[The author worked with John Watson at Chester 1890--91, and subsequently married his daughter Kate. After John Watson suffered a stroke in 1901, he lived in their household until his death in 1913.]

The first time I saw Mr. Watson he was to my mind a very distant personality. He was on the Conference platform, Bradford 1889. He was an elderly man, already looking venerable; just returned from his ten years' work in Africa and Australia. He was upright in figure, of attractive appearance, an able and powerful speaker, evidently a strong and kindly character. Conference listened to him with great respect and looked to him as a coming leader. I was an accepted candidate for the ministry sitting in the gallery and nervously anticipating going to College. At that Conference I saw for the first time many other of our then famous men, but none impressed me as favourably as he.

The next year I was appointed to my first circuit. It was George Street Circuit, Chester, and he was for two years my superintendent. The second Minister was the late Rev. William Whitham. We all worked together in perfect unity and happiness. To his colleagues Mr. Watson set a very high example of both public and private life. It was his habit to invite me to spend frequent afternoons with him in family visitation; during these visits I said little or nothing excepting that at alternate calls he would ask me to pray, he taking the other turns. Such training under his leadership was both delightful and valuable. He was modest about his linguistic scholarship which was considerable, but it had leaked out; and several Free Church Ministers then in Chester used to gather weekly in his study to be helped by him along the road of German, Greek or Hebrew. Nor was he at a loss if questions were asked on French or Latin. His preaching was expository and evangelical. He took a high position in the esteem of the Free Churches in the city. He was also engaged in much Connexional work; for one year he was secretary of the Itinerant Preachers' Friendly Society, but that was uncongenial to him and he succeeded in passing the office on. He wrote considerably for the Quarterly Review, and was on several important Committees. In 1891 he became acquainted with the Christian Endeavour movement then in its early days in England, and commenced a society at George Street. He warmly advocated this form of interdenominational fellowship, and took a great part in shaping the policy of the National C. E. Union during the next ten years. During the same period also, he took great interest in the Manchester and Liverpool Districts Ministerial Association. The meetings which were held every six months, were attended by eighty or ninety men. He took his full share of the appointments, and spoke on most of the subjects that came under discussion. Every man recognised him as a prophet. Many have grateful memories of his sermon on "The Great Renunciation", his essay on "Schleiermacher", his enthusiastic championship of Jane Austen, and other occasions.

Turning now to the time of his superannuation we find the ripe fruit of all the activity of his life. In 1894 I became his son-in-law and came to know his inner self with much intimacy. It was on September 6th 1901 that he suffered his first seizure. His home was at Higher Openshaw, Manchester Ninth Circuit. For some days his life was in danger, and it was several months before he could walk again. As soon as possible he was removed to our home at Lymm, fortunately not many miles distant. Although he and we speedily realised that his working days were over, yet he gradually recovered strength, speech and walking power, and lived eleven more years of peaceful, happy life, removing with us to Swinton, Manchester in 1903, and to Guernsey in 1907. In the first twelve months of his retirement he passed through a spiritual crisis in which his faith in God seemed to become in some sense a new thing to him. Probably it arose from the necessity of adjusting his re-awakening mental life to his new circumstances. Certainly he had inward toil and conflict, and opened his mind to us quite freely; certainly also he found a strong foundation, gaining a firmer confidence and joy in God. For some time before his breakdown he had shrunk from the thought of coming superannuation, and so far as we know had never fixed a date for it. He afterwards often expressed gratitude to God that the time of retirement had been made so clear to him; so clear indeed that he could do no other. He was never able to preach again, the reason being that he could not bear the nervous strain of preparation. But with comparatively few interruptions he attended the Sunday services, generally twice, and took part in the prayer meetings. When at Swinton, we lived near the Station Road Church and he regularly attended the C. E. Meetings. At first the young people rather dreaded the task of taking their appointed duties in his presence, but they soon learned that in heart he also was young, and they were quite easy. He was an encourager of young local preachers, appreciating their efforts with such evident sincerity that their fears of him vanished. He delighted in the friendship of young men, counting some among his nearest friends. When there was an opportunity of spontaneous speech in a gathering that pleased him he often spoke in public; his voice not so strong as formerly, but as distinct; his thought and arrangement being clear to all, and occasional flashes of humour lighting up his topic. In Guernsey he attended the week-evening services, concerts, bazaars and anything else with constant interest and zest. He travelled about the island enjoying its beautiful bays, rejoiced in the occasional visits of ministers and others to our little world, ripened in spiritual serenity, and took an active interest in all kinds of Church affairs and political events. In the year 1912, however, we saw that his strength was failing. In July he had to cease his attendance at services; in October he took to his bed and remained upstairs until the end came. He was very anxious to see his eightieth birthday, December 31st 1912. He was fairly well on that day and playfully suggested that he might live to see ninety. He was being lovingly nursed by his two daughters (my wife and Mrs. Cowie). Gradually his power declined, though he continued to read his well-known favourite books. On the table by his bedside at the last there happened to be three of these, viz:- his Bible, a volume of Wesley's Journal, and Jane Austen's "Emma".

On Sunday night February 23rd. 1913 he quietly passed away from us into the fuller life that must have awaited him beyond. We mourned the loss of him, but were grateful to have had the joy of such intimate fellowship for so long a time. On the Wednesday we had a Memorial Service in the Truchot Street Church, Guernsey. On the Friday there gathered a great company at Great Western Street Church, Manchester, where an address was given by his former College colleague, Dr. Peake, and the interment was at the Manchester Southern Cemetery where Mrs. Watson's funeral had taken place eleven years earlier. Eight College students bore the coffin to the grave where the service was conducted by the Revs. John Swinden and Arthur Beavan.

We may in closing, fitly quote the following words used of him by his old friend, the late Rev. John Hallam:- "He has lived a grand life, and he has died in the faith, and he has now obtained a more excellent ministry."

Wilson Eccles.