would be, "I would sooner wear out than rust out." A late eminent London physician made it his business more than once, to warn him seriously, that not even the strongest constitution could stand the excessive labours he was carrying on at St. Peter's, Regent Square. Well might this be said, for his day's work,-which was seldom intermitted till late at night, too frequently terminated in an agonizing attack of neuralgia. Indeed at one period, for ten years together, he scarcely knew one waking hour wholly free from pain. He has been known at St. Peter's, to send for a chemist to administer chloroform in the vestry, while his curates were reading prayers, and then go up and preach to 2000 hearers, without evincing by the faintest sign, that he had been but just before rolling in agony. When he resigned St. Peter's, his very able successor was asked by the churchwardens, if he would carry on such and such parochial plans? His reply was, "No! no man living could continue to work as Mr. Rogers has done"; wisely adding-"and I shall not attempt it." During the happy years,-over full though they were with work, which we spent at Regent Squar, I cannot recall a single proposal he made that was not warmly seconded,-nor a single effort put forth, that was not effectually aided, -by his attached and grateful people. His "Regent-square Church Association," under his own presidency,-with Sir Frederick Pollock as patron, and one of his invaluable churchwardens as treasurer, he called his privy council; and very great was the assistance thus afforded him. The large preponderance of men in all his congregations, was a frequent subject of remark; and lawyers, barristers, and other professional, and business men, cheerfully gave up an evening whenever summoned, to aid him with their counsel and advice. In 1854 when the cholera broke out in London, Mr. Rogers formed a sub-committee, to visit (with assumed powers) in every house, alley, and den of his large parish. Each meeting-as indeed were all his meetings -was begun, and carried on in prayer; and so effectual proved the measures taken, that though the cholera raged around, not a single case occurred amongst his prayer-guarded people; and when the scourge had passed, he received the thanks of the Home Secretary, and of several public bodies. Each week he met his curates, and his four lay agents; and by comparing their work with his own, made himself thoroughly acquainted with the needs of the parish. Canon Dale-no mean judge always called Mr. Rogers', a model parish." 66 Here, as elsewhere, he won the hearts of his people. One of the large, and devotedly attached staff of labourers, which he gathered around him for every branch of work, during the seven years he was at Regent Square, writes, "How many friends are passed away,"-expressing the feeling shared by all survivors, in adding, "and now he— one of the dearest." But his health had compelled him to live at a distance of two miles from his church, for the last three years, and as this added to his labour, he felt it wise to accept St. Luke's, West Holloway, when offered to him, bitter as were the grief, and upbraidings of his people at his severing their happy connexion. And to this new sphere he transferred his labours for another twelve years. |