Rev. ULRICH KEENER was born in East-Tennessee, August 11th, 1801; embraced religion, and joined the M. E. Church, as is believed, in his twentieth year, served the Church as a class-leader one year, and was licensed to preach Feb. 19th, 1825. He preached one year as a local preacher, and then joined the Holston Conference. For five years he travelled and preached faithfully and successfully. For some fifteen years he remained local, preaching a good deal, and struggling hard to raise and educate his family. He was not satisfied in a local sphere, nor did his temporal matters prosper. Hence in 1845 or 1846, he was reädmitted into the Conference. Six or seven years ago he was appointed to the Echota Indian Mission, to preach to and teach the Cherokees. Here he seemed perfectly at home, and did good service as long as he was able to work. Many Indians were brought to Christ through his preaching and teaching, and now he is enshrined in the hearts of hundreds of Cherokees, never to be forgotten by them. For some three years past he labored under a wasting disease of the lungs. The disease was so slow in its progress, that his death was not expected, till the Sabbath evening before he died on Thursday, though he was fully prepared to meet it. He told the family often to indulge no fears with regard to his future welfare-that he was going to heaven. He said to all with whom he conversed, that his joys were not so ecstatic as many seemed to have, but that “all was well"—that he could look on his grave with as much composure as he did upon his bed-that death had no terrors for him. He only requested his family not to grieve for him; but to meet him in heaven. He also desired his brethren in the ministry to know how he died, be faithful, and meet him in heaven, and on the 21st August he calmly fell asleep in Jesus, and now rests from his labors and sufferings.

REV. E. C. THORNTON.

GREENUPSBURG, KY., Oct. 28, 1856. DEAR BROTHER LEE: Our beloved and gifted brother, the Rev. E. C. Thornton, is no more. It is with a sad and heavy heart that I make the announcement of this most melancholy and painful event. The particulars have not as yet reached me. I learn, however, that while on a visit to his aged father in the State of Iowa, or on his return trip from there, by some means or other he was thrown under the wheels of the cars while in motion, by which his limbs were dreadfully crushed and mangled. An attempt at amputation, or the effects of his injuries, or both united, proved fatal. Oh! what a horrible death! How inscrutable the ways of Providence! He occupied the first rank in our Conference. In the prime of life, a man of great energy and zeal, he had just disposed of what little earthly possessions he had, and was about to embark, by a sort of re-dedication of himself to God, more fully in the work of the ministry. The first of our little band that has fallen, we mourn over him with a grief of unutterable intensity. This sad news will carry sorrow to many hearts throughout our bounds. He was warmly esteemed and affectionately admired wherever he was known. Truly a brilliant light is quenched, and a faithful watchman on our walls has fallen. A widow and seven children are bequeathed

to the sympathies of the Church. God of the widow and orphan, bless and provide for them. In haste,

Yours in grief and sadness,

S. FIELD.

Cattletsburg, Ky., Oct. 26, 1856. BROTHER LEE: I inclose you an extract from a Wisconsin paper, containing a notice of the death of our beloved brother, Ezra C. Thornton. Yesterday when a steamboat arrived, I went to the landing and expected to meet him buoyant with life and health, and happy in the embraces of the children from whom he had been absent only fifteen days. But God had said his work was done, and had taken him to himself. Death hath made his first call on the Western Virginia Conference, South, and "though an angel's arm can't snatch us from the grave, ," thank God, "legions of angels can't confine us there." My wife and myself have just visited the afflicted widow and her seven helpless children-the youngest a very feeble babe in the arms. Owing to numerous detentions on the route, the body of Brother T. was compelled to be interred before Sister T. reached Edgerton.

In this mysterious dispensation of Providence, the Conference and the Church at large have sustained an irreparable loss. May God help us to remember the widow and the orphan in their trial and destitution. Your brother in Christ, JOSEPH FOSTER.

[From the Janesville Free Press.]

"JANESVILLE, Wis., Oct. 18, 1856. "Yesterday morning we noticed a serious railroad accident occurring at Fulton depot, on Wednesday evening. Since then we have heard full particulars in regard to it. The name of the injured man is E. Thornton, from Kentucky, presiding elder of a Methodist Conference of that State, who was going to Madison to visit some relatives, and in attempting to get on the cars after they had started, both legs slipped on the rail, and was horribly mutilated. Medical assistance was immediately called in and every effort made to get up sufficient reäction necessary for amputation, but with little avail until the afternoon of next day, when a slight reaction occurring, Dr. Palmer of this city, assisted by Drs. Head and Slocum, of Edgerton, at the urgent request of the sufferer and a large number of sympathizing friends, and being satisfied that it was the last resort, amputated the limb, but he survived the operation but a short time. He exhibited much courage and self-possession, and retained his senses amid all his suffering to the last mo ment. No blame is attached to those in charge of the train, and every one connected with the road manifested much sympathy, and were untiring in their efforts to make him comfortable while he survived. His funeral will be attended to-day at one oclock P.M., at Edgerton, under charge of the Masonic fraternity, (it being his request,) of which order he was an active member. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his untimely fate, who are now in Indiana, but expected to be present to pay the last tribute of respect and love to the affectionate husband and kind father, who has thus been suddenly called from earth to that brighter and happier realm beyond the skies."

[From the South Carolina Advocate, Nov. 13.]

DEATH OF REV. ROBERT W. SPENCE.

A biographical notice of this member of the Alabama Conference, in the N. O. Advocate, informs us that he died at the residence of his mother in Kemper Co., Miss., on the 27th of September. He was born in Abbeville District, S. C., in 1824. His parents were Presbyterians, and he early joined that Church. In 1849 he and others of his family joined the M. E. Church, and he soon joined the Alabama Conference. Early this year, being in the Marion station, (Miss.,) his health wholly failed him, and he went home to die-hemorrhage of the lungs being his disease. The Rev. J. W. Ellis says: "The Sabbath before the last he spent upon earth, I was with him in the afternoon and during the night, and had a most free and full expression from him in a lengthy conversation in regard to his religious state and his prospects beyond the grave. A more satisfactory and profitable interview I never have enjoyed, nor do I ever expect to enjoy with a friend in this world. His religious comforts were strong, his faith unwavering. He quoted this passage: These light afflictions work for me a far more eternal and exceeding weight of glory.' His utterance became choked with emotions of joy before he finished the sentence, and with his sepulchral voice he shouted: 'Glory to God.'"

[From the New-Orleans Advocate, Nov. 15.]

DEATH OF JAMES M. ELAM.

We are pained, and have a sense of bereavement at learning the death of this excellent man. He died of heart disease at his residence in Baton Rouge, the 8th instant. Long has he been a pillar of the Methodist Church. Most of the ministers who have there preached, found homes under his hospitable roof, and all of them a friend in his generous heart. His ability was the only limit of his charity. The Baton Rouge Advocate says:

ANOTHER OLD CITIZEN GONE.-Death is again in our midst, and has laid his rude hand upon one of our oldest and most venerated citizens. James M. Elam, Esq., from an affection of the heart, died this morning, in this city, after a painful illness of two weeks. He was widely known in this State as a prominent politician, of the strictest and most decided character, but at home was more esteemed for his open-hearted acts of kindness, and his visitations and ministrations to the sick during many a long and afflicting yellow fever epidemic. He was a conscientious and an honest politician, an able member of the bar, and a good man. He had long been a member of the Methodist Church, and died a Christian, and will be mourned by our citizens after his dust shall have mingled with its kindred earth. Peace to his venerable ashes!

CHAPTER XII.

PERSONAL NOTICES OF THE LIVING.

REV. DR. DOUB.

THIS able and excellent man, a member of the North-Carolina Conference, seems to be stirring the wrath of the Biblical Recorder, a Baptist paper of North-Carolina. Dr. Doub has taken up some of the recent publications indorsed by North-Carolina Baptists, and is exposing their fallacy, and is turning their own weapons upon themselves in a manner that does not exactly suit the taste of the accusers of the Methodists. Well, when men who live in glass houses begin to throw stones, they should not complain if they get their own "lights knocked out."—Nashville Advocate, Jan. 17.

BISHOP KAVANAUGH.

Our churches are much gratified and blessed at this time by a visitation of Bishop Kavanaugh. His services in the pulpit have been freely rendered. On Sabbath and on Thursday night he preached-on the latter occasion ordaining a deacon. He leaves in a few days for Californir, vid Panama. Mrs. K. accompanies him.-New-Orleans Advocate, Jan. 19.

BISHOP PIERCE IN NEWARK.

"Yester

The Commercial Advertiser of Monday, 25th Feb., says: day the Broad-Street Methodist Episcopal Church, in Newark, N. J., was opened for public worship, and dedicated by the Rev. Bishop Simpson, of Pittsburgh. The services were impressive, and the sermon worthy of the well-known divine who officiated; the amount collected and subscribed at this service, we are informed, was about $4000. At three o'clock there was a second service, and the Rev. Bishop Pierce of Ga. preached. It was a sermon which those present will not soon forget. His subject was, 'Faith, hope, charity,' and well and eloquently did the reverend gentleman illustrate and enforce his several topics. Immediately after the eloquent divine had concluded, a collection and subscriptions were taken up, which added about $2000 to the amount received in the morning. The building was crowded to its utmost capacity. Every spot, both above and below, wherever standing room could be obtained, was occupied; but, although the crowd was great, and many were inconveniently pressed, the most unbroken attention prevailed throughout. One pleasant feature of the afternoon exercises was, that ten persons subscribed each $100, to constitute Bishop Pierce a 'life member of the church.' A third ser

mon was to be preached at seven o'clock in evening, by the Rev. Bishop Janes, of this city. We have spoken more fully of the afternoon service, as it was the only one attended by the writer.”—S. C. Advocate, March 7

[From the North-Carolina Advocate, March 8.]

DR. DEEMS.

Dr. C. F. Deems has been invited by a number of the citizens of Petersburgh, Va., to deliver a lecture in that place, on the 11th inst., and the next evening, the 12th, a magnificent service of plate will be presented to him by citizens of Petersburgh, as an evidence of their estimation of his eminent worth.

The same paper, April 3, has the following:

"Presentation.-An elegant set of plate, costing $600, was presented to Rev. C. F. Deems, D.D., on the 12th March, by citizens of Petersburgh, Va., men and women, old and young, as an evidence of their appreciation of his virtuous life and exalted worth, and especially as a memento of their admiration of his moral courage, his powers of speech, his Christian spirit,' etc. Such, in part, is the inscription upon the splendid present.'

REV. MR. MILBURN.

This gentleman is delivering a course of lectures in Charleston, being sketches of the early history and settlement of the Mississippi Valley. More specifically the subjects are: 1. Romance-ReligionAmbition-Greed-The Explorers of the Great Valley. 2. The French in Illinois-The Idyl of American History. 3. The Red Man and the War of the Pontiac. 4. The Cabin Homes of the Wilderness during the American Revolution. 5. Manna in the Wilderness, or the Old Preachers and their Preaching. 6. The Western Mind and its Manifestations, Eloquence, and Humor. After completing the course here he proposes to visit Augusta, where we hope he will find an appreciative audience. The lectures were delivered in Savannah, and the News thus speaks of the fifth lecture:

"The lecturer sketched the progress of religion in the Mississippi Valley, giving a glowing description of the first camp-meeting in the country, which was held at Cane Ridge, Ky. He related many characteristic anecdotes of the early preachers, who were almost all men of powerful frame, and possessing wonderful powers of endurance. They were men 'mighty in the Scriptures and the Hymn-book,' the only works they studied. Mr. M. devoted considerable time to a delineation of the life and character of Francis Asbury, a man whose zeal and activity has done more for the advancement of Methodism in this country than any other cause. He travelled through the length and breadth of the land-from Maine to Louisiana, from Boston to the farthest Western settlements-preaching, visiting the conferences, instructing and cheering the preachers. Unwearied and devoted, with his whole soul in the work, he accomplished more than any of whom we have any knowledge. The picture of the itinerant preacher was