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March 13th-At Holmfirth, aged eightyseven, Susannah, the widow of the Rev. Thomas Hill, Wesleyan minister. She was born at Woolwich, and was truly converted to God in the year 1795, while residing at Hull, where she received her first Society ticket from the hands of the Rev. Alexander Mather. She was united in marriage to Mr. Hill when he was stationed at Dewsbury; and in the several Circuits in which they afterwards travelled she gained the warm affections of many friends. The last twenty-one years of her life were spent at Holmfirth, where Mr. Hill settled as a Supernumerary minister, and where her many virtues will long be remembered. Her disposition was amiable, her piety unaffected and deep, and her attachment to the house of God remarkably strong. So long as her strength lasted she was to be found in her place in the sanctuary, no matter how severe the weather might be. After being a Methodist for more than seventy years, she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, her last words being, "All is well. Hallelujah!"

J. W.

March 21st.-At Ashton-under-Lyne, Esther Walters, relict of the late Mr. Walters, Local preacher, aged seventy, who although of godly parentage, did not till her marriage resolve to serve the Lord. In commencing married life, she and her late excellent husband determined to do so in the fear of the Lord, and were faithful to their resolution. She was of retiring habits, and was more ready to listen than to speak. Yet her quiet, consistent exhibition of religion before her family had the happiest effect upon them, and her children tread in her footsteps. She had humble views of herself, exclaiming a short time before she died,—

"Excluded is my every boast,

My glory swallowed up in shame." Thus did she rejoice until she passed to the mansions above. J. B.

April 11th.-At Bolton, Alice Field, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. Her first religious impressions were made in the Sabbath-school, Ridgeway-Gates. During a gracious revival of the work of God there in 1807, she joined the Society, and in the memorable "Upper Vestry," while in the class-meeting, was enabled to rejoice in the sense of sin forgiven. Her long and consistent life gave clear evidence of the blessed change wrought in her by the power of the Holy Ghost. She was one of those "holy women who trusted in God, whose adorning," was not "outward" but inward, with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' portions of her life were beclouded with heavy domestic trials, but she rested in the Lord, and quietly waited for His salvation. She highly valued the means of grace, and was richly fed by the ministry of the word and by the communion of saints. Hers was "the path of the just," which "is as the

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shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." In her later years she spent much time in visiting the sick and counselling the young. For this work she was eminently fitted by her matured Christian experience. Her last affliction was short, but she was found ready. She expressed firmly her faith in the Atonement of Christ, and earnestly exhorted the young to "Remember their Creator in the days of their youth." Her end was eminently peaceful.

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S. W.

April 14th. At Ashton-under-Lyne, Betty, the wife of Mr. James Slater, aged She united herself to the seventy years. Methodist church in 1809, and for fiftyyears "witnessed a good confession." She found peace whilst wrestling with God in an out-house, and could rejoice in the "liberty with which Christ makes The ordinances of the His people free.' sanctuary were greatly prized by her; and she became a pattern of diligence and regularity in her attendance on the means of grace, especially the class and prayer A short time before death, meetings. consciousness left her; but at two lucid intervals, she gave her husband undoubted evidence that she was going to be "for ever with the Lord." She soon after calmly breathed her spirit into the hands of Jesus. J. B.

April 19th.-At Ashton-under-Lyne, Mrs. Ashton, aged thirty-five; the child of godly parents, she received a religious training. With a number of youthful companions she joined the church when sixteen years of age, and continued a consistent member to the close of life. Her last affliction was borne with exemplary patience. It was also the season of a violent attack from the enemy of souls. She was tempted to doubt her conversion to God. This led to an agony of prayer, and the tempter was foiled and fled. With all her remaining strength she exclaimed, "He's gone! He's gone! Victory! Halelujah! Help me to praise the Lord." After receiving some little refreshment, she said, "I shall soon drink of the living fountain." Thus, for this humble and sometimes doubting disciple, the last enemy was turned into a friend, and the chamber of death into the gate of heaven. J. B.

April 29th.-At Weymouth, aged sixtytwo, Mrs. Mary Gould Henley, wife of the Rev. W. Henley, and daughter of the late Mr. John Avery, of Barnstaple, Devon, a name intimately associated with the introduction, history, and progress of Methodism in that town. In very early life she sought and found the pearl of great price, and never deserted the cause she had espoused. The Guide of her youth was her Guide even unto death.

For many years she was the subject of distressing affliction, which rendered her totally unfit for active service in the church or in the family. Though frequently depressed in spirit, she was enabled to hold

fast the "beginning of her confidence." During the illness that removed her from earth to heaven, she was preserved from doubt or fear, and was kept in perfect peace. At evening time there was light. Her earnest desire was to depart, and to be with Christ. Just before she breathed her last she repeated a favourite verse, —

"I long to behold Him array'd

With glory and light from above, The King in His beauty display'd, The beauty of holiest love."

Her departure was so peaceful that she appeared only to have fallen asleep. J. B. W.

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May 2d.-At Heck, in the Snaith Circuit, Mr. George England, aged fifty years. had been a member of Society nearly thirty years; during twenty-five of which he had sustained the office of leader; and in various other ways had promoted the interests of God's holy cause in his native village. As a member of Society he walked exemplarily before his house, the church, and them "that are without." As a leader he was punctual, judicious, and tender. His name is mentioned with respect by all, and with much affection by those who knew his true worth. His end was pre-eminently peaceful; and although his widow and large family have much reason to mourn his loss, they do not sorrow as those who have no hope. J. A.

May Sth. At Rustington, in the Brighton Circuit, Mrs. Lucy Addis, aged seventy-five. She became a member of the Methodist Society in the year 1832, in connexion with Southwark chapel, London, meeting in a class of which the Rev. William Toase was the leader. During this time she obtained that peace with God which in after life ever plainly manifested itself by those acts of godliness which could only be "the fruit of the Spirit." Her love to Methodism was as unwavering as that of her pious grandfather, Mr. John Griffiths, of Wednesbury, who, in the time of Mr. Wesley, suffered much persecution on account of his attachment to the church of his choice. She accompanied her uncle, the Rev. Mr. Blagborne to North America, and when there continued a regular attendant upon the Wesleyan ministry. On her return to England she again joined the Society at Southwark, and when the family removed to Rustington the same Christian privilege was embraced in connexion with the Methodists of Worthing. The evening before her death, on being asked, "Of what are you thinking?" She replied, "I am thinking of heaven, and of the company I shall see there;" and then said with confidence"There is my house and portion fair;

My treasure and my heart are there.' For her, death had indeed lost its sting,

and shortly after expressing her unshaken trust in God, she peacefully passed to her heavenly inheritance, to join the sainted ones, of whom it is written, "Neither can they die any more." In her the Church below has lost one of its godly members, and the "unnumbered multitude" received another redeemed one to join in its "nobler praise." G. K.

May 22d.-At Northampton, her native town, aged sixty-seven years, Ann, relict of the late Rev. Thomas Hickson, Wesleyan minister. She had been a steady and consistent follower of Christ for forty-six years. Her early days were not favourable to personal piety, for though her parents were moral, and attended the service of the Established Church, their religious professions, and those of their family, were merely external. Through the instrumentality of a friend, when about twenty years of age, she went to the Wesleyan chapel in Gold-street. The Word of the Lord was quick and powerful. She became deeply convinced of sin, and so great was her distress of mind, that with agony she sought the Lord, and rested not until she obtained mercy, which took place under the ministry of the Rev. Thomas Ludlam. It was while kneeling at the sacramental table, and when about to partake of the memorials of her Saviour's love, that she received by faith the true bread of life into her heart, and by the Holy Spirit rejoiced in the saving efficacy of the atoning blood. Her Christian character was marked by great decision, and her life by zeal and usefulness. Since the death of her husband, about eighteen months since, she has been a widow indeed, mourning her great loss daily,

but in submission to the Divine will. When struck down suddenly by paralysis, she gave signs that her illness was unto death, but that she had no fear, Such was the energy of her spirit and her picty, that had it not been for the loss of speech, and almost of motion, doubtless her last days would have been distinguished by holy joy.

She

Notwithstanding her physical prostration, she astonished all around with her cheerfulness. Within prospect of death she was anxious to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This ordinance had signalized her entrance into spiritual life, and now she seemed desirous that its administration should mark her passage to the skies. received the emblems of Christ's dying love with unutterable gratitude. As if she saw a convoy of shining ones waiting to receive her, she struggled to say, inarticulately, "Bright angels! bright angels!" For some hours longer she was wrapt in thought till her body sunk in death, and her spirit rose "To mingle with the blaze of day."

W. R. W.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1866,

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY RIGGALL,

RELICT OF THE LATE FRANCIS RIGGALL, ESQ.

BY THE REV. JAMES LOUTIT.

"THE righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." This is a law of the kingdom of God, and one which Divine Frovidence has signally illustrated in the earth. The proudest monuments are no preservative against the perishableness of all human glory: whereas -to cite but one instance the name of Moses, who identified himself with the people of God, alone preserves that of the Pharaohs. The meanest believer is co-heir with the "Prince of the kings of the earth," and possesses an everlasting memorial in the book of life.

Several years have elapsed since the writer had the privilege of drawing up a brief memoir of the life and character of the late Mr. Riggall.* It has now fallen to him to attempt a delineation of the, Christian course of his amiable partner. Her life presents points of more than ordinary interest, arising from the peculiar circumstances in which she was often placed.

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The late MRS. RIGGALL was a daughter of Thomas Brown, Esq., of Salisbury, long an upright magistrate of that city, and was born March 3d, 1789. Like her sisters and brothers, she received a good education, and enjoyed the advantage of cultivated society. In the year 1816 she commenced a minute journal of daily duties, trials, and progress, which was continued to within six days of her death. A considerable portion of the early part of this document has been injured so as to be in many places illegible. Sufficient, however, is left to give in her own words the distinguishing features of her religious life.†

* See "Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine," June, 1859.

The journal in question, it should be noted, is an unreserved record of her experience, written for her own edification, and not intended for any eye but her own. She says, "I often find it a relief to my own mind to speak in this way thus openly; but I hope it will never fall into the hands of any one. I am sometimes tempted to be entirely silent respecting it, lest sudden death might prevent my destroying these papers which have been so blessed to me in the writing." Nevertheless, by her will discretion is given to the executors respecting her MSS., that they shall "be destroyed or disposed of as they think proper." In the exercise of that discretion this biography is compiled. VOL. XII.-FIFTH SERIES.

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