hours after his seizure he died, March 4th, 1850, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the forty-second of his ministry.

15. WILLIAM MOWAT, of the Stroud Circuit; who was born in the year 1788, at Epworth, where he was baptized by the late Rev. John Wesley, A.M. He received his education at Kingswoodschool. During his residence in that place, he became deeply concerned about his soul, began to meet in class, and soon after, being enabled to trust in the atonement of Christ, attained a sense of pardon. He was received into the Wesleyan ministry in the year 1812, and continued for thirty-five years to labour with acceptance. He was a man of retiring habits, and accustomed to extensive reading he was well acquainted with the doctrines of the Gospel, and he stated them with great clearness. His preaching, though not energetic, was always acceptable, and adapted to inform and edify his hearers. It may be truly said of him, that "he was a good man." lived, as well as preached, the Gospel. He entered into rest March 23d, 1850.

He

16. WILLIAM WEBB, 1st; who died in the thirty-sixth year of his age, and the fifteenth of his ministry. He was born at Stourbridge, in the year 1814, and from his infancy was trained by pious parents in the fear of God, When eleven years of age, by the Divine blessing on the affectionate instructions of the late Rev. William Entwisle, he was soundly converted to God; and, at the age of seventeen years, being full of holy zeal, he began to preach. At the age of twenty years, he was appointed to a Circuit, to the duties of which he devoted himself with great diligence, and with an earnest aim at a high standard of ministerial efficiency. He had a warm and generous heart, a lively imagination, and a fervid and impassioned eloquence. His sermons were full of evangelical truth, abounded in simple, pointed, and touching illustrations, and were delivered with great affection and energy, and with much Divine unction, so that his ministry was both attractive and successful. He greatly loved his work; and from the beginning laboured, it is feared, beyond his strength. He was, in consequence, frequently laid aside by affliction; but, as often as his strength was recruited, he threw himself again into his work, with the holy enthusiasm and fearlessness of one who loved souls much more than he dreaded sickness or death. His afflictions, which were endured with much patience, greatly promoted the spirituality of his mind,

and exerted on his conversation and conduct a mellowing influence, the effect of which was felt by all who knew him. After the last Conference, he entered on his duties in the Fourth Manchester Circuit with his accustomed energy; but, in the course of a few months, he experienced several severe and alarming attacks of illness. And though there appeared reason to believe that his health was in some degree re-established, having risen on the morning of Sunday, March 24th, 1850, with the expectation of preaching as usual on that day, he was seized with a fit of coughing, ruptured a blood-vessel, and immediately expired.

He

17. RICHARD REECE. When eighteen years of age, he was deeply convinced of sin. Salvation became the object of his earnest solicitude. sought it with fervent prayer; and, in the exercise of faith in the atonement, found it. His birthday, which he had set apart for fasting and supplication, proved the day of his birth from above. "The Lord," he says, "had compassion on me; and, ere I had been half an hour at prayer, I felt such an overshadowing of the divine presence as is indescribable. My burden was instantly gone, and joy unspeakable filled my heart." Mr. Reece's desires after entire holiness soon became strong and earnest; and at this time the words, "I am thy salvation," were repeatedly applied to his mind with Divine sweetness and power. A heaven of love filled his soul, and all was quietness and assurance. Righteousness now reigned in him, and became more and more vigorous, steadfast, and mature. Indications of a Divine call to preach the Gospel soon appeared; and, at the Conference of 1787, he was admitted on trial by Mr. Wesley, and appointed to the Oxford Circuit. He laboured in the work of the ministry during the singularly protracted period of sixty-three years; occupying in succession many of the most important Circuits, and filling with great advantage the highest offices in the Connexion. Throughout his public course, he was unto God "a sweet savour of Christ;" and, while he preached Christ crucified with apostolical faithfulness, he was "instant in season, and out of season," visiting from house to house, and discharging all other pastoral duties with exemplary devotedness. He cared for the young with paternal affection and unwearying solicitude, having in his Circuit-arrangements and pastoral visitations especial reference to their good; and many now occupying import

ant positions in the church owe their first religious convictions to his judicious and impressive admonitions. He was a master in Israel, and declared all the counsel of God, speaking to the awakening of sinners, and with eminent wisdom and success edifying the flock of Christ. The light of his teaching had a solemn and commanding influence; his ministrations being clear, weighty, practical, and in a high degree spiritual. He ruled well in the church of God, blending affection with authority, and tempering firmness with prudence. He was twice President of the Conference, and in each instance more than justified the confidence of his brethren. He was elected President the second time in 1835. Amid the trying circumstances of that year, his fidelity was conspicuous. The great Connexional principles then assailed he upheld with unbending firmness, nobly redeeming the pledge he had uttered," Methodism shall never deteriorate in my hands." In 1823 he represented the British Conference in the American General Conference, and performed this honourable service in behalf of the great Wesleyan family with much discretion, kindness, and dignity. Loved and venerated for his personal sanctity, and for his official services, he retired in 1846 as a Supernumerary; continuing, however, his pulpit and pastoral labours on a limited scale till nearly the end of life, and shedding on his closing days the serene lustre of a high intelligence and a mellowed piety. He suffered for a few weeks only, before his dismissal from the body. And now patience was perfect, love abounded, and faith triumphed. He exclaimed, "Blessed be God for comfort, for succour, and for hope. I am kept in perfect peace. I have perfect love, and perfect joy." His last prayer was, "Pardon-accept-heal -complete—” His last connected sentence was, "I am going to be for ever with the Lord,-for ever-for ever with the Lord." He departed this life on Saturday, April 27th, 1850, in the eightyfifth year of his age, experiencing the truth of that gracious promise of our great Redeemer, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

18. JOHN LESSON; who was converted to God at the age of sixteen years, and became a candidate for our ministry at the Conference of 1846. His early death was induced by his great exertions in the work of his Divine Master. He possessed very acceptable and useful talents, which were sanctified by deep and ardent piety. In his painful affliction

his mind was kept in perfect peace. He died in the full triumph of faith, on Sunday, June 9th, 1850, in the twenty-sixth year of his age.

19. CALVERLEY RILEY, of the Liverpool South Circuit. He was converted to God in youth, and soon began, with great seriousness and earnestness, to call sinners to repentance. Being ordained to the work of the Christian ministry by Dr. Coke and others, he entered on the duties of a Missionary life in 1810, and laboured with much acceptance in the West Indies for six years. Soon after his return to England, he was injured by a fall from his horse: this injury terminating in permanent lameness, he was, to his inexpressible grief, obliged to retire as a Supernumerary. Mr. Riley was a man of a meek and quiet spirit, and in lowliness esteemed others better than himself. He was simple in his habits, retiring in his disposition, and truly amiable in all the relations of life. He bore his protracted afflictions with patience, and took delight in magnifying the goodness and mercy of God. As his health permitted, he devoted himself to the visitation of the sick, and esteemed it a privilege to publish the unsearchable riches of Christ as opportunity was afforded. His Christian experience was generally marked by deep self-abasement, firm reliance on the sacrifice of Christ, and joy in the Holy Ghost; but, during the last months of his life, his mind was clouded with despondency, from the oppressive influence of which he recovered only so far as to say, to his sorrowing family, "I believe I shall get to heaven after all." He died June 10th, 1850, in the seventy-first year of his age.

The

20. FRANCIS BROOKE POTTS; who was born in Bedfordshire, in the year 1785. Being the youngest of eleven sons, he was treated by his parents with an injudicious fondness, which, but for an overruling Providence, might have been fatally injurious to him. death of his father rendered a departure from home necessary, and he was placed in a family in which strict but affectionate attention was paid to his deportment, and he was required regularly to attend religious worship at the Wesleyan chapel. As the result, he was brought, while yet young, to seek the salvation of his soul, and experienced the justifying mercy and regenerating grace of God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He joined the Wesleyan Society; and the genuineness of the change through which he had passed was evinced by the

consistency of his conduct, and by the strong desire which he manifested to promote the spiritual welfare of others. His concern for their future happiness became even distressingly intense, and he felt himself constrained to embrace every opportunity of exhorting sinners to flee from the wrath to come. The success with which it pleased God to crown his zealous efforts, encouraged him to persevere in them; and he soon became convinced that it was his duty to devote himself entirely to the work of calling sinners to repentance. Being recommended to the Conference, he was received on trial in the year 1808. His first station was in the county of Essex. He encountered much opposition, and was repeatedly required to appear before the Magistrates of the county; but his zeal was unconquerable. He quickly succeeded in introducing Methodism into nine villages where he saw the people perishing for lack of knowledge, and devoutly rejoiced in the Lord, who gave him many seals to his ministry. During the whole of his course, he was actuated by the same zealous desire for the salva. tion of souls. His public ministrations were distinguished by simplicity and earnestness; and, being connected with much prayer for the Divine blessing, they greatly promoted the conversion of sinners, and the edification of the Christian people under his pastoral care. He regarded with true affection all who loved our Lord Jesus in sincerity; but Wesleyan Methodism, under all its aspects, was the object of his strong and undeviating attachment. He believed its doctrines and discipline to be scriptural, and preached the one, and diligently observed and enforced the other. Thus seeking to fulfil his course, and to promote the prosperity of the respective Circuits to which he was appointed, he secured in a high degree the esteem of his brethren in the ministry, and the affectionate respect of the people among whom he laboured. In 1836 the infirmities consequent on the failure of his health obliged him to retire from regular and active service; yet, as a Supernumerary Minister, he laboured as much, and as long, as his strength allowed. To the end of his life, his public ministry was useful and acceptable. His last illness was of short duration, and so severe as to render him almost incapable of speaking. He received with much solemnity of feeling the announcement of his approaching end; and, though deeply humbled by a sense of personal unworthiness, he was enabled to repose a calm

and unwavering trust in the atonement of Christ, and the love of his heavenly Father. Shortly before he died, he expressed this to his mourning family, consoling them with the assurance of his own personal experience of the peace and joy of faith. He died, July 12th, 1850, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and the forty-second of his ministry.

He

21. JOHN MOWBRAY PEARSON; who was brought to a saving knowledge of God in the seventeenth year of his age, and appointed to the work of the ministry in 1833. He discharged its duties with considerable zeal, diligence, and success, until the Conference in 1849, when, through great bodily affliction, he was obliged to become a Supernumerary. He was a man of deep piety, genuine simplicity, amiable disposition, upright behaviour, and unblemished character. His preaching was clear, solid, earnest, and practical; giving great prominence to the distinctive doctrines of the system of truth received by us. was particularly attentive to his pastoral duties, and greatly beloved among the people of his charge. During the heavy and protracted trials occasioned by severe illness, he was invariably patient, resigned, and cheerful. The last enemy found him calmly waiting for his change, and rejoicing in hope of eternal life. He possessed the unspeakable composure resulting from a full confidence in his Saviour and God, and passed in holy triumph to his everlasting rest. He died July 19th, 1850, in the forty-second year of his age, and the seventeenth of his ministry.

22. WILLIAM THOMAS; who was born at Redruth, March 31st, 1817. When about seventeen years of age, he joined the Methodist Society, and after some months obtained "redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sin." Having experienced the saving grace of God, he soon began to call sinners to repentance; and, after being usefully engaged for several years as a Local Preacher, was received by the Conference, in 1843, as a candidate for the ministry. He evinced considerable originality of mind; and his preaching was instructive and edifying, marked by clear descriptions of Christian experience and scriptural truth, as well as accompanied with considerable unction. As a colleague, he was eminently faithful; and as a Pastor, diligent, affectionate, and laborious. His religion was noiseless, but deep and solid; and his general deportment frank, generous, and guileless. During one of his journeys

in the Budleigh-Salterton Circuit, he took a severe cold, from the effects of which he never recovered; and, at the Conference of 1849, he was compelled to become a Supernumerary. His last year was passed in his native place, where he exerted himself in ministering to the spiritual welfare of his kindred and friends, so long as physical strength enabled him to work for his Divine Master. During his affliction, his mind was kept in perfect peace, and his end was one of triumph. When one of his relations referred to his passing through "the dark valley," he replied, "No; I am not in the dark all is light here." Soon afterwards, looking upwards with intense and delighted interest, as if he saw the angels waiting, and the Saviour ready to receive his triumphant spirit, and significantly beckoning with his hand, he exclaimed, with unwonted energy of voice and feeling, "I am coming! I am coming!" and, on being raised up, escaped without a struggle to the mansions of bliss. He died on the 19th of July, 1850, in the thirty-fourth year of his age.

23. WILLIAM WELBORNE; who was born in the year 1770, near Malton. His parents were members of the Church of England, and watched with great care over his moral conduct. At the age of twenty, under the ministry of the Rev. William Percival, he was convinced of sin; and about six months afterwards, he obtained the witness of pardon and acceptance with God. He was called into the regular work of the ministry in 1798, in which he usefully laboured till the year 1837, when, through the infirmities of age, he retired from the active service. He was a man of great uprightness, and of sincere piety. He was eminently a cheerful Christian; and it was obvious to all around him that his religion made him happy. As a Minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, he displayed talents acceptable and useful. His preaching was plain, experimental, practical, and evangelical. He was esteemed and beloved, both by his colleagues in the ministry, and by the people among whom he resided. On becoming a Supernumerary, he went to reside in the Canterbury Circuit, where, as afterwards at Lowestoft, by consistent deportment, profitable intercourse with the flock of Christ, diligence in visiting the sick, attention to the members of his class, and occasional pulpit ministrations, he won the affection of the people, while he rendered himself useful to the Connexion. In his last

brief illness, he was favoured, in a large measure, with Divine support. He frequently expressed himself as free from all anxiety respecting his eternal safety; and in this state of Christian confidence he died, on the 25th of July, 1850, aged eighty years.

24. SIMEON NOALL; who was a native of Gwennap. Of his early history we have little information. He entered our ministry in 1824, and laboured for several years in Newfound land with fidelity and success. After his return, he was exemplarily attentive to the various departments of his ministerial duty. He was uniformly serious and spiritual, and was mighty in prayer. His sermons indicated an intimate acquaintance with the holy Scriptures; and, being rich in evangelical truth, were often signally powerful and energetic. He was wise to win souls. To the young he greatly endeared himself by his affability, and his kind solicitude for their spiritual welfare. Towards the close of 1841 he had a slight seizure, which, by impairing a constitution

already enfeebled by hardships endured in the foreign work, seriously interfered with his subsequent labours. He became a Supernumerary in the year 1848, but continued to the last to employ the remnant of his strength in the work of his Master. He suddenly expired, August 4th, 1850, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

25. JOHN CHETTLE; who was born at Castle-Donington, in 1777. The Divine blessing so accompanied the Christian instruction, discipline, and example of his godly parents, that in early life his mind was enlightened, and his character formed, by the great truths of our holy religion. Before he was thirteen years of age, he obtained a clear sense of God's pardoning mercy through faith in Christ. From the commencement of his spiritual life, his experience was remarkably distinct and scriptural. His zeal was fervent, and his spirit bold. Having once given his heart to God, he was steadfast in the faith, and "valiant for the truth." He sought to be an intelligent, as well as a zealous, Christian. His profiting soon appeared to his fellow-Christians; and in his twentieth year he entered as a probationer into the ministry. He was ever studious and diligent in the improvement of his mind; and, with comparatively small assistance, he acquired a respectable knowledge of the sacred originals of holy Scripture. His vigorous mind was abundantly stored with evangelical

truth. He was ready always to give to every man a reason of the hope that was in him." His preaching was plain, but interesting and instructive; eminently practical in its character, earnest in manner, clear in doctrinal statement, and always richly evangelical. He was greatly owned of God in his labours, and had the joy of witnessing in his various Circuits the prosperity of the cause of God. He paid a careful attention to the maintenance of our godly discipline: while firm and faithful in its administration, he was also tender and long-suffering. In his family he was grave, but affectionate. At an early age his children were profitably impressed by his conversations and prayers; and he was ever exemplary in enforcing on their attention the necessity and blessedness of personal salvation. As a colleague, he was beloved and trusted by his brethren; always manifesting inflexible integrity, and an abhorrence of meanness, duplicity, and worldly policy.

In the early years of his ministry he shared, in no small measure, the persecutions, privations, and obloquy of the rising cause. Methodism he lived to see enlarged and established beyond all his anticipations; and for this he often praised God, and rejoiced exceedingly. After devoting fifty years of laborious, honourable, and faithful service to the full work, he retired in 1847 as a Supernumerary. But his love to his Master's work continued unabated: as his strength allowed, he preached and met classes, greatly to the edifying of God's people. For several late months his physical energy greatly failed. During the first week of the Conference he attended the sittings every day, with the most lively interest in the proceedings. No entreaty could induce him to be absent, until nature was completely prostrated. He sank rapidly for four days, and then, without pain or conflict, quietly fell asleep in Jesus. During his illness his mind was kept in perfect peace. His prospects were bright and cheering. He anticipated his end with solemn composure, resting solely upon the mercy of his God in Christ. He died August 8th, 1850, in the seventy-third year of his age, and the fifty-third of his ministry.

II. In Ireland, six; namely,

1. MATTHEW LANKTREE. In early life, while on a visit to some relations who were zealous members of the Methodist Society, he was deeply convinced of sin; and, yielding to the gracious Spirit of God, he sought and found

peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. He immediately united himself to the people by whose instrumentality he had been brought to the knowledge of the truth, and, with the zeal that ever after distinguished him, began to speak to his neighbours and friends of the Saviour he himself had found. Not long after his conversion he felt persuaded that God had called him to engage in the work of the ministry, and was received on trial in the year 1794. His public ministrations were eminently spiritual, rich in evangelical truth, and accompanied by the unction of the Holy Ghost. He was diligent in his attention to pastoral duties, and was especially "a son of consolation" to the sick and the dying. In the social circle his conversation was godly, always directed to the edification of the people; and of few Ministers can it be said with more truth, that he did "not run in vain, neither labour in vain." In his latter days, when a Supernumerary, as he had opportunity he sought to save souls; and his last ministerial act was to pray at the bedside of a poor man dying of cholera, shortly after which he died of the same fatal disease himself. Nearly his last words, uttered in the calm triumph of faith, were, "To die is gain." He died in Belfast, on the 14th of July, 1849, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and the fifty-fifth of his ministry.

2. THOMAS LOUGHEED. In early life, through the Wesleyan ministry, he was deeply convinced of sin, and by the exercise of faith in the atonement of Christ obtained peace with God. In the year 1801 he was called to devote himself to our ministry, in which he continued until growing infirmities compelled him, in 1839, to retire as a Supernumerary. He was a man of good understanding and genuine piety. His views of our doctrines were clear, and his talents popular. He was an agreeable colleague, and a steady friend. He died in peace, expressing an unshaken confidence in the atonement of Christ, and a cheering sense of his acceptance with God. To a brother Minister he gave his last testimony,-"This is my belief and my experience: By grace I am saved through faith, and that not of myself; it is the gift of God.'" He died near Portarlington, on the 10th of December, 1849, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, and forty-ninth of his ministry.

3. JOHN CROZIER IRVINE; a native of the County Fermanagh, who, having been accepted by the Conference