How true it is that "man cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." Our respected and beloved friend was not taken from us in the midst of youthful bloom, nor in the prime of manhood, but in the maturity of age. He began his active life in this town as apprentice to a grocer, Mr. W. Bowyer, and by his good behaviour and faithful service gained the confidence and respect of his master. In due course he entered into business for himself, and succeeded, not by resorting to tricks in trade, nor by exaggerated announcements respecting the value of his goods, but by diligent attention to his business, by kind, truthful, and upright dealing. God blessed and prospered him, and being favoured with a family of sons he transferred his business to two of them and retired into private life. It cannot be said that our late departed friend ever took a very active part as a public man in town business, or that he was a prominent worker in the school and Church, as may be said of his brother, Mr. James, of blessed memory, and of his only surviving brother. But we have no hesitation in saying that he felt as deep an interest as anyone in the school and in the Church. His help to both, in a quiet way, was always cheerfully given. He was a favourite with the children, especially with the girls. He loved his home, and spent much of his time in reading and in the pursuit of useful knowledge. He was admitted to be a good botanist, and was well acquainted with the Latin names of the flowers which adorn our gardens and fields. He cultivated a love for the beautiful in nature. I will only add, that those who knew his tastes, and witnessed hi, spirit, and lived under his influence in the more private walks of domestic life have put on his memorial card one short sentence, which is very true and appropriate: "Little known: where known, beloved." D. ROUND. WILLIAM CROW, OF BERRY BROW, HUDDERSFIELD. Or the early life of our departed brother we are not supplied with any particulars. He was brought to Christ about thirty-six years ago, through the preaching of the Rev. James Caughey, the eminent American Evangelist, who was then conducting special services in Huddersfield. After his conversion, our brother identified himself with the Wesleyan body, the Church of his spiritual parentage, and continued in its fellowship for several years, till the reform movement of '49, when he left, and soon afterwards joined our own community. He was remarkably diligent in his attendance on the means of grace, and was wont to retire for private prayer before each service, and thus sought and found the best preparation for it. Ere long he was appointed the leader of a class, and for twenty-six years, till laid aside by sickness, discharged its duties with marked fidelity and much acceptance. He was also superintendent of the Sunday-school for upwards of twelve years, and received a fitting testimonial on resigning that office. Brother Crow, according to all accounts, was a man of a meek and quiet spirit, a hater of strife, and a lover of peace. He made no enemies, but had many friends. Indeed, he was greatly beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. His last illness was short, only six weeks in duration, but it was attended with much pain, all of which, however, he bore with Christian patience and fortitude. He knew that the end was near, but he had no fear of death. He often said, "I am on the Rock;" and to a friend who inquired of his state, he replied, "I have a home in heaven." Into that home he entered on Monday, July 3, 1882, in his seventy-third year. W. YEOMAN. MRS. HANNAH HALL, OF NETHERTON. 66 HER father, Abraham Jeavons, believed that the best way of securing his child's happiness was to give her a good training in the right way." His hopes were fully realised in her life. As a child she learned to love the Lord Jesus, and as she grew in years she became the light and joy of her home. She had such a love for the Sunday-school as led her to many an act of self-denial. Nothing but sickness kept her away, and she was always there in good time. Her father, who was a Wesleyan local preacher and class leader, induced her at the early age of nine to join the Church. She became a member of one of the Society classes, and from that time to the close of her life here valued the class meeting above almost all other means of grace. She used to say, "Those who least value the class meeting are they who know least of it;" and I am inclined to think she was not far wrong. Following her early history, I learn that from Bradley, where the family had lived hitherto, she came to Darby End, still keeping her membership with the Wesleyans, with whom she remained until her marriage to Mr. James Hall, of Netherton. She then came to St. John's, as our Netherton chapel is called. It was at that time (1860) very well attended, and the Society here was a strong and healthy one. For some time she remained a member of the congregation only, until the Rev. A. C. Bevington, then labouring most successfully at Netherton, called at Mrs. Hall's home, and gave her a hearty invitation to his class. By this means she was brought into Church fellowship with us. She was a great gain to the class she joined, and a wonderful help to the Lord's cause here, continuing, as she did for nearly twenty years, a good and faithful servant. When at the close of last year I wrote against her name in my classbook "Died, December 17th, trusting in Jesus," I felt I ought to add, "one of the most devoted members of the Lord's Church." It was after a severe lingering sickness she was called home. Some weeks before her death the doctor told her plainly she could not hold out long, and would die very suddenly. "Well, doctor," she said, “I leave it all with the Great Physician. You say mine will be a sudden death; that means sudden glory, and (as she often said afterwards), for myself, I don't mind how soon I'm absent from the body, for I shall then be at home with the Lord." If ever I was blessed, it was during my visits to that sick chamber; another such example of patience, of not simply submission to, but joy in keen, trying affliction, I never elsewhere witnessed. When once asked by an old friend how she managed to bear such a burden of pain and trouble without murmuring, she answered, almost indignantly," What! murmur against my Lord, who has been so good to me all my life? Burdens! I keep none. I cast my burdens upon the Lord. Why should I be down-hearted? My hope is in God. He is my refuge and my strength. It is not for me to be cast down, but to rejoice in the Lord at all times." Her son John, in speaking of the influence of his mother's life, said to me: "My mother's religion made her happy, and she had such confidence in God as kept her always the same.' She was always fond of good music, and had been, in her young days, a very sweet singer. During her last illness she often asked those in the room to join in singing one of her favourite hymns. A few days before her death, speaking in a voice that seemed nothing more than a hoarse whisper, she asked her son to sing for her. He felt it was too much for him to try, and had to tell his mother so. To his surprise, his mother, who could just before speak only with difficulty, and in a low, husky voice, now in clear, sweet tones sang out, to one of the grand old tunes, the beautiful hymn,— "There is a land of pure delight." After some remarks about her singing, she said to her son, “Christmas is very near, but on Christmas morning I'll be singing carols with the angels." It was a strange coincidence that, as he left his own home on Christmas morning, the first sounds that greeted him were the strains of the same grand old tune with the same beautiful hymn. It seemed to him like the re-echo of his mother's words, almost the sign of their being then realised. His mother might not be singing the old hymn, but on Christmas morning she was "singing with the angels." A week before Christmas, on Sunday, the 17th December, while the worshippers were gathering for morning service in God's house below, she was fast nearing the shining portals. She had told those near her "the valley" was lighted up." After a few moments' silence, the signal was waved. She had just time to say, "My Father has come," before, at the Master's bidding, she rose and passed peacefully into "the glory of His and the gladness of His home." 66 presence, G. D. R. Our Connexional Outlook. ASHTON. BAZAAR AT TRAFALGAR-SQUARE SCHOOL. FOR Several months past this neighbourhood has been redolent with the odour of bazaars; and while some persons say they are not the most evangelical method of raising money for the Church, all denominations, by necessity or by choice, freely resort to them. No doubt the area of giving and the number of givers are largely increased when "a grand bazaar" is in preparation; while tho social, artistic, competitive, and co-operative elements that combine to form the attractive and harmonious programme, if they do not fulfil expectations, at least minister some gratification to all. And if, when the strife is hushed, and it is found that the sales have realised the desired amounts, the talents of the rich and the many mites of the poor alike welcome, though the bazaar was ever so successful, and the rivalry never so sweet, how thankful we are it is well over, and that a long time must elapse ere we are committed to such a conflict again! Our recent venture in this direction was of small dimensions. Yet, as other bazaars were being held at the same time, and as a similar undertaking on a large scale was right ahead, the launch of our tiny craft was anxiously debated; and while all felt the need of skilful pilotage, ominous allusions were made, that tide and time were both against us! The brethren, and especially the sisters, were united and undaunted. Past successes enlivened and emboldened them Did Trafalgar ever fail? Our Captain expects every one to do his duty. Hitherto our special efforts, dependent on the smallest outside assistance, left nothing to be desired; and though our ranks were thinned, and the best of us "packed up and gone," and, most to be deplored, their mantle had not fallen, if we could not command another victory we certainly meant to try for it. Our liabilities, made up of Society and Trustees' indebtedness, with £50 for estimated repairs, were £350. It was wisely agreed to avoid all needless expense, either in the hire of a hall or in costly decoration, and therefore, to the credit of the young men and maidens, our own school was tastefully adapted and furnished for the occasion entirely by themselves. "Oh, how subtle is the hand That obeyeth love's command! It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain." We were fortunate in securing the right man to open the bazaar. It was no secret to him that we had solicited other gentlemen, from whom we might reckon, in exchange for the distinction, a liberal donation; but condescension is a rare virtue; the strong are more readily fraternised with than the weak, and our associations were of the plain and lowly type. Mr. Talent conferred honour, both on himself and the Bazaar Committee, by his prompt and cordial compliance; and the opportune aid rendered by him and his excellent wife will long be gratefully remembered. The opening ceremony took place on Thursday, March 1. The ministers of the Circuit, with the Rev. S. Green, Independent, and the Rev. J. Gibson officiated. The Treasurer made a financial statement. Mr. Talent warmly commended the project; cited the abounding liberality and self-help which had marked the progress of the cause at Rycroft; and having an opulent body of trustees, and a most eligible plot of land for the erection of a chapel, and upon which more than twenty years' rent had already been paid, he hoped the next move would be for the erection of a sanctuary-a befitting complement to the school in which they were then assembled. Mr. Talent then declared the bazaar opened. After three days' brisk business the following receipts were announced : Young Ladies' Stall .... £146 1 1 84 4 3 68 11 4 25 10 0 £324 6 8 In this total were included, subscriptions from trustees: Mr. P. Blythe, £10; Mr. John Hall, £10; Mr. William Tipping, £2 2s., which, with other donations, were distributed among the three first-named stalls by mutual arrangement. In conclusion, the Treasurer would record his heartfelt obligations to many willing and earnest helpers; to Mr. Stringer and family, the master of our day-school; to our "curate-incharge," the Rev. T. Rees and Mrs. Rees; to the Misses Rider and Miss Cardwell; and to our secretary, James Dean, jun., who has not only done all the clerical work, but in many ways has shown that he both bears the name and inherits the virtues of his ancestors. "But oh, Thou bounteous Giver of all good, Thou art of all Thy gifts Thyself the BETHEL CHAPEL, DURHAM. A SUCCESSFUL Revival Mission was conducted by Mr. E. P. Telford in the above chapel during the month of February. A small cathedral city, with intense churchly influence, many feared that our effort must fail. But the attempt was made with prayerful determination, and the blessing that maketh rich was upon us from the first. Right well did our Bethel friends rally. Day after day did the ladies sally forth, carrying invitations to the homes of the people; and nightly the steruer sex, with a courageous representation of the weaker," mustered in the Market Place, for the preliminary service there. These Market Place meetings did much good. Crowds gathered night by night to hear the message of mercy delivered by Mr. Telford in the open air, and several were won for the Master through the words spoken by him from the fountain. We only intended to have a fifteen days' Mission, but so marked were the signs, of the Divine working as it progressed, that we felt called to add another week. Several times the chapel was packed to overflowing, and on the most inconvenient nights of the week the place was full. Many of the cases of conversion were very promising; and though in some cases the seed was quickly picked off by the enemy, yet we are almost daily cheered by proofs of the depth and thoroughness of the work in others. I asked Mr. Telford at the close of the services what features of the work had appeared to him peculiarly worthy of note. He mentioned three. (1) The great quietness of our services. There was no shouting; the meetings were almost quieter than are our ordinary gatherings. (2) The pleasing catholicity of spirit shown by members of other Churches, many of whom worked with us as though all had been connected with their own communion. (3) The remarkably prompt answers to prayer. Quite a number of persons for whom special prayer was made were brought to the Lord. At the final service there were three such cases. In closing I may say that Mr. Telford's methods commended themselves to our judgment, and he himself has won a warm place in our hearts. Our acknowledgments are due to Mrs. Telford for her valuable help in the inquiry-room, and to Mr. G. Morrison, who threw himself heartily into the work. E. FLETCHER DENTON. OWLERTON, SHEFFIELD NORTH. By a sale of work, and the generosity of Messrs. C. Batty and F. J. Bramwell in relinquishing claims to interest on loans, a floating debt of £94 has lately been paid off the Trust Estate. Young men and maidens, old men and children, gave willing help, and the minister says that "to mention names would be to put down the whole Church." The Editor only regrets that this effort, completed last December, has been sent to him to be reported as "news" in May! MIDGLEY, HALIFAX NORTH CIRCUIT. THE following report of interesting proceedings at Midgley appeared in the Halifax Courier of March 17: A re-union of old scholars took place on Saturday last, and proved to be a deeply interesting occasion. The old chapel is the only place of worship in the village, and many worthies, some with a more than local fame, received their early Christian training here. As the chapel is to be pulled down and give place to a new one, it was fitting that the old scholars should have once more an opportunity of meeting within its walls and recalling many pleasant and solemn incidents of their lives. The chapel was built, according to the date upon it, in 1818, and bears the name 66 Union," under which is a hand pointing to the figure 1, thus: 1. It is explained to that the congregation wcre mean |
