knees, in long and earnest prayer, desiring to be sensibly instructed what to do. An internal dictate, which to him had all the force of a Divine command, came as a response to his prayer. He doubted not for a moment; a line of duty was dictated to him, and he obeyed it. He instantly wrote to Brighton, desiring to receive the rite of baptism in the small place of worship, to which he felt peculiarly attached. (In furtherance of his brother's intentions, he had previously paid the entire rent of this place for three years from his own purse.) The ceremony, which was a solemn and affecting one, took place in the presence of a few friends in the latter part of 1866, when, at his own earnest request, the sacramental supper was also administered. As a baptismal offering, he sent a donation of £20. to the New Church College. From this time to the close of his life it appears to have been his most earnest desire to be resigned in all things to the will of the Lord.

At Paddock, near Huddersfield, on the 21st of January, Mrs. Mary Alsten, aged 59 years. The deceased had been for many years a member of the church at Dalton. Early connected with the Wesleyan body, she imbibed from them the feelings and practice of Christian piety and zeal. She struggled with the superior intelligence of the New Church for some time before she yielded a cordial acceptance. Once convinced, however, of the truth of our heavenly doctrines, she never looked back, but threw the whole energy of her life into the church. Her great delight was to render to it such uses as she was able, and to aid its progress. Naturally of an earnest temperament, she was apt to express herself with a warmth which was sometimes misunderstood; but those who knew her intimately and well, are best aware how sincere were her affections, and how delighted she was to do good to others. She bore a painful illness with great patience, and looked forward with Christian hope to her release.

On the 22nd of January, in the 81st year of his age, Mr. John Purnell. He was a member of the church under the late Rev. J. Proud, and on that gentleman's removal to Birmingham he sat for some years under the Rev. S. Noble. Later, for many years, he attended the church at Argyle-square. He was a zealous, worthy, and exemplary member

of the church for sixty years. Our friend suffered for four years from severe attacks of asthma, which he bore with Christian patience and fortitude. He departed calmly and peacefully in his sleep, nature being entirely worn out. His remains were interred in the Finchley cemetery, the funeral service being conducted by the Rev. Dr. Bayley.

REV. W. TALL.-We extract the following account of this esteemed minister from the "Huntingdonshire News" of February 1st:-"On Sunday last the funeral of the late Rev. William Tall, of St. Ives, took place, the mourners leaving the house about twelve. The day being fine, a large concourse of persons paid the last tribute of respect to the departed, by attending and listening to the burial service of the New Jerusalem Church, both in the church and at the Cemetery, with much solemnity. The funeral discourse in the evening was delivered by Mr. R. Gunton, of London. The place was quite full, and many left for want of room. The text was from Mark xiii. 33-37:-'Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is,' &c. At the close of an impressive discourse, listened to with great attention, the preacher said-In the New Church we are not accustomed to say much respecting departed persons. We feel that the real state of every one is known only to the Lord. But as the life of our departed friend and brother, the Rev. W. Tall, was a remarkable one, it may be useful to notice a few points which stood out conspicuously in his character. He was brought up by his parents to attend the Wesleyan Sundayschool. As a boy he was fond of his Bible, and in his sleep has been heard by his mother to repeat texts of Scripture so plainly that she has gone to see whether he was asleep or awake. over the age of six he was seized with the small pox, which deprived him of sight for 14 days. On the renewed perception of light, he exclaimed

'Praise ye the Lord, 'tis good to raise

Just

Our hearts and voices in his praise.' At the age of 14 he preached his first sermon in the house of Mrs. Eason, at Holywell. At the unusually early age of sixteen he became a regular local preacher among the Wesleyans, but after some years went over to the Primitives, amongst whom he remained as a preacher until the year 1850. His clearness of percep

tion and enunciation, joined to his natural vivacity and earnestness, made him an acceptable and useful preacher in both these bodies. The constitution of his mind was reflective, penetrating and logical; and the doctrines of the New Church having been brought under his notice, he cautiously and gradually, but thoroughly investigated them, and as gradually and thoroughly received them. This was a long and painful ordeal, the true nature of which can only be understood by those who have passed through the experience. None can doubt his sincerity, for so far as self and the world were concerned he had everything to lose and nothing to gain by the change. But he had the advantage of remaining a true man—a privilege above all estimation. He steadily-not presumptuously, but humbly and fearlessly-followed the leadings of Providence in his search after truth; and whenever he found a safe footing he took another step onward. On reaching a tolerably clear conviction of the truth of his new views-indeed as he progressed from one state of perception to another he never failed to utter what he believed to be truth, and this brought himself and his new convictions into notice; for, being summoned before a quarterly meeting to answer the charge of heterodoxy, he defended his views from the Scriptures with great clearness in an address of some three hours' duration, and having done so he tendered his resignation as a minister of that body, although he continued his labours amongst them to the end of that plan. This event, however, severed him from his old associates, and from that time he publicly and distinctly strove to establish in St. Ives an external organization, accepting those new views even now very little understood by mankind. Shortly after a society was formed, first meeting in the old unsuitable room, and at length in this very comfortable, though not imposing structure. The society, under his gratuitous leadership and ministration-for it is only justice to his memory to say that so far from receiving any pecuniary reward for all his labours, in addition thereto he very liberally contributed to the erection of this building, and the continual support of the society, which has existed now about 13 years with fluctuating success. Many have received here a knowledge of our doctrines, and removed to other districts, where they have become new

centres, exercising a moderating influence upon others, and so helping on the progress of truth in the world. In all these changes, this in him is worthy of all imitation that he was thoroughly in earnest. His convictions being clear, he had a heart for any fate.' One of his dying sentences, uttered in my presence, very slowly, but very ferventlyfor he was too feeble to utter more than one or two words in a breath-was, 'It may confirm others in the faith to know that I die triumphant in the faith I've taught. On Sunday evening last, after the service, he was refreshed by hearing that beautiful hymn commencing

'Blest is the man who dies in peace,

And gently yields his soul to rest.' His sufferings at times were very great, and must have been so for years. But, through all his bodily infirmities, all opposition, and all-surrounding lukewarmness, he laboured on with a selfsacrificing perseverance seldom met with. He had fondly hoped, and intended, ere long, to have devoted himself entirely to the ministerial work; but Providence had ordered otherwise. On Monday night, January 20th, his earthly career closed, at the age of 49 years; and, without a sigh, his spirit took its flight to the land of realities, 'where saints immortal reign.' The dust shall return to the dust as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it.' Let us strive to imitate him in his unselfish examination of and adherence to truth, never forgetting the words of our adorable Lord, Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is.'"

Mr. William Varney, cutlery manufacturer, Sheffield, departed this life Feb. 6th, aged 47. The deceased formerly belonged to the General Baptist body; but being induced about 12 years ago, through some conversation with a brother manufacturer, to read some of the writings of the church, conviction of the truth soon followed acquaintance with their teachings, and he became a member of the New Church Society in Sheffield. From his first connection with that society until recently he ever manifested a warm interest in its affairs and in the general progress of the church. For some time he had been suffering from a disease of the lungs, but was only confined to his bed for about two days, and his sudden removal was altogether unexpected by his family and friends. A number of the

members of the society attended to pay the last mark of respect to the deceased, and to express their sympathy with his wife and family at the interment of his earthly remains. J. D. The Kersley Society has experienced the removal of another of its old members in the demise of Mr. Thomas Lindley, of Farnworth. We extract the following notice of his decease from the Farnworth Observer of the 15th ult.:"The remains of the late Mr. Thomas Lindley, Albert-road, were interred in the burial-ground connected with the New Jerusalem Church, Kersley, on Wednesday morning, the Rev. W. Woodman officiating in the performance of the funeral obsequies. The deceased, who was 62 years of age, died from an affection of the heart on the 6th inst., after an illness of several months, but which was not considered very serious until about three months ago. Mr. Lindley was a native of this district, having been born at Ringley-fold, Ringley. The deceased was a man of very temperate habits; unostentatious and unpretentious in all his dealings. Few people have been held in greater respect by so extensive a circle of acquaintances as the late Mr. Lindley. He was naturally of a kind and quiet disposition, always ready to assist those who might need a helping hand. He never meddled or took any active part in local affairs, although fre

in

quently pressed to do so. He was, every sense of the word, a religious man; and, from his youth up, had been a consistent and useful member of the New Jerusalem Church. His death occurred very suddenly. On the previous evening he had attended to a few matters of business, and was quite as well as he had been for a few days previously. Next day, however, he died whilst asleep; hæmorrage of the bowels being supposed to be the immediate cause of his death. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, as the funeral procession passed along Albert-road and Longcauseway, the shops were closed and the blinds of private houses drawn down." Our friend was an active promoter of the erection of the Kersley Church in 1836, and a trustee of the building; and was nearly the last survivor of those who took practical interest in realising that object. His purse also, when required, was ever at the service of the church. During his last illness, from almost the commencement of which he had a conviction that he should not recover, his religious trust and confidence shone conspicuously. Never did he doubt the goodness of his Heavenly Father. At his funeral discourse, on the 12th ult., the church was crowded by a highly respectable and thoughtful congregation, which appeared to be deeply impressed with the great truths placed before them.

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