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alterations in the rules shall be made but once in three years, and that after due notice had been given."

The meeting this year concluded by a very interesting and large tea meeting, held in St. Martin's Hall, which was followed by an enthusiastic public meeting, which created an additional interest on behalf of the Association in the Methodist and general public.

JAMES WILD,

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, 1854.

EVERYBODY Who has taken any part in the "Local Preachers' MutualAid Association" will remember James Wild. The cheery, happy, buoyant James Wild. He was born on the 25th of September, 1782, in Union Street, Southwark. He died at Northend, near Hammersmith, May 1st, 1866, in the eighty-fourth year of his age; his life consisting of eighty-three years, four months, and twenty-four days.

Life's day in the case of James Wild was eighty-three years. so much the length of life's day as the filling of it up.

"No time for mirth or trifling here."

It is not

How short is the longest day of life, when we look back on the eternal

How did James Wild fill up We are saved from entering

past, and forward into the eternal future! this day is the subject for us to look at. into a lengthened account of him, as in our Volume for 1867 an interesting memoir of him may be found, running into five numbers.

When we see a young man, before he has left his teens, moved by a strong impulse so as to undertake a journey of 170 miles on foot in order to accomplish an object, we may depend upon it such impulses will lead to something in after life. This it is reported James Wild did. A young lady to whom he had become attached had removed from London to Hull, and he was determined to visit her, and started to walk the distance, and with the help of occasional lifts on stage waggons, he reached the town. There the romance ended, and he returned to London, it may be a wiser, if a sadder man. This check did not prevent him from seeking a life companion; so successful was he, indeed, that the lady who closed his eyes in death was his fifth wife.

There was the future man in the boy. Having completed his apprenticeship he resolved to start in business for himself, but his mother persuaded him to postpone this; in the meantime he was gathering experience, and the way opening, he brought his promptitude, his energy, his diligence, his superior business acumen into operation, and opened and carried on most successfully the business of a woollen merchant.

We now leave him as a woollen merchant, and look at him in his religious career. He had a devoted mother, and she was his first and best instructor, impressing upon his young heart her own religious character.

He must have joined the Methodist society when about twenty years of age, and being converted to God, his active nature would prompt him to ask:

"What shall I do to make it known.

What Thou for all mankind hast done ?"

He found work first in the establishment of a Sunday-school, and, secondly, as a Local Preacher. Dr. A. Clarke appears to have been his mentor in bringing him out in this latter capacity, and he preached before him a sort of trial sermon at Woolwich, in April, 1808. After this to the end of life he sustained the honourable office of a LOCAL PREACHER. He had some thoughts of entering the Itinerancy, but the way did not open, and he very wisely continued in the local ranks.

It was in the establishment of the "Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association" that we came together. I had a high opinion of him from the first. His outspokenness, his geniality and simplicity, combining with his super-abounding liberality, attached him indeed to all hearts.

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I think I see him now when walking about the Hanover Square Rooms, at the great Bazaar in 1860. He came to where I was, and in his prompt and abrupt way, asked me, Was he a Conference man?" This inquiry was made in reference to Grandfather Johnson, who had just made his appearance at this bazaar. This is a question which never arises in our operation. The question is, "Is he a Local Preacher? Is he in need?" And by the way, as George Eliot says, "No one person would make a Dinah, Adam Bede or Mrs. Prosser," or even "Grandfather Johnson."

James Wild was abundant in his liberality, for in addition to his bequest of £1,050, as seen on the last page of the report, his annual subscription was ten guineas a year. His heart and soul and efforts were given to the Association; and as treasurer, when funds were needed, he would profess to advance only by receiving interest as a matter of business, but he would take care to give back this interest to the funds. Take him altogether, he stands at the head of all the benefactors and supporters of our glorious Association. The old men, with their Christmas gifts, will never let him die.

CHAPTER IX. ANNUAL MEETING AT BRISTOL. 1855.
BRO. RICHARD CARTER, Buckingham, President.

BROTHER R. CARTER who had been a firm and generous friend from the first, was elected president, and is so still. Sermons were preached by the brethren in various chapels in the city. The business meeting was held in Milk Street Chapel. The outgoing president, in relinquishing office, said he regretted that their investments the last year had not been equal to former years. This year the benefit members numbered 2,408, and the hon. members 532, total, 2,940. Paid to the sick this year,

£843 11s. 7d., annnitants, £839 7s. 2d., deaths, £318. The invested money amounted to £3,500.

The attention of the meeting was occupied a considerable time respecting the conduct of the magazine, and a change was made in the editorship. Although the loss upon it was deeply regretted, there was but one opinion as it regarded the importance of keeping it on.

The ex-President preached the official sermon on Tuesday evening, in Milk Street Chapel, after which the Lord's Supper was commemorated. The usual business having been transacted, a very interesting conversation took place on the promotion of the work of God in the land, and many important and valuable suggestions were thrown out and discussed by the brethren.

A public meeting was held in Milk Street Chapel, rendered memorable by John Irving taking the chair. No one can have read the life of John Fletcher without noticing the close connection between him and a Mr. Irving, of Bristol. We cannot withhold from our readers an extract from the chairman's speech on this occasion. He said: "How true it is that we do not know what a day may bring forth; until yesterday, about this time, I had little expectation of meeting you; I was aware that there was to be such a meeting, but I knew not that a humble Local Preacher like myself would be privileged to have any part with you. But I have been reminded that I had something to do in originating this Association in this town; I had forgotten, until now, that such was the case, but rejoice that it was. I am happy to meet you, as I trust I always shall be to meet a body of Christian brethren met together for a good purpose. I don't know a more useful body of men than Local Preachers; and I may be privileged to say a little about them, having been on the plan myself for thirty years, though now, memory and body failing, I am compelled to retire. But I have had to do with the work; and had to do it with delight. My language has been

'Let this my every hour employ,

Till I Thy glory see.'"

Several of the brethren followed the chairman, and the interest of the meeting was kept up to the last.

CHAPTER X. ANNUAL MEETING AT SHEFFIELD. 1856.

BRO. THOMAS CHAMBERLAIN, Windsor, President.

ABOUT 120 brethren were present. Eleven places of worship were occupied by members of the Association, and several stations in the open-air were taken up for the purpose of preaching the word of life. A public lovefeast was held in the afternoon in the large Temperance Hall, Townhead Street. The brethren met for business on Monday morning, June 9th, in the Temperance Hall, Barker's Pool. The first sitting was only

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preliminary, as the ex-President delivered the official sermon in Mount Tabor Chapel, service commencing at half-past ten in the morning.

A tea and public meeting was held in the Temperance Hall in the afternoon and evening of this day. The mayor took the chair at the public meeting. He said, "he had great pleasure in presiding at the present meeting on behalf of an association which had for its immediate object the benefit of its Local Preachers. When they considered that three-fourths of their chapels were occupied by Local Preachers, he felt certain that any association which had for its object the good of this body, must be of considerable interest to this town." About a dozen brethren addressed the meeting.

On Tuesday morning the brethren assembled at the Hall, Barker's Pool. The report was read. The President was elected by ballot; 71 votes were cast, when Bro. Chamberlain was elected by a clear majority, having obtained 42 votes. Bro. John Wade, of Mitcham, was elected hon. secretary; Mr. Wild re-elected treasurer.

At this annual meeting there was no complaint of the magazine. One brother said: "There had been heretofore two grounds of complaint, its 'expense,' and its' quality.' The latter complaint they had entirely

got rid of, for in the whole progress of the debate not one word had been uttered against the magazine on that score. They had now only to consider it in a financial view, and by reference to the numerous instances in which the magazine had been instrumental in increasing the funds and friends of the Association, the apparent loss of £150 was more than counterbalanced by the benefit derived."

Up to this period the magazine had been published at 4d. monthly. It was resolved at this meeting to reduce the price to 2d. monthly. Forty pages had been given for 4d.; in the new issue in January, 1857, thirty-two pages were to be given for 2d This has been the price and size from that time to the present.

The members this year numbered 2,228 benefit members and 500 hon. members, total 2,728. This showed a decrease of 180 benefit and 82 honorary; total decrease on the year of 212. Subscriptions, benefit and honorary, £2,095 16s. 3d., being a decrease on the year of £205 4s. 7d. The investments to the credit of the society this year, £3252 4s. 1d., being £94 78. 2d. less than the former year.

A BRIEF FAMILY TOUR IN DEVON AND CORNWALL.

(Continued from page 108.)

Saturday, October 12th.-A bright and beautiful day. We took an excursion that proved very pleasurable, but fatiguing. Having hired a carriage-and-pair at our hotel, we went along the principal street, passing several chapels, and beyond the town came to a large building, which

proved to be the County Asylum. It contains 560 patients, and no fewer than seventy servants. There is near it a Roman Catholic chapel; but it is used only occasionally, as there are no Romanists in Bodmin.

Our road was a long way down hill, and then for a long distance up hill. A large house on the right was pointed out by our driver as the residence of a widow lady, who, with her husband, returned from America, bought an estate for £7,000, and built the house for a retired life. Soon after he had done this he died, leaving his widow in solitude. How often this happens when a man has said, "Soul, take thine ease!" We need to remember the blessed Saviour's utterance: "I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work."

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We drove into the grounds of another mansion, called Pen Carew, property of Lady Molesworth, widow of Sir William Molesworth, who died without issue. The lady is over seventy years of age, and lives now in hired apartments at Tunbridge Wells. She has a residence also in Eaton Square, London. We were told that her ladyship rarely comes to this residence, though wishing to do so; her state of health being such that her physicians forbid it. So here are a capital mansion and splendid estate in the occupation of servants only. Two housekeepers live in the house, and nine gardeners are employed in the gardens. There are many gardens enclosed in quadrangular walls, with a great abundance of fruit trees; but nearly all the trees are so old as to be little better than cumberers of the ground, without any young ones in training. We were taken through the gardens by one of the gardeners, who conducted us through the vinery, plant houses, and heated fernery. In the latter were many choice ferns, and all looked healthy and beautiful. Our conductor said he had the care of the ferns; and certainly they looked far better than anything else we saw, except the ornamental garden and rockery near the house, which also are in his care. All there was exceedingly beautiful. All the other gardens looked neglected and forlorn, not showing much for the work of nine men. The drive to the house is through a wood and pleasure-ground of rare and valuable trees, some of them splendid specimens of arboreal beauty.

Quitting this attractive but neglected place, we proceeded within halfa mile of a large slate quarry, which we had not time to visit. Among other villages on the road was one called St. Teath, where we observed a chapel and a school; pleasing evidences of advancing civilisation and religion. Descending a hill in a narrow lane, a sudden exclamation and fit of laughter drew attention to an incident that reminded us of the case of David's rebellious son Absalom, when, caught by the arms of an oak by his bushy head as he passed through a wood upon his mule. A briar stretching from a bank over part of the road had caught, not the head, but the hat, with its veil and ribbons, of the invalid member of the party, and left her bareheaded. We paused a minute or two for the recovery

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