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MRS. PRISCILLA PURCELL,
OF DAWLEY.

OUR late sister Purcell was born at Wellington, Salop, in the year 1810. Her maiden name was Philips. Her parents belonged to the Baptist denomination, and were good people. Priscilla had, consequently, a religious training, and it was not lost upon her. While she was yet young, the family removed from Wellington to Dawley. At that time the Baptists had no chapel in the neighbourhood; but they had a few church members, who held religious services in a house at Dawley Bank. Priscilla, however, began to attend the Brandlee Chapel, and also entered the school. She was steady in her conduct, and was much respected. About a quarter of a century ago she got her soul converted, was made a new creature in Christ Jesus, and at once identified herself with the church. She became a very decided character. There was no mistake as to her piety. She lived and walked as a child of God. Holiness and consistency marked her conduct. She was a hearty, earnest, happy Christian. Love to the sanctuary, its ordinances, and the people of God, were eminently exemplified by her. She was no trimmer, but a thorough-going Christian. She remained in the church from the time she first joined it to the day of her death. During her Christian pilgrimage she had several leaders, and they all entertained a high opinion of her piety and Christian character.

The affliction which resulted in her death was an exceedingly painful one. It had been long coming on, but she was not laid aside by it until about three months before she died. peculiar character rendered it at first extremely difficult, and then impossible, to swallow solid food. As the disease

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progressed, the passage became so closed that even liquid could not be swallowed, and our dear sister literally died of starvation. All that medical skill could do was of no avail.

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Before her illness Mrs. Purcell was a strong, muscular woman, but, as may be imagined, she became reduced to the feebleness of a child; but the religion which had made her happy in health failed her not in affliction it was to her a source of unspeakable support, consolation, and joy. Christ was precious. She had heaven in view, and could say that she knew, when the earthly house of her tabernacle were dissolved, she had "a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." She had no doubts or fears. In the midst of her sufferings her mind was unruffled and her faith unwavering. Sometimes the tumour in her throat would make it difficult to articulate, but even then she showed, by the expression of her countenance and other signs, that "all was well." She prayed earnestly for two things, viz., that she might be preserved from temptation, and that the use of her mental faculties might be continued to her. Her prayer in both respects was granted. Her soul often seemed to be full of glory. It was almost like being in heaven to be with her. She was visited by many Christian friends, and none who visited her will soon forget the scenes they witnessed. The power of the Gospel to sustain and make happy the soul in the heaviest affliction, and in the hour and article of death, was strikingly and delightfully exhibited in her case. She passed triumphantly away to the "realms of the blest" on Monday, November 13th, 1865, aged fifty-five years. A widowed husband, several sons, and a daughter, are left behind to. mourn their loss. May they meet her in heaven! Her death was improved by the writer in Brandlee Chapel. L. SAXTON.

Dawley, January, 1866.

ELIZABETH ELLIS. ELIZABETH ELLIS was born May 22, 1838, at a small village near Delph, in Saddleworth. At an early age she was sent to the Wesleyan Sabbathschool, where deep and hallowed impressions were made upon her mind. She has often said since to her younger sister, that if she had been taken by

the hand at that time a greater term of her life would have been spent in the service of God.

In the year 1853 the family came to reside in Oldham, and immediately Elizabeth was led to the Townfield Sunday-school, where she became a scholar, and she soon formed an attachment both to the school, the people, and the service of God.

In the year 1854 she was appointed a teacher. This impressed her with a deep sense of her responsibility, and hence the need of an immediate and full surrender of her heart to God. About this time it pleased the Almighty to lay her on a bed of affliction, and she was the subject of great bodily pain. During this affliction she had revealed to her a clear sight of her condition as a sinner, and her need of forgiveness through faith in the blood of Christ. She requested her eldest brother to pray with her, and it pleased God, in answer to prayer, to reveal himself as her God and Saviour, and thus her heart was filled with peace and joy. As soon as she was raised up, she united with the church, and received her first ticket in October, 1855. Her Christian experience now assumed a very distinct and settled character. Without any faltering, and with great joy, she could now sing"My God is reconciled,

His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for his child,

I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba, Father, cry."

Having realized such a precious sense of the need and value of religion, she became very anxious that others should be made sharers of the same blessings. Both teachers and scholars became the objects of her deep and anxious solicitude, and hence, whenever an opportunity occurred, she would kindly speak to them, and press them to a decision on the Lord's side. Many will have to bless God through all eternity that they were brought under her influence, and that through her they were led to the Saviour. The Sabbath-school will sustain a great loss in the removal of our sister; but it is cheering to know that its loss will be her gain.

For many years previous to her death our sister was afflicted in body, and often was a great sufferer. On several occasions death looked her in the face. Still she had no fear: she

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About two years ago her mother died; in August last her father was taken away; and in January following her eldest sister was removed. This succession of bereavements made havoc with her frail tenement. She seemed to be stricken to the earth. Still she did not repine; but she seemed to lose all relish for the world, and sought her enjoyment in retirement and communion with God. Thus was her heavenly Father preparing her for his own palace, and for the society of the glorified in heaven.

Our sister continued, under the pressure of great feebleness, her worldly employment till Wednesday night, the 21st of February, and the same night she attended her class. This was just a week before her death. Mr. Ashworth, her leader, states that, on that night, her experience was rich and full, and was expressed with great earnestness; and, being requested to pray, she acceded to the request, and prayed with great power.

On returning home she called at her brother's, and expressed that she felt very unwell, and was anxious to get home. The day following she was confined to her bed. From that time she had a strong premonition that her end was nigh. She stated to a friend that she had had a remarkable dream; that she had seen her departed mother; and that she would soon be with her, ranging the sweet plains of heaven. Her mind was calm, peaceful, and joyous. She could gaze at death not only with composure, but with triumph. On the Sunday previous to her death, she was visited by many of her dear friends and the scholars, who all loved her. In the evening she requested those present to hold a prayer-meeting, and she requested them to sing some beautiful verses, in which she heartily joined. On Monday she was visited by a few of her scholars, and to oneI especially she gave a most affecting address, and pressed her at once to give her heart to God, and thus be ready to take her place in the class, for she felt that there was little hope of her being able to attend again. During the week she was visited by her leader, Mr.Ashworth, by the Rev. R. Fanshaw,

and by Mr. Butterworth, the superintendent of the Sunday-school; also by several teachers and friends. To all she expressed full trust in the Saviour, and a calin resignation to the Divine will. To her leader she said, "If I had not had Christ with me under so much pain of body, what could I have done?" On Friday night she felt that the end was near, and she was heard by several of her friends to entreat the Lord Jesus to come and fetch her. "Come!" said she, "thou conquering Jesus, come!" She then requested the friends and her brother again to sing and pray, to which she most feelingly responded.

On Saturday there seemed a strangeness about her which only death could produce. About one, her brother asked her if she knew him. She replied, she could not see him, but she knew his voice. He then asked her if she knew Jesus, to which she eagerly replied, "Yes." He then asked her if there was light in the valley, to which she promptly replied, "There is. The Lord's promise does not fail. I will never leave thee."" After this conversation there was an outward struggle for a few moments, and then all was calm, and about five she fell asleep in Jesus. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

Our sister died on the 3rd of March, 1866, and her death was improved in the school by the writer to a crowded audience, and souls were led to submit to God and unite with the church.

J. A.

MR. T. CROSSLAND. DURING the past few months death has been exceedingly busy in thinning the ranks of our church at Paddock; first one aged friend and then another has beard the summons-"The Master is come, and calleth for thee;" and now, last of all, we have to mourn over the departure of Mr. Thomas Crossland, who died on the 1st of March. Our brother, who was highly respected and beloved among us, united with our church on the 16th of December, 1845, and to the last he cherished the warmest sympathy for our Paddock cause; sympathy which prompted to the utterance of pleasant words and the performance of generous deeds.

Mr. Crossland was somewhat retiring in habit, but in the days of his manhood's strength he possessed a con

siderable amount of patient, plodding energy, which displayed itself chiefly in his assiduous attention to the interests of his business, and the doing of an amount of work that would have worn out many a man in half the time.

Whilst he made no loud religious professions, his character and his life were really religious. His faith in Christ, his recognition of God's ever abiding presence, his trustful reception of the Bible as the limit of speculation, and the final standard of conviction and duty, were beautiful in their simplicity.. His religious habits of thought developed themselves, as they must always do, in religious habits of life; and few men had a nobler reputation, either in private or commercial circles, for hightoned integrity and honour.

In some considerable measure we owe the material prosperity of our church to himself and his family. From the building of our Paddock chapel he gave us good assistance, and two years ago he and his sons, Mr. James and Mr. Samuel (since dead), offered to double all that we could raise by other subscriptions in twelve months, towards reducing the chapel debt. That noble challenge resulted in securing £500 to our trust estate.

We felt that we could ill afford to lose so good a helper, and though his strength began to fail some years ago, yet we hoped he might be spared to us some time longer; such hope, however, like many other human hopes, was doomed to disappointment. After Mr. Samuel's death, a year ago, the solitariness of his home, that had once been "glad with the merry joys of children," seemed to press upon his spirits, and he began more rapidly to fail in both bodily and mental vigour. At length the melancholy fact was known that softening of the brain had set in, and now the approach of the end might be It came suddenly at last. His friends left him in the beginning of the night, without any anticipation of immediate danger; but already the deathangel had come to his chamber, and our friend seemed to hear the rustling of his wings. After his good night to his children, he was heard to whisper of Jesus' mercy and his power to save, and then he closed his eyes in his last sleep. Some time in the night the cold hand touched him, and his brain stood still under the pressure of apoplexy. A few more hours the

seen.

golden bowl was broken, and his spirit returned unto God who gave it. His body lies with his wife and son, in the beautiful cemetery at Huddersfield, and as we turned away from laying him with his kindred, the wish went out in prayer that his children and his children's children "may rest in Jesus, as is our hope that this our brother doth."

CHARLES WEEKS.

CHARLES WEEKS, late secretary of our Zion Chapel Sunday-school, London First Circuit, died in the Lord on Sunday night, March 4th, 1866, aged thirty. He found peace with God in August last. The church was glad when so promising a helper came into its midst; but his heavenly Father saw fit very soon to lay him aside. Consumption confined him to his home, and in a few months reduced his frame almost to a shadow. The last meeting he ever attended at Zion was a teachers' meeting, and was a season of more than usual blessing, and one to which he often referred with thankful remembrance. His principal co-worker in the Sabbath-school, who visited him several times a week, and the ministers of the circuit, with other friends, describe the interviews as very much blessed.

Though the enemy of souls frequently assailed his faith, and our brother, being of a diffident disposition, was at times much cast down in consequence, he at length rose superior

to these things, and attained to the full assurance of faith.

He requested his colleague, first, to accept his Bible, and keep it in memory of him; second, to be with him at death; third, to follow his remains to the grave; fourth, to meet him in heaven.

He did not write the inscription in the Bible until a week before death, being hesitant about signing himself "Your brother in Christ" till then, so often was he perplexed by the adversary.

On the morning of the Sabbath on which he breathed his last, he said, "I shall go to-day; the door is open (meaning heaven's gate). "Glory, glory, glory!" Nearly all he said was about Jesus and heaven.

The hymus "Begone, unbelief,” and "Though often here we're weary," he was particulary partial to, and repeatedly joined in, when these or others were being quoted or sung.

The closing evening of his life was a very solemn and heavenly one. His language and looks, and, when speech failed, his waved or clasped hand, betokened the holy joy and deep tranquillity dwelling within. The remembrance of these affords no small consolation to the bereaved family and church, who mourn the loss of one so amiable and beloved from among their number.

His remains were interred in the Forest Hill Cemetery on the 10th ult. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." T. A.

Connexional Department.

THE APPROACHING

CONFERENCE.

SOON after this Number shall be placed in the hands of our readers, the Seventieth Conference of our Denomination will be held. The ministers and lay brethren will be assembled to review the proceedings of the year, consider the state of our churches, and discuss the

various questions pertaining to the welfare of the Body. May God cause the brethren to come to

gether in safety and in health, and favour their deliberations and religious services with his presence and blessing! Many important topics will have to be considered, and there will be need of much wisdom and love. The friends in every part of the Connexion

should devoutly pray that the Holy Spirit may be our guide, and his gracious influence be powerfully felt, exercising not only a restraining and constraining, but a sanctifying and energizing power. In material advancement we have much to encourage us; but, undoubtedly, we need more of that vital power, more of that sympathy with God in his great purposes of mercy, and more of that religious force which characterized Methodism in its early days, which won its wondrous triumphs in the times of Wesley, Whitfield, Nelson, and Bramwell. And what we need, thank God, we may have. Gold cannot purchase it; a wellbalanced system cannot secure it, and indolent wishes cannot obtain it but prayer-simple, united, believing prayer-can secure it. For God hath said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find;" and "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit unto them that ask him?"Oh, that this spirit of wrestling prayer might possess us, as it did the apostles and disciples during the ten days preceding the Pentecostal effusion of the Holy Spirit! What a solemn and impressive truth it is that so great a blessing may be had by praying for it! and yet to remain without it-that is, without its required fulness-how this fact reproaches us, and what a grave responsibility is ours!

It is very desirable that more time should be set apart for spiritual duties at the annual Conference. We all feel that too much time is taken up in mere business, and too little in the spiritual state of the Denomination. It would be well if, by any judicious arrangement and eco

nomy of time, it could be otherwise; so that any existing evil could be probed, any deficiency could be supplied, and the exigencies met by wise and salutary measures; and above all, that our own souls might be more richly endued with power from on high.

We earnestly hope that arrangements will be made in all our circuits for special prayer in behalf of the Conference, both before and during its sittings.

Our friends will read with profound interest the letter of the Rev. John Innocent as to the state and prospects of our mission in China. There God is with us in deed and in truth. The report of the valedictory service connected with the departure of our esteemed brother, the Rev. W. Cocker, to superintend the Canadian mission, is gratifying. We hope and pray that God will preserve him and his in safety and health, and render his labours and administration in that country pre-eminently prosperous.

VALEDICTORY SERVICE

IN CONNECTION WITH

THE DEPARTURE OF THE REV. WM. COCKER TO CANADA. THE departure to Canada of our esteemed minister, the Rev. W. Cocker, to undertake the presidency of our Connexional Missions there, is an event so important in its bearings upon the interests of our community both at home and in that country that some account of the valedictory service held in Salem Chapel, Manchester, cannot fail to be acceptable to the readers of the Magazine.

We have, therefore, at the request of the Salem friends, prepared a report of the proceedings of that deeplyinteresting service. The arrangement that such a meeting should be held in Manchester, gave unmingled satisfaction to the friends of the Connexion in that city. Mr. Cocker having travelled in both the Manchester

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