Shaw. The voyage was viâ the Cape, and, as we sailed by the same route a year before, our interest in the “Log ” has been very sympathetic and strong. It is written with much vivacity, and the experiences it records will be read with astonishment by "land-lopers ;" and, indeed, among the 800 souls on board, there must have been an unusual number of "evil men waxing worse and worse," to have made the days and nights so uncomfortable and alarming, as we are told many of them became. We are glad to observe that excellent and acceptable work was done on board by our two brethren, and by other ministers and missionaries, Mr. Gratton being especially active and successful in his ministrations. We recommend the volume to intending emigrants, by whom valuable information will be gained from it, and we wish for its author a happy and useful ministry in Queensland.

I. The Better Land. II. The Eden Family. By JEREMIAH DODSWORTH. London: T. C. Jack.

"THE BETTER LAND" is a new edition of a work familiar to us thirty years ago, when it gained great public favour; and time has not robbed it of that favour, as the son of its now sainted author, in a brief prefatory note, informs us. It is a homely, racy, pleasing, and edifying exposition of the many hints given in Holy Scripture respecting the nature and employments of heaven, and of the necessity and blessedness of being "meet to be partakers of an inheritance with the saints in light." The volume furnishes delightful and stimulative Sunday reading for heavenly-minded people, and will afford special comfort to Christians who are suffering in mind, body, or estate.

"The Eden Family" is a fit companion to the before-named work, and the fact that over twenty thousand copies have been sold testifies to its popularity and usefulness. It embraces a wide range of practical and experimental truth, having sections on Our Heavenly Father, Our Terrestrial Abode, Our Eden Ancestors, Our Desert Exile, Our Glorious Deliverer, Our Gracious Comforter, Our Wilderness Pilgrimage, and Our Paradise Home. Under each heading many wise and striking thoughts are expressed in language easy to be understood, and with an all-absorbing purpose to guide the human family, which had its origin in Eden, to the Paradise above. Its teaching is deeply spiritual and evangelical; and to such as seek religious edification and growth in the books they read, we can confidently recommend this excellent treatise.

Memoirs and Recent Deaths.

MR. JOHN WILLIAM BOOTH, LEEDS FIRST CIRCUIT. OUR beloved Brother Booth, at his death, was the oldest member in Woodhouse-lane Society. For upwards of fifty-four years he was an honoured and consistent member, greatly beloved by all who knew him. He was born at Gainsborough on July 28, 1805. His parents removed to Leeds while he was young. In 1822 he was apprenticed to Messrs. Tiffany, brushmakers, and continued in their service, holding responsible positions for the period of sixty-two years. He was characterised throughout for his diligence, integrity, and uprightness. Our brother was always of a calm, quiet disposition, maintained a moral character, was of studious habits, and fond of reading. After his conversion he diligently read

the Scriptures and various books of theology. At that time he became deeply impressed with the conduct of a pious lady in the neighbourhood where he lived; her habits led him to conclude that there was more in religion than he had as yet experienced. He was led to Old Ebenezer Chapel, where the word preached was like a nail fastened in a sure place. He was drawn as by the cords of love, joined the class, and became a member of the church.

Our brother was a local preacher for nearly fifty years. His ministry was quiet, thoughtful, and instructive; if he did not burn yet he shined. He never gave the people that which cost him nothing. He generally preached extemporaneously; I am not aware that he ever wrote an outline. When Brother Booth became a local preacher the writer of this memoir formed a friendship with him, and he proved to be a kind, sympathising, and faithful friend. At that time Leeds Circuit was very extensive, the journeys were long, and had mostly to be walked. We agreed to accompany each other when we had double appointments, which was often the case. I remember going with him to Batley one Sabbath morning. My friend preached in the morning, and I in the afternoon. I nearly broke down, having lost the thread of my subject. This had a depressing effect upon me, and had it not been for Brother Booth I should have given up the work. On our way home, in a quiet part of the road. he said "Let us pray here about the matter." The Lord heard our prayer, and enabled me to take up the cross and go on with my preaching.

Our brother held for many years the office of sick visitor. The duties he discharged with special satisfaction and success. He was also for many years a faithful class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school. As a father, friend, and servant, his memory will be long cherished by those who were daily brought into contact with him. For some months prior to his death his failing energies gave intimation to his friends that his constitution was breaking up. He attended both the means of grace and his employment as long as he could. At length his employers very thoughtfully requested him to remain at home till he was better, and he very gratefully complied.

Our Brother Booth was a loyal member of our Connexion. He loved and admired its polity, understood its rules, and many times both in Leaders' and Quarterly Meetings he made apt use of them. He was a man of tender feelings; if he thought he had grieved anyone he could not rest till he had the matter amicably settled. When at length confined to his bed, God was with him to comfort and save. He could say that he had not followed cunningly devised fables, but a blessed reality. It was my pleasure to visit him often during his affliction, and I always found him happy, perfectly resigned to the Master's will, and ready to testify to the value and blessedness of personal religion. He always expressed his pleasure at seeing any of the friends.

On his last Sabbath it was my unspeakable pleasure to see him, and I shall never forget the few minutes I had with him. He was fast sinking; but he said, "I am glad you called, I just wanted to tell you how happy I am, the battle is nearly over; pray with me a few moments." I asked, "What shall I pray for-that you may get better?" "No, that is out of

the question. Pray that I may have grace and strength to gain the victory." He responded heartily, and again said, "I am glad you called, as I wanted to tell you how happy I am." On October 8, 1883, he passed away to his eternal rest in heaven. On the following Sabbath evening, the Rev. W. B. Wilshaw improved his death in Woodhouse-lane Chapel to a large congregation, from the words, "And by it he being dead yet speaketh." J. MALLINSON.

JOSEPH T. WARDELL, OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE CIRCUIT. JOSEPH THOMPSON WARDELL was born at Angerton, in Northumberland, in 1812. His father was a farmer, and the son was early called upon to aid in procuring the daily living, so that his educational advantages were very few. The family having removed to Corbridge-on-Tyne, the father died while he was yet a little boy, and he was put to work to help in supporting his mother and two sisters. Work, however, in the immediate neighbourhood of the home was difficult to get, and he had long walks to undergo night and morning. He was very punctual and diligent, which, indeed, were characteristic of him all through life. He grew up to manhood steady and virtuous, married a wife who, for about forty-six years, was the patient, devoted, pious partner of his fortunes, and who still survives him. About the year 1842 he removed to Jesmond Vale, a charming village near Newcastle-on-Tyne. Here a Sabbath-school was conducted by the sainted George Wright, a pitman, who walked three miles every Sunday to superintend the school, paid the rent of the schoolroom out of his own pocket, and carried his provisions for the day with him. But after a few years of this noble and self-denying work George Wright was removed by death, the Sabbath-school was closed, and only an evening service was held in the cottage. This service Mr. Wardell

attended, often walking into the town for service on the Sunday morning. In the year 1854 the Sunday-school was re-opened by Mr. J. Hedley and the Rev. W. J. Townsend, and a very prosperous interest was obtained. This had the effect of drawing Mr. Wardell into church fellowship and Sunday-school work. He was the first to join the church and to offer substantial help when the school and church were resuscitated. The work of God extended in the village, and ere long a chapel was required. Nɔ one was more earnestly interested in the project than Mr. Wardell, and no one gave both time and money more cheerfully than he did. after it was opened responsible persons removed from the neighbourhood, and he was chosen the leader of the little church.

Soon

He was a very timid and retiring man, but he would not willingly see the church of God suffer, and with much energy and perseverance he held it together almost singlehanded for some years. He was always a liberal subscriber to the church and circuit funds, and as in response to his patient industry his resources became more abundant he increased his offerings to the cause of God proportionately, and there was no circuit or connexional effort he was not willing cheerfully to succour. He was especially deeply interested in our Foreign Missions, and The Missionary Chronicle was always welcomed by him. He was an earnest Bible reader,

and possessed a very accurate knowledge of its contents, seeking also by study of Bible geography and habits to put himself in such relation to the contents of the Holy Book as to understand exactly their meaning and bearing. He was most diligent and attentive as a Sunday-school teacher. He was superintendent of the school some years, and until he was prevented by affliction his attention to it was undeviating. He became very much afflicted in the latter part of his life, but he dragged himself in much weariness and helplessness to the public service and the prayermeeting, thus setting an example worthy of imitation by many who have no such hindrances. Sometimes his affliction so affected his speech and memory that he could not converse on any subject consecutively, and lost recollection of his nearest relations; but in the weekly prayer-meeting he was self-collected as usual, and offered prayer intelligently and profitably. This showed that the ruling passion of his soul was for spiritual fellowship, and no weakness of the body could interfere with that.

On one occasion he could not get to the prayer-meeting without help, but he persisted in going. As he painfully climbed the hill, his son-in-law said, “Father, you cannot go to-night." He replied, "Oh! William, do let me go, it will not be for long." Nor was it so. The last service he attended was on the last Sunday of 1884, and, though not fit to travel, he said, "I must go to-night." His reverence in Divine service was beautiful and touching. He always stood during prayer, even when it must have been hard and trying for him to have done so.

He attended the anniversary tea-meeting at the chapel on Christmas day, and after that he slowly got weaker, until he quietly passed away to eternal rest on February 5, 1885.

The foregoing facts of his life have been supplied by his son, who worthily follows in his father's footsteps. I may add that, having known him well for nearly thirty years, it is impossible to speak too highly of the uprightness, the faithfulness, the patient continuance in well-doing of our dear friend. He welcomed us back to Jesmond Vale when we reopened the Sunday-school, and he grudged no efforts, gifts, or labours by which he could encourage or strengthen the cause of God. He was a humbleminded, devoted Christian, who habitually shed around him a peaceful, useful influence. and who, in all his ways, acknowledged the Lord. He was intelligently attached to the church order and polity of the New Connexion, and delighted in its prosperity. He belonged to a class of men who are an honour to our country. He was a sterling English yeoman. He slowly made up his mind to the course he deemed right, and then he adhered to it with unbroken tenacity. He had sound common sense, and could distinguish between the solid and showy in character or conduct. He was drawn by a real and unfailing instinct to admire a thoroughly praiseworthy man. He was profoundly religious; not that he could talk fluently, but he was religious in the grain of his being. He felt that reverence for Divine things which is the groundwork of all real religion, and which is now much overlooked in some popular movements. He was for his means a really princely giver to the Church; his door was ever open to its ministers and members, and he has left behind him a name untarnished by any inconsistency, but which is fragrant with

homely and manly virtues. On the news of his death being circulated, letters were written by ministers and friends who had known him for many years, testifying to the excellence of his name and character, to quote which here would be to prolong this notice beyond the limits the worthy editor can spare. He died universally respected in the possession of perfect peace. His death was improved to a large congregation in the little chapel he loved so well, on Sunday, March 1, by the writer, from the words in 1 John iii. 2.

W. J. T.

Died at Sheffield, on Wednesday, August 19, in perfect peace, the Rev. G. BRADSHAW, aged 78 years. W. H. A. MARY, widow of the late J. H. ROBEY, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, died at the house of her son-in-law, Rev. A. Collinson, Hyde, June 16, aged 82 years. "He giveth His beloved sleep."

ANN DAWSON, of Brighouse, died July 7, aged 85 years. She was an old and respected member. In the midst of great trials she evinced true Christian fidelity, and passed away in the full triumph of the Gospel.

J. C.

MARY, widow of the late JOHN MELLOR, died July 23. She was for many years a steady and highly respected member of our church in Mossley, and died in the blessed assurance of a happy immortality in the seventy-fourth year of her age. G. S. H.

GRACE, the beloved wife of Mr. J. THORNTON, of Brighouse, died May 2, in the fifty-seventh year of her age. From early life she had been a consistent member of the Church, and though greatly afflicted some twelve months prior to her death, she was remarkably sustained by divine grace, and death to her was nothing more than falling sweetly asleep in Christ. J. C.

News and Notes.

OUR MISSIONS.

THE General Committee consider it advisable to invite early reports of the approaching anniversaries to be sent to the Editor for insertion in the Magazine, as a means of stimulating the Connexional Missionary interest, and of recording successes which, we hope, will go far beyond anything we have yet been privileged to see. The outlook is very hopeful. Our distinguished visitor and pioneer missionary from China, the Rev. J. INNOCENT is, in many instances, to be the chief speaker at

the principal meetings, and this fact, of itself, should ensure crowded audiences, and the largest collections ever made for missionary purposes. We expect this year a worthy exhibition of the esprit de corps of our Denomination in connection with our mission work-the grandest work that can interest the mind, and evoke the liberality of Christians. We shall be glad indeed to chronicle success: let every circuit rise to the occasion. Great will be the joy of Mr. Innocent, and not less that of his many friends, at home and