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respectful and obliging deportment, won the esteem of all who knew him. He was a man of few words, possessed a meek and quiet spirit, and his experience of Divine things was rich and deep. His last affliction was brief and severe; but it found him quiet ready for his change. When racked with pain, he never murmured, but was often heard to say, "Precious Jesus." He spoke very delightfully of his confidence in Christ, and of the hope he had, through Him, of eternal life. With much feeling he quoted the lines,

"Join all the glorious names

Of wisdom, love, and power,

That ever mortals knew,

That angels ever bore ;

All are too mean to speak His worth,
Too mean to set our Saviour forth."

R. M.

February 24th.-At Bingley, in the fortysixth year of her age, Hannah, the beloved wife of Mr. Matthew Platts, of Fairmount. Blessed with a godly parentage, she feared the Lord from her youth; and at the age of thirteen became a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society. During the whole of her Christian course, she was ever ready to engage in the various activities of the Church with which she was connected; and for a lengthened period laboured acceptably and usefully as a Sundayschool teacher, Bible and Missionary collector, and tract-distributer. The sincerity of her religious profession was evidenced by her meekness, humility, and practical benevolence. Her punctuality in attending her class, and the other means of grace, was most marked. She had a strong attachment to Christian ministers, and took a deep interest in every thing that affected the interests of Christ's cause. Her own works praise her in the gates." As a wife and mother, as well as in other relations, she was affectionate, diligent, and faithful. Her last illness was short and severe. A fortnight before her death she was present at her class-meeting, and in the course of the same week attended a series of special religious services. On the succeeding Sabbath, she was in her accustomed place in the sanctuary; but the same evening became seriously ill, and in eight days entered into rest. W. L.

February 28th.-At Redcar, Mr. Coverdale Smith. He was born at Estow, in the year 1834. His parents were members of the Established Church, and he was brought up to attend its services, and became a Sunday-school teacher. The clergyman took much interest in him, and treated him with great kindness; but he became painfully conscious that there was something in religion which he did not possess. After a considerable time spent in this state of mind, he went, on a Sunday evening, in July, 1857, to the Methodist chapel,-there being no service in the church, and heard Mr. Hutchinson, of Redcar. He was so impressed, that he followed the preacher on his way home, to have conversation with him. Mr. Hutchinson pointed out to him the simple way of salvation by faith in Christ; and they both retired into a by-road pray. Mr. Hutchinson commenced singing that verse,

to

"Believe in Him that died for thee,

And, sure as He hath died, Thy debt is paid, thy soul is free, And thou art justified."

After singing it several times, Mr. Smith was enabled by the Holy Ghost to rest on the Saviour, and obtained the blessing of conscious pardon. He immediately joined the WesleyanMethodist Society, and began to exhort and pray with people. It was not long before he began to preach; and he was even proposed as a candidate for the ministry, but the state of his health being precarious, he was not accepted. A sphere of labour was opened to him, as a Local preacher, in the Stokesley Circuit, and afterwards at Walsingham, while his occasional services were extended to the Durham, Bishop-Auckland, Barnard-Castle, Alnwick, Middleham, and other Circuits. His last sermon was preached at Bowes, in the Barnard-Castle Cireuit. He was then much out of health; and afterwards went to Redcar, to be under medical treatment. Upon his arrival,

he felt that his work was done, and wished to see his most intimate friend, Mr. J. Dawson, for their mutual comfort and religious joy. A few minutes before he died, he asked for a little water, and repeated,

"Let the water and the blood

From Thy wounded side which flow'd," &c.

His last word was "Hallelujah," and as he uttered it, he raised his hand in triumph. He died respected and beloved. More than four hundred persons from various Circuits attended his funeral. According to his request, there was inscribed on bis coffin the text, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin."

T. B.

March 21st At Cross-Banks, Shipley, aged sixty-eight years, Mr. Thomas Crabtree. In early life he obtained converting grace, and, having joined the Wesleyan-Methodist Society, his attachment to the Church of his choice was earnest and abiding. He efficiently sustained all the offices which Methodism provides for her intelligent and godly members; and in the history of the Shipley Circuit, his name will ever have considerable prominence. His health had been feeble for some time, and the means employed for its invigoration proved unsuccessful. The debility induced by his last affliction rendered continuous conversation impracticable; but his mind was serene, and his faith assured. As he drew near the close of life, he expressed in broken accents his unshaken trust in Christ, and his joyous hope of heaven. After a severo paroxysm of pain, he exclaimed,

"Come, let us join our cheerful songs,

With angels round the throne," &c.; and addressing the writer, he waved his hand, and said, with a smiling countenance, "I am going to claim my heavenly mansion; " adding, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin." In this frame of mind he passed safely through the gates into the city," "to be for ever with the Lord." J. T. L.

March 21st.-At Chelmsford, Benjamin Carpenter Lewis, second son of the late Rev. Joseph Lewis. In early life he was very susceptible of religious impressions, and in after years he often referred to the prayers and teachings of his mother. These impressions, however, passed away, and, as he grew up to youth and manhood, the gaieties and pleasures of the world completely drowned any serious thoughts he had once had. For several years he sought his happiness in the world, and it was only a short time before the death of his father that he was led to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and to seek, with a broken heart, reconciliation to God. Never was there a more marked or decided change than Mr. Lewis's conversion presented. Old things, indeed, passed away, and all things became new. The Spirit breathed a new life into his soul, and his great desire, from that time forth, was in all things to please God. The simplicity of his faith; the beauty, earnestness, and power of his prayers; and the intense relish he felt for Christian communion, will never be forgotten by those who were united with him in church-fellowship. All through his long and painful affliction he never once murmured or ropined; but acknowledged the goodness and mercy of God in all His dealings with him. Only a few days before his death, in the clearest and most forcible language, he expressed to one very dear to him the constant sense he felt of the presence of God, and his gratitude to those around him for their kindness and attention. While his friends mourn the loss of one whose intelligence, geniality, and affectionate disposition endeared him greatly to them, they mourn not as those without hope, for they have the assurance that he has gone to be with Christ, which is far better." F. W.

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March 28th, -At Denby-Dale, Mr. Joseph Wood, aged eighty. He was the son of godly parents, who were among the first Methodists in this part of Yorkshire. Although he was carefully trained to fear and worship God, it was not until he was about twenty-three years of age that he was savingly converted. From that time he was remarkable for deep and consistent piety. For more than fifty years he laboured in the cause of Christ; and his works do follow him. He filled many offices in the Church; but it was as a Class-leader and conductor of the Sabbath-school, that his usefulness was most apparent. He felt an absorbing interest in the welfare of the young, and used all available means to promote their spiritual good. At different periods of his life, domestic bereavements, troubles in business, and the conduct of unreasonable men, tested severely his faith and patience. His last illness-an affection of the brain-was tedious and somewhat painful; but at intervals he bore striking testimony to the love of God, and to the sustaining power of llis grace.

April 2d -At Heanor, in the Ripley Circuit, Mr. Joseph Smith, in his seventy-fifth year. He had not the advantage of a liberal education, or of a religious training. By great force of character, under the Divine blessing, he pursued a

successful business career; but it was not until after his marriage that he became a decided Christian. In 1815, she who now especially mourns his loss, accompanied him to a village lovefeast, when both were led to give their hearts to God. They at once joined the Mechodist Society. For fifty-three years Mr. Smith met in the same class; first as a member, and afterwards as the leader. He took a deep and constant interest in the Society's affairs. His character was marked by Christian bumility and sincerity; but he was frequently restrained by timidity from the public expression of his religious experience. During the last few years there was an evident growth in grace; and when the final affliction came, he was blessedly ready. Ile was free from temptation, and his natural fear gave way to holy confidence and triumph. "O, my blessed Saviour," he said, "Thou wilt never leave me! O, to sit with Thee upon Thy throne! O, the everlasting light! I shall be 'for ever with the Lord.' Of His abundant mercy He saves me." Some of his last words were, "Victory! Everlasting joy! Henceforth a G. S.

crown!"

May 7th.-At Green-Street Green, in the Gravesend Circuit, Mr. William Peat, in the sixty-third year of his age. Very much of his early life was spent in France, where he lived according to the course of this world. Soon after his marriage, he returned to England. The death of his eldest child, who was suddenly taken away, led him to resolve to seek God; and while hearing a funeral sermon by the Rev. R. Rymer, in Dartford chapel, be found, through Christ, the pardon of his sins. In the village where he resided there was no place of worship; and at once, with the consent of his pious wife, he opened his house for Methodist services. This effort was crowned with success, and resulted in the formation of a Society and Sunday-school, and in the erection of a chapel, under the Superintendency of the Rev. Dr. G. Scott. Mr. Peat was a man of great modesty, ever "esteeming others better than himself." He lived a blameless life. His last days were days of sorrow and mental disease. But the few expressions that he uttered in his illness showed that his heart was right with God.

J. P.

May 31st.-At Boroughbridge, in the Ripon Circuit, Mr. James Swale, after an illness of only a few days. On one Sabbath he was in his place in the house of God; on the next he passed to the higher service of leaven. He was a consistent Christian, unassuming, of a kind and cheerful disposition, hospitable, and active in promoting the interests of the cause of God. For a number of years he held the office of Society-steward, and discharged his duties with the greatest diligence and fidelity. His experience, as given at the class-meeting, for several weeks before his decease, was remarked to be more than usually joyous and confident. He departed peacefully trusting in Jesus, having just completed his fifty-fifth year.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS, 46, HOXTON SQUARE.

A. H. M.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1868.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. WILLIAM COULTAS:

BY THE REV. THOMAS BURROWS.

THE LATE REV. WILLIAM COULTAS was born at Seamer, near Scarborough, on the 22d of August, 1783. His mother was a truly pious woman, and a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society. His father, although upright and of good moral character, was destitute of true religion until within a short time of his death; when, through the instrumentality of his son William, he was brought to a saving knowledge of the truth.

At the early age of nine years, William was deprived of the care of his excellent mother, who entered her heavenly rest after a long and painful illness. When eleven years old, he was apprenticed by his father to an attorney-at-law, residing at Scarborough. This connexion did not prove a happy one. William absconded several times from his master's office, and at last was dismissed entirely from his situation. After this period his father appears to have taken very little notice of him, leaving him very much to take his own course unchecked.

In a manuscript which Mr. Coultas has left, he records several Providential interpositions in his behalf when quite a child. "A special Providence," he observes, "has attended me all my days. When very young, I fell into the fire, and was severely burnt; the marks of which I shall carry to my grave. At another time, I fell into a large pond, but my clothes kept me from sinking, until a young man who was passing by drew me out of the water. On another occasion, I was carried home insensible, having fallen from a lofty tree." He appears not to have been under religious impressions till the age of fourteen. He then began occasionally to attend the preaching of the Methodists, in company with some of his relatives with whom he resided. In the course of one of the services at which he was present, the preacher remarked, "Christ had twelve disciples, and He loved them all. But there was one of them He loved better than the rest: and that was John. He was the youngest, and perhaps that was one reason why He loved him best." "I was struck with the remark," he says; " and I thought, 'If Christ thus loves young disciples, I, for one, will begin to serve Him.' From

VOL. XIV.-FIFTH SERIES,

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