Her course now, through sixteen years, was one of much affliction, but her "conversation" became more and more "in heaven;" her Bible was increasingly her companion and treasure. During her last illuess, although sometimes depressed by reason of her malady, and with the thought of leaving her afflicted child alone in the world, she was blessedly supported by the hopes, and comforted by the consolations, of religion. To one who said, "You would not like to part with your religion now; it is worth more than gold," she replied, "O! there is no comparison." To her minister she said, "I have no fear." To her leader's prayers she responded with much fervour; and, when no longer able to speak, to a friend who said, "If Christ is precious, lift up your hand," she gave, twice over, the asked-for sign. Soon after,

in perfect peace, she entered into rest, in the seventieth year of her age. A few weeks afterwards her only sister, Sally Sutcliffe, a Methodist of fifty-four years' standing, a true Christian, a sharer of her sorrows, bereavements, and burdens, followed her from the same home in Haworth to the skies, aged seventy-seven. "Two more peaceable, pious, and conscientions sisters," says one who was intimately acquainted with them, "I never knew." They sleep together, surrounded by their kindred dust, in the Heptonstall churchyard. They are lost to mortal view, but

"The dead are like the stars by day,

Withdrawn from mortal eye;
They're not extinct, but hold their way
In glory through the sky."

C.

RECENT

JANUARY 21st, 1870.-Mr. Skeffington Smith was a member of the WesleyanMethodist Society upwards of fifty years. In early youth he felt the strivings of God's holy Spirit, and, being blessed with pious parents, was directed and encouraged to walk in the paths of religion. At this time he loved to study the Scriptures, and often, when he had leisure, retired to his own room to read them free from interruption. He was accustomed also to write upon paper those passages which were most suitable to his feelings, or which he regarded as eminently important for his guidance through life. In this way he transcribed the entire book of Proverbs; and finding, by experience, the benefit of this method, he often advised his children to study the Word of God in the same careful and thoughtful way,—comparing one part with another, and well digesting what they read. He loved the ministers, the people, and the house of God, and was never absent from the public and social means of grace, except when detained by affliction or other legitimate claims. He grieved deeply for his ungodly neighbours who profaned the Sabbath and neglected the ordinances of religion. On its being suggested by a friend who often visited him, that if a prayer-meeting were held in the neighbourhood in which he lived, some would probably attend, and give their hearts to Ĝod,

DEATHS.

he offered at once his own house for this purpose, and his services as he might be able to render them. The meeting was st once commenced, and was continued to the end of his life with good results. He was for some years an acceptable local preacher, but the failing health of his wife, in connection with other difficulties, compelled him to resign this useful work. In common with all God's people, he was sometimes tried in the furnace of affliction; but he was wont to remark, when others expressed their sympathy with him, "The Lord gives me patience to bear it, and it will not be for long." Like Richard Baxter, he could say from his heart, "Lord, what Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, and how Thou wilt." The Almighty was his unfailing refuge in all his sorrows, and in the consolations of Divine grace he found both solace and repose. With holy resignation to God's will, and unmurmuring patience amidst all his trials, he was eminently distinguished for his thankfulness of spirit. The smallest favour received from his friends excited his gratitude, and all his mercies were regarded as coming from above. He was one of the originators of, and earliest teachers in, the Wesleyan Sunday-school, John Street, Old Kent Road, London, and at the celebration of its Jubilee, about two years ago, "his name was deemed worthy of a permanent

record in its history." A respectable Congregational minister in Cheshire, whor, when a scholar in this school, he was instrumental in leading to Christ, remarks, in a letter to his family :-"I esteemed him for his work's sake. I now respect his memory, which is blessed; and, to quote the language of one of his co-workers in the John Street school, now in his eightieth year, I never knew in his conduct a flaw.' When asked, a short time before his death, if he was happy? he replied, "O yes! there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.' I have no fear of death. I am going home. I shall have many friends to meet me there. It is only this poor body that will lie in the grave; my spirit will ascend to be for ever with the Lord." Thus, while nature was sinking, his soul was triumphant. On his son coming in, he revived a little, and in a whisper charged him to "meet him in heaven." These were his last words. His happy spirit left the vale of mortality, and soared to the regions of rest and blessedness, in the eightieth year of his age. R B.

April 12th, 1871.-At Lincoln, Susannah Porter, aged seventy-one years. Of Wesleyan-Methodist parentage, she became at a very early age a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society, and continued a consistent Christian course to her death. She was associated with many of the early friends of Methodism in Lincoln, and her society was sought by many to whom the chronicles of former times were attractive. She was the daughter and only child of the late John Brown, and Anu, his wife, who also left behind them the records of good and holy lives. She had but one child, a son, on whom she lavished all a mother's affection, and with whom she had the happiness of residing until her death. Hers can scarcely be called "death." It was a "passing away," unaccompanied by even a sigh, in the full consciousness of passing to immortality. Her body was interred in the Cemetery, Lincoln.

J. P.

April 17th.-At Bath, Sarah, the affectionate and much-loved wife of the Rev. M. Trevan Male, and daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Bersey. She was born at Taunton in 1832, when her father travelled there, and removed with him to the several Circuits to which he was appointed, until he became a Supernumerary, and settled at Plymouth. Here she resided until May, 1868, when she became the wife of him who now mourns her loss. She was admitted into

her mother's class when about eleven years of age; but it was not till some time after that she realized the consciousness of pardon, and consequent peace with God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. From this early period of her life to its close, those who were associated with her felt that there was a reality in the religion which she professed to enjoy. During the greater part of her residence in Plymouth, she was busily engaged in the important work of tuition, but notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding her love of retirement, she sought to do some active service for God. In the Sunday-school at "Ebenezer " she was for a lengthened period usefully employed; for some years she also gladly rendered help in conducting the "service of song' at Wesley chapel, by playing the organ there; and up to the time of her leaving Plymouth, she was engaged as a visitor of the sick, especially in connection with "the Stran gers' Friend Society," and as an earnest and successful collector for our Missions. As a minister's wife her influence was ever pleasing and profitable,-the more she was known, the more highly she was esteemed. But it was in her own home that the blessed influence of her life was most felt. Cheerful and happy herself, she sought to make all about her happy also. Many young persons have pleasant memories of her sweet and gentle spirit. Such memories abide especially with her bereaved husband and his children; they never heard a word from her, or saw a look or a manifestation of temper, that was not kind, gentle, Christian. By Divine grace she was enabled to manifest, in a more than ordinary degree, the "meekness of wisdom." "She opened her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue was the law of kindness." The 'gentleness which God her Saviour taught her and imparted to her, made her great." It was not the bending of feebleness or the absence of delicate sensibilities, but "the wisdom that is from above," "pure," "peaceable, gentle; giving its tone to a well-cultivated mind, and made to influence practical life. A friend, in whose class she met for some years, remarked that "she seemed to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to learn of Him who is 'meek and lowly in heart.'" An eminent minister who knew her, referring to a conversation with a relative of his, who knew her still better, says, "We agreed that we had not in our common memory a character more beautiful in its Christian perfection than hers." Although for some time in delicate health, yet the end came with unexpected sud.