What is a year?

'Tis but a turn

ISAAC SOURS, ESQ., CANADA.

THE following account of the benevolent, laborious, and pious Isaac Sours, Esq., appeared in the Galt Reporter (Canada West) and has been forwarded by the Rev. J. H. Robinson, for insertion in our Magazine. Most cheerfully do we give it a place in our pages, accompanied with our earnest prayers that God may raise up many to follow his devoted and worthy example.

Death's shafts fly thick' around us, and the young and the old alike become their victims.

Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither in the North wind's breath,

And stars to fade-but allThou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!

"Within a few hours of each other the town has been deprived by death of two of its oldest residents-men widely separated in their common walk, but the very foremost in the paths they had chosen. Whilst many, many, will shed bitter tears for the removal of the warmhearted and benevolent James Davidson, not a few will mourn for the untimely death of the powerful-minded and sturdy champion of morality and truth-the

man of unflagging energy in every good cause-Mr. Isaac Sours.

"Mr. Sours was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, from which country he emigrated about twenty-five years ago, when in the prime of life, and has resided in Galt during the last nineteen years. Mr. Sours in early life was a man of very great personal strength, and of active habits, which he employed in the eager business of life, and by diligence and economy he soon amassed considerable property. About fifteen years ago he first began to feel the necessity of a change in his heart, and, with his characteristic impetuosity, he made no loss of time in securing his calling and election. The change in his life was immediate. He at once saw the necessity of squaring the actions of his life by the example of his Saviour, and he became a Christian indeed, not only by the zealous discharge of all religious duties, both as a teacher in the pulpit, and as a follower of the Saviour in the walks of life, but also as an enterprizing tradesman-a man foremost in every moral revolution, and stingy neither of money nor exertion where any public good was to be done, or where the interests of the body of Christians to which he was attached, or the town

of his adoption, or the success of any man in whom he had confidence, were in any way involved. He knew the value of money from earning what he possessed by great exertion; he was therefore thrifty of it in all personal gratifications; but when the support of the gospel was concerned, or missionary exertions to be sustained, or a house of God to be erected, or a minister to be supported, or a suffering emigrant to be relieved and advised, Mr. Sours' purse was ever open-his counsel was ever at hand-his prayers and his support were alike freely given to the sufferer or to the good cause, for he deemed that all he had was merely his for a fleeting perioda loan from God, to be laid out for his glory and the benefit of his fellow-men; and in their cause he knew no stint, he suffered no apathy, he spurned at every obstacle; and now he has gone to render an account to that Almighty Master who has promised to receive his servants with the joyous welcome, 'Inasmuch as ye have given a cup of cold water to a little child, ye have given it unto me. Come, therefore, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.'

"For a long period the deceased had a belief that his frame, iron-built as it was, was dropsical, and various measures were taken by him at intervals to mitigate the danger and defer the fatal results of the fell disease. A very short time ago, the disease assumed a fatal appearance. His legs and body began to swell. Dr. Richardson attended him with great assiduity, and Dr. Hamilton was also consulted. They found him suffering under organic disease of the heart and liver, and they foresaw that the final issue must be fatal unless those diseases could be immediately conquered. Whatever attention and medical skill could do was done-but in vain; the fell tyrant had seized on his victim, and at length he sank peacefully, and in possession of all his faculties, into his last rest.

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During the whole of his illness, Mr. Sours was deeply impressed with the idea that he never would recover; yet, with the prospect of death at no great distance, and severe suffering ere he reached the fatal goal, his mind was as serene, as cheerful, as happy, as in the most prosperous period of his career. turned his deathbed constantly into a lesson to those who surrounded him, not only as to how a Christian could fearlessly face the last enemy, but as to the necessity of not leaving the preparation for death to a sick-bed, when the agonies

He

of the body triumphed over the powers of the mind. To his family, his manner was most affectionate and feeling, even to the last moment of his existence. When speech had ceased, and motion also within a moment or so of his departure-his suffering wife raised his hand, and desired him to press it if he was yet conscious of her presence. He gave it a gentle pressure, and ere it had ceased, his soul had departed, and was in the presence of its Creator!

"Thus died Isaac Sours, at the early age of fifty, in the bosom of his family, with the hand of his dear partner clasped in his own, at peace with all the world, and in perfect reliance on the merits of his Saviour. May it be the fate of our readers, each and all of them, when their time on earth is accomplished, that their last end be like his!

"A good man's purposes for the welfare of his fellow-creatures do not, however, conclude with his life. Mr. Sours himself has passed from the things of time, but even from the grave his care for religion is manifested. By his last will he has provided that the Stone Chapel he recently built at his own expense in this village shall be transferred as a free gift to the members of the Methodist New Connexion, together with the sum of £55 for its support. He has also devised by his will that three several properties, in this village and elsewhere, shall be sold, to the value of over 4000 dollars, and the proceeds divided between the Wesleyan Methodists, the Methodist New Connexion, and the Evangelical Association, all of Canada, in equal shares, to be devoted to missionary purposes. He has also willed one hundred dollars for building the new grammar-school in Galt; and for general benevolent purposes he has left the handsome sum of 1000 dollars.

"We can ill spare such men as Mr. Sours from among us. Their energy, example, and perseverance in worldly things; their fortitude in suffering, and triumph over pain, sorrow, and bereavement; their humility in wealth; their resistance of the allurements of the world; their care for the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of their fellow-men; and their devotion to the glory of their Creator-are characteristics which dignify and ennoble the human character, and render the influence of the possessor unbounded. Such influence Isaac Sours deservedly possessed; and no one who passes by his grave, and thinks of all the good done by him whose ashes are mingling with their parent dust underneath,

will fail to exclaim, 'Here lies all that is mortal of an honest man!"

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF WIDOW ENTWISTLE.

THIS pious woman died a few weeks ago in the town of Bolton. Excepting about four years before her death, her long life had been one of adversity. In childhood she was left an orphan, and though kind friends took charge of her for a time, she was obliged, at the age of twelve, to work hard to support herself. A small portion which had been left her was sorely diminished by a wicked hand. She married, and her husband, like herself, was pious and industrious; but times were bad, and for many years they carried on a hard and successful struggle against poverty. An accident occurred to her son, and he was shockingly torn and mangled on the shaft of a mill; but God spared him, and he became the affectionate stay of his mother in her old age.

Her husband died suddenly. One Sabbath he passed from a love-feast and a revival prayer-meeting to join the company of saints and seraphs in exalted Hallelujahs around the throne of God and the Lamb. But the widow was left with several children, and what could she do? God's way was in clouds and darkness she could not trace; but a voice within said "TRUST," and with deep emotion she devoted herself to the task of making her way through the world. She felt lonely; but He who beholds all the sorrows of his children said, "Be of good cheer," and often sent her unexpected help.

When I became acquainted with her the storms had subsided, and she was proceeding calmly along a pleasant path to the verge of heaven. It seemed, indeed, as though the first beams of its glorious light had dawned upon her, and in it she looked at the past and anticipated the future. In one of my interviews with her she related the following anecdote, which, for example and encouragement, is worthy of a permanent record.

"In the time of my deep adversity I commenced a day-school for small children, from whom I received a very small payment. One afternoon, when pensive and lonely, I was reading the Bible, when I met with these words, 'Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.' I thought I can trust in the Lord, and I believe I shall be fed; but what good can a poor widow do? I

closed the book in perplexity. On the following Sunday evening I observed, in the street where I was residing, a number of children breaking the Sabbath, and I thought, I will commence a Sabbath night-school, and gather these children into my house. In a few Sabbaths my forms were crowded. Some big girls would come, and so I thought, I will make a separate class for them, and endeavour to lead them to Jesus. One Saturday afternoon, when the cold, dark nights of winter were setting in, I had no coal, and only one halfpenny in my pocket. My poor children will come, I thought, to-morrow night, and I shall have no fire to keep them warm. Shall I go and ask sister C- to lend me a few pence; but how can I? for I have made it a rule not to run in debt; besides, if I borrow, how can I pay it back? I cannot borrow. Just as that dark night was setting in, a boy, one of my day-scholars, came across the street and said, 'Mother has sent the fourpence she owes you for me.' This, with the halfpenny I had, was just sufficient to buy the coal I wanted, and the children met once more round a cheerful fire."

The woman had never done so before, nor did she ever do it after. Was not this divine Providence?" I have reason to believe," continued she, "that some of those children are now converted to God." On the following Tuesday evening, while preaching in our school-room, I urged even the poorest of the people to try to do good. I then related this anecdote without the name of the person. At the close of the service a young woman, filled with strong emotion, made her way up the aisle, and inquired whether that was Mrs. E's school? "If so," said she, "I was one of the children!" E- -s was once a scholar; she is now a teacher in our school, and an excellent member of the Church. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall be seen after many days." Bristol.

J. WILSON.

RECENT DEATHS. REV. W. BURROWS (SHEFFIELD SOUTH

CIRCUIT).

WE cannot but believe that the purport of our communication from this Circuit will be regarded with deep emotion through the whole sphere of our Connexional operations.

It has pleased the great Head of the Church to call home from his vineyard our esteemed and devoted superintendent minister, the Rev. W. Burrows. On

Saturday evening, the 4th Dec., the hour of his release from a painful and protracted affliction arrived, and the Redeemer he had so faithfully served vouchsafed him a triumphant victory in the last of his conflicts. Anticipating the preparation of a memoir, we forbear farther comment on the occurrence, save to repeat that the fulness of hope was given to gild his latest hours, and inspire with joyousness his departing spirit. "His memory is blessed for ever."

Immediately after the departure of our dearly-beloved brother, many of the friends expressed a desire that some token of their deep sympathy should be presented to the bereaved widow and family. A leaders' meeting was held, and Messrs. Crooks, Peace, T. Firth, and Fenton were appointed to consider the suggestion. With the utmost promptitude, a subscription-list was headed, and a number of the friends were waited on.

The consequence was, that in two days £130 5s. was given, and paid over on the evening of the funeral, as the offering of Christian sympathy to smooth the future temporal course of those whom this dispensation has most deeply afflicted. The amount has since been increased, by the tender of various friends who had not been solicited to contribute, to the sum of £150.

We hesitate to indulge in farther remark on this interesting fact, knowing that to elicit commendation is far from consistent with the wish of those who carried out this sacrifice of love; but we must observe, that the effort was conducted with delicacy, and every appeal was responded to with cheerfulness.

And, now, shall we venture to close this pleasing record of Christian libe

rality with presenting it as worthy to be emulated on such mournful occasions? Is it not to be desired that the day may soon arrive when such exemplifications of Christian principle and practical sympathy shall be more familiar to us, and shall only be regarded as indicative of the prevalent spirit of our Churchesthe sincerity and self-sacrificing character of our charity?

EDWIN WRIGHT.

REV. W. HUGHES.

DIED, Nov. 21, at Euloe, in the Hawarden Circuit, the Rev. W. Hughes, aged 56. His end was peace. Mr. Hughes was appointed to this Circuit at the last Conference, and being in delicate health his labours were found too severe for him, especially on the week-nights; and in September last, having an appointment at a place five miles distant, he was exposed to heavy rains and imbibed a cold, which at once laid him aside from active labours and ended in death. He has left a widow and nine children to mourn his loss.

MR. A. SHAW.-Died at Tunstall, Nov. 19th, Mr. A Shaw, after a few years of severe suffering, from consumption. Sickness brought our departed brother to reflect-this turned all his sinful pleasures into wormwood and gall. After much agony of spirit he found rest in Christ. To the close of life his concern for the prosperity of the Church was most ardent. He was truly a miracle of grace. Full of pain, but also full of peace and joy, he would often say-"I am very poorly, but I don't complain; I know it is all for the best " His end was peace. "He fell asleep."

Tunstall.

EDITORIAL

THERE is something solemn and apparently admonitory in the fact that so many of our ministers have within a comparatively short period been either laid aside by affliction or removed by death. The ratio of health and life in our ministry does not appear to be equal to that of ministers in other communities, or to that in the religious public in general. Whether this fact falls in with common events when viewed through a more extended cycle, or whether there is

REMARKS.

G. W.

something peculiar in it, as a special occurrence by which Divine Provi dence intends to convey instruction or rebuke to our community, we are not competent to determine. The fact, however, is a solemn one, whatever may be its true interpretation, and our loss of esteemed friends and use ful ministers touches too tenderly our sympathies as men, and our interest as a Connexion, to be viewed without deep emotion and serious consideration. Since we closed the pages of