school and local preacher. He left England for Colombo Trinity Works, September 27th, 1882. His illness was only of three days' duration. He was much beloved by all the hands on the works, highly esteemed by members of his own church, and great sympathy is felt for his widow and five children. W. BRAY. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF THE CONNEXION. "Some have mistaken blocks and posts For spectres, apparitions, ghosts With saucer eyes and horns, and some ANY of the highways and byways in the C― circuit were long and lonely walks after night, and the superstitious gossip of the villagers did not increase our comfort, especially when wending our way through Silver Valley, where will-o'-the-wisps danced about, and it was said unearthly sights and sounds had been seen and heard. Our pastor had been scared more than once, and thought he was followed by some "light-heeled ghost; " and his colleague, Br. H., declared that one night when passing through the valley he saw and heard strange things, "as if dead men had come and walked about," and "legions of dire malicious fiends" blocked his way. But," he said, “I shouted " 'Jesus, the name high over all, In hell, or earth, or sky, Angels and men before it fall, We have a vivid And in a moment the road was all clear." recollection of the night when the pastor of the circuit came home in a fearful plight and fright. He had dashed and splashed through water and mud as fast as his legs could carry him. "Pursued," he said; and pursued he was, but we soon discovered that the pursuer was a friend, a member of the village chapel where he had preached, who was hastening to town to fetch the doctor, and being informed that the preacher was a little a-head, ran to overtake him and have his company into town; but the frightened preacher was not to be overtaken. This proved to be the swiftest return he ever made from a country appointment. We were frequently assisted in chapel anniversaries and missionary meetings by two young brethren who were popular then, and so remain. One was from the Three Towns and the other from the town of Clear. We have pleasing remembrances of these early associations and D friendships, which have deepened and strengthened as the years have rolled on. One day we had an exciting race from the banks of a beautiful tidal river to the craggy heights of Pleamore Rock, and the next day, in company with the captain of a mine, we descended by ladder ways two hundred fathoms beneath the surface. The incidents of the day were woven into thrilling speeches at night, and greatly enhanced the vivacity and interest of the meetings. The brother whose name resembles Bran was very apt and ready in moralizing on our climbing the rock and our descent into the mine. We had some flourishing societies and substantial chapels before our cause was established in the market town of C-. The brother so remarkable for "motion and emotion in the pulpit and out of it," had built several chapels in the country villages before he could secure a site in the town, and we have the impression that this was the last chapel he erected. Within its walls we have witnessed remarkable manifestations of stupendous grace in the conversion of some who, it may be truly said, were "of the baser sort." Jhad been a great drunkard and fighter. For twenty years he had only once entered a place of worship, and that was the parish church when he was married. When converted he could scarcely read, but at once applied himself to reading and soon became a teacher in the Sunday-school. His wife resembled an Amazon. More than once she had to stand in the criminal dock, and at fisticuffs was almost a match for her husband. When he was tipsy he always had the worst of it. Once in a public-house row she floored both of the constables who were called in to quell the riot. When charged with the assault before Sir W. The said to Constable S- "Did this woman knock you down?" 'Yes, your honour." And to Constable B 66 he said, "Did this woman knock you down, too?" "Yes, your honour." "And two pretty fools you must be to let a woman knock you down." She was let off with the caution not to appear there again. The grace of God wrought an effectual change in the heart and life of both husband and wife. The success of our cause in this town was principally due to the zeal and fidelity of a brother who bore an angelic name. He was a thorough Bible Christian, but for some time had worshipped with the Wesleyans as we had no chapel in the town. When he came with us several of his class followed him to the Bible Christian chapel, and to the end of life's journey Br. Mwas a successful class-leader. One of his followers thought he could save a little by being a 66 Bible Christian, and at the end of the quarter wanted his leader to take two shillings and sixpence for his ticket. "That will not do," said M'Do you think religion is not worth so much in a Bible Christian chapel as in a Wesleyan? You gave five shillings for your quarterly ticket up there, and religion is no cheaper down here; I shall not take less than five shillings from you, so be consistent now-and out with the money, as you say you thoroughly enjoy our ministry." The five shillings was given. We have not met with one who surpassed Br. Meffectual prayer, and fervent praise. When he audibly gave vent to his feelings it was as the "sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees." in We have often seen him put a crowd of scoffers to shame and flight who would jeeringly say to him when leaving the chapel, "Amen, Br. M—————; praise the Lord! hallelujah!” "Ah!" he would say, and turn his smiling face on them; "Yes, my dears, praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless and praise His holy name. My amens are real, yours are sham; I praise the Lord from the bottom of my heart, you only with the lip. My praise is helping me up to heaven; your scoffing, unless you repent, will bring you down to hell. I am afraid I shall have to say amen to your damnation!" These faithful warnings were blessed to the salvation of some. We will give as nearly as possible in his own words how he gave the first chance of escape to his comrade when both their lives were in danger. He said, "P. R. and I were working together sinking a shaft. It was through hard rock, and all the work had to be done by blasting. We were down some considerable depth, and the rock we blasted was drawn up by a windlass. So the man at the top would wind up one of us to assist him in drawing up the stuff; and also when we had charged a hole for blasting, one would be drawn up to assist in winding up the other as quickly as possible when he had lighted the safety fuse. "One day he had sunk a deep hole and it was heavily charged, but somehow when he had nearly finished tamping it he cut the safety fuse, and it caught fire. We saw our danger in a moment, and both sprang to the rope and placed one foot each in the kibble and shouted, 'Wind up.' But the man at the top could not wind up both, and it was evident that one of us would be killed. I let go the rope, and said, 'Go up, P., I am not afraid to meet death." P- — went up shouting and crying to the man at the windlass to wind up as fast as possible, the safety fuse was burning, hoping there might be time to drop the kibble to save me. I stood with my back against the shaft, fully expecting in a few seconds to be in heaven. The hole blasted. I felt as if bodily lifted and dropped on my feet, and as if some one had smitten me on the face; big stones rolled about, and smaller ones were thrown to the surface, but I was unhurt, had not a bruise, or scratch, or mark of powder on me. My comrade shouted from the top, 'Are you not dead, my dear M.?' 'No,' I replied, 'do not know whether I am hurt or not; down with the kibble.' P. called again, 'You cannot come up alone.' 'Yes, I can;' and cautiously they let down the kibble through the dark and stifling powder smoke, and I was soon at the top, making the hill side ring with praises to God who had so miraculously saved my life." Presents from far and near were sent him; he was requested not again to work in a mine; he did not, and this gave him greater opportunities for usefulness in the church. Our God "delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs in heaven and in earth." Missionary Meetings. MILLOM. Our missionary services have passed off very successfully. On Saturday, November 15th, Br. W. Jeffery gave one of his popular lectures to an enthusiastic audience. The number was not so great as usual owing to other attractions elsewhere, but those present much appreciated the lecture. On Sunday, the 16th, five sermons were preached in our two chapels by the Brethren Jeffery and Sutton to good congregations. On Monday the annual meeting was held at Millom, and on Tuesday at Haverigg. The attendance was good. On Wednesday evening the series of services was brought to a close by another lecture from Br. Jeffery. The chair was taken at the lectures by the pastor: at the Millom meeting by Mr. Nicholas, and at the Haverigg meeting by Br. Bartle. The collections are in advance of any previous year. The two brethren have rendered us good service. Br. Jeffery's visit will be long remembered. His fine, racy style, coupled with his cheerful disposition, procured for him a warm place in the hearts of the Millom friends. We are now busy in "getting up" a bazaar, to be held on New Year's Day, by which we hope to pay off some of the heavy debt on the Millom Chapel. Chapels. C. B. ATWORTHY (KILKHAMPTON CIRCUIT).-It is only about six weeks ago the friends here decided to make a determined effort to remove a part of the debt, and on Friday, December 5th, Br. S. B. Lane, from Barnstaple, preached in the morning. Luncheon followed, largely attended. A bazaar was opened at 2.30. Tea followed in due course, and Mr. Lane gave a first-class lecture at night. Many friends, too numerous to mention, rendered valuable service. The profits were over £52. J. BENDLE. P.S.-Better news still, over twenty persons have professed conversion at Edi stone. WHITSTONE, (HOLSWORTHY CIRCUIT.)—After being closed for several weeks for the purpose of effecting extensive improvements, the above Chapel was reopened November 21st. Large numbers gathered from different parts of the Circuit. The Rev. J. Flew (Wesleyan) preached a very excellent sermon in the morning. Over sixty persons afterwards sat down to a first-class luncheon, which had been given by the Ladies' Committee. The afternoon meeting was presided over by Mr. W. Penhale in a most efficient manner Stirring speeches were delivered by the Revs. J. Flew, G. Daniel, and I. Carne. At the public tea the crowd was great. Over 300 sat down. In the evening meeting the chapel was thronged. Mr. Westlake, Lifton, took the chair, and led off the meeting in fine style. The speakers. the Revs. J. Bentley (United Methodist Free Church), J. Ninnis, G. Daniel, fully sustained the meeting. The writer made a statement to the effect that the work done to the Chapel could only be fully appreciated by those who knew its former dilapidated condition. Though only built twenty years, it had, through imperfect ventilation, fallen into a state of decay. New windows with Bath stone frames and Cathedral glass had been substituted for the old ones. A great deal of the floor had been newly laid. Three of the walls plastered with Portland cement. The whole had been thoroughly cleaned, the walls coloured, and the seats revarnished, etc. The Mr. Wiffen contracted for the work, except the carpenter's, for £100. carpenter's bill is £15. There will be a few extras, which perhaps will make the total cost £120. On the day of opening £108 was raised, made up as follows: Mr. W. Stanbury Mr. R. Webb.... Mr. Parsons Mr. J. Heard £ s. d. 20 O 7 10 5 0 5 0 |