on Wednesday morning, May 6th, he was suddenly taken worse, and in a short time breathed his last. His spirit passed away to join those of whom it is said,

"Followed by their works they go

Where their head hath gone before;
Reconciled by grace below,

Grace hath opened mercy's door;
Justified through faith alone,

Here they knew their sins forgiven;

Here they laid their burden down,

Hallow'd and made meet for heaven."

It was my privilege to see him several times during his illness. He spoke of his spiritual state with confidence and composure. Having given himself to God in his youth, and having spent his life in the service of the Lord, he died in peace, trusting in Christ, his Saviour and his God.

A large number of preachers, leaders, trustees, and other office-bearers, connected with the Societies in the Circuit, and several others not belonging to the Free Churches, followed him to the grave. A vast concourse of persons, numbering several thousands, assembled to witness the funeral, the service of which was conducted by the writer.

His death was improved by a funeral sermon, preached by the writer in Hanover Chapel to a very large congregation, and also in Mount Tabor Chapel, from 1st Thess. iv. ch. 14 v., the latter part,-"Them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

Thus bas our well-known, useful, and honoured friend gone from our midst; his name is no longer on our Plan, nor his face seen in our meetings, but we rejoice in the assurance that he is with the Lord. The earthly house of his tabernacle being dissolved, he has a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The local preachers feeling that they had sustained a great loss in the unexpected removal of our Brother, and deeply sympathising with Mrs. Sharman in her still greater loss, unanimously passed a Resolution requesting the Rev. John Guttridge to address to our bereaved sister an affectionate letter of condolence on their behalf. In compliance with that Resolu tion, our esteemed superintendent drew up and forwarded to Mrs. Sharman, a very tender and consoling letter of sympathy signed by himself as Chairman of the Preachers' Meeting.

MEMOIR OF MR. DANIEL BENNET, OF NEWHALL, IN THE BURTON UPON TRENT CIRCUIT.

BY MR. J. Coxon.

"The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance."

BROTHER BENNET was born of poor but pious parents; his mother dying in his childhood was a severe loss to the family; the education and care of the children devolved upon the father.

Daniel, speaking of him in after years, said, "My father was a holy and devoted man of God, a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society for more than forty years; a good portion of which time he was the leader of a class. He taught his children both by precept and example the good and the right way; and as a family we bless God for pious parents. His

death was sudden and unexpected. While attending to his duties in the field, and just as he had finished singing to himself that beautiful doxology

'Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,'

death approached him, and in effect said, 'The master is come and calleth for thee."

The circumstances of his father's sudden death made a serious and a lasting impression upon Bro. B's mind, and under the ministry of the Revs. Josh. Pescod and Wm. Hicks, the impression was deepened until he cried out in the bitterness of his soul, "Lord what wouldst thou have me to do." The Lord graciously appeared on his behalf, spoke peace to his troubled spirit, and made him happy in the pardoning love of God. Referring to this delightful change wrought within him by the Holy Spirit, he says, "I then walked in the light of God's reconciled countenance from day to day, and thought

'If all the world my Saviour knew,
All the world would love Him too.'

Well would it have been for me had I continued faithful to grace given, but, sad to relate, I began to trifle with serious things, neglected to watch and pray, then gave way to temptation, and fell into sin. In so doing, I grieved the Holy Spirit, lost my peace, brought darkness upon my mind, and guilt upon my conscience. O, what a wretched state is that of a backslider! My horror and distress of mind were beyond description. I again and again bowed before the Lord, humbly confessed my sins, and sought mercy through the merits of the Saviour. The door of mercy seemed to be shut against me, and it appeared as though divine justice was about to make an example of me by sending me quick into hell, to deter others from trifling with sacred and religious things. But although I could not but acknowledge the justice of such a punishment, I still hoped in the mercy of God. And glory be to his name, in the very depth of my distress and agony, He applied to my mind those precious words, 'If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' The love and joy that sprung up in my heart, is more than angel tongues can tell, or angel minds conceive. While I praised the Lord for His goodness in giving me back my peace, I earnestly prayed for grace to keep me from falling, and to practise holiness in the fear of the Lord. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.' When about twenty-one years of age I entered into the marriage state, the Lord blessed our union, and made us helpers of each others faith. have had our trials and difficulties, but in the midst of them all the Lord hath been our helper, and we have proved, again and again, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

We

When about twenty-three years of age, he felt and expressed a desire to make known to others what great things the Lord had done for him. And he was not long before he had the opportunity of publishing to sinners around, what a Saviour he had found. The Lord graciously blessed His servant, by making him the honoured instrument of turning many from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God. There have been few preachers of the Gospel, during the last half century, in this

circuit, who have been more acceptable and useful in winning souls to Christ than our late departed brother. Sometimes in his ministration of the word of eternal life, he would deal out the threatenings of the law with considerable force and telling effect. But he was most at home in his subject when dwelling on the love of God to man, as manifested in the gift of His only begotten Son to save a rebellious world. At times when expiating on the love of God, as experienced by the believer in Jesus, he would refer to himself as a monument of God's great mercy and willingness to bless all that obey and believe His most holy Gospel, until his soul has been filled to overflowing, and for a time he could only speak forth its utterances in sobs and tears. On such occasions his congregation have been deeply affected, and wept together in the house of prayer, and acknowledged it to be none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven.

As the leader of a class he was eminently qualified. For more than thirty years he lived in the enjoyment and practice of that perfect love which casteth out all fear that hath torment. He had studied and acquired a good degree of acquaintance with the human heart, its innate depravity, its proneness to evil, and the amazing price of its redemption; he, therefore, knew how to encourage the sorrowing penitent seeking after Christ, or the believer hungering and thirsting after righteousness, or to correct, admonish, or reprove, as the various cases might require. His regular attendance on the means of grace was worthy the imitation of all who knew him. Dark nights, dirty roads, and wet weather formed no excuse for him to stay away. He made the cause of Christ his own, and nothing distressed him more than to witness the disorderly conduct of professors of Christianity. On the other hand, he could say with the Apostle John, "I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in truth."

Young people were the objects of his special care and regard. Many of the children of the Sabbath-school were introduced to Church fellowship through his instrumentality, and by his fatherly care were preserved from leaving the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.

For about fifty years he was employed as book-keeper, &c. at the Colliery of Messrs. Nadins and Co., who speak of him with the greatest kindness, as a good and faithful servant. One of the members of the firm, speaking of him to the writer, said, "I never, to my recollection, heard him say an unkind word, do a wrong thing, or manifest an improper temper. He was the most upright and Christian character I ever knew."

The duties connected with his situation required him to be at his office by six a.m. He, therefore, rose at four, that he might have the opportunity before entering upon the duties of the day, of communing with God and his own heart. And like Jacob of old he would wrestle with God in mighty prayer for himself, his family, the Church, and the world, until God blessed him in his deed, filling his soul with joy and gladness.

He so managed his temporal and spiritual concerns as not to allow the one to interfere with the other. He had learned to be " diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

It is said by the Apostle James, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." No one was more frequent in the sick man's room, or by the side of the weeping widow and the bereaved orphan, than Daniel Bennet. And no one was more welcome on such occasions than he. When the ear heard him it blessed him; and when the eye saw him it gave witness of him, because, according to his ability, he helped the sick and the poor that cried, the

fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him.

For several years past, his constitution, which was naturally strong and good, began to yield to affliction, and the infirmities of old age. Still his friends did not apprehend any immediate danger, until within a short period of his death. The affliction which terminated his happy and useful life, was of a very painful and trying character. Happily for him and his friends he was, by the grace of God, prepared either to suffer or to do the will of his heavenly Father. He was not always, during his illness, in the possession of his reasoning faculties, but when he was, and sufficiently free from pain, he conversed with his friends. His conversation was chiefly about Christ; for he loved Him with a pure heart fervently, and delighted to speak well of His name. On Sunday the 20th September, being appointed to preach at Newhall, I called to see him, when I was sorry to learn that his medical attendant gave little or no hope of his recovery. I found him more free from pain than he had been a few days before. While speaking with him on his favourite subject-the love of God and His willingness to save all who come to Him through Christ-he smiled upon me and said, "Christ is precious, very precious; I should like to be with Him." I answered, "Yes; but you are willing to wait all the days of your appointed time, until your change comes."

He said, "O, yes; I am not only willing to wait, but to suffer all His righteous will. Still I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better. There I shall meet with my dear father and mother; my dear wife and children, and many other friends who have died in the Lord."

Knowing that he had taken a very special interest in the erection and opening services of the New Chapel, I said to him, "You feel glad to have been spared to see the New Chapel built and opened." He replied, with much feeling, "Glad ? yes, I am glad. And I am thankful I had it in my power to give ten pounds towards its funds." Every service connected with the opening of the New Chapel, was to him a refreshing season from the presence of the Lord.

The Rev. Mr. Schofield and other friends frequently saw him during his affliction, and to each of them he bore a noble testimony to the power and sufficiency of Divine grace. "At one of the visits I paid him," says Mr. Schofield, "I spoke to him of the difficulty there would be if religion were not secured." He said "I could not get it now. If hell were only as bad as this pain, how awful to endure it; but Christ is very precious." On one of his friends visiting him, two or three days before his death, he repeated what he said to me on a former occasion, when he was asked what I should pray for. He said, "Pray, if it is the Lord's will, that He would release me, and take me to Himself." In patience and submission to the Divine will, he struggled on until the 9th October, and then, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, passed through death triumphant home. Well might he smile on his friends, and wave his hand several times, in sight of the Celestial City, and repeat, "Victory, vic-to-ry." Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."

46

MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS HOLLOLE, OF CAMBORNE,

CORNWALL.

OUR late brother was born at Breedon in the county of Leicester, in the year 1787. Up to his thirtieth year he lived without God

in the world. Being an excellent gardener and steady, he served several gentlemen of distinction; one of these lived in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Plain. Here he was converted, and joined the Conference Methodists. He was made a leader, and remained till 1842. When the Teetotal Methodists opened a small chapel in Camborne, he felt it was his duty to join them, and established a class in his own house. When this party gave up, he was the means, with fifteen others, and the aid of Mr. John Nichol of Redruth, of bringing the late Association into Camborne. The Teetotal Chapel was bought, and God so prospered them, that close by the little chapel they have built one of the nicest and largest chapels in Cornwall. In the beginning, he was at the head of eight prayer leaders; fourteen years after, he was one of 120, he and they giving all the glory to the glorious Lord who had done such great things for them. He was much loved and respected by all who knew him, especially his classmates. His worthy leader, Mr. Stephen Polkinghorne, says, "I have met in class with him for nine years-and can testify that his experience was sound, deep, and instructive. He lived near to God, his life was consistent with his profession, his was a very tender conscience."

His last illness was very brief, only eight days, borne with true Christian patience and resignation, and full of rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. Oh yes, he was very happy in the prospect of going home to die no more! His kind nurse, Mrs. Roberts, hearing him moan, went to his aid; he said, "I can't speak," and in a few minutes sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. Thus died Thomas Hollole, in the 76th year of his age, and the 46th of his Christian career. His happy death was improved by the writer to a large and deeply affected audience.

J. T.

Recent Deaths.

DIED at Manchester, October 17, 1863, in the 66th year of her age, Jane, the beloved wife of Mr. T. Taylor. She gave her heart to God and became a member of the Methodist Society about the year 1813, and a teacher in the Tib Street Sabbath-school. After her marriage, she was appointed a leader, and, though delicate and much engaged, she accepted the office, chiefly through the persuasion of the Rev. Robert Wood. In this work she was very successful, until repeated attacks of affliction compelled her to resign. She was a great sufferer for many years. On May 25th, 1863, she had an attack of epilepsy, followed by paralysis, which deprived her of speech, and rendered her quite helpless. She was often able to recognise her friends, and was much affected on seeing them. The day previous to her death, when her husband spoke to her of Christ, asking her if she could now trust in Him as her Saviour, she assented as well as she was able, and lifted her dying hand in token of victory. What a blessing, wher the things of time are fast fading in the dim distance, when we are called to contend with the cold surging billows of death, to feel that our anchorage is within the veil, and to know that, when physician and friend are of no avail, He whom we trust is a helper" mighty to save." M. SWALLOW.

DEPARTED this life, Nov. 17, 1863, Ann the beloved wife of the Rev. James Molineux. She was a woman of few pretensions, but of many excellencies; those who knew her best will long remember them. Her end was sudden, but it was safe.