In 1843, through the influence of the Rev. M. Lupton, North Shields circuit took Mr. Spoor, on the pledge of Newcastle, on his second probation. Mr. Lupton writes: "In 1843 I induced the North Shields circuit to employ him as a married probationer,-Newcastle having had him some time as a hired local preacher." Thus, on the northern banks of the Tyne, he re-commenced his ministerial life. Of course on his second start he was handicapped. For he had an increasing family, and his salary pittance was but twelve shillings per week, the sum prescribed by Connexional rule. Besides, he had his own house and furniture to provide; but we have reason to believe that the generous gifts of his friends saved him from any serious lack. His lot in North Shields station was cast in troublous times, for the whole of the "pit districts" were convulsed with the "long strike." For three months all labour was suspended, and scenes of turmoil and violence frequently occurred. Of course the churches suffered severely. Their spiritual tone was vitiated, their numbers lessened, and their finances seriously crippled. There were frequent riots and bloodshed among the miners. Driven out of their houses, they had to "camp" in lanes and under hedges and "dyke-sides." The writer's venerable and valued friend, the Rev. J. Lightfoot, was superintendent at the time, and was sorely tired and distressed in the disrupted state of the societies. Some extracts from Mr. Spoor's journal will show the disadvantages under which he and his colleagues laboured: "Walked to Seghill this morning and preached, in the afternoon spoke at Deleval, and in the evening at Cramlington. This has been a very unhappy day to me. The congregations have been small; but vastly worse than this is the bitterness and bad blood between the people and the masters. There have been several conflicts. One man was so severely injured that he had to be taken off to Newcastle Infirmary. I saw warlike preparations to-day. Men were busy with swords, guns, &c. What is to be the end of it? Our members are losing their religious life, and spiritual death is settling upon all the colliery parts of the circuit, and our chapels are deserted."
The next entry is: "Went to W. C., but could not preach owing to the strike. There is a very warlike spirit prevailing here. I heard of little but denunciations of 'blacklegs.'" Just another extract upon this matter: "Monday, July 15, walked to Deleval, had a good company and the descent of the fiery baptism. There is much distress among the poor miners. My heart is pained for them. There seems no sign of agreement between masters and men as yet. I was much led out in prayer for them. I believe God will interfere for us, and something will be done. I am firm in the faith. My soul adores the Lord. My body, soul, wife, and children are all given to Thee. I want to pray and preach always for Thee. I want to carry the glory into every place. I want Divine fire always aglow."
There are numbers in the North Shields circuit who remember gratefully the blessed seasons they had in company with their departed minister, and many were brought to God under him. During his residence in this circuit an incident, characteristic of his energy in his work and readiness in an emergency, occurred at Carville, in Durham circuit, whither he went on special services. In the diary there is the entry: "Sept. 14, 1844, I went to Durham, having to preach anniversary sermons on the morrow. The cry of my heart was, as I rode along on the coach, 'May I be filled with God! Oh, for the power of God to-morrow in the salvation of men. Lord, carry me up hence.' Called upon my dear and particular friends, the Revs. W. and A. Dent. Their conversation was quickening and refreshing to my soul." "Sunday, 15, heard the Rev. W. Dent in the forenoon, and was blessed under the word. Preached myself afternoon and night. The glory of the Lord went through the place, and a cry for mercy was heard, and four souls found Christ. In the afternoon the Bible-board broke, and fell into the singers' pew."
This little incident is thus described by the Rev. W. Dent, who was present: "Mr. Spoor preached the anniversary sermons of the chapel at Carville, near Durham. W. Dent was present at one of the services, and well remembers the occasion. The preacher had not proceeded far in his subject when he became exceedingly animated, and emphasizing strongly with his right hand upon the Bible-board down it came, Bible and all, and nearly himself too, on the heads of some friends who were sitting under the pulpit; which suddenly brought him to a standstill. But in a few seconds he regained his equilibrium, recovered himself, and looking down with a smile, he said — 'Reach me the Bible up; we can do without the board, and without the pulpit too; but we cannot do without the Bible.'"
The same readiness and ingenuity was developed in an incident which he used to relate with infinite gusto. The Rev. H. Phillips has reproduced the story as he heard him relate it not long before his death. Mr. P. says: "He was in fine trim, and you should have heard him tell it. I don't remember that he mentioned any date, place, or names. But here is the story as he gave it, minus, of course, the effects of his wonderful power and influence: Mr. Spoor and the other preachers were on their way to the missionary meeting, each carrying a small travelling bag. They passed a man breaking stones on the road-side, Spoor being some distance behind his companions; and as he came opposite the stone-breaker, he found him leaning on the handle of his hammer and looking after the three strangers, appearing to be full of curiosity as to who and what they were, when Spoor remarked, 'Are they not a lot of fine fellows?' 'Yes,' said the man, 'de ye belang to them?' 'Yes,' said Spoor, 'I'm glad to say I belong to them.' 'Then what may ye all be?' inquired our friend of the stones. 'Hawkers!' said Spoor. 'Haakers,' said the man in ill-disguised astonishment, 'ye are varry respectable for sic a trade. An' if it's a fair question, what de ye haak?' Spoor replied, pointing up the road, 'Do you see that man on the right?' 'Why, yes,' said the man. 'Well he hawks sight for the blind.' 'Ay, de'ye say se?' said the man. 'Do you see the man on the left!' 'Yes.' 'He hawks hearing for the deaf.' 'Why now, de'ye mean to say so?' said the stone-breaker, his eyes fixed on Spoor and his mouth open, his wonder raised to its greatest height. 'And do you see the man in the middle?' 'Yes,' said the man. 'He hawks speech for the dumb.' 'And what de'ye yersel haak?' asked the man. 'I hawk life for the dead.' 'De'ye mean to say,' observed the man, 'that ye hawk stuff that will bring the dead to life?' 'Yes,' replied Spoor, 'I mean to say that "he that liveth and believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."' 'Oh,' observed the man, 'I see now what it is ye deal in. But have you a license to haak a'things of that kind?' 'Yes, I have, and I don't care who knows it.' 'Marcy on us, whar did you get it?' 'Not at Durham nor York, nor Oxford, nor any of those second-hand places. I got it from head-quarters at Jerusalem, and here it is: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature: he that believeth shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned!"' 'Oh,' said the man, returning to his work, 'ye be preachers, be ye?'"
It only remains to be said of Mr. Spoor's North Shields station, that for the last twelve months he resided at Blyth, where he laboured incessantly to raise the society, and to relieve the chapel, which was involved in debt and ultimately lost to the Connexion. His labours, however, were counteracted by a standing and bitter feud between the principal officials. This was like a blight upon the life of the church. Mr. Spoor speaks with a sad heart of the internecine war and brawls between the said officers, and the consequent failure of his labours to revive the cause.
In 1846 Mr. Spoor was stationed at Stockton-on-Tees with the Rev. M. Lupton, and lived at Hartlepool, ten miles from Stockton. He and family were met on their arrival by Mr. J. Whitelock, who, by his purse, business ability, and personal influence, has done much for truth and Primitive Methodism at Hartlepool, and by Mr. J. Hodgson, an old and respected class-leader. These, with other friends, welcomed him to his new sphere of labour. He then opened his commission on the first Sabbath, as related in his diary:
"July 12th. We have held our camp-meeting to-day. We met at half-past eight for prayer in the chapel. The fire of the Lord fell upon us, and we took it out when we went to procession the streets. Had a powerful morning's service on the Moor. The Divine influence waxed throughout the day. In our lovefeast we had a cry for mercy, four precious souls were saved. I bless God for this token for good."
The following quotation shows how he strove to live near to his God, and how earnestly he laboured, and not without fruit:
"Tuesday, Aug. 28th, — Visited fifty-eight families. One woman, as I talked with her about the all-powerful love of Jesus, became penitent and decided for heaven, and promised to join the church. I was also gratified to hear that a man, who was on his way to the theatre, stopped to hear me as I preached out of doors; the word entered his heart, and he went home to pray. Thank God for these encouraging signs of Divine approval. I am trying to live every moment in the realization of the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. I mean to preach a full salvation, and in order to do this I must strive to enjoy it. I must try to reach the apostle's description — 'I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Found the Master's presence in the prayer-meeting. At the close a person from Whitby told me that the sermon on Sabbath night had pierced her heart. May she be found at the right hand of the Judge at the great day."
In this manner did he go in and out among the people for two years. By the Conference of 1847 he was received the second time into full connexion. The figures are not at hand to show the increase in the circuit for the first year; but from 1847 to 1848 the numbers rose from 344 to 370.
In 1848, he was sent back to Brompton, the scene of early conflicts and triumphs. For the first year he resided at Stokesley; then he was removed to Brompton, and became superintendent. During his second year's station a memorable camp-meeting was held, which is thus spoken of by the Rev. H. Kendall, at that time his beloved and trusted colleague: "The locality was Scarth Nick-a wild mountain gorge between Swainby and Osmotherly. A wonderful camp-meeting was held here in the days of Clowes,* recollections of which are fresh yet. It was resolved to have another general camp-meeting. Spoor-a worthy successor of Clowes for power and zeal-was the leader. He was seen to advantage that day-he was in his glory. This is the record in my journal: 'Saturday, July 5. I joined Mr. Spoor at Chopgate, and we proceeded to Swainby, where we had a hearty prayer-meeting. Sunday — a day to be long remembered. After holding a prayer-meeting in the chapel at Swainby, we proceeded to Scarth Nick. The weather was favourable all day. The services were attended by a most glorious influence. One sincere young man was so moved that he jumped repeatedly in the ring. His summersaults annoyed no one, as everybody knew him to be a good young man and of an excellent family. One man, quite ignorant of camp-meetings, asked Spoor if he always had some one to leap that way at such meetings. The number of persons present was computed at five thousand. The population is sparse, but people came from many miles. Spoor kept his team well in hand. He showed no desire to be prominent. All he cared for was to use every man and means to bring about the desired result-the conversion of sinners. The lovefeast that night, at Swainby, was very powerful, and six persons found pardon. When the prayer-meeting commenced, Spoor was as fresh as if it had been morning. The thunders were let loose; he went about amongst the people like an inspired man. The desire to save souls was with him the one consuming passion, and it made his life beautiful. The three bright spots in Spoor's station, at Brompton, were: — lst, the camp-meeting I have named; 2nd, the establishment of the Swainby Society — ever since a vigorous and flourishing cause; 3rd, the missioning of Osmotherly, which we took by storm. We soon got the Friends' Meeting House for our services there, and the work went on vigorously.' "
Opening Mr. Spoor's journal of this period casually, we note the following summary of a week's work: "Reached home on Saturday afternoon, having had a weary walk of eighteen miles through snow and storm. I fell on the road and bruised myself, yet in the midst of all I am happy. I have had a blessed week in my work. I have walked forty miles, visited forty-eight families, and preached eight times, and, best of all, have seen six souls brought to God."
During his station in this circuit the increase in the members was one hundred and eight.
The years 1850-2 were spent in the Whitehaven circuit. He found the circuit in a very low state, but set himself to work to revive it. Though he was much from home, owing to the extent of the circuit, yet when he was in Whitehaven it was his custom to hold an open-air service on the Quayside, or in the Market-place. It was not uncommon on these occasions for crowds to follow him to the chapel. The result was, an eye-witness relates, that we saw our congregations greatly increase, and many members added to the church. But this was not done without opposition, which came from the great numbers of Irish Papists who reside in that town and neighbourhood. Not allowing liberty, or even tolerance in their own country, they endeavour to take from us in this country the invaluable right to worship God in the manner we would. They tried to hinder Mr. Spoor's open-air exercises; then they came to the chapel to annoy our people. They had made it impossible for any society in the town to hold a watch-night service; but Mr. Spoor resolved to assert his right. So the customary service was held on the watch-night, 1851. There was a good congregation, and the service proceeded peaceably until about twenty minutes past eleven, when a crowd of these "lambs" of the Pope came and broke open the outer gates of the chapel, and burst open the chapel doors. Then they commenced shouting, singing, and uttering the foulest obscenities and blasphemies; throwing stones, bottles, and mire at the persons in the chapel, several of whom were severely hurt. In the midst of this tempest and uproar, Mr. Spoor was perfectly self-possessed. He tried to quell the storm; but all his attempts were futile, so the meeting was broken up. In going out there was a rush, the lights were extinguished, and the women were assailed rudely, and covered with dirt. Mr. Spoor, on coming out with a candle, was rudely assaulted by these miscreants, and his clothes sadly torn, and he escaped personal injury with difficulty. Pursuing him from the chapel, the mob went to Mr. Spoor's house, broke the shutters, and tried to set fire to the windows and otherwise injure the property. Two of the perpetrators of this outrage were identified, and were punished by the magistrates. Had Mr. Spoor pressed the charge against them, they would have been severely dealt with, but he says, "Praise God for a religion that can keep the soul calm, while storms are raging without. I felt that I could weep for the unhappy souls of those who disturbed us. While showers of mud and stones were falling upon us from all sides, I could say with Stephen, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.' It was not our wish to go to law with them, but they had made it a practice to come and disturb our services, and it had come to this-that we must either shut our chapel up, or seek the protection of the civil power, for the disturbances had commenced even in our Sunday night congregations. We did not go to law out of revengeful feelings, but to preserve the peace of our congregation."
The following year — the watch-night of 1852 — Mr. Spoor was the preacher again. There was a very large congregation, and Mr. Spoor had to express himself firmly in the maintenance of order; but ever afterwards the service was carried on in peace. This was a battle for religious freedom nobly fought. Never was Mr. Spoor more fearless than in this affair, and never was a man more gentle. He won all hearts. Other denominations thanked him for the victory he thus achieved. These two years were years of immense toil and anxiety; but God smiled upon the work of his hands, and there was an increase of sixty in the membership.
In 1853, he was unanimously chosen to superintend the Sunderland circuit, one of the chief stations in the Connexion. No greater proof could be given to him than this of the esteem in which he was held, and the confidence reposed in him. From its introduction into the town, Primitive Methodism obtained a firm footing in Sunderland. A number of intelligent and devoted men grew up around it, and were, humanly speaking, its props and fostering spirits. First among these was Mr. J. Gordon Black, who, in a few years, had so established his name and character in the Connexion, that he became one of the first signatories of the "Deed Poll," and a life member of the Conference. The Rev. H. Kendall has placed many interesting particulars in the writer's hand, some of which are, here furnished. Mr. Black was the type of a statesman. He impressed every one with the sense of power. He had a Melancthon-like forehead, a dark visage; was tall, thin, and constitutionally ailing. He was endowed with great energy of character, and exercised great personal influence. For many years he was, taking him all in all, the most powerful man in the Primitive Methodist Connexion in the North of England. He was an ardent admirer of the Puritan divines, and of Puritan modes of thought and practice, and his theological sentiments were complexioned by their grand reasonings. He delighted to gather round him ministers of his own and of other churches, and lead the discussion of important questions. His frequent opponent in these intellectual encounters was his friend and son-in-law, Mr. Thomas Gibson. The veteran had rare natural force, and struck heavy blows; but Mr. Gibson was better read, and keener in perceiving fallacies, and dexterous at disentangling a web of sophistries, and more accomplished in the use of the weapons of debate.
The Circuit quarterly meeting was the scene of many grand intellectual tournaments, in which Messrs. Black, Hesman, Whittaker, Hopper, Gibson, and others took prominent parts. Mr. Hesman was a man of note. His bodily figure was against him, for he was deformed and diminutive in stature; but his voice was silvery and musical. His gestures were oratorical almost to attitudinizing; yet there was a singular elegance in his style of address. He was clear-headed; and his integrity and piety were known to all, but known most to those who knew him best. His ardour and zeal were unquestionable. He was conservative in his leanings; felt called upon to be like Elijah, very jealous for the Lord of Hosts. He was an element of strength in the station. These two eminent men, Black and Hesman, had recently died, when Mr. Spoor went to take the helm of the vessel. The Rev. Henry Hebbron had just retired from the superintendency. Mr. H. was a man of great personal influence. His mind was vigorous and clear, if not very wide in its sweep. He never ceased to war against chicanery and shams. His never-failing command of striking metaphor, his droll allusions, and inimitable and exhaustless wit on the platform, were extraordinary. His style often swelled into true eloquence. Such was Mr. Spoor's predecessor, and such were the leading spirits of Sunderland in the past and present time.
Mr. Spoor went to this onerous and difficult station; but he was reliant upon his God, and resolved to give himself wholly to the work of the ministry. This is how he writes on entering Sunderland.
"July 7th. — We have safely arrived at our destination. Found kind friends waiting to receive us. I hope to be made a blessing to this town and circuit. I am resolved to labour for this."
He began his labours on the town moor. He speaks of the camp-meeting as "mighty in Divine power." He says:
"I preached at night in the Seaman's Hall. It was crowded. I had great liberty in speaking. In the prayer-meeting six souls found pardon. I trust they may appear in the day of the Lord. Oh, I long to be more successful in saving men from sin and hell, into the exalted blessings of God's kingdom. This desire brought me into the field, and it lives in me yet -
Several of the country societies had just been ravaged and wrecked by strikes, and the work greatly retarded. Of his visit to South Hetton, he says: "In this place many of the miners have been turned out of their houses. I found our chapel filled with their furniture. I was obliged to take the street, where I called upon the people to fear God and keep His commandments. Preached in the evening at Murton Colliery. The strike is destructive here. Most of the members have removed, and those that remain are full of contention and ill feeling. Tuesday, preached at Hetton-le-Hole. Found things very disturbed with this weary, weary strike. I fear that we shall suffer seriously here, and we have had a noble society. But I got the members together, and we missioned the place in grand style, and returned with a large congregation. The Master helped me in preaching."
Under his powerful labours, in connection with his colleagues, the tone of the societies was restored, as is seen in this description of a memorable camp-meeting at Hetton-le-Hole. "We met in the chapel at eight o'clock, and after a powerful prayer-meeting we processioned in grand style to the camp-ground. As we went along in singing, speaking, and praying, truly the Lord was with us. We first held a short service for the children, three hundred of whom thronged around the stand, eagerly listening to the words of eternal life. The preaching of the word was in power; and in the prayer-meetings the glory of the Lord overshadowed us, and the shout of a King was heard among us. Many hearts were smitten by the Holy Ghost; and in the lovefeast the converting work broke out,-it was as the scenes of former days, the slain of the Lord were all around us. How many obtained liberty I cannot tell. Some believers also professed to obtain clean hearts. I do earnestly and anxiously hope that we are going to have a great work."
No man could be bolder or more fearless in what he believed to be his duty, incurring any danger or running any risk in the cause of God and humanity. An instance of his fearlessness occurred during his Sunderland station. On his way to his appointment at Newbottle one Sabbath morning, when about three miles on his journey, he observed a crowd of men shouting and yelling terrifically. He found it was a prize pugilistic encounter. Two men had been fighting for some time, and yelling demons, in the form of men, hounding them on; the poor wretches fighting were streaming with blood. Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Spoor rushed between the combatants and separated them; though in doing so, the blood spurted upon his own person from one of the men who had just received a heavy blow. He shouted out in a voice which made the crowd of rascals slink and sneak back: "I command these men to desist; and shame, shame upon you!" addressing the crowd. He would not leave till the ruffianly crowd was dispersed, and then he conducted the suffering pugilists to their homes in the adjoining place. On the following day he was at his sister's, Mrs. R. Cook, who, seeing his shirt covered with blood in some places, said "Joseph, what hast thou been doing to get that blood?" He then related the scene just described, not having said anything about it, as he thought he had been doing an ordinary duty.
Just before he left Sunderland death entered his home of peace, and smote down one of his daughters. She had been ailing for a long time, but they had hoped to have still kept her, but He who is "wise in counsel," determined otherwise. The blow fell heavily upon him; and the wound was long in healing. We may say in the words of another: "Family affection in Mr. Spoor was intense. Enlargement on a virtue so common is unnecessary. We need not say that, using the word in all its deep, tender strength of meaning, he was a father. He stood in a parent's place with a parent's heart."
The writer followed him on this Sunderland field of labour, and found from end to end of the circuit that he had endeared himself to all classes, and his name was like ointment poured forth. He left the membership nearly a hundred stronger than he found it.
In 1857 he returned to Darlington, one of his old fields of toil and triumph. Though there were no such exciting scenes as had transpired twenty years previously, yet, at the Shildons and other places, the revival work went on apace; and many remain to this day the fruit of these works of grace. The rise in the members was nearly three hundred.
In 1861 he was stationed for Durham, and he remained here seven years. During the first three years nearly two hundred were added to the church roll. Then the Thornley circuit was made from Durham, leaving the parent circuit with seven hundred members, which number waxed to eight hundred and fifty before he left.
Some time after his entrance into the circuit it became greatly disturbed, and some parts of it nearly disrupted. Certain ambitious, pragmatic, disloyal persons were attempting to rend the societies. Even the public prints were used as vehicles of abuse and misrepresentation of Connexional doings and of Mr. Spoor. But he was the right sort of man for such an emergency. He was firm to sturdiness in the maintenance of rule and order. With truth and law at his back, he stood like a rock. Yet he was judicious and cool; he met rage and bluster with unvarying good temper. His intense spirituality stood him in good stead. This was a power which ever conquered. It is right to say he was nobly backed by his colleagues, by the much-respected circuit steward, Mr. G. Lee, and by most of the station officials.
The last citation we give from his journal is characteristic:
"July 11th, 1863. — I have finished two years in this circuit. It has been a time of grief, toil, and trouble; but we have not been without success; about two hundred have been added to us as an increase. I am hoping for a better year next than any before. It will take work and wholehearted consecration. I long for more of God. I want fellowship with the Father, with the Son, and with the Holy Ghost. (Thus he wanted not only Trinity Sundays, but every day a Trinity day.) I am poor and unworthy, but Christ is mine. I feel after souls -
Brothers Rust and Wild have to remove, — may the blessing of my God go with them. I get brothers Matfin and Waite. I desire the Lord to come with them, and make them a great blessing to the circuit."
Of his station with Mr. Spoor, the Rev. G. W. Moorse writes: "When I went to the circuit in July, 1866, he had been in it five years, during which time it had enjoyed a large share of prosperity. The debt on Durham chapel had been considerably reduced, two neat chapels had been built at Sherburne and Ferry Hill; another handsome one was in progress at Shincliffe Colliery; preparations were being made at Spennymoor for a large and costly building, the old one having become debtless and unfit for the large society and congregation; and many souls had been converted to God. Subsequently, the chapel at Low Spennymoor became too small for the increasing society, and under his superintendency a spacious and substantial sanctuary was erected at a cost of £600.
"For some time after I was in the circuit, our departed friend was in tolerable health, and it was my privilege to see him in full ministerial vigour. For thorough and constant earnestness, I never saw him surpassed. His ministry was no sinecure, — it was a work, an important work, a glorious work. He had not suffered it to sink into a mere officialism, but had bound it up with his life. Never was he so much in his element as when in the pulpit exhorting and encouraging saints to holiness of heart and life; or talking to sinners about Jesus, and urging reconciliation with God. And he would rejoice as one that taketh much spoil when penitents were crying for mercy and finding peace through believing. Few ministers perhaps had greater success than he. At this time his popularity was very great, — scarcely a mail arrived but what brought an application for his services, both from within and beyond the borders of his own district.
"Towards the end of the year 1866 his health failed, and for months he was confined to his room. I then had an opportunity of seeing how he could suffer the will of God. The change from activity to a forced repose in a man of his natural energy was keenly felt, yet a murmur never escaped his lips. His suffering was sometimes excruciating, yet he is possessed his soul in patience. His affliction tested his graces, and they were found healthy and strong. As a superintendent and colleague, I esteemed him much. He was always affable, frank, and ready for an emergency. I trust that the Connexion may never lack such ministers."
He had the happiness during his Durham station of seeing two of his daughters married to two of our respected ministers, — his eldest daughter to the Rev. A. Lattimer, the other to the Rev. D. Moore. Mrs. Lattimer's married life was very brief, for after six months' residence at Sunderland, and having suffered a protracted illness, she died in the Lord, and was laid by the side of her sister, in the Bishopwearmouth cemetery. Mr. Spoor and his daughter, Mrs. Lattimer, had lived much in each other's affection; but now that the good Lord took her away, though he was smitten sore, his heart bowed to the will of the Lord without rebellion.
The long and severe illness referred to in Mr. Moorse's letter was the first serious interruption (excepting the breakdown at Middleham) to a ministerial life of nearly forty years' continuance. For about twelve months he was unable to perform many of his duties. It was feared at one time that his system was breaking up. We saw the blanching marks of age on his countenance at the Newcastle district meeting; his person was bowed down, almost tottering; physically speaking, a wreck; but the old fire was in him. Six weeks after we saw him at the Sunderland Conference much improved. At the Conference camp-meeting he was quite a study,-all his old enthusiasm roused; and he laboured excessively in the procession, on the field, in the lovefeast, and in the prayer-meeting to the last. He was on the waggon beside his early Tyneside friend, the Rev. Thomas Jobling, conducting the singing, and leading on the hosts of the Lord. And on such field-days he had wonderful power.
While at Durham, he addressed the following memorial to the Conference.
"Dear Brethren,
"It is with mingled diffidence and confidence that I now submit to your consideration the following case, and hope that you may see a clear way to grant my request. In the year 1834 I was taken out to travel by the Brompton circuit. I laboured, I think I may be allowed to say, with considerable success, in the Brompton, Darlington, and Ripon circuits, until August, 1839, when my health broke down. Such was my weakness and prostration, added to the rupture of a blood-vessel in my lungs, that in the strongly-expressed opinion of medical men, it was vain ever to hope to be able to resume my ministerial labours again. Under these circumstances, as I could not maintain my family on any allowance from Connexional funds, I yielded to the advice and solicitations of my numerous friends to sit down. I did so in the month of December, 1839. I first attended to a little business, but my health improved so much that I was able to take the offer of my Darlington friends, to become a town missionary. I commenced my work on the 18th of January, 1841. The mission was connected with our poeple. I spent twelve months here. In 1842, the Newcastle circuit was in want of a hired local preacher, so they requested Darlington to give me up to them, as they engaged to pledge me if I thought of going into the regular ministry again. Believing that it was the will of the great Head of the Church that I should be fully devoted to the ministry, I was taken out on a second probation by the Conference of 1843. From that time to this I have continued, through the mercy of God, to prosecute my labours without interruption, and with a good share of success in the conversion of souls.
"Now the favour I ask the Conference is this, if it deem me worthy of such a mark of its favour, to grant me the whole of the time that I lost, so that I may be able to reckon my time of travelling from the date of my first being taken out. This I ask respectfully and earnestly. If this cannot be done, then I ask the Conference to give me the years I travelled, up to the failure of my health. I do not conceal from you the reasons for this request. I ask it — 1st. Because I do not think my status stands fairly before the Connexion. I am said to have travelled only twenty-four years, whereas I have travelled thirty-three. The break in this term was a providential act, not mine. 2nd. Should I ever be superannuated, or should I, in the arrangements of Divine Providence, be taken away, before my wife, by death, the allowance to either of us would be seriously diminished.
"Dear brethren, on your honour, wisdom, and Christian kindness I throw myself, believing that if you can meet my views you will. I am, &c."
The request so forcibly and yet so modestly submitted to Conference was favourably entertained and kindly granted.
[* July 30th.-This great meeting is described in Petty's History
p. 101.]