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MEMOIR OF MRS. ELIZABETH OSBORN,

OF SHEFFIELD:

BY HER SON, THE REV. MARMADUKE CLARK OSBORN. THE late MRS. ELIZABETH OSBORN was born at Sheffield, on the 14th of December, 1796. She was the second daughter of Marmaduke and Elizabeth Clark. Her parents were godly persons, and devoted Methodists of the early type. They were contemporary with the Smiths, and Holys, and Longdens, and Wilkinsons,-worthies of bygone days, whose names are still cherished and revered in the Methodistic memories of Sheffield.

Very little is known of Mrs. Osborn's early life. She was a frail child, always in delicate health, and often seriously ill. Although not savingly converted to God until about twenty years of age, she was frequently a subject of powerful religious impressions, and was largely blessed with the preventing and restraining grace of God. Messrs. Bramwell, Wilkinson, and Henry Longden, were frequent visiters at her father's house; and she was wont to tell of the gracious effect produced upon her youthful mind by their prayers, conversation, and example. Mr. Bramwell, when her father's guest, was accustomed to rise very early in the morning, and retire to an arbour in a plantation by the side of the house, and there wrestle with God for hours together in mighty prayer. On these occasions she would sometimes steal out after him and listen, until at length he became aware of her presence, and admitting her to his oratory, made her the subject of his pleadings. Although not at this time in the enjoyment of true religion, she was distinguished for her gentleness and goodness, as all who knew her testify. She used to tell her children, with great emotion and gratitude, that when her mother was lying on her death-bed, she leaned over her and said, "Mother, will you forgive me before you die for ever having grieved you?" To which her mother replied, with all the energy and emphasis at her command, "My child, thou never hast grieved me." Happy mother! to be blessed with such a child. Happy child! to receive such an assurance from a dying mother.

All the details and circumstances of Mrs. Osborn's conversion to God are not known. It is believed, however, that the death of her only and much-loved brother led her to religious decision. He was a young man of great promise, almost the idol of his parents and sisters, to whose great grief he died in the twenty-second year of his age. His end was eminently happy, and produced a profound impression on the mind of his sister Elizabeth. She was awakened to a sense of her lost condition, and in bitterness of soul sought the Lord with her

whole heart. For some months, however, she seems to have sought in vain. Her distress became intolerable, and she was on the very brink of utter despair. One evening, while walking with her father and some other friends to his class at Cherry-tree Hill, and thinking that it was the last time she would venture to go; that the members would be tired of hearing the same sad story, and possibly begin to question her sincerity; suddenly the Saviour revealed Himself to her soul, and she was filled with "the peace of God which passeth all understanding," and enabled to "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Of course her purpose was arrested, a new song was put into her mouth, and that was a memorable class-meeting. On her retiring for the night, she almost feared to sleep, lest, on awaking in the morning, she should find that she was mistaken, and that she was still "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." But when morning came, and the natural sun shone in brightness and beauty on the world without," the Sun of Righteousness" arose upon her soul" with healing in His wings," enabling her to sing,

"The op'ning heavens around me shine,

With beams of sacred bliss;

For Jesus shows His mercy mine,

And whispers I am His."

From that day her election was made, and her purpose formed. She became literally a proverb of consistent piety. It seemed to be her meat and drink to do the will of God, and to glorify His name.

On the 15th of August, 1821, Miss Elizabeth Clark was united in marriage to Mr. Samuel Osborn. Before taking this step, she sincerely and earnestly sought Divine direction, and ever after believed that this important event in her history had the sanction and blessing of God. Her married life was singularly happy, but it was brief. Mr. Osborn's health had not been vigorous before their marriage, and very shortly afterwards it seriously declined, and alarming symptoms speedily supervened. For some years he was a confirmed invalid; the state of his health, and the prospect of his early removal, being a source of constant anxiety to her, who was by this time the mother of several children. Her worst fears were realized; and, after having been a loved and cherished wife for the short space of ten years and six months, she became a widow indeed on the 15th of February, 1832. Mr. Osborn was a man of deep and earnest piety, and he achieved a glorious victory. His death was a signal triumph and joy, very similar to that of his widow thirty years afterwards.

Only those who have experienced it can appreciate the desolation and sorrow of a young widow, bereaved of a tender and devoted husband, and left with the sole care and responsibility of five young children. None would have then imagined it possible that Mrs. Osborn could survive that shock for thirty years, and live to see all

her children comfortably and respectably settled in life. Nor was that result arrived at easily. In her last illness she thrice commenced a sentence which she was not able to finish, saying, "I have strivenI have striven—I have striven." We do not know what she wished to say; but those three words, three times uttered, and thus intensified, describe the history of her life. It was indeed a strife; and right faithfully she strove, humbly trusting in God, and wonderfully sus tained and strengthened by His grace. Assuredly there is precious and substantial truth in the declarations of God's word: "The Lord relieveth the fatherless and widow." (Psalm clxvi. 9.) "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habita tion." (Psalm lxviii. 5.) None need hesitate to obey the injunction, "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me." (Jer. xlix. 11.)

Within twelve months after the death of her husband, Mrs. Osborn's father died; very shortly after which she went to live in the town of Sheffield, (having previously resided in the country,) and became connected by membership with the Wesleyan-Methodist Society in the Sheffield-East Circuit. About the year 1838 she was made a leader, and met a class in one of the vestries connected with Brunswick chapel. This office, however, she was obliged to relinquish in consequence of ill health. In the year 1840 she had an alarming illness, respecting which she writes to a friend, (a sister of the Rev. G. B. Macdonald, the leader of the class prior to her appointment,) "I never remember such a year of affliction as the past. In December, 1839, I began to be very poorly, and my indisposition was increased by repeated colds. On the 29th of January, 1840, I attended my class, and had a very profitable time; but it proved to be the last, as I have been obliged to give it up..........But O! what cause I have to praise God for His great goodness at this trying season! Throughout the whole of my affliction He enabled me to rejoice; and I think that when my sufferings were the greatest, I was favoured with the sweetest assurances of the presence of God. Often has it seemed as if the room were filled with His glory. I believed one morning that I was dying. The Lord enabled me to give up my five darling children with full con. fidence that He would take care of them. What, my dear equal in value that religion that will enable us to feel perfect peace when we believe ourselves to be just entering eternity, which was the case with me?"

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Mrs. Osborn always believed that her recovery from this illness was in answer to the prayers of the late Rev. John Henley, who was at that time stationed in the Sheffield-East Circuit, and whose constant attentions and prayers her family can never forget.

After an interval of several years, Mrs. Osborn again undertook the care of a class, which she met in a room on the premises of the Messrs. Cocker, at Sharrow-Vale. She did this in much fear and trembling.

Her views of the responsibilities of a leader, and of her own unfitness, were such as to make her very reluctant to resume the office. But several young persons, especially, who had been brought to God during a gracious revival of religion which occurred in Sheffield about that time, declared that they would rather meet in class with her than with any other leader. The ministers of the Circuit also urged the matter with great earnestness. Under these circumstances she felt that the responsibility of refusal was almost greater than that of compliance; and accordingly, in deference to the judgment of others, she consented. Many can bear grateful testimony to the extent to which she was blessed and made a blessing. For some years she continued to meet this class in the East Circuit, although residing and worshipping in the West. During the superintendency of the Rev. Edward Walker, however, she was transferred to the West Circuit, and was appointed to the class which continued to meet in her own house until within a short time of her death.

In connexion with the duties of this office she was frequently and severely tempted and distressed. She had the most humbling views of herself and of her own qualifications. When the members did not attend well, their absence was attributed to her own inability to make the meetings interesting and profitable. Members of classes who are indifferent and irregular little know what grief and anxiety they occasion to conscientious, humble, and tender-spirited leaders. Occasionally Mrs. Osborn suffered much on this account, judging that the fault was mainly with herself, and that almost anyone else would do better and be more successful. And yet those who knew her best in this capacity will testify to her great affection for the members, her sympathizing interest in all their joys and sorrows, and her anxious concern for their spiritual welfare. It is believed, too, that the meetings which she was permitted to conduct were frequently distinguished by remarkable manifestations of the presence and power of God. She often expressed her astonishment at the manner in which she was assisted and blessed after seasons of great anxiety and depression.

In the year 1849 the greatest trial of her life occurred, next to the loss of her husband. Her eldest son, who had been the stay and solace of her widowhood, was suddenly struck down with cholera, whilst away from home on a business journey. This was indeed a crushing blow. He was just in the prime of early manhood, one of the very best of sons and brothers, and the admiration and life of a large circle of friends. His prospects in life were opening with great promise. He had an interest, which was expected to ripen into a partnership, in what has proved to be one of the most successful firms in Sheffield. His mother was just beginning to reap in him the fruits of long years of anxious toil, when he was thus mysteriously and distressingly removed. Her grief was bitter and deep; for a time she seemed to be completely overwhelmed aud paralyzed; but no murmur

escaped her lips, no rebellious thought even seems to have occurred to her mind. She bore the dispensation with Christian fortitude, and furnished to her friends a beautiful example of calm resignation to the will of God, in connexion with the most indescribable personal sorrow. Mrs. Osborn's health was never vigorous, but it was not until the year 1854 that it completely broke down. She was at the time on a visit to Redcar, where she had an alarming attack of illness, which her friends feared would prove fatal. By the blessing of God, however, she was restored, though her usual strength was never regained. She was subject to similar attacks ever after, and the disease which was then developed ultimately terminated her life. Although uniformly kept in perfect peace, in the midst of the most distressing sufferings, when these attacks occurred, yet she dreaded them greatly, being tempted to fear that she should die in a paroxysm, and be wrecked in the storm. From this temptation she suffered much during the last year of her life. Her distress and depression in consequence were frequently extreme; but it proved to be one of the wiles. of the arch-deceiver.

About twelve months before her death she was very seriously ill, and her friends did not think her recovery probable; but the Lord's time had not arrived. When, however, she was seized with what proved to be her last illness, all who saw her felt persuaded that it was indeed the final summons. To her children especially this was very apparent. No mother could love her children more tenderly and passionately than she loved hers; and on all former occasions of illness the mere thought of separation was agonizing: she could scarcely control herself sufficiently to speak of it. Now, however, all that feeling was gone. They were loved as much as ever; but it appeared that the time of her departure was now really at hand; she knew it, and had grace accordingly, and could speak of her approaching end calinly, and almost without a tear. She sought, gently and lovingly, to prepare the minds of her children for the crisis which was felt to be approaching, begging them to pray for entire submission to the will of God; observing also that it would be cruel to speak to them thus, if she were not convinced that medical skill was now of little avail. During the last fortnight of her life she seldom slept more than a few minutes at a time, and was in consequence greatly wearied with suffering and want of rest. But those whose privilege it was to watch beside her bed, during those long sleepless nights, never heard her breathe a murmur or whisper a complaint. And when on some occasions, a wish was expressed or a prayer offered that relief and rest might be given her, she invariably added, "If it be Thy will."

Her tender and loving consideration for those around her was very touching. More than once she expressed a wish that her medical attendants might be present when she died, not for her own sake, but for the sake of her sister and children. On their behalf, too, she