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well-attended Class gave evidence. He was several times Circuit Steward, and under his wise and vigorous management the Circuit-finances flourished; Ministers and people revere his memory for the long and faithful services he rendered to its temporal interests. He was also diligently employed in less conspicuous duties: Sunday-school teaching, the visitation of the sick and the distribution of tracts. As a man of business, it was his constant endeavour to act with perfect integrity and honour. In the intercourse of private life, his conversation (in which he was unusually apt and genial) frequently turned on religious subjects, and was often rich in Christian experience. He was of a devout spirit and had a most reverent regard for sacred things. His love for the House of God was extraordinary, and when at length through feebleness unable to attend its services, his disappointment was almost painful to witness. The young people connected with his own Church were often the subject of his conversation. He was anxious that they should be specially cared for, and that their minds should be enriched with Biblical and general truth. Although strongly attached to his own religious community, he was, nevertheless, of a very catholic spirit. His inability, for several years prior to his decease, to take a prominent part in the work of the Church was a source of deep regret. He several times confessed that it was not always easy cordially to say: 'The will of the Lord be done.' Intensely spiritual, genial in friendship, gifted with superior abilities and interested in every godly enterprise, his removal is a loss to both the Church and the community at large. His religious experience during the last weeks of his life was full of hope and trust in his beloved Saviour. Among his last expressions were: Nearer home'; 'Come, Lord Jesus.' After a somewhat protracted illness, which he bore with Christian resignation, his spirit gently took its flight to its heavenly rest, November 2nd, 1878.

MARK SHAW.

MARY LOCKWOOD died at Loughborough, November 16th, 1878, aged eightytwo years. At the age of fifteen she found peace with God, and cast in her lot with God's people. Having to leave home, she engaged herself as servant in the family of a Clergyman, but with the distinct understanding that she should be allowed to attend the Methodist services. Whilst thus employed, four of her fellowservants were, by her cheerful and con

sistent life, brought to decision for Christ. In 1827, she was appointed the Leader of a Class, the duties of which office she discharged with affectionate fidelity until within a few months of her death. She was a diligent visitor of the sick and poor. In not a few cases her prayers and efforts were crowned with success. Several 'fallen ones' were by her rescued from their evil courses and brought to know the Lord. Professed infidels, becoming the objects of her solicitude and prayers, evinced by the change of life the change in their opinions. It was her custom to select some of the worst cases in the town and to place them before the Lord in prayer, using other kindly means to lead them to consider their ways; she would then ask one of the Ministers of the Circuit to accompany her to their homes, and their united labours were blessed to the conversion of souls.

Towards the close of life she was very feeble, and almost unconscious of surrounding objects; but when the name of Jesus, or heaven, or home were mentioned consciousness returned: there was on her countenance a heavenly smile, and in a sweet, subdued tone she would say:

Bless Him! Praise Him! Hallelujah! Amen.' A few hours before she died, when it was thought that she was unconscious, the remark was made: Well, thank God, she is almost in heaven'; when, raising her hands, she shouted aloud: 'Glory, Hallelujah! Hallelujah, glory! Amen,' and soon after sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. She rests from her labours and her works follow her.

JOHN ROSSELL.

ON November 22nd, 1878, the Stockport (Tiviot-Dale) Circuit sustained a severe loss in the decease of Mr. JOHN APPLEBY, whose association with the venerable sanctuary at Tiviot-Dale dates from his earliest days. The year of its erection, 1826, was the year of his birth. His parents were pious members of the Methodist Society; and to one of the services connected with the dedication of the chapel he was brought by his mother when but a few months old. For the space of fifty. years it was to him 'the House of God.' Those who knew him from the beginning were accustomed to discern in his uniform piety the legitimate issue of that godly training which he received under the parental roof. Good seed was sown in a good and honest heart; and, nourished by the Holy Spirit, it brought forth fruit in due siThe 'unfeigned faith' in his mot ier, and the sterling worth and practical

son.

goodness in his father, were instrumental in securing that these graces should be in him also. At eight years of age his mother was wont to take him with her to the Class-meeting. Four years afterwards his name appears in a Class-book as an accredited member. Thus early was originated and fostered an attachment to this means of grace, which, in subsequent years, was evinced by the undeviating regularity of his attendance, and the faithfulness with which he urged the importance of it upon others.

His Christian consistency and devout spirit were early recognised as fitting him for the spiritual work of the Church. In 1857, the Rev. John Hall requested him to raise a class of young men. With what regularity and punctuality, with what intense convictions of its seriousness and value, with what quiet zeal and fervent prayerfulness, he fulfilled this duty, is well known to those who were privileged to be under his charge. It was his custom, when going to his Class-meeting, to request his wife to remember him and the other members at the Throne of Grace, and often did he return rejoicing greatly in the blessings they had received.

In the earlier years of his Christian life he took much pleasure in accompanying like-minded young men, on the evening of the Lord's Day, to cottage Prayermeetings. When these were discontinued, he made it a rule to remain at the Prayermeeting held in the chapel, and to induce others to follow his example. For more than thirty years he was actively engaged in Sabbath-school instruction. It proved to him a most congenial sphere of Christian toil. He sustained the offices of teacher, librarian, visitor and superintendent in the Sunday-school at Portwood, labouring diligently for spiritual benefit of the children, animated by the deep conviction, inspired by his own happy experience, of the importance of feeding the Lambs of the flock of Christ, and bringing them to the full enjoyment of His peace.

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As organist, for fifteen years, at TiviotDale, he found one of his chief joys in leading the praises of the Most High in the assembly of His people. He succeeded his father as the Circuit Treasurer to the Worn-out Ministers' and Ministers'Widows' Fund; and during the last year of his life was one of the Circuit Stewards of the Tiviot-Dale Circuit.

In his home-life, Mr. Appleby's Christian character was most conspicuously

seen. He was a kind master. Trustworthy, thoughtful and gentle, his presence was a blessing. One of the holy enjoyments with which he would allow nothing to interfere was the worship of God in his own family. In his estima. tion, it stood associated with the daily reception of grace and blessing, and with the spiritual peace and prosperity of himself and his household. Having an unwavering trust in the ever-present, ever-acting God, he saw His hand and heard His voice at all times and in every. thing. In the strength of this faith, and in the quietness which it inspired, he happily passed his days.

He

Some days before his removal he played and sang the 715th Hymn, in company with Mrs. and Miss Appleby, again and again, with an evident reluctance to cease. entered, in a very remarkable manner, into the spirit of the hymn, and realized its comforting truths. His surviving friends can now mark how, in that form, his Risen Lord was preparing him for the joys awaiting him, by bringing them very near to his view, and permitting him, in the anticipations of a lively faith, to comprehend that

'To fall asleep is not to die;

To dwell with Christ is better life.' The illness which terminated his life was short. When he became aware that his symptoms were assuming a serious aspect, he said: 'If anything should happen, all is well.' He would gladly have continued longer in the flesh, if the will of God had so ordained. To that will he bowed with a child-like submission. The hours of anxious watching, on the part of his sorrowing relatives, were deprived of much of their sadness, as they listened to the precious words of truth which fell from his lips; and to the promises that he quoted from those Holy Scriptures which he had known from his childhood. His parting counsel was ex pressed in two emphatic words: Follow Jesus.' His last request was: 'Lift me higher.' Careful, loving human hands instantly raised the sinking tabernacle; and, in a few moments, other hands, more loving still, unseen by the watchers in that chamber of death- A ministering host of invisible friends,' were lifting his soul higher and yet higher,' until it reached its everlasting Home.

Thus was taken from the Methodist Society at Tiviot-Dale a faithful brother and companion and fellow-soldier.

H. L. CHURCH.

HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, PRINTERS, LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1881.

SAMUEL COLEY:

BY ROBERT N. YOUNG.

THE year intervening between the Conference of 1880 and that of 1881 will ever be memorable in the annals of Methodism for the number of illustrious names, both of Ministers and laymen, recorded in the roll of its dead. The loss in the previous year of two such princes in Israel as John Bedford and John Rattenbury was but 'the beginning of sorrows.' In quick and startling succession the names of Samuel Coley, Francis Lycett, Frederick J. Jobson, W. Morley Punshon, Samuel R. Healey, William O. Simpson, were added to the mournful list-some, it is true, in the hallowed and tranquil evening of their life, but others while it was yet day.

In presence of bereavements which cannot but be regarded as admonitory, the most obvious duty is that of humbly and reverently endeavouring to learn to what peaceable fruit of righteousness' a discipline so signal points the way. For the Master has many things to say unto us, and not a few of them, perhaps, by way of rebuke; and it may be that He has chosen to lead us into paths of light and life through the valley of the shadow of death.' But while seeking to know what He would have us to do, it will be well for us to recall those features of the life and character of our dead which reveal to us the secret of their power for good; for if the life of the humblest disciple reflects the glory of his Lord, rich indeed must be the lessons which the lives of the distinguished men of whom our Church has been recently bereaved are capable of teaching.

The purpose of this Paper is not to exalt the name of one of these at the expense of the rest. If any comparison were possible, it could not be invidious. Each of these distinguished men was a man sui generis. One star differed from another star in glory, but the difference was one of kind rather than of degree. Other hands have already woven, or will yet weave, a graceful and fitting tribute to the worth of each of them; and in singling out the name of Samuel Coley from the illustrious brotherhood of death, the writer of this Paper aims simply at putting on record a few memorials of a very beautiful life, for the satisfaction of some who will be grateful to have their recollections of him refreshed, and for the inspiration of others who, in the achievements of his life, will learn the possibilities of their own.

SAMUEL COLEY was born in Birmingham, on February 17th, 1825. There is little in the available records of his ancestry to interest the mere genealogist; nor is it necessary to the purposes of this sketch to trace his

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