THE

Local Preacher's Treasury.

MR. R. R. BELLAMY.

MR. BELLAMY, whose portrait is given with this month's "TREASURY," was born of Methodist parents at Sturton, near Lincoln, his father being an intelligent and acceptable Local Preacher. When four years old he removed with his parents to Alford, and at the age of fifteen he was placed as an apprentice to Mr. Babbington, of Horncastle, to learn the art of printing, &c. At twenty-one years of age he gave his heart to God (during a revival principally brought about through the instrumentality of the late Rev. Robert Bryant) and became a member of the Wesleyan Society at Alford. About this time he married Selina, sixth daughter of the Rev. T. Padman, then Superintendent of the Alford Circuit. Soon after he removed to Burnley, in Lancashire, where for two years he conducted the business of Messrs. Lupton and Dewhirst, printers and publishers. He then removed to Burton-on-Trent, where for two years he superintended the printing establishment of Mr. Whitehurst. In 1850, he purchased the business of Mr. E. Adams, 25, Bridge Street, Burton, where during the last thirty-three years he has carried on the business of printer, stationer and publisher. In 1859, he married, the second time, Miss Lottie Tinsley, eldest daughter of H. Tinsley, Esq., St. John's, Holbeach. In 1856, he issued the first number of the "Burton-on-Trent Weekly News and General Advertiser," of which he was, and still is, proprietor and editor. In 1864, he added to his other branches of business, that of auctioneer and valuer, in which capacity his ability has won for him an extensive practice; and for thirty years he has been Registrar of Marriages. As a man of business he has always been characterised for energy, promptness, honour and success.

As a Local Preacher, which office he has filled for thirty-three years, he is earnest, thoughtful, powerful, and popular. His services have been much called for on special occasions, not only in his own circuit, but in other circuits far and near. His labours have been greatly blessed of the Spirit in the conversion of souls. The last two years, owing to comparative failure in

health, he has been compelled to restrict his engagements. As a class-leader, he is affectionate, faithful, and much beloved As a friend, he is kind, generous, and warm.

There is no post in Methodism that as a layman he has not filled. In 1881, he was elected as Lay Representative to the Liverpool Conference for the Nottingham and Derby District. His present residence is Shelbrook House, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, which we believe he is shortly leaving for the suburbs of London. May he be spared for years to come, still to adorn the profession of his Christian faith and to work for his and our Heavenly Lord and Saviour!

"ELIAS POWER, OF EASE-IN-ZION."*

THE "Bedford Dreamer" dreamed a dream, and published it to the world. Before, and since, the world has known no dream like that. It is a query whether the world ever will. Not that that dream is absolutely perfect; but it so nearly approaches perfection, that the man has yet to be born who shall produce a dream to surpass, or even equal it.

The subject of the small volume, whose title, author and publisher, are named below, is not, perhaps, to be designated a dream, in the literal sense; and yet it is one, as much so as Bunyan's. Like his, it is allegorical; but unlike his in so many ways, that to draw a comparison, or to make a contrast between them, would be unfair to both.

An allegory, whether coming from Dr. Johnson, Mr. Bamford, or even John Bunyan, will have its points of failure; so that in this form of presenting truth, as in all others, there never has been, and never will be, perfection under the sun. But the object of this paper is not criticism, but to give the reader some idea of the nature and design of the book.

The author, it is presumed, would hardly call his work an allegory, or a dream, or a fiction. Perhaps, however, he would admit it to be a combination of the three. He may know the Ease-in-Zion, with the various characters living therein, of which he speaks, but he does not inform his readers; yet he brings the place and persons so vividly out, that, though the reader may not know those on whom the author's mind dwells in particular, it is not difficult for him to find others that answer exactly to his type.

Ease-in-Zion! Who does not know plenty of spots answering to that? Even so far back as Isaiah there was one of them; and so obnoxious was it to God, that He charged His servant to declare unto all that lived therein, "Woe to them that are

*“Elias Power, of Ease-in-Zion," by J. M. Bamford. (London: T. Woolmer.)

at ease in Zion!" And in the early days of Christianity there was another among the seven Asiatic Churches, which the King of Zion threatened to "spue out of His mouth," if it did not mend its ways. There was still another as far away as the days of Deborah. Its name was Meroz; and its doom was a double curse.

So these places-societies-Churches, called Ease-in-Zion, are not difficult to find, even in the past; and much less in the present. But be they in the past or present, be they many or few, small or great, in Yorkshire or in Cornwall, they are places that no one need wish to live in or to die in. Ease-in-Zion is a place that enjoys little of sunshine and the singing of birds. It has no spring, summer, or autumn. The trees in its gardens can scarcely be said to live, and they bear no fruit. The fields are sown with good seed, and enough of it; but the ground being so cold it does not spring up, even into the blade. It is seldom that any birth of son or daughter occurs; and when it does, it is the talk of all the people, as though it was monstrously unnatural for such an event to take place.

The inhabitants living in Ease-in-Zion are known by a variety of names and occupations, as they are in Wide-awake or All-alive. Some of the names of those that lived in Mr. Bamford's "Ease-in-Zion," are Father Damper, Mr. Tallton, Mr. Money-love, Mrs. Harrass, and Mrs. Whiffle. In other similar places may be found Mr. Fold-his-Arms, Mr. Love-ofPower, Mr. Dictator, Mr. Little-Tyrant, Mr. Sermon-Critic, Mr. Love-to-do-Nothing, Mrs. Talker-and-no-Doer, Miss Prim, and Miss Sanctimonious. The fact is, they are legion.

Now, it occurred at a certain time, that in the Ease-in-Zion mentioned in the volume before us, there were two sons born when no one expected. The circumstance took place with comparative little interest, excepting one of wonder that such should be the case. When these sons were born, some even questioned whether they were born at all. Their pre-existent state had been so notoriously bad, and births had become so exceedingly rare, that Father Damper and Mr. Tallton shook their heads together, and looking each other gravely in the face, Mr. Tallton said,

"Well, Father Damper, who would have expected to see two such reckless fellows converted in our prayer-meeting?" "That's it," replied Father Damper, in very measured tones, "converted-that's the point with me! Is it real? I do like reality. I confess to you that I begin to doubt more and more these sudden conversions. When such characters as these profess to be converted, I must have evidence. I hope the change in these men is true-that they are not deceived by the excitement of feeling. This is my hope. But I think, after all, that conversions which grow steadily are the most reliable.