MRS. JANE LEES

WAS born at Blidworth, in the county of Nottingham, in the month of April, 1766. Her father was a member of the Methodist Society, and no doubt endeavoured to bring up his children in the fear of the Lord. Of the early life of our sister very little is known; nor are we aware that it was distinguished by any events requiring particular notice. She was accustomed to attend the Methodist ministry, and when about the age of twenty became a member of the Society. No particulars have been obtained as to the manner in which she was brought to a knowledge of the truth. There is, however, no doubt that she became the subject of a real change; a change which nothing but the grace of God can produce. Evidence of this was furnished by an upright walk, and a godly conversation. For some time she lived as servant in a family residing at Skellington, Lincolnshire, and continued to do so until her marriage, which took place when she was about twenty-four or twenty-five years of age. Her husband, George Lees, was a pious man, and maintained his integrity to the last. His death took place about nine years ago. It was very sudden, but there is every reason to believe that he was prepared for that solemn event. For a short time after her marriage, our sister and her husband continued to reside at Skellington, and then removed to Arnold, and afterwards to Carlton, near Nottingham, where they lived for a considerable number of years. While residing at Carlton the division of 1797 occurred, when, for reasons satisfactory to themselves, they joined the Methodist New Connexion, and continued members of it till death. As preaching was established at Carlton, they, together with another friend, were always ready to entertain the ministers of the Gospel, and to assist the cause of God according to their ability. Our sister was the mother of eight children, whom she endeavoured to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May her prayers be answered, in the salvation of all that survive!

About the year 1819, she and her partner removed to Nottingham, where they resided till 1834, when they returned to Carlton. About four years after this, our sister was called to suffer a severe

loss in the unexpected death of her husband; but this trial, though so sudden,

she bore with holy resignation. About two years after this event she returned to Nottingham, where she ended her days. With respect to her religious experience, it may be stated that it was solid and scriptural. She felt assured of her interest in Christ, and could rejoice in hope of the glory of God. One, who was for many years her class leader, and who knew her well, can testify that, from the relation which she gave of her religious experience, there was every reason to believe that she was living in communion with God. Others who were intimately acquainted with her, can bear testimony to the very exemplary manner in which she bore whatever trials her heavenly Father permitted to come upon her. It seemed as if she could always say, "Not my will, but thine, O Lord, be done." With regard to her character, there was nothing particularly striking. She kept the "even tenor of her way." She was of rather retired habits, but still was ready, when able, to visit her neighbours in the time of sickness, and to pray with them. She was also disposed, according to her ability, to relieve the wants of the necessitous. When able, she regularly attended the means of grace, and found them profitable to her soul. Her conduct was as becometh the Gospel of Christ. She was held in high estimation by those who knew her, as an upright follower of the Saviour, and as a steady and consistent member of the community to which she belonged. During the last three years of her life she was prevented by increasing infirmities from attending the means of grace, but enjoyed the presence of her God and Saviour in her own habitation. For about six or seven months prior to her death she was regularly visited by the Ministers in the circuit, who always found her resting on Christ for salvation and eternal life, and enjoying a settled peace by faith in Him. She was repeatedly asked if she felt Christ precious, to which she invariably answered in the affirmative. This was the case the last time the writer visited her. Early in the day on which she died, being told that the morning was beautiful, and reminded that a brighter morning awaited her beyond the grave, she assented, and appeared to be the subject of feelings which she could not express. Her end was evidently drawing nigh, and in the evening she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, aged eighty years. Her death

took place on Sabbath, May 17, 1846. She was a tender mother, an affectionate wife, an excellent neighbour, and a consistent follower of the Saviour. May many be led to imitate her, and, above all, to imitate her blessed Saviour!

T. RIDGE.

MRS. MARY HULSTON WAS born May 13th, 1824, at Moor Kirk, Ayreshire. In 1825 Providence directed the steps of the family from the place of their former residence to England, and for a short period they sojourned at Birmingham. Here, however, they had no settled rest, but removed to Stourbridge, where they dwelt for the next five years. But ultimately they found a more permanent abode at Halesowen. Though they had a numerous family, none exhibited such pleasing signs of early piety as Mary. Her natural sweetness of disposition, and her willing odedience to their commands, greatly endeared her to her parents, and they beheld her as a child from whom they should have much comfort. Nor were they disappointed, for as she increased in years and in stature, and as her powers to serve and please were developed, she was both engaging in her manners, and useful in her services. She was early entered as a scholar in a Sabbath-School, in which she profited greatly, making rapid improvement, both in the knowledge of natural and spiritual things. At fourteen years of age she was deemed qualified to be a teacher, and had charge of a class, and was very diligent in the discharge of its duties. Young as she was she felt the responsibility of the office assigned her; and being now deeply and clearly convinced of sin, and concerned to obtain a change of heart, she impressed its necessity upon her young and tender charge. Nor were her labours altogether in vain; for several of her scholars exhibited signs of grace, but, after a short while, to her grief and disappointment, they lost their religious concern. Not so with our Sister, she had not yet entered into the liberty which believers in Christ enjoy; but she felt her need, sought, both in the closet and in the means of grace, for the knowledge of salvation. But while she sought but found it not, she was much distressed; at length, however, she came to a resolve (which had the appearance of limiting the Holy One of Israel) neither to eat nor drink until she obtained a sense of God's forgiving love. Having thus brought herself under something like a vow, she caught the spirit of the Prince

of wrestlers in prayer, and in a few hours the Lord graciously honored her importunity, and that night she went home rejoicing in the God of her salvation. Having obtained the blessing, she held it fast by faith, and went on singing in the ways of the Lord. Thus, a foundation was laid for the superstructure which grace was to complete in her soul, the top-stone of which has, we believe, been brought on with shoutings "grace, grace unto it." In her Class and in Love-feasts she was remarkably free in speaking, and her statements were so full and clear, and such emphasis and unction attended her testimony, that all were pleased,—many edified, and not a few encouraged to seek for those indubitable proofs of Divine acceptance.

Her diligence, as a teacher in the Sabbath School, was, if possible, greater after the change than before, and her concern for the salvation of her charge was deepened. She exhorted them to begin to serve the Lord, and to give their hearts to Him, assuring them, from her own experience, that they could not be truly happy until they did so. In PrayerMeetings, in which she frequently engaged, her labours were blessed. She prayed with simplicity, but with great propriety; with zeal, but it was according to knowledge, and with warmth and pathos so touching, that many were melted into tears. She was a dear lover of God's Day, his Ministers, and His House, and was very regular in her attendance on public worship, and used all the means within her power of persuasion to bring strangers under the Word. She was faithful and fearless in warning sinners, and in reproving inconsistent professors. Indeed, she was an out-andout Methodist. She loved Class-meetings, Prayer-meetings, and Love-feasts; and was a cheerful giver, according to her ability. Her standard was not one penny per week, and one shilling for ticket,- she considered when persons could give more they ought to do it, and that the rule is (little or much) to give as God has prospered.

We have now to notice our Sister in the relation of a wife. She determined only to marry in the Lord, for she respected the Apostle's injunction, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers." Providence provided her a help-mate in all respects. Mr. Hulston had been a member with the Primitive Methodists for several years, and a local preacher. It was, however, understood and promised, that in the event of their union, each should remain with the body of Christians with whom they then were associ

ated, and they continued faithful to this agreement, nor was there ever any strife beween them on that head. They lived in peace. They sought to promote each other's piety. They were heirs together of the grace of life, and their prayers were not hindered; but it was not long they were to sojourn together, and as if they knew it, they regarded the Apostle's injunction, "Let those that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep as though they wept not;" and both were seeking the things that were above. It was a great comfort to our Sister that she was settled so near her affectionate parents, and that the counsel and assistance necessary both in a domestic and a religious point of view, were both at hand, which proved a great advantage in her frequent delicate states of health. Previous to her second coufinement, symptoms of weakness and decline began to show themselves, which, if not particularly noticed by herself and friends, was apprehended and augured by others, for she was often very poorly,-but always happy in God, and must, indeed, be exceedingly indisposed in body if she was absent either from her Class or the public means. It was evidently more to her than her "necessary food," and her heart exulted in the anticipation of David; "And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Her sun, however, was not entirely without a cloud. She often had to be tried, and frequently tempted, and the Lord permitted her to feel that earth's cisterns are broken, and hold no living water. In the multitude, however, of her thoughts within her, divine consolations delighted her soul: but, generally speaking, the experience of our dear Sister, for a day, was her experience for a week, and for a month, and for a year, with this addition, that she moved more rapidly,-prayed more fervently, and attained to higher enjoyments as she neared the borders of the heavenly Canaan.

She was happily delivered of her second child, and though it was a perilous event, she was sustained and supported, and appeared to be doing well; but such was her weakness, that all the attentions of her sister and affectionate mother were unavailing to effect more than to render her sick-bed soft, and her otherwise earthly ties less binding. But it was truly astonishing to witness her state of perfect resignation, and the placid calmness with which she could look at her partner and two helpless babes,-that look seemed to say, Nature feels, but grace triumphs; they are no longer mine but

thine,-do with me as seemeth Thee good

I was with her on the Tuesday evening of the week on which she died. I found her weak-but waiting her Saviour's call. She had nearly lost the power of distinct articulation, but she did say a little, and expressed the fullest confidence in the faithfulness of God to fulfil His own word-for as her day so was her strength. Heart and flesh were failing, but the Lord was her portion, and she hoped in Him. She was so fully confirmed in the wisdom and goodness of God, that had she been left to say whether she had rather die than live-she would have repeated, Not as I will, but as Thou willest. The will of the Lord be done." I saw death had marked her for his speedy subject, and that her departure was at hand, but no anxious doubt nor guilty gloom appeared. I prayed with her, and though her responses were low, arising from weakness, they were distinct and fervid. Her friends, of which she had many, were unceasing in their inquiries and visits. Her Leader, Brother Pardoe, gives the following testimony :

:

"Sister Hulston made it her constant effort to be ready for the coming of her Lord. A Sister in Christ, who had long been associated with her in Class, on one of her calls, observed, Sister Hulston, dying work is serious work.'-'Yes,' she replied, but the religion which has supported me in health is now my support in sickness. My hope is in Jesus.' Many pious and truly edifying sayings dropped from her lips, which have not been preserved; but grace armed her for the conflict, and by it she was meetened for her change. On the Saturday and evening of which she died she had sat up a little, and her dear mother had no apprehension she was near her end,-but she changed speedily for death. She knew, she felt she was passing the valley, and crossing the narrow stream,-and gathering strength, and putting it forth for the purpose of bearing her last testimony, she shouted 'Victory-victory! Victory, through the blood of the Lamb.' Just before she expired, she again exclaimed, 'I have got the victory.-Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory!'

Thus died our beloved Sister, September 4th, 1847, aged twenty-four years. Her death was improved according to her desire, so far as the text was concerned; and our excellent Brother, Skidmore, in his regular appointment, preached an edifying sermon to an overflowing congregation. C. ATKINSON.

ELLEN HEATH.

She

DIED at Hucknall, in the Nottingham Circuit, on the 10th Aug. 1847, Mrs. Ellen Heath, for many years a consistent and useful Member of our Church. was born in the year 1807, of poor but creditable parents. Her mother died when she was between six and seven years of age, and the care of her devolved upon an elder sister, who was a Member of our Church, and a Teacher in our School, so that Ellen soon became a Scholar. The instructions she received in our School, made a lasting impression upon her mind, and the seed that was early sown in her heart brought forth the fruits of "repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." In the year 1823 she began to meet in our friend Francis Beech's Class, and though she never could state the precise time and place of her conversion, she evidenced the reality of the change of her heart by a holy life. She was remarkable for the ardency of her attachment to our Ministers; and often, while yet a young woman, expressed the great pleasure it would afford her, if ever she had the ability to open her house for their reception when visiting Hucknall. Her desires, in this respect, were fully realized, for in the year 1828 she became united in marriage to Brother S. Heath, then a Leader in our Church; and for many years she had the pleasure of ministering to the comfort of our esteemed Ministers, many of whom, no doubt, will recollect her meek and amiable spirit, and will rejoice to meet her on the shores of a blessed immortality. Her experience of the power of Divine grace was always of a sound and scriptural character.-When relating her experience, she generally spoke with great confidence of her state of acceptance with God, and her enjoyment of the interest she had by faith "in the precious blood of Christ." She eminently possessed a meek and quiet spirit, and not being "conformed to this world," she endeavoured practically to evince to all about her, that she "was seeking a better country, that is, a heavenly." health, for many years previously to her decease, was so delicate, that few amongst us are ever called upon to endure such a weight of complicated sufferings, arising from a variety of bodily diseases, which baffled all medical skill, and rendered her the subject of inexpressible and inconceivable pain. During the whole of her affliction, her mind was generally kept in great peace. She was a signal instance of the power of religion to comfort and sustain the mind under heavy suffering, for, when her sorrows

Her

most increased, then the strongest joys were given. She lived several months in the almost daily expectation of death and eternity. Those solemn matters were regarded by her with feelings of deep seriousness, and yet of high and glorious expectation. She knew that " for her to die would be gain," and, therefore, she longed" to depart and to be with Christ." All fear of death (though naturally very timid) had subsided many months before the event occurred,-all her hopes were fixed on heaven; the love of life was extinguished, the fear of death was utterly gone; her joy in the Lord abounded, she longed to depart, and she lived for some time, like the "blessed servant, waiting for the coming of the Lord," nor did she wait in vain-all that she hoped for and expected was fully realized; and when nature was quite exhausted, and the power of speech nearly gone, she gave evident tokens of her victory through Christ, and said, as loudly as she could, "I am very happy." She has left, indeed, a sorrowing husband, and bereaved friends, for a while, but they sorrow not as those who have no hope," for they "believe that as Jesus died for them and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Hucknall.

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RECENT DEATHS.

F. W.

DIED at Manchester, Dec. 22nd, 1847, Mrs. Hannah Bolderson, in the seventyseventh year of her age. Mrs. Bolder

son had been connected with us as a hearer and member for more than thirty years. She was strictly honest in all her dealings; industrious in her habits; a good w fe and mother; and died firm in the faith. During the last few weeks of her life she suffered severely in body, and expressed a strong desire to depart, and to be with Jesus. Death had lost its terrors, and she was perfectly resigned to the will of God. One of her oldest and most valued friends visited her on her death-bed, and from the answers she gave him, he expressed himself perfectly satisfied of her safety and fitness for heaven. "The memory of the just is blessed."

J. N.

DIED, Jan. 23rd, aged seventy-two, William Schofield, a steady, upright, and old disciple of Christ, who, for upwards of forty years, was a member with us, and a constant hearer of the Gospel at Ebenezer Chapel. His decease was awfully sudden; being seized by the stroke of death in the chapel, during the