It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Brother Thomas Williams, which took place in Wales, December 8th. He was personally known to many of our subscribers and to nearly all by his published works and by the Christadelphian Advocate, which he edited and published for twenty-nine years. Our regret will be shared by many, both in the United States and abroad. Brother Williams was one of the oldest and most zealous workers in the cause of the truth, having been associated with the brotherhood for about half a century. Family associations had caused us to have considerable acquaintance with Brother Williams long before we knew him personally, while we were still in England. It is nearly six years since we removed to Chicago; and for between two and three years we were closely associated in the work of the truth in that city, Brother and Sister Williams removing to Chicago one day and we removing to Philadelphia the next. Of this comparatively brief period of co-operation we have many pleasant memories, and can re-echo the sentiments in regard to Brother Williams that are expressed in the letters from Brethren Leask and Norman, that appear in this issue. Our deep sympathy is with Sister Williams at this time, and our subscribers will all doubtless join us in this, and in the hope that both she

It will no doubt come as a shock to many to learn of the death of Bro. Thomas Williams, Orlando, Fla., editor of the Christadelphian Advocate, notice of whose death was received a week ago by cablegram from England, where he and Sister Williams have been since last August. No details as to his last illness have yet been received, but that it was of short duration is evident from the fact that there is no mention in the last number of the Advocate of his being indisposed, and it was received on the same day that word came of his death. Bro. Williams has been so intimately associated with the work of the truth in this country for about forty years past that his loss will be more keenly felt than that of any other brother among us. He came to this country in 1872 and settled in Chicago, where he remained for some years, working at his trade as a carpenter. He afterwards removed to Riverside, Iowa, where he went into the building business on his own account, and it was not long before his ability as a platform speaker became known and he was called on from various parts of the country to make lecturing trips among the brethren and help them to make the truth known to those around them. He responded freely to these calls and there are many who can testify to the value of the work he accomplished in those days. He had a remarkable faculty of presenting the truth clearly and convincingly, his mind and mental faculties were of a very analytical and logical character and he brought these faculties to bear on the truth in a way that could not fail to carry conviction to any

who were disposed to give the truth a candid and impartial hearing. About thirty years ago it was thought desirable by many of the brethren in this country that we should have a magazine in which the American brethren could come into closer touch with each other than was possible through the Christadelphian, which as I remember was the only magazine published at that time in the interest of the truth. Bro. Williams was appealed to to take up the editorship and publication of a paper with this end in view, and after due consideration he undertook the work, giving up his building business and moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where in a humble way he commenced his editorial work. For twenty-nine years he has been engaged in this work and during all that time has been a staunch and firm advocate of the truth. Many questions have arisen during these years that have called for the use of the sword of the Spirit, which he wielded faithfully and courageously, ever having the truth uppermost in his heart. For about twenty years past I have probably stood as close to him as anyone, and in all that time I have never seen anything in him that would savor of personal feeling in any of the controversies that he has had to engage in in defense of what he believed to be the truth. He was a fellow-member of the Chicago ecclesia for nearly twenty years and was always willing to be of service either in lecturing, teaching, Bible class, or exhorting, and always with that humility and gentleness that was characteristic of him at all times. Whatever he did it was as a servant of his brethren, never as a master, thus following in the footsteps of his Elder Brother, whom he loved and served so faithfully. His work is now finished and speaks for itself, and it can be said of him, "He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will give him at that day and not to him only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." This is the comfort we can take in the sorrow that has come to us through our brother's death. May we all strive to so live and walk that we with him may attain that crown of righteousness and that life that knows no end. Faithfully your brother,

JAMES LEASK

BRO. S. T. NORMAN, writing after further details came to hand,

says:

The American ecclesias have met with a great loss by the

death at Mumbles, in Wales, of our distinguished brother. Thomas Williams. He had been lecturing in different parts of England when he was attacked with what he thought was muscular rheumatism in his lower limbs, causing him much pain, and weakness; so that towards the last he had to help support himself, when speaking, by placing his hands on the desk or table.

He arrived home at Mumbles on December 2, and his relatives were shocked at his appearance, and it was with difficulty he could walk. The next morning a doctor was called; he thought a few days' rest would restore him, but events proved otherwise; for, while the pain left him, the weakness remained, and a soreness in his throat troubled him. It was still hoped he would recover, when, in the afternoon of Monday, December 8, he suddenly collapsed, and died almost instantly. The doctor said death was caused by heart failure.

Bro. Williams has been an active and consistent worker among the Christadelphians for many years: loved and respected more and more, as the years rolled by, for his able presentation of the true gospel to strangers, and his kindly way of maintaining peace and goodwill among the brethren.

He was born in Wales about sixty-six years ago, and learned and obeyed the truth in early life. Circumstances brought him to Chicago about February, 1872, shortly after the great fire in that city had aroused the sympathy, and excited the curiosity of the whole civilized world; and the demand for workers in rebuilding brought thousands of them from other countries. Perhaps this was what attracted Brother Williams, who was a carpenter, and a fine workman. He soon found his services in demand at good wages.

It was not long before the brethren at Chicago discovered that he was a valuable acquisition to the ecclesia; for the first address he delivered proclaimed him "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." In a year or two, however, he left Chicago, and went to Riverside, Iowa, where he conducted a building and undertaking business on his own account; and while there he commenced to go to other places, visiting the brethren and lecturing for them. There was a prosperous ecclesia at Waterloo, Iowa, and they wanted Brother Williams among them. Finally he was persuaded to move there, because it was believed he could do better work for the truth by having Waterloo as a base of opera