Rev. Mr. Swann, one of the early Methodist preachers called into the work by Mr. Wesley himself. The piety of Mr. Stanley's parents would insure his early training in the fear of God; but though favoured thus with religious influences, it was not till he was upwards of twenty years of age that he made a personal and entire surrender of himself to God. From some cause he had been led to leave the Wesleyan chapel and to attend that of the New Connexion; and being a lover of music, he occupied a place in the orchestra, and took a leading part in the choir. It was under the able ministry of the Rev. John Grundell that he was converted to God. Mr. Grundell was appointed to the Alnwick circuit in the year 1804; and it would probably be in the early part of his ministry in that place that Mr. Stanley, in the opening years of manhood, felt and acknowledged the saving power of Divine truth. preacher who had been the means of bringing him into the marvellous light of salvation, was himself the subject of bodily blindness; but favoured with great mental powers and a tenacious memory, he was enabled to give out the hymns and repeat the Scripture lessons as correctly as though he could read them. The But to prepare himself for this, he was necessarily dependent upon the good offices of any who would read to him. Mr. Stanley was one of them who thus ministered to the necessity of his spiritual father; and while engaged in this work of love, and listening to the observations of that good man, his own mind would gather instruction, and he would find a rich reward of his labour. When he gave his heart to God he gave his hand to the Church, and was not ashamed of that Gospel which he had experienced as the power of God to his salvation. He consecrated himself and all his powers to God. The light within him must shine; the fire glowing in his heart must break forth. He felt that he was called into the vineyard to work, and he applied himself cheerfully to the task, and in a short time he creditably filled the offices of class-leader and local preacher. But events in connection with his worldly prospects led to his early removal from Alnwick. He entered the Excise, through the influence and under the patronage of Earl Grey, and his career in civil life was distinguished by the same characteristics as that of his religious course, for integrity, respectability, and the march of preferment. "What!" said one of his townsmen, to show his knowledge of character, "R. Stanley has gone into the Excise!" adding, "He will never be able to make anything out there." The deceased heard this, and employed it as an incentive, resolving by industry and integrity to disappoint the envious and malevolent, and reap the reward of office, which was ultimately attained in the graduated scale of honourable distinction. He passed through the usual grades of office as supervisor and surveyor's general examiner; also deputycorrespondent at the chief office, closing with that of collector. To the last of these official situations he was nominated in 1832, for the Wales East collection; but Bath collection becoming vacant, and being superior to the other, it was obtained at his request before he took charge of Wales East. On the 25th of August, 1835, he was appointed to the collectorship of Newcastle-uponTyne, being an advance in class upon Bath; and October 18th he was appointed to Liverpool, which is the highest English collectorship. After travelling in England, Ireland, and Scotland, where he saw much of life, always attended with toil, sometimes with anxiety, and occasionally with risks, from persons engaged in illicit pursuits, he retired from the public service, having been creditably engaged in it for a period of forty-two years, during sixteen of which he was a collector. The following copy of a letter from the chairman of the Inland Revenue of Her Majesty's Customs on his retirement, will show the esteem in which he was held by his superiors: "Edinburgh, Sept. 25th, 1848. "My dear Sir,-On my arrival here from the North I found your letter, and am truly sorry to learn that your retirement is caused by increasing infirmities. I trust, however, that your health is not permanently affected, and that many years of tranquil enjoyment are in store for you. "Your long and zealous services and valuable exertions in the department assigned you, have gained for you the respect of the Board and of all con "To Mr. R. S. Stanley." As Mr. Stanley's occupation caused his removal from place to place, he deemed it expedient to unite himself with the Old Connexion, which he found in all places; and, as in all things except points of church government he found an agreement, he felt no difficulty in associating and labouring in harmony with the parent body of Methodism. He found among them the same doctrines and ordinances, experience and morality, to which he had been accustomed in his own community; and, with his knowledge of Divine truth, his experience of its power, his ministerial call, his qualification as a class-leader, and his general ability and application, it was easy for him to feel at home in the Wesleyan body, where fields of Christian usefulness were always presented to him. But he never lost his affection for the Church in which he first felt the power of religion. He uniformly spoke with the highest respect of our Connexion, and at length laid his dying head in its bosom. As a labourer in the cause of Christ his public services were abundant and acceptable. He read much, and carefully prepared for the pulpit, and scarcely ever a Sabbath passed without his being employed in the sacred work of preaching so long as health was granted him. His Christian character and large-heartedness gained him the esteem and friendship, not only of those in connection with his own religious society, but men in other communities also cultivated his friendship, and frequently applied for the favour of his public services. His ministry was honoured of God. The Word he was called to preach was often attended with the demonstration of the Spirit. Many felt its convincing and converting power, who will be his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord's appearing." 44 When, in the year 1819, the expulsion of his early and intimate friend, the Rev. J. Everett, and others, from the Wesleyan body took place, the sympathies of Mr. Stanley were with the sufferers and the cause of liberty. He was therefore expelled in his turn; but this he regarded as no dishonour, nor will any one who prefers that which is right to that which is pleasant. He was prepared to suffer as well as to labour for that which he deemed right and just. He served the interests of the Reform movement with zeal and efficiency; and when the amalgamation of the dissentients with the other offshoots of Wesleyanism was proposed, he chose to settle in that community which had fostered his religious infancy, and with which he was best acquainted. Having passed the period of threescore years and ten-the term stated by the Psalmist as that of our mortal life-he began to feel the truth of the saying, that life, if further prolonged, is burdened with labour and sorrow. His noble athletic frame began to bow beneath the weight of years. In the year 1855 he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, and afterwards suffered a partial loss of bodily function and strength from paralysis; but in the midst of weakness and increasing infirmities he still felt that God was with him, his friend and comforter. For several years previous to his decease he resided in Durham, and, when able to attend, was found a devout worshipper in our congregation there. He met in class with our esteemed friend, Mr. Thwaites, who observes, that his statements of his Christian experience were always pointed, clear, and interesting. The spirit and habits of piety cultivated for so many years, retained their freshness and force when the soul's mortal dwelling was trembling to its fall. It was only for a few months previous to his departure that the writer had the pleasure of his acquaintance; and he distinctly remembers, that one of the first sentences he heard him utter was the following-"I feel the Spirit of God bearing witness with my spirit that I am a child of God." He was always happy in prayer, and spoke of it as one of the best employments. One of the last acts he attempted was to bow the knee in prayer. It had evidently been to him for many years, not an irksome duty, but a blessed exercise; and he continued in prayer; it was "his watchword at the gate of death." He suffered severely from pain in the head, and the operations of his mind were no doubt sometimes confused by the influence of disease; still, the anchor of his soul entered into that within the vail, sure and steadfast; his eye was fixed on the Cross; his hand of faith never relaxed its hold of the Saviour. Sometimes he would say, "What a good thing it is that I have not religion to seek now!" Once, speaking of the happiness of being raised to the right hand of God, he remarked, "Ah, that will be the grandest elevation!" Our excellent friend, Mrs. Thwaites, was with him frequently during the last few days of his life, and she speaks of the earnestness with which he responded to prayers offered in his behalf; and when passages of Scripture or verses from the hymn-book were quoted, he would take up the words and proceed with the citation with great readiness. When asked if he felt Christ to be precious, and if his prospects were bright for a future world, he replied, "I have a good hope of immortality and eternal life through Jesus Christ." Some time after she said, "Your language now must be 'Hide me, O my Saviour hide; ' he took up the strain, and continued it to the end of the verse "Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guideOh, receive my soul at last!" Reminding him of the promise, "I will never leave thee;" he rejoined, "I will never forsake thee." It is gratifying to hear the testimony of dying friends to the fact of their reception of Divine consolation and the felt presence of Jesus; still it is not on these things alone that our confidence of their blessedness reposes. They would be equally safe and happy though no power or opportunity were afforded in the closing scene of life to witness a good confession. The best evidence we can have of their being with Christ in heaven, proceeds from the knowledge that their conduct during the years of health and vigour was conformable to the mind of Christ; and this evidence is not wanting in the case of our departed friend. All praise be to God by whose grace he was what he was! On Friday evening, December 13th, he fell into a profound sleep, from which he awoke to full consciousness on earth no more. He breathed his soul into the hands of his Redeemer on the following day, and his surviving relatives and friends sorrow not as those without hope. Many are the expressions of esteem and the testimonies to his worth by those who knew him. The following is an estimate of his character recorded by his early and valued friend, the Rev. J. Everett : "R. S. Stanley was not one of Nature's first growth, to be ranged longside with the mighty; still his mind was not of a light, filmy texture, and, though not massive, remote from common-place. Intellect is much, but it is not all. It is pronounced the growth of the brain, but not of the heart; and the strong heart, coupled with a moderate share of intellect, is admitted to be ever more widely popular than the highest intellect which can exist without a generous nature. The very highest cannot exist without generosity. It is the union of the highest with, and quickened by, the generous emotions, that constitute the leaders and the useful in society, both civil and religious. And here we find Robert Swann Stanley, with strong common-sense and large-heartednessa heart, whose utterances were unprompted, ever welling up in recognition of just, holy, and liberal deeds, of high and noble virtues; the quivering emotion that thrills in the cause of the oppressed; the instinctive spirit of Christianity that glows in men's hearts, and is ready to believe before it is preached to them; the spirit that prompts and is ready to help the onward progress of justice, truth, love, and mercy; to cry out against cruelty, and to cheer on others striving for the right of individual growth and the public weal. As a preacher he was clear, impressive, often powerful, and not unfrequently rose to impassioned eloquence. In prayer he gave full proof that the closet was a place of resort-often mighty; and as a leader highly instructive. He was free and cheerful in social life, but not noisy or obtrusive; gave an opinion when required, and planted a fitting rebuke with good effect when needed. His position in life, as in the case of bankers, taught him caution; but it was not accompanied with watchfulness and suspicion, but was rather employed -being naturally open and generousas a defensive than an offensive weapon -as a hedge to look over in time of danger. To the members and different branches of his family he was kind and helpful, and a generous supporter of different Christian, humane, and other institutions." In his character we see much that was excellent and worthy of imitation. His history also manifests the power of Divine grace to sustain through the years of a long life all that is good in human character. In his last affliction we behold the excellence of religion, as it ministers Divine consolation; and by his departure, we are admonished to be ready for the same event, that we may share the same consolation and meet him in heaven. T. S. March, 1862. MR. THOMAS HALLAM, STOCKPORT. OUR excellent brother, Mr. Thomas Hallam, was for many years the porter at the Stockport Sunday-school. This school, both as to the building and the number of its scholars and teachers, is perhaps the largest in Great Britain. It is undenominational in its character, and has for more than half a century been diffusing over a large population the blessings of a moral and religious education. To be the servant of such an institution involves considerable responsibility, but our brother was well qualified for the work, discharging the various duties of his office with exemplary diligence and faithfulness. Mr. Hallam was born near Chapelen-le-Frith, Derbyshire, Nov. 13th, 1797. He was the fourth child of a family consisting of ten children. When Thomas was about three years old the family removed to Stockport. His parents were industrious and pious, and trained their children in habits of industry, and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. At an early age he became a scholar in the Stockport Sunday - school, where he was taught to read God's holy Word, and where the incorruptible seed took deep root in his heart, bearing abundant fruit in his future life. Not only did he go regularly to the Sabbath-school, but when the day's labour was over he was found in the night school, that he might improve his mind and qualify himself for those duties to which a gracious Providence might call him. His parents regarded him as a child of much promise, and he was greatly beloved in the family circle. For many years he was a steady hearer in the Wesleyan Chapel in the Hillgate, and afterwards became a member of that society. With the particulars of his conversion we are not acquainted. Probably, it was not marked by any striking circumstances. Indeed, his previous life had been so blameless, that no very perceptible change would appear to outward observers; but he himself would know that he had passed from death unto life. The reality of the change was felt in his love to the brethren, in his delight in the means of grace, and in communion with God. He was now a happy partaker of saving grace. Christ was precious to his soul. He realized in an abundant measure the joys of God's salvation. Religion was to him 'an inestimable treasurethe pearl of great price. In his temper, and in his life, it was manifest he had been with Jesus. At the age of nineteen our beloved brother lost his father, who was called away suddenly by death. The stroke came unexpectedly, and was felt severely. Thomas had now the opportunity of bringing into fuller exercise his amiable qualities, and he was found faithful; for, although not the eldest son, such was the influence he exerted in the family, and such the esteem in which he was held, that he was looked up to as the head of the household, and became the chief support of his widowed mother. Is not his example in this respect worthy to be imitated by all who are placed in similar circumstances? Though a hearer and member at the Hillgate Chapel, he still attended the Stockport Sunday-school. Having been a scholar, he was appointed a teacher, and was truly devoted to the work. He also married a teacher of the same school, his now sorrowing widow, and was presented on the occasion with a handsome Bible. Their marriage, which took place in 1821, was a happy one. For more than forty years they lived together in faithful affection, bearing each other's burdens, lightening each other's cares-fearing, hoping, sorrowing, and rejoicing together. Few are spared together so long, and few have enjoyed a larger measure of domestic happiness. A few years after his marriage he left the Wesleyan chapel, and came to Mount Tabor. His reasons for this step would be such as his enlightened and sober judgment would approve. He joined our society about the year 1830, and remained in happy fellowship with us until death. On the 1st of March, 1831, he entered upon his duties as porter at the Stockport Sunday-school. The officers of that institution evinced much discernment and discretion in appointing our brother to this post. His mature age, being thirty-four, his tried Christian character-having been a member of the Church of Christ ten or twelve years his having a suitable partner, his well-known industry and sterling integrity, well fitted him for so responsible a situation. He was quiet and unassuming in his manners, kind and accommodating in his disposition. He was as careful of the property of the school as of his own. He never wasted. anything. When alone for hours and days together, with no one with him to whom he was amenable, he was still the same-quietly, patiently, honourably doing his duty as unto the Lord, and not unto man. That he retained the situation for nearly thirty-one years, is ample evidence that he discharged its duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to the officers of the institution. One of his friends bears the following testimony:-"My experience with the late Mr. Hallam during the ten years I have been intimately acquainted with him (and I now speak of him in his every-day working capacity), justifies me in saying that I have not met with any working man who took with him into his daily labour so much of religion. It was not a religion forcing itself upon you, like that of the Pharisee; but it was unobtrusive, contented, and practical. And I never heard him murmur at his lot. When the sun of prosperity seemed to be clouded, and his path crossed by difficulties and trials, he would always see the Sun of Righteousness behind the clouds, and take fresh courage and be thankful. Another beautiful trait in his character was, his freedom from anything like backbiting. To him there was no pleasure in telling of an erring brother's faults. If that brother were a member of society, how sorry he would be! And if he could throw over those faults a mantle that would hide them from the gaze of a scrutinizing and faultfinding world, that would be a satisfaction and a pleasure known only to those who are like-minded." His connection with the Mount Tabor society was happy to himself and to his fellow-members. By those who met with him in class he was much esteemed and loved. It was always a great pleasure to listen to his experience. He would often speak of his unworthiness, and how little he merited the favour of God, but would give utterance to the strongest expressions of grateful love and humble trust. "I have deserved nothing," he would remark, "but have received much. It is grace, grace from first to last Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling; Naked, look to thee for dress; Helpless, look to thee for grace.' "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' 'I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.'" The verses of the poet were great favourites with him. and "Jesus, lover of my soul," &c., "For ever here my rest," &c. His experience and his prayers were quite refreshing to his fellow-members. He was assistant leader to brother Greenhalgh about eight years, and they were united to each other by the strongest fraternal ties, sympathizing with each other in affliction, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity. As the head of a family, our brother greatly adorned his Christian profession. At home, where he was known best, he was loved most. This is not the case with some professors of religion. Their daily temper is anything but what becometh the Gospel. He was an affectionate husband and a kind and judicious father. While he loved his children sincerely, he exercised proper authority over them. When at any time they wished to go to a place which he did not approve, he firmly said, "No," and they obeyed. He trained them up in habits of industry and honesty, frugality and temperance. He gave them the best education his means could command, and, above all, sought to lead them into the ways of righteousness. Nor were his labours and anxieties in vain. One of his children he has followed to heaven; the rest, it is believed, are following |