. Her dress was neat and plain. Her conversation was frank, kind, sincere, and free from lightness; and whoever of her neighbours were in trouble were sure soon to have her by their side. It has been my happiness to know many deeply pious people in this Circuit, but our departed sister was one of the holiest I ever knew: she died with a heart full of humility, gratitude, peace, and joy, on February 5th, 1873, aged seventy-nine years." S. W. L. RECENT DEATHS. OCTOBER 13th, 1872. - At Scarborough, Mr. John Fearby Sutcliffe. He was favoured with a pious Wesleyan ancestry. His grandmother was noted for her piety and zeal for God. His mother was one of those gifted women to whom the Church has been indebted for some of its loftiest influences; and his father (the late John Sutcliffe, Esq., of Milton Hall) was a man of most exemplary devoted ness. The son was converted to God in his school-days, the instrumentality employed being a correspondence with his father, in which the salvation of his soul was urged upon him as the "one thing needful." On leaving school, the youth became a loving and earnest teacher in the Sunday-school; and some, who are now men and women in the Church, speak of the tenderness shown to the little ones by the "young master." In due time, at Sowerby-Bridge, and afterwards at Scarborough, he held office as trustee, steward, leader, and superintendent of Sabbath-schools; and in all these positions he secured the confidence and love of all concerned. As a leader he was faithful and wise. He had commenced a new class for young people about six months before his death; and they mourn for him as for a father. Having much leisure, he took delight in visiting and relieving the sick and the poor, affording at the same time both temporal and spiritual consolation. Mr. Sutcliffe was most happily joined in marriage to Miss Bentley; and to her refinement of manner, clearness of judgment, and tender affection, he was largely indebted for all that is lovely in a Christian home. For some months it was evident that his strength was failing, and his Christian graces growing. He spoke in a lovefeast just one week before his death, declaring his readiness, if called, at that very moment to "lay down his tabernacle." During the week he was found at his class; visiting a dying member of the Society; preparing for an approaching tea-meeting; and then went to bed in his usual health. In the night he was seized with apoplexy. Medical help was at once secured; but all was in vain. He continued in a state of unconsciousness for thirty-six hours; and then the word was given, the rest was gained, he slept " in Jesus." J. S. October-At Kington, William Anson, in the eighty-third year of his age. In early life he had few educational or religious advantages; and when a young man, living in the neighbourhood of Knneklas, Radnorshire, he was a persecutor of religion. Heafterwards came to reside at the Hengoed Farm, near Gladestry: and when there, was led, by some unknown circumstance, to come to Kington, to see what arrangement could be made with the Wesleyan ministers for holding Divine service in his house. Preaching was consequently commenced, and regularly carried on there, resulting in great good, many being "the slain of the Lord." Among these was our deceased brother. This was the foundation of the Methodist cause in that neighbourhood, and it led to the erection of the present chapel at Gladestry. His house was the home of the ministers when on their rounds in the upper part of the Kington Circuit, and of those of other denominations, who were treated with the like hospitality. He was fond of conversation upon religious subjects, and has been known to go to Hereford and Abergavenny, in order to debate with the Roman Catholics in those places. He was a man of sound principle, and was possessed of a large amount of common sense. Himself addicted to reading, he established a small library in the parish of Huntingdon. He was a regular attendant upon the means of grace; his religious experience was clear and full; and though often mourning over his own unworthiness, his hope of eternal happiness, through Christ, was strong. He would sometimes say that he had no fear of death, being fixed on the Rock Christ Jesus. Death came to him unexpectedly. When he was told by his medical attendant, an hour or two before his departure, that he could not live long, he replied, "Shan't I?" and folded his arms, as though going to sleep. In this way he passed away peacefully to eternal rest. T. B. October 24th.-At Mildmay Park, London N., aged sixty-eight years, Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter-inlaw of the late Dr. Hamilton, City Road. She was born at Baldock, Hertfordshire, and brought by her parents when a mere child to London. Here she became one of the first scholars in the "Land of Promise" (Hoxton) Sundayschool, and afterwards a teacher. While she was yet young she began to seek after God, and for more than fifty years walked humbly with Him. She was a lovely example of "the wisdom that is from above,-first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits." In "that day," when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest, she will be recognized as "a succourer of many." She was conscientious and exemplary in her attendance on the means of grace, private as well as public, and loved to meet with them "that feared the Lord" and "spake often one to another." In the last years of her life she was called to "endure a great fight of afflictions;" but her faith never failed. Patiently submitting herself unto God, she endured "hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." "Exercised" by severe "chastening" she "yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness." After a short illness she calmly passed away, to spend eternity in heaven's unclouded light. W. H. C. November 26th.-At Ryde, Mr. George Woods, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. For more than sixty years he was a consistent member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society. He was for many years a useful class-leader and local preacher. It is believed that he was converted to God under the ministry of the late Rev. R. Moody, whose text on the occasion was, "They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, ..and mourn." His mourning was deep, and his subsequent joy rose high. His Christian life was truly exemplary, being marked by great earnestness, simplicity, and deep piety. Mr. Woods "adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things." Through a long life he uniformly sustained the character of "a good man." He was greatly attached to the Church of his choice, and highly valued his fellow. ship with the people of God. He was remarkable for his constant and punctual attendance on the ordinances of God's house. The Sabbath early morning prayer-meeting, and the ser vices of the day, were to him a source of hallowed delight. Nor was he less interested in the week-night services. When the hour of worship drew near, he would at once suspend all secular occupation, that he might attend upon things spiritual and Divine. He had a special gift and power in prayer. Many have testified to the good they received while he pleaded with God; and through his prayers sinners were saved. During his latter years he was much deprived of the public means of grace, but his faith and hope failed not. His course was finished without any warning that he was so near the goal. He cheerfully retired to rest, and was left for a short time alone to pray, but ere his devoted wife returned he had gained "The mountain top, Where faith in sight is swallow'd up, And prayer in endless praise." "He was not for God took him." " His children arise up, and call him blessed." L. W. December 12th.- Miss Eliza English, of Peterborough. She was born in the year 1811, and during her youth attended the services of the Established Church. When an elder sister joined the Wesleyan-Methodists it was a source of trouble to her. She however soon followed her sister's example, and connected herself with the Society, of which for many yearsshe continued a most devoted member. A few years after her conversion she was led earnestly to seek for a clean heart, by sermons she heard on "Indwelling Sin" and on "Entire Sanctification." She now also entered on a course of religious activity, and as the leader of two classes, as a tract-distributor, and as a visitor of the sick, was much honoured of God. Naturally of a kind and winning disposition, possessed of considerable strength of character, and full of love to God and souls, she laboured unceasingly for her Master, her work not being confined to her class or district, but extending to the city at large. Her end was preceded by a period of failing strength, which though it scarcely indicated to others so speedy a close of life, was evidently to herself premonitory. She was in her place in the house of God the last Sabbath but one which she spent on earth. After some rapidly-increasing evidences both of physical and mental disease, a fit of apoplexy terminated her holy and useful course. December 13th. At her residence, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, Louisa, sister of the Rev. Thomas Burrows, Wesleyan minister. She was brought to God when a scholar in a Sabbath-school in Manchester, and for many years enjoyed the blessing of entire sanctification. At this time the language often on her lips was, "Rising to sing my Saviour's praise, Thee may I publish all day long: And let Thy precious word of grace Flow from my heart, and fill my tongue; Fill all my life with purest love, Her last affliction was protracted and painful but she had that heaven of a Christian on earth, entire resignation to the Divine Will. She frequently called on her friends to praise God with her, and bymn after hymn was sung at her bedside, until she "sank in blissful dreams away, And visions of eternal day." т. в. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS, HOXTON SQUARE. |