For some time my Mother's health had been poor but it was hoped that with relief from the arduous work of the College and with rest and care it would improve. No serious fears were entertained until the end of February 1901 when the condition of her heart was so unsatisfactory that the Doctor ordered a month's rest in bed. She grew rapidly worse and in the middle of March a specialist was consulted who gave no hope of a recovery. On the second of April she lost consciousness and on April 3rd passed peacefully away.

Even after the lapse of all these years it is hardly possible to write calmly of this time. The shock caused by her death was most severe to my Father. She was thirteen years his junior and he had hoped to have her loved companionship for many years, but his deep and tranquil faith never wavered, and to those of us who saw and knew his courage, there was only one attitude of mind possible, that of humble thankfulness to God for being permitted to see such perfect reliance on the Heavenly Father's love.

During her illness it was impossible , though we knew we were to lose the one on whom we all depended, to be less than cheerful. When she, who was suffering and was about to leave those whom she loved, so passionately, could be so courageous, it would have been unseemly if we had given way to our grief. So as we look back we see our loved one dying, as she had lived, with her hand in that of her Saviour and rejoicing in His love. All her life one of her chief characteristics had been her love for children, a love which they returned in fullest measure. So it was fitting that our doctor's little son should day after day mount the stairs with her favourite flowers - violets - clasped in his chubby hand and place them on her table so that they should refresh her.

She was laid to rest in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester, the address being given by the Rev. G. Parkin. A little later Dr. Peake preached the Memorial Sermon in the Higher Openshaw Chapel, the text being "And His servants shall serve Him and they shall see His face." The letters of sympathy were numerous and their messages helped to comfort my Father in his hour of desolation. The knowledge that she was loved by so many was a joy to him. I give just one, from Dr. Peake, who was one of the last to see her and who knew and loved her.

57, Withington Road, Manchester. April 4th 1901. My dear Dr. Watson, At such a time as this human comfort seems a vain and empty thing. In the presence of life's great tragedies silence seems to become us better than speech. Yet we should like to tell you, what indeed you already know, that our heart is with you in your desolation, and that we do not forget you in our prayers. For her whom we have lost there can be nothing but thanksgiving, that she has passed into that home, which is our dearest hope, where in spirit she had dwelt so long. Among all the good women whom it has been my privilege to know, she stands out among the very best. She was a true saint who walked humbly with her God, and spent herself in active devotion to His service. I feel her unpretentious goodness at once a stimulus and a rebuke. I do not know that the trite saying, "Earth is the poorer, that she is taken from us" is really true, for while to you who lived with her this must be true, yet to us she will remain a sacred memory, enriched with that reverence and tenderness which death only can give. But certainly the assurance that she will be there to welcome us makes heaven itself more homelike. We have not lost her, it is the triumph of Jesus that even the grave is radiant with hope. Only a little while, and the dear friend we have loved so much will once more greet us with the old smile and kindly word as she has herself been greeted to our Father's House. With our kindest love and deepest sympathy, Yours affectionately, Arthur S. Peake

In a few days my Father took up his work again with all his usual courage. In fact to those who knew him best this unfaltering courage was a disquieting thing; we felt it would have been safer for his health if his calm had broken down if it had been only for a few moments. The fact that his reading and study continued until early morning, as he was unable to sleep, also caused uneasiness. His health, however, apart from these slight warnings, was good, and as work was a solace to him he threw all his energies into it.

During his term at the College he had taken a keen interest in the Students' Christian Endeavour Society and had also kept up a close connection with the general movement. In 1901 he was called to the Presidency of the British Christian Endeavour Union, the first Primitive Methodist to occupy that position. This was the last public appointment he was to take up, though a few weeks later he was on the point of acceding to a request of the Executive of the National Free Church Council to become President of that important organisation; his illness, however, intervened and brought to an end all public work. In July my Father and I joined a party of Primitive Methodists on a holiday tour in the Isle of Man.

In September he had resumed work at the College, with full arrangements for a heavy term's work. He had spent a busy morning on September 6th at the College, delivering three lectures, and on the afternoon of that day was assisting his colleague Rev. George Emmett with his German, when he complained of faintness and withdrew to another room. Following him in a moment with a cup of tea I found him very ill though still assuring me there was no cause for anxiety. In a few moments he sank into an unconscious state and then followed a time of grave danger. For a month a skilful doctor and two trained nurses fought for his life and it was entirely owing to them (under the blessing of God) that he was spared to us. Gradually he crept back to life, but not without alarming relapses, and at times it seemed as though he must slip from the hands that would fain keep him, so fragile was he. At last the Doctor bade us hope a little, though still in fear and trembling. When he was able to travel my brother-in-law and I took him the short train journey to Lymm in Cheshire where my sister and her husband were then living. It soon became evident that my father's active work was over and arrangements were made for leaving the Openshaw Circuit, where we had so many kindly friends, and for making our permanent home with Mr. and Mrs. Eccles. He also sent in his resignation to the College Committee. Dr. Peake tells of how he clung to the hope of resuming his Editorial work but even that was not to be, and at last all the well loved tasks were relinquished and my Father entered upon his period of quiet which was to last for eleven years.

But not without a struggle. Consider the position for a moment. When the call came to cease work be was living a more strenuous life than at any previous time in his history. He was in robust health and in every department of his work he could see fruit for his toil. Here was possible no gradual withdrawal, dulling the pain which must come when a man begins to realise that though the work must continue his part in it is over. At one blow all was taken and he had to enter upon an unfamiliar mode of life. He must have suffered, but apart from broken sentences such as, "The Lord still spares me, He must have some work for me.", "They also serve who only stand and wait", we were not allowed to share in his pain, though we were constantly assured by him that our love was precious and helpful. There was no repining, only a sweet acceptance of God's Will for him, and so a brave entrance was made into that new life which, as his health in a measure returned, was to become so rich, so beautiful, that to many it seemed to reach out hands of helpfulness equal even to his more active ministry. The Rev. Wilson Eccles will deal fully with this portion of his life, my purpose is therefore to summarize briefly the main incidents in the years which follow.

The days at Lymm passed by in peaceful quiet fashion. In the earlier part of this period of convalescence there was much weakness with inability for sustained effort of any description. For some time books and papers had to be forgone; naturally this was a great hardship. My Father had had no hobbies apart from active ones, such as swimming and walking; it might have seemed probable that, bereft of all these interests, discontent and weariness would be inevitable. His inward resources, however, now served him in good stead. His wide reading of the past years provided him with much material for thought, his power of memorising poetry and Scripture had always been good, and these favourite passages now afforded him great comfort and delight. Mr. Bradley mentions his love of nature; this love was renewed and intensified, in his walks along the quiet lanes he found pleasure in observing the first wild flower and the bursting of the trees into leaf. With real enjoyment, sometimes touched with emotion, he would exclaim, "What a lovely world! It is a joy to be alive!"

In 1903 my brother-in-law was "stationed" to the Manchester VIII circuit, so the household removed to that busy centre. We were now in the midst of the stir and bustle of a large industrial population, a great change from the quietness of old-fashioned, beautiful Lymm. Fortunately my Father's health was now much improved. To his intense joy he was able to read for any length of time, and from this time right up to his death reading was one of his greatest delights. Though debarred from public work his influence in the circuit was potent. Young people found in him a ready sympathy with their desires for culture and growth in the spiritual life. Valuable advice and encouragement were given and many a young lay preacher received help in the realisation that in my Father he had a listener whose prayers were ascending on his behalf. Writing in the "Bond of Union" rather later he says, "I find that to sustain by sympathy and prayer the preacher in his work is an important part left to me as a Christian."

In 1891 both my parents had become members of the Holiness Association which was then an active part of the Church's life. Conventions were held at Scarborough and other places; some of these my Father and Mother attended. I am indebted to the Rev. T. Clamp for bringing to my notice a letter which was written by my Father in 1905 for the Year Book of the Association. The letter was written in answer to a request from the Rev. H. O. H. Richardson for an article from him. Rev. George Bennett was then President of the Association.

"From Dr. Watson's Armchair." "We had hoped to have been able to print an article from the pen of the Rev. John Watson D.D. whose long connection with our Association has been highly prized. Failing health renders this impossible, but we have permission to insert the following extract from his letter. H.O.H.R." My association with the Holiness movement dates from the latter part of the year 1848, when sometime after my conversion I entered into, when in prayer for the blessing of perfect love, an experience so clear and definite that the memory of it still abides with me. Since then I have had a varied inward life with times of deadness and inward back-sliding, but also seasons of revival and refreshing, some of which are like landmarks in my spiritual history. For some time I have been living for most part in Beulah land. I am a firm believer in the doctrine which our Association stands for, which is indeed the doctrine of Wesley and our own founders. Some of the best men of Nonconformity, notably F. B. Heyer, Rev. J. Campbell, J. H. Jowett and others, believe and preach that for our personal wellbeing, the solution of difficulties of belief and experience, as well as power over others for good, we need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. This is just what we teach, and are not ashamed to confess. One of the finest settings of this truth, according to Paul's idea of it, was delivered at one of our Holiness meetings at Scarborough, in my hearing, by our own Professor Peake. I trust that your meetings, year by year. may be characterised by power and blessing. I purpose to keep my relation to you as a member, although I may never be able to attend any of your meetings. I am in the bonds of Christian love, Yours truly, John Watson

In 1912, the Rev. T. Clamp then being secretary, responding to a request for another message he wrote as follows:-

"My views on the subject of holiness as the supreme privilege of the Christian life have not weakened. But my enforced absence from Convention has rather tended to widen and clarify them. I have almost confined myself to the preaching service, to taking part in the Sunday evening prayer meeting and to Communion when health permits ..... I find that to sustain by sympathy and prayer the preacher in his work is an important part left to me as a Christian. "I am able to read largely. Of course, the Bible and literature which illustrates its pages stand first, taking care that even this in no way is allowed to supersede the cultivation of union with Jesus himself, who is nearer to us than breathing. If we are right at the centre, God speaks to us through the daily round, which makes us see His doings on the earth. "As we get older, we ought to relax our rigid adherence to books not distinctly religious. "To refer to yesterday's reading, my principal book was Fitchett's "Wesley and his century". Sometimes it is a writer like Begbie or Thackeray .......... "The great business is to be good and do good with all our powers, depending on the power of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus."

Mr. Clamp makes these comments. "Many will be glad for the message from Dr. Watson, now in his 80th year, and to know that while he never enters a pulpit for the purpose of preaching, yet he "is the youngest of three who help to sustain the Sunday evening prayer meeting." He adds, "so that our associates need not stand aside on account of age." "He has been a member of this Association since 1891."