The year 1866 saw my Father settled in Sunderland. He was again most fortunate in his superintendent. The Revs. Henry Phillips and Peter Clarke had been men of note, not less so was the Rev. Thomas Greenfield under whose leadership he spent the next two years.

The Sunderland Circuit had had a wonderful history. What men of faith and daring they were in those early days! The officials of the circuit decided to build Flag Lane Church, a building to hold 1000 people, when they had only £23. in hand and quite a small band of workers on whom to depend!! But truly their dependence was not on man but on God, and their faith was fully justified. Not only did they succeed financially but hundreds were won for the Kingdom of God.

The Rev. Joseph Spoor had in his day continued the good work. In spite of long continued strikes which greatly hindered the progress he desired to see, he was able to make this characteristic note in his journal:- "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 200 have been added to us as an increase. I am hoping for a better year next than any before. It will take work and whole-hearted consecration."

My Father therefore, in entering upon his labours in this circuit had every incentive for hard and laborious work and this he gave. Sunderland, however, had sad memories for him, for there he lost the one who had in their short time together been such a true and loving helpmate. His mother came to him at the death of his wife and remained in his home until he left England for South Africa. Although the work in the circuit had been congenial and fruitful, it was with little regret under the circumstances that he turned his steps towards Newcastle-on-Tyne, his next circuit.

The fact that the Rev. Colin Campbell McKechnie was to be his head in his new circuit was a great joy to him. He already knew Mr. McKechnie fairly well, and this friendship now increased and was maintained right up to the time of Mr. McKechnie's death. It was Mr. McKechnie's third appointment to the circuit and he had high hopes as he entered upon his work. In Daniel McKinley and John Watson he had loyal and hard working colleagues, and thus had every prospect of success. It was then the custom to hold a great camp meeting or series of camp meetings on the town moor the Sunday after the new ministers came into the circuit. This was done in 1868 the year in which all three ministers began their ministry. In the evening John Watson conducted the Lovefeast in the Nelson Street Church.

Mr. McKechnie had a strong belief in the usefulness of family visitation and Friday afternoons were spent in this way; great and lasting good was the result in many cases.

My Father's cousin, Mr John Watson, of Blaydon-on-Tyne, recently met an honoured local preacher 75 years old, who related to him the story of his conversion which took place in the Newcastle circuit. The second preacher was making his last call for that day when the young son of the house came home from work. He seized his opportunity and by his warnings and invitations so moved the young fellow that, although he was in his rough working clothes and had had no intention of attending the week-night service, he hastened away with my Father to the chapel, and in the service which followed consecrated his life to God. In the words of the old man, "I put my had to the gospel plough that night through the blessed influence of the Rev. John Watson, and, bless His name, it has never been removed since then."

"Oh Christ who holds the open gate, O Christ who drives the furrough straight, O Christ, the plough, O Christ, the laughter Of holy white birds flying after, Lo, all my heart's field red and torn, And thou wilt bring the young green corn, The young green corn divinely springing, The young green corn for ever singing; And when the field is fresh and fair Thy blessed feet shall glitter there, And we will walk the weeded field, And tell the golden harvest's yield, The corn that makes the holy bread By which the soul of man is fed The holy bread, the food unpriced Thy everlasting mercy, Christ". Masefield's "Everlasting Mercy"

About this time one of the most momentous events of my Father's life occurred. He had the great good fortune to become acquainted with a Miss Eleanor Cook, then living in Ballast Hills. She was the younger daughter of Councillor Ralph Cook, a man then active in church and city work. Her mother's maiden name had been Spoor, her brother being the Rev. Joseph Spoor already well known to my Father. Mrs. Cook was for a short time in the ministry and was one of the saints of God. Although for over thirteen years she was confined almost entirely to her room, she was an active worker for Christ. When quite a young woman she was seriously hurt in a railway collision. Pinned under heavy wreckage she was at last discovered by her distracted husband. This accident transformed her from health to a gradually increasing state of invalidism. She possessed, however, a wonderfully bright and courageous spirit and she refused to consider her days of service over. She was undoubtedly the means, in God's hands of bringing many into the Kingdom. For a great number of years, right up to the time of her death, she held a class for fellowship and prayer in her house. As her illness increased upon her and she was unable to rise, the meeting was held in her bedroom. To many that room of suffering was a Temple of Peace, and there are still people in the North of England who recall what their mothers have told them about the wonderful times of refreshment experienced there. Her daughters, Kate and Eleanor were her devoted attendants, giving much loving service but receiving far more than they gave in enrichment of heart and mind.

One day, while Eleanor was wheeling her mother in her chair across the moor, they heard in the distance a speaker addressing a large crowd in clear ringing tones. Many many years after my Mother told me "I then and there resolved in my girlish heart that the man I should marry must have such a voice as that." A year or so later the preacher and Eleanor met and a mutual attachment was formed, and they entered into an engagement to marry. This was the announcement of the wedding in the Connexional paper of that day:-

Thus began their ideally happy life together. How can one describe such a wife! Stevenson's words fit her:-

"Steel true and blade straight The great artificer Made my mate ..................... Honour, anger, valour, fire; A love that life could never tire. Death quench or evil stir The mighty master Gave to her. ..................... Teacher, tender, comrade, wife, A fellow farer, true through life, The august Father gave to me."

And yet they do not satisfy those who knew and loved her. One of her characteristics was her faith. Not only her faith in God - that she had in abundant measure - but also her faith in her fellow-creatures. She believed in such a sunny whole-hearted way in the goodness of those she met that she, quite unknown to herself, compelled people to act up to her belief in them. Slander, gossip, all unlovely things ceased to exist where she moved. It was good to see the "anger, valour, fire" which could leap up in her when occasion demanded. Some little time after her death, my Father in the course of conversation with me, objected to the use of the word "sweet" by a friend in some description of my Mother. He thought that the word was so inadequate in any estimate of her character. Sweetness and charm she certainly had, but to those who knew her best these were only the outward manifestations of much stronger inward qualities. Her courage, her strong belief in God's love when all seemed dark, her unselfishness, her sympathy and tactfulness, these endeared her to her husband and children and a wide circle of friends.

To her daughters she was not only a true Mother, with all that that implies, but a comrade and a friend. She had a keen sense of humour which helped her along life's way, but her laughter was kindly as she could always see the other person's point of view. What she was to my Father it is almost impossible to say; there are some things in life which words cannot describe, and of such was their love. In the great essentials of life and faith they were as one and it was beautiful to see their devotion to their common Master. In many phases of their characters the one supplied what the other lacked. In the small things of life my Father often showed great absentmindedness and if it had not been for my Mother's alertness and practical good sense, he might at times have come to grief. It was a common thing for her, when he was about to set off on his many week-end engagements, to enumerate things he must take with him and also things he must bring back!

He had also a great love for old garments, ancient study coats in particular, from which it almost broke his heart to part. My Mother often had to resort to stratagem in order to get rid of some well loved sartorial friend. She sometimes told of one time when, having escaped from her vigilant eyes, he mounted the pulpit clad in one of these ancient garments, and preached in happy oblivion of the fact that his appearance was rather unusual. Those who remember his neat appearance will hardly credit this, but so it was.

In the telling of humorous stories my Father never excelled; he had indeed a considerable amount of quiet humour which gleamed forth at times, brightening and illuminating some point which he wished to drive home, but in the relation of another's humour he would often leave out some essential point and then wonder why his audience looked so puzzled. In his young days he had made the attempt to rectify this but in his later days he ceased the practise of humorous story-telling so that I do not recollect his doing so more than once - that is, in his public utterances. This was largely because his own good sense indicated such a course of action, and as a result of my Mother's gentle teasing on the subject.

Money had very little value for him,, except in so far as it helped others. My Mother, though also generous to a fault, had a little more caution in her make-up, and so just gave the necessary balance.

Intense devotion to each other characterised them and sweetened and ennobled all the relationships of life.

Mr McKechnie's health had been causing anxiety for some time and in 1869 there came a complete breakdown and Mr McKechnie was forced to relinquish his work and seek for health in another country. The breaking up of the pleasant comradeship was a grief to my Father, and to Mr McKinley,and the whole circuit mourned at the departure of so able a minister. The second minister took up the superintendent's work and with the help of Mr McKinley the circuit was led on to fresh victories.

It must be remembered that I am writing of the rather distant past. Many who might have told of these days have passed away, and only a most inadequate account can be given of work which was not only thorough and painstaking but forms a not inconsiderable part of that glorious past of which we as loyal Primitive Methodists love at times to think and speak.

In 1870 my Father accepted an invitation to Hartlepool where he spent two years. Of this part of his life I have been unable to glean any information except of a purely personal or family description. Their second child, a,daughter, who was named Kate, was born here (their first daughter died in infancy). In this circuit and indeed in all his northern circuits he was keenly interested in linguistic studies and although they were in very straitened circumstances he was taking lessons in Hebrew, German and other languages. My Mother cheerfully aided him by making every pound do the work of two, and as he grew proficient he gave lessons and thus added to their small income. Much of the money thus earned was spent in books which added to his fund of knowledge and enriched his mind.

In 1873 they passed on to the Spennymoor circuit. Here they spent four happy and fruitful years.

My Father took a lively part in the affairs of the town, and in the circuit a very gracious season of revival was experienced. In the second year of his ministry he was joined by the Rev. William Gelley, whose name is so honoured in the Primitive Methodist Church. Mr. Gelley's letter giving some account of their work together is so interesting that I shall quote largely from it.

"In my early days I was an Evangelist and circuit missionary; your Father was greatly interested in my life and work. We often met and a strong attachment sprang up between us that lasted all his life. In 1874 I was appointed to the Spennymoor circuit. Your Father had been on the circuit one year. I was in my second year of probation. We soon had a great and glorious season of revival. Our churches were crowded, converts were numerous. We visited the homes of our people, preached in the open market place every Friday night. We held missions in the winter; our numbers rose in three years from 595 to 841. Though your Father was a great contrast to me, he being calm and courteous,, an excellent scholar, well up in Greek, Hebrew and a most devoted student in German literature, while I was quick in temper, often eccentric in conduct, impulsive, not to say rash, yet we worked in the utmost harmony. Or our long journeys to Bramdon he gave me outlines of all his new sermons, corrected my pronunciation and grammar. He taught me to think. The quarter day wished to increase his salary by £5. He refused the increase and moved the £5. be added to my salary. I was a married man with two children. It was a most generous act. "At that time the School Board came into action. We determined to run three candidates. Mr Watson was one, our circuit steward and a local preacher were also chosen. The church people and vicar stormed at us, and did all in their power to annoy us. Some of the candidates were miners; they were told to go to the "Spelling Bee" which was very popular at that time; this very much annoyed your Father. We held a large meeting in the Town Hall, it was crowded. Your Father spoke with marked restraint and was correct to a fault. The meeting was chilled and not responsive. When we came out your Father said to me "Well, what did you think of the meeting? I said in my hot way, "You killed it; you never took the bit out of the horse's mouth and let him have his go. Dignity does not pay in a meeting like that". He replied. "We don't all want to be told to go to the "Spelling Bee". Next morning we met; he said, "You were right, Gelley, I did not let myself go last night." We carried all our three men."

I have just received a gracious letter from the Rev. J.W. Middlemass of Doncaster.

"Though only nine years of age, I knew I was a saved boy". "One day while playing in the street with others you and Mr Watson came into the terrace from the town side. I saluted you according to my training, I followed you both at a respectful distance; you both entered a member's home. Having entered on the good woman's invitation you left the door ajar. I was only a boy looking in; you both spoke pleasantly to the lady at the "poss tub" after which she spread a carpet of some kind near the "tub" and the three of you reverently knelt, and as reverently offered prayer. While you were at prayer my little heart took in everything, the minister's visit; the member's joy; the homeliness of the temple. It was there and then that I pledged myself to the church, for on the pavement opposite the open door I made my vow, that if called to de a minister, I would obey. "When your Father and I left Spennymoor we only met occasionally at Conference and some special gathering. It has been one of the joys and blessings of my life to have had such close unbroken friendship. I owe much to him; he was a noble spirit, so free from petty jealousies, so broad in his outlook, a Christian gentleman in every sense of the word; a scholar of no mean attainments, an earnest minister of Christ, a most loyal Methodist. I loved John Watson as a brother and felt that I was loved by him."

In later years my Father spoke of the years he had spent at Spennymoor as being some of the happiest of his whole life.

In 1877 he entered on his short ministry at North Shields. The Rev. George Lewins was his colleague in the work. Though the time spent here was very short - only one year - wonderful work was done and I have been fortunate in securing a first hand record of this time. Mr William Proudlock is one of the most acceptable local preachers in the North and is still living in the North Shields circuit.

"My first recollection of the late Dr Watson was on the memorable occasion when he held revival services at Howdon-on-Tyne - a portion of the North Shields Circuit. From the commencement, the meetings were a great success, and attracted a large number of young men. We were induced to attend the Doctor's services, and many of us have never forgotten those experiences. Indeed, they formed a turning-point in the lives of several, who since then have spent their time in religious work. "My personal impressions of the man were of one who had almost a Divine appearance, with an eye of such penetration that it seemed to explore the whole of one's nature. When he spoke, his melodious voice compelled attention, while his words were so eloquent and stirring as to convince one that there was somewhat sadly wrong with one's present way of living. "The prayer meeting which followed one of the Doctor's meetings, was so charged with spiritual fervour, that it completely enveloped us, and we felt that we were out of tune with the Maker of the Universe. Then when the Preacher came and addressed us individually, we realized that the climax had been reached, and nothing less than complete consecration of ourselves to the service of Christ would satisfy us. "The whole village was stirred by this time and all felt that some great work was going on at the P. M. Chapel in Church Street. Crowds gathered nightly to hear him who spoke of the salvation that came through the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Every meeting was of a high order when we were lifted above the petty and mean into an atmosphere of such spirituality that our whole natures were inspired with a holy ambition. Many of the discourses still live with us. The Fatherhood of God, The Fall of Man and The Atonement through Christ, were subjects which Dr Watson treated in a masterly and convincing way. His great concern was to assist those who had made a change in their lives in such a way that the change would be a permanent one. In this he was not disappointed. Mr Robert Dodds of Blyth, Mr William Paul, Mr John Brown and the writer of these notes have all become instruments by the Providence of God to speak the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to many thousands in the northern counties. Others, who had not the aptitude to become local preachers, became active and successful workers in the Bands of Hope, Sunday Schools and other sides of Church life. "One of the great results of this mission of Dr Watson's was the stimulus of a Society Class which met at 9 o'clock every Sunday morning. Sometimes as many as fifty men were present, all anxious to testify to the goodness of God in their lives, and to communicate something of their deep spiritual experiences to their fellows. "The action of the Conference in removing the dear Doctor from this field of his activity was keenly resented by the whole of the wide circuit, but his own words of assurance were that the call to a new sphere that came to him might contribute to the extending of the Kingdom of God, and in this spirit he left us. His faith has surely been justified when we remember the great work he was enabled to render to the cause of the Christian religion in a foreign land. "We remember him yet as he was in those days, winning the regard and love of all those with whom he came into contact. His name is still honoured in this locality as a true and faithful Ambassador of Christ. Miss Bertram of Earsdon vividly remembers Dr Watson's last visit to that part of the North Shields Circuit. He was bidding farewell to his many friends and called at the house of Mr and Mrs Crowe. Before leaving he knelt down to pray and so feelingly did he do so; so faithfully did his words echo the sentiments of all their hearts, that everyone was overcome with emotion until tears streamed down their faces. Such incidents as these keep the Doctor's name fresh in the minds and hearts of those who had the great joy to know him personally. "The last lecture he gave at Earsdon was in the interests of charity. A certain member was stricken down so severely that he had to be taken to the hospital, leaving a wife and three children in very straitened circumstances. It was suggested that if the Doctor would deliver one of his popular lectures a sum of money might be raised to help the sufferers. Dr Watson readily consented to devote the only night he had at liberty to that object, and no less than £14. was raised in this way. "Such was Dr Watson's last effort at Earsdon. To comfort and console the sorrowing, to aid the needy, to save the sinful, was ever the mission of one whom we all loved and revered, and of whom we can truthfully say "He being dead yet speaketh."

Such testimonies speak more eloquently than any words of mine could do, and bring these past days vividly before us.