"It was my privilege to labour in the city of Wilmington, Delaware, side by side with Brother Cookman for more than two years. The last year of his residence there we were often thrown together in devotional meetings, and met at social gatherings.

"The same unbroken uniformity of a calm, genial temperament ever rested upon him. Truly he looked like one that possessed a peace the world can neither give nor take away. Nor was it an acquired, stoical indifference that made him insensible to surrounding influences, for he had a most susceptible nature, that sympathized with everything that was innocent around him. He always appeared solemn and dignified in his bearing, and at the same time easy and unaffected in his

manners.

"He had a keen sense of the ludicrous, and would laugh till he shook all over. I remember on one occasion we were in one of the Union prayer-meetings, held the first week of the new year, when an amusing incident occurred. .. Mr. Cookman was seated on the platform, and, as a suppressed smile passed all over the meeting, I shall never forget the efforts he made to preserve his gravity, his hands over his face, and his whole body shaking with laughter. 'Oh,' said he afterward, 'I did want to get off the platform to some place where I could laugh!'

"And yet, with all his pleasantry and readiness to contribute to the enjoyment of the social gathering, no man was freer from a spirit of levity or irreverence for sacred things than was Brother Cookman. He was a very spiritually-minded man, and seemed to breathe continually a devotional atmosphere.

"In no place did he seem more at home than in a prayer-meeting. He was a fine singer, and in his selection of appropriate and beautiful hymns, sung with his rich, mellow voice, and in his earnest pleadings with God, he would diffuse the sweetest devotional spirit into all present, and often melt the congregation to tears. While the people were kneeling sometimes at the close of a prayer, he would start a hymn, which contained a petition just as suited to the occasion as if it had been written for it, and all would sing it through on their knees before God, and then one and another would burst forth with earnest prayer.

"In this way, without calling on any one or urging any one to speak or pray, he would kindle the flame of devotion until no one could keep silent.

"The Orthodox Friends-than whom no more godly people are to be found in that city-were many of them attracted to his church, and associated with him in Christian work.

TRIBUTE TO HIS USEFULNESS.

271

"Perhaps no man ever exerted a wider or better influence in that community, in the same time, than did Alfred Cookman, and no man was more highly esteemed or more tenderly loved. And why should he not? To very many his life and labours had proved, under God, an unspeakable blessing.

"The moulding power of Brother Cookman's godly life over Grace Church just at a most important period of its early history will continue, I doubt not, to bless that Church to its latest day; so it will many outside of that Church who were brought in contact with his great, catholic, Christ-like spirit.

"For, while a decided Methodist, Brother Cookman was a man of large heart, expansive views, and a charity that cordially fellowshipped with all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence he was ever ready for co-operation with any or all the other denominations in any movement for advancing the cause of Christ in the community or in the world. I have heard it said by old men, that never before had there been such a kind, fraternizing spirit among all denominations of Christians as there was at that time in Wilmington."

The following tribute, in harmony with Mr. Smyth's statement, appeared just before Mr. Cookman's removal, in The Wilmington Commercial:

"The Rev. Mr. Cookman closes the last three years of his ministry in this city on next Sabbath. They have been years of indefatigable labour, of great acceptability, and distinguished success. Being the first pastor in the great Grace Methodist Episcopal Church-the most beautiful church, we think, on this continent-it was his to settle its spiritual foundations, and give tone and evangelical views to its worshippers, and start the Church on in deeds of great enterprise. He has borne up the ark of testimony by his own personal piety, by his faithful and eloquent preaching, his labours in Sabbath Schools, in the temperance cause, missionary operations, and, in fact, in every good word and work among the sister churches and other denominations. He truly possesses a union and fraternal spirit, and wherever he goes he has a hand and heart for everybody.

"It is with deep regret that his brethren of the Wilmington Conference part with him, and many of the laity will follow him with tearful eyes, and prayerful wishes that they may meet again on this side of the grave, and if not, they may meet in heaven. The young, to whom he has been peculiarly useful, and who are sincerely attached to him, will be deeply affected. May good angels go with him!"

The parting interviews of the beloved pastor with his Church in all its departments-the general congregation, the Sunday School, the social meeting-were deeply affecting, but with none more so than with the chosen circle of persons who were in the habit of attending the Wednesdayafternoon meeting. Mr. W. S. Hillis, a minister of the Society of Friends, in opening the Wednesday-afternoon meeting at which Mr. Cookman was last present before leaving, felt impressed to select the account of St. Paul's last charge to the elders of the Church of Ephesus, Acts xx. 17, etc.; and as he read the verses concluding, “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more," he was overcome by his emotions. Mr. Cookman and the whole audience wept, and for some time the sorrow was so uncontrollable as to make it impossible to proceed with the services. Alas! how prophetic the selection of those words!

CHAPTER XXII.

CENTRAL CHURCH, NEWARK, N.J.-OCEAN

GROVE CAMP

GROUND.-NATIONAL CAMP-MEETINGS AT ROUND LAKE

AND URBANA.

FOR months prior to March, 1871, Mr. Cookman's mind had been agitated with the question of his next appointment. He had been invited to Boston, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Cincinnati, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Newark, N.J., and pressed earnestly in all these cases to entertain the proposition for a transfer. He undoubtedly meant, when he returned to the Philadelphia Conference, to remain in it for life; but the division of the Conference in 1868 had unexpectedly thrown him out of it into the Wilmington Conference, and now his Conference relations were again unsettled. So imperative seemed the demand for his services in certain important churches in the controlling centres of population and influence, that he finally yielded, though reluctantly, to higher convictions of duty-in regard to the freest interchange of ministers throughout the whole Church-and consented to be transferred to the Newark Conference, and was stationed at the Central Church, Market Street, Newark, N.J. This proved to be his last transfer and his last appointment in the Church. At the next roll-call, at the name of Alfred Cookman, instead of the round, full, silvery "here," there would be silence and tears.

In view of the frequency of Mr. Cookman's transfers from one Conference to another, and of the class of churches which he generally served, a communication from Mr. John Thompson, of Philadelphia, will be found pertinent. A letter from himself to a lady friend reveals the same earnest desire that ever attended these changes, to know and follow the Divine will. An incident also occurred before he left Grace, while his mind was yet undetermined as to the course he should take.

There was a little prayer-meeting at which were present some of his closest friends. He prayed earnestly to be directed to go where God might will-to suffer or to die for Him; and requested his friends to make special prayer. The next morning they all said "Newark."

The Central Church, Newark, gave a cordial welcome to their new pastor. He found a large and handsome church edifice, well located, with a thrifty, active, and generous membership, disposed in every way to promote his comfort and usefulness. Within a few brief weeks he was ensconced with his family in their pleasant home, and he was as deeply immersed in the duties of the pastorate as if no change had taken place from one charge to another. The facility with which pastors go from church to church, and with which the churches accept one pastor after another, is inexplicable to persons outside of Methodism. The only explanation is, it is law and usage-ministers and people have become accustomed to the system, and, content with its workings, they accept it as a matter of course, and as the wisest arrangement for the whole Church. The prompt and cheerful acquiescence in the plan does not, however, preclude the sharp pangs caused by the severance of pastoral relations-many times the pastor's heart aches for the absent flock, and the people's hearts yearn for the recent