were converted, a Church was formed. In that Church, he laboured hard. Though suffering much from the affection in his chest, he was ever found at his duty. Whoever might be absent, he was there-and there to do whatever he could in instructing the penitent, and earnestly pleading with God in their behalf-work for which he was well adapted and in which he did greatly excel. And though for the last three years of his life, it was with great difficulty he could get from the chapel to his home, still, if it was at all practicable, he was there and labouring hard to be useful; and often so exhausted by his exertions that, when he returned home, he had to retire into a room for quiet and rest before he could take refreshment. The Church thus formed, through the instrumentality of our friend and the excellent men who worked with him, became established, first in connexion with the Wesleyan Reformers; and when they proposed to unite with the Wesleyan Association, Brother Wood and a large majority of the leaders, trustees, and society, decided to unite with the Methodist New Connexion, and thus became an interesting part of our Leeds circuit. At the commencement of the winter of 1857, it became very evident that his complaint was increasing and his strength diminishing, and his medical adviser assured him the greatest caution would be necessary during the winter, and he must remain in the house for three months; this was painful to him, but with the hope that with caution he might by the spring get to his beloved work again, he submitted, and for a time he appeared to derive some benefit. about three weeks before he died, a blood-vessel was ruptured, and from that circumstance, he felt assured that the journey of life was nearly over. The race was run, his work was finished, and with calm and joyful expectation he waited for the coming of his Lord. His medical attendant, a truly Christian gentleman, who had known and admired him from a boy, and in later years highly esteemed him as a friend, and who spent as much time as he possibly could by the bedside of the dying saint, has given the following account of the experience of our friend, and the gracious sayings which dropt from his lips during the last three weeks of his life. "During my professional attendance, I never heard a murmur, or regret; but like a mighty conqueror (though in

But

weakness extreme) he seemed to say, 'I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. To me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.' It was truly delightful to listen to the blessed words that he spoke; he was filled with love, mighty in faith, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer. At one of my visits, I particularly alluded to the blessedness of the saints; that they came out of great tribulation; he instantly seemed to associate himself with that blessed company. At another time I said, 'Have you anything to complain of?' (meaning any particular pain); when he instantly observed, No. I should have a long way to go to find out a complaint. I have not yet been on the cross.' Again, 'My times are in thy hand.' On another occasion he appeared as though depressed, and wept ; his sister said, 'Oh! William, do not weep so.' He immediately looked at her and said, 'It is for joy.' It was, however, on Christmas day, that his full heart overpoured in such accents of praise and adoration as I seldom, nay never heard. It was good to be there, and patiently and silently did I sit to learn of him how to live and how to die. He said, 'I should like to get better, not for myself, but for the Church. I could tell them something they do not know. I would tell them how the works of creation, providence, and grace all harmonize.' After a pause, he looked intensely at me and said, 'Well, the bark has set sail; it is now on the wave; where will it land?' said, 'In heaven, to be sure!' 'Well, then,' he said, 'it is God on earth, and God in heaven.' We may just add, many friends visited him, and all also found it good to be there. To one of them he said, "I am lingering betwixt two worlds, to tell you a little of both." One evening he said, "This has been a heart-searching day, but all is right." A little before he died, seeing his mother weeping, he said, "I have done with tears. Mother, I love you; but I love Jesus better." Thus he continued, at intervals, to express his love to Jesus, and his joy at the immediate prospect of being with him for ever, until within a few minutes of his death, which took place December 28, 1857, in his 40th year.

"Oh! may I triumph so,

When all my warfare's past; And dying find my latest foe Under my feet at last!"

I

MARY JANE TILSTON,

LIVERPOOL.

IN the "Juvenile Instructor" for September, 1858, is recorded the death of Joseph Tilston, a youth of fifteen years of age, and the son of Mr. John Tilston, a class-leader and trustee connected with Park-place Chapel. Before the mourning attire could be laid aside, death came again, unbidden, into the family of our venerable friend. As he came uninvited, he selected without consultation, and struck down, in her father's presence, his firstborn daughter, Mary Jane. She was born February 4th, 1828.

Being born of pious parents, and trained in the fear of God, it is not surprising to learn that, at the age of sixteen, she gave her heart to God, and united with his people. For about four years she nourished her piety by the reading of God's word, by diligent attendance on the ordinances of the sanctuary, and by devout meditation, which she assisted by the use of a diary. About this period, circumstances arose which necessitated her leaving home. Being removed from parental care, severed from religious associations, and connected with worldly people, her piety declined, and she fell into the condemnation of Laodicea. But he who commanded a letter to be written to the Laodicean church, warning it to be zealous and repent, sent his Spirit to admonish our backsliding sister, whose strivings were so powerful that she wrote in her diary the following:"Another day has rolled into eternity, but though I am spared I have made no progress in my spiritual life. O, Lord, how is it I remain so cold?" The Good Shepherd, however, succeeded in reclaiming this wandering sheep. She recorded in her diary:-"God has been pleased, in his infinite mercy, to call me to repentance. I have been made to feel the bitterness of sinning against God, and wandering from his ways. I have been deeply humbled; but God has had mercy on me, and, for the sake of his beloved Son, has blotted out all my transgressions." The consummation of this change was effected through the instrumentality of the Rev. E. Nye, Wesleyan minister, at that time labouring in Birkenhead. With that community she at once united herself, and thus describes the class-meeting in her diary:-"I have this day attended my class.

I find that these means are the green spots in this wilderness, and to

me they are none other than the house of God, and the very gate of heaven."

When she returned to Liverpool, in July, 1856, she joined her father's class. Her Christian experience was marked by intelligent piety, more than excited feeling. She was more contemplative than emotional. But when she prayed in the class, it was evident to all that an anxious soul was pouring out its wants before God.

She was one of the first to join our Mutual Improvement Meeting in connection with Park-place Chapel. She took a lively interest in all its proceedings, and was the second female to promise an essay. The subject upon which she intended to write indicates the practical tendency of her mind. It was Procrastination. She, herself, it seems, had suffered from it. And who has not? She saw that it was the worst foe of many young people. She thought it deserved to be brought prominently before their attention; and, therefore, drawing from her own experience and observation, she calculated upon producing a useful essay. She wrote a considerable portion, which was submitted to my inspection; and if she could but have finished it, it would have been a serviceable and creditable essay-creditable alike to her head and heart. But before it was finished, she was taken ill, from which illness she never recovered; and that work remains unfinished for ever.

The

Her feelings were acute when it was ascertained that her disease was dangerous it was so disappointing to youthful hopes. This emotion, however, was but temporary, and her uniform composure was amazing. Indeed, her coolness, when speaking of death, was startling to my sensibilities. I spoke on the subject with reserve, and alluded to it in the most carefully selected phraseology; whereas she spoke plainly and familiarly. fact was, she was prepared for her change. She had not salvation to seek at the last. Her friends had not to rest their hopes on a few broken expressions from her dying lips. Although there was no ecstatic rapture, yet there was deep and sacred peace. She said to her father, "Christ is my Saviour, and, through him, heaven is my home." Satan once tried to disturb her peace, by suggesting that she was not worthy to enter heaven. But the Holy Spirit lifted up this standard

At the

ANN OSBORNE, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Webster, was born at Barnsley in the year 1825. She was early taken to our Sabbath school, and there began to evince that evenness and amiability of disposition for which she was remarkable. age of seventeen she joined the church. In 1849 she was united in marriage to Mr. Thomas Osborne, of a spirit kindred with herself; indeed, so fully were "these twain one, that they became known amongst our friends here as "the two doves." But death respects not even the purest and strongest ties. In the summer of 1856 she became the victim of sciatica, or rather that worst and cureless form of it, which medical men term "weakness falling to the hip joint." Lumbar abscesses succeeded, which slowly but surely wasted her strength, until enfeebled mortality could no longer detain its spirit. During her illness she was removed to the house of her brother-in-law, Mr. Pybus, proprietor of the Barnsley Times. There, on the 6th January, 1859, after two years of incessant suffering and one year's confinement to her chamber, she died, aged thirty-four, but her hope in God was stronger than her fear of death.

She was an unobtrusive, but very beautiful flower of Christian excellence, and has, doubtless, been transplanted from this cold earth to the paradise of God. Unpretending in her claims to piety, and breathing more of fearfulness than of confidence in her religious experience, but proclaiming her godliness in that more attractive, acceptable, impressive language-unvarying consistency-though she did not occupy any conspicuous niche in "the Church," yet the fragrant memory of her graces is worthy an honourable place in our Connexional biography. Though she lived in doubt she died in triumph. We would not hold forth any palliation

for that class of professing Christians whose constant despondency results from partial dedication to God, and whose fear of death is the inevitable consequence of permitted imperfection of life; but to those fearful disciples who through some constitutional weakness have not "the full assurance of faith," the life and death of Ann Osborne are abundantly encouraging. It was our privilege to visit her frequently during her last affliction, and with two features in her experience we were especially struck-first, the unmurmuring and unflinching fortitude-indeed, sometimes positive cheerfulness-with which she endured a perpetual martyrdom of bodily pain; and again, her calm and intelligent contemplation of death. Without the aid of extatic feeling she gazed unshrinkingly into the deepest gloom of the valley, seemed to have calculated every step, and grasping the rod and staff of her God, awaited the signal to depart. That signal was given, but not until she had been raised to such a state of exultant triumph as is seldom the lot of mortals. About thirty-six hours prior to her decease she summoned her friends to her chamber, and informed them that her tranquillity of mind was succeeded by a most thrilling state of bliss-that she stood on the very threshold of heaven, and through its open portals beheld her future home-that death had been more than divested of his sting. In this enviable state she died. Hers was a good end; it was a glorious sunset after a day of shadow-a signal and decisive victory succeeding a campaign of incessant conflict-another forcible illustration of the "great price" of earnest piety. J. K. JACKSON.

SUSAN RICHES Died at Sedgeford, in the Lynn circuit, December 20th, 1858. From her childhood she was the subject of deep religious impressions. Through the divine blessing accompanying a dying mother's counsels, these impressions grew into deep conviction of the evil of sin, and the danger of delay on the subject of the soul's salvation. It was during a visit with a sister at Werrington, in Northamptonshire, when attending a class-meeting, that she obtained redemption in the Saviour's blood-the forgiveness of all her sins. Her conversion to God was sound-her evidence of it clear-and her Christian course, ever after, a decided one. When she returned to her native village, she

immediately united herself with the people of God, and became a member of Miss Yaxley's class, in which she continued a devoted Christian until her departure from this life. She became a teacher in the Sabbath-school, and was faithful in discharging her duties, never absent except on the ground of delicate health. The whole of her Christian life was marked by strict integrity; and ever was she found faithful-fearing God above many. Her affliction was both painful and protracted; yet it was endured with Christian fortitude, and with entire resignation to the Divine will. For

the last two years she was confined to the house, and for the last twelve months entirely to her bed; and such was the nature of the disease that not the faintest hope could be held out to her of ultimate recovery.

Still she was never heard to complain; not a single murmur escaped her lips. On one occasion she said to her sister, "I hope I shall not fear or fail at the last." As, however, her end approached, her confidence in God and her happiness increased. As she said frequently," she had no fear; she was so divinely supported, that her peace flowed as a river." Shortly before she died, she said to a friend who visited her, "I did not think dying would be like this-I feel so happy!" In a word, her end was peace-" a calm dying into life; a summer wave gently rippling to the shore." May my last end be like hers!

MARY ANN NEEVE.

DIED, on Tuesday, the 22nd March, Elizabeth Blackney, in the eightyfourth year of her age. She was the last surviving daughter of the late ven. John Baggaly, of Sheffield, who closed a long and useful life about forty-three years ago.

Mr. Baggaly was grandfather to the Rev. William Baggaly, now stationed in Manchester, north circuit. He and his family espoused the cause of Methodism when in its infancy, and were amongst its firmest friends to the close of life. The deceased often referred to her father's piety, zeal, and usefulness with evident delight. But a few days before her death his name was on her lips, and she remarked that he (her father) had followed the Rev. John Wesley hundreds of miles on his preaching tours, or had travelled that distance at different times to hear him preach. In those days Methodism was

not fashionable, and to be a friend of Wesley's was to accept a candidature for persecution and suffering. Mr. Baggaly found that to be the case by sad experience. Often was he pelted with rotten eggs when standing by the side of the venerable founder of Methodism, and many a time did he return from his little tours with good clothes besmeared and spoiled, as a reward for his devotion to John Wesley, and the cause he espoused.

At the division in 1797, Mr. Baggaly. joined the New Connexion, and made himself very useful as a leader in Sheffield. His daughter Elizabeth became a member in early life, and carefully hoarded up not only her own, but many of her father's tickets of membership, both for "class" and "bands." Some of the first tickets published by the Connexion are now before the writer, bearing the name of "Jno. Baggaly." Peace to his memory! for he died in the Lord. More recent tickets of the deceased are evidently in the handwriting of the late venerable T. Waterhouse, Allin, and others, who travelled in the Sheffield circuit in their younger days. After her marriage, which took place somewhat late in life, she removed to the neighbourhood of Wakefield. The New Connexion had no interest there, and she had no alternative but to join another community. But though far away from the bosom of her old Christian friends, she cherished the spirit of true devotion, and walked closely with God.

Her latter days were spent under the care of an affectionate niece, who ministered to her comfort with untiring assiduity. Increasing infirmities came upon her with crushing effect; but though enfeebled in body, she was strong in the Lord, and evidently died, as she had lived, in humble dependence on the cross of Christ for salvation. "The memory of the just is blessed." March 29, 1859.

DIED, at Hunslet, March 23, 1859, aged fifty-five years, Bridget, the beloved wife of our much-esteemed and devoted friend Mr. Wm. Crampton. She had been in a weak and debilitated state of body for many years, but exerted herself for the promotion of our cause to the utmost of her power. She was a decided Christian, and dear friend of the ministers who were stationed in the circuit, and partook of her hospitalities, and who now sympathise with him who has been the part