that is, only half our number, and at no future period can more than one hundred of our old and disabled fathers in the faith receive this Christmas allowance.

So impressed is our valued Treasurer with this fact that he has generously promised £100 on condition that the £1,000 be raised. Words are not necessary to convey the desirability of the attainment of this sum, and so complete the scheme so nobly started by our late Treasurer. Had he been alive still, this effort would have elicited his cordial sympathy and help. There is, we are assured, plenty of ability in our midst to carry out this matter, even before our Annual Meeting in Sheffield. Who will support this worthy object?

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST LOCAL PREACHERS'
MUTUAL-AID ASSOCIATION.

CHAPTER V.-SHEFFIELD ANNUAL MEETING. 1851.
BROTHER W. B. CARTER, Nottingham, President.

ONE very important question had to be debated and settled at this meeting, namely, the construction to be put upon the words, "Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers." A committee was formed to consider this matter, and the following resolution was passed :

"That the words, Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers,' and 'accredited Local Preachers' occurring in the rules, shall not be taken in such sense as to exclude those persons who, in the present afflicted state of Methodism, are connected with the Branch Societies."

So exceedingly anxious were these founders of the Association to do justly to all, and if possible, to offend none.

At this meeting it was proposed and carried, that at the death of a member's wife he might draw half the amount of his own funeral allowance, the other half to be paid to his surviving family at his own death. This arrangement is carried out to the present day.

The report this year records 107 sick cases relieved, and 27 deaths: rather a large number, but the Association at the first took in brethren at all ages. The membership had risen during the year from 1,260 to 1,806, being an increase on the year of 546. This was good progress, and showed that the Association was rising in the public estimation. The balance-sheet also showed progress in the funded property, £500 being added to it, making the total investment £1442 7s. 6d.

The Magazine had been started this year, and although there were different opinions respecting its articles, there was but one opinion as to its importance as the organ of the Association.

During the year a number of meetings on behalf of the Association were held in different parts of the kingdom.

It had been proposed, and at Sheffield it was carried out, that the ex-President preach before the brethren. This Brother English did, on Monday morning, October 6, 1851. This sermon was published by request of the meeting, and appears on page 449, Vol. I., LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE. Why should not this practice have been kept up?

CHAPTER VI.-HUDDERSFIELD ANNUAL MEETING. 1852.

BRO. WILLIAM NELSTROP, President.

THE Committee at this meeting resolved to have a more ample report of its proceedings than had appeared in the Magazine the previous year.

On the Monday evening, October 4th, a large tea-meeting was held, followed by an enthusiastic public meeting. It appears from the report that the business meeting did not take place till Tuesday morning. The report having been read, a spirited discussion took place on the subject of the Magazine. One of the brethren inquires, "I wish to ask the acting secretary what we have lost during the year on the Magazine ?" The acting secretary: "I believe it is about £150." The shots now fell thick and fast. This awkward loss, as it was regarded by several, was by no means a pleasant thing to contemplate. Others took a more just and reasonable view of the matter. One of the brethren asked, "Have we not a pro-contra statement against the Association for the benefits rendered in the shape of reports, advertisements?" &c.

The Magazine had become a most important arm of the service, and it could not be worked without expense any more than the artillery arm in connection with an army. In fact, this arm of the service has been of incalculable value to the present, even when it was not self-supporting, much more now that it is so.

After the financial aspect of the Magazine had been before the meeting for some time, one good, warm-hearted brother rose to place before the meeting its literary side; and he declared, "That so necessary had it become to his spiritual and mental growth, that if it came to this, that he must either go without the LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE or go to bed without any supper, he would choose the latter alternative."

The report having been passed, the meeting proceeded to elect the President, and Bro. W. Nelstrop was nominated and carried unanimously. Although public meetings are not always right, in this case the unanimity of the meeting has been fully justified by the lifelong service of this brother.

When the meeting had settled down to business the question of the editorship came up for consideration. This brought on a lengthened discussion. And we may say, "6 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be." There were the same hackneyed objections then as may be heard to day; and they were generally made by those who, like the

Pharisees of old, bind burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but touch them not with one of their fingers. One good brother said, “I take this ground, that the character of our literature for a good part of the year has been in my mind of a meagre kind." This critic, who spoke of the character of our literature being meagre, was very properly handled by the next speaker, who really possessed qualifications to judge of literary worth; and he most triumphantly defended the character of the articles which had appeared, and supported his view by giving the opinions of others who were capable of judging. Then came another profound critic, who said, "It is not equal to the times. I take exception to the Magazine for its miscellaneous character." If this critic had paused to inquire, he would have found that it, with other magazines, has obtained the title of Magazine because it contained miscellaneous articles. This brother took exception to certain woodcuts which had appeared, illustrative of sacred botany, which in our opinion were first class. The brother who followed spoke very sensibly, as he generally does; he said, "As there is a diversity of mind, so will there be a diversity of opinion. If a man follows the plough, he won't care for articles which would please our brother. If a man has an imaginative mind, as I have, and loves to look upon a beautiful butterfly, his estimate of literary merit will be different to our brother's."

The discussion went on pro and con till several more of the brethren had their say. The motion to re-elect the editor was put, and the

reporter says, "All hands appeared to be held up in its favour."

We have tarried rather longer over the Magazine than we intended; but our brethren will see that the Magazine, like the Association, was rocked into existence by storm and tempest; however, it has weathered these early storms, and many a storm since; but it still exists, and we trust it will continue to exist in greater vigour and strength.

Up to this meeting any Local Preacher was received, irrespective of age; consequently there was a very large influx of aged men. Of upwards of a thousand who joined in the year, a great proportion were over sixty years of age. The brethren began to see that to render the Association safe, it was necessary to restrict the entrance fee of 10s. to those who were under thirty-five years of age.

At this gathering, in addition to the public meeting, the ex-President delivered a sermon before the brethren. They also partook of the Lord's Supper together, a very excellent address preceding it by the minister presiding.

WILLIAM NELSTROP,

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, 1852.

MR. WILLIAM NELSTROP was born at Ackworth, near Pontefract, Nov. 20, 1801. He appears to have met in class at the early age of fourteen,

and having begun his Christian course early, he kept in it to the end. His ardour of spirit shortly after joining the society took him twelve miles to a love-feast, which was held on a weekday morning before breakfast. In this love-feast the young disciple testified to the fact that he had taken Christ as his Master and Saviour. There was no looking back after this; having entered the Christian service, he began in good earnest to do his Master's work.

At the age of twenty he left home to begin business at Stockport, but although he began in a small way, it was with the determination by industry and perseverance to succeed; and he did succeed, as he deserved to do.

A worthy leader at Stockport perceived the sterling qualities of the young man, and took him by the hand, and led him first to his class, then to work in the Sunday-school, and after a time gave him his eldest daughter as a wife.

The young couple began their wedded life in humble circumstances, but they were a "well-matched pair," and worked their way upwards. The old business was exchanged for a new one, in which there was a larger scope for their exertions. It was onwards and upwards still, as regards this world; for in 1841 Mr. Nelstrop was elected Mayor of the borough. It was onwards and upwards also as it regarded the Church. From a Sunday-school teacher he rose to be a class-leader, society and circuit steward, and a Local Preacher.

When the Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association was formed, Mr. Nelstrop entered into it with all his native ardour, was present at the first aggregate meeting in 1849, and was elected on the first committee. Some ardent persons soon exhaust themselves. Not so Brother Nelstrop. He took on himself at the first the arduous duties of secretary to the Pontefract Branch, and died in harness.

When some of the original trustees died or retired, Bro. Nelstrop was chosen to occupy that honourable post. It was not all honour when persons in Mr. Nelstrop's position took part in the formation of "The Local Preachers' Association ;" hence there is the more credit due to such as he who stood firm from the first.

It was not our privilege to have much intercourse with our brother. But we have him on our mind's eye when addressing the meeting at King's Cross, 1869, at the commencement of S. D. Waddy's brilliant but brief career in connection with the Association. In his usual earnest way, in addressing Mr. Waddy, he said: "And you, sir, I expect to see on the woolsack yet." That event has not occurred during the lifetime of the speaker, but still it may take place. Our talented brother entered on the road to it some time ago; although his path for the present is blocked, it may yet open up, and our brother Nelstrop turn out a true prophet.

I always looked upon Mr. Nelstrop with feelings of veneration and

high esteem. His very appearance was dignified and commanding; he had a noble bearing, and I firmly believe, had a noble mind and heart, at. the utmost distance from all that was mean and low. The very fact that he should connect himself with our Association at the first, when such friends were few, is a proof of the independency of his nature, and his continuing to the end, that he was faithful unto death.

If any one will look down page 24 of our last report, he will see that Bro. Nelstrop's regard for our Association was not in word, or even in personal effort, but in liberal giving; for in that special list we read, "Pontefract, W. Nelstrop, Esq., £165." He is gone; and those who were allied to him by family ties may well look back with pride on their noble relative, W. Nelstrop.

Mr. and Mrs. Nelstrop were favoured beyond most married couples, for they met at their own residence their children, and brothers and sisters, on the 24th July, 1876, to celebrate their golden wedding day. He lived after this event a little over one year, and then left at the Master's call, on Monday, September 10th, 1877; his life's day consisting of seventysix years nine months and ten days.

GOOD WOMEN OF SCRIPTURE MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISJUDGED.

No. III.-MARTHA OF BETHANY.

THERE are not many pleasanter pictures of the social life of Judea in our Lord's time than that which the evangelists give us of the home at Bethany, of Martha, Mary and Lazarus-a family of three-all beloved by the Saviour.

In that happy state for which the Wise Man prayed, having neither poverty nor riches, but being fed with food convenient for them; they could open their hospitable doors at the call of friendship, without fear of the cost; and having no servants to worry them, could themselves provide and serve the homely banquet. Living on the east side of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem, they could readily attend the courts of the Lord's house, and pay their vows in the presence of His worshippers.

We are not told how our Lord first made acquaintance with this family; but we are told that He was a frequent guest at Bethany, and that this house was His home at nights during the last week of His life. He taught by day in the temple, and retired at eventide to His friends* abode.

Martha, being first named, was either the elder of the three, or else the legal owner of the little homestead. We are not told how the income of the family was derived. It may have been from the cultivation.