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March 21st.-At Slingsby, in the Malton Circuit, Thomas Bickers, aged seventy-three. He enjoyed the blessing of justification by faith before he had a favourable opportunity of uniting with our society. A few persons in similar circumstances assembled together; he was chosen Leader at the first meeting, and continued in that office for forty-three years. During a lingering affliction, he enjoyed much consolation, and departed in peace. W. W.

March 22d.-At Misterton, in the Gainsborough Circuit, aged thirty, Sarah Ann, the wife of Mr. Isaac Wilson. In the year 1835 she was truly converted to God, and became a member of the Methodist society. Her Christian career was marked by deep personal affliction, combined with strong faith, and a high degree of religious joy. She lived and died a triumphant example of God's power to save.

J. C. H.

March 22d.-At Marridge-Hill, in the Hungerford Circuit, Mrs. Fanny Avenall, aged seventy-eight. She received her first religious impressions under the ministry of the late Rev. W. Vipond, and the Rev. G. Gellard, and took many weary steps to enjoy the means of grace; but she obtained mercy, and the word of the Lord was precious. She was a woman of a meek and quiet spirit, travelling in a rough and stormy way. Prayer and praise were united in her last illness, and she passed through death triumphant home." P. O.

March 22d.-At Wrexham, Elizabeth, wife of Mr. W. Grant, aged forty-seven. In early life she was brought under the saving power of the Gospel, and became a member of the WesleyanMethodist society. For many years she was an ornament to her profession; her attachment to that section of the church where she had received spiritual good remained to the close of her life. She gradually sank under the wasting influence of disease, until death relieved her happy spirit, and she exchanged her sufferings for the joys of paradise. W. R.

March 23d.-At Middlemarsh, in the Sherborne Circuit, Mrs. Martha Martin, aged

seventy-four. For about thirty years she walked in the fear of the Lord, and enjoyed the com forts of the Holy Ghost. A few days previous to her decease she was enabled to say with confidence the very God of peace had sanctified her wholly. After this, very little escaped from her lips, except quotations from Scripture and the HymnBook, expressive of her strong confidence in God, and her joyous anticipation of the pleasures of the blessed. J. W. R.

March 23d.-At Trowbridge, in the Bradford (Wilts.) Circuit, aged seventy, Miss Martin, who for upwards of half a century was an exemplary and useful member of the Wesleyan society. Her piety was genuine, progressive, and diffusive; and her charity to the poor, and her liberality to the cause of God, knew no bounds but her ability. Her end was blessed. J. F.

March 25th.-At Bridgewater, Mr. Moses Hitch. He was a sincere and humble Christian. During his life, through fear of death, he was often dejected; but for more than fifty years he was a consistent member of the Methodist society. He departed this life in great peace, and in full assurance of heaven. T. R.

March 26th.-At Aberdeen, Andrew Johnstone, aged seventy. More than forty-six years ago, when in Ireland, he went to a public place where a Methodist Minister was expected to preach on horseback, for the purpose of amusement. It pleased the Lord to make the word "like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces," and he "who came to scoff remained to pray." He united with the despised Methodists, and died in their fellowship. During the last six years he suffered almost incessant pain; but the grace of God was sufficient for him, and he never murmured. When his flesh was frequently quivering upon him from intense agony, he would meekly exclaim, "Peace!" or, "Passive!" "His dying hour brought glory to his God," and he was privileged to begin the song of triumph ere he quitted the vale of tears.

G. S.

March 26th.-At New-Shildon, in the BishopAuckland Circuit, Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, aged sixty-eight. She had been a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist society thirty one years. Her piety was genuine, and eminently cheerful. The power of religion shone in her with a lustre which could not fail to attract and impress. Her love to the people and ordinances of God was sincere and ardent. While health permitted, she was frequently found kneeling by the couch of the afflicted, imploring upon them the divine blessing, comforting the troubled mind, and administering to the necessities of the needy. Her last affliction was protracted and painful, but was borne with patience and fortitude; no murmur escaped her lips. Her confidence in God was unshaken; and, in assured hope of a blessed immortality, she calmly fell asleep.

J. O.

March 27th. At the isle of Portland, Thomas Flew, aged seventy-one. It was under the ministry of the late R. C. Brackenbury, Esq., who

Arst visited Portland, many years ago, and who was the instrument of immense good to the inhabitants of the island, that Thomas was convinced of his guilt and danger as a sinner against God. He soon decided as to his future course, and became one of the first members of the Wesleyan society in Portland, in which he continued a steady, zealous member for upwards of fiftythree years. In common with his "companions in tribulation," he had, at the commencement of his Christian course, to endure much persecution for righteousness' sake. But he had counted the cost, and was firm and faithful. A short time before he died he witnessed a good confession, and then quietly fell asleep in Jesus.

W. D. (2d.)

June 12th.-At Loughborough, at the house of her sister, Mrs. Mawe, while on a visit, aged seventy-six, Mrs. Brackenbury, widow of the late Robert Carr Brackenbury, Esq., of RaithbyHall, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire. For nearly sixty years she has been a member of the Wesleyan society; during the whole of which time she has been a pattern of everything that is excellent, and a most distinguished ornament to the Christian name. After a short illness, she died in peace. S. W.

June 28th.-At her mother's residence, HigherArdwick, Manchester, in the twenty-first year of her age, Hannah Scobell Lessey, youngest and only-surviving daughter of the late Rev. Theophilus Lessey. Brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," his fear was before her eyes from early life, and the Spirit of God wrought upon her mind while very young. Her disposition was amiable, affectionate, dutiful, and orderly. As she grew up, her thirst for knowledge was great, and her perseverance in all she undertook remarkable. In 1843 she joined the Wesleyan society, was exemplary in her attendance on all the means of grace, and in the discharge of the many labours of love she engaged in, as a Teacher in the Sunday-school, Visiter of the day-schools, Tract-Distributor, Missionary Collector, and worker for the Dorcas and Missionary Societies. In the midst of active benevolence, she was seized with the measles; and after more than two months' severe suffering, she departed this life, rejoicing in Him who loved her, and gave himself for her.

R. N.

July 14th.-In Chapel-Place, Liverpool, aged seventy-one, Mrs. Sarah Byrom, a person far above the ordinary standard of Christian and intellectual excellency. Few females were more extensively known, and more generally respected, not only by the Wesleyan societies, by a long line of its Ministers, but by the public at large, and that for the space of thirty years. In early life she became experimentally acquainted with the power of godliness, and lived under its influence for nearly half a century. She was placed at the head, and had the chief direction, of various female schools, with other institutions formed for the benefit of the female character; and in these situations she possessed the full confidence and affectionate esteem of those who acted with her. Her judgment, prudence, and discre

tion were so respected, as seldom to be dissented from: she guided their counsels rather than governed their determinations. There has seldom been a person, occupying such public responsible situations as those which she filled for so long a time, that incurred so little censure, or whose conduct commanded such universal approbation. She had information and intelligence of no common order. For nearly forty years she had been on terms of intimacy with almost all the Wesleyan Ministers who were successively stationed in Liverpool, including many who were venerable in age, wisdom, and experience; and others rising as the brightest stars in Methodism: by that intercourse she greatly profited. She had read extensively on all useful subjects, could clearly apprehend what she read, had a capacious, retentive, and ready memory, the stores of which she communicated in an easy, unostentatious, and interesting manner, which rendered her conversation instructive, entertaining, and edifying, especially to the young. Under her treatment there was nothing repulsive in religion: it was made to appear amiable and attractive. She was for many years a useful Class-Leader. Her last affliction was short, her removal quite unexpected; but her end was peace. Her equal in all things will not soon be seen. Methodism in Liverpool has had its full share of agitation; but, amid the clash of parties, and the strife of tongues, Mrs. Byrom's voice was not heard, her words were never repeated; the respect of all sections was never lost. W. A.

August 27th.-At Liverpool, Mrs. Sarah Myles, relict of the Rev. William Myles, aged eighty-five. She was the daughter of Richard Moore, Esq., who resided in the neighbourhood of Dublin. Her mother was a rigid Episcopalian, and educated her family according to the ritual of the Church to which she belonged. She took great delight in entertaining the Rev. John Wesley under her roof, when paying his accustomed visit to the city of Dublin. Her only son, the Rev. Henry Moore, was set apart to the work of the ministry; and all her family, with the exception of her youngest daughter Sarah, were converted through the instrumentality of Methodism. Sarah continued alienated in her mind, a stranger to the covenant of promise, until the close of the Vicar of Madeley's visit to Dublin. After refusing repeatedly to accompany her friends to the chapel, she was entreated and prevailed upon to do so, as it was the last sermon that Mr. Fletcher could preach in Ireland; and she is described as having said to her sister, "You can never ask me more; the enmity of the carnal mind being aroused to a state of intolerable disaffection by the sight of the Preacher, place, and people: but she was compelled to own that God was there, though she knew it not; and was overawed by the seraphic ardour which irradiated the messenger of Him whose word was "quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword." The text was Isai. xii. 3. She exclaimed, "I said, 'This is the last time you can ask me;' but you shall never have that trouble again." This was in September, 1784; and she continued waiting, with a sorrowful spirit, until the "day should

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dawn," not daring to join the people of God. But on the 10th of May succeeding, she determined to ask for a note of admission from the Rev. J. Rutherford, then stationed in the Dublin Circuit. She recollected standing near the table in the vestry, when God, by an act of mercy, forgave all her sins, accepted her as righteous, and spoke peace, through the blood of the cross, to her troubled conscience by the words: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." On her return home, she was accosted by her sister, who asked where she had been, as her countenance, heretofore expressive of continual anguish, was radiant with peace and joy. "O Beccy," she replied, "the prettiest words you ever heard came into my mind while I was in the vestry!" and when she saw her sister referring to the passage, she was astonished to find them in the Bible; and they seemed to her, to use her own description, brilliant with gold and diamonds, so dazzling, that she could not read them. From that time she became most

exemplary in her non-conformity to the world, and abounding love to the flock purchased by her exalted Lord; was united to "an Israelite indeed;" continued in every respect a highlyqualified Minister's wife; sustained her bereavement in April, 1828, with fortitude and joyful expectation of spending an eternity of bliss in the presence of Him who had made them unto himself Kings and Priests; and after a protracted season of bodily and mental affliction, her faculties were again restored, enabling her to testify unshaken confidence in the infinite mercy of our compassionate Lord; and in assent to an observation upon the veracity of the promise-keeping Jehovah, who, notwithstanding all our unfaithfulnesses, still visits and blesses us, she replied, emphatically, "Wonderful, wonderful!" Her countenance beamed with every expression of tenderness, affection, and gratitude, and with one of awed serenity. About half-past one on Friday, the 27th of August, she awakened up after the likeness of her Lord, and was satisfied. H. F. E. A.

POETRY.

THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD.*

THE memory of the dead,

Loved in their life, lamented in their end,
When such from earth have fled,

With thoughts of immortality must blend.

We turn us from the tomb

Wherein we lay them, and its darksome night,
To catch, 'mid grief and gloom,

Glimpses of hope, and gleams of dawning light.

And God's most holy word

Gives more than gleams and glimpses, to sustain
Our hearts, however stirr'd,

Declaring that the dead shall rise again.

The memory of the dead!

It steals upon us in our hours of woe;

And, even while tears are shed,

It bids them not in hapless sorrow flow.

For Scripture points to Him

Who conquer'd death, and triumph'd o'er the grave;

Till eyes, by tears made dim,

Brighten with hope, and hearts through faith are brave.

The memory of the dead!

'Tis the best treasure living hearts can hoard;

For God's own word hath said,

"Blessed are they, departed in the Lord!"

"Even so!" the Spirit saith!

"Since from their labours quietly they rest;
Waiting, in joyous faith,

The glorious resurrection of the blest."

* From "Household Verses," by Bernard Barton.

LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

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