Soldiers Frienfl 
 
 T" THE REV. SAMUEL WESLEY 
 
 HER FATHER 
 
UCSB LIBRARY 
 
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MEMOEIALS 
 
 OP 
 
 ELIZABETH ANN WESLEY, 
 
 THE SOLDIERS' FRIEND, 
 
 BY HER FATHTSE, THE 
 
 REV. SAMUEL WESLEY 
 
 EDITED WITH A PBEPACE BY 
 
 GEORGE JOHN STEVENSON, M.A., 
 
 Author of 'Memorials of the Wesley FamUyi ; ' The Methodist 
 Hymn Book Illustrated,' and other works. 
 
 ' I Mil twfon gib* p attg matt, so long as Cljrisi boss 
 not gibe Ijiw up.' E. A. WESLEY. 
 
 T. WOOLMER, 2, CASTLE STREET, CITY ROAD, B.C. ; 
 
 AND 66, PATEBNOSTEB BOW, B.C. 
 
 1887. 
 
HAYMAN BROTHERS AND LILLY, 
 
 PRINTERS, 
 
 HATTON HOUSE, 113, FAURINODON ROAD, 
 LONDON, E.G. 
 
TO 
 
 MAJOR W. THOMSON, 
 
 7TH REGIMENTAL DISTRICT, HOUNSLOW GARRISON, 
 
 IN SINCERE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OP HIS DEEP INTEREST 
 IN THE CHRISTIAN TOIL OF 
 
 MISS WESLEY, 
 
 AND ESPECIALLY OF HIS PRACTICAL SYMPATHY WITH HER 
 IN HER ARDUOUS LABOURS AMONG BRITISH SOLDIERS, 
 
 BY HIS FRIEND AND LATE CHAPLAIN, 
 
 SAMUEL WESLEY. 
 
Wesley family is a very old one, one of the 
 -*- oldest in England, and has been traced in an 
 unbroken succession back into the times of the Saxons, 
 and more than a century before the Norman Conquest. 
 The first name on the family roll is that of Guy, who 
 was made a thane (a member of the Saxon parliament) 
 by King Athelstan (925-40) about the year A.D. 938, 
 and who married Phenan, his kinswoman, the daughter 
 of an old chieftain. He lived at Welswe, near 
 Wells, Somerset. There the family settled, and lived 
 on their own domain for centuries, passing through 
 changes consequent on the wars of various sovereigns, 
 bat ultimately holding their own homestead, right on to 
 near the end of the xvmth century. The twenty- second 
 occupier of the family estate, in direct succession, was 
 named George Arthur Wesley ; who was for some years 
 in the army, and squandered much of his property ; so 
 much, indeed, that ultimately about a century ago, 
 1785, the remainder of the estate was sold, and the old 
 family mansion pulled down. The title deeds of the 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 estate have recently been discovered in the archives of 
 Wells Cathedral ; by their aid, the position of the 
 mansion has been found ; and with the aid of the 
 spade, the original foundations have been laid bare. 
 This has come to light since the publication in 1876 of 
 ' Memorials of the Wesley Family.' The said George 
 Arthur Wesley was twice married; first to the daugh- 
 ter of G. A. Pelham, Esq. ; they had one son who died 
 without issue ; second, he married a lady said to have 
 been his kinswoman, but owing to the confusion of 
 the family affairs, and the sale of the property, her 
 name has not been preserved. She left a son and a 
 daughter ; the son, Francis, was the heir; the daughter, 
 Mary, died unmarried. Francis was born in 1767, and 
 married Elizabeth Bamfield. He died in 1854, aged 
 87 years. His son was Alfred Wesley, born 1804 ; he 
 married Ann Lilley ; they had six sons, most of whom 
 are still living. This Alfred was the twenty-fourth in 
 direct descent from Guy of the Saxon times. Amongst 
 the twenty- four, many were distinguished as courtiers, 
 warriors, statesmen, priests, men of chivalry, authors, 
 musicians, and poets. One of them was standard- 
 bearer to Henry II, during his wars in Ireland, A.D. 
 1172. Another was a pilgrim in the age of the Crusades, 
 and died fighting the Saracens in defence of the Holy 
 Sepulchre and the city of Jerusalem. For his services, 
 the Knights Templars conferred on the family the 
 right to use the escalop shell in their family arms, 
 which is used by them to this day. 
 
PEE FA CK vii 
 
 The nineteenth. Wesley in succession was named Sir 
 Herbert Wesley. This Herbert was the only son of his 
 parents, and was contemporary with Queen Elizabeth. 
 He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Robert Wesley, 
 of Dangan Castle, County Meath, Ireland : the Irish 
 branch was that from which the Duke of Wellington 
 descended. Three children were given to Sir Herbert 
 and Elizabeth Wesley, whose names were, William, the 
 heir ; Harphame, who died unmarried ; and Bartholo- 
 mew, who was ordained a priest (born about 1696), 
 and became the head of that branch known as the 
 Wesleys of Epworth. This Bartholomew was the 
 most remote name in the family of which the founders 
 of Methodism had any knowledge. When it is remem- 
 bered how severe, and long, and terrible were the trials 
 of the seventeenth century, and how many families 
 were broken up by them, it is no wonder that the 
 Wesleys, who had their full share of hardships and 
 privations, should have neglected genealogical studies ; 
 so they knew little of their ancestors, excepting of 
 those living. Bartholomew had only one son, whom 
 he named John : he studied theology and medicine at 
 Oxford, and took his M.A. degree at New Inn Hall. 
 He entered the ministry, and served several parishes 
 and congregations, both of the Church and Indepen- 
 dents. He was one of the preachers accepted by Oliver 
 Cromwell's Triers ; so he was at one time Episcopal, 
 at another time Nonconformist ; and he was one of the 
 2,000 clergymen expelled from Church and home in 
 
via PREFACE. 
 
 XNXVXN^^^^XN^^XV^V^%^%^^*^^X**XVXNXN^XXV^VX^XNXN^^XVXNX^/ 
 
 1662. Within three months of his expulsion, and when 
 his wife formerly a Miss White and he, with their 
 children, were depending on the kindness and bounty of 
 friends for food and shelter, their son Samuel Wesley 
 was born, and was baptized in December, 1662. This 
 John Wesley, A.M., is said by Dr. Calamy to have had 
 a numerous family, yet Dr. A. Clarke could only find 
 the names of two, Samuel and Matthew : but inquiries 
 made by the writer have recovered the names of two 
 others ; namely, Timothy, and Elizabeth, the latter 
 married to Mr. Dyer. More recently the name of 
 George has been found, who is believed to have been 
 sent to America, as a schoolmaster, when America was 
 an English colony. One of the sons of John Wesley, 
 A.M. (name unknown), is thought to have settled in or 
 near Coventry, where his widowed mother, poor and 
 friendless, went to reside about 1714. From him 
 descended the grandfather of the Rev. Samuel Wesley, 
 Wesleyan minister, the author of these ' Memorials,' 
 and the great-grandfather of the Elizabeth Ann 
 Wesley, the subject of the following pages. The 
 family possesses so many of the natural characteristics 
 of the Epworth Wesleys, as well as the facial type, 
 that there need be no doubt of their direct lineal 
 descent, although one link in the chain is for the 
 present broken. 
 
 G. J. STEVENSON. 
 
Contents. 
 
 * 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 RUGBY CIRENCESTER ..... 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 WE STON- SUPER-MARE AMPTHILL SLEAFOED HOEN- 
 
 CASTLE 7 
 
 CHAPTER III, 
 
 EASTINGTON SWINDON , . . . . .27 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 GRAVESEND >1 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 POOLE ......... 86 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TEIGNMOUTH, DEVONSHIRE 99 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WINCHESTER 110 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HOUNSLOW, MIDDLESEX ...... 156 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE WINCHESTER MISSION 192 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 HOUNSLOW CLOSING SCENES 215 
 
fIDemorials 
 
 OF 
 
 MISS WESLEY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 RUGBY CIKENCESTER. 
 
 T71 LIZABETH ANN WESLEY was born at Rugby, 
 -I 1 Warwickshire, April 2nd, 1852, and was the 
 daughter of Samuel Wesley and Ann his wife. Her father 
 was then the Wesleyan Minister of that town, having 
 entered the ministerial ranks in 1839 ; and was, when 
 these pages were written, Chaplain to the Wesleyan 
 troops of the Hounslow Garrison. Ann, a daughter who 
 died in infancy, and the subject of these Memorials, were 
 the whole of their family. 
 
 ' Lizzie ' was very beautiful in infancy, greatly 
 admired and loved, and escaped the usual forms of 
 infantile disease. As she passed into childhood she 
 became more charming and attractive. Her temper 
 was very sweet, though she was extremely sensitive ; 
 she was hardly ever heard to cry ; was very gentle, 
 yet full of vivacity and fun ; and you could hardly 
 listen to her ringing silvery laugh without joining in 
 it. She early learned to walk and talk, and her 
 parents remember when, she took her first step, and 
 
 B 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^XX^XXXVXXXXXX/XXXXN 1 XXXXXVX^X>_ 
 
 with what a sparkling eye she looked at her father 
 and with a merry pathos uttered her first word 
 ' Papa ' ! Those who met her for the first time, as 
 they glanced at her fair complexion, her open, sunny 
 countenance, her rich, auburn hair, her bright, hazel 
 eyes softened by expressive eye-brows, often exclaimed, 
 ' What a lovely little girl ! ' She was passionately fond 
 of dumb creatures, and they yielded to her kindly 
 sway ; for she might often be seen taking a stroll with 
 a pet hen walking by her side, or carrying her, if she 
 thought her tired ; and sometimes a huge Newfound- 
 land dog would leave his owner at her call, and very 
 much to the gratification of his master would pay her 
 the most marked attention and obedience. She was 
 one day looking with intense interest on her precious 
 fowl, and said to her father : ' Do you think if Jesus 
 were here now He would say, " Suffer little chucky to 
 come unto Me " ? ' Our child, with her pets, was a great 
 favourite with the Rugbeans ; and when, at the end of 
 three years, she left Rugby with her parents, it was 
 with no small regret, and amid a shower of good 
 wishes and kind words, that they bade their bright 
 little friend ' Good-bye.' 
 
 Cirencester was the next place of her residence, to 
 which town her parents removed in September, 1854, 
 residing at Stratton. She showed no startling mental 
 precocity, but she began to acquire knowledge with 
 great ease. No sooner had she learnt the alphabet, 
 on a principle which connected each letter with God's 
 word, than the power to read came to her. Much of 
 her time was spent in the study, and her father, sur- 
 prised one day to find her reading, asked how she had 
 so soon become able to do so. The reply was, ' I 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 M *-XX>^'V>VX>^'XXX^ > V>'VX 1 VXXXXXXy'" 
 
 hardly know, papa ; but take these little books, and I 
 will tell you all that is in them,' which she imme- 
 diately did. She was then three years and a half ol 
 She became intensely fond of books, and her first beau 
 tiful little works, which were presented by Miss Ball, 
 and exerted a great influence on her taste and character, 
 were preserved with great care. Her life-long friend- 
 ship with this accomplished and useful lady was very 
 advantageous. It was here, in close proximity to Earl 
 Bathurst's park, that her love of nature, which grew 
 so intense, had its dawn ; and her passion for wild 
 flowers was so ardent that in the glee of gathering 
 them, time and toil were forgotten, and her morning's 
 walk with her papa was often prolonged. 
 
 The elements of character are in existence very 
 early, and their development commences much sooner 
 than is generally supposed. We had a valuable young 
 domestic who, in our service, was gradually drawn and 
 led to the Saviour, and, loving Lizzie, who exerted a 
 good and powerful influence upon her. Her views of 
 the way of salvation were clear and Scriptural, and she 
 gladly imparted them to her young charge, read to her, 
 and gave her useful books. The late Mrs. Richard 
 Mullings, daughter of a clergyman, was a painstaking 
 teacher in the Wesleyan Sunday-school ; our servant 
 was in her class, and it was a joy to her often to get 
 her loved one to accompany her and have the benefit of 
 her teacher's careful instruction. This lady called one 
 day as her father was leaving home for his Sabbath 
 duties at Stroud, and was the delighted witness of a 
 charming incident which proved that Lizzie was a 
 praying child. Her father was giving her his parting 
 kiss, when suddenly she said, ' Stop a minute, papa, 
 
 B2 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^Xrf^XXX/V^XXXXXXXXN-^XXXXXXXXVXX 
 
 only a minute ! ' and at onne ran upstairs in great 
 haste. As she heard the reply, ' I fear I shall lose the 
 train,' she soon reached the landing and entered her 
 room, again exclaiming, ' Only a minute ! ' Then, coming 
 down so quickly that we feared she would fall, she 
 said with a beaming face, ' You can go now, papa, good- 
 bye ! ' When her father had left, the lady said, 
 ' Lizzie, may I ask why you ran upstairs so hastily ? ' 
 She replied, ' I never let my papa leave without praying 
 for him.' Again she inquired, 'And would you tell me 
 the prayer you offered up ? ' ' Yes,' she replied, ' " God 
 bless my father, make him a very good man, and 
 bring him back safe, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." 
 Here was all the simplicity and brevity of a child's 
 prayer, and she confidently expected the answer. 
 
 Her father's wide field of toil was at that time 
 blessed with an extraordinary religious awakening, in 
 which other ministers heartily co-operated, and which 
 led to the conversion of hundreds of young people. 
 This visitation was more remarkable as it was granted 
 at a time when there was a general dearth of revival in- 
 fluence. In that religious movement a simple couplet 
 became very popular, and in the act of singing it many 
 received the salvation they were so earnestly seeking. 
 The lines have since become well known : 
 
 1 1 can, I will, I do believe 
 That Jesus died for me." 
 
 Even then little Lizzie found in these revival 
 scenes a congenial element, and her voice was often 
 heard, as in after years, singing in childlike sincerity 
 and fervour, ' Jesus died for me ; ' and the strain could 
 not fail to reach the Saviour's ear. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 Through, life she cherished and practically mani- 
 fested a rare regard and concern for old people ; and, 
 in many an instance, her care for the aged greatly 
 increased their comfort, and tended to brighten the 
 evening of life and to divest death of its glo, m A 
 respectable bat poor old man lived in a cottage a few 
 hundred yards from her home, and they soon became 
 friends. She saw that the snows of age had fallen upon 
 him, that disease was surely doing its work, and that 
 no heaven-lighted rapture was in his eye ; her tender 
 heart melted for him, and flowed out in every possible 
 expression of kindness. Frequently would the failing 
 man of fourscore years take his seat on the stone 
 wall at the end of the garden, and listen to Lizzie's 
 sweet voice as she read to him her entertaining little 
 books, and talked to him through the iron palisade 
 about Jesus and heaven. We were careful not to appear 
 on the scene, but unavoidably passing at the time of one 
 of their morning interviews, the dear old man said to 
 me, ' I like to talk with little missie, Sir, she is so kind 
 and engaging, and does me so much good ; I don't feel 
 like the same after I've seen her.' But the last inter- 
 view came the aged man died and, as the rustic 
 funeral passed our house, his little faithful friend was 
 inconsolable, and declined to look on the mournful scene. 
 Though then only four years of age, she never lost the 
 recollection of the old man and all the circumstances, 
 and felt an unselfish pleasure in the reflection of having 
 administered to his comfort, peace, and safety at the 
 close of an industrious life. It was the beginning of 
 a work in which she ever after delighted. 
 
 While we were moving in the quiet rural scenes of the 
 Cotswold Hills, our soldiers were encountering the perils 
 
6 MEMORIALS OF MISS WESLEY. 
 
 of the Crimean campaign, the early part of which was 
 fought amid the rigours of the winter of 1855-56. 
 The tidings from the seat of war greatly affected our 
 thoughtful child, blended as they often were with our 
 family prayers for England's Queen and her brave 
 troops. She read all the lives of military and naval 
 men which she found in her father's library, and these 
 were made interesting to her by pictorial illustrations. 
 Her sensitive spirit was deeply impressed at that time 
 by witnessing a review and sham fight in Cirencester 
 Park, which gave her some idea of real war. The 
 knowledge thus obtained had only to wait till she had 
 the opportunity to use it. We little thought then 
 that she would spend a large portion of her life and 
 shorten her days in self-forgetful toils among soldiers, 
 their wives, and children. Jesus Christ Himself has 
 given His own significance to a child's life, and charm 
 to the story of it, by the command which retains all 
 its authority : ' Suffer little children to come unto 
 Me, and forbid them not ; ' and also by the reason 
 assigned for obedience, in the memorable words which 
 have lost none of their sweetness : ' For of such is the 
 kingdom of God.' The Holy Spirit is not less tender 
 and benevolent than the Saviour ; His mission is 
 especially to the young ; and we may confidently 
 rely on His power, and hope for success in all our 
 efforts to lead the lambs to the Good Shepherd. 
 
 ' Parental toil the soil prepares, 
 
 And good seed early sown 
 Shall wave in wheat, and not in tares, 
 The Spirit's work to own.' 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 WESTON-SUPER-MARE AMPTHILL SLEAFORD HORNCASTLE. 
 
 ON" August 27th, 1857, we left the old Roman 
 town of Cirencester, and took up our abode in 
 Weston- super-Mare. A valedictory service had been 
 held, our three years' toil and their blessed results 
 had been pleasingly acknowledged, and several of our 
 beloved friends accompanied us to our new station. 
 
 Lizzie was now five and a half years old, and, having 
 been accustomed to inland scenery, she anticipated her 
 sea-side residence with high expectations. The short 
 journey, however, was attended by a sad loss and dis- 
 appointment, for her pet canary darted out of the 
 cage while she was in the very act of praising it, and 
 she saw it no more. This incident, which saddened hei 
 journey, gave her a topic in after years, when address- 
 ing her children's and women's classes on early sorrows 
 and the frailty and uncertainty of childish hopes. 
 
 This charming town abounded in schools, to one 
 of which she was welcomed: but her progress in 
 learning was retarded by a severe attack of scarlet 
 fever. She accompanied her parents to spend an 
 evening with an esteemed minister who was seeking 
 change and rest after having lost three of his children 
 from this malady, and, having brightened him by her 
 sunny presence, the next morning she fell ill of the 
 fever. She passed bravely without a murmur through 
 the severe trial, and displayed a cheerfulness and 
 
8 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 endurance which were extraordinary in one so young. 
 When the fever was at its height, and fears were enter- 
 tained as to the issue, the little sufferer bravely said : 
 ' Don't be afraid, mother, I shall get over this.' A deep 
 shadow fell upon her by the death of a dearly-loved 
 aunt, Mrs. Ekins, of Raunds. After years of declining 
 health this estimable lady passed away from a happy 
 home, with perfect resignation in her heart, and the 
 name of ' Jesus ' on her lips. Then the servant who 
 was so devoted to Lizzie lost her health, and added 
 another to the many victims of consumption ; but 
 the end of this excellent girl was so calm and triumph- 
 ant, that it produced a deep impression in favour of 
 religion on the mind of our affectionate child, and she 
 ever cherished a loving memory of her. Our daughter 
 rallied, resumed her school duties, and pursued her 
 studies with success, receiving rewards for diligence 
 and good conduct. Her first letter was then written 
 home, and was received with delight. What import- 
 ance attached to that first letter ! It was the germ of 
 that correspondence which afterwards became such a 
 power for good and was felt in almost every part of the 
 world. 
 
 Divine Providence next fixed our home at Ampthill, 
 in Bedfordshire, and there our daughter began the study 
 of music. It was a science in which the Wesleys excelled 
 and acquired a wide and lasting fame ; nature had 
 favoured Lizzie with a delicately attuned ear, with an 
 expressive touch, a voice of great sweetness, and a 
 musical soul. 
 
 Two events in our sojourn at that place are note- 
 worthy. The first was the illness of one of her school- 
 fellows which, being sanctified, led her as a penitent 
 
MISS WESLEY. 9 
 
 to Christ, and resulted in a triumphant death. The 
 tender sympathy of Lizzie with this girl, the visits she 
 paid her in her affliction, and the fact that she made 
 her case the first record in her diary, will make the 
 entry acceptable to the reader : ' When illness came 
 to Elizabeth Ann Sharpe, she felt her need of Christ, 
 and repented that she had not sooner sought His for- 
 giveness. She could never, as she said, run into those 
 lengths of sin which some children did, but she knew 
 that would not save her now. She had been a scholar 
 in the Sunday-school for some time, and at first not 
 one of the best, "but our teacher," she said, "won me 
 by love." She was deeply convinced of sin under two 
 sermons which she named, but that wore away in time. 
 Her favourite chapter daring her illness was St. John's 
 Gospel xv. When her friends were standing around 
 her, expecting every breath to be her last, she requested 
 her teacher to sing the hymn, " Thy will be done," and, 
 seeing how they were affected, she said : " I will sing 
 it ; " and she sung it through with great ardour.' 
 Shortly after she passed away, to sing the same song 
 upon a happier shore. Lizzie often visited her grave, 
 placed fresh flowers upon it, and in after years made 
 the anniversary of her death a day of serious reflection 
 and self-improvement. 
 
 Another event of our Ampthill residence which 
 impressed Lizzie, and inspired her with hope in her 
 active work in after years, was a striking answer to 
 prayer. These were the facts. A nephew of ours, 
 in his nineteenth year, was in the last stage of consump- 
 tion, and apparently without concern as to his future 
 safety. His case was placed before our weekly prayer- 
 meeting ; about fifteen people were gathered in a small 
 
10 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 -o*X>- 1 Nj''Nj*X>-V-XV>.'> l >'x^-V>X^-^^ 
 
 room. There were men there who, though poor, had 
 power with God. One or two of them were so mighty 
 in prayer as to remind us of a military comparison 
 which the celebrated John Foster once applied to the 
 prayer of a God-honoured Methodist preacher : ' An 
 artillery on heaven.' An impressive hymn having been 
 sung, the following few sentences were addressed to 
 the praying few : ' My dear friends, my mind is deeply 
 impressed with the importance attaching itself to this 
 meeting for prayer. We should always feel when we 
 gather together that the salvation of souls may depend 
 on our prayers. But the salvation of one soul in par- 
 ticular may depend on this meeting. A relation of 
 mine, a young man, is dangerously ill ; he is not saved, 
 and we fear not so anxious as he should be as to his 
 state and danger. His mother's dying advice to him 
 was : " Get religion young, and that will fit you for 
 everything." And that anxious mother's last request 
 to me was : " Do all you can for the good of my child- 
 ren." Standing in this relation to him, you may be 
 sure I feel deeply concerned for him, and let us now 
 pray for him as if our prayers had to be the means of 
 effecting his salvation. And may God help us ! ' An 
 influence from God pervaded the meeting. The deep 
 conviction of all was that it must be prayer, that night, 
 the answer to which would not admit of delay, and 
 they pleaded in an agony of soul which would take 
 no denial. The result was prayer prevailed. The 
 answer was immediate. The afflicted one knew nothing 
 of the meeting ; he was five-and-twenty miles away ; 
 but before the first prayer had ended he became as 
 thoughtful and serious as though he had listened to 
 every word of it. Four attending relatives, who are 
 
MISS WESLEY. 11 
 
 still living, were struck with his changed aspect, and 
 after a brief pause he said : 'I feel a strange influence 
 coming over me that I cannot account for.' We prayed 
 on, and the influence still reached him. To the sur- 
 prise of his attendants he exclaimed : ' I feel that some 
 good people are praying for me ! ' Another pause 
 ensued, during which supplication was continued at 
 Ampthill, and as hope lighted up the agonised coun- 
 tenance of the sufferer he said with deep feeling, ' I 
 believe I shall get saved after all.' Before the prayer- 
 meeting closed, our nephew was heart-broken on 
 account of his sins, and Mrs. Wesley, his aunt, was 
 pointing him to Christ. When the glad news of this 
 change reached us we thankfully recognised the fulfil- 
 ment of the promise, ' It shall come to pass, that before 
 they call I will answer ; and while they are yet speak- 
 ing I will hear.' (Isaiah Ixv. 24.) The prayer of the 
 true penitent cannot be denied. Pardon was no sooner 
 sought by the contrite one than it was given, and it 
 shed its own peace into his heart. The closing days of 
 his life were weariness and pain ; but all was borne 
 with unmurmuring patience and resignation to the will 
 of God. He retained his simple trust in Christ, and 
 died feeling all the calm resulting from a conscious- 
 ness of safety. His last words were : 
 
 ' Me for Thine own Thou lov'st to take, 
 
 In time and in eternity ; 
 Thou never, never wilt forsake 
 A helpless worm that trusts in Thee.' 
 
 These words were nearly the last which fell from 
 the lips of Elizabeth Ann Wesley. 
 
 Our next appointment was to Sleaford, in Lincoln- 
 
12 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 shire. My first Sabbath in that town, September 20th, 
 1863, was made memorable by one of its incidents, 
 which gave a colour to our subsequent life, and a decided 
 character to a large portion of it. On that Sunday, 
 Richard Wharton Myddleton, Esq., and his noble lady, 
 drove in their carriage from Leasingham Hall, to wor- 
 ship with us. This unexpected occurrence created 
 general surprise ; but it was their own voluntary act, 
 and the result of previous thought. From that day 
 they became attendants on our ministry from decided 
 preference, expressed themselves greatly benefited by 
 it, made our elegant sanctuary their place of worship 
 to the end of their lives, and often stated, that they 
 never regretted the step they had taken. Mrs. Myddle- 
 ton was the daughter of Colonel Watson, of the 69th 
 Regiment, and Captain Myddleton was in early life an 
 officer in her father's regiment ; they were both in the 
 stirring and sanguinary scenes of the great revolution- 
 ary war on the continent, and after the terrible battle 
 and decisive victory of Waterloo which closed the 
 campaign, they were united in marriage. The Captain 
 resigned his commission after spending many years on 
 foreign service, and they retired to enjoy the evening 
 of life in the tranquillity of the beautiful hall of which 
 Mrs. Myddleton was heiress. This heroic lady cherished 
 to the last a deep and practical interest in the welfare 
 of the army, and it was under her genial auspices that 
 her young friend, Miss Wesley, began her work among 
 the soldiers. She cheered her to enthusiasm in her 
 arduous toil, and her generous husband aided so liber- 
 ally in meeting its expense, that it could not have been 
 prosecuted on such a scale without his aid. Mrs. 
 Myddleton died September 1st, 1878, beloved and 
 
MISS WESLEY. 13 
 
 lamented by all classes, especially by the poor, to whom 
 she was a kind, sympathetic, and liberal friend. Mr. 
 Myddleton survived his wife seven years, and suddenly 
 expired October 7th, 1885, in the ninety-second year of 
 his age. His correspondence was a great pleasure to 
 me for twenty-two years. He lived to receive the 
 announcement of the sad event which has called forth 
 these Memorials, and closed that work the performance 
 and success of which had -yielded him and his benefi- 
 cent wife so much pleasure. His reply, written so 
 near his end, will interest the reader. 
 
 'LEASING HAM HALL, August 4th, 1885. 
 ' DEAR SIR, 
 
 ' It is with great sorrow that I now read your letter announc- 
 ing the death of Miss Wesley. My dear departed wife loved her 
 much, and Mr. Wesley was the first Methodist Minister I ever 
 heard. The mention of that name recalls many sad reminiscences. 
 Pray offer my most sincere sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Wesley, 
 and believe me, I 
 
 ' Yours sincerely, 
 
 *RD. WHARTON MYDDLETON. 
 ' The Rev. Samuel F. Collier.' 
 
 It will not be regarded as a digression to have 
 recorded the occurrence which so unexpectedly con- 
 nected itself with our first public service in Sleaford, 
 especially as God in His wise prescience made the 
 circumstance important by linking it with a chain 
 of events in the brief life of our daughter. 
 
 At Sleaford Lizzie passed through a year of success- 
 ful tuition in a ladies' seminary near to us, occupying 
 much of her leisure time by visiting the poor, sick, and 
 aged. Her reading was at this time misdirected, and, 
 without our knowledge, much time was wasted in the 
 
14 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 **,r^S-**S-*^^S^r^S^S~-~r^r**S^^~**S^^ 
 
 perusal of books which, were worse than useless. This 
 was deeply regretted by her afterwards, and she often 
 cautioned her young friends that they might escape 
 the same artfully set snare. An educated and pious 
 lady, in whose class she met on Sunday afternoon, led 
 her to aspire after something higher and nobler than 
 could be found in works of fiction. She keenly felt 
 the powerful sermons she was accustomed to hear, and 
 after listening to a faithful sermon preached at Rusk- 
 ington by the Rev. Alexander M'Aulay, she became 
 inconsolably distressed. At that time, one of the 
 ladies under whose instruction she was placed was 
 called into the eternal world ; and a young lady with 
 whom she corresponded at Ampthill was committed to 
 an early tomb, leaving her last words to address her 
 powerfully from her grave : ' Meet me in heaven ! ' 
 An acquaintance living near us bears testimony to the 
 depth of her conviction at that time in a recently 
 received letter : ' Scenes of long ago are ever before my 
 mind's eye. I shall ever remember one night I stayed 
 with her in the old house at Sleaford ; it was before her 
 conversion, and we both were so troubled in soul. Can 
 I ever forget those times ? ' A separation now took 
 place between these two girl friends, Annie going to 
 school at Newark, and Lizzie to become a pupil in a 
 school at Bourne. Lizzie had not spent more than a 
 month in her new abode before a revival of religion 
 broke out among the scholars, in which nearly all the 
 pupils became converted to God. With all my daugh- 
 ter's early training, religious knowledge, and amiable 
 qualities, she deeply felt her need of that great change 
 which the Holy Spirit only can effect, and which is the 
 true basis of character. She was one of the last of the 
 
MISS WESLEY. 15 
 
 girls to experience that desired change. In a letter 
 which she wrote home at that time she says : ' We had 
 such a night on February 1st ; all the boarders are 
 saved but me poor me; but I cannot get saved. I 
 think I cannot be in earnest, and I feel to have no faith. 
 I have tried so often, and cannot get saved. They all 
 are so happy ; and our teachers are overjoyed. O, 
 mama, all saved but me.' Her advanced knowledge 
 seemed to cause delay. Anxious that her repentance 
 should be thorough, she wrote home with childlike 
 simplicity and ingenuousness, acknowledging all her 
 little faults, and urging us to write soon and assure her 
 of our forgiveness, as if she felt that to be indispensable. 
 The simplicity of faith, and the connection between an 
 act so simple and a blessing so great and precious as 
 salvation, staggered her. The blessing for which she 
 had so expectantly waited at last came, with all its 
 assurance and joy. The following is the letter which 
 brought the glad news : 
 
 ' BOURNE, March 3rd, 1866. 
 ' MY DEAREST PARENTS, 
 
 ' I have so much to tell. I feel so happy in God's love. I will 
 try and tell you all about it. On Sunday evening Mr. Shaw 
 preached a beautiful sermon from the word " Tekel " (Daniel 
 v. 27), and while we were singing the last verse of the ninety- 
 third hymn (Wesley's), I felt Jesus had pardoned my sins ; but 
 directly Satan tempted me not to say anything about it, and I 
 
 yielded until Thursday, when I told Miss H , and then I felt 
 
 so happy : all the clouds and darkness went away, and they have 
 not returned. I never thought it was so easy to believe on Jesus 
 but I find that it is easy. Many times Annie and I have tried, 
 but we were looking to ourselves, not to Jesus. It is a year on 
 Monday since dear Mary Jane died. She wished me to meet her 
 in heaven, and I will, if God will help me. I think those nasty 
 tales had filled my head with such nonsense that I could not think 
 
16 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 of anything good, but I will never read another. Dear mother, 1 
 wish you could see us all so happy, I among them now. Will it 
 not be nice to meet at Easter ? Dearest father, pray that I may 
 always feel God's love in my heart. I never felt so happy before 
 The last Bible-class I attended at home Miss Cargill asked us to 
 tell her when we felt God loved us if it was not worth having. I 
 can tell her now that indeed it is. I wish Annie could feel happy. 
 I must write and tell her just how I feel. I have just received 
 your nice letter, and I feel that I can say, " I love Him, because 
 He first loved me." Tell Eliza to try and have faith in Jesus 
 
 Tell Mrs. G how happy we all are together. It was a good 
 
 thing I came to Bourne. I often used to feel very much at home 
 when Mr. Moulton was preaching, but my impressions passed 
 away. I am very much obliged for all your kindness to me in 
 sending me those nice things. How kind God is to give me such 
 a kind father and mother. Dearest papa and mama, with much 
 love I am your loving child, 
 
 'E. A. WESLEY. 
 
 ' Pray that I may be kept.' 
 
 This artless, affectionate, and charming letter is 
 evidence of the newly-found pardon and joy which filled 
 to overflowing the writer's heart, and is in striking con- 
 trast with her last sad epistle home ; whilst the yearn- 
 ing desire for the salvation of others is so evidently the 
 immediate outgrowth of her own conversion as to give 
 promise of all the loving toil which followed, to make 
 so many others as happy as herself. In connection 
 with the date of Sunday, February 25th, 1866, the 
 record she has given in her diary of this the most 
 important event of her life is expressive of the fullest 
 and most blessed assurance, and never after did she 
 doubt the reality of the change she had experienced. 
 After stating the fact that she felt saved by grace, and 
 for the first time that Jesus loved HER, and that she 
 loved HIM, she writes : 
 
MISS WESLEY. 17 
 
 ' happy day that fixed my choice 
 On Thee, my Saviour and my God I * 
 
 and adds the prayer : ' ! that I may be kept faithful,' 
 duly signing a record so sacred, ' E. A. Wesley.' 
 
 It appears that though her faithful governess was not 
 informed by her ardent pupil at once, and in so many 
 plain words, that she had realised a sense of sin forgiven, 
 she felt sure at the time that such was the fact ; for she 
 writes : ' Never shall I forget the radiant look in her 
 face when peace broke in upon her soul. In her own 
 impulsive way she threw her arms round my neck and 
 kissed me. Many wept to see such loving simplicity.' 
 It is pleasing to know that Lizzie lost no time, but 
 began her life-work for the salvation of others on the 
 very night of her own conversion. She went straight 
 from the Cross, with the love of the Saviour glowing in 
 her heart, to the field of toil to work for Christ, and to 
 conduct earnest seekers to Him. Her devoted school- 
 mistress says, ' I was called up that night to talk and 
 pray with six or seven of the girls who were earnestly 
 seeking the Saviour ; such was their distress that I 
 thought I must call up Mr. Shaw to aid me in pointing 
 them to Christ. Dear Lizzie talked and prayed with 
 them. A. class was formed, and I have reason to believe 
 that many are still rejoicing in the peace they found 
 that night.' 
 
 Her expressed wish was that her diary should be 
 destroyed unread : but her constant readiness to sacri- 
 fice her own feelings for the honour of the Saviour and 
 the spiritual benefit of His followers will, we hope, 
 justify us in giving some extracts, showing how she 
 kept her hold on Christ, and sought her joy in striving 
 to bring others to decision for Him. 
 
 C 
 
IS MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' April llth, 1866. I have felt so happy all this 
 week, Christ has been with me.' 
 
 ' 12th. Miss G has seemed very serious, she 
 
 was impressed by something I said in school. 
 God, for Christ's sake, save her ! ' 
 
 ' 13th. Went to see one of our school-fellows who 
 is very ill. May I be prepared for sickness and 
 death.' 
 
 * 15/i. ! happy day : two born for God. 
 Christ, keep them faithful. When shall I write, " A. 
 
 G is saved ? " Help Thou mine unbelief, and she 
 
 will yet be saved. We are determined to have them 
 all saved. Jesus, keep me Thine.' 
 
 ' May 1st. I am very unhappy to-day. I am afraid 
 I am getting rather careless. I did not say my prayers 
 last night. How dreadful it is when we forget to 
 think of Jesus. I like my French very much : had a 
 nice lesson this afternoon.' 
 
 The dear girl was so absorbed in her scholastic 
 duties, and in seeking at intervals through the day 
 the salvation of all whom she could reach, that she 
 one night forgot her prayers. She had lived in an 
 element of devotion, but the single omission of stated 
 duty pained her, and led her to confess it as a serious 
 forgetfulness of the claims of Jesus. There is the same 
 faithfulness throughout her journal in stating, for her 
 future profit, any omission or fault. 
 
 Her Midsummer vacation was very happily spent. 
 She brought heart-religion with her from school, 
 added to the beauty and loveliness of her character. 
 The means of grace, her highly-prized Bible-class, the 
 society of beloved friends, the luxury of visiting her aged 
 and afflicted ones, and all the innocent pleasures with 
 
MISS WESLEY. 19 
 
 which so many strove to make her holidays happy 
 were enjoyed with a zest hardly known before. 
 
 She had to return to school, and also to take her 
 final leave of Sleaford, as her father was removing at 
 Conference. On arriving at school, at Bourne, she thus 
 wrote in her journal : 
 
 ' 1866, August 12th, Sunday. I had such, a happy 
 day. I never felt more of the love of God in my heart.' 
 
 ' 19th. I feel very happy. Miss M is saved.' 
 
 ' 26th. Have enjoyed the class so much. I feel 
 more than ever the importance of giving the whole 
 of my heart and affections to God. 1 know that " with- 
 out holiness no man shall see the Lord." ' 
 
 ' 27th. I have thought more of Jesus to-day, and 
 am sure I feel much happier. I hope God will make 
 me holy.' 
 
 Such was her entry on leaving for the prayer-meet- 
 ing ; another record was made on returning. 
 
 'We have just returned from the prayer-meeting, 
 and are going to have a prayer-meeting in the little 
 back room. We had such a time of it. Many of us 
 are determined to seek to rise higher in the path to 
 
 heaven. I felt while kneeling against Miss M and 
 
 Miss S that the blood of Jesus, my Saviour, washed 
 
 me unworthy me from all sin. I never felt so 
 happy, and my heart so full of Jesus. I have only 
 been half-living, almost dead, but I will love Him and 
 serve Him with all my heart. I will love Jesus when 
 He has died to save me. I thought I would believe, 
 and I said that verse : 
 
 " And is it possible that I 
 
 Should live and sin no more ? 
 
 c 2 
 
20 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Lord, if on Thee I dare rely, 
 
 The faith shall bring the power." 
 
 I shall never forget the peace and joy that came into 
 my heart. Praise God ! He has kept me to-day, and 
 I will trust Him for all that's to come. Christ for 
 me. I feel that I am no better than I was before, but 
 I do feel that Jesu's blood has covered my sins, and I 
 am determined, by God's help, to love Him for ever.' 
 
 The following solemn pledge voluntarily given 
 closes this month's journal, and is the natural outflow 
 of the spiritual fervour of souls in their first love : 
 
 * We have solemnly promised to love Jesus Christ 
 for ever. 
 
 'ELIZABETH ANN WESLEY, 
 
 'EMMA S , 
 
 'EMMA JANE M . 
 
 ' Bourne, Tuesday night, Aiigust 28th, 1866.' 
 
 On August 30th we closed our three years' term at 
 Sleaford and removed to Horncastle, where we soon found 
 a sphere of Christian work, full of interest, and among a 
 zealous, enterprising, and liberal people. Lizzie could 
 not be long before she gratified her wish to visit our 
 new home, know our surroundings, and make the 
 acquaintance of our new friends. Before realising this 
 happiness, we give an important entry from her diary 
 recording her reception as a member of the Church, 
 which she felt to be an unspeakable privilege, as also to 
 involve grave responsibility. 
 
 ' Sunday, September 9th, 1866. The Rev. T. Shaw 
 gave me my first ticket to admit me into the Wesleyan- 
 Methodist Society. I feel it to be a great privilege 
 
MISS WESLEY. 21 
 
 for me, a child, to be allowed to have an interest in 
 the prayers of God's people. I trust God will keep 
 me faithful to the consecration I have made of myself 
 to Jesus.' 
 
 On Thursday, September 27th, Lizzie reached Horn- 
 castle, and was very favourably and hopefully impressed 
 with our new station. But especially was she rejoiced 
 to find an earnest ministry, an earnest Church, and the 
 Holy Spirit richly descending on all. On her journey 
 back she left a tract in a well-filled carriage at Boston 
 entitled, ' None Need Despair,' hoping and praying it 
 might reach some of their hearts. 
 
 Her next visit home was at Christmas, and she thus 
 wrote to a friend on the evening of her arrival : 
 
 ' Homcastle, Wednesday, December \9th. Papa met 
 me at the station. I felt so pleased to get home and 
 see mama once more. I do trust I shall be kept near 
 to Jesus ; for, though I am the child of pious parents, I 
 feel that I have many temptations.' 
 
 The Methodists of that town so arrange their busi- 
 ness and domestic matters as to set apart the first 
 week of the new year for religious purposes. 
 They display great hospitality, are liberal in their con- 
 tributions to their religious institutions, and invite 
 their neighbours and friends from a distance to join 
 them in special religious services. Their hearts being 
 susceptible from the pensiveness of having just bidden 
 adieu to the old year, and jubilant on the threshold of 
 the new year, they shake off much of the world, partake 
 of great social enjoyment, experience a thorough quick- 
 ening of spiritual life, and large accessions are made to 
 the Church. It is a good start, and, however busy may 
 be the times, you hardly ever throughout the year find 
 
22 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^*^X^^XX'X^> k >^>^X 1 ^'N^'XXXX>^~^XN^' p XX'N - /"^^ 
 
 them pleading that they cannot command moments to 
 attend to ordinary religious duties. Lizzie, from her 
 ardent temperament, was just ready to enter with all 
 her heart into this Pentecostal style of things. Let her 
 own words tell what she felt. ' We have had a glorious 
 time. The Rev. J. Dowty preached, and a glorious 
 prayer-meeting afterwards. I am determined this 
 year to live nearer to my Saviour. Oh ! that I may 
 do some good something for Jesus, my Saviour. I 
 have enjoyed this first Sabbath of the new year, and 
 can never forget these services.' In these special means 
 of grace the passion for saving souls was kindled to 
 more intense ardour, and she cherished the same 
 earnest spirit to the last day of her life. 
 
 Her parents had ever been anxious that the influ- 
 ences of home should be in harmony with those of the 
 sanctuary and the school, and operate effectually in 
 giving vigour to her spiritual life and increased power 
 to do good. A piece of domestic poetry, which was 
 composed and presented to her by her father on the 
 eve of her departure for school, may interest the 
 reader, and the more so as the sentiments of it, as they 
 related to the departed one, have been so early 
 realised :- 
 
 ' To LIZZIE, 
 
 1 Ox LEAVING HOME FOE SCHOOL, AT THE CLOSE OP HER 
 CHEISTMAS VACATION, JANUARY 29th, 1867, FROM HER 
 AFFECTIONATE FATHER. HORNCASTLE. 
 
 1 My only child, once more we part, 
 
 To meet again with joy I 
 If only Christ dwell in our heart, 
 And God Himself be nigh. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 23 
 
 N.XN^XXNj'N^N/XX^^^XXXXXXX'V/V/VX'NXNXVy 
 
 ' We part, but let our spirits blend 
 
 In all the might of prayer ; 
 And when this mortal scene shall end, 
 We heaven's own bliss shall share. 
 
 4 We part to do our Father's will, 
 
 And we may ask His aid 
 Our various duties to fulfil, 
 From dawn to evening shade. 
 
 * The future all to thee is veil'd, 
 
 But duty's path is plain, 
 And He who to the cross was nail'd, 
 For thee in heaven doth reign. 
 
 1 To Him devote thy youthful days, 
 
 For Him thy powers employ, 
 And thou shalt chant thy Saviour's praise, 
 In strains which never die.' 
 
 Between her Christmas and Midsummer vacation 
 her father had a serious illness, the effect of a chill 
 taken on the bleak wolds ; and unexpected changes 
 occurred in his Circuit which necessitated a reluctant 
 removal from Lincolnshire to a more genial sphere/ 
 Changes also took place in Lizzie's school-history, 
 which entirely broke up our plans as to her future 
 course. In June Lizzie was laid prostrate by sudden 
 and alarming illness ; but her great calmness of mind and 
 freedom from all fear of the future greatly facilitated her 
 recovery. Love to Jesus constrained her to record her 
 testimony to Him though so extremely weak and ill* 
 
 * Horncastle, Sunday, July 14/&, 1867. Stayed at 
 home, as I felt ill. I am very happy. Jesus is very 
 near. I do want to live nearer to Him.' 
 
 ' 20th. I feel very ill ; but I feel that it is right. 
 Still very happy.' 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' Sunday 21st. School sermons. The Rev. Marshall 
 Bandies. I did want to go, but was in bed all day.' 
 
 Her medical attendant strongly advised that she 
 should not incur the risk of again returning to school ; 
 and we could not but submit. She had done admirably 
 in her studies, having had the highest number of 
 marks in nearly all departments ; but now her school- 
 days had ended, and she availed herself of a long inter- 
 val of rest with relatives at Baunds. 
 
 To the excellent traits of her character while at 
 school, and the high estimation in which she was held, 
 pleasing testimonies have been recently given by her 
 schoolmistress and teacher. The former writes : ' It 
 is with pleasure that I recall the time Miss Wesley 
 resided with us. . I have a lively recollection of her 
 bright, cheerful disposition, and was always drawn to 
 her by her strong sense of justice, and her unselfish 
 conduct towards her school companions. As an instance 
 among many I may mention her firmly declining some 
 offered delicacy for breakfast, which I thought her 
 constitution needed, saying she preferred taking the 
 usual diet, lest it should create jealousy. It was my 
 custom to ask any of the girls to join me in my room 
 after family worship for quiet talk ; and I call to mind 
 her arm thrown lovingly round me, and her asking my 
 forgiveness, if she thought she had been in error ; and 
 with such earnest simplicity she would plead with God 
 that she might do right.' 
 
 Her teacher wrote as follows : ' Lizzie came to 
 Bourne soon after I did. From the first she slept in my 
 room, and though we met as strangers, yet the fact 
 that she was, like myself, a minister's daughter, gave 
 me an unusual interest in her. I soon found that she 
 
MISS WESLEY. 25 
 
 was more companionable than any of the other girls, 
 and, for the rest of the time we spent together, she 
 was my chosen and intimate friend among my pupils. 
 A sweeter tempered or more amiable girl I never knew, 
 it seemed impossible to offend or ruffle her. With all 
 her schoolfellows she was deservedly popular. Her 
 conduct to me was characterised by the greatest affec- 
 tion and respect, without a particle of self-assertion. 
 She was at that time extremely deferential to the 
 opinions of all around her. Her gentleness of manner 
 and unselfishness of nature were very remarkable, and, 
 although far superior by her bringing up to most of 
 her school-friends, she was entirely free from any 
 assumption of superiority. In the revival which 
 resulted in the decision for God of most if not all the 
 girls, I was struck with this difference between her 
 and the rest that while she knew so much more about 
 religious things, and was so well acquainted with the 
 plan of salvation, she found more difficulty than most 
 in accepting it, and was longer before she was able to 
 rejoice in God. From that time I do not suppose she 
 ever looked back in her religious career. As long as I 
 remained at Bourne I had the pleasure and privilege 
 of hearing her weekly testimony in the class I had the 
 responsibility of meeting, and there again I found her 
 so far in advance of her companions, not only in reli- 
 gious knowledge, but in the power of expressing herself 
 with intelligence and propriety. I recollect nothing 
 during that period which could at all detract from the 
 steady growth of her religious life, unless occasionally 
 she had to condemn herself for a cheerfulness which 
 was very mirthfully expressed, such as could hardly 
 fail to occur sometimes with a lot of light-hearted 
 
26 MEMORIALS OF MISS WESLEY. 
 
 girls, all of whom found her so genial and pleasant. In 
 May, 1867, I was summoned home hastily, to see my 
 dear father during his last illness, and I well remem- 
 ber that, in the bustle of departure, and the sorrow 
 and confusion I was in, it was dear Lizzie who looked 
 out my things and packed them for me, ascertained the 
 timas of my trains, accompanied m.3 to the station, and 
 saw me off. Our relationship as teacher and pupil 
 closed with that parting.' 
 
 How the light and the shade, the sunshine and the 
 storm, the joy and the sorrow, mingle in human life ! 
 Lizzie's sympathetic, unselfish, and benevolent nature 
 prompted her both to rejoice with those who were 
 rejoicing, and weep with those that wept. From a girl 
 she was whole-hearted. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 EASTINGTON SWINDON. 
 
 ASTTNGTON", in Gloucestershire, was our next 
 -I J place of residence ; and it was there that Lizzie 
 fairly began her Christian work. Her father had 
 spent twenty-eight years of laborious bat happy 
 ministerial toil, and was sadly suffering from over- 
 work, and nothing could be more inspiriting than to 
 find his youthful daughter gracefully toiling by his 
 side. She had been enduring the stern discipline of 
 pain and weakness, and four months had sped before 
 she joined her parents in their village^home. At the 
 beginning of her life-work she was assailed by power- 
 ful temptations. In a letter to a relative she wrote : 
 4 1 am tempted to doubt almost everything in which I 
 ought to believe.' But she repelled the tempter, 
 snatched up the implement of labour, and in a right 
 spirit started on the first work that came to hand. 
 She soon found congenial employment among many 
 of the aged and sick persons, and there soon grew up 
 between these venerable ones and their jitvenile friend 
 a mutual and strong affection. She made tract dis- 
 tribution an important means of preventing evil and 
 doing good ; she was regular in their distribution, 
 despite the inclemency of the weather and her delicate 
 
28 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *^-^-^v^v^X^>^^XXy-^y^^ V>^w^>^^ 
 
 health, and, when the opportunity was presented, she 
 was so ready to speak a kind word and perform a kind 
 deed. Particular cases were made quite a study, and 
 special prayer was connected with them, so that she 
 might select tracts suited to the individual, or the family 
 intended to be benefited. The tract intended as a loan 
 was often sought as a gift, and she carried light and 
 life and joy to many hearts and homes, the tract being 
 the key. Many a time, after a walk of hours, she 
 would return with a quick step, a radiant countenance, 
 and the glad exclamation : ' We have had a blessed 
 time ! ' But a mother's eye could detect the penalty 
 which had been so cheerfully paid for the luxury of 
 doing good. Her chief work there was among the 
 girls employed at the Eastington Mills, the property of 
 Charles Hooper and Son, the manufacturers of West 
 of England cloths. We had a flourishing day school 
 in the village, and a large Sunday-school which was 
 well supplied with teachers, good attendance being 
 secured by the requirement of the firm that each 
 scholar should produce a ticket every Monday morning 
 certifying.attendance at school on the Sabbath. Lizzie's 
 education throughout had been eminently Scriptural; 
 she had acquired much Biblical knowledge, and could 
 impart it with great ease and naturalness so as to make 
 the theme interesting. It required but little effort 
 either to love the teacher or to understand the lesson. 
 Having carefully thought out her subject and prepared 
 an outline, she could command simple and elegant 
 language with which to clothe it. We give two of her 
 outlines of lessons of that date. 
 
M18S WESLEY. 29 
 
 OUTLINES OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSONS. 
 
 LESSON i. THE BOOK OF ESTHER. CHAPTERS L, ii., iii., iv. 
 QUEEN ESTHEE. 
 
 1. Her Descent. 
 
 2. Her Orphanage. 
 
 3. Her Guardian. 
 
 4. Her Elevation. 
 
 5. Hainan's Advancement. 
 
 6. Mordecai's Contemptuous 
 
 treatment of Haman. 
 
 7. Mordecai's Appeal to Esther. 
 
 Remark. 
 
 If we do not perform the work that God has assigned us, 
 though it may involve great personal sacrifice, He will raise up 
 others to do it. Always dare to do the right. 
 
 LESSON ii. CHAPTERS v., vi., vii. 
 QUEEN ESTHER'S REQUEST. 
 
 1. It was a Proper Request. 
 
 2. It was Unselfish. 
 
 3. It was Noble. 
 
 4. It was Humane. 
 
 Remark, 
 
 If Queen Esther could not endure to see the destruction of 
 her kindred ; ought we to be unconcerned at the everlasting 
 destruction of ours ? 
 
 Thinking clearly and feeling deeply, she would 
 go fresh from the mercy-seat to her class, with the one 
 aim of leading her charge to Jesus and inciting them 
 to bring others to Him, and she would plead with a 
 heart-thrilling pathos and a soul-stirring power till, 
 as we have often heard them say, they were ' forced 
 to yield.' In the teachers' prayer-meeting the secret 
 of her power was both seen and felt. 
 
 While we were steadily proceeding with our work, 
 a revival like that of spring came over us and refreshed 
 
30 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 -*^^r*>^r*^^*** u *^jr~^s~** l r*i t ,r*^~>*^^ 
 
 us. It was deep, powerful, life-giving, and many were 
 saved and added to the Church. My young co-worker, 
 who was one of the chief agents employed by God in 
 this movement, had to take charge of a large Church- 
 class of girls, and when everything was looking as 
 vernal as the green landscape around her, instead of 
 recording as she did at first, ' There is no life here ! ' 
 she was heard thankfully to exclaim, ' Thou, Lord, hast 
 made me glad through Thy work ; I will triumph in 
 the works of Thy hands.' She wrote : ' It is glorious 
 work to win these young hearts for Jesus. How I 
 love them ! Would that they were all saved ! My 
 prayer is : Make them Thine, Saviour ! My motto 
 is : My class for Christ ! I want to keep this as my 
 standard, and to reach it by God's help.' It was a grave 
 responsibility for one so young to have the spiritual 
 interests of so many in the morning of life so wholly 
 committed to her, and she was often overwhelmed by 
 it ; but love to Jesus, and love for her charge, rendered 
 it morally impossible for her to shrink from it. All 
 their interests were made her own ; and they felt that 
 they could always confide in her for the sympathy, 
 advice, and help of a true friend. After one of her 
 long walks on a December day to cheer her sick ones, 
 she wrote : ' I had such a wet, dirty walk, but it did 
 me good. What a blessing to feel that you have made 
 some hearts lighter, and lifted the shadow off some 
 broken and sorrowing spirits ! ' She had too much 
 regard for the Redeemer's example to overlook little 
 children. When she met them in their homes, at 
 school, or in their walks and frolic, 'she charmed them 
 by her brightness, engaged them by her simplicity, and 
 was most ingenious in devising means to gladden them. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 31 
 
 They were always objects of her special interest at a 
 school treat. She always had a smile and a sympathetic 
 recognition for a child or an adult who had not the 
 use of some of the senses, and unmistakable attention 
 for a harmless imbecile, which met, sooner or later, 
 with a glad response; and the practical expressions 
 of her kindness to them would call forth the most 
 touching proofs of grateful attachment. 
 
 Among many valuable presents given on her birth- 
 day, 1870, she makes tender record of the pretty 
 violets which her dear dumb girl presented with such 
 glee. At a crisis in our domestic history in the same 
 year, when the death of two of her uncles necessitated 
 the absence of her parents, and she was left at home, 
 she sought relief in writing for the press an address to 
 the young. It was the first production of her pen, and 
 appeared in the Early Days, with an illustration, bearing 
 the modest signature of Nellie. Her circumstances 
 and feelings at the time are thus recorded : ' I wish 
 mama was at home. I cannot think what I should 
 do without religion now lonely, heart-sick, weary as 
 I am. I feel I can only go to Jesus. I can trust and 
 lean on Him. He knoweth what is best.' The theme 
 she selected was in harmony with her own experience, 
 and we give it as an example of her style of teaching. 
 
 'LESSONS FROM FADED LEAVES. 
 
 1 We have read of a little boy who, when the bright, sunny 
 days of summer came, bringing with them the birds and the 
 flowers, said, " He wished it could be always summer." When the 
 summer waned, as all bright things will, and winter came with 
 its frost and snow, he liked the snowballing and the sliding on the 
 pond so well, that he changed his mind, and thought he should 
 be quite content if it were always winter. 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 1 The keen, frosty air tempted us out one winter morning. 
 We wandered on through the fields and lanes, listened to the 
 robin's song, watched the ducks swimming in the brook, and 
 talked with the children going to school. Everything and every 
 body seemed so glad that, in spite of the cold, we soon felt as 
 blithe as the blithest. We thought of our little friend's wish, and 
 fancied that we, too, should like the cold weather to remain a 
 long time. But we did not think so many minutes. For such a 
 vision of the summer that had fled came to our memory, that it 
 was like speaking unkindly of an old friend to wish the noisy, 
 bustling winter, that had taken the summer's place, to stay with 
 us always. The summer had left the sparrows and the robins to 
 cheer us ; but frost and snow had buried the roses and the daisies, 
 leaving nothing to tell that they had been. We missed them 
 sadly. It grieved us one morning to find that a single night's 
 frost had spoiled them all. 
 
 ' As we could not have the flowers to gladden our walk, we 
 gathered a bunch of faded leaves, and let them tell us their story. 
 I could not tell you all they said. At one time it was a bright 
 dream of the spring thatVould come again, and then a sad tale of 
 the past that was gone for ever. But the chief lesson the yellow 
 leaves taught us was, that all earthly 'things, however beautiful, 
 would soon fade ; and if we wanted to be really happy we 
 must cling to the immortal things of heaven, which are told us in 
 the Bible. How often have we determined to do so ? But the 
 months roll on, and when the end of the year comes, alas I we 
 have only broken vows and unkept promises to call our own. 
 
 'Let the fallen leaves teach you the importance of living 
 and working truly while you may. You are young ; but you can 
 do brave, noble work for Christ if you will Of course you cannot 
 do all this without God's help. You are in the spring-time of life, 
 and look forward to the dim and distant future, wondering what 
 it will disclose. 
 
 ' Happy for those who, when the winter of their days shall come, 
 may be able to review hopes realised, and lives that have been 
 made a blessing to the world. To all such, even death when it 
 arrives is but the entrance to a life of fadeless bloom which awaits 
 them above.' 
 
MISS WESLEY. 33 
 
 '*^*\_S~**S**jr^ f i^s^s^^^s~>>-S**^r**s-\^^^^^ 
 
 At about the same time, and under the same signa- 
 ture, a piece of religious poetry proceeded from her pen, 
 which she entitled ' Morning,' and which her friends 
 wish to have preserved. It was suggested as she looked 
 fi'om her window across the valley to the distant hills, 
 and watched the daybreak. The recent case of a sad 
 and sinful one occurred to her, seeking in a deceitful 
 world the light and joy only to be found in Christ. 
 The analogy is clearly brought out between the slowly 
 dawning light and its increasing brightness till the 
 glorious sun ushered in the day, and the divine irradia- 
 tion of the human soul. 
 
 ' MOEXING. 
 
 ' I watch the daylight as it creepeth 
 
 O'er the wood and lea ; 
 And I wonder when the morning 
 Of the soul will come to me. 
 
 1 The Saviour calls the weary ones, 
 
 With their load of sin, 
 To come to Him for peace and rest, 
 And He will take them in. 
 
 ' In this world's great battle, 
 
 'Midst its din and strife, 
 I have restless sought for pleasure, 
 And forgot the better life. 
 
 ' O'er the hills the mist is breaking, 
 
 And the shadows flee away ; 
 But with me the night still lingers, 
 And I scarce dare hope for day. 
 
 1 But listen ! for I hear, 
 
 Through the darkness of the night, 
 
 The whispered words, " Arise I arise I 
 
 And Christ shall give thee light ! " 
 
 D 
 
34 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' The sunshine cheers the flowers, 
 
 And the birds have waked to sing ; 
 And to my soul there comes a joy, 
 That morn can never bring. 
 
 ' Jesus, take this sad 
 
 And sinful heart of mine : 
 And let the sunlight of Thy love 
 In. it for ever shine. 
 
 ' NELLIE.' 
 
 The pleasure and success of Christian toil in that 
 village were greatly increased by the facilities for doing 
 good which were heartily rendered by the generous 
 employers of the place, and by the true catholicity of 
 spirit existing between the various denominations of 
 Christians. The ministers and people met each Satur- 
 day evening in a room at one of the mills and spent an 
 hour in prayer together, and those united and fervent 
 prayers were felt to be an excellent preparation for 
 Sabbath worship. We all started on each year by 
 gathering in each other's schoolrooms, taking the topics 
 for prayer suggested by the Evangelical Alliance, 
 giving short addresses on them, and then uniting in 
 prayer for the great objects on which we had set our 
 hearts. By meeting as Christians and k blending our 
 shades of difference instead of magnifying them into 
 opposite colours, we exhibited in action the beauty of 
 Christian unity ; and there was great utility in it too : 
 for we co-operated all the year through, greatly to the 
 benefit of the Churches and the advantage of the world 
 around. When our old place of worship was found to 
 be insecure, it was mainly by the princely liberality of 
 the late Charles Hooper, Esq. and family, the influence 
 which their example of un sectarian nobleness exerted 
 
MISS WESLEY. 35 
 
 on others, and the encouragement and stimulus which 
 it gave to us, that a substantial and commodious chapel 
 was built and opened free of debt. It was well that our 
 zealous worker at the commencement of her course was 
 ennobled by the expansiveness of Christian charity. 
 The central theme on which she loved to dwell, and by 
 which all Christians achieve their brightest triumphs, 
 was the one on which we were all agreed, and it was of 
 far greater importance than all the points on which we 
 differed. 
 
 She was happy in securing the friendship of a 
 young lady of no ordinary culture and piety. They 
 were of kindred taste and spirit, engaged in the same 
 Christian and benevolent work, and their friendship 
 wasl mutually advantageous ; but, like most of the 
 precious things of earth, it was of short duration, for 
 we were soon leaving Eastington, the amiable Carrie 
 Ford was fast fading away, and the two devoted friends 
 parted, never again to meet till both had reached their 
 resting-place in heaven. 
 
 Lizzie had become intensely attached to Eastington 
 and its picturesque surroundings it was her first field 
 of Christian enterprise every road and every lane had 
 become hallowed by being oft traversed on errands of 
 kindness. God had given her success of the highest 
 kind, and she saw the fruits of her self-denying efforts 
 blooming around her ; she hardly knew how strong 
 the ties which bound her to them were till they were 
 about to be broken. The closing scenes of that portion 
 of her life will disclose more of her character and of 
 her work by being given in the simple jottings of her 
 own pen. 
 
 'July 3rd, 1870. Papa preached. Join xiv. 16, 
 
 D 2 
 
36 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Acts xvii. 31. Last time in the old chapel. It is holy 
 ground. Three years in that house of prayer. What 
 a responsibility ! Many blessed moments have I en- 
 joyed there.' 
 
 ' 7th. Opening of new chapel. Rev. S. Coley. 
 Text, " Jesus only." How consoling has that sermon 
 been to me. Ten ministers present. Our beautiful 
 chapel.' 
 
 ' 8th. Very wearied to-day : so much to do yester- 
 day and the day before. Visitors. Of late I seem to 
 be living too fast to write much about myself.' 
 
 ' 15th. Sunday-school prayer-meeting. One more ! 
 My girls, around whom my heart has entwined itself, 
 must I say to you the bitter word, Farewell ? ' 
 
 ' 2oth. Sewing meeting. Tea on our lawn. God 
 only knows what I feel at the thought of leaving. 
 Eastington has endeared itself to me, and can never be 
 forgotten.' 
 
 ' 26th. A long walk to Cress Green. Poor blind 
 
 Mrs. T . The old woman gave the young girl her 
 
 blessing.' 
 
 ' 27th. Our last Sunday-school teachers' meeting. 
 I shall never forget it. They spoke kindly of my ser- 
 vices in the school. All this breaks my heart.' 
 
 ' 28th. My dear girls spoke so nicely at class to- 
 night. I wonder what my work at Swindon will be ? ' 
 
 'August 6th. We had our group taken to-day. 
 Afterwards I sang to them. They have let me get into 
 their hearts.' 
 
 ' \0th. A good number at class. A glorious prayer- 
 meeting ! A happy time ! The girls prayed so sweetly. 
 God forbid that I should go back. Lord, keep me.' 
 
 ' 21st, Sunday. Eighteen of my class at school. I 
 
MISS WESLEY. 37 
 
 gave each a slip of paper with a question. It will be 
 a terrible struggle before I can give them up.' 
 
 ' 24th. A nice class"! But I could not keep the 
 tears back. They all seem to love me. How the old 
 ones blessed me ! ' 
 
 * 2otli. All the girls there. How dreadful a week 
 to-day ! All among strangers ; and those who love 
 me all left behind.' 
 
 ' 26th. I went to twenty places. The girls would 
 come quite home with me. I felt once as if I should 
 sob like a child, but I had to keep up. I looked on 
 their dear faces once more.' 
 
 ' 28th, Sunday. Eighteen at school- class. Papa 
 came. It was dreadful. Nothing but God's help got 
 me through. The chapel looked so pretty. And has the 
 last really come ? Papa's farewell sermon. Acts xx. 32.' 
 
 ' 29th. A terrible day. I am so weary. Our large 
 group.' 
 
 ' 30th. An overwhelming valedictory meeting. It 
 is too much praise. My services were very simple.' 
 
 '31st. Our house is full of people saying " Good- 
 bye." ! that word.' 
 
 ' September 1st. ! I feel I cannot tear myself 
 from my own darling home.' 
 
 These records of her thought and emotion were 
 more fully given in her journal when she had a few 
 more moments at command. Feeling that the circum- 
 stances demanded a more expanded memorial, she 
 rose early on the day following the last Sabbath and 
 wrote : 
 
 ' August 29th, Monday. It is a quarter past six, 
 and I want to employ a few moments before the day's 
 bustle begins. 
 
38 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 f s**jS>u>r<i*sr* t ^*sr* v ^ J ^^ 
 
 ' I cannot surely have spent my last Sunday talked 
 to my girls for the last time. They are mine no longer, 
 but I cannot give them up. I never dreaded a Sunday 
 more than I did yesterday ; but ! I leaned on my 
 Father, and He helped me. At school we had a time 
 of weeping. Until the last I kept calm, but, when that 
 came, I broke down thoroughly. Our lesson soothed 
 and quieted us (John xiv.) ; but I shall never forget the 
 sorrow of these last days. In the evening we had an 
 overwhelming congregation. I felt as if my heart 
 would break. On Saturday the light was not strong 
 enough to take our group, which was a sore disappoint- 
 ment to us. Papa spoke to the girls nicely after tea. 
 I pray that they may be kept unspotted from the world. 
 Lord, save us all, and may we meet beyond the river. 
 My life has been a sad one of late, sorrow came after 
 sorrow, but I trust it will bring me near to Jesus. I 
 cannot think how I shall leave these hills and fields 
 and lanes and flowers ; my heart is wound round them, 
 and to part hurts me dreadfully. The morning is here, 
 and I must dress once more.' 
 
 Her last entiy at Eastington was made on the morn- 
 ing of our departure. She wrote : 
 
 ' Eastington, September 1st, 1870. My precious 
 home ! How many sunny memories cluster around 
 thee my loved home ! and must I leave thee and thy 
 loveliness to others ? Often in the silent night, or in 
 the grey of the morning, shall I think of thee and all 
 thy past, and, though my heart sickens for fear, I will 
 hope and trust. That terrible word, "Good-bye," thrills 
 through me. I am sitting in my own room mine no 
 longer ! and reviewing the past. What trials and joys 
 have been mine ; but I know it was needed discipline. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 39 
 
 O ! if I could have been more holy and Christlike. 
 God knows my heart. I shall never forget how 
 the girls clung round my neck. What am I leaving 
 for, future trials or joy ? All the rest I leave to Him. 
 He will do what is best. O my Father, help Thy 
 child through all, and bring her at last to thy " shining 
 golden gate." ' 
 
 To our surprise another adieu awaited us, and, 
 though sad, it was as hearty as it was spontaneous. A 
 carriage was sent to convey us to the station, we had 
 left our home, and were proceeding along the road at 
 a smart pace, when our driver exclaimed, ' The fields are 
 all astir, Sir, I must stop ! ' We had been seen from 
 the mills ; men, women, and girls had rushed from 
 their work, and were running to overtake us. On 
 reaching us their expressions of thankfulness and 
 regret would hardly have any bounds. It was well 
 that between Lizzie and her young friends this final 
 parting scene could only last a few moments, but the 
 felt tenderness, Christian affection, and sorrow which 
 crowded into those moments words are wanting to 
 describe. She retained a life-long connection with that 
 place and people, though only for one Sabbath and a 
 few days did she again visit them. She kept up a 
 correspondence there to the end of her life. 
 
 Swindon, in Wiltshire, was to be the scene of her 
 next term of work. The noisy centre of the Great 
 Western Railway works presented a striking contrast 
 to the quiet, rural village she had so lately left. Her 
 home was in the peaceful and bracing town of Old 
 Swindon. The speed and power manifested by the 
 people in their daily pursuits were characteristic of 
 them in their religious life and evangelistic enterprise ; 
 
40 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 and Lizzie promptly adapted herself to their intensely 
 zealous spirit and aggressive efforts. 
 
 The diligent cultivation, extensive reading, and 
 loving'and successful toil of three previous years had 
 eminently qualified her for her future position, and 
 laid the foundation of that remarkable success which 
 followed. Her considerable mental resources, superior 
 conversational powers, and beautiful unselfishness 
 greatly increased her power to do good, and she gladly 
 availed herself of all opportunities of using it. Grirls 
 of the highest class admired her character and talents, 
 enjoyed her cheerful society, yielded to her influence, 
 and were won by her to the Saviour and to His Church. 
 
 It was towards the close of the year 1870 that she 
 began her work for Christ at Swindon, and the spirit 
 in which she had started upon it may be seen from her 
 devout reflections as the year was expiring, and her anti- 
 cipations of the year 1871. In a pretty apostrophe, she 
 addresses the old year as a departing but tried friend 
 that had brought her many blessings, for all of which 
 she tenders thanks. 
 
 ' December 31st, 1870. Dear Old Year ! Good-bye ! 
 with all thy blessings and all thy trials. Thou hast 
 brought me varied gifts, some hard to receive, but for 
 all I thank thee. O ! that the New Year that is 
 coming to take thy place may find me better, braver, 
 stronger for life and its realities ! It has been a 
 crowded year. It cut me to the quick when I left my 
 peaceful home and waved adieu to those who were so 
 dear to me. Those you work most for you often love 
 most : so I have found it. I clung to the girls, but the 
 Old Year made me give them up. My lovely homo 
 and Eastington life, and so many things I lost. I had 
 
MISS WESLEY. 41 
 
 some trials some needless I was going to say : but 
 out of all I have been brought. I know I have not 
 always loved and trusted my Saviour as I should do. 
 He has not always been first in my heart. I am con- 
 scious of wanderings in heart and in life. I often 
 think of our " Carrie " in her home of peace and rest, 
 and I thought how thankful she must be to know that 
 all her sorrow, trial, pain is o'er. She has gained the 
 blest shore before us, but through the dark and toilsome 
 night I will row on : morning port will be gained at 
 last. But ! shall I be faithful to the end ? God 
 forbid I should fall. The Old Year has wrought 
 changes in the old friends and given me new ones. I 
 trust I may be happy, and useful to you here. I leave 
 myself in Thy hands. Father, lead me, guide me, 
 love me, be Thou my strength, . . . my All for time 
 and eternity.' 
 
 After more than a year had fled since Lizzie and 
 her girls had parted they unexpectedly met at the Stone- 
 house station. The meeting was a beautiful scene. 
 She was travelling, and had a little time to wait at the 
 station : a train stopped which was taking out a party 
 of young folk for a day's pleasure. One of them recog- 
 nised Lizzie as she stood on the platform, exclaimed, 
 ' 0, my teacher ! ' and in an instant the recognition 
 was mutual. No sooner did they catch the smile of 
 their benefactress than they rushed out of the carriages 
 and affectionately embraced her, weeping for very joy. 
 The kind-hearted guard quite entered into their joy. 
 Lizzie said to him, ' You see, guard, I'm besieged,' and 
 he replied, ' I see you are, Miss, and I'm glad to see it. 
 I'll give you all the time I can, I can easily fetch up 
 farther on.' We can only imagine how much of life was 
 
42 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 lived over again in those fugitive moments ; but the 
 signal was given, the interview closed, the train moved 
 on, and a bright, green spot was left in the memory 
 of teacher and scholars for ever ! 
 
 Lizzie could not for some time command the atten- 
 tion in her class and the success of former days. She 
 had not to complain of their attendance, nor of a want 
 of respect or love to her ; but nothing less than their 
 salvation could satisfy her. Several extracts express 
 the sadness of her disappointment in the results of her 
 efforts with her scholars. ' As soon as I introduce 
 serious things I cannot get their attention.' ' I have 
 enjoyed to-day, but no lasting impressions, I fear.' ' I 
 feel so tired, and fear I shall never bring them to 
 Christ.' This failure gave her great sorrow, led to 
 deep searchings of heart, and she could not rest till 
 this felt loss of power was restored. 
 
 'It was on Monday, October 30th, 1871, that the 
 old joy and calm came back to me. It was late when 
 I left New Town, and I felt tired, but an irresistible 
 impulse seemed to fasten me to the floor as I knelt to 
 offer my evening prayer.' 
 
 Mr. R. J. Tarrant, superintendent of the Old Swin- 
 don Wesleyan School, says : ' It was my pleasure to 
 have the services of the late Miss Wesley as a teacher 
 during her residence in Swindon. She had a most 
 amiable disposition, was as bright and intelligent as 
 she was lovable, and won the admiration and esteem 
 of the whole school. Her own class had a large share 
 of her loving heart, and her motto was, " My Class for 
 Jesus." She took delight in the monthly teachers' 
 prayer-meeting, and rarely missed the opportunity of 
 praying : the only female teacher I recollect doing so 
 
MISS WESLEY. 43 
 
 during my long experience. I well remember the last 
 visit she paid us. It was the afternoon of our monthly 
 prayer-meeting. She pleaded earnestly, especially for 
 the lads, and the effect was most marked. Her memory 
 is still lovingly cherished among us ; and it is a great 
 sorrow to us, though not to her, that "her sun went 
 down while it was yet day." ' 
 
 Mr. Richard Gradd, a long-tried, Christian worker, 
 writes : ' During the three happy and successful years 
 of your pastorate among us, there was no servant of 
 Christ more ready for every good word and work than 
 your beloved daughter. As to the Sabbath-school 
 those who were in her class inform me that she always 
 prepared her lessons with great care, being anxious to 
 make them as interesting, instructive, and useful as 
 possible. In the tract district her rule was to inquire 
 with a kindly sympathy of the welfare of all the in- 
 mates of each house at which she left a tract; and 
 while she wisely acted the part of a true soul winner, 
 we have heard of cases among the sick and indigent in 
 which she gave all she had to provide necessaries and 
 comforts, giving strict orders to the recipients that not 
 a word was to be said about it. The occupant of a 
 house in one of the districts was a man of such violent 
 temper, and had so repeatedly and sternly refused to 
 receive a tract, that the repulsed distributer dare not 
 presume on another call. Miss Wesley was requested 
 by one who was interested in his welfare to take up the 
 case. On her first call, the stubborn sinner was sub- 
 dued, and the tract was courteously received. The 
 call was repeated, became a weekly visit, and the tract 
 was received with thankfulness. Visiting Teignmouth 
 in 1881, I preached one Sabbath at Shaldon : Miss 
 
44 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Wesley attended the evening service, and heartily 
 assisted at the prayer-meeting. As we walked home 
 she inquired respecting her old scholars, and was so 
 glad to hear of those who I knew were doing well- 
 But she was anxious to know if they were truly con- 
 verted ; and on hearing that there had been some good 
 cases, she brightened up and said, " I do believe they 
 will all be converted to God." She further remarked, 
 "I have had some wonderful answers to believing 
 prayer. With deep feeling and great emphasis she 
 then added : 
 
 " Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, 
 
 And looks to that alone ; 
 Laughs at impossibilities, 
 And cries, ' It shall begone ! ' " 
 
 ' Three years after this conversation, she paid her 
 last visit to Swindon, and came to the school once 
 more. She attended the monthly prayer-meeting, and, 
 evidently feeling it would be her last opportunity, she 
 prayed for all, but for the youths in particular, and 
 pleaded with such amazing fervour and faith that a 
 most gracious influence pervaded the whole school. It 
 would seem that God granted her there and then, at 
 least in pledge, the desire of her heart. From that 
 time, a very blessed but quiet work of grace set in, 
 which has been ever since steadily advancing among a 
 number of now promising young men, who form our 
 Mission-band; and nearly fifty of our elder scholars 
 are members of the junior Society classes, most of 
 whom were school-children at the time of Miss Wesley's 
 last visit.' 
 
 There were times in Lizzie's life of prayer and toil 
 
MISS WESLEY. 45 
 
 **^*^***>~*******^*** f *~>~** n **i f * --'^> 1 -x^' k -^V^' 1 vx'X-'V^'>i lJ ^^" fcw ^^ 
 
 at which the past, the present, the future, and all sur- 
 rounding circumstances pressed upon her spirit 
 together, and it seemed as if the work of years had to 
 be done in moments. She knew and felt when such a 
 time had come, and, by Divine help, determined to 
 make the best of it. Such a crisis was the time of her 
 last visit to Swindon. At such an era she would begin 
 her prayer with all the quiet and undoubting simplicity 
 of a little child going to ask the favours of a living 
 divine parent ; she would pray to Jesus by name as a 
 real Mediator ; and depend on the third person of the 
 Trinity so implicitly that it appeared as though her 
 supplications were the Holy Spirit's prayers rather 
 than her own. As she proceeded in the Christ-like 
 work of intercession, her whole soul would be roused, and, 
 with a holy determination to gain her object, she would 
 offer plea upon plea with increasing power, till all felt 
 she had prevailed with God, and it was evident she 
 had the calm assurance of it herself. 
 
 A prominent trait in Lizzie's character was faith- 
 fulness in her friendships. In August, 1871, she paid a 
 visit to her friend and former teacher at Sutton. The 
 renewal of this friendship was greatly enjoyed by them 
 both, and conduced to their spiritual interests. They 
 had kept up their correspondence, but had not met 
 since they parted at the Bourne railway station, and 
 her devoted teacher started on the sad journey to glad- 
 den her father at the close of his long life, while her 
 sympathetic pupil returned to school like one bereft. 
 Her friendships were a source of much joy, but they 
 were not sustained without much effort, and the occu- 
 pancy of much time. At this early stage her corres- 
 pondence had grown considerably, and this, with close 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^^o-^-xx'^-'^^N^^.^XX-s^-^fc^-^x-N-^N^Xy-XX 
 
 reading, and study, and the writing required in prepara- 
 tion for her work, had weakened and endangered her 
 sight, so that she expressed fear of being ' left dark in 
 this world of beauty and activity.' 
 
 There was an advantage in our residence at Swin- 
 don, and a very pleasurable one to Lizzie she had the 
 opportunity of a slight acquaintance with many of the 
 literary, scientific, and musical celebrities of the day, 
 who gave lectures and entertainments at the institute 
 connected with the Great Western Railway works. As 
 Lizzie claimed Rugby as her birthplace, it was a 
 special gratification to her to spend an evening with 
 one of these notables the author of ' Tom Brown's 
 Schooldays.' 
 
 It was in the last year of our residence in Swindon 
 that Lizzie reached her twenty-first birthday. She 
 never selfishly aimed at making friends ; but, by acting 
 as one to all whom she could in any way benefit, she 
 had won a large circle of friends, whom we have often 
 heard say ' We love Miss Wesley, because we cannot 
 help it.' The warm congratulations of all classes, and 
 the valuable presents which she received on that anni- 
 versary of her natal day, produced no elation, but were 
 acknowledged with appreciation and hearty thankful- 
 ness. She made it a day of searching self-examination 
 and wise resolve. A letter addressed to her at that 
 period by her parents is here inserted, and will be read 
 with mournful interest. 
 
 1 April 2nd, 1873. 
 1 TO DEAB LIZZIE, 
 
 ' With all our (hearts do we congratulate you on having at- 
 tained your twenty-first year ; and with true and strong affection 
 do we wish you many happy returns of the day. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 47 
 
 ' No daughter ever more fully won parental affection than 
 yourself ; and few in your position have secured a larger number 
 of true friends. 
 
 ' We confidently believe that you will continue to develop 
 those features of character which will attract to you the wise 
 and good, enable you to exert a beneficial influence on all with 
 whom you may be associated in future years, and prepare you for 
 the society of heaven. 
 
 ' Accept, dear Liz, the accompanying presents as genuine 
 tokens of the great love we cherish for you : they will, we 
 fondly hope, be reminders for many many years of this very 
 auspicious day. 
 
 ' That we may greatly increase each other's joy, and lighten 
 each other's sorrows while here, and that we may augment each 
 other's happiness for ever, is the earnest prayer of your ever 
 affectionate parents, 
 
 ' SAMUEL WESLEY. 
 'ANN WESLEY.' 
 
 All the good wishes of her parents were not realised in 
 this world, on account of the vanished one's short stay 
 in it ; but character dies not, and in eternity their 
 fondly cherished hopes will be fully crowned. 
 
 Her father, with whom Lizzie had so sunnily spent 
 so large a portion of her existence, addressed to her 
 some lines which, as they claim only to be the poetry of 
 the heart, may be given here without fear as to their 
 meeting with a kindly reception. 
 
 ' April 2nd, 1873. 
 
 ' MY VERY DEAR DAUHTEB, 
 
 ' Will you kindly accept the following lines from the pen and 
 heart of your affectionate father on having attained your majority, 
 and with the hope that they may recall the happy past, and tend 
 to brighten the future of your life. 
 
 ***** 
 
 ' The flight of one-and-twenty years 
 
 Has closed, dear Liz, thy girlhood's days : 
 
48 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 How bright, how short, that space appears ; 
 Its praise be sung in gladdest lays. 
 
 ' Those days live on in memory still, 
 
 Nor will they die in coming time ; 
 They'll linger with us on God's hill, 
 When earth has pealed her funeral chime. 
 
 ' Our morning strolls through meads and lanes, 
 
 Thy ringing laugh, thy sunny smile ; 
 Our wild-flowers pluck' d_with glee and pains, 
 Our halts and tales on many a stile ; 
 
 ' Thy love of poesy and song, 
 
 Thy early gift of self to God, 
 Thy joy to see the old, the young, 
 Safe in the path thy Saviour trod ; 
 
 ' Deep in the storehouse of the soul 
 
 Are kept these relics of the past ; 
 And when the years have ceased to roll, 
 Their bright results with us will last. 
 
 ' We scan this gay and vernal morn, 
 Of life's fair book another page : 
 In classic Eugby thou wast born, 
 In steaming Swindon thou'rt of age. 
 
 ' Is it a dream thy spring is gone ? 
 
 So verdant of fair hopes and joys ; 
 And is thy summer in its dawn ? 
 Long may its golden beauties rise 1 
 
 ' And when the autumn leaves shall fall, 
 
 May bloom still blend with thy decay ; 
 Then hear the Master's gentle call, 
 And wing thy flight to heaven away.' 
 
 It would be well if the young would remember that 
 we have but one spring. Tn the early spring-time Lizzie 
 "Wesley had given her heart to God ; and, before her 
 
MISS WESLEY. 49 
 
 summer had dawned, she had diligently cultivated and 
 stored her mind, formed a beautiful character, led 
 many sinful and sad ones to Jesus, corresponded with 
 numbers who looked up to her as their friend and ad- 
 viser, comforted and cheered many sick, aged, and dying 
 persons, sowed the incorruptible seed of truth on that 
 portion of the field which came under her immediate 
 observation, and scattered it far and wide by means of 
 letters, and possessed all the elements of more extensive 
 usefulness, with an eager wish to use them. 
 
 Lizzie's last record made at that place shall close 
 this chapter. 
 
 ' Sunday, August 31s, 1873. Last time once more. 
 I must record for ever this last afternoon at school. 
 No one present will ever forget the scene. I only pray 
 that my God will early lead these little ones, who love 
 me so truly, to love Him. It all brings back to mind 
 my parting at Eastington.' 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 GEAVESEND, 
 
 RAVE SEND, in Kent, was our next appointment. 
 We entered upon our duties there September 4th, 
 1873. This being a military station, it opened up to us 
 a new sphere, and a new department of Christian effort. 
 The nearness of the town to London, the places of 
 amusement provided for the multitudes, the teeming 
 thousands from the crowded city in quest of pleasure, 
 coming by every available craft on the Thames, especi- 
 ally on the Sabbath, and the stopping of outward- 
 bound and returning vessels, with the intemperance 
 and profligacy consequent thereon, rendered the place 
 a scene of turmoil, Sabbath-desecration, and wickedness 
 to which we had not been accustomed. Our daughter 
 promptly begun her work amongst the young ; but it 
 was obvious that special work for the elevation of 
 another class awaited her. From childhood soldiers 
 had been objects of her deep sympathy and concern : 
 and here they were. She was intensely loyal, deeply 
 cherished Christian patriotism, and felt that men who 
 had given themselves to the service of their Queen 
 and country were deserving of more than respect. She 
 had heard and read of their hardships, heroism, and 
 achievements ; and now, from working among them, 
 she had a more vivid apprehension of their dangers 
 
MEMORIALS OF MISS WESLEY. 51 
 
 and temptations, and longed to see them ' good sol- 
 diers of Jesus Christ.' For years she had the conviction 
 that she would be called to do Christian work for 
 soldiers. A very powerful speech made by the Rev. 
 Charles H. Kelly, on behalf of military work, produced 
 a deep impression upon her, and led her to the decision, 
 that if ever that field of toil should open to her she 
 would not shrink from it. Some of her friends 
 tried to deter her from it. She was young and frail, 
 and the task was arduous. There was publicity con- 
 nected with it ; it would expose her to public criticism ; 
 and more would probably be disposed to censure than 
 to approve. It was an enterprise of daring, and for a 
 young lady to engage in it alone was to take a position 
 altogether singular and perilous. 
 
 Soon as we were' settled in the town she began to 
 make efforts to benefit the men as opportunities were 
 given ; but she had not formally entered upon this 
 work, till one day, accompanying her father in 
 his pastoral duties, she said : ' Papa, I am convinced 
 that my special work here will be among these 
 poor soldiers; they seem left to themselves.' 'Then 
 let us begin at once,' was the reply. ' There are two 
 on the other side, I will introduce you to them, and 
 speak to one of them, and you address the other.' We 
 crossed the street, and after introducing myself to them 
 as the Wesleyan minister of the town, I said : ' This is 
 my daughter, she is deeply interested in soldiers, and 
 intends employing herself among them in Gravesend, 
 and hopes to be the means of reforming and saving 
 many. I am sure you will wish her success.' Lizzie 
 then spoke to them a few words of home, the Sunday- 
 school, and the Saviour, persuasively inviting them 
 
 E 2 
 
52 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 \^r* t ^**r^s^S* r^*^*S^^>-*^-*+jr^r>^-**jr-^-^s-*^r^f-*>^^ 
 
 to the services, and wishing them to inform their 
 comrades that a lady was about to employ herself as 
 a friend of soldiers, and to invite them to come and 
 help her. The right chords were touched, tears stood 
 in their eyes, and as soon as choked utterance was 
 relieved one said, ' I am a Wesleyan, Miss, I was taught 
 in a Sunday-school, but have gone wrong ; ' and the 
 other said, ' My mother was a good woman : if 1 had 
 only followed her advice I should not have been here.' 
 Such was the simple but successful beginning of our 
 work among soldiers. 
 
 News quickly spreads in barrack-rooms, and the 
 men gallantly greeted the announcement that a lady 
 had become their friend, while there was no little 
 charm in the lady's name. 
 
 Lizzie soon became efficient in forming her plans, 
 and in carrying them out. Much of her work had to 
 be done in the streets, and in open day ; and she did 
 not inform any one till years afterwards that she 
 solemnly vowed to God if He would give her the needed 
 help, and sanction her work, she would speak to every 
 soldier she met on the things which belonged to his 
 peace. This resolution, so sacredly formed, was car- 
 ried into practice. This personal and direct dealing- 
 was the great secret of her success. Having entered 
 on this work she took care to qualify herself for it, and 
 she then relied on God. She selected suitable tracts 
 and leaflets, and had small and attractive handbills 
 printed and addressed to soldiers, informing them of 
 the times of the services at the chapel, assuring them 
 that they would find a comfortable seat and have a 
 hearty welcome, and pressing them to come and bring 
 their comrades with them. She always had a number 
 
MISS WESLEY. 53 
 
 of these with her, and when she approached a soldier 
 there was no mistaking her object. She was honest, 
 firm, and bold for truth and right, and when she gave 
 a man an invitation to attend a meeting she would say, 
 if he wavered, ' Do not promise me to come unless you 
 really mean it.' One would thank her for the invita- 
 tion, receive a tract courteously, and say he could not 
 promise to come : and she would express approval of his 
 honesty, and say, ' We shall meet again, and you may 
 not refuse me then.' Her rule was not only to invite, 
 but to have the promise of compliance, and to say, 
 ' If my soldier friends give me a promise of attendance 
 they keep their word, and you will, I feel sure, do the 
 same. I will be there to meet you at such a time.' 
 They would be there, and she would commend them for 
 their faithfulness, and give them a reception which led 
 them to say, ' She gives us full credit for any little good 
 we may possess.' She succeeded by the power of kind- 
 ness. Her invitations to soldiers were soon placed in 
 their rooms so as to strike attention, and her influence 
 with the men grew rapidly. Determined to do her 
 work effectively, she obtained and studied the ' Queen's 
 Regulations and Orders for the Army,' gleaned all 
 the military information she could from the men, 
 keenly observed the character and habits of soldiers, 
 and made herself acquainted with military etiquette. 
 The men now attended the services in good numbers ; 
 many were convinced of sin and were converted to God: 
 the change appeared in their reformed lives. Many 
 now came to our help. Some were veterans in Christ- 
 ian work among civilians and sailors; others were 
 young people who had lately trusted in Christ, and 
 were in their first love. The flight of the soldiers to 
 
54 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Christ as the only Refuge from the storm of sin had 
 aroused many in civil life, and they had found a real 
 shelter in the same Saviour. 
 
 As each batch of soldiers came from the various 
 stations and regiments for ball-firing, we looked on 
 them and said : ' These men will only be with us two 
 or three short weeks ; our opportunity of benefiting 
 them will soon be gone ; we must strive to get them 
 speedily convinced of sin, and saved.' 
 
 The cases in which she had the courage to lay siege 
 to individuals in the midst of their sins were many. 
 One of these may be selected. A young soldier, whose 
 besetment was drink, had his hand on the handle of 
 the gin-palace door, and was about to enter. Lizzie 
 was passing on her way to one of her meetings, and 
 seeing him entering the place said, ' My young friend, 
 do not enter that place, you can get nothing but harm 
 there ; pray don't go in. You had better go with me. 
 I am going to a religious meeting, you will find many 
 of your comrades there, and they will be glad to see 
 you.' He let go the door, seemed for a moment petri- 
 fied, turned round, looked into dear Lizzie's earnest face, 
 and, with her pathetic tones thrilling his heart, and 
 causing the big drops to run down his cheeks, he said, 
 ' I'll go with you, Miss ; ' and she conducted him to 
 the meeting for prayer. Thus unexpectedly arrested in 
 his sinful course, and led to the house of mercy, he 
 was soon after offering the Publican's prayer, ' God be 
 merciful to me a sinner ; ' and he found that the prayer 
 was quickly answered, because it was offered by a 
 repentant soldier. 
 
 In no place or work was Lizzie more at home than 
 in the inquiry-room, directing anxious penitents to the 
 
MISS WESLEY. 55 
 
 V^X>^v^VXVXXXN-^X^W^XXNX^^^-^ *^^wX^ - ^^^VX-o^^ w wy^-^VX-VX> fc -'XXX^NXN^ 
 
 Saviour, 'and encouraging them to believe on Him. On 
 leaving home for a meeting she would sometimes say, 
 * We shall have a grand time to-night ! ' and she rarely 
 miscalculated. 
 
 During our residence in Gravesend, the commissioned 
 officers were refined, courteous, Christian gentlemen ; 
 we had free access to them, and they not only gave us 
 their sanction, but were ever ready to help us, and on 
 public occasions were happy to serve us by their 
 presence or presidency. To Lizzie were the officers 
 of all ranks especially chivalrous in their attention, and 
 their expressions of respect were all the more marked, 
 as they knew and valued her Christian work, and saw 
 its commanding influence upon their men. 
 
 Our pressing want was a Soldiers' Institute of some 
 kind. A provision had been made for the street Arabs 
 and river boys, and the sailor had his ' Bethel ' ; but the 
 soldier was left without any place of bright social resort. 
 Fortunately we were enabled to extemporise one, which, 
 though small and very unpretentious, was cosy, and 
 much enjoyed by our military friends. A room near 
 the chapel was made home-like, a cup of tea or coffee, 
 Ac., could be had, and every evening, except when 
 there was '.service at the chapel, found them gathered 
 there with their lady friend, and others who had become 
 deeply interested in their welfare. The Scriptures 
 were read, each was free to give his views, inspiriting 
 hymns were sung in lively tunes, prayer was offered, 
 instructive and useful books were read ; the meeting 
 took a different character and tone when a convinced 
 sinner was seeking the Saviour, or when a new convert 
 or an experienced believer wished to bear testimony 
 for Christ; and No. 3, Peacock Street, Gravesend, 
 
56 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 became a favourite place of meeting to the men and 
 their friends. It was the only resort of the kind in 
 the town, and it was without any external adornment ; 
 but its snug and very homely character seemed to 
 increase its attraction, and to render its willing occu- 
 pants all the more free, easy, and social. We have seen 
 the soldier from the cottage, the workshop, the business 
 house, and the abode of gentility mingle there for 
 mutual improvement, and feeling that they had a real 
 community of interests. The men were heard to say : 
 ' We are so much at home there ; and we always feel 
 that we have a lady to look up to.' The spot became 
 dear and sacred to many a brave fellow, as the place of 
 his conversion to God and the scene of his first holy 
 joys. God had hallowed it by His presence, and made 
 it to those who resorted to it a sanctuary and a home. 
 
 Every day was filled up with work, and every night 
 Lizzie conducted one or two meetings. There was a 
 service for the military every night, either at the room 
 or the chapel. This was a great point gained ; and 
 she pressed them to avail themselves of the provision 
 made for them, assigning the very obvious reasons that, 
 if they were not there they would be in danger of 
 being enticed to attend forbidden places, and of yield- 
 ing to old vices, whilst, if they were present, they would 
 not only be kept from falling, but also acquire strength 
 by which to stand more firmly in the future. It was 
 surprising to what an extent she succeeded. 
 
 A bright and joyous Christmas time closed the year 
 1873 with the soldiers at Gravesend. Early in the 
 year 1874 an unusual power from on high accompanied 
 our services and made them all special, and the results 
 soon became visible on a wide scale. The saving work 
 
MISS WESLEY. 57 
 
 of God among the military was so striking and genuine 
 that it arrested the attention of civilians of all classes, 
 bat especially of the young. Seeing these men who 
 had been so notorious for their irreligion becoming 
 such visible monuments of God's mercy, they were 
 attracted to the services, and many were saved. 
 
 Miss Wesley's faith and zeal being thus honoured 
 of God, her joy on account of it often rose to rapture, 
 while her unsparing effort was so discriminating and 
 effective, that individual cases were carefully followed 
 up till a change of heart was experienced and the 
 genuine fruits of it appeared. 
 
 We were careful to impress the new converts with 
 the importance of proving the reality of their religion 
 by striving to spread it among others, and they were 
 true to the principle the soldier among his comrades, 
 the civilian among his friends. This gave us a strong 
 band of workers, and God owned their labours every- 
 where. A good sergeant informed us that it was 
 common for his converted men to take their comrades 
 to his room when under deep conviction of sin, and 
 that they would kneel down and pray together ; and 
 the men joyfully apprised us that there was such a 
 seriousness and concern for salvation among them, as to 
 oblige them to pray with each other in a low tone of 
 voice after the lights were out, far into the night. 
 This care for the souls of others operated so deeply 
 and widely, that it was felt desirable to apply for the 
 use of the schoolroom in barracks, in which the men 
 might occasionally hold a religious meeting. The 
 application was granted. Here is an account of one 
 of these remarkable meetings from the pen of one of 
 our young men. 
 
58 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^-*^.^*>^^N-^S^^^^vXN^XXSj^- fc y^XX^VXXX>j^j^^XX 
 
 ' HIGH STEEET, GEAVESESTD. April 7th, 1874. 
 
 ' DEAE Miss WESLEY. 
 
 ' I thought I must let you know at my first opportunity about 
 the glorious meeting we had at the barracks last night. Sergeant 
 
 H n was present, and the room was filled. He spoke to the 
 
 men for about half an hour, and one or two others who have 
 already been converted also addressed them. Then we united 
 in prayer, and the responses were very earnest, and I believe 
 God was with us. You might have heard a pin drop, the men 
 were so still and attentive. I believe that one or two began to 
 think seriously about their souls. Will you pray for all of us 
 who take part in this great work ; for by prayer to God we 
 shall soon have many converted. 
 
 ' I remain, Yours truly, 
 
 < H S .' 
 
 A few days before this cheering letter was received 
 came the return of Lizzie's birthday. Her health was 
 suffering greatly from the constant strain on her physical 
 energies ; and even the untold joy of success was 
 increasing the insidious malady which at last proved 
 fatal. 
 
 Lizzie's last entry in her diary before the anniversary 
 of her birthday was, ' I do earnestly pray for God's 
 blessing on me and my little simple work.' Her 
 memorial of the day itself was given in two entries : 
 
 ' April 2nd, 1874. An April day of sunshine and 
 storm. My birthday letters were glorious forty, and 
 hearing Dr. Punshon in the evening was a great joy.' 
 Her second record consisted of her usual reflections on 
 her natal day, and this year they were of a very mingled 
 character. ' This is my birthday. I henceforth dedicate 
 myself fully to Christ and His glorious service. To- 
 night I feel strangely the need of prayer in working 
 out my own salvation, and in winning dear blood-bought 
 
MISS WESLEY. 59 
 
 souls for Christ. I will not to-night look sadly towards 
 the future as I have often done ; but Jesus, dear Jesus, 
 give me help for the present time, and I will trust for 
 the future. All have been so kind to me to-day ; and 
 absent names have lingered upon our lips, and have 
 held an unforgotten place in our hearts. With quiet 
 heart I will leave myself to God. My great longing 
 to-night is that our soldiers may come to Jesus. It is 
 the prayer of my heart, on this my birthday anniversary, 
 that God will make me wise in winning these brave 
 men over to the right. God help me. And O ! I 
 pray that my precious father and mother may long be 
 spared to me. ! hear my prayer, dear Jesus.' 
 
 The Sabbath was always a high day with Miss 
 Wesley. She anticipated it as 'a reaping day.' 
 
 In the case of new converts her efforts to prevent 
 them from relapsing into their former state were so 
 untiring, thoughtful, and kindly, that we are not at all 
 surprised that she so largely succeeded. Having been 
 a total abstainer all her life, she strongly recommended 
 strict Temperance, and the taking of the pledge, where 
 she knew it to be necessary, and often signed it with 
 them. She had a simple and solemn form of her owr, 
 a copy of which is now before me, bearing the signature 
 of a Christian officer of high rank, who was anxious 
 that his example should influence his men. At the 
 head of the pledge there is given, without adding the 
 words, Prov. i. 10 ; and at the foot, Rev. ii. 10. The 
 weekly class-meeting and their own nightly gathering 
 were urged with all her power, as valuable means of 
 spiritual growth and strength, and calculated to bind 
 them to each other as Christian soldiers and brethren. 
 At an early hour in the morning their pastor some- 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 times met them in their zealous sergeant's room, at 
 their own request, before taking their departure, and 
 gave them trial notes as preparatory to full Church- 
 membership, in order to secure for them immediate 
 recognition and pastoral attention on arriving at their 
 next station. A room in our own house became well 
 known to them as a soldier's home in miniature, and it 
 was a pleasure to see how Lizzie's welcome set them at 
 ease, and led them frankly to open their minds to her in 
 seasons of doubt, depression, and danger. Many a sin- 
 cere soldier of the Cross, whose ' feet had well-nigh 
 slipped,' has repaired to the consecrated room, and, after 
 a lively hymn, a fervent prayer, and a few words of 
 sympathy and encouragement, has gone on his way 
 rejoicing. Sometimes a soldier would come with whom 
 the habit of intemperance had been of long standing, 
 and honestly, but with shame and sorrow, confess that 
 he had fallen ; and, determined on restoring him, she 
 would say in tones of pity : ' Well, I'm very sorry, but, 
 to tell you the truth, you have resisted quite as long as 
 I expected. Do not despair. Try again. You will do 
 better next time. Perhaps you have depended too much 
 on self. You must pray to Christ more. Here is 
 another pledge, sign it for a week, and then, if you 
 succeed, we will renew it.' The poor fellow, quite over- 
 come with her kindness, would say : ' Why, Miss, I 
 thought you'd censure me, and give me up ; but you 
 have hope of me ; I'll have another try.' She would now 
 get him to attach his signature, and add her own. But 
 to complete the transaction she would say, ' Now we 
 must both pray for God's help ; ' and, in the most 
 reverent manner and spirit, she would implore that he 
 might be kept faithful : the delinquent's own heart- 
 
MISS WESLEY. 61 
 
 ^^rxy^x^X*fcX^y^^NXN>'NXXXNx^x^vvxx^^^*/^^^^ 
 
 breathed petitions closed the scene. Taking the broken 
 pledge in this express and formal manner, and making 
 it a religious act, the man felt himself all the more 
 solemnly bound to it, and, recognising his dependence 
 on God more practically than he ever realised it before, 
 he renewed the pledge, kept it as a solemn oath, and, on 
 a field where so many like himself had fallen, he nobly 
 and firmly stood. Such cases of success were numerous, 
 and, but for her patience, tenderness, and hopefulness, 
 they might have been the most hopeless failures. 
 
 She found it important to connect the social element 
 with religious principle, and get up an occasional tea 
 meeting, and spend a happy and profitable evening in 
 song, prayer, and short addresses by the men and their 
 civilian friends. These gatherings brought out their 
 talents surprisingly, increased good and kindly feeling 
 among them, and greatly promoted their usefulness. 
 In addition to these smaller parties, we held a large 
 annual tea, and a public meeting afterwards, at which 
 one of the commissioned officers presided. The men 
 regarded these as grand occasions, obtained passes, 
 and came in considerable numbers from all the sur- 
 rounding stations, their wives and friends mingled with 
 them from married quarters, and the occasion was 
 anticipated and enjoyed as a real festival. 
 
 The testimony of an officer, who was as good as he 
 was gentlemanly, to our moral influence on one of these 
 social occasions, was enough to make us think little of 
 all our toil and pains. Taking his seat beside me with 
 his usual urbanity he said, ' Really I am perfectly 
 astonished at the change in these men. I have been 
 carefully watching them. Their very countenances are 
 altered. Here's a man next to you who used to give us 
 
62 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 a deal of trouble, but we have no trouble with him now. 
 There is another man yonder who used to be such a 
 surly, ungainly fellow. See how bright he is now. 
 And his movements are now quick and sharp. Upon 
 my word, you have somehow more power over my men 
 than I have. I know not how you have done it.' ' We 
 have not done it at all, Sir,' was the only reply that 
 could be given ; ' a higher power has made the change, 
 and we have been used in the process.' ' You are right, 
 Sir,' was the officer's reply, ' but I don't like to overlook 
 the human agents.' Among other encouraging remarks 
 in his telling speech at the meeting he humbled and 
 stimulated us by saying : ' If all Christian people acted 
 towards our soldiers as the Wesley s have done in 
 Gravesend, I think we should have a converted 
 army.' 
 
 We endeavoured to make the final departure of 
 the various drafts of men from us as profitable as pos- 
 sible, so that it might live in their recollection when 
 far away. Many a group of brave fellows whose 
 change of character was undoubted has gathered ii^. 
 our pretty little parlour for the last time. Dear Lizzie 
 would brighten them and give them the best advice 
 for the future as they partook of a friendly cup of 
 cocoa, though in her heart she felt sadly anxious about 
 them. The parting hymn was sung, Lizzie presiding 
 at the piano, they were commended to God in prayer, 
 and when the ' good-bye ' came, men unused to tears 
 would break down as they gratefully thanked us for 
 our kindness. We have heard them say : ' We could 
 go to the cannon's mouth without anything of this.' 
 As we looked out at the side window to catch a last 
 glimpse of them, we have seen them turn round, take 
 
MISS WESLEY. 63 
 
 a final glance at the old house, brush away their tears, 
 and manfully march on. 
 
 But our efforts for them did not end with that 
 closing interview. Our influence followed them. We 
 wrote to ministers to take charge of the men who were 
 ordered to home stations, and gave letters of introduc- 
 tion to missionaries to secure pastoral care for those 
 who were leaving for foreign service. With many of 
 them we corresponded afterwards, and were glad to 
 find them true to their colours and useful in the service 
 of Christ. Some of the converted soldiers, and those 
 who toiled with us for their benefit, are now, very much 
 from the force of circumstances, connected with other 
 sections of the Church ; but though we do not wear the 
 same uniform, and are not in the same regiment, we 
 belong to the same army, and we cannot forget old 
 comrades, but bail each other as Christians in the 
 midst of the conflict, and heartily rejoice in each 
 other's triumphs over the common foe. 
 
 We have contemplated Miss Wesley's toil which 
 was unavoidably of a public character ; but an im- 
 portant part of it, and one which deeply affected her 
 sensitive spirit, was hidden. Military hospital scenes 
 are veiled from the gaze of the many, and witnessed 
 only by the very few. The eye which never closes 
 watches them, and the heart which never grows cold 
 is interested in them by night and by day. And 
 Lizzie was familiar with them, her compassionate heart 
 yearned over the sufferers, and some of the saddest 
 yet most sterling pleasures of her life were experienced 
 in relieving pain, ministering comfort to jaded frames, 
 and consolation to depressed and broken spirits. There 
 was a women's ward, and into it were received soldiers' 
 
64 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 wives from the most distant and trying stations occu- 
 pied by the British army. They were landed at 
 Grravesend at the end of their hazardous voyage from the 
 far East, and conveyed to the sick ward, suffering from 
 the effects of tropical climate, so dire to the susceptible 
 constitutions of English females. Among these their 
 young lady friend was found moving and ministering 
 with a step and look and tone worthy an experienced 
 nurse. No form of disease deterred her. The more 
 virulent the malady, and the deeper the suffering, the 
 more did she find on which to expend her compassion 
 and help. The case of a private soldier's wife is well 
 remembered, and it interested Lizzie more than any 
 other, as it was the most afflictive and hopeless. The 
 most inveterate form of Indian fever had attenuated 
 her once vigorous frame, and reduced it to utter help- 
 lessness,. Her countenance, once fair and beautiful, 
 was now darkly bronzed, and expressive of extreme 
 languor, restlessness, and suffering. Lizzie's anxious 
 attention to this severely-afflicted woman was incessant, 
 and everything was tried that could be thought of to 
 relieve and rally her, but in vain. The kind and skilful 
 doctor said one day, 'To see a young lady of Miss 
 Wesley's position and refinement paying such unsparing 
 and hazardous attention to that poor woman touches 
 me deeply. I never saw anything like it before. 
 There is no other lady in this town who dare approach 
 that case, or who would do so.' But without; reflecting 
 on others we are glad that there was one who had enough 
 heart and courage to take up the case without hesita- 
 tion, and in its entirety, for she led the dejected sufferer 
 by the salutary influence of her trials to the sympathy 
 of' Jesus, and the comfort of soul she received at 
 
MISS WESLEY. 65 
 
 Calvary flowed out in cheerful submission to Him who 
 doth all things well. Her love for her benefactress was 
 most intense, and she told out her thankfulness very 
 touchingly as each simply given kindness was received. 
 As the sinking patient slowly declined she thought of 
 a farinaceous food which she found very nutritious to 
 her in the land of the sun, and, hoping that it might be 
 obtained, she said very brightly to her faithful friend, 
 ' If I could have some Indian corn, and get it prepared 
 as I had it in India, I think it might strengthen and 
 restore me.' It was procured and cooked, and the 
 sight of it gratified her as it recalled the past ; but she 
 was too prostrate to partake of it, and the pleasing 
 hope only proved to be an illusion. Nature now rapidly 
 gave way, and the end soon came ; but she died trust- 
 ing in the Saviour, and lovingly thanking the ' kind 
 lady ' who had led her to Him. After we had com- 
 mitted her body to the ground in sure and certain hope, 
 the thankfulness of her sorrowing husband for our 
 attentions was very apparent. He called to express 
 his heartfelt thanks, and begged my acceptance of a 
 walking-stick which he had brought from China. It 
 
 is a precious remembrancer of Private M , his 
 
 beloved wife, and of one of the most beautiful scenes 
 in the benevolent life of our daughter. 
 
 In the men's hospital wards Lizzie was more fre- 
 quently found than we ever knew, alleviating affliction 
 when she had the power, and especially using the most 
 likely means to secure desirable fruits of it. Indeed, 
 much of her service was given to the grateful receivers 
 of it without a word being uttered at home ; and 
 when she had daringly visited in desperate cases, she 
 would simply admit the fact, and justify it as a mere 
 
 F 
 
66 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 matter of duty. A poor soldier was conveyed from his 
 ship suffering from yellow fever, and, fearing that he- 
 would be left to suffer alone, she in her gentleness and 
 invincibility was found by his side cheering the stricken 
 one by promises from the heart of God, and pointing 
 him to Jesus who could protect her and save him. 
 
 The married quarters were to her familiar scenes 
 of joyous effort, and soldiers' wives and children always 
 gave her a hearty welcome, while she endeared herself 
 to them in their varied circumstances by the advice, 
 sympathy, and help which she so well knew how and 
 when to give. 
 
 The epistolary correspondence of Miss Wesley, 
 arising out of her military work, soon became very 
 extensive. By her letters she retained her influence 
 over the men both at home and abroad, and they were a 
 great power in keeping them up to the standard she had 
 erected for them. Entering into each case as she did 
 gave a variety to her correspondence. Her hand- 
 writing was so original, plain, and graceful, that it often 
 arrested the attention, and made the thoughtless read. 
 She became so expert as a letter- writer to soldiers that, 
 with only the thought of the moment, she would 
 increase the size of her characters, and place words of 
 counsel, comfort, or admonition in a separate line, and 
 with such precision and effect as to strike at once and 
 perform their mission. Hundreds of soldiers in bar- 
 racks, in camp, in hospital, going into action, and after 
 the heat of battle, have been cheered and animated by 
 her letters ; and the warm and grateful replies, written 
 under every variety of circumstance in soldier life, some 
 of them fresh from the field of death and victory, 
 thanking her for her interest in them, and assuring 
 
MISS WESLEY. 67 
 
 *^N_/'NXXXXXXXXX>^'XXN^'x>'xxxxN>'\y'XXNx'N^'x>'XX>^'^ 
 
 her that words in her letters had inspired them with 
 courage, and led them, to look to Jesus in the thickest 
 of the fight, gave her the assurance that her pen had 
 been owned of God. 
 
 In the space of our three years' abode at G-ravesend 
 she wrote not less than two thousand five hundred 
 letters to soldiers, which numbers more than four every 
 day in the week. In the intervals between her letters 
 she kept up the supply of tracts, leaflets, and periodi- 
 cals, so that she should not lose touch of the objects of 
 her solicitude, and that they might always have some 
 occupation for their leisure moments. This strain 
 on her energies produced a weakness and dimness of 
 vision, which increased the seriousness of her fear that 
 she might be called to surrender what she felt to be 
 almost dearer than life itself her sight. 
 
 Hundreds of letters from officers and men might be 
 given, reporting the good they had received from her 
 labours. One case may be here given : 
 
 ' During the summer of 1874 I was stationed at the 
 Musketry Depdt, Milton Barracks, Gravesend. One Sun- 
 day afternoon several small handbills were distributed 
 among the men, announcing that soldiers would find 
 good seats and a very hearty welcome at the Wesleyan 
 chapel, stating the services held there, also the meetings 
 conducted for soldiers on four evenings of the week at 
 No. 3, Peacock Street. In response to the invitation 1 
 attended the service in the evening. The text was 
 James i. 22-25. The theme was the contrast between 
 the doer of the Word and the forgetful hearer. As I 
 was leaving the chapel, I was addressed by a lady, then 
 a stranger to me, but who I afterwards found to be Miss 
 
 F 2 
 
68 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *'W'^XV>'>-/^XV>- 1 >w'' p V/ p VXV^VXN^''V^ p V>'XXNX'N^^ 
 
 Wesley. She conversed with me some time, and well 
 do I remember her plain and earnest questions : " Ser- 
 geant, if you were to die to-night, are you quite sure 
 you would go to heaven ? " (I was quite sure I should 
 not, though I did not reply in these words.) Observing 
 my hesitation, there followed the impressive utterance : 
 " Well, thank Grod the last post for heaven has not yet 
 sounded." Other inquiries followed : " Well now, my 
 friend, you have been looking in the Gospel-glass lately, 
 have you not ? Will you try and come to these and the 
 week-night services, and to the meetings for soldiers at 
 Peacock Street ? " I assented, and we parted. A few 
 days afterwards I received a letter from her, the con- 
 tents of which I regret that I am obliged to transcribe 
 from'memory, owing to the loss of valuable papers, and, 
 among them, most of Miss Wesley's letters. But I had 
 become so familiar with the one to which I refer by its 
 frequent perusal that I can give it nearly to a word : 
 
 " 38, WINDMILL ST., GRAVESEND, July, 1874. 
 
 " SERGEANT H s. DEAE FRIEND, 
 
 " I do not know why, but somehow I feel that I must write 
 a few lines to tell you how anxious I am that you should come to 
 Jesus to-day. 
 
 " I often feel sad when I see so many of our poor soldier lads 
 living without God and without hope in the world ; and how 
 dreadful it would be if you were to die with your sins unf orgiven. 
 You would never see God in heaven ; and we could never meet 
 you there. I feel sure that you have had the advantages of a 
 religious training ; perhaps, years ago, your own dear mother has 
 told you the sweet story of a Saviour's love ; and I do feel so 
 anxious that you should be made happy. Will you come to our 
 little prayer-meetings often, and pray that God may bless you ? 
 And I will gladly help you, and so will our good friend. Sergeant 
 Hilton. 
 
 " I must close, apologising for having written so long a letter. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 69 
 
 1 The Lord lift upon thee the light of His countenance, and give 
 thee peace ; ' and may God ever bless thee, is the sincere prayer of 
 " Your friend for the Saviour's sake, 
 
 "ELIZABETH A. WESLEY." 
 
 ' This stirring letter, so true as to my early career 
 and present state, produced a deep impression upou me 
 which I never shook off, and, after attending several 
 week-night services and prayer- meetings at the soldiers' 
 room, I was again found at the evening service at the 
 chapel. (I was considered at this time a " Protestant," 
 and was required to attend morning service at the 
 church.) From the evening service to which I now 
 refer I date my hope of heaven. The Rev. J. Ingram 
 preached from Romans viii. 1 : " There is therefore 
 now no condemnation," &c. It was to me the most 
 powerful sermon I ever heard. In the prayer-meeting 
 which followed, sin and Satan strove hard for the 
 mastery. I went forward broken-hearted to the 
 communion rail, and there, in the bitterness of my soul, 
 I cried aloud to God for mercy, and He heard and 
 answered my prayer. Sergeant Hilton was on one side 
 of me, and Miss Wesley on the other, and with an 
 expression of fervour which I can never forget she 
 exclaimed. " Thank God ! I have been praying for this 
 all day : " and from her soul-agony in pleading, and her 
 amazing power in prevailing with God for me, there 
 could be no doubt of it. The Christian interest which 
 she then evinced in my behalf never waned, but on 
 through the years she wrote me the most valuable letters. 
 When the direction of my duty gave me the opportunity 
 of calling on her there was always the hearty and hos- 
 pitable welcome, and the fervent prayer at parting, and 
 she proved to be my spiritual guide and helper. Miss 
 
70 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *r>is^s f ^^^r^-^^~*>s~**r\sr*^s~^s^^s^^^ 
 
 Wesley's unceasing prayers ascended to God for the 
 whole British army, and especially in times of their 
 most imminent peril ; and the good which her God-given 
 influence effected in various regiments now in many 
 parts of the world will never be known till Christ shall 
 come to make up His jewels. She was entii-ely given up 
 to the work to which she believed God had called her ; 
 and when she had succeeded under difficulties, which to 
 an ordinary person would have been insurmountable, 
 and after many and bitter disappointments, I have heard 
 her say with an enthusiasm which a true soldier knew 
 how to value : " I could willingly die if I could only 
 win all that regiment for Jesus." In her religious views 
 she was decided, and a firm supporter of her own 
 Church, yet her spirit was truly catholic, and she hated 
 proselytism ; and after she heard that I had decided to 
 become a member of the Wesleyan Church, she wrote 
 in a letter to me : " We never rob another Church to 
 enrich our own ; but when God sends us members we 
 do indeed give them a hearty welcome." ' 
 
 Her last letter from the sergeant was received and 
 answered within a year of her death, and she was loyally 
 glad to hear that he had been twenty years in the service, 
 had been promoted, and had received a good conduct 
 medal, with five pounds gratuity ; so that while he had a 
 happy home, he had the prospect of comfortable retire- 
 ment. His life had been chequered since he had embraced 
 religion, but he had not left the right path ; and the 
 same voice which said to him in Gravesend, ' Be still, 
 and know that I am God,' still addressed him saying, 
 ' I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' But like 
 too many, even Christian soldiers, he was not acquiring 
 
MISS WESLEY. 71 
 
 -XXNXN^^X^X~^^^x~\X-^~^^>^^XN^X^XXN-/ i-s^^^X^XXXN^^/VXXX^XNXXXNX^ 
 
 the spiritual strength he should for the want of more 
 active service in the Great Master's cause ! He was 
 thankful that the last post had not yet sounded, and 
 resolving to arouse himself to more vigorous action. 
 But what might have been his position and prospect had 
 he not embraced and retained religion ? Scores of 
 such testimonies might be given did space permit, 
 some of them of very deep interest. 
 
 Her letters to the soldiers were greatly valued by 
 them, and carefully preserved. The following are 
 given as samples : 
 
 ' DEAR FRIEND IN CHRIST JESUS, 
 
 ' I was very glad to see you at our meeting the other night, 
 and above all to know that in the midst of difficult circumstances 
 you were living to God and for His glory. They only truly live 
 who;consecrate their life to Jesus. Let us more than ever be deter- 
 mined that Christ and Him crucified shall be our only glory : 
 
 " Content to let the world go by, 
 
 To know no gain or loss, 
 Our sinful self, our only shame, 
 Our glory all the Cross." 
 
 ' I have been greatly cheered this week by letters from a 
 number of factory girls, among whom God permitted me to 
 labour in the West of England. 
 
 ' I often used to think my work was in vain, and to-day I 
 feel so rejoiced to iknow that the seed was not all sown in " stony 
 ground," but that it was implanted by God in good and honest 
 hearts. 
 
 ' Yes, dear friend Austin, put your trust in God, and He will 
 bless you and your labour. Give my Christian love to dear Mrs. 
 
 B and her children, and our friend, the colour-sergeant. I do 
 
 hope she is better, I am so afraid the cold journey from Gravesend 
 would make both Mrs. B and her little precious child very ill. 
 
 ' With very kind Christian regards to all, 
 
 ' I am, yours sincerely in Christ, 
 ( Sergeant John Austin.' 'ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 
72 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 i^N^^*^te^m^Mta^^W^A^0^Ml0^A*%MMMl^0<Mi^N^0% 
 
 This second letter of Miss Wesley's commends itself 
 to Christian and Temperance workers. 
 
 ' GBAVESEND, November llth, 1875. 
 ' MY FRIEND IN JESTTS, 
 
 ' The bearer of this note, Private Seaman, is leaving us 
 to-day for Chatham. He is a good, Christian brother, and we 
 shall miss him at Peacock Street. 
 
 ' Do you know Sergeant Jeffereys ? does he attend " The 
 Home " ? If so, will you give him Christian regards. Talk to 
 him of Jesus, and try to help each other on. 
 
 ' I am so glad that you sent your brother to our little meetings, 
 I feel very anxious about him, and I do pray earnestly that on 
 board his ship he may be a great blessing for good. I do trust 
 that he will have his heart filled with love to God and his poor 
 perishing comrades. Half-hearted service will never do for Jesus ; 
 as you say, we must be in earnest if we would snatch souls from 
 hell and eternal death. 
 
 ' Is it not blessed to work for Jesus ? I am so glad you 
 have been trying to point that young woman to the Lamb of 
 God. I do pray that she may be found among your jewels when 
 you reach the better land. 
 
 ' Speak one word for Jesus whenever you can, dear friend, 
 He died for you. It rejoices me to know that in the midst of 
 trial and temptation you are still on the Saviour's side and not 
 ashamed to let the world know who is your King. Let us have 
 one word about " Temperance." Sergeant Hilton once said to me, 
 " It is almost impossible to be a Christian in the army without 
 being a total abstainer. I know because I have tried it." He 
 said that at sergeants' mess and on " picket duty " and M. P. 
 service there were so many temptations, and if you were a 
 pledged teetotaler it was so much easier to say no. 
 
 1 What do you think, Friend Austin ? I think that is a matter 
 entirely with God and our own conscience ; but I certainly feel 
 that in the midst of so much drunkenness it is a grand thing to 
 be separate and to come out from those who thus sin. I am not 
 so strict as some, I should NEVEB be a Good Templar, and I 
 take alcohol as a medicine if I am ordered by a doctor, but I feel, 
 for example to others who cannot drink moderately, I must not 
 
HISS WESLEY. 73 
 
 as a beverage take intoxicating liquor. What a long letter I am 
 writing on this subject, but this week my heart has been grieved 
 and wounded to hear of several of my soldier friends in various 
 regiments who have fallen into the fearful sin of intemperance, 
 and instead of being what they once were strong, happy Christ 
 ian soldiers, they are now as low as sin can make them. 
 
 ' Poor lads, my heart Heeds for them. I must close this letter. 
 The Lord bless you, is the earnest prayer of your friend in the 
 Saviour's love, 
 
 'ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 'Sergeant John Austin. 
 
 4 I am indeed glad about your two dear friends ; pray on. 
 
 4 P.S. I find Seaman is not leaving us this week, so Mr. 
 Burdett will kindly bring this note and also this parcel of old 
 tracts for the Juno, if you think them worth taking with you 
 when you go to Sheerness. 
 
 ' I have just received your letter and it has cheered me greatly. 
 Praise God is all I can say. It is strange that I should have 
 been writing to you to-night before your letter came. I am 
 thankful you have decided to be an abstainer. 
 
 ' May God help you, dear friend. Keep close to Jesus. Praise 
 God that you and your brother kneeled together. The angels in 
 heaven would rejoice to see you commend each other to God. 
 To Him be all the glory.' 
 
 How gratifying it was to the writer of this letter 
 to find that the sergeant was resolving to give his 
 heart to the Saviour, and also to become an abstainer. 
 
 The sergeant being ordered abroad, the following 
 letter was written to him. 
 
 ' 38, WINDMILL STREKT, GRAVESEND, January 25th, 1876. 
 ' Whenever you look at the enclosed photograph, dear friend, 
 will you remember that your friend is praying for you. Keep 
 close to Jesus, " Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and for 
 ever." These are the last words I would say to you, Keep close to 
 Jesus. Be true to Christ, and then never mind if the ship goes 
 down you will go safe home to glory. But we pray that God 
 may speed the ship and give you a safe and pleasant voyage. 
 
74 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *s~^/~*/\s^/~^/^s**s*\*r^s^/*^r^s~^^^^s^^/^^ 
 
 ' Try to win your dear shipmates for our Saviour the Captain of 
 our salvation. 
 
 ' We had a blessed meeting last night. Never forget the old 
 chapel, and the peace of God which came into your heart at 
 Gravesend. 
 
 ' I was so rejoiced to see you once more ; we shall hope to hear 
 from you when you reach Madeira. 
 
 ' God bless you, put your trust in Him, never fear, He has pro- 
 mised to be your sun and shield. God be with the Opal, and 
 give you His blessing. 
 
 ' I am, Your true friend in our Saviour's love, 
 
 ' ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 
 1 My father and mother's Christian regards and best wishes. 
 My Christian love to our friend Ehodes ; I shall be glad to hear 
 from you at any time.' 
 
 This letter inspired the sergeant with Christian 
 fortitude in prospect of the perils of the sea, and of 
 foreign service ; and it prompted him to do good from 
 the moment he set foot on his ship. The parting gift 
 of her photograph was not only to be a reminder of his 
 friend, but of the mercy- seat, at which all true prayer 
 blends, and where all Christian friends meet. 
 
 In reply to a letter giving an account of their perils 
 on the voyage, Miss Wesley wrote : 
 
 ' GRAVESEND, 38, ST. GEOEGE'S TERRACE, 
 March 16th, 1876. 
 
 1 MY DEAR FRIEND IN OUR SAVIOUR'S LOVE, 
 
 ' You have been in my thoughts several times this week, and I 
 intended writing to you, but I missed the Rio mail. I was very 
 surprised to have your note this morning, but very thankful to 
 find that instead of being exposed to the fury of the waves and 
 winds you were safely in harbour. 
 
 ' the comfort of being safe even in the midst of a storm. I 
 am sure when most in danger you would feel the Saviour very 
 precious to you. The words of our old hymn you remember : 
 
MISS WESLEY. 75 
 
 ^^-Vj'xy^vy-^xv^^^x^^xxx^^x^-^v^^vx^^^^-' 
 
 " Hide me, my Saviour, hide, 
 
 Till the storm of life be past 1 
 Safe into the haven guide, 
 receive my soul at last ! " 
 
 ' Thank God, dear friend, that you and I have a haven to go to, 
 '' Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our abiding home." 
 
 ' In this life we must expect danger and difficulty ; but only let 
 us be faithful and true to our God and then we shall gather in our 
 Father's home above. 
 
 ' My dear father's severe illness has prevented my going up to 
 barracks so often as usual, but I am thankful to be able to tell 
 you that there are some in the rooms wLo are saying " We would 
 see Jesus." 
 
 ' They are only known to myself and God, but I believe ere 
 long many even in Milton Barracks will come out boldly, and 
 fight for our Captain the Lord of Hosts. Pray for us, Friend 
 Austin, that we may have faith and courage to bring all these 
 wandering ones to Jesus. 
 
 ' My dear father's illness is a great and severe trial ; he has not 
 been able to do his beloved work for nearly six weeks, but he is, I 
 am thankful to say, much better. All friends send their kind 
 Christian regards. 
 
 ' Praying earnestly for you, and for your comrades on board 
 the Opal, and commending you once more to God's care, 
 ' I am, Your friend in Christ, 
 
 ' ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 ' Sergeant John Austin.' 
 
 The following case is one which will arrest the 
 attention of the reader. 
 
 It was by the instrumentality of one of Mark Guy 
 Pearse's striking tracts entitled, ' Getting Saved,' that, 
 under God, the salvation of a sergeant, an erring one, 
 was effected ; and Mr. Pearse has kindly aided me in 
 recalling some of the circumstances which were not 
 made matter of record. 
 
 It seems that the sergeant was passing the soldiers' 
 
76 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^>^s^^>~f^f**s**s^^s**iir^s^s^s*~ii*^^ 
 
 room, and Lizzie being there invited him in, there 
 being something very unusual in his appearance an 
 apparent expression of sadness and desperation ; he 
 complied, and stayed till the close of the meeting, 
 and, as he was leaving, she said to him, ' Will you 
 be good enough to take this little book ? ' 
 
 The sergeant replied, ' It is very good of you to 
 speak to me in that way, Miss, there is not another 
 woman in the world that would do it.' 
 
 Miss Wesley smiled, held out her hand, and said, 
 'Will you shake hands with me, and promise that you will 
 read it through to-night ? I always trust a soldier's word.' 
 
 The man grasped the hand, and said, ' I will, Miss, 
 thank you.' Lizzie little dreamed that at that moment 
 he had the weapon loaded, and was hastening back to 
 his quarters to carry out his dreadful intention. Having 
 reached his room he locked his door, and had raised 
 his hand to shoot himself ; but, remembering his 
 promise to the young lady, he laid the pistol on the 
 table, read the tract, was seized with terrible conviction, 
 fell on his knees with a despairing groan, and wept 
 very bitterly. 
 
 A godly sergeant who occupied the next room had 
 suspicion of the unhappy man's intention, and, hearing 
 the groan, knocked eagerly at his door, and asked to 
 be let in. Seeing, as he entered, the pistol, the tract, 
 and a letter which he had written to his wife and child- 
 ren lying on the table, he asked what it all meant. 
 The penitent man gave an explanation of the whole- 
 He now carefully read the tract to him, they then 
 knelt down, and, while they fervently prayed together, 
 the stricken one believed on Christ, and was saved on 
 the verge of ruin. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 11 
 
 s~>*s->*s~**s**/-**s*>~s*>~r*>^**s~*^ f **s^^ 
 
 Then they rose, and, with a beaming face and a heart 
 full of wonder and praise, the changed sergeant pointed 
 to the two things lying side by side. ' Look there,' he 
 muttered with a shudder, 'there is the pistol that 
 nearly sent me to hell ; and there is the little book 
 which by God's mercy will be the means of getting me 
 to heaven.' Then, taking up the book, and seeing Mr. 
 Pearse's name, he said, ' I'll tell you what I think we 
 ought to do we ought to draw the bullet and send it 
 to the man who wrote the book.' So the bullet was 
 accordingly drawn and set aside for Mr. Pearse ; but when 
 he came some time afterwards to give us a lecture, under 
 the promise from Miss Wesley that he should receive 
 the present of a bullet, the sergeant, who attended His 
 Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on his Indian tour, 
 had taken it with him. 
 
 The writer has a vivid recollection of the scene 
 which was presented in our vestry on the evening 
 following the sergeant's conversion, when the narrative 
 was given to encourage a number of soldiers who were 
 seeking the Saviour. 
 
 My late daughter, at the request of friends, wrote the 
 story in her own modest style ; and we now give it as 
 it appeared in Dr. Stephenson's Children's Advocate, to 
 illustrate the importance of tract distribution. 
 
 ' DEAR MR. PEARSE, 
 
 ' We very often thank God that you ever wrote the tract 
 entitled, " Getting Saved," for its simple teaching has been a 
 great blessing to many sad hearts. The last year it has been 
 my constant companion, for I knew that it could help sinners in 
 seeking Christ far better than any words of mine. 
 
 ' During my father's ministry here many of our Sunday, 
 school children have found Jesus " mighty to save," and older 
 
78 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 people too. This town is an important station for musketry 
 practice, and a great number of troops come to the garrison for 
 a fortnight only, and then go away, and others take their places. 
 ' My father is acting-chaplain to the Methodist soldiers ; but 
 for years they have been greatly neglected, as our ministers have 
 their time so taken up with Circuit matters. Last year we 
 opened a room, and hundreds of men in various regiments came 
 and listened eagerly to " the old, old story." Amongst those who 
 came last summer was a sergeant of a line regiment. As he was 
 leaving the meeting one night God told me to give him " Getting 
 Saved." I did so, and he promised to read it. A few days after 
 he said to me, " That tract you gave me saved me from suicide." 
 And then he told me the sad story of his life. He was once a 
 scholar in a Wesleyan Sunday-school, but he wandered far from 
 God, and enlisted in a regiment ordered abroad. His friends 
 were very grieved with his conduct, but he would not listen to 
 them. He went to India, married a Roman Catholic woman, and 
 for many years led a most miserable life. He was promoted to 
 the rank of sergeant, and a year ago returned to England. 
 He came here with his company, and was induced to attend that 
 meeting for soldiers. Memories of home and the past came to 
 his mind, as he listened once more to earnest prayers, and sang 
 again the old Methodist hymns ; his heart was very sad, and he 
 determined to leave the meeting and in his own quarters put an 
 end to his wasted existence. His own revolver was charged, 
 when suddenly he thought of the promise to read the tract 
 given to him. He read carelessly at first, but as he turned over 
 the pages he found there just what he wanted, " words of peace." 
 ' That peace which passeth all understanding came to his 
 heart, and instead of dying as a suicide, he determined his life 
 should be consecrated to Christ. The sergeant is now trying to win 
 his poor wife for Jesus. He has been in hospital for some months, 
 but he says Jesus has been with him every day. 
 
 ' I wish I could send you a letter he wrote to me soon after 
 he read " Getting Saved," but I gave it to a friend. I saw not 
 long ago the bullet which he intended should take his life away. 
 The sergeant gave it to a Christian comrade, that it might never 
 remind him again of his sin. We have had several cases of 
 conversion through reading that tract among civilians. The most 
 
MISS WESLEY. 79 
 
 blessed, perhaps, was that of a gentleman to whom I gave it a 
 few months ago. He and his wife are now both earnest workers 
 and members of our Church. 
 
 ' I am, dear Sir, 
 
 ' Yours sincerely, 
 ' May 31st, 1875: ' E.A.W. 
 
 From the time of the sergeant's conversion the 
 evidences of the great change became as visible as 
 were previously the fruits of his sins. They were 
 seen in the time of affliction; for Miss Wesley visited 
 him in hospital, when suffering from the serious effects 
 of foreign climate, and said she never saw a more beau- 
 tiful patience, or a more cheerful faith than his. She 
 corresponded with him, and her testimony to his 
 consistency seven years afterwards is now before me. 
 ' Instead of taking away his life he consecrated it to 
 God's service. It has been bright with God's own sun- 
 shine ; his wife has become a Christian, and his children 
 are being early led to Jesus. Seven years have brought 
 many changes, the sergeant has been on foreign service, 
 and is now far away ; but wherever he goes he is a 
 faithful witness of God's power to save.' He wrote a 
 cheerful letter to Miss Wesley from India, on January 
 15th, 1883. 
 
 Amongst the young people, and many older persons 
 she met at Gravesend, as well as the soldiers, Miss 
 Wesley toiled hard, perseveringly, and successfully, in 
 seeking their salvation. When the three years of their 
 location there had expired, the townspeople and the 
 military vied with each other in testifying their very 
 grateful affection for her. Some non-commissioned 
 officers and soldiers presented her at a tea-meeting with 
 a valuable inkstand suitably inscribed ; and the military 
 
80 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ''x/v^^N^^^^x^^^-^^/^^^v%XN/^/N>^^^^y^^^/Ny^/v^^^yxxN^^. 
 
 generally, officers, men, women, and children, subscribed 
 and gave her a handsome Bible and Wesley's Hymns 
 bound together, suitably inscribed, as a token of their 
 thanks and love for the sympathy and help she had 
 shown them during three years. 
 
 The value of these presents was enhanced by the 
 pleasing fact that Miss Terry, a lady deeply interested 
 in the military, was deputed by.the soldiers' wives and 
 children to assure Miss Wesley, that though they had 
 not been mentioned in the presentations, they hoped 
 she would receive them as from them also, and with 
 their love and sorrow at the thought of her removal 
 from them. 
 
 Monday night, August 28th, was one to be remem- 
 bered, as closing her labours among her girls. Large 
 as the class was, she well knew them, and had entered 
 with a thoughtful and anxious love into all the circum- 
 stances of their history ; and they had caught much of 
 her spirit, for they almost worshipped her. This last 
 sad meeting was made memorable by their gift of a 
 valuable Mizpah ring. The beautiful parting present 
 was very appropriate, and nothing could have been 
 more suggestive than the word ' Mizpah,' which the 
 precious memento bore. The simple but expressive 
 record made of this last meeting which had inscribed 
 itself so deeply on her heart was : ' The last meeting 
 with my dear girls " Mizpah." The word in its 
 application to them was an impressive reminder of the 
 past, a covenant memorial of the present scene, and the 
 deeply interesting circumstances under which they were 
 about to part and a divinely lighted and lofty beacon, 
 illuminating the perils of the future for the triple pur- 
 pose of admonition, solace, and safety, by the assurance 
 
MISS WESLEY. 81 
 
 that, if faithful, the eye, the heart, and the hand of God 
 would be upon them when they should be absent from 
 each other. (Gen. xxxi. 49.)' 
 
 These presents became the keepers of very sacred 
 memories, and yielded her a large measure of pure joy- 
 till life closed. On the next evening Miss Wesley 
 remarks : ' Our Valedictory Meeting.' It came as a 
 matter of course, there was a large gathering, numerous 
 addresses were given by the friends, all testifying in the 
 most affectionate terms their high appreciation of our 
 labours and their deep regret that we must enter 
 another sphere of toil, declaring, too, for our pleasure, 
 that we should carry with us the esteem and respect of 
 all who had made our acquaintance in the town, and 
 presenting to the writer, by the late Mr. J. B. Mart, a 
 generous token of their regai'd. The feeling of the 
 meeting had risen till, among my daughter's young 
 friends especially, it became like a pent-up tide, and the 
 whole of the girls realising together the fact that they 
 were parting from their beloved friend who had so fully 
 devoted herself to their true interests, they altogether 
 exclaimed ' Good-bye, dear teacher,' and the immediate 
 outburst of grief was such as to render it necessary very 
 quickly to change the scene of sorrow into one of true 
 benediction. 
 
 The next morning friends, representing all the 
 departments of our work, gathered at the railway sta- 
 tion to give us a final adieu. There were civilians, 
 soldiers, persons of all ages, railway porters whose 
 interest we had succeeded in promoting, and lads who 
 pursued the most humble daily employment in the 
 town. It was a spontaneous, respectful, Christian fare- 
 well. Dear Lizzie wrote in her journal at the end of 
 
 G 
 
82 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 our journey. ' Thursday, August 3lst. Came to Poole. 
 Good-bye, dear friends, loyal and true.' 
 
 In connection with the Mizpah ring which her girls 
 gave her on parting, an incident occurred seven years 
 afterwards which was very pleasing to the wearer. 
 Lizzie and one of her Gravesend class were one Sunday 
 evening occupying the same pew in Higham Ferrers 
 Chapel, and being at such a distance, and time having 
 changed them both, the ring seems to have become the 
 means of their mutual recognition. She thus narrated 
 the circumstance in a letter to another beloved member 
 of the class, dated Winchester, December 14th, 1882. 
 
 ' MY DEAR CAREY, 
 
 ***** 
 
 ' I am glad to hear good news of the Gravesend Chapel, dear 
 old place ! 
 
 ' I spent six happy weeks at mama's home in Northampton- 
 shire. One Sunday in August I went to a small town chapel 
 near, and actually sat in the same pew as Ada Duell. The choir 
 was singing as she spoke to me, " Shall we know each other 
 there 1 " Was it not strange 1 She knew me, but I think our 
 dear old " Mizpah," with its precious memories, helped us to 
 recognise each other. 1 rode over to see her. (Her husband is 
 manager of the gas works at Higham Ferrers.) I found her 
 home so happy and bright, and she has also two dear children 
 We had a happy time together. We talked with full hearts of 
 the dear old days gone by. We shall meet again in the better 
 land. God grant it. I must close this letter. I do rejoice to 
 hear of your sister's decision. 
 
 1 Keep the fire burning on the altar. Carrie dear. Your loving 
 friend in His love, 
 
 'ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.' 
 
 She hardly ever took a journey without some kind 
 of reminder of the past to brighten it. 
 
 Among the excellent and earnest ministers of 
 
MISS WESLEY. 83 
 
 Gravesend the first whose acquaintance we made was 
 the Rev. W. Guest, F.G.S. ; a cordial friendship was 
 formed between us ; and we heartily co-operated in 
 various efforts for the public good and the pros- 
 perity of the Churches, on the results of which neither 
 of us can reflect without unmingled pleasure and 
 thankfulness to God. From the well-known and 
 talented pen of that distinguished minister and author, 
 a beautiful and just analysis of my daughter's Christian 
 character, as it was disclosed in her unique work, has 
 been given ; and an impartial testimony to the work 
 itself, as well as to the charming spirit and manner in 
 which it was done, and which contributed so largely to 
 its extraordinary effects. A grateful acknowledgment 
 is due to my friend for his valuable testimony ; and to 
 Mrs. Guest, as a Christian lady, we give our hearts' 
 thanks, as parents, for the 'encouragement she gave our 
 now resting one at a crisis in her self-sacrificing work 
 when she had to meet with indifference and opposition, 
 with hardly any except the Saviour's own sympathy. 
 
 ' During my residence for some years at Milton-next-Graves- 
 end, I frequently attended the public and other religious meetings, 
 which were held in the chapel of the Wesleyan Methodists. These 
 meetings were characterised by an unusual amount of interest and 
 fervour during the years 1873 and 1876. This was very much owing 
 to the fact that they were attended by earnest Christian soldiers 
 and non-commissioned officers from our Milton Barracks. I used 
 to listen to their prayers and addresses, which, without any 
 touch of what might be termed fanatical, were intensely evangeli- 
 cal. There were at that time officers of the garrison who were 
 devoted servants of Christ, and also my personal friends. They 
 Bpoke of the reality of the converting work which was being 
 carried forward among their men. That work, under God, was 
 mainly owing to Miss Wesley. There was, however, nothing in 
 her manner and bearing, as witnessed in our streets and in public 
 
 G 2 
 
84 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 meetings, which would give to a stranger any indication of her 
 influence. There was none of the fussiness that often mars the 
 service of such workers. There was no mannerism nor obtrusive- 
 ness, and not a touch of affectation. At the same time she was so 
 ladylike in her demeanour as toithrow a wondrous charm of grace 
 and dignity over her self -repression. 
 
 ' Notwithstanding her retiring manners she carried about her 
 a charm which can rarely have been, I will not say surpassed, but 
 even equalled. Her personal appearance at the time I speak of 
 was almost youthful, and very lovely. There was an aspect of 
 intelligence and benevolence on her interesting and winning 
 countenance that made it radiant in goodness. She seemed to me 
 to be constantly living in obedience to the monitions of the Spirit 
 of all grace. Doubtless He touched her heart with concern for 
 the ignorant and tempted soldiers of the barracks, and led her on 
 to that deep and self -forgetting solicitude for them, and for the 
 few wives and children who were in the garrison, that was the 
 secret of her success in the Lord's work among them. How she 
 obtained such access to them, and established regular meetings 
 among them for Bible readings, often appeared to me astonishing. 
 At the first she had to encounter suspicion, coldness, and 
 hostility. But those who opposed were won, spite of themselves, 
 to become her coadjutors. When cast down she never lost hope : 
 often would she come to my wife to get new strength by their 
 united prayers, and after those morning communions with the 
 Saviour, she would with a bright and buoyant confidence go 
 again into her soldiers' meetings and her classes for women. 
 
 ' It was her sincerity ; her deadness to the subtle influences of 
 self-love ; her singleness of eye that sought no human praise ; her 
 unobtrusive but unwearied persistence ; and above all that love 
 to Christ, and assured peace in Him which prompted her daily 
 labours, that won for her such remarkable acceptance among the 
 different relays of older soldiers and young recruits that came to 
 Milton. 
 
 ' But not only in meetings was she found. She would go with 
 her captivating manner into the ward of the quarters where the 
 sick soldier lay, and would follow into the tavern, or place of 
 temptation, the youth who was in peril. She was an angel of 
 mercy among us, and her influence noiseless as the dew was a 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 blessing in manifold ways of which the town little thought, and 
 for which she sought no human praise. 
 
 ' I have not said, for it would not be pleasant to them, how 
 much the honour in which her father was held in the town, as the 
 superintendent of the Wesleyan Circuit, and the sympathy of her 
 mother, contributed to her success. Karely, however, was success 
 more real than that which followed her selfless labours. Many a 
 young recruit who had come to learn rifle-shooting in the long 
 Milton marshes will have remembered her words and prayers in 
 different regions, and maybe some of them knew on the battle- 
 field, in their moments of dying anguish, the peace in believing on 
 man's only Saviour which the sinful may find, and which was the 
 burden of her message. Assuredly we may feel how vast a boon 
 is existence when, through the salvation of the Lord Jesus, we 
 have the sure hope of spending eternity in fellowship and friend- 
 ship with myriads of such consecrated and pure spirits as was hers, 
 who are still more lovely and more loving in the blissful regions 
 of immortality. To God in Christ be the praise for ever and ever 
 
 'LING HOLME, TUNBBIDGE WELLS.' 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 POOLB. 
 
 r I iHE providence o God now opened our way to 
 -L Poole, in the county of Dorset, with a population 
 of about 7,000. We spent there three happy years. 
 Our first Sabbath there was September 3rd, 1876 ; and 
 my toil was on behalf of the Sunday-school. But no 
 wonder that dear Lizzie was 'so sad,' severed as she 
 was from friends so numerous, tried, and true, far 
 removed from the loved and familiar field whose work 
 was joy, and when the harvest-song so sweetly greeted 
 her, and being, for this day, among stranger-reapers 
 without any toil assigned her. 
 
 The true spirit of Christian unity and catholicity 
 which we found existing among the pastors and 
 Churches of the town was very gratifying to us. We 
 could not but contrast this with the persecuting spirit 
 which prompted the intolerant ecclesiastics of 1662 to 
 eject our ancestor, the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., the 
 grandfather of the founder of Methodism, from his 
 living at Winterborn-Whitchurch, and consign him to 
 the gaol of Poole for half a year, and to endure three 
 other cruel imprisonments. As that godly clergyman 
 not only suffered for conscience' sake, but became the 
 pastor of a Church of his own gathering in Poole, the 
 
MEMORIALS OF MISS WESLEY. 87 
 
 probability that we were entering into his labours was 
 peculiarly interesting to us. 
 
 Animated by the spirit of our Wesley ancestors, and 
 possessing so much of their ceaseless activity and power 
 of endurance, it would have been unlike Lizzie had she 
 allowed many days to intervene between the farewell to 
 her last field of toil and the beginning of her work in 
 this new sphere. On her second Sabbath at Poole she 
 began her work among her girls in the Sunday-school 
 with all her brightness and faith. At the close of that 
 day it was apparent that she had made another hopeful 
 beginning. 
 
 An extract from a letter to one of her scholars at 
 Gravesend two months after will show how fully she had 
 then become employed : " Poole is of course very quiet 
 when compared with Gravesend : still I find as much 
 work as I can possibly get done. I do not yet know 
 half the names of the school girls here, and I get quite 
 bewildered with so many new faces ; but I hope to win 
 them soon for Jesus. 
 
 ' You must pray for me, Carrie dear. I feel I must 
 get to know more of my Saviour's love, for unless His 
 love overflows my heart how can I lead others to His 
 cross ? I trust the clouds that gathered round you 
 when you wrote last have long ere this passed away. 
 
 ' I, too, Carrie, have been in the valley. But how 
 often it is " a valley of blessing." I often think of that 
 time when our beloved Jesus was in the wilderness. It 
 is a comfort to realise that " He knows what sore 
 temptations mean, for He hath felt the same." 
 
 ' Let us try ever to live in the sunlight of His love, 
 and then never mind if " earth-born clouds arise," they 
 cannot hide the Lord " one moment from our eyes." ' 
 
88 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Though dear Lizzie had resumed her wonted work 
 among the young she missed her work amongst the 
 soldiers. We were out for a walk one day, and, espying 
 a red tunic on the other side of the street, she 
 exclaimed, ' papa, there's a soldier ! ' and in a moment 
 she rushed across the street to speak to him. She kept 
 up her correspondence with them, though the doctor, for 
 a time, required her to relinquish it, on account of acute 
 pain and dimness of sight, caused by overstraining. 
 
 Her short interview with the first soldier she saw in 
 the street after leaving the garrison town, is interestingly 
 brought out in a letter to Miss May, one of her zealous 
 helpers at Grravesend, from which we give several 
 extracts. 
 
 'LONGFLEET HOUSE, PoOLE, November 18th, 1876. 
 
 ' MY DEAE OLD FEIEND, 
 
 ' It is with difficulty I write to you, but I cannot let another 
 day go without sending you a few words. 
 
 ' The last few weeks I have suffered very much pain from my 
 eyes. The doctor says I must never again " try " them as 1 have 
 done in the past. Lately I have been obliged to have perfect 
 rest both from reading and writing. 
 
 ' This is a great trial ; as I look at my unanswered letters 
 from our lads and from other dear friends the hot tears come to 
 my eyes, and rebellious thoughts in my heart, and every day I 
 have to ask God to teach the lesson of patience and submission. 
 
 'Yesterday I met a corporal of the second 16th regiment, the 
 first soldier I had spoken to since I had been in Poole. I longed 
 to speak to him of the soldier's best Friend, and at last I sum- 
 moned up the courage as he was looking in a shop window, and 
 you cannot tJiink how I felt when he told me I had often spoken 
 to him in Gravesend ! He is at the Depot at Gosport. The 
 corporal told me of the death of poor Arthur Beckworth. He 
 was one who fired over his grave. I had not heard from him for 
 some months, but little thought he was dead our first-fruits 
 gathered safely home. The last letter he wrote me was full of 
 
MISS WESLEY. 89 
 
 hope. Do you remember that morning in our little drawing 
 room, when Sergeant Russell, Beckworth, and Wasby came to say 
 " good-bye" ; you came just as they were leaving. Firmly and 
 
 "boldly he promised to meet us in heaven. 
 
 ***** 
 
 ' Yours affectionately, 
 ' LIZZIE.' 
 
 With so much of the Redeemer's compassion in her 
 heart, it was painfully mysterious to our disabled worker 
 that she should be deprived of the power to carry out 
 her benevolent plans when and where the work was so 
 needed. God gave comfort in her sorrow by providen- 
 tially arranging that she and the corporal should meet 
 just on that spot, and at that moment, that he might 
 inform her of one of her early soldier converts and 
 correspondents who had gone straight from the battle- 
 field to glory. 
 
 In a letter written a little earlier to another of her 
 former co-workers she says : 
 
 ' I long once more to visit my dear ones in Milton 
 Barracks ; if I could only be for one hour inside those 
 gates I feel I would tell as I never did before the old 
 Story of a Saviour's love. 
 
 ' I never thought I could miss you all as I do. 
 Sometimes when the time comes for the meeting at 
 Peacock Street I am obliged to go to my room, and 
 there cry to God to make me resigned to what I know 
 to be His will. 
 
 ' It is hard to be taken away from the work I loved 
 so dearly, but when we get to heaven we shall under- 
 stand many of earth's mysteries. 
 
 ' My work here 1 believe will be among the elder 
 girls of the school. Many of them last Sunday were 
 seeking Christ. 
 
90 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' We have many kind friends in Poole.' 
 We all agreed that the time had come for holding a 
 revival mission, and unitedly we pledged ourselves to 
 enter into the services with all our hearts. The pledge 
 was carried out. The missioner was the Rev. H. J. 
 Quilter : he was wise in the conduct of the services, 
 and graciously assisted and owned by God throughout 
 the whole. In anticipation of this special effort, Lizzie 
 had done everything in her power to make it successful, 
 especially by training the young people to sing suitable 
 melodies, and amply was she rewarded ; for the senti- 
 ments of their Gospel songs touched their hearts, and 
 they were among the first to yield. The results were 
 just what we needed. One of the oldest friends of the 
 cause, and who was at that time the mayor of Poole, 
 assured me that he had never known there such a 
 remarkable descent of the Holy Spirit. My daughter 
 threw into these services all her intelligence, tact, and 
 power ; and it is very delightful to recall the great 
 joy they afforded her. She records it as 'a wonderful 
 outpouring of God's Spirit.' The following is the 
 Rev. H. J. Quilter's kindly furnished report of this 
 mission : 
 
 'I was appointed to conduct a week of revival services at 
 Poole, commencing on Saturday, November 18th, 1876. On arriv- 
 ing at Poole I found that no pains had been spared in arranging 
 for the success'.of the mission, as far as human agency can help, 
 under the superintendence of the Rev. S. Wesley, with the 
 support of his excellent daughter. Special meetings for prayer 
 had been arranged prior to the commencement of the mission, so 
 that when the tune came, the expectations of the people had 
 been aroused, and their faith helped. During the whole week 
 Miss Wesley was always present, and constantly engaged in 
 helping the young people to Christ, and in the interim of the 
 
MISS WESLEY. 91 
 
 services she greatly assisted the mission preacher in visiting 
 interesting cases. As a result of the energy put forth, and the 
 gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as far as numerical 
 returns can determine a result, fifty souls were brought from 
 darkness to light. I never before or since have engaged in a 
 week of special services which I so much enjoyed, and attribute, 
 humanly speaking, much of our success to the unceasing, affec- 
 tionate, and godly influence of our dear young friend, Miss 
 Wesley. 
 
 'H. J. Q.' 
 
 The following letter from Miss Wesley to Sergeant 
 John Austin will explain itself : 
 
 ' POOLE, DORSET, November 30th, 1876. 
 ' " The Lord is good to them that fear Him." 
 
 ' In your perilous voyage, dear friend Austin, I am sure you 
 must often have experienced the truth of these blessed words, 
 and therefore have hope for the future. Your God who has 
 guided and protected you so often will never leave or forsake you. 
 
 'lYou must sadly miss the services of God's house and the faith- 
 ful, loving counsels of a Christian minister ; but our God is every- 
 where present, and wherever a heart is uplifted to Him in praise 
 or prayer, or a few words read from His Book, that place is holy 
 ground. 
 
 ' I received your letter a few weeks ago ; it was forwarded to 
 me from Gravcsend, and I read it with great thankfulness. 
 I do indeed rejoice that you are still walking with steady 
 footsteps on the road to heaven. Trust to your Guide, and though 
 sometimes the road may be rough and steep, do not be at all 
 discouraged ; it leadeth to heaven at last. Since I wrote to you I 
 have had many sad moments. Leaving Gravesend was a great 
 trial. God only knows how bitter was my grief. On the last 
 morning as the train moved off and I said a last " Good-bye " to 
 so many brave, true friends, civilians and children and soldiers, I 
 felt as though I could never be reconciled to leaving them, and 
 since then I have often found it has cost me a struggle to say, 
 " Thy will be done," but God has been very good to us, and in 
 our new home He has given us the joy of seeing many precious 
 
92 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 souls seeking His pardon and peace. We found the Church in a 
 very cold, dead state, but the Lord has been touching hard hearts, 
 and now our people are all engaged in the blessed work of winning 
 souls. We have just closed a fortnight's special services, and 
 during that time every night in our chapel has been heard the 
 cry of the penitent, a great number have come to Jesus and found 
 " at the Cross there's room." It has reminded me of the blessed 
 days at Peacock Street. I often wish I could once more tell to 
 my dear soldier friends " the old, old story." 1 have only spoken 
 to one soldier since I left Gravesend, and strange to say as I 
 spoke to him I recognised him as one of our former band, and he 
 gave me pleasing tidings respecting others in whom we still feel 
 deeply interested. My father and mother's Christian remem- 
 brances to you. From your friend in the Saviour's love, 
 
 ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 ' Sergeant John Austin.' 
 
 This deep and wide-spread religious movement 
 placed a large number of young friends under Lizzie's 
 care. Her register of the names includes a hundred 
 and twenty young women, over whose interests for both 
 worlds she watched with a tenderness and vigilance 
 which they lovingly acknowledged. 
 
 The cultivation of her tract-district, visits to the 
 aged and the poor, attention to the sick, varied toil at 
 the mission-room, literary and musical help to the 
 Mutual Improvement Society, the production of articles 
 of taste and utility in aid of the fund for the new 
 sanctuary, and her constantly growing correspondence 
 both among soldiers and civilians is only to name 
 the various departments which Miss Wesley served 
 with quenchless devotion during her residence in Poole. 
 The following are extracts from her journal at this 
 time. 
 
 ' March 14<th, 1879. This morning a dear old saint 
 passed away to glory while I sat with her in her little 
 
MISS WESLEY. 93 
 
 room.' 'April IQth. As the sun was setting I went to 
 see a poor dying girl, and felt God so near while I 
 prayed, with her hand in mine.' ' 18th. This evening 
 I found she had gone home. No night there, no 
 sorrow.' 
 
 In her correspondence with Mr. Knock, a retired 
 sea-captain, who became a genial helper in her military 
 work at Gravesend, she thus mingled the account of 
 her present doings with reminiscences of the past. ' I 
 often think of you when I go down to our quay. How 
 happy you would be among our sailors, and many of 
 them I know you would win for Christ. I cannot do 
 much among them, except at our mission-room, which is 
 near to the harbour and very convenient for " Jack." 
 On a Saturday night we get many a sailor's yarn spun 
 there, and we have some blessed times. Just while I 
 am writing I can hear the musical strains of a street 
 organ, and the dear old tune, " Hold the Fort." You 
 may perhaps laugh at me, but since I left all my dear 
 soldier friends I can scarcely bear to listen to that tune. 
 God bless our soldiers. Tell them to be true to the old 
 flag, and never to forget our password, " The precious 
 blood of Christ." I have many blessed memories of 
 happy association with you in our labour of love. And 
 shall we not meet again in the " Home over there " ? 
 Yes, I believe so, and our song will be one grand hymn 
 of praise, for there we shall see again many a precious 
 Boldier-friend to whom God sent us while they were at 
 Milton Barracks. But no red coats there, only white 
 robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.' 
 
 Six months before her departure from Poole, she 
 wrote thus to one of her former helpers, ' God is again 
 gently influencing our young folk, and they are coming 
 
94- MEMORIALS OF 
 
 to the Cross. The thought of leaving them so soon is 
 giving me much sorrow. It is hard work saying 
 " Good-bye." ' 
 
 The parting scene at length came, and a number of 
 friends assembled at the station, on, that September 
 morn. The sun shone brightly to cheer us, wishes 
 for our future health and success were never more 
 heartily expressed, and the last adieu was waved till we 
 were out of sight. Some who were very dear to Lizzie 
 and who bade her farewell that morning never saw her 
 again. 
 
 During our residence in Poole Miss Wesley wrote 
 an essay, at the request of the Mutual Improvement 
 Association, selecting as her theme the season of 
 Autumn. It was read by one of the members, and her 
 MS. bears the signature of Wheatsheaf. The essay 
 was admired for its elegant style and healthy tone. 
 The paper now given will tell for itself how she has 
 blended in her picturing the golden glow of nature in 
 the early Autumn, and the reapers' inspiring shout and 
 song, with the beauty of the advancing stages of decay 
 and tones of Autumnal sadness : teaching at the same 
 time lessons for our daily practice, which will not fail 
 to give joy and grandeur to life, and power to leave 
 behind us, amid all that is fading here, the best 
 emblems of our immortality. 
 
 'ESSAY ON AUTUMN. 
 
 ' Some one has called the early Autumn time " The sunset of 
 the year," for there shines on field and flower a glory as bright 
 as that which gathers around the close of a summer's day. 
 
 ' Quite fresh in our memory will be the perfect beauty of days 
 when the corn was ripe on the hill-side, and the apples were 
 mellowing one by one ; the trees looked as though no wintry 
 
MISS WESLEY. 95 
 
 VX\XXXXrVXNX^XXXXXN/\y\>'NXNXNXXXVXXXXXXXXXN^V/NXX/\/N^^ 
 
 wind would ever toss their branches against a stormy sky, and 
 the birds, hiding under soft brown-green leaves, sang as though 
 no secret message would ever call them away to the unknown 
 land. In the brightness of those August days, with the gleaming, 
 glittering sunshine everywhere, we did not wonder that the 
 stately Koman emperor had called August a royal month, and 
 had given to it his own regal name. 
 
 ' Astronomically, Autumn does not commence until the twenty- 
 third of September, but it is impossible to ascertain the exact 
 time at which it may be expected, and still more difficult to 
 determine the precise moment of its arrival. 
 
 ' To the simple Saxon husbandmen the cutting of the barley 
 was the sure sign of Autumn's advent, and with shout and 
 song they presented the first sheaf to the gods ; for in all ages a 
 religious instinct has led nations, civilised and heathen, to offer 
 the first-fruits of the earth to their gods. 
 
 ' The old Egyptians, also, considered their harvest-fields 
 sacred places, and no wheat was allowed to be carried until the 
 priest had walked among the sheaves, and by loud invocations 
 had arrested the attention of the god of the harvest, to whom 
 the first-fruits were given. 
 
 ' The Athenians used to worship their deities with the first ripe 
 ears of corn. Like Esther, the queen, they feared to enter the 
 awful presence-chamber, and waited until the gods held out their 
 sceptres of waving, golden grain. 
 
 ' The Cereals, or harvest festivals of the pagans, historians 
 tell us, were the most brilliant feasts of the year. For awhile all 
 work was laid aside, and the heathen temples were crowded with 
 thankful people, who brought beautiful and abundant offerings 
 to the goddess Ceres, under whose watchful care the seed had 
 grown and the vintage ripened. Music, flowers rare and lovely, 
 and fruit ripe and perfect the best gifts of these heathen 
 worshippers they willingly dedicated to the temple service. 
 
 ' The story of the first fruit offering is a sad one, associated 
 always with Cain's dark sin, and the shadow of death, which has 
 rested upon God's fair earth ever since. Strange it seems to us 
 that the first fratricide should be the outgrowth of a religious 
 service. 
 
 ' Harvest thanksgivings are of divine appointment ; and we 
 
96 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 who may worship the true God of the harvest in Poole New 
 Wesleyan Chapel, or in cathedral cloisters, will not forget to thank 
 Him for " all things bright and good ; for seed-time and for 
 harvest, our life, our health, our food." 
 
 \The Jews, who were taught to serve God by the shadowy light 
 of symbol and sign, were [most careful to observe the " Feast of 
 Weeks," and " Ingathering." The keeping of the Tabernacle 
 Feast, under the broad green palm leaves, the first time after God 
 had given them their beautiful land of promise, must have been 
 indeed a gladsome festival. The weary wilderness journey was 
 over, and God had found a resting place, a home for His wander- 
 ing, wayward people. The pleasure of sowing their own fields, 
 and gathering in their own store, would be a new joy to them ; 
 and while the priests laid their first glad gifts upon the altar, the 
 holy harvest hymn would go up to heaven from many a thankful 
 Hebrew heart. " The Lord brought us forth out of Egypt, with 
 a mighty hand and outstretched arm, and He hath brought us 
 into this place : and now behold 1 have brought the first-fruits 
 of the land, which Thou, Lord, hast given me." 
 
 ' The harvest scenes of the Bible are charming idylls, which 
 never weary those who listen. In quiet country cottage, in 
 crowded city court, hard hearts have been softened and subdued 
 by the sad sweet story of the sick child, whom the reapers carried 
 home to his mother. Ruth, the gentle gleaner, is ever a living 
 presence ; and David, theiwarrior king, never seems so great and 
 noble as when, thirsty and weary in the cave at Adullam, he 
 refuses to drink the water, which his faithful soldier servants 
 risk their lives to obtain. 
 
 ' What fabled tale of woman's devotion can equal that of the 
 daughter of Israel's first king, who day and night kept loving 
 guard over the unsepulchred bodies of her murdered sons, 
 who thus had died because of their father's transgression ? 
 
 ' " Hear what the desolate Rizpah said, 
 As on Gibeah's rocks she watched the dead, 
 Sat mournfully guarding their corpses there, 
 And murmured a strange and solemn air : 
 The low, heart-broken, and wailing strain 
 Of a mother that mourns her children slain. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 97 
 
 ^x_^^X~s-^>^-^^N^^^-^XNXXX^^VX^X^>^XN^^>^y- 
 
 The barley-harvest was nodding white 
 When my children died on the rocky height, 
 And the reapers were singing on hill and plain 
 When I came to my task of sorrow and pain. 
 But now the season of rain is nigh, 
 The sun is dim in the thickening sky, 
 And the clouds in sullen darkness rest, 
 When he hides his light at the doors of the west. 
 I hear the howl of the wind, that brings 
 The long drear storm on its heavy wings, 
 But the howling wind and the driving rain 
 Will beat on my houseless head in vain ; 
 I shall stay from my murdered sons to scare 
 The beasts of the desert, and fowls of the air." 
 
 ' We would linger among the cornfields of the Bible it is 
 holy ground, for He who has gone away from our earth, and 
 become the " first-fruits of them that sleep," loved to walk 
 among the bearded barley, and leisurely gather the ears that fell 
 around Him. Perhaps we can picture Him thus more vividly, 
 because the harvest fields are the only feature of an Eastern land- 
 scape which would, in nearly every detail, appear the same as in 
 our familiar English scenery but time will fail us. 
 
 '_ When the reapers' song is hushed, and September, like a proud 
 queen, has laid aside her coronation robes, the hazy, golden 
 October days of the later Autumn time come, as heralds for the 
 mighty winter king. They lift high royal banners, whose 
 crimson glory falls upon wood and wilderness, and o'er sky 
 and sea ; it glances on the hill-tops, and gleams among 
 the silver beech-trees ; the barren moorland it tinges with purple 
 and gold, and beneath its radiance the fading leaves and scarlet 
 berries seem aglow. 
 
 ' These Indian summer days would be the brightest of all the 
 year, if they did not bring sad thoughts of change and decay ; 
 but too soon the glory fades, and Autumn beauty is gone ! Still 
 we would rather have the cold and frost of winter than the sultry 
 stationary summer of the tropics ; and rejoice that in our beautiful 
 England the seasons come and go ; and if the last days of Autumn 
 
 n 
 
98 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 are sad and melancholy, their gentle influence soothes and quiets 
 restless human hearts. 
 
 ' It may be that those whose life-song seems ever like an 
 Autumn refrain a sad perplexed minor will in the after ages 
 ring out a perfect completed harmony. We believe a great 
 thinker was right, when he said, " The minor rules the music of 
 the world, and in the half-lights of human life the shadow pre- 
 dominates." It is only by the stern discipline Qtpain that lives 
 are perfected. The perfection of beauty is attained the moment 
 before decay. Here, satisfaction is only the prelude to unrest : 
 
 " But at the last a sapphire day 
 
 All over us shall bow ; 
 And man's heart, full of sunlight, say 
 Lord I 'tis Tliy summer now." 
 
 ' We cannot change the essential qualities of seasons, or things, 
 but we can attune them to our own moods of mind. With God's 
 sunshine in our hearts, we can be as glad amidst the falling 
 leaves of Autumn, and the deepening shadows of life, as when 
 the trees bud and blossom, and love and hope are young. 
 
 " ' what a glory doth this world put on 
 
 For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth 
 Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks 
 On duties well performed, and days well spent ! 
 For him the wind, ay, and the yellow leaves, 
 Shall have a voice, and give him eloquent teaching. 
 He shall so hear the solemn hymn, that Death 
 Has lifted up for all, that he shall go 
 To his long resting-place without a tear \ " 
 
 ' WHEATSHEAP. 
 ' Poole, Mutual Improvement Association, December 6th, 1878.' 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TEIGNMOUTH, DEVONSHIRE. 
 
 r 1 1HE itinerant system of Methodism secures to every 
 L. Minister in service, a home and a pastoral charge. 
 On leaving Poole we had a cordial welcome to the 
 picturesque town of Teignmouth, Devon. The balmy 
 air of Poole had greatly improved my failing health, but 
 its mildness had exerted an enervating influence on my 
 daughter, and she left with symptoms of consumption. 
 We hoped, however, that Teignmouth would establish 
 her health. With failing strength she began among 
 the young the work in which she delighted and excelled. 
 She soon gathered around her a large Bible class for 
 young women, and to their interests she devoted all 
 her strength. 
 
 For three mouths she had delighted in the natural 
 beauty of Teignmonth and its surroundings, and with 
 zeal she had devoted herself to her fresh charge ; but 
 ungenial weather early set in, east winds prostrated 
 her, and brought on bronchitis, followed by acute pain 
 and prostration. With unselfish tenderness at this 
 stage of her illness she wrote the following consolatory 
 letter to Sergeant Joel Austin, an afflicted soldier, 
 sympathising with him in his chastening : 
 
 ' TEIGNMOTJTH, DEVON, December 3rd, 1880. 
 MY DEAE FRIEND, 
 
 ' Your letter was a welcome message, for I too am a prisoner 
 
 H2 
 
100 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 kept indoors by a severe cold ; and under these circumstances a 
 few words from an old friend are very precious, especially so 
 when they speak of God's goodness in a time of trial. 
 
 ( I am grieved to hear that you are still so weak and 
 ill. I heard that you had been called to suffering and 
 pain, but I did not thick you had been brought so low as to 
 be in hospital. This is indeed a sad time for you, but do not be 
 discouraged, " underneath you are the everlasting arms,' and 
 ven an hospital is a bright and happy place if Jesus is there. 
 
 Have you seen our dear good friend Sergeant Hilton yet ? 
 and I am sure the Kev. John Burgess will have visited you. He is 
 so kind to the sick ones of his flock. I wish Teignmouth was a 
 little nearer Chatham, I should be so pleased to come and bring 
 you a little bit of Christian sympathy. Since you sailed in the 
 " Juno " we have often prayed for you and your dear comrades : 
 indeed to pray for our dear soldier friends seems all I can do for 
 them ; it is the only link that binds me to my friends in the army, 
 for I am far away from them all, and scarcely ever hear any 
 news of them ; but I shall never, never forget them, aud I hope to 
 meet many of them in our Father's House above. I am sorry to 
 hear that you will be obliged to leave the service. I wish I 
 could hear of some easy employment ; if I do, I will most certainly 
 inform you. We are quite like strangers in a strange land, 
 having lonly been in Teignmouth a few months. It is a pretty 
 place, but does not seem like home yet. How is yonr wife ? and 
 all the dear ones at home, I do hope quite well. Is your wife at 
 Chatham ? If so she will be a great comfort to you in this time of 
 sorrow and suffering. I commenced to write this letter several 
 days ago. We have heard of the sudden death of a relative and it 
 has made us all very sad. But my uncle was ready when the 
 Master called, and death has only been to him a messenger to 
 heaven. 
 
 ' When your letter came I was intending to write to your brother. 
 It is a long time since I did so. I suppose now a letter would not 
 reach him ; tell him when you see him that I shall be pleased to 
 hear from him. This long letter will make you tired. 
 
 ' My father and mother join me in Christian love to yourself 
 and to any of our old friends in Chatham who still remember 
 us. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 101 
 
 'xv^XNrf'NXX^XN/N^N^^X-VXN^'Srf'V^^^X^"^ 
 
 ' Hoping to hear soon of your restored health, and asking 
 God, our own God, to be with you and give to you ever His own 
 sweet consolation, 
 
 ' I remain, 
 
 ' Sincerely yours in His love, 
 
 1 ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.* 
 
 Daring the month of December, she was confined to 
 her room, but invited her girls to meet her there on 
 Sunday. The following are extracts from her journal 
 at that date : 
 
 ' December 7th, Sunday. The girls came here to-day. 
 I was too ill to go to school. We had a helpful time.' 
 
 ' 9th, Tuesday. The Doctor came to-day. " She is 
 very ill," he said.' 
 
 ' 10//i, Wednesday. A tired, restless day.' 
 
 ' llth, Thursday. The Society Tea. Lizzie in bed 
 all day in papa's study.' 
 
 ' 14ith, Sunday. Another Sunday at home.' 
 
 ' 23rd, Tuesday. [In ink] It is worth being ill to 
 lose my old rebellious thoughts of God. He is teaching 
 me thus to love Him.' 
 
 ' 25th. A strange Christmas.' 
 
 Daring these days and nights of acute pain and 
 weariness, we anxiously watched the flickering taper of 
 life, fearing that it would be extinguished ; but she was 
 patient, gentle, hopeful. One night, during hours of 
 which she wished me to support her, that she might 
 breathe more freely and with less pain, 1 said, ' Dear 
 Lizzie, I fear you cannot recover this : ' she smilingly 
 whispered, ' I believe I shall, papa ; I have something 
 more to do for the Lord yet.' 
 
 The new year 1880 did not hopefully dawn 
 upon us. According to her custom, Lizzie selected a 
 
102 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Scripture motto for herself and her young friends. 
 This year she chose two motto texts (Micah vi. 8, and 
 Isaiah xxx. 15). The former marked out the moral 
 course "which she resolved undeviatingly to pursue : 
 and the latter was sweetly adapted to her trying 
 circumstances, while it indicated the calmness of her 
 mind and faith in God which should yet bring back 
 her lost vigour. ' In quietness and confidence shall be 
 your strength.' 
 
 All through this severe affliction she was seeking 
 the salvation of several valued friends, and had she 
 been called away, her last prayer would have been for 
 them. 
 
 Sunday, Jan. 11th, has a noteworthy record so 
 firmly written as to tell that she had again partially 
 rallied. ' A very happy Sunday at home. Thank God 
 for this gift of His. Perhaps God has also been giving 
 me these quiet weeks so that I may have more time to 
 think of Him and to pray for others. O, the gladness 
 of being very near to Him again.' 
 
 The least measure of returning strength was 
 employed in doing good by the use of her pen ; for 
 only two days later she wrote the following letter to 
 one of her former scholars : 
 
 ' TEIGNMOTTTH, Jan. 13th, 1880. 
 ' MY OWN LITTLE CARRIE, 
 
 ' It seems only the other day since I knew you first, and I can 
 scarcely think the years have passed away so quickly ; and that 
 my little Carrie is now almost a woman quite, I hope, in all 
 matters requiring womanly wisdom. And now it is your birth- 
 day again to-morrow. God give you a happy day. His love is 
 the best birthday gift, dear, and having that, you will be rich all 
 day, and all your life too. 
 
 ' I was so surprised to hear that another love was going to 
 
MISS WESLEY. 103 
 
 >*>~^/-W^/-^ - ^-'>^-^> X*'XX^~^^'-x-^^y-v>'X*'-^X>-*"fcX-X-''>X-V-'"^^ 
 
 claim you next year ; but I am so thankful that your friend is a 
 Christian, and that you will begin your married life with God as 
 your guide. 
 
 ' I can scarcely fancy my Carrie being married. When I 
 come to see you all at Gravesend, and you have a home of your 
 own, I shall come to see if you will give me a cup of tea. 
 Will you ? 
 
 ' What is your friend's name ? Do I know him ? ' 
 
 ' You must let me know when you are going to lose your old 
 name. 
 
 ' A happy womanhood to you, and may God lead you step by 
 step until you reach His home above. 
 
 ' I know how you feel about your own loved ones being 
 unsaved ; but do not be discouraged God hears prayer ; yes, 
 and He answers too ; only we must patiently wait until He 
 brings these for whom we pray to seek their peace in loving Him. 
 
 ' How do you get on in your tract district? Did you have a 
 good tea-meeting last night? I thought about you all, and 
 wished I could be with you. 
 
 ' I so often think of those happy times gone by. 
 
 ' Are you in Miss Wood's class ? 
 
 ' 1 am so glad you like your new minister. Are his daughters 
 in the school ? ' 
 
 ' I hope my class is well attended, and am so pleased to hear 
 that Mrs. H is taking charge of my own dear girls. 
 
 ' Give my love to * * * * and to all EVEKY 
 ONE. God bless you ; He will take care of you. 
 
 ' Yes, surely it is better far that " He choose our inheritance 
 for us." We may be led through paths we imaged not. But 
 peace and joy go always where He leads. We need not fear 
 the shadows in the distance. Let us place our hand within our 
 Father's, and commit our way to Him. 
 
 ' Thank you for your loving New Year's wishes. Mamma 
 sends her love, and so do I. My darling Carrie, as ever, 
 
 ' Believe me, your friend in the Saviour's love, 
 
 ' E. A. WESLEY.' 
 
 Nine days after this letter was penned she was 
 equal to a short stroll, about which she wrote : 
 
104 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' Thursday, Jan. 22nd. A short walk in the sun- 
 shine. The first for two months.' 
 
 Trials seldom come alone. Only three short daya 
 had elapsed when the sad tidings reached her of the 
 early death of her much-loved cousin, the late 
 Mrs. Wale, of Leicester. Her brief but expressive 
 obituary of this accomplished young lady was 
 
 ' Sunday, 25th. Annie Wale was called home to- 
 day, aged 31.' 
 
 The next month brought the anniversary of her 
 conversion ; the event which, considered in itself and in 
 its results, was the most important of her eventful life. 
 
 ' Feb. 25th. Fourteen years to-day since I first 
 understood what trusting in Christ meant ; though 
 years before then, when a little child, I had learnt to 
 love Him ; but fourteen years ago to-day I first felt 
 that His blood cleanseth from sin. O, how unfaithful 
 have I been in that which is least ! ' 
 
 ' 29th. I started for chapel to-day, but the cold 
 north wind drove me back.' 
 
 Longing, as she was, for the scenes of her former 
 toil, she gladly returned to them as soon as their 
 occupancy was possible ; and we find the entry, ' A 
 quiet afternoon at school. God's presence was with us.' 
 
 Her convalescence was very much to be attributed, 
 under God's blessing, to the remarkably restorative 
 influences of the well-known health resort, Bishop's 
 Teignton, and the kindly attention of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Carpenter. 
 
 One of the strongly-attached friends who took an 
 affectionate farewell of Miss Wesley on the morning of 
 our ' good-bye ' to Poole was the late Mrs. Styring, of 
 Poole House. She was then apparently in good health, 
 
MISS WESLEY. 105 
 
 but was near the Heaven for which she was maturing ; 
 and ere her young friend's health was restored, she 
 1 was not, for God took her.' Lizzie was now called to 
 pay a visit of condolence to the bereaved family, and to 
 perform the last office of love to the mortal remains of 
 her friend ; and the memorials in her diary of the sad 
 and sudden event of that estimable lady's death and its 
 attendant circumstances, are so natural, tender, and 
 touching, that the sacredness of friendship will not 
 forbid their disclosure and preservation : 
 
 'April 29th, 1880, 
 ' HENRIETTA STYRING.' 
 
 That name and date I shall always remember 
 written on the coffin lid ; and underneath she lay so 
 still and white, but with the same kind look upon her 
 face that was there when I saw it first in chapel as we 
 worshipped there, mother and I, the first time. 1 
 never thought then of all she would be to me and to 
 our home, ' as God's good angel.' 
 
 'June 15th. The "mother's" birthday to-day. I 
 took her some flowers did she know, I wonder? I 
 knelt by her once more and prayed for my motherless 
 friends.' 
 
 * July 2nd. I went to the " mother's " grave once 
 more. It seems always like a shrine at which to pray 
 for her family.' 
 
 She preserved in her diary the flowers she plucked 
 from the grave of her friend as mementoes. Her 
 sensibility to the pleasures of friendship and domestic 
 intercourse was only quickened by the wide diffusion 
 of her kindness among all classes. The sympathy 
 
106 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 and sorrow so keenly felt on this mournful visit soon 
 found their natural outflow in doing good to somebody, 
 and in striving to make some sad heart lighter. Her 
 journal comes again to our aid. 
 
 Wednesday, May \9th. A blessed, holy time of 
 communion with God and with my girls. 
 
 'A long, earnest conversation with S about God, 
 
 and goodness, and the best way to bear sorrow.' 
 
 ' Sunday, 23rd. A quiet, holy Sacrament service 
 this evening ; Jeanette and I knelt together again at 
 God's altar. My poor friend ! God comfort her. 
 
 ' Sunday, 30th. I had a merry class of boys this 
 afternoon. 
 
 ' Just as I am. Thy love unknown 
 Has broken every barrier down ; 
 Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, 
 Lamb of God, I come 1' 
 
 ' 0, help me, Lord ! ' 
 
 1 Thursday, June 10th. Mission-room and a class of 
 little girls ; Jean went with me. 
 
 1 Sunday, 13th. A quiet, very peaceful Sunday, 
 free from doubt and distracting thoughts. A few 
 words with the boys after service. Thank God they 
 are some of them working for Him ! A happy little 
 meeting at the alms-houses.' 
 
 On the scenes of her former toils opportunities of 
 doing good were presented, and she knew how to value 
 and improve them. The sentiment of the Rev. J. 
 Newton she admired and practically adopted : ' If I can 
 only take a grain, from the heap of human misery, I 
 have done something.' 
 
 Lizzie returned to Teignmouth in time to enjoy the 
 celebration of the Centenary of Sunday-schools, in 
 
MISS WESLEY. 107 
 
 which the clergy and Nonconformist ministers of the 
 town cordially united. The schools, teachers, and 
 ministers assembled on " the Den,' numbered quite 
 seven thousand, and while gathered there, one of the 
 most brilliant rainbows ever beheld threw its beautiful 
 colours over us, giving such an extraordinary effect to 
 the scene that the children could never forget it. It 
 was a very gratifying coincidence to my devoted 
 daughter that this remarkable Centenary, which so 
 deeply interested her, occurred on the anniversary of 
 her father's birthday, and that the honour of presiding 
 on the jubilant occasion was conferred on him. With 
 her warm, filial affection she thus made the day matter 
 of record : 
 
 1 July 8th, 1880. Father's birthday. Sixty-three 
 years old to-day. God bless you, dear father, and let 
 me have you a long time yet.' 
 
 The history of that trying year was such as to 
 render it desirable for us to leave this locality and seek 
 some, to us, more suitable sphere. We were happily 
 directed to one, and the wisdom of our decision we 
 have never had reason to doubt. My daughter has 
 this record for the day on which my next ministerial 
 appointment was made. ' A day of anxious suspense. 
 How wonderfully God comforts us when we need Him ! ' 
 A sudden and severe bronchial attack necessitated my 
 leaving hurriedly for change and rest, prior to entering 
 on the duties of my next Circuit. My faithful and 
 esteemed colleague, the Rev. Richard J. Clifton, took 
 charge of my packing ; and I soon rallied. 
 
 Though Lizzie had only been a year in this town, 
 she had acquired great influence, and her young friends 
 were distressed at parting with her. They presented 
 
108 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 her with a beautiful album, with their portraits ; she 
 kept up correspondence with them, and acted towards 
 them the part of a faithful Christian friend. The 
 local papers expressed deep regret that the young of 
 the neighbourhood would sustain a great loss by Miss 
 Wesley's removal. She received a most affectionate 
 letter, signed by all her scholars, which is as follows : 
 
 ' TEIGNMOUTH, August 31st, 1S80. 
 1 MY DEAR Miss WESLEY, 
 
 ' In the name of your Class, and as one of them, I have very 
 great pleasure in presenting you with this album as a small 
 token of affection, and would also say how very glad we all are to 
 have known you, and we would thank you very heartily for the 
 many happy hours we have spent with you. Some of us, if not 
 all, can say it was good for us that God sent you to Teignmouth, 
 and we are so sorry that you are leaving us ; but we will try to 
 think that it is God's will, and He knows best. We hope that 
 you will be very happy and very useful in your future labours, 
 and that wherever you go God's blessing may go with you. We 
 would also ask that when you are far away frdm us you will 
 sometimes think upon and pray for the girls (always yours) you 
 have left in Teignmouth, as they will for you.' 
 
 Miss Wesley found a sweet hymn of Miss Havergal'a 
 on sanctified affliction which was given in the ' Monthly 
 Letter of the Methodist Bible and Prayer Union ' for 
 December, 1879, very suitable to her during this 
 painful discipline ; and she was extremely anxious 
 that this paternal chastisement, which had already 
 yielded such precious fruits, should continue to secure 
 all the gracious designs of her Heavenly Father when 
 the darkness and the storm were past. 
 
 We are sure that our departed one's many friends 
 will value the hymn with Lizzie's written heading, and 
 the lines which she discriminatingly marked with ink 
 and the use of her ruler in the margin, as proving how 
 
MISS WESLEY. 109 
 
 she was ' exercised ' in suffering as well as in doing the 
 will of God. 
 
 ^'LIZZIE WESLEY, "THE STUDY," TEIGNMOUTH. 
 
 'PEACEABLE FRUIT. 
 
 ' Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but 
 grievous : nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit 
 of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' 
 Heb. xii. 11. 
 
 ' WHAT shall thine "afterward" be, Lord, 
 
 For this dark and suffering night 1 
 Father, what shall Thine "afterward" be? 
 Hast Thou a morning of joy for me, 
 And a new and joyous light ? 
 
 ' What shall Thine " afterward " be, Lord, 
 
 For the moan that I cannot stay ? 
 Shall it issue in some new song of praise, 
 Sweeter than sorrowless heart could raise, 
 
 When the night hath passed away ? 
 
 ' What shall Thine " afterward " be, Lord, 
 
 For this helplessness of pain ? 
 A clearer view of my home above, 
 Of my Father's strength and my Father's love ? 
 
 Shall this be my lasting gain ? 
 
 What shall Thine " afterward " be, O Lord 1 
 
 How long must Thy child endure ? 
 Thou knowest 1 'Tis well that I know it not ! 
 Thine " afterward " cometh, I cannot tell what, 
 
 But I know that Thy word is sure. 
 
 ' What shall Thine " afterward " be, Lord ? 
 
 I wonder and wait to see ; 
 While to Thy chastening hand I bow, 
 What " peaceable fruit " may be ripening now, 
 
 Ripening fast for me ! ' 
 
 FRANCES R. HAVERGAL. 
 
 What the ' afterward ' was of this keenly-felt 
 chastening of love the next three chapters will tell. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WINCHESTER. 
 
 OUR next appointment was to the ancient city of 
 Winchester. For the first time in my long 
 public career we started to our new destination from 
 opposite points; my dear wife and daughter from 
 Teignmouth, and I from Alverstone, in the Isle of 
 Wight, having, under the care of my relatives, recruited 
 my health. With thankfulness to our divine Benefactor 
 we met at Bishopstoke, and proceeded to our new 
 station. My daughter's first jotting after our arrival 
 was : 
 
 ' Thursday, Sept. 2nd, 1880. A pleasant journey 
 and a quiet little home ' ; never did we more fully 
 appreciate a hearty welcome. 
 
 Every department of toil to which Miss Wesley 
 had previously been accustomed, and with the duties 
 and difficulties of which she had become familiar by 
 experience, again opened to her ; the painful discipline 
 of the previous year had given her an increase of 
 spiritual power in proportion to her extended oppor- 
 tunity ; and she re-entered the field with a full 
 consecration to God and His blessed service. 
 
 Our being stationed again among the military, 
 and the prospect of toiling at the depot of the King's 
 Royal Rifles, and among others whom we had so well 
 known, was a joy indeed. On our first Sabbath we 
 
MISS WESLEY. Ill 
 
 were hailed by those among whom we won our first 
 triumphs, and very soon my duties as acting chaplain 
 began ; and under the approval of the genial com- 
 manding officer, dear Lizzie had free access to the 
 barracks, to do all the good in her power. With the 
 very field spread out before her, knowing, too, the 
 influence which Grod had given her with this class of 
 men and their families, she bounded into her work 
 with enthusiasm. 
 
 A characteristic letter written to a Gravesend lady 
 who had great sympathy with us states our position 
 exactly : 
 
 'WiNCHESTEB, Feb. 15th, 1880. 
 ' MY DEAB, TRUE, OLD FRIEND, 
 
 1 You would indeed be surprised to find we were sent to 
 Winchester it was decided just at the close of the Conference 
 and so here we are in a pretty little home which is about a 
 quarter of an hour's walk from the chapel and city. The latter 
 is a grand, solemn place with eighteen churches in it, and a 
 glorious cathedral which is crowded every Sunday ; but, alas ! 
 for our poor Methodist chapel it is an elegant place, but nearly 
 empty. There is no organ, no gallery, and somehow the place 
 lacks a comfortable, Methodist look ; but it is very pretty, and 
 
 used to be well attended. 
 
 ******* 
 
 ' I pray God we may help to raise the cause, but it will be a 
 hard struggle. My father has no colleague ; and, moreover, the 
 places in the Circuit are distant ; still, in view of all the 
 difficulties, we are beginning our work with a cheerful heart. 
 Surely God will help us ! We had a kindly welcome, but I liked 
 
 best of all the sight of several dear old faces. Corporal T , 
 
 3rd 60th Rifles. Knowles, Griffiths and wife, Col. Sergt. Turner, 
 and others it made us feel at home at once and did they not 
 shake our hands ! God bless them. I am hoping to have a 
 Bible class for our true soldiers soon ; in the meanwhile I go up 
 to the married quarters, and see them at chapel ; and, indeed, it 
 seems as though Poole and Teignmouth was only a dream, and 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 that we had never left Gravesend. I do feel so happy to be in 
 my old work again, and already God has touched one brave 
 corporal's heart, and his wife's too, and I know that they are 
 seeking Jesus. God always gives me so much gladness in any 
 work I do for Him in the army. Is it my life-work? I have 
 often asked. 
 
 1 My own life-burden seems to be very like yours ; but, thank 
 God, " faith lends its realising light " to many of life's shadows ; 
 and we know that He is near, and will not let us have more to 
 carry than we are able to bear. 
 
 ' I so often feel that I am like that king of olden time who 
 
 did not serve the Lord with a perfect heart. I do so long to be 
 
 given up to Him fully ; and yet it seems always as. though I am 
 
 hindered in this entire devotion for which I am praying every day. 
 
 ******* 
 
 ' Our soldiers need a personal kind of help ; " A word for me," 
 not for the whole of our barracks "button-hole preaching," 
 as Mr. Spurgeon calls it. 
 
 ' We have no vestry here, only a comfortless little class-room 
 which I am going to try to improve ; but we are so greatly in 
 need of money here in the Lord's work. How strange it is that 
 so weak a thing as money should really be so strong ! 
 
 ' I do hope that tiresome neuralgic pain has not come back 
 again during these cold weeks ; it is dreadful I know, and needs 
 a heroine's patience to bear it. I don't think the old saint, Job, 
 ever knew what that was. The climate of the land of Uz was too 
 
 warm for neuralgia, I imagine ; and for Mr. B I am sure you 
 
 must be anxious. The trials always come together, but " look up.'' 
 This is the one text of the sermon I am constantly preaching to 
 myself, and as to the future of the journey, we need not really 
 fear. Good-morning. May you have heart sunshine to-morrow 
 and always is the prayer of, 
 
 ' Your true friend, 
 1 Miss T y. ' E. A. WESLEY.' 
 
 This admirable letter recognised God's presence in 
 our life-trials, and His help in the cheerful prosecution 
 of our life-work ; and by honouring Him success had 
 
MISS WESLEY. 113 
 
 already begun, and there was the full expectation of 
 its continuance, despite our difficulties. The question 
 she had so often asked respecting the work she did for 
 God in the army, and in the performance of which He 
 always gave her so much gladness, has now received its 
 answer ' Is it to be my life-work ? ' It was her life- 
 work ; but it was speedily, though heroically, done ! 
 
 At the beginning of this new enterprise, Lizzie 
 needed some young lady friend on whom she could rely 
 to give her countenance in her meetings, when her 
 father was engaged in ministerial duties. Calling 
 one morning at a shop in the city to make some 
 enquiry, a retiring, educated young lady was so irre- 
 sistibly attracted by some influence which Lizzie un- 
 consciously exerted upon her, that she voluntarily 
 attended our service on the following Sabbath morning, 
 and became one of her most sympathetic and effective 
 helpers to the end of our stay in Winchester. 
 
 The comfortless class-room at the chapel was made 
 to assume a cheerful aspect. She put a piece of bright 
 carpet on the floor, a table in the centre with some 
 flowers, and relieved the blank walls by mottoes, the 
 chief one being, ' Christ for me,' so that it soon 
 became an attractive resort ; and very cosy it was, 
 with a good fire in an evening. Small handbills, like 
 the following, were freely circulated, inviting the men : 
 ' To our Soldiers ! You are affectionately invited to a 
 Soldiers' meeting, which is held every evening, at 
 seven, in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, St. Peter's Street, 
 Winchester. You will find a comfortable room, some 
 cheerful company, and many of your comrades there.' 
 These hearty invitations, given by a lady, were sure to 
 be complied with ; and her anxious effort to interest 
 
 I 
 
114 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 them on their first visit would secure their presence 
 again. 
 
 To attract people to the chapel, a Mission Band 
 was formed ; Miss Wesley drew up the rules, had faith 
 in God, and the workers were soon forthcoming. She 
 had prepared a comprehensive scheme which required 
 but little modification, providing for open-air services, 
 tract distribution, the visitation of the slums, and 
 invitations to the services. She threw her energies 
 into this mission- work, and all caught the inspiration 
 of her zeal. 
 
 We happily succeeded also in getting the slow 
 time of our singing quickened, and more heart thrown 
 into it ; and the introduction of the military element 
 into the choir contributed to this greatly-needed 
 improvement. Is it not seen that those who lag and 
 are heartless in their singing are slow and unsympathetic 
 in everything ? A Service of Song, in which soldiers 
 and civilians united, illustrative of the Life and Times 
 of John Wesley, was given with great effect. The 
 favourite hymns of the early Methodists were sung in 
 the old tunes ; and these, with the connective readings, 
 placed us amid the thrilling scenes of the great 
 Methodist revival. The soldiers could more easily 
 have pursued the foe than chase the parts of this 
 flying music ; and it excited one's risible faculties to 
 witness the difficulty they had in practising what 
 some of us sung with so much ease when we were 
 children. The effort excited deep interest ; the grand 
 old tunes were called for in our public services some 
 of those in which the fugue was not excessive were 
 retained and the congregation afterwards, instead of 
 requiring to be pulled on, sang ' with the spirit and 
 
MISS WESLEY. 115 
 
 with the understanding also.' In gaining this good 
 result we were greatly indebted to Lizzie's influence. 
 
 The spirit of evangelism was now infused into our 
 services the true spirit of Christian aggression was 
 animating our people, especially the young and with 
 soldiers and civilians mingling all over the chapel, the 
 place had 'the comfortable Methodist look.' As the 
 soldiers whom we knew so well at Gravesend left the 
 well-filled sanctuary and the lively services, they 
 would say, ' the old times are come back again, Miss ! ' 
 Woe to the preacher, even if it were her father, if in 
 his anxiety to preach to the Church on Sunday 
 mornings, he had failed to impress the soldiers and 
 keep them awake. She tested the value of sermons by 
 their effects. On Sunday evenings we frequently held 
 purely evangelistic services, enlivened by revivalistic 
 hymns from our Mission hymn-book, with a plain, 
 short sermon aiming at the conviction and conversion 
 of sinners ; and, instead of pronouncing the benediction 
 as usual, closing with an hour of earnest prayer, varied 
 testimony, and the leading of penitents to the Saviour. 
 This style of service was thought to be an innovation 
 by a few very occasional attendants, especially in a 
 cathedral city, where everything was expected to be 
 regular, systematic, and respectable ; and besides, they 
 did not like being obliged to remain and listen to 
 the prayers of the laity. If a lady prayed publicly it 
 was deemed to be intolerable, even though it were a 
 mother praying for her children, or a teacher for her 
 scholars. Many a regular attendant at the chapel has 
 met me at the close of a Sabbath and said, with a 
 beaming face : ' I can't believe it is Winchester, Sir ; 
 the services are full of life.' Nor were we alone in 
 
 i 2 
 
116 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 laying ourselves open to the charge of ecclesiastical 
 irregularity; for we had the joy, on two Sabbath 
 evenings, of listening to the same tunes and the same 
 hymns sung by two thousand persons of all denomi- 
 nations in the grand old cathedral, all the Noncon- 
 formist choirs of the city joining in concert, accompanied 
 by the thunder of the powerful and subduing organ. 
 The pure Gospel preached with the ' vehement sim- 
 plicity ' of Canon Wilberforce, and the free salvation 
 hymned forth by thousands of human voices, and 
 closed by the rapturous chorus of personal appro- 
 priation : 
 
 ' Hallelujah ! 'tis done I I believe on the Son ; 
 I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One,' 
 
 produced an impression that will last for ever. On a 
 much smaller scale, we had conversions in our own 
 place of worship, which little sanctuary one of our 
 most distinguished commissioned officers once desig- 
 nated ' a cathedral in miniature.' 
 
 Every kind of influence my daughter could exert 
 was directed in the house of God, and out of it, to the 
 salvation and improvement of members of the con- 
 gregation. On Sabbath mornings she might be seen, 
 at different opportune stages of the service, moving 
 about so gently and quietly as to escape observation, 
 and placing a small slip of paper with a very short 
 piece of pencil in the hand of one and another person 
 in the congregation. Since her death, the secret has 
 been revealed, that each slip asked an important 
 question, and when the pencil accompanied it, an 
 immediate answer was expected. Two of these slips 
 are now before me, with the questions and answers : 
 
MISS WESLEY. 117 
 
 ' Do you love Jesus ? ' A. Robinson, ' Yes.' " Does 
 Jesus save you now, friend Allen ? ' 'I feel very 
 happy in Jesus.' These searching questions would lead 
 the individuals to self-knowledge ; and they gave 
 Lizzie a knowledge of their state which enabled her to 
 adapt her efforts to each case so as to secure her all- 
 absorbing object. The practical value of such know- 
 ledge to such a worker was incalculable. As we left 
 home for the evening service, she would say : ' JSTow, 
 papa ! for a thoroughly evangelistic service : ' and, by 
 the help of God, we had it. We sometimes had 
 several cases of conversion from among the worst of 
 the people in this public way : Miss Wesley's help in 
 securing them was invaluable; and for purposes of 
 aggression they were of immense service, both among 
 soldiers and those in civil life. 
 
 Having the evei' constant conviction that her 
 mission in Winchester was specially to the soldiers, she 
 was faithful to her voluntary vow ; she addressed each 
 soldier she met, gave him one of her tracts, with a 
 word of kindly advice, and an invitation to their own 
 evening meeting. She lost caste with some who 
 would gladly have cultivated her acquaintance, and 
 received marked slight from othei'S ; but nothing 
 diverted her from her purpose. ' I have no wish to 
 walk with Miss Wesley again,' said a lady who had 
 called for her ; ' for she left me to speak to one soldier 
 after another, and even darted across the street to get 
 access to them.' ' Ah !' exclaimed another, ' Miss Wesley 
 will soon grow tired of that!' However keenly she 
 felt unkind words or treatment, she had only time for 
 a gentle and silent reply, as she hastened to do work 
 for Jesus. The officers and men, however, soon valued 
 
118 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 vX^XN^>^'XyN^' --- S**~^^***^**^^^~^ J r<^i~*^*i^-^ J r*~i^^ 
 
 her services, recognised their results, and treated her 
 with the respect due to a lady. A young lady accom- 
 panied a dear friend of ours on a few hours' visit to 
 Winchester, when Lizzie had spent two years in her 
 work in the city ; and a letter of sympathy which our 
 visitor wrote her mother after her death, bears un- 
 expected testimony to the influence she wielded over 
 the numbers they met wearing the Queen's uniform 
 in the streets that day, and the gentlemanly respect 
 they paid her. 
 
 ' CHESTEB, August 30th, 1885. 
 ' DEAR MBS. WESLEY, 
 
 1 1 have been deeply touched on reading the memoir in the 
 Recorder telling of your sad bereavement this week, and must 
 tell you how deeply I sympathise with you and Mr. Wesley. I 
 have such a lively remembrance of your united kindness the 
 only time I was ever at Winchester, when I was the guest of 
 Mrs. T. C - , of Bushey Down. How self-denyingly Miss Wesley 
 would go with us and show the lions of the place, and then 
 accompany me to the Cathedral ; and after tea she would go with 
 us to the inn, and see us drive off. I am sure she was much 
 fatigued. And how astonished I was to notice that every soldier 
 we met saluted her. When I made a remark to that effect she 
 smilingly replied, " yes, they all know me and are my friends*' 
 Dear Miss Wesley ! I have not lost the influence of that brief 
 meeting yet, and often think of her when passing down these 
 Chester Streets (now I reside here) and meet so many soldiers. 
 It is a heavy trial to you that the Master called her first ; a 
 little waiting, and you will know all about it. 
 
 1 May the Lord bless you, and sustain you to the end, is the 
 prayer of one who thinks of you with tender Christian regard. 
 
 KIBTON.' 
 
 Two or three hours spent in the society of our 
 daughter had left an influence on this young lady 
 which years had not effaced, and will not efface. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 119 
 
 The soldiers' evening meeting became very popular, 
 the men regarded it as their own ; and while Miss Wesley 
 was the presiding spirit, she trained the men to take 
 part in it, and was assisted by a small and faithful 
 band of civilians. The meeting varied in its character : 
 one evening it would be evangelistic ; another, for the 
 work of Temperance ; then it would take the form of a 
 Bible-class, with free discussion ; and sometimes it 
 would be a cheerful entertainment. In the hands of 
 Miss Wesley or her father it was safe. When they 
 spent a bright social evening with readings, recita- 
 tions, and vocal and instrumental music it wa.s 
 infinitely better in itself, in its associations, and in its 
 results, than they would have had in the gay and 
 corrupt world. We tried to make the men feel that, 
 for the time being, it was a home. Had the meeting 
 been strictly and unvaryingly religious, many who 
 were attracted by the gathering, who were mentally, 
 socially, and morally improved, and at length saved, 
 would never have entered the room, and might have 
 remained under deteriorating influences till they had 
 been ruined. The meeting was always of such a 
 character as to render it quite proper to begin and close 
 with prayer. To this evening gathering Miss Wesley 
 gave her best attention, and prepared for it most 
 carefully. Our residence being some distance from 
 the city, it was customary for several military and 
 civilian friends to accompany her home as an escort, 
 and on the way a programme was generally struck out 
 for the next evening. 
 
 The following notes of her address at one of her 
 annual meetings will be found interesting : 
 
120 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 1 THE OLD YEAR -MEMORIES OF OUR LITTLE ROOM. 
 
 1. ' Thanks for the room, gas, fire. 
 
 2. ' Improved singing. There is- a heartier ring now. 
 
 3. ' Pleasant evenings. Not just now to mention religious 
 influences elevating music and songs Temperance work 
 struggles against drinking habits good company kindly true. 
 
 4. ' Unity. There has always been an unselfishness in our 
 meetings a giving up of our own way in trifles. We can never 
 all think alike especially in religion doctrines avoided as 
 much as possible : Church, Nonconformists, Catholics all 
 welcome. No jarring notes here ; God help us always to sing in 
 tune ! never to fall out by the way. 
 
 5. ' Very much earnest^work in bringing in comrades ; and joy 
 of reaping has been ours and theirs. We will work till Jesus 
 comes ; joy of harvest. 
 
 6. ' As to the future altered lives careful of our words 
 silent example ' Blue ribbon ' earnest, whole-hearted service 
 ' claiming a brother ' to fight in our regiment. 
 
 7. ' Kindness to me personally.' 
 
 The powerful address which this outline suggested 
 in a review of their years' work, success, and pleasure, 
 was an inspiration; and there was much that was 
 divine in the response to it. 
 
 Miss Wesley's labour of love in the married quar- 
 ters, in hospital, and in the cells of the immense barracks 
 was what no lady, perhaps, had ever attempted, for it 
 was done for the sick, the sinful and unhappy, and not 
 for declared Wesleyans only. The kind-hearted sister 
 of the commanding officer and Miss Wesley were the 
 only two ladies to toil in this large field. 
 
 A true picture of the work in which she delighted 
 was given in a letter to a lady when on a visit to 
 Brighton for a little rest and change in July, 1881. 
 Here is an extract : 
 
 ' Before mother was ill, I was for a fortnight nursing 
 
MISS WESLEY. 121 
 
 one of our poor soldier's wives. I went to see her one 
 day, and found her ill in bed of inflammation of the 
 lungs. Several neighbours and their babies looking 
 on her own baby swinging over her head in a 
 hammock and her little boy of three years crying for 
 his dinner. Common humanity led me to take the 
 command, and we pulled her through together, as the 
 doctors say. Best of all, she and her husband found 
 the Saviour during that sorrow.' 
 
 In this barracks picture, given in a few touches 
 from her pen in a hasty letter, Lizzie has graphically 
 grouped babyhood and boyhood, want and crying, 
 stern necessity and motherly invention, helpless illness 
 and idle on-looking ; and it was only one of many 
 similar scenes in which she was so true to her 
 ' humanity ' as to become nurse to a soldier's wife and 
 children till health and strength and joy brightened 
 the soldier's home. Ah ! the joy of having changed 
 the sad scene in that married quarters of the Winchester 
 barracks was traceable to ' humanity ' acting out the 
 behests of Christ-like benevolence ; and we are not 
 surprised that, as in many other cases, that grateful 
 couple should have been won for the Saviour. 
 
 The sergeant sent me his own testimony, and my 
 daughter sketched the encouraging case, with several 
 more, to refresh our memory for public addresses, and 
 the substance of the two may be usefully given. We 
 knew him as a recruit in Gravesend ; and on receiving 
 a kindly welcome from him at Winchester, we were 
 glad to find that he was making his way in his pro- 
 fession. But he was godless declined to attend our 
 meetings and, rather than meet my daughter and 
 listen to her conversation on the claims of Christ, he 
 
122 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 would eddy round the corner as only a gymnast could, 
 and go a mile out of his way. Yet, as he states, 
 though he gave excuses instead of being present at her 
 meetings, her consistency kindness prayers and 
 perseverance in doing good, constrained him to yield to 
 the Holy Spirit, give up sin, and decide for God. 
 
 The narrative of the sergeant shows what a battle 
 it was of which our heroine ' took the command,' and 
 how persistently it was fought out before he would 
 yield to the Redeemer's benign sway. ' In the month 
 of May, 1881, my wife was taken seriously ill, and not 
 expected to live, when Miss Wesley, who had been a con- 
 stant visitor at barracks, and of my quarters, and who 
 had never allowed an opportunity to pass of speaking a 
 few words to me of the love of Jesus, gave herself up to 
 nurse my sick one. For a whole fortnight, from eight 
 in the morning till seven or eight o'clock in the evening, 
 the hours at which I began and finished my duty, was 
 8he found watching the afflicted one and administering 
 various nourishments which were ordered by the 
 doctor every half-hour, and all of which she prepared 
 herself. As I returned home during the day for meals, 
 I was always met with a few words from the good old 
 book, and a short prayer to God for the restoration of 
 my wife's health and the salvation of my soul, and 
 during meals she would often say in conversation, 
 God has brought this sickness for your good ; ' but I 
 was blind to all spiritual matters, and only left think- 
 ing what a kind good lady she was to sacrifice her time 
 and comfort to attend one who was almost a stranger, 
 About two months afterwards, my wife was able to 
 leave home for change of air, and being left alone, I 
 thought very much of Miss Wesley's kindness, and of 
 
MISS WESLEY. 123 
 
 t *S^S^^*S-*^S^ f ^S-^S^S-**S^S~*iS^^\S^S~**J^ 
 
 the words she had spoken to me, but especially did the 
 words impress me, " This affliction is for your good." ' 
 
 My daughter's record states the slow steps by 
 which he was led to decision : ' After his wife was 
 raised from what all thought would be her death-bed 
 he would come to chapel, just inside, on Sunday 
 evenings, yet when asked to stay to the prayer-meeting 
 he always said, " No." But one night after a sermon 
 from a Richmond student (Mr. Jenkins) he was 
 induced to remain by a bit of tact. We blocked up 
 the way and he could not get out very easily. When 
 the meeting was over the Christian friend talked to 
 him once more of the great power for good his life 
 might be. "I know it," he said, and for the first 
 time the merry face was saddened and thoughtful, and 
 the hot tears fell thick and fast. Mr. Jenkins came 
 and spoke to him once more of the far-off land to which 
 he was going to work for God. " I was there once," 
 said the sergeant, " but do not think I did much good 
 there except in fighting because our Queen told us to 
 do so. I did the best I could of that sort of work." 
 At the close of another Sabbath, he returned to his 
 lonely quarters under deep conviction of sin. 
 
 The sergeant's account of the sequel shall close the 
 narrative. 
 
 ' Feeling very miserable, I had some conversation 
 with a Christian man in the barracks, and then went 
 to my quarters closed the door thought over the 
 words that had been said to me and remembering 
 how Miss Wesley had prayed for me there, I was led 
 there and then to trust in Jesus aa my Saviour, At 
 the first meeting afterwards, I was obliged to go and 
 tell Miss Wesley her prayers had been answered. I 
 
124 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 shall never forget that meeting, though very few in 
 number, only Miss Wesley, Mr. Wesley, and myself, 
 but it seemed the very gate of heaven, for it was my 
 first confession of Christ. This was the way I let 
 Miss Wesley know that Jesus had saved me. How she 
 did thank God ! I shall never forget it. I gave myself 
 up at once to God's service, and in his strength we 
 worked together ; our soldiers' meeting soon became 
 famed throughout the garrison and city, and many of 
 my comrades were brought to Christ in the meetings. 
 Having acquired some spiritual strength to keep my 
 ground, I could write to my wife and tell her of my 
 changed life; and on her return home, I felt that I 
 must make a bold stand and start, and so at once 
 commenced family prayers, which I fear I should not 
 have been equal to had my wife been at home when I 
 was converted to God. So I always feel that the 
 sickness was for good. 
 
 ' Some time afterwards I was promoted, and sent to 
 Aldershot, and I promised God I would work for Him 
 in any way He would please ; and before many weeks 
 had elapsed, I was put on the Wesleyan Local Preach- 
 ers' Plan, was also appointed leader of a class, and 
 have continued to work in this way ever since. 
 
 ' Soon after our arrival at Aldershot, my wife was 
 brought into the glorious light of the Gospel through 
 letters from Miss Wesley, and by an address from the 
 Rev. Pelham Stokes, at a Blue Ribbon Meeting, the 
 influence of these being taken to God in prayer in her 
 own retirement. After some time had elapsed, she had 
 another attack of illness which lasted twelve months, 
 two months of which she was confined to her bed. 
 Then again Miss Wesley visited her, travelled from 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 Winchester to Aldershot to do so, and stayed with her 
 two days. Little hope was entertained of her recovery, 
 but we pleaded with God again, and asked the f ulfil-. 
 mentof the promise (James v. 15.), prayer was answered, 
 and to the surprise of the doctors, she was again restored 
 to health ; and we are serving the Lord together.' 
 
 This letter is dated Winchester, Oct., 25th, 1884, and 
 signed, 
 
 G. F. F g, Staff Sergeant. 
 
 It was remarkably providential that soon after we 
 left Winchester the sergeant was again quartered 
 there, and gave his services where and when they 
 were so greatly needed. This case has been given 
 fully, to show with what thoroughness Miss Wesley 
 did her Lord's work. 
 
 A young Wesleyan soldier, who had won the esteem 
 of his superiors and comrades, came home from Egypt 
 with sadly broken health, and was lying in our 
 hospital buoyed up by a hope of recovery as delusive 
 as it was flattering. We all felt deep interest in him, 
 and gave him all the attention which our knowledge of 
 his case required. The deleterious effect of climate, 
 and the tug of war, had stolen from his once vigorous 
 frame all rallying power, and he slowly sank and died. 
 His large and imposing funeral, at which the writer 
 officiated as chaplain, was one of the most affecting 
 scenes we had ever witnessed. His remains were 
 committed to the grave at the close of a gloomy 
 November day, in the year 1882, and his bereaved 
 sister and uncle, having spent a few hours in suitable 
 converse at our quiet home, bade us adieu, and the 
 writer resolved that the next evening, being the 
 
126 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Sabbath, the service at the chapel should have special 
 reference to the event of the young brave soldier's 
 death. To my astonishment, on the Sunday morning, 
 my daughter placed in my hand a very pathetic and 
 yet stirring paper which she had written during the 
 night, instead of taking sleep and rest. This tender 
 and yet practical elegy had only to be read to lead to 
 the resolution to give every word of it at the close of 
 the sermon on the Sabbath evening, stating, that a 
 soldiers' friend had prepared it for that solemn occasion. 
 The entire paper, so quickly and self-denyingly pro- 
 duced, deserves to be preserved as a proof of her genius, 
 earnestness, and goodness. It is as follows : 
 
 ' A paper prepared by Miss Wesley, and, read by her 
 father in the Wesleyan Chapel, Winchester, on the 
 occasion of a young soldier's death, Sunday, November 
 19th, 1882. 
 
 ' Among the thousands of our soldiers who went 
 to Egypt at their country's bidding, perhaps none 
 deserved our sympathy more than our Army Reserves 
 men who had already fought our battles, and who, 
 when called up, were just settling down to civil life. 
 Some were in business ; others in situations which had 
 taken them time and trouble to obtain : these they 
 were called to leave ; and others left still more precious 
 things behind a wife and children, or a new-made 
 home. But soldier-like, when England expected them 
 to do their duty, they were ready ; and Her Majesty 
 has had no truer soldiers in camp or in field than 
 were the Army Reserves. Many of these gathered 
 here for praise and prayer ere they sailed for Alexan- 
 dria, and we commended them to God's care. 
 
 ' Among these are some who were wounded, but 
 
MISS WESLEY. 127 
 
 r**^~*^t~*^^S^^~^~**jr^ f ^r*>-*^^S^S-^S~*^ 
 
 who, in pain, and suffering, have now their great 
 Commander near to cheer and comfort them. Others 
 are quietly working for God among their comrades, 
 and bravely enduring persecution and ridicule. Some 
 have already returned home to England with glowing 
 tales of victory and thrilling stories of how the fields 
 were won with the roar of cannon ; or more strangely 
 still, in silence and quietness so hushed that a child 
 might have fallen asleep there. 
 
 ' " I am glad I was ever called up from the Reserve,' 
 wrote one of our soldiers from Cairo, a few weeks ago, 
 " I am a better man for it, and I mean, by God's help, to 
 give up my old ways and try to be good and serve 
 God." And when he called to see me on Friday last, I 
 could tell by one look at his face, that his words were 
 true, and that in the struggle between right and 
 wrong he was winning. " I am glad I am spared, 
 Sir," he said, " I only had this scratch on my forehead, 
 and though I have a bad cold, Miss Robinson's warm 
 woollen jersey and nice scarf (God bless her) will soon 
 put me all right. I am glad I am home again." 
 
 ' While he spoke, I thought sadly of those who 
 never would come back, and of mothers and fathers 
 and friends whose hearts would ache with waiting for 
 a footstep they would never hear again. 
 
 ' In our own garrison hospital, for several weeks, 
 there has been lying a young soldier who, in India 
 and Egypt, has known the full meaning of those two 
 words " Active Service," and who in the late war 
 took his place among the brave Reserves Florentine 
 Alfestone. I mention his name, for there may be some 
 of his comrades here to-night who came home in the 
 earlier return ships, and had soon to go to our hospital 
 
128 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 to get ' patched up ' before going on leave. But the 
 climate of foreign countries and the exposure and wear 
 of a soldier's life had done their work too surely ; and 
 when I gave the young soldier a welcome home, he was 
 lying hot with fever and tired with restless tossings. 
 His eyes were bright and his cheeks were hectic 
 flushed ; but he was young, and there was a hope 
 expressed by his kind doctor that he would get over 
 this somewhat sudden attack ; and so, day after day, 
 faithful comrades watched beside him, and Christian 
 friends would try and help the sufferer to bear his 
 pain, telling the old old story of the Saviour's love. 
 Sometimes he would talk of Tel-el-kebir and of his 
 comrades there who fought side by side with him ; or 
 of his sister, the only near relative he had in the world, 
 and whom he hoped to see when he got better and went 
 on furlough. But the days went by, and the young 
 life was rapidly ebbing away. Whither ? " To GOD ! " 
 was our anxious prayer ; and many joined with us in 
 our pleading. " Is Jesus your Saviour ? " a lady visitor 
 asked the dying soldier. " Can you yet say my Jesus?" 
 " I am trying," was the answer given ; " but I am sorry 
 I did not come to Jesus before. If I had my life over 
 again, I would do very differently." "But it is not too 
 late now," said his anxious friend. " Jesus still says, 
 " Come unto Me." He is willing to .forgive all who 
 are sorry for their sins. Try to believe that Jesus saves 
 you now.' An earnest pleading light came into those 
 dying eyes, and eager lips said, " My Jesus, my Jesus ; " 
 and then he talked of the time when he had first heard of 
 Jesus, and he whispered the name of his faithful loving 
 Sunday-school teacher. God grant that all Sunday- 
 school teachers in this chapel to-night may re-conse- 
 
MISS WESLEY. 129 
 
 crate themselves to their holy work, so that even in 
 death their names may be remembered ; and " It may 
 be that the children yon have led with patient hand 
 will be found among your jewels when you reach the 
 better land." That evening the old prayer which has 
 been breathed so often in castle and cottage was heard 
 again in that hospital- ward : 
 
 " While I draw this fleeting breath, 
 When my eyes shall close in death, 
 When I rise to worlds unknown, 
 And behold Thee on Thy throne, 
 Eock of ages, cleft for me, 
 Let me hide myself in Thee.' 
 
 Word after word was slowly spoken by the one who 
 was so soon to pass into the world unknown. Perhaps 
 it was the last prayer your comrade said, except the 
 oft-repeated " My Jesus ; " for as the evening wore 
 away, he seemed tired and almost unconscious of any 
 thing, except that his sister Kate was near and he had 
 longed so to see her. And then, when morning came, 
 the watchers said softly " He is dead " : God's mes- 
 senger of death had come. We laid him to rest yester- 
 day just when our soldiers in the great city were 
 receiving a glad welcome from their Queen. There 
 was for him no shout of greeting, no medal or decora- 
 tion ; only a wreath of fair white flowers laid across 
 the sword, and the presence of comrades, kind and 
 true. The minister read over again " the wonderful 
 words of life," and so we left him to sleep in a soldier's 
 honoured grave. 
 
 ' But is your comrade in the palace of the King ? 
 Was the door of heaven opened to let him in though so 
 late he knocked ? These questions we must leave. 
 
 K 
 
130 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 God does answer a dying prayer for pardon. The 
 *' Lord remember me," was answered by the " To-day 
 shalt thoii be with Me." But do not put off getting 
 ready for death until five minutes before your soul is 
 required of you. You may never get even five minutes. 
 Come to Jesus now. Before you leave this chapel, you 
 may be able to say "My Jesus.' 1 Jesus is here. He is 
 listening. Is anyone saying " Rock of ages, cleft for 
 me, Let me hide myself in Thee ? " When our death 
 hour comes, may we be ready ! ' 
 
 This event of the young soldier's death was influen- 
 tial on the garrison the service in improvement of it 
 had a salutary effect on the men who attended it and 
 the interest of it was deepened very much by the 
 earnestly written paper which was read on the solemn 
 occasion. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, the Christmas and New Year's 
 festivals came : these Miss Wesley shall describe in 
 her own words : 
 
 ' Christmas was a grand time. We had our room 
 decorated, a Yule log, music, books, refreshments, 
 friends ; and all made it look very much like home. I 
 gave up my Christmas and New Year's time to making 
 them happy, and in winning them from the places of 
 amusement and barracks, and I was more than repaid ; 
 for it was, I think, the happiest Christmas I ever had : 
 when it was over, there was an abiding satisfaction. 
 Ay, it was grand. The Child Jesus came to many 
 hearts there, and He saved and blessed those gathered 
 there. Some came from Egypt to rejoice with us 
 they had been true to the blood-stained banner. It 
 cheered us greatly to see eight newly-saved ones 
 kneeling with us at the Covenant service.' 
 
MISS WESLEY. 131 
 
 When all is brightness and festivity without, the 
 dark side of life is presented in the barracks' hospital- 
 wards ; especially when the word SILENCE meets the 
 eye before the nights of steps are ascended, and at every 
 turn. Every step has then to be light, and every word 
 hushed, as though listening for the footsteps of death. 
 So it was one day at the close of the year when we were 
 requested to visit one of our sick soldiers. We might 
 have known nothing of the man who had sent the 
 request, if Lizzie had not first addressed him in the 
 street, and invited him to the house of God. The wish 
 for a visit was soon granted. We found the applicant 
 ill, and we at once saw that he had superior intelli- 
 gence, a strong power of will, and a force of character 
 which if only regenerated, would have made him a 
 great power for good. But alas ! his nature was very 
 much depraved, and all his powers were enlisted on the 
 side of evil. He received oar attentions gladly, though 
 he did not then improve by them. There were in the 
 same ward several who were dangerously ill. To one 
 of these, whose sad case seemed in the fullest sense of 
 the term hopeless, he introduced us, and he became his 
 orderly. The tender sympathy with which my Lizzie 
 approached the sinking man, her concern for his 
 safety, and her nurse-like attentions to him in supply- 
 ing him with everything she could think of to revive 
 and refresh him, awakened in the dying soldier's heart 
 emotions which appeared to have slumbered for many 
 a year. He had endured hardness in many climes, 
 had fought on many a field, had no relative to speak a 
 word of comfort, and there he was lying on the verge 
 of time without the least preparation for eternity, still 
 clinging tenaciously to life, and up to the time of my 
 
 K 2 
 
132 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 daughter's visit, we were informed that in paroxysms 
 of pain he gave utterance to the most profane lan- 
 guage. How instantly Miss Wesley entered into all 
 the circumstances of the dying soldier, and at once 
 adapted herself to them and to his benighted and sad 
 condition, an extract from a letter lately received 
 from his attendant shall disclose : 
 
 'FOET McLEOD, 
 
 'ALBERTA, CANADA, 
 1 DEAR AND EEV. FRIEND, 
 
 ' How well I remember when I lay ill in the military hospital, 
 Winchester, the first person 1 thought of was Miss Wesley. I 
 sent for her and she came sooner than I expected. After doing 
 her best to turn my thoughts to Christ, she said, ' Now, Lilley, 
 tell me, do you think I can do anything for your comrades who 
 are lying ill around you 1 O ! what a smile lit up her face as I 
 said I would try and help her. Do you remember 1 directed her 
 to the bedside of a man named Condon of the 4th Batt. Royal 
 Rifles? She approached him so kindly, and speaking to him 
 about his health, she told him so beautifully of the ' Happy 
 Land ' where there is no more death, and then told the dying 
 soldier such a touching story, which I will write as near as I can 
 remember it, with her remarks upon it, for the benefit of 
 soldiers_who may read it. 
 
 ' During the time of the American war a young man left home 
 secretly to join the army. His distressed father searched for him 
 far and near, but without success. At last he heard that his son 
 had joined the army ; so he determined to go to the seat of war, 
 and arrived late at night after there had been a great battle 
 fought. Every soldier he met he asked if he could give him any 
 tidings respecting his son, mentioning his name, but no one knew 
 where he was. How could they where so many strangers were 
 gathered together ? At length, the father thought he would go 
 over the battle-field and search among the dead and the wounded. 
 He reached the battle-field, stopped at one fallen soldier after 
 another, and stooping down, he whispered " John, my son 1 " He 
 went about thus for several hours, at last he came to a poor man 
 
M18S WESLEY. 133 
 
 who lay bleeding from the effect of a shot-wound, and bending 
 over him said " John, my son John ! " The poor wounded soldier 
 hearing the familiar voice, found just strength enough to raise 
 himself up and say, " My father 1 " Try and think of the joy of 
 the father as he clasped his lost son in his arms, wiped his pale 
 cold face, and took him home to cure him of his wounds. Condon, 
 you have a Father who loves you so dearly that He sent His Son 
 to die for your sins. You, too, like the young man in my story, 
 have left your Father's house. You, too, have gone astray, and 
 your heavenly Father is now saying " My son, give Me thy heart." 
 He is waiting now to welcome you home. He is only waiting for 
 you to repent of your sins and trust in His Son, and He will for- 
 give you for the sake of Him who died for you. Oh ! my friend, 
 repent while it is yet day, ask God to pardon you, turn to Him 
 before it is too late, and He will help you safe through "the 
 valley of the shadow of death." She said much more that I have 
 forgotten ; but never did I hear such a beautiful sermon. Her 
 heart was truly in her work, and the dying soldier was deeply 
 affected. She ministered to his temporal as well as to his spiritual 
 wants ; and after praying with him, left him. The soldier gradu- 
 ally grew worse, and I left my bed to attend to him. Every time 
 he wanted me after Miss Wesley had left him he would call out 
 " Father 1 " and after telling me his wants he would ask " When 
 will that lady come again ? " On the night before he died, Miss 
 Wesley and you paid him your last visit. At about four o'clock 
 in the morning he called " Father." I answered, and he said, " Put 
 your arm round my neck and pray for me, for I am dying, and do 
 not know how to pray." About half an hour afterwards he said, 
 " Send for the lady, I am going. Oh 1 the lady who prayed for me 
 yesterday, I want her to pray for me now, send for the lady." 
 These were nearly his last words. As he was dying he said ' Oh 1 
 the lady tell the la Father God home I wa nt the la dy." 
 These were his dying words. The above, dear sir, needs no com- 
 ment from me. It shows how well adapted she was for service 
 among our soldiers. I never saw one who understood soldiers 
 better, or one whose words had more effect.' 
 
 We were soon informed that the poor soldier had 
 passed away, and Lizzie's SOITOW was bitter because, 
 
134 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 yielding to iny impression that he would last till the 
 next day, she did uot stay with him till the end came. 
 Occasionally we paid a visit to Netley Hospital, 
 when men were there whom we called our own, from 
 their having been tinder our influence for some years. 
 One of these visits is recalled, especially as we had 
 to meet our soldiers as invalids, or wounded. It 
 was Coronation Day, and we were taking our Sunday- 
 school children and teachers for their annual treat, but 
 we had soldiers among our party, or it would have 
 been sadly wanting. The hospital was a great attrac- 
 tion for us in the midst of our pleasures, and gave us 
 the opportunity of brightening our loyal and brave 
 men. A letter of my daughter's gives her account of 
 the visit : ' I went to Netley Hospital a fortnight ago ; 
 it is a pretty place, and our poor sick soldiers are well 
 and tenderly cared for. We had a hearty and loving 
 greeting from dear old Gravesend Rifles. It was worth 
 
 something to claim as an old friend the brave L s> 
 
 of the good old 3rd 60th only one hand left now ; his 
 left arm was amputated on the field, after he had been 
 lying for many a weary hour, and when he did try to 
 get on his feet and struggle across to some place of 
 shelter, the Boers shot at him again. The wretches ! 
 
 L s told me that there he first found the old sweet 
 
 story true that we used to tell him in Gravesend.' 
 
 Miss Wesley was perfectly acquainted with the plan 
 of salvation, which contributed so greatly to her success 
 with the soldier. The following cases will help to 
 make this plain : 
 
 ' Private Crane, an educated lad of seventeen ; sad 
 just as runaway boys look drinking hard to drown sad 
 thoughts. A Christian worker noticed him, standing 
 
MISS WESLEY. 135 
 
 at the guard-room door, and asked him to attend her 
 meetings. He told her one day of his going from home. 
 He was in an office of the West India Docks, and 
 instead of going home one night he went away with 
 wild companions and never returned to his office or his 
 home : for a year he was away, and meanwhile enlisted. 
 He was just longing for some one to lead him back to 
 a better life. With reluctance he gave his mother's 
 address. He said " He knew she never would forgive 
 him." He did not know the depths of a mother's loving 
 heart. Her letter of forgiveness came by the next post. 
 He was soon after sent to Ireland. He has now been 
 in India six months, very happy in God, and bravely 
 working for Temperance.' 
 
 Private Clark, prison warder, was by Miss Wesley 
 truly won for Christ, and became remarkably consistent. 
 His testimony is thus recorded by his Christian friend: 
 ' Thank God some one took me away from the cursed 
 life I was living ; and there are plenty others like me, 
 tired of it they only want some one to get them 
 away.' 
 
 Private Brown's was another triumph of grace. 
 His letter declaring his slow but sure change was just 
 to hand as my daughter wrote : ' We wondered for two 
 years after he left our garrison for India why he never 
 wrote, and now this message has come. " I never 
 meant to write to you, until I was a Christian. I have 
 decided for God now ; and I have His free salvation." ' 
 The subsequent letters from this intelligent soldier tell 
 of his stedfastness and zeal. 
 
 Sergeant Kennedy, after leading a gay life in India, 
 became a humble Christian ; his wife embraced 
 religion, and in painful affliction felt its consolation ; 
 
136 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 three of their children also, with their parents, joined 
 the Church. Their mother, after enduring a long afflic- 
 tion with Christian patience, has lately passed away in 
 triumph. 
 
 A Christian worker said to Corporal Pearce as he 
 left for the Cape, ' Will you meet us in heaven when 
 the war is over p ' Since then, in battle oft, in Africa 
 and Egypt, the words have followed him. He is an 
 earnest worker with the good American Mission in 
 Cairo, happy in the Lord, and now gone with his 
 comrades to follow their brave General Gordon, for life 
 or death. The correspondence of this Christian soldier 
 greatly encouraged jus. In a letter now before me 
 written at Cairo, December 6th, 1882, he enclosed his 
 Temperance pledge, duly signed, and resolved by God's 
 help to be true to it ; he gives an impressive account 
 of the solemn night-march from Kassassin to Tel-el- 
 kebir on which they entered at a moment's notice, not 
 knowing who would come back next day ; he expresses 
 his thankfulness for time for reflection during the 
 march, and for being brought out of the battle without 
 a scratch ; and states that in this most serious time of 
 life he felt the effect of the ' Good-bye ' which he 
 received from his Christian friends at Winchester. 
 Another letter dated Abdin Barracks, Cairo, March, 
 1883, sends usual hearty .thanks for letters and papers ; 
 states that he had adopted my daughter's advice and 
 placed his money for some time in the Regimental Sav- 
 ings Bank, rather than in the Canteen Fund ; and that 
 the number of total abstainers in his regiment was 
 104, and in Egypt 1,700. He expresses the greatest 
 affection for his chaplain, the Rev. Arthur H. Male, and 
 the deepest regret on the failure of his health, with 
 
MISS WESLEY. 137 
 
 the hope that he would soon be able to return to them. 
 It is gratifying to record the testimony of this corporal 
 to his chaplain : ' He is a good minister, and a kind 
 man to all of us.' 
 
 Some people do not feel interested in soldiers or in 
 work among them, but I have known some of these 
 persons wonderfully alter ; if their boy enters the 
 army they soon write to the minister and say, ' I hope 
 there is some Christian who works for God among 
 soldiers where Jack is gone. And will you please look 
 after my boy ? ' It was not one of this class who wrote, 
 twelve months ago, but a grand soldier now retired. 
 He said, ' My boy has enlisted. I am very anxious 
 about him. Can you find him out ? ' He was at 
 chapel the first Sunday evening after leaving home. 
 A lady said to him in the prayer- meeting, ' Is Jesus 
 your Friend ? You will want Him now you miss your 
 dear ones at home.' ' I wish He were my Friend,' 
 said the young recruit. He sought and found Jesus 
 immediately. His brother likewise a month ago, under 
 similar circumstances, was led to the Saviour. And 
 then came a letter glowing with warm and grateful 
 thanks, such as only a Christian father who had been 
 in the ranks could write. 
 
 Sergeant Wall, late of the Rifle Brigade, was sent 
 from Ireland to complete time in the depot at Win- 
 chester, where he was being gradually led from the 
 narrow way into sin. A lady invited him one evening 
 in the street to her soldiers' meeting ; the invitation 
 was accepted, and that was the means used by God in 
 bringing his wandering child back. For some time 
 our friend remained and bore faithful witness amongst 
 his comrades to God's power to save and keep from sin 
 
138 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 in the British army, and amid city temptations. He 
 became one of our most thoughtful, steady, and reliable 
 helpers, and was made very useful. He is at the 
 present time witnessing for the Master in private life. 
 But for the seasonable invitation of our departed one, 
 who can tell what might have resulted ? 
 
 Our next case has more than a touch of romance in 
 it, but from dear Lizzie's pen it is circumstantially 
 correct, and is only a fair illustration of her lady-like 
 tact and cheerful style of doing good : 
 
 'When the Army Reserves were called up for active 
 service in Egypt one bright July day, a party of school- 
 girls and two friends had been enjoying themselves in 
 the country. They were returning home laden with 
 flowers and dressed up in rather fantastic fashion with 
 leaves and flowers, as girls know how. They were 
 mounting an awkward country stile, and succeeded in 
 getting over, except one who could not quite manage it 
 SO well, when they noticed four soldiers coming round 
 a corner of the lane. They did not look very soldier- 
 like : at least it was evident they did not belong to the 
 " Blue Ribbon army." One of them called out : " You 
 had better wait till we come up, Miss, and we'll help 
 you over the stile." The lady in question was very 
 angry ; and after she had got safely on terra firma, 
 was going to make some angry retort, when one of 
 their number, more used to soldiers, said very quietly : 
 " Thank you for your kindness ; it was very good of you 
 to offer to help us over a difficulty : British soldiers 
 are always ready to do that ; these country stiles are 
 very awkward, but we have managed nicely." The 
 soldiers stared, and one tried to say something to 
 apologize for his comrades ; but failing that, he walked 
 
MISS WESLEY. 139 
 
 away, and the lady was left alone with the three. 
 She talked to them of the coming war, and asked them 
 if they were ready for service ? "Yes! " they answered ; 
 and one more vigorous than the rest wished Arabi was 
 there that minute he would soon put him out of the 
 way, he knew. So the lady said : "As your baggage is 
 all ready, and your courage too, I suppose you are not 
 afraid to go out and dieii you are hit." There was no 
 answer this time ; and for a moment they listened to 
 the story of the Cross, and then invitation papers were 
 given to the meetings for soldiers. "Good-bye," said 
 she; and the lady joined her companions. Two 
 evenings after, a gentleman brought into the meeting a 
 soldier who was certainly very unready for service, 
 though it was the same one who on a previous 
 evening had been wishing Arabi and himself in close 
 vicinity. " This is the right place, Sir ; that's who 
 asked me to come ! " he said, pointing to the lady, who 
 happened to be giving out a hymn before the close of 
 the meeting. He said, " I'm sorry I came ; this is no 
 place for me I'm too wicked." The gentleman, who 
 had happened to find the soldier in a street near 
 (where he was slowly producing a worn-out looking 
 invitation paper, and asking the way to that meeting), 
 spoke kindly to him, told him to keep sober, and 
 come the next evening. A kind comrade who knew 
 Scott, and was rejoiced at seeing him in a religious 
 meeting, promised to see him safely into barracks, and 
 to bi'ing him down the next evening if possible. It 
 was a tea-meeting, and his comrades put in a " pass " 
 for him and kept it in their charge, and endeavoured 
 to do the same for their comrade ; but he slipped away 
 into one of those public-houses always so conveniently 
 
140 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 near, and he was missing at the meeting until late, 
 when he came to ask " who had his pass ? " His 
 comrades were successful in getting him inside. The 
 room was prettily decorated, and the singing seemed 
 to interest him; but he pleaded so to be in a dark 
 corner where no one could see a man who was half 
 intoxicated. That was the last time Scott had ever 
 such a request to make. The next evening he came to 
 sign the pledge, which ever since he has kept. He 
 left for Egypt brave for Temperance, and happy in 
 God's forgiving love. When the war was over, he 
 came to tell us of how he had been spared : " Only a 
 scratch on my forehead," he said, "and I thank God 
 for it ; I am a better man for being called up in the 
 Reserve ; " and a few days ago I heard of him still 
 bravely doing right.' 
 
 The friend who invited Scott from the street has 
 sent the following account of his adventure, and the 
 recent testimony of my late daughter to his continued 
 stability : ' During the time of your ministry in 
 Winchester, Miss Wesley was always urging me to do 
 some work for the Lord, and my first response was 
 wonderfully blessed. I went out one evening with 
 Mrs. Payne to bring to the St. Peter's Street School- 
 room any soldier we could meet. We found this man, 
 Scott, under the influence of drink invited him in; 
 and he became deeply impressed by the words so 
 beautifully spoken for the Saviour by Miss Wesley.' 
 The extract of my dear daughter's relating to the 
 faithfulness of this convert is : ' I heard yesterday 
 from Scott, whom you brought to the meeting rather 
 queer, before going to Egypt. He is doing bravely, 
 but is out of work just now. He is true to his pledge 
 
MISS WESLEY. 141 
 
 and to Christ.' It is a pleasure to add that this 
 reformed soldier had several interviews with his 
 benefactress during her last illness. May he be 
 faithful unto death ! 
 
 This unique case aids me in recalling another quite 
 as illustrative of the pleasant skill which so admirably 
 and instantly served her. On her way to an evening 
 public service she was met by a number of soldiers, 
 who were partially inebriated, and who very good- 
 humouredly said : ' Will you go a walk with us, Miss ? ' 
 ' Oh, yes ! ' was the instant reply. We can imagine 
 how the men would be taken aback. ' But,' she 
 instantly added, ' as gentlemen, you will allow the lady 
 to choose the walk ? ' ' Yes, Miss,' they at once 
 rejoined. ' Then I am going to the Methodist Chapel, 
 and shall be glad for you to accompany me,' was her 
 answer. They were so adroitly and pleasantly caught 
 in their own net that they yielded, and she gladly 
 conducted them to the House of God. Surely they 
 could never forget that service ; and we will hope that 
 some truth was lodged in their memory and hearts 
 like leaven in the meal. 
 
 My difficulty lies in selecting from the many 
 cases of undoubted success which God gave to us in 
 this garrison ; but one more shall be added exactly as 
 it was left by Miss Wesley, and as it has since been 
 confirmed by Sergeant Prangnell himself. 
 
 Among those who came home after fourteen years' 
 service in India (and received a public reception into 
 the city), and after brave work done in Afghanistan, 
 was a sergeant who was by all admitted to be one of 
 the most moral soldiers in Her Majesty's army strict, 
 yet kind and a firm foe to anything wrong ; but he 
 
142 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 practically infidel. Very quiet about his convic- 
 tions ; but said " he only cared to live a moral life, and 
 then afterwards it did not matter." 
 
 ' For some years while in India, a lady who works 
 most effectively among soldiers (Miss Herdman), had 
 been writing to him at the request of his brothers. 
 Those letters had been a great help to him. If you 
 have friends away in army or civil life, write to them. 
 
 ' The sergeant came sometimes to chapel, and a 
 Christian lady noticed the brave bronzed soldier she 
 spoke to him each time he came and one day at last 
 ventured to ask him to the meetings for soldiers which 
 were held each evening. He came, as he said, because 
 a lady asked him. He thought : " If a lady troubled to 
 ask an old Indian soldier who could not be a very good 
 man to come to the meetings, there must be some 
 earnestness there, and he would come and see." He 
 came regularly when off duty. The Christian workers 
 agreed not to mention to him how they were longing to 
 know he was trusting in Jesus instead of himself, but 
 just to pray for him. Prayer was answered, and almost 
 without any human aid, the sergeant came slowly out 
 of darkness into light. " How could I have been in the 
 dark all these years," he said. It was soon whispered 
 among his men : " Our sergeant is different," and the 
 charm of his holy life (so changed now still careful 
 to do right, but for love's sake), has already led his 
 comrades to long to follow their sergeant to heaven.' 
 Such was Miss Wesley's record of this true conversion. 
 
 Now we have the sergeant's own testimony : 
 
 ' I arrived in Winchester early in 1882, after spending a num- 
 ber of years abroad. I had been a Wesleyan in name for many 
 years, but not in spirit. Miss Wesley was the first to hold out 
 
MISS WESLEY. 143 
 
 ^X^s J >^VXXX-N-^ViXN^Xy^S^'X^^-^ i XXXN>^ i X>_^>.^ V^^SXXXXXXXXXNwX^^VXVXNrf 
 
 the right hand of Christian fellowship to me, and she never 
 relaxed her earnest entreaties, until she led me right into the 
 clear noonday light and liberty of God's love. I attribute my 
 conversion, as far as human agency was concerned, entirely to 
 her. 
 
 In a home missionary meeting at Warrington, Lancashire, 
 early in the present year, the death of Mies Wesley was deeply 
 regretted. I took the opportunity of responding to the mention 
 of Miss Wesley and her work, and by the minister's permission I 
 rose and testified to the everlasting value of that departed one 
 of her never-to-be-forgotten work amongst our soldiers and others, 
 and that it was by Ijgr that I was led to a clear knowledge of 
 God's saving power. My testimony was received by seven or 
 eight ministers and a large congregation with joy and gladness. 
 T. P. November llth, 1886.' 
 
 After having honourably spent so many years in 
 his country's service he has now an excellent wife, a 
 happy home, a good position in one of our volunteer 
 corps, and the prospect of doing good in the Church 
 and the world. 
 
 Miss Wesley had her disappointments as well as 
 her successes, and keenly did she feel their bitterness. 
 Only those who have experienced them can tell the 
 disappointments attendant on Christian toil among 
 soldiers, where the dangers are so numerous, the 
 changes so frequent, and the helps so few. After yon 
 have succeeded by persevering toil in effecting the 
 moral recovery of men, hoping to see them improving 
 under your own influence, and to have the benefit of 
 their example and effort among their comrades, and 
 then to hear that they are ordered away to distant 
 stations, with but little hope of ever seeing them again, 
 is a trial, which, though painful, may be borne because 
 duty demands it; and by being scattered abroad, 
 Christian soldiers may be made extensively useful. 
 
144 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 S^S^v'*^^S^S*+S~^^S*^^S*>*f-^^^^ 
 
 After having by great personal sacrifice and the 
 most determined effort won a desperado in folly 
 and sin from the ranks of the enemy, and had the joy 
 of witnessing his changed life, and indulging the hope 
 of seeing him who was a curse becoming a great bless- 
 ing to his associates, and then for a relapse to take 
 place which utterly defeats your expectation ; this is 
 a calamity which wrings the soul of a Christian 
 labourer with anguish. We have had cases in which 
 a number of adverse influences have effectually com- 
 bined to lead to the apostacy of some of the most 
 hopeful. Here is an extraordinary case of conversion 
 given in a letter which r among many others, gave us 
 much joy and hope at the close of the year 1882. 
 
 ' For weeks we have had meetings or rather months 
 ever since the war, and nearly every night there have 
 been blessed cases of conversion in our midst. This 
 week a young soldier, who plays the harmonium at our 
 soldiers' meetings, came to Jesus. He was a wandering 
 boy, and had never written even to tell his mother that 
 he was in the army. He wrote on Monday to ask her 
 forgiveness, and on Wednesday, in our little meeting, 
 before his comrades, he sobbed aloud the sinners' only 
 plea : " God be merciful to me." He is a well-educated 
 young man, and I believe will be outright for Christ. 
 Other stories would take me hours to tell, but you will 
 rejoice with us I know. Salvation has indeed come to 
 our little hallowed room.' This young man had led a 
 life of gaiety and was the wit and soul of one of the 
 saloons, at which he held the lucrative post of pianist. 
 For a time he halted between the soldiers' meeting and 
 the gaudy and noisy saloon ; the latter seeming to have 
 the stronger attraction for him. Miss Wesley feeling 
 
MISS WESLEY. 145 
 
 X - V/V-'->rf |F Xy">wX r V>'X>-N J /-^^X^'-V>^ 
 
 the need of a soldier musician to take charge of the 
 harmonium, prayed one night with great power that 
 this young man might return to give this help. 
 Two nights after that prayer he walked into the room 
 uninvited, took his post at the instrument, renounced 
 worldly pleasures, and kept his position as an able 
 helper as long as the meetings were held. After our 
 removal he fell away gradually, and my daughter gives 
 in another letter the reversal of the wondrous change 
 which had given her so much joy: 'jMy heart is sadly 
 distressed this morning : one of our Winchester soldiers 
 has deserted he was one of the lights of our garrison 
 my chief helper in the work there. I have now 
 to tell his dear mother the sad news. I can scarcely 
 bear it ; and how much more bitter will be her sor- 
 row. I feel discouraged this morning, so much of my 
 care and anxiety seems wasted. I can only go to the 
 Comforter with this new and unexpected sadness.' 
 My dear daughter's was the sorrow of disappointed 
 benevolence, but not of despair, either of this once 
 hopeful young man, or of others. Her sorrow did not 
 lessen her efforts ; for in the same letter, which was 
 written while on a visit to 'The Yarrells,' Poole, she 
 gives the following account of her work on her way 
 thither : ' I had glorious meetings at Winchester on 
 my way here. I spent two days there, and I shall 
 never forget the overwhelming power we felt in our 
 meetings. The attendance of soldiers was grand. I 
 am hoping to have a Sunday there again on my way 
 home.' By this glorious success, which is recorded in 
 the very next sentence to this instance of relapse, it 
 would seem that our great Commander had determined 
 that His undaunted servant should not faint at the 
 
146 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 standard, though the unfaithful one had deserted it, 
 and that she should yet be inspired with hope of the 
 wanderer's return. 
 
 Letter writing was Miss Wesley's delight, but also 
 her danger, for she thereby imperilled her health. 
 One morning at three o'clock, when her father im- 
 plored her to retire to rest, she replied : ' My dear 
 father, these letters must be finished, or they cannot 
 go by the mails, and the poor fellows cannot have 
 them.' Her convictions as to duty were so deep, 
 strong and sacred, that she acted them out, and it only 
 made us sad when we interfered with them. 
 
 In war times she examined the lists of the wounded, 
 and selected the names of those she knew for the 
 purpose of writing to them ; her words of comfort to 
 the bereaved friends of the slain were felt to be very 
 precious ; whilst those who escaped were led by her 
 letters to thankfulness and devotedness to God. 
 
 A letter written to a wounded soldier was returned, 
 as we suppose, on account of his death ; yet we give it 
 as a specimen of her tender letters to those on the 
 battle-field : 
 
 ' WINCHESTER, Feb. 25th, 1881. 
 ; DEAR FRIEND FOE JESUS' SAKE, 
 
 ' You will not remember me, but I remember you and your 
 poor comrade, Merry, very well indeed ; and when I saw your 
 name among the list of our wounded soldiers, I felt I must send 
 you the little message enclosed. I want you to " look to Jesus " 
 very often : that is, I want you to pray to Him. I wonder if you 
 are trying to love Jesus, or if in the hurry and bustle of battle 
 you have forgotten your Saviour, but He does not forget you. 
 
 ' Jesus is very near to you, though you cannot see Him. You 
 will need a kind and loving friend in a foreign land and while 
 suffering. Tell Jesus all about your needs, and He will help you. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 147 
 
 ~\S**s f *s^~**i~^* : ^s^s-^^s-*is f ^^^ 
 
 ' You have been brave soldiers for your Queen and old England ; 
 but I want you to be a brave soldier for Jesus if your life ia 
 spared ; and while your other dear comrades have been called to 
 die, God has spared you ! Do consecrate your life to Jesus 1 
 Tell Him that from henceforth, whether you live or die, you will 
 he a Christian. Will you read a little chapter in Isaiah xii. ? 
 I like the two first verses ; and while you read I want you to feel 
 that God's anger is turned away from you, and that He does 
 comfort you. I wish I could come and see you and your poor 
 sick comrades ; but you are so far away. I pray for you very 
 often, as I used to do in Gravesend ; and if at any time you can 
 write, I shall be so pleased to hear. I think you belong to 
 Colour-Sergeant Overton's Company ? I remember seeing you 
 with him in Gravesend. Were you with poor Merry when he died ? 
 
 ' May God liless you, and make you a brave soldier for Him I 
 Jesus is worth fighting for. 'Tis only noble to be good. I shall 
 not forget to ask God to be with you in the hospital. 
 
 " Shall we meet in our Father's house above ? 
 
 ' I am, your friend for the Saviour's sake, 
 
 'ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.' 
 
 Miss Wesley's other work in Winchester embraced 
 the following: A children's class, a young women's 
 Bible-class, a large Tract district, a Band of Hope of a 
 hundred children, Temperance work among soldiers 
 and civilians, inducing many hundreds to take the 
 pledge and be true to it, and evangelistic effort among 
 the lowest and most deeply fallen. 
 
 Only a few of the incidents of her toil can be given. 
 At work among the slums one evening, a number of 
 slum- Arabs were rudely grasping her tracts, when a 
 stronger lad coming by said: ' If you annoy that lady, I'll 
 knock you down.' Her own story, as given to a friend, 
 was this : ' The city is very wicked. I went to give a 
 few tracts away the other Sunday night, and I was so 
 besieged by the poor wretched children that I scarcely 
 
 L 2 
 
148 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 know if I should have kept my ground (literally), if it 
 had not been for the gallant efforts of a sweep lad, who 
 defended me bravely. He asked the boys if they had 
 forgotten their manners. So sarcastic the poor boy's 
 remark seemed. I could not wonder when I looked at 
 their homes and their wretched mothers. The old, 
 old story seemed very welcome to them.' 
 
 One evening, at the beginning of a series of 
 evangelistic services, the roughs savagely followed our 
 Mission band on their march through the streets, 
 mistaking them for the Salvation Army. The howling, 
 and yelling, and threatening on reaching the chapel 
 was so frightful as to strike the missioner pale with 
 fear; and very glad was he to find himself within the 
 sanctuary. But no sooner did Lizzie hear the mob, 
 than she exclaimed : ' Now, Papa, here they are ! 
 throw open the doors ! just the characters we want ! 
 let us go among them and get them in !' We walked 
 down the steps, went right into the mob, and gave 
 them the kindest invitation we could express in words. 
 The appearance of a lady on the scene ; her moving so 
 calmly among them ; her words of welcome ' Now, 
 my friends, come in ; we are holding these services 
 specially for you ! We will give you comfortable 
 seats : do come in ; ' quite disarmed and silenced them, 
 if they were not won. They looked into the lighted 
 chapel the existence of which some of them hardly 
 knew before their pent-up rage was quelled, their 
 missiles fell : a few of the men entered, with a number 
 of the youths, and the rest of the crowd quietly 
 dispersed. Some of the youths came to the other 
 meetings, became scholars in the Sunday-school ; and 
 we had reason to hope that much good was done. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 149 
 
 We were alarmed one spring morning on tearing 
 the wild screams of a neighbour's servant, and on look- 
 ing out, it was too evident that the poor girl's clothes 
 had caught fire, and in her fright she had ran to the 
 street, and was all in flames. Dear Lizzie was soon 
 on the spot, giving help, and talking to her of Jesus, 
 till a cab could be obtained, when she took the charred 
 girl to the hospital, and did not leave her till she had 
 led her to the Saviour. Her mother and dear ones 
 came in time to hear from her dying lips that Jesus 
 had saved her. 
 
 Lizzie's account of this fatal accident, and the part 
 she was called to play in it, was sent to a friend ; it 
 illustrates her readiness to make the best of all events. 
 ' Last week was almost given up to a neighbour in 
 bitter trouble Her maid was fearfully burned. I 
 did not get to her in time to put out the fire, but I 
 was in time to tell her of Jesus. I laid the poor 
 burned face on my arm, such a sight I hope never to 
 see again and soothed the poor dying one as best I 
 could. I took her up to the hospital, and she died in 
 the evening very blessedly trusting in Jesus.' She 
 made this tragical event the theme of a striking paper 
 which was read in the service on the following Sab- 
 bath evening as a message to the young girls of the 
 city of Winchester. 
 
 We could tell of her toilsome efforts, accompanied 
 by her father, for the recovery of missing, and it was 
 feared, fallen girls, sometimes involving a long search 
 through the city, with the aid of the police, who were 
 always ready to help us, and who were delighted by 
 success. 
 
 We cannot close the narrative of Miss Wesley's 
 
150 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 career in Winchester without giving two testimonies 
 to it from her helpers. The first is from the young 
 lady who volunteered her services. 
 
 1 My first acquaintance with Miss Wesley was thus made. 
 One spring day I remember a young lady, with a sweet, pleasant 
 face, coming to me and making a few simple inquiries about a 
 former attendant at the Wesleyan Church, of which I presently 
 learned her father was minister. I cannot tell what it was in 
 her that attracted me so much, except that there was an indefin- 
 able charm of manner which, from that time until the last idays 
 of our friendship on earth, I always felt. I wished to know more 
 of her, and on the" following Sunday, although I had not decided 
 to become a Wesleyan, I went to their church ; the name of 
 Wesley also having a great attraction for me. From that time 
 I constantly attended there, became a member, and gradually 
 fell into the work with her. Some of our happiest times were 
 when we could get the class or school-room, filled with soldiers, 
 over whom she had a wonderful influence, and to whom she 
 would talk, as I never heard anyone else talk, in a simple, earnest, 
 gracious way, so entirely free from the set phrases and stiffness 
 of manner which some ladies who speak on religion assume. 
 
 ' The secret of her great influence over them lay, I think, in her 
 love and sympathy for them, which made itself felt in everything 
 she said and did regarding them. On one occasion I remem- 
 ber her saying, as she often did, that she hoped to meet all of 
 them in heaven. One replied, " Ah, Miss, I know you would 
 let us in if you were there." She knew most of the his- 
 tories of those with whom she came in contact, as well as their 
 several cares and anxieties. It often surprised me that she, with 
 her purity of heart, should understand, as she apparently did, 
 their temptations, and feel so much pity for their weaknesses. 
 Once, when the Reserves were ordered out to Egypt, we had 
 several happy meetings, and many went away feeling better for 
 them. In their letters to her afterwards, they spoke of the peace 
 of mind and heart they had received there, and which remained 
 with them through the hot conflict of battle and long, dreary 
 marches which they were called upon to endure. The more 
 degraded they were, the more compassion she had for them. I 
 
MISS WESLEY. 151 
 
 have known her go into a barrack-room, where a soldier and 
 his wife were having a drunken tight, and separate them, kneel- 
 ing and praying with them. She could touch their hearts when 
 they were hardened to every other influence. It was the same 
 with the roughest boys, those that no one else could manage 
 yielded and softened to her. The soldiers used to say that one of 
 their greatest treats was to have a letter from her, which they 
 carefully kept. Her letters were always charming, thoroughly 
 characteristic, full of graceful ideas, and tastefully worded, as 
 well as sympathetic and kind. Her heart was so large that it 
 seemed to have a special place for all she knew. It might be 
 truly said of her, " Love smote the chord of self, which, trembling, 
 passed in music out of sight." It was almost amusing in walk- 
 ing down the street, to notice how frequently she stopped to speak 
 to some one, generally the poor and lowly, and to watch their 
 faces light up at the word of encouragement and gracious smile 
 she would be sure to give them. 
 
 ' I cannot say all that I should like in her praise ; but her 
 memory will remain with me unto the end of my life as one of 
 earth's noblest and purest lives a life in which there was no 
 guile or thought of self, and as such resembling the Master's 
 more than any I have ever known.' 
 ' August 3rd, 1886. ' LOUIE ROBERTS.' 
 
 The other testimony is from a volunteer helper 
 in her military services, a young man named B. T. 
 Walker. 
 
 1 My first introduction to Miss Wesley was on Easter Monday, 
 1881, when she was one of a party that left Winchester to attend the 
 anniversary of the Village Chapel of Durley. We all enjoyed the 
 hilarity of the ten miles journey, not excepting Miss Wesley, for 
 a sunnier nature never existed. But she made the holiday a time 
 of earnest work, employing the young men in distributing tracts 
 and leaflets, a good stock of which she took care to have with her, 
 and keeping up a pleasant rivalry between us, so that no passer 
 by was overlooked, and the villages and hamlets had a good 
 supply as we travelled on. I can never forget the journey ; much 
 real work was done, and it was so managed as to make it a time 
 
152 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 of real enjoyment. This was the beginning of many bright and 
 happy days of work in which I was privileged to share. A 
 meeting held some time after left a lasting impression on my 
 mind. It was during the Militia training ; and at the close we 
 were solemnly asked to promise her that, by God's help, we would 
 meet her in heaven. The promise was made, and very soon those 
 who had promised were scattered. One of her favourite rules was 
 to have a certain hour at night, generally about ten o'clock, to 
 pray for soldiers who had promised to kneel down by their cot- 
 side to ask God's blessing, and to show that they were decidedly 
 on the Lord's side. Many a timid soldier of Christ must have 
 been helped by the recollection that many prayers were being 
 offered for him at that time. Passages of Scripture, lines of 
 hymns, and other sentiments were often given as mottos the 
 well-worn one being, Christ for me. When the attendance had 
 fallen off, it was a successful and favourite method for her to get 
 a promise from each to try and bring one comrade with him at 
 the next meeting. The moments of our walk with her from the 
 Chapel to her home were occupied by obtaining help in reading, 
 singing, &c., for the next meeting. She could not lose a moment, 
 and she always had a word of advice, solace, encouragement, or 
 whatever was needed for every one. I remember calling on 
 business one Saturday morning, and she reverently knelt down 
 and implored God's blessing on the work of the Mission band to 
 be done in the country villages on the following day, and I took 
 it as a proof of her interest in all Christian work. When we 
 received tidings of the death of any of our men, or of their being 
 wounded, the pointed question was put to us whether we should 
 have been ready had it been us ? One young fellow who gave 
 his heart to God before he left us was seized with illness in 
 Egypt, and died in a few hours. On her last Sabbath in Winton 
 between the morning and afternoon service, she visited the Rifle 
 guard-room, gave papers and books to the prisoners, and a few 
 earnest and parting words. 
 
 ' R. T. WALKER.' 
 
 On her father's last call at the orderly-room, the 
 officer in command cordially thanked him for his 
 services, and expressed his deep regret that he was 
 
MTSS WESLEY, 153 
 
 required to remove from the scene of his successful 
 toils ; and on meeting Lizzie a day or two afterwards, 
 he said to her : ' Miss Wesley, we are all very sorry you 
 are leaving us. I thank you for your self-denying 
 attentions to our soldiers, their wives, and children. 
 There is no one in these barracks who will not sadly 
 miss you.' 
 
 On an evening to be remembered at the end of 
 August, 1883, a large company of friends gathered 
 in the school-room to sav ' Good-bve ' to us, and dear 
 
 / / 
 
 Lizzie looked on them for the last time : her father 
 presiding. Her farewell words linger with us still, 
 though four years have fled since they were uttered, 
 and the speaker's voice is silent. There was the same 
 smile upon her face bright, but like the light of sun- 
 set and the same tones, but it was too evident they 
 were parting ones, though not having lost their sweet- 
 ness. Struggling with deep emotion, she addressed 
 the soldiers first, and began with a pleasant remark 
 which at once identified herself with them from choice 
 and gained their attention : 
 
 ' The Wesleys are either fighting men or parsons. I belong 
 to your minister and to you. 
 
 ' When I came among your comrades I found so many were not 
 free men. They would say they were free men if asked, belonging 
 to the British army that they were enlisted not pressed ; 
 but there were hidden chains about them so strong. You will 
 remember the famous smith of olden time, who ignorantly em- 
 ployed himself in forging link by link his own chains ; and so I 
 found your comrades bound by their own chains ; and by God's 
 assistance I have tried to help to set them free. Only Jesus can 
 really break the prisoner's chains, but if I have helped one English 
 soldier to break off the fetters of sinful habit, I shall thank God 
 with a glad heart a weak hand very often, but it may have 
 done something. 
 
154 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' Are you free ? 
 
 ' 1. Are you bound by the chain of drunkenness ? " We are 
 free," I know some hearts are saying. It was a struggle, but 
 you are no longer slaves. 
 
 ' 2. " Hallowed be Thy name," the sweet old prayer. " Swear 
 not at all," the plain old command. Are you free from the habit 
 of profanity? " Nearly so," say some. "Quite free," others answer. 
 
 ' 3. Evil companions. Out in the town, or in barracks even 
 there to a certain extent you can choose your associates. What 
 of the town ? Is Winchester city the better for your living in it. 
 or worse 1 I am ashamed of some of the companions our soldiers 
 choose, and the red hot flush comes to my cheek when I see their 
 so-called friends. Are you free ? It used to be that civilians 
 shunned you the brave soldiers who might any moment be called 
 to fight for them. It is not quite so bad now. A soldier stands 
 on his own merits in the barracks, in the church, in the lodge, or 
 in business matters. Be straight, truthful, polite, pay your debts, 
 and you will win your way in the town if you are "only a 
 soldier." 
 
 ' 4. Do you pray ? Are you free to kneel down in your room } 
 or are you enslaved by fear, or shame ? 
 
 ' I would like here to thank our soldiers, as the representatives 
 of those who are absent too, for their kindness and courtesy to 
 me. Six years in two garrison towns, and in intimate association 
 with British soldiers, have taught me how they can treat a lady. 
 Our Queen could not have had kinder treatment, or more loyal 
 loving service. I would ask you to treat every woman as you 
 have treated me, and for the sake of your mother and of every 
 good woman you have ever known, avoid the bad and sinful, 
 except to lead them to Jesus. 
 
 ' Now, dear friends, where are you? sins 1 On yourself indivi- 
 dually, or on your Saviour ? Oh I take your burden to Jesus. 
 
 ' To my civilian friends I would say : These three happy years 
 it has been easy to work, for I have had your loving sympathy 
 and help. Sunday-school, Church, Temperance, and Garrison 
 duty all you have shared and lightened. My heart thanks you, 
 and especially my helpers in my soldiers' work. Let me beg of 
 you to be kind to the tiresome restless boys ; they will be teachers 
 in the school soon ; and be sure take care of the girls. Give a 
 
MfSS WESLEY. 155 
 
 kindly welcome to our soldiers, a seat and book in Chapel, a hand- 
 shake sometimes, and a word about home. Come to the meeting 
 for them, read and sing for them ; put a few bright flowers on 
 the table sometimes, and most of all, tell them of Jesus, a soldier's 
 best Friend.' 
 
 At the close of this address two unexpected, but 
 very pleasing incidents occurred : First, The children 
 of the Band of Hope presented Miss Wesley with 
 a beautifully illuminated address. Secondly : The 
 Church-class presented her with their photographs 
 in a group ; both were elegantly framed. These pre- 
 sentations were intensely gratifying to her, and she 
 touchingly acknowledged them, assuring her young 
 friends that she should ever love them and feel deeply 
 interested in their welfare. 
 
 The following is a copy of the address with the 
 motto text : 
 
 'CHILDREN'S MEETING. 
 
 ' " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these 
 My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." 
 
 ' WESLEYAN CHAPEL, WINCHESTER. 
 
 'August 27th, 1883. 
 ' DEAR Miss WESLEY, 
 
 ' We thank you very much for the nice meetings you have 
 provided and kept up for us during the three years you have been 
 here. 
 
 ' We are very sorry that you are leaving us, we shall miss you 
 more than we can tell, but we hope the meetings will be continued 
 and that some day we may again see you with us. 
 
 ' We will all love the Saviour so that we may get to heaven 
 of which you have so often told us, there to meet to part no 
 more. 
 
 ' With love from 
 
 ' THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE MEETINGS.' 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HOUNSLOW, MIDDLESEX. 
 
 HOTJNSLOW was now opened to tts as the last 
 field of our united toil. The effects of forty- 
 four years of unstinted ministerial labour rendered it 
 desirable for me to seek partial retirement ; and no 
 sooner was my wish known, than the offer was made 
 me of the chaplaincy to the Wesleyan troops of the 
 garrison at this place. The letter containing the 
 proposal was scanned by dear Lizzie's quick eye, her 
 heart instinctively responded to it, and my own was 
 in unison ; and, immediate decision being required, the 
 offer was at once accepted. 
 
 Without delay we visited Hounslow to take a 
 house ; but at the beginning of our search she warmly 
 said : ' Now, Papa ! let us go and see the chapel ; ' and, 
 quickly inspecting it and its adjuncts, she exclaimed, 
 with a flash of delight in her eye, ' Capital premises 
 for work, Papa ! ' 
 
 When anticipating our removal from Winchester 
 at the end of 1882, Lizzie wrote to a young lady friend 
 of hers as follows : ' My life has been more even and 
 uneventful this year ; work has been its chief feature 
 very happy too, on which I have felt our Father's 
 smile. The year has only had a few big cares for me, 
 
MEMORIALS OF HISS WESLEY. 157 
 
 and our Father has always been my burden-bearer, so 
 that with strong faith I can wait the dawning of the 
 new year. 
 
 ' Where shall be our home next Christmas is still a 
 mystery ; but God will guide. I dread the thought of 
 going away from our garrison work. I shall feel as 
 though half my life- joy has gone ; but I do not think 
 much about this forecast; God will always give us 
 work to do.' 
 
 Without losing a day, the writer was introduced to 
 the commanding officer (Colonel Kent), who received 
 me as a Christian gentleman ; and, on being informed 
 of my daughter's interest in our soldiers, said : ' There 
 is plenty of scope for Miss Wesley here, and I hope 
 you will feel that you and your daughter have free 
 access to the garrison at any time.' 
 
 We had never before been stationed among the 
 cavalry ; but, in addition to the several infantry corps 
 at Hounslow, it was the depot of the Hussars ; Kneller 
 Hall, our far-famed Military School of Music, and 
 Hampton Court were also included in the range of my 
 chaplaincy. This station was a large recruiting centre 
 also. 
 
 It enabled us to plunge into our work with full 
 patronage that our last commandant (Colonel Mont- 
 gomery), with his thoughtful kindness, had written 
 to his friend (Colonel Philips), the colonel of the 
 4th Hussars, informing him of our work among the 
 men and their families at Winchester, expressing his 
 sorrow at parting with us, and asking him to do 
 anything he could to aid us. 
 
 Our work was promptly begun by inviting the 
 soldiers to the church, to which only a few men had 
 
158 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 been usually inarched on Sunday mornings. "We did 
 not at the beginning commit the blunder of waiting 
 for the men to come to us, but going to them with a 
 few kind words, we succeeded ; and to the voluntary 
 service in the evening they came at once in large 
 numbers, not a few of them hearing the word aright, 
 and getting saved. 
 
 The barracks being a considerable distance from 
 the chapel, the War Office sanction was obtained for 
 holding a separate service, and our first parade service 
 was held in the Barracks' School church, Dec. 16th, 
 1883, our theme being, ' Jesus only.' From this time 
 our parade service increased in its attendance and 
 deepened in interest ; the men felt it to be their own, 
 and greatly enjoyed it ; they threw great energy into 
 the singing, and read each alternate verse of the 
 lessons. Miss Wesley entered very heartily into her 
 work. 
 
 A New Tear's entertainment for soldiers and their 
 families, and to which the police and railway-guards 
 came by special invitation, was a most enjoyable 
 occasion, and greatly widened our influence : military 
 people, including a number of the Kneller Hall Band, 
 civilians, and our young friends all combined to make 
 it a complete success. 
 
 All classes now became one in heart, prayer, and 
 effort ; the ministers were intensely earnest, and the 
 most blessed results were soon visible ; hardly a 
 Sabbath passing without souls being saved, so that 
 the gallery of the chapel which had not been previously 
 occupied was opened, and on Sunday evenings well 
 filled, a large number of soldiers being present. 
 
 A series of Monday evening meetings was com- 
 
MISS WESLEY. 159 
 
 menced for both soldiers and civilians, which were 
 seasons of great blessing to those who attended. 
 Here is Lizzie's record of one in her incidents of our 
 Hounslow work : 
 
 ' Monday, March 31s, 1884. A glorious meeting ; a 
 specially holy influence.' 
 
 As young women sometimes gave recitations and 
 sang selections of music when we met to enjoy a 
 social evening, and assisted in preparing and serving 
 tea, and rendered help at our missions, Miss Wesley 
 was very anxious that their bearing should be modest 
 and discreet in the presence of soldiers, and that all 
 efforts to benefit them should be so thoroughly genuine 
 as to elicit nothing but commendation. 
 
 A letter which she wrote to a young woman whose 
 deportment was thought to be capable of improvement 
 was so characteristic of her that it is here given : 
 
 1 HOUNSLOW, February 7th, 1883. 
 
 ' I wanted the last night of our mission to thank you for your 
 help, dear, and also the other friends ; but was unable to do so. 
 
 ' It was the Lord's work ; and I know He will accept this 
 gift of song which you laid on His altar. 
 
 ' I wished also to say how some one remarked the quiet, 
 modest, Christian manner of the dear girls who were helping us 
 at our mission. 
 
 ' That remark was a great comfort to me. I always like as 
 many young folk as can come to our meetings, but I am always 
 so anxious that their influence should be holy and good ; such as 
 the influence of a gentle Christian lady should be, no matter 
 what position in life ; every dear girl who tries to do God's work 
 among soldiers or any young men, should always act and speak 
 like a Christian lady. 
 
 ' I believe, dear child, that the Lord is laying His hand on 
 you for His service. Keep very near to Him in prayer and 
 
160 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^^xN>'^-'^^N^>^>'^ ^ x^-/N/\x^->^>^^^xxx^^Nx^'v/^^^ 
 
 through His book. Be very careful of what friends you choose ; 
 let the giddy, thoughtless girls go by; choose for your truest, 
 closest friends only those who love the Lord. I do not mean 
 mournful, melancholy people ; but bright, happy girls who are 
 trying to serve Jesus. 
 
 ' Do you really feel yet that you belong to Jesus ? Is He 
 your King ? Have you given yourself entirely to Him T If 
 you can get time to answer me these questions I should be so 
 glad ; I am so anxious about you. I scarcely know why, but I 
 feel as though you wanted some Christian help just now in your 
 early womanhood ; and if I can help you at any time in leading 
 a life of consecration and holiness, I shall be so glad. Have you 
 learned any of Miss Havergal's hymns yet 1 There is one I 
 should like you to tell to our soldiers : " I could not do without 
 Thee;" and there are others so beautiful I Have you a short, 
 earnest, religious message you could give us on Monday ? But 
 do pray about it, that God may give you words all/or His glory. 
 Asking God to make you His very own, and to make your 
 womanhood holy, and true, and good. Believe me to be, 
 ' One who loves you for His sake, 
 
 1 ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.' 
 
 Our own home was sometimes called to supply an 
 enquiry-room for those who were awakened, and who 
 came to us to ask, ' What must we do to be saved ? ' 
 Miss Wesley has recorded some cases of interest : 
 
 ' A student announced his text one Sunday evening : 
 ' God be merciful to me a sinner,' and a railway-guard 
 said : " That text choked me. I could not get beyond 
 the text all through the sermon." He decided for 
 Christ and joined the Church. 
 
 ' While I was putting fresh flowers in the vases and 
 trying to make our soldiers' prayer-room bright and 
 home like, a young soldier came up and said : " I want 
 to tell you that it is all right now, the matter is quite 
 settled." I wondered for a moment to what he referred, 
 and looked to see if he had upon his arm the first stripe 
 
MISS WESLEY. 161 
 
 of promotion. " It was last night after the meeting. 
 I have been so miserable a long time, but it is all right 
 now, I have found Jesus." 
 
 " I have had a bright day," said a fine, tall dragoon 
 guard on Monday night. A few nights before, when 
 our soldiers were asked to repeat a verse of a hymn or 
 Scripture just telling their own heart's need, he chose, 
 " I am coming to the Cross ; " and referring to it on 
 Sunday, he said : " I am still singing the old hymn, 
 only I have come to the Cross now." 
 
 At one of the meetings a soldier said : ' I was a 
 wanderer from Jesus. I loved Him years ago, but I 
 was far away when I came to these meetings. I have 
 been wanting the old peace to come back again; it 
 came on Tuesday. I was marker at the "butts," for 
 the rifle practice, and I was behind the screen, but still 
 very near the bullets that were flying all about me. I 
 thought, suppose I should be hit, as others have been, 
 and suppose I should die. The thought was not a 
 pleasant one. Still the balls kept whizzing by, and 
 still I felt miserable and sad. I knew I was not ready 
 to die. I lifted up my heart to God, and there He 
 saved me, and when the day's firing was over I came 
 back to barracks a pardoned sinner. I am not afraid 
 of any stray shots now.' 
 
 A letter written at this time to one of her school- 
 fellows, in reply to a birthday letter, will tell how 
 work of all kinds was opening up to her how fully 
 absorbed and happy she was in it and with what 
 varied success God was cheering her. 
 
 ' HAMPTON HOUSE, HOUNSLOW, April 15th, 1884. 
 
 ' ANNIE, DEAR OLD FEIEND. The oldest nearly that I have. 
 Your birthday wishes did me good ; the postman brought me a 
 
 M 
 
162 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 budget, but not one too many. I think I am as much a child as 
 ever about birthday letters. I do so love to have them. If one 
 half the wishes are realised, what a grand year I shall have ; more I 
 mean it to be for Jesrts ; every day 1 mean, if possible, to do some 
 little thing just out of pure love to Him. Will you try too dear ? 
 There is so much to be done, we ought to be willing. The way is 
 opening up here for work very blessedly ; we have had mission 
 services for our soldiers, and a large increase in the attendance at 
 our meetings, and some souls won for Jesus. Next week I hold 
 my first meeting in barracks for our soldiers' wives. I expect the 
 meeting will be a large one. I feel anxious about it, but I am 
 learning to leave my anxieties more with God. He can carry 
 them for me, and He does. You would find what comfort and 
 strength He gives if you onlyigave yourself to Him fully ; why not ? 
 'We have had a quiet Easter. Father is in Berkshire and 
 Swindon. He is not getting quite used to being without a Circuit 
 yet. Father and mother have both been to visit dear Winchester. 
 Mamma seems better, but she is soon overdone and can only bear 
 for life to go on very smoothly. How is your own dear mother ? 
 I shall always remember her face, bless her. How swiftly the 
 years have gone 1 
 
 ' I went to one of Mr. Moody's meetings a few days ago. His 
 subject was " Ye must be born again," and Mr. Sankey sang so 
 sweetly. It is a great help to hear them speak and sing only for 
 Jesus. 
 
 ' How are you getting on at the chapel 1 Who lives in our old 
 house ? Do you ever hear of F. C., of Leasingham ? I suppose 
 Mr. Myddleton does not often get to Sleaford -now. A number 
 of other questions I often think I would like to ask, and so often 
 I say to myself, I wish I could write to Annie, but I have to be 
 content with sending a prayer-thought up to God for you, dear. 
 One of the most serious problems of my life just now is when to 
 get time to write the letters that must be written, and when to 
 mend the clothes that must be mended. I am anxious also to get 
 some things made, because it is such a saving of expense to make 
 dresses at home, but I am sadly afraid the summer will go by if 
 I wait for leisure. How does your school prosper 1 I suppose 
 you are having Easter holidays and will be very glad of rest. 
 Well dearie, " we shall have all eternity to rest in," so if our work 
 
MISS WESLEY. 163 
 
 is for God as well as for the poor perishing present, it will bring 
 its own quiet reward of rest and peace in God's home. I get so 
 little time for reading, can only get a few snatches. I scarcely 
 ever look at a novel. Those sort of books have very much lost 
 their charm for me. I am so glad, it is better for me 1 know. 
 
 ' This is only a wee little note, Annie, dear, but it brings the 
 true love of your old friend LIZZIE. 
 
 ' Do you still have your old bedroom upstairs ? 
 
 1 Keep looking upward.' 
 
 When any great event occurred in war times we 
 endeavoured to turn it to some good account. We 
 remember hearing of an officer passing our school-room 
 after the battle of El-Teb and the relief of Tokar, and 
 seeing a placard headed ' British Victory, Three Days' 
 Thanksgiving Mission,' he remarked: ' Well, but the 
 victory was not brought about by tha Methodists.' No ! 
 but we could rejoice in the triumph ; we could pray 
 for the wounded and bereaved; we could take the 
 character which General Graham gave of his men, and 
 remark on it with good effect. ' The General especially 
 commends the absence of all crime on the part of the 
 troops. He is proud to command them. They deserve 
 well of their country.' Our celebration of the victory 
 told well ; our faithful friends gave us efficient help, 
 but the effect was all the greater with the enthusiasm 
 of my heroic daughter diffused throughout it. 
 
 Several extracts from a letter to a friend dated 
 April 29th, 1884, state how fully her time was filled 
 up, and the success which crowned her efforts, both 
 among the soldiers and their wives : 
 
 ****** 
 
 ' I do not get so anxious and careworn about my 
 work as I used to do. Jesus helps me wonderfully here 
 among these wild, rough soldiers ; four of them this 
 
 M 2 
 
164 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 week have come to fight under the colours of the Cross 
 so bravely ; and we had twenty-four of our soldiers' 
 wives at our first meeting for them in barracks last 
 week ; and the work here I was half afraid to begin is 
 so joyous and glad, because the Lord is teaching me 
 the secret of His love, and all He tells me to do I am 
 trying to do for Jesus sake.' 
 
 ****** 
 
 'I can only add " Good-night," all the household are 
 asleep ; it is late, and I have yet a poor sick boy to 
 write to who is lying in a lonely distant hospital, far 
 away from his friends and all who love him, except 
 Jesus He is a soldier's truest friend, for He is always 
 near in trouble. Poor Gordon ! What will he do ? What 
 a hero he is ! And what a Government to guide him ! ' 
 
 She well knew from experience how to adapt her 
 efforts to soldiers' wives and children, as well as to the 
 soldiers themselves. She dealt with needy and 
 afflictive cases simply as requiring assistance, and 
 took the most prompt and effectual mode of admin- 
 istering it ; and without asking to what religious 
 denomination they belonged. 
 
 The writer recollects a fresh regiment coming in ; 
 and, taking his nominal roll and turning out into the 
 barracks-road on the Sunday evening, he introduced 
 himself to the men whom he met, and invited them to 
 the service. On the Monday, taking his list of 
 declared Wesleyans, he visited their quarters at the 
 barracks, calling at a room and finding only the wife 
 and children at home, gave them a welcome to 
 Hounslow ; he produced his roll and said : ' It appears 
 your husband is one of my men is that your name ? 
 She replied, ' That is my name ! and I wouldn't 
 
MISS WESLEY. 165 
 
 change my religion for the best man that ever lived.' 
 My reply was : ' My good woman, we do not want 
 people to change their religion ; we only want their 
 religion to change them.' She was an Irish Roman 
 Catholic. But she calmed down veiy soon, and gave 
 me some useful information respecting my men. One 
 of her interesting children excited my pity : a sweet, 
 sharp little girl, but a cripple from weakness, and 
 requiring immediate attention. My dear Lizzie's firs 
 interview with this woman quite won her regard. 
 She became deeply interested in her afflicted child ; 
 obtained various appliances for her, took her to one of 
 the London hospitals, and followed up the case till the 
 little weakling became bright, strong, and active. 
 When the regiment removed, that woman's tears and 
 thanks to the ' dear lady ' touched many hearts. 
 
 A letter received from an exemplary soldier's wife 
 of the same regiment, dated September 28th, 1885, 
 gives information respecting the little girl and her 
 parents too pleasing to be omitted. 
 
 4 Mrs. Kerr wishes to be kindly remembered to 
 you and to tell you that Dolly is getting strong, and 
 her legs are becoming quite straight ; and Mr. Ken- 
 is very steady. Mrs. Kerr says she has every reason 
 to bless the late Miss Wesley, as she was the one who 
 by her gentleness and lovingkindness led her husband 
 to take the pledge, and was the means of making her 
 home and her family quite happy and comfortable. 
 
 ' My husband and Arthur send their respects. 
 We are trying to bring some of them to Jesus, and the 
 memory of her who is in heaven will prompt us to do 
 more, though we have much to discourage.' 
 
 It was a great advantage to have access to the 
 
166 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Metropolitan hospitals, and to have generous friends 
 to help us in securing for our soldiers' wives and 
 children the most skilful treatment and the most 
 invigorating support ; but the cases brought to my 
 daughter much anxious toil. 
 
 In cottages outside the garrison, distress often 
 appealed to Miss Wesley's sympathy, arising out of 
 imprudent marriages ' off the strength of the regi- 
 ment ; ' but she could only regard them as cases 
 needing help; to deny them assistance was, to her, 
 simply an impossibility. 
 
 The ordinary weekly programme of Miss Wesley's 
 garrison-work included a women's meeting, the 
 visitation of married quarters, hospital visitation, 
 Tract distribution, invitations to particular meetings 
 and to voluntary services, Temperance work, and 
 efforts for the young ; each day had its mission, in the 
 performance of which four miles had to be walked. 
 When she was implored to spare herself and spread 
 her efforts over a longer space, her reply was : ' I 
 must work, Papa ; for others loill not work.' 
 
 In the Temperance enterprise she was honoured of 
 God hundreds being led to take the pledge; and the 
 movement she originated at the barracks having 
 merged into the efforts of the National Temperance 
 League. 
 
 Her love for children was remarkable. One case 
 may be given : 
 
 A bright, affectionate, clever boy, whose parents 
 belonged to the 3rd Queen's Hussars, and whose 
 home was one of comfort, attracted the attention of 
 Miss Wesley, and she soon employed him in taking 
 charge of the parade-service books ; he took the Blue 
 
MISS WESLEY. 167 
 
 Ribbon pledge, and became a valuable little helper. 
 The regiment was partly removed to York. My 
 daughter's interest in him led her to write to him and 
 to his mother after they left us. The boy's reply was 
 very satisfactory. These letters were read by his 
 Sunday-school superintendent, and deeply affected 
 him. After Lizzie's decease he sent me copies of her 
 letters. Here is, first, the letter of Arthur's school- 
 superintendent : 
 
 1 CHELMSFOED HOUSE, YORK, 
 
 ' August 12th, 1885. 
 ' DEAK SIR, 
 
 ' You will perhaps excuse a stranger sending you a few lines 
 to give expression to his sincere sorrow at the great loss you have 
 been called upon to sustain in the death of Miss Wesley. I only 
 knew of her through Arthur Williams, who is a scholar in the 
 Sunday-school of which I am one of the superintendents, and he 
 is also a member of my Junior Society Class. He let me read 
 some of the letters he had received from her, and I can assure 
 you I was deeply touched by perusing them, and I felt that they 
 did me good. 
 
 ' I am glad to tell you that I believe Arthur has been 
 truly converted. You know what a warm-hearted boy he is, and 
 it is a great pleasure to see how earnest he is in good things, and 
 to give him all the help and encouragement I can. I hope the 
 seed sown in his heart by Miss Wesley may bring forth fruit 
 throughout the whole of his life, and that he may be a true 
 soldier of the Cross. 
 
 ' With sympathy and kind regards, believe me, dear Sir, 
 
 4 Yours very truly, 
 ' The Rev. Samuel Wesley,' ' JAMES SHILLITO. 
 
 In the letter from the superintendent which 
 accompanied the copies of my daughter's corres- 
 pondence he says respecting Arthur : ' I am happy to 
 say that Arthur still continues a happy Christian boy, 
 and will, I hope, grow up to be a useful man.' 
 
168 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 k-''>'-'''>-'-V*i'V*--V,--V-.-V^'V^X^v>'N^^^ 
 
 A letter, addressed by Miss Wesley to Arthur's 
 mother, manifests the interest"she felt in our soldiers' 
 families after they had left us : 
 
 THE MANOB, LICHFIELD, HAKTS, 
 
 ' September 29th, 1884. 
 ' MY DEAB MBS. WILLIAMS, 
 
 ' I was so pleased to hear from you and dear Arthur ; we 
 thought of you that first Sunday in the new home. It must 
 have seemed very lonely and strange, but it is wonderful how 
 quickly we get used to our surroundings, and soon feel happy, 
 even in a strange land. The home is where our dear ones are, 
 and if we have them we can be happy anywhere. 
 
 ' In the midst of this letter a messenger came to call me away 
 to Winchester in great haste. There was to be a farewell tea- 
 meeting for the 2nd Battalion King's E. Kifles and other 
 meetings. We had a very happy and holy time. Before I came 
 here I also spent a week in holding meetings every evening, and 
 many of our soldier lads found Jesus waiting to save and to 
 pardon. Some of the dear wives are going to Cyprus, after long 
 years of absence from their husbands. 
 
 ' At the meeting on Monday we asked all who were loving 
 Jesus to hold up their hands, so that we could tell those who 
 were on the Lord's side. Amongst the many who held up their 
 hands was one, whose wife by his side, was not a Christian. I 
 shall not easily forget the earnestness with which he prayed for 
 her. The next evening the dear wife was seeking Jesus. How 
 blessed is the home in which all are loving Jesus ! 
 
 ' Mrs. Cook is much better. I called to see her several times, 
 and she was so glad to hear of you. Mrs. Woodward was 
 better also. I feel so anxious about her. I think now, if some 
 one visited her when she gets to York, that she would go to 
 chapel, and perhaps become a Christian woman. Mr. Woodward's 
 friends are all members of a Congregational Chapel. Will you 
 mention the case to a Scripture-reader ? I am sure Mrs. Wood- 
 ward is anxious to lead a better, happier life, and I do pray 
 very earnestly for her. 
 
 ' How is your good husband ? Tell him to do all the good he 
 
MISS WESLEY. 169 
 
 can among our erring lads. We outside the camp will do all we 
 can to lead them to Jesus, but much a comrade can do that we 
 can never touch. 
 
 ' O the blessedness of letting our light shine for Jesus ! 
 This is a very rambling letter, written at odd times. I am so 
 sorry you have gone ; it is not pleasant to see all new faces in 
 the old homes, and I shall miss the welcome you always gave. 
 The Lord bless you and yours, dear Mrs. Williams, is the prayer of 
 ' Yours sincerely in His love, 
 
 'ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 
 The following letter was written by Miss Wesley to 
 the boy under the same date as the foregoing : 
 
 'DEAR ARTHUR, 
 
 ' Your bonnie little letter was very welcome. I am sure you 
 will like York better than Hounslow. But you will find it a very 
 cold place in the winter. There is generally plenty of skating 
 and sliding and all other winterly pleasures in the north of 
 England, and that I am sure you will enjoy very much. I am so 
 glad you have found out a nice Sunday-school. We all miss your 
 loving face and kind help, but you will find some work to do for 
 Jesus in York. 
 
 ' Try always to wear Christ's uniform : whenever other boys 
 want you to do anything wrong, ask this question, would this 
 please Jesus ? I have not yet found out any nice boys in married 
 quarters. The children all seem very young. 
 
 ' Fifty of the 15th Hussars have gone to join the Camel Corps 
 for Egypt. How strange it will seem for them to ride camels in- 
 stead of their beautiful horses. 
 
 ' I am staying now at a large country house which is full of 
 visitors. They nearly all laugh at my blue ribbon, but I do 
 not mind their fun and teasing. We must all keep true to our 
 colours. The country is so pretty, we have downs and hills all 
 round us, and a number of birds and hares and rabbits, which the 
 gentlemen are busy shooting. The blackberries and nuts are here 
 in abundance, and all manner of pretty things are growing in the 
 hedges. 
 
170 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 S^S~***^S^S-**s^^*-,r+^^^r^^-^r^r^^^,^^ 
 
 ' I must close this hasty note, dear Arthur, asking God to bless 
 you. I am, Yours sincerely, 
 
 ' E. A. WESLEY.' 
 
 An extract from Arthur's letter will prove interest- 
 ing: 
 
 ' YOEK, November 10th, 1884. 
 ' DEAR Miss WESLEY, 
 
 I received your welcome letter and was very glad to hear that 
 you were in good health. 
 
 ***** 
 
 1 Please tell Mr. Foster that I am in a Band of Hope here, and 
 they are very pleased to see that I have the medal. 
 
 ' I have taken several children to the Sunday-school that have 
 never been before. I try to do all I can for Jesus, and will 
 always ask His help to guide and keep me in the right path. 
 ' I remain, Your affectionate friend, 
 
 'ARTHUR E. WILLIAMS.' 
 
 The number and diversity of her engagements 
 during the last few months of her life seemed to place 
 all her resources in requisition, and to develope untried 
 and almost unknown stores, and make them all useful 
 with a power so wondrous to herself as to leave not the 
 shadow of a doubt on her own mind that she was doing 
 God's work. 
 
 In the month of May, 1884, Miss Wesley enjoyed 
 the privilege of spending an afternoon with Miss Eliza 
 Wesley, grand-daughter of the Rev. Charles Wesley, 
 M. A., the poet of Methodism. It was to her a source of 
 much pleasure, and writing to a young lady friend of 
 hers, under date of May 28th, 1884, she says : ' I saw 
 the Rev. John Wesley's great-niece on Saturday, May 
 25th ; she is a bonnie old lady and a true Church of 
 England woman, though her grand-father was the poet 
 of Methodism, Charles Wesley, who wrote so many 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 hymns.' (6,500.) Miss Eliza Wesley is the same age 
 as Queen Victoria ; she is descended from the rector of 
 Epworth. Miss Elizabeth A. "Wesley is descended from 
 a brother of the rector of Epworth. 
 
 A cousin of mine, the late Thomas Wesley, Esq. of 
 Halifax, Nova Scotia, the only relative of my father's I 
 ever knew, came over to England a few years ago to 
 try and trace the family links connecting him with the 
 rector of Epworth. He obtained some valuable facts 
 from church registers, and old persons who knew his 
 ancestors, but unfortunately the papers got mislaid 
 or lost after his death. His son-in-law, D. O'Donnel, 
 Esq., sent me a beautiful portrait of my daughter 
 Lizzie some months since, on receiving which her 
 father expressed his emotions and reflections in the 
 following lines : 
 
 ' In silent tones those speaking eyes 
 
 Have often thrilled my soul ; 
 And told of heavenly mysteries, 
 Seen only near the goal. 
 
 Was not thy race too swiftly run ? 
 
 Could'st not thou " rest awhile ? " 
 Our answer is thy Lord's " well done ; " 
 With thee, we'll share His smile.' 
 
 A brother of mine, Mr. Thomas Wesley, of Cradley 
 Heath, near Brierly Hill, Staffordshire, has a son named 
 Charles Wesley, a young man of good education and 
 excellent natural abilities, who was ordained and 
 received into full Connexion by the Primitive Metho- 
 dist Conference, Queensland, Australia, in the spring 
 of 1887, on which occasion he gave a stirring address. 
 He has already been very useful, and gives promise of 
 taking a prominent position in that Church. 
 
172 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 .XN^XVXN^ XXVXX^X^X^NXXXSXX^XXVXV-'X^^XXXXX^^NXXXXXNXN 
 
 Among the incidents of her Hounslow work, Lizzie 
 records having gone down to Tilbury Docks on May 
 10th, 1884, to see a private soldier just released from 
 prison, set sail for Canada. But the care and labour 
 which preceded that record, through long years, for the 
 recovery of that man, may not be told. Twenty of his 
 letters are now before me; and one of them says 
 that he had received letters enough from Miss Wesley 
 to fill a volume. She had visited him in hospital 
 and often in prison he had, under the influence of his 
 unfailing friend, given such proof of penitence and 
 reformation as to lead, to a remission of several months 
 of his sentence she, with his chaplain, had obtained 
 outfit and passage for him to Canada. He thus writes 
 about Lizzie's kindness : 
 
 ' Her last words to me on leaving England were : 
 " Never forget your prayers. Never mix up with bad 
 companions. Keep away from drink. Let your friends 
 be God-fearing people. Read your Bible as often as 
 you can ; and never forget that your friends in England 
 are praying for you. Be strong in the Lord ; take 
 Him as your Father ; and never do anything without 
 first asking Him to guide you. Good-bye in every 
 sense of the word; and may God bless you and keep 
 you.' " 
 
 As she stood on board that steam ship and bade 
 adieu to the soldier who had given her so much anxiety> 
 she glanced across the Thames to the scene of her 
 first efforts among the military, and distinctly saw the 
 old fort house where General Gordon used to live, and 
 the old garden in which his little street- Arabs used to 
 work ; and three weeks afterwards she once more 
 visited Gravesend. It was Whit Sunday, (June 1st, 
 
MISS WESLEY. 173 
 
 1884,) and the anniversary of the Sunday-school, the 
 services of which were conducted by her father. After 
 seven years' absence, the visit was mutually anticipated 
 with delight, and the expectations it awakened were 
 fully realised. She met her girls on the previous 
 Saturday evening in the ' dear old room,' which had 
 for them such hallowed associations. On the Sabbath, 
 previous memories of the past, the gracious influences 
 of the present, and glimpses and foretastes of the 
 future, mingled, and made the sanctuary again to us 
 ' the house of God, and the gate of Heaven.' After the- 
 evening service we gathered for testimony and prayer ? 
 and Lizzie testified so sweetly to the faithfulness of 
 Jesus and the blessedness of His service, which she had 
 so often realised in that place, and experienced increas- 
 ingly through the intervening years, that many others 
 followed in the same sweet strain ; and prayers so 
 closely resembling the Redeemer's own intercession 
 were offered, that we were not surprised to hear again 
 and again of the speedy answers which God graciously 
 gave to them. One young person found peace through 
 believing while Lizzie was giving her testimony. 
 
 That last Sabbath at Gravesend was one of enduring 
 joy, which she remembered to the end of her days. 
 She thus refers to it in her letter to the penitent 
 soldier in Canada : 
 
 ' I spent last Sunday in Gravesend. My father 
 preached there to crowded congregations the Lord's 
 power was felt and some were seeking Jesus. I was 
 so glad to be among the young people there whom I 
 had known long ago. Four of my dear girls had died, 
 leaving a blessed testimony that they were going to be 
 with Jesus in heaven. Whitsuntide is always a time 
 
174 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *^^^^^^j^^^^^^-^^f\^f^^^^^f-^^^ 
 
 of great temptation ; but many of our brave soldiers 
 have stood firmly. It is only the daily clinging to 
 Christ that can keep us even in the right path.' 
 
 Before leaving Gravesend she paid her last visit to 
 one of her dearest correspondents and most devoted 
 Christian workers residing at Cobham, who writes : 
 ' Her last visit to our home was not without its mis- 
 sion ; never shall I forget her look of love, and her 
 bright eyes filling with tears as she came to greet me ; 
 her kneeling by my side as of yore, and her expressions 
 of love in prayer. She then said to me " Emma, I 
 should love to see some of your young people and have 
 a word of prayer with them." I took her to the homes 
 of some of them, and in her own sweet way she read to 
 us the 91st Psalm, made beautiful remarks which 
 never could be forgotten, and prayed with us all. The 
 influences of that well-remembered visit are widely 
 diffused, and in practical force now. Since I gave my 
 heart to God, my ambition has always been that my 
 life should be as near dear Lizzie's as I could make 
 it.' 
 
 A lady of kindred spirit, familiar with Christian 
 effort, has given a valuable testimony to an import- 
 ant department of Miss Wesley's toil her work 
 among women, which, though so young, she prose- 
 cuted with much success at Brentford, Hounslow 
 barracks, Heston, and in other places. Her devoted 
 friend has also delicately sketched her kindly, social, 
 womanly qualities, and her natural and cultivated 
 taste, which, with her other characteristics, would 
 have eminently qualified her to sustain other relations 
 of life, and to adorn and make happy a home of her 
 own: 
 
MISS WESLEY. 175 
 
 ^X^^^^^^^^^V^V^^X^^X^^^X^^^V^>^N ****^**r**r**^**r**r*.*~^^^*r 
 
 ' " Will you come and give an address at our women's meeting 
 in Brentford?" we asked Miss Wesley, about four years since. 
 She replied " How can I speak to women, to mothers, I, who am 
 so young and inexperienced 1 ' ' Speak to us from your woman's 
 heart and you will do us good,' was our answer. She came, and 
 none of us will ever forget the influence of her loving presence 
 and heart to heart discourse, on that evening and two others ; the 
 only time she was able to spare to us. She began with Ruskin's 
 words, about the " queenly power of woman," and said : " As I 
 have been sitting here, I seemed to see a halo of the glory of your 
 womanhood resting on the head of each one here, and I pray 
 that every one of you may lay that crown at Jesu's feet. ' Thus 
 she won our hearts : and when her sweet soul passed away to the 
 " Homeland," our little company gave of their pence, that a 
 picture of her might be placed in the home of the dear bereaved 
 parents of their beloved friend, to tell of their love and grati- 
 tude. 
 
 ' Wherever she went, " all hearts perforce moved to her." 
 What was the power ? Not alone her sweet face, gentle bearing, 
 and tender voice ; her ready wit and cheery laugh ; neither was 
 it in her unflagging energy and perseverance. The secret of her 
 power lay in her sanctified true womanliness in being the 
 " help-meet " to all whom she came near in her life's journey. 
 
 1 It was this true-womanliness which kept her safe and high 
 above all evil ; so that wherever she went, in the street or 
 alley, in the camp or barrack-ground, she was met with esteem 
 and reverence. Would that all we women counted ourselves so 
 sacred and our name so precious, that, in full consecration of 
 soul and body, we walked this earth of ours, clad in the white 
 raiment of heart and life purity ; doing our Master's bidding, 
 not so much in the Christian service of active toil, as in the sur- 
 passing beauty of a divine sanctity of life, thus making for those 
 who are round and about our path, " trust in all things high t 
 come easy 1 " 
 
 ' In dear Lizzie Wesley was, no narrow asceticism but a full, 
 high-souled, large-hearted capacity of enjoyment. She loved life 
 and the beauty of all the good which " Our Father " has set us 
 in. Art, in all its varied forms, had power to sway her, whilst 
 intellectual and social pleasures came with sweet seductive force. 
 
176 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 s~ t ^^s-^s\s^s^s^ f ^/^r\s^' f ^ f **s**s~^s-^^s^^ 
 
 She held too, in leal-hearted devotion, that to dwell and reign 
 supreme in some one heart and life, is a woman's crown of 
 rejoicing ; but it would seem that a gleam of " the river " so 
 soon to be crossed and the glory beyond had early caught her 
 visions ; so, as she journeyed onward, with an almost divine 
 self-abnegation, she gave out of the largess of her love all kindly, 
 gracious words and smiles, and helpful deeds to the young and 
 hopeful, to the weary, toil-worn, sin-stained travellers along the 
 way, making for the same bourne, gladly content to wait, until, 
 within the golden gates of the city of God, at the " marriage 
 supper of the Lamb," and crowned with her triple coronal " of 
 righteousness," " of life," and " of glory," she should attain life ! s 
 full fruition. ( " LlLLIE " ).' 
 
 On Friday July 4th, we began a month's mission 
 among the militia (4th Batt. Middlesex Regt.) en- 
 camped a thousand strong, on Hounslow Heath, under 
 the command of Colonel Aikman. This was one of 
 the most formidable tasks of our brave worker's life 
 it involved the greatest sacrifice, and was crowned 
 with corresponding results. 
 
 The commandant at our first interview very courte- 
 ously acceded to our wishes, expressed his pleasure to 
 my daughter on having heard of her good work, and in 
 every way facilitated our enterprise. Every night for 
 a month, and twice on each Sabbath, was Miss Wesley 
 found on that bleak spot, with the Christian ladies, 
 the earnest clergy, the Nonconformist ministers, the 
 retired godly officers, and the zealous laymen of the 
 neighbourhood marshalled around her as willing 
 helpers ; the men in camp listening with rapt attention 
 to the ' wonderful words of life,' or a Temperance 
 address : their energetic song, every novr and then 
 pealing across the Heath whose very name turned some 
 of us pale in our boyhood. The preventive influence of 
 
MISS WESLEY. 177 
 
 ^^^^^^f^^^^^^^^^^^^i^ji^^^j^^ 
 
 this mission, was soon apparent. Numbers of men who 
 had formerly thronged the public-houses were kept on 
 the heath as by a spell they wore the blue ribbon 
 and enjoyed the services. At the end of a fortnight, 
 we wrote to the Colonel in praise of the orderliness and 
 good conduct of the men ; he had them drawn up in a 
 square, read our letters to them, and said, ' You see 
 what a character you have to sustain, I am much 
 pleased, and I hope you will act like men to the end of 
 your training.' Residents near the Heath who had 
 dreaded the coming up of the militia in past years in- 
 formed us that there had hardly been a depredation 
 committed. The pledge was administered and the blue 
 ribbon pinned on every evening ; some of the ring- 
 leaders in all fun, mischief, and vice were the first to 
 sign, and my daughter had the joy to hear afterwards 
 that several of these whose wickedness may not be 
 mentioned had been true to their pledge. Miss Wesley 
 lingered on the field, and no power of persuasion could 
 induce her to leave the Heath even when the evenings 
 were damp and cold, so long as there was any hope of 
 benefiting the men. It was exhilarating in a high 
 degree to look on the motley crowd gathered on the 
 Sabbath when the relatives of the men came in from 
 London ; and each Sunday service was a success which 
 called forth our heart-felt thanks. 
 
 There were cases of men who, to the surprise of all 
 who knew them, were reformed and saved. Here is 
 one which was given me, at my request, by one who 
 is now living at Hounslow : 
 
 ' I am from London, and was brought up in an 
 ungodly home. I do not remember attending a place 
 of worship in my life. Love of drink and bad company 
 
178 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 were driving me fast to ruin. I have drank myself 
 drunk, and drank myself sober again, and sold my coat 
 from my back for drink. Having lost a good situation 
 I joined the militia, and was in the band. I was up for 
 my third year's training on Hounslow Heath, and seeing 
 a harmonium being conveyed to the end of the tents, I 
 followed it, and found to my surprise that Miss Wesley, 
 yourself, and other ministers with friends were then 
 beginning a mission for the militia. I was one of the 
 first to sign the pledge. I kept from the town, at- 
 tended all the services as did many more and became 
 a changed man. But at Christmas I went to London, 
 got with my old mates, and fell into my old sin. I was 
 very wretched, came to your house, and confessed that 
 I had fallen. You and Miss Wesley prayed with me 
 and for me, I started again, renewed my pledge, and by 
 God's help have stood ever since. By the next train- 
 ing I had learnt a fresh trade, saved a little money, and 
 bought myself out. I have married a good young 
 woman, our home is happy, and I hope to be faithful to 
 death. Miss Wesley was the means of saving me from 
 going to hell through a drunkard's grave.' 
 
 That month's mission was a marvellous triumph of 
 skilful evangelism, moral courage, and spiritual power ; 
 and the amazed witnesses of it were obliged to exclaim,' 
 ' Well ! we see what a girl can do.' It was nothing 
 less than a bold attack on many points of "Outcast 
 London ; " for the men were chiefly from the East End. 
 One in camp stated that he did not think there was a 
 single tent that our girl-hero did not enter for conver- 
 sation, advice, and the circulation of healthy litera- 
 ture. What an advantage it was to have free access to 
 a thousand men at once, to avail ourselves of such a 
 
MISS WESLEY. 179 
 
 mission room, under full official sanction, and with, the 
 full benefit of their greatly improved manners and 
 exterior. Everything depended, under Grod, on adapta- 
 tion ; but Miss "Wesley so suited herself to these rough 
 surroundings, that the men almost worshipped her. It 
 was not by coming down to their level ; she won them 
 by making them feel that in the full sense of the term, 
 she was their friend. It was in the early part of 1887 
 that a veteran servant of Christ visited a much fre- 
 quented lodging-house of Honnslow, and offering a 
 tract to an ex-soldier, the man said, ' I've read that ; ' 
 another was offered, and the same reply was given. 
 ' I've read that too, Miss Wesley gave me them both on 
 our Heath.' ' Did you know Miss Wesley F ' enquired 
 the man of God. The instant and earnest reply was ' I 
 should think I did know her, I shall never forget her : 
 she was every inch a soldier.' 
 
 Our last meeting prior to the disbanding of the 
 militia presented a scene which memory will not let die. 
 The last hymn had been sung, the last beautiful melo- 
 dies and solos of the ladies had died away, and now 
 came Miss Wesley's parting address. It was short, 
 though it took a wide range. These are extracts from 
 it: 
 
 * If the home is made, and wife and little ones are 
 there, be loving and kind.' ' Watch the tear rolling off 
 
 Mr. B 's face on to that of the new little baby.' 
 
 Then she adds, ' Be gentle. Strong like a lion, as a 
 man should be, loving and gentle as a child, as Jesus 
 was.' She closed by expressing the wish that we might 
 meet in heaven ; and under the influence of that last 
 good wish, we parted. 
 
 It was very pleasing to Miss Wesley to receive the 
 
 N2 
 
180 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^^^^^^^f^^^^^^^^^^f^jf^^^^^^^ 
 
 best thanks of the Colonel for our services which, he 
 assured us, met with his hearty approval, and were of 
 great service to his men. He hoped to welcome us into 
 his camp again, and to have the pleasure of rendering 
 us all the help in his power. We were always cheered 
 by kindly and gentlemanly treatment from military 
 officers. 
 
 It was enough to oblige the most supine religious 
 professor either to renounce the name of ' servant,' or 
 do something, to witness the willingness with which she 
 responded to the double call for her services among 
 the soldiers at Winchester ; in the month of September, 
 once as she was on her way to her friends at Lichfield, 
 and again a few days after her first campaign among 
 them, when the 2nd 60th Rifles were suddenly ordered 
 to Egypt, and she was fetched back from Lichfield to 
 give them a farewell address, at a large meeting. She 
 gives an account of these remarkable meetings in her 
 letter previously given, and addressed to a soldier's 
 wife of the 3rd Queen's Hussars. Nine impassioned 
 addresses did she give at these large gatherings. 
 
 The friend at whose house she was entertained dur- 
 ing her stay at Winchester says, ' I brought a commer- 
 cial traveller to supper one evening, and Miss Wesley 
 came in after a heavy day's work too tired to eat. 
 After my friend had left, she said, ' Do you know I 
 feel I have not done right in letting that young man go 
 without speaking to him about his soul : ' for he was 
 about to sail for Australia. So she wrote a letter and 
 asked me to take it to his hotel in the morning for him 
 to open and read when he was on the water, and I have 
 every reason to believe that letter made a lasting 
 impression on him for his good.' 
 
MISS WESLEY. 181 
 
 Addresses at large Temperance meetings at Staines 
 and Feltham were the next addition to her ordinary 
 duties, and they were reported to have been of a high 
 order, yet very popular. On the morning of the Felt- 
 ham meeting she had been visiting one of the London 
 hospitals. 
 
 Then came her enormous Christmas and New Year's 
 correspondence, which she did so effectively and com- 
 pletely as seriously to tax her energies, and deprive 
 herself of sleep and rest. It would seem as though she 
 had a presentiment that it was her last epistolary 
 effort at Christmastide, for she seemed to remember 
 every friend, every soldier, and every child. We wrote 
 side by side : there was a surprising glow, freshness, 
 and beauty in her letters : those of them to children 
 especially were little gems, and as she was dashing 
 them off with an admirable but exhausting vivacity, 
 my fears were getting relieved by the hope that the 
 effort was coming to an end, when in came a long list 
 of soldiers' names and addresses, from an over- worked 
 chaplain, with the request that she would write to 
 them. This excited my serious apprehensions, but she 
 tried to calm my fears, and with full heart and hope 
 addressed herself to the task, and completed it. 
 
 The Hounslow New Year's Tea for the soldiers and 
 their wives was held January 13th, 1885, and, with the 
 crowded meeting afterwards, was a time of great social 
 and religious enjoyment. The highest enthusiasm was 
 expressed as the audience listened to the thrilling 
 addresses of the Rev. A. M'Aulay and the Rev. R. 
 W. Allen, our special visitors on this occasion. This 
 festival was rendered very memorable by the presence 
 pf that eminently zealous and successful worker for 
 
182 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Christ, the late Mrs. M'Aulay. That lady was deeply 
 impressed with the importance of Lizzie's work, and 
 they were truly kindred spirits. The soldiers called 
 for their friend Miss Wesley, and she at once responded. 
 Colonel Young expressed the general feeling when he 
 said in his speech, ' I never enjoyed a meeting so 
 thoroughly in my life, and never was more profited by 
 one.' 
 
 A week after this there came the Naval and Mili- 
 tary Convention at Sloane Terrace Chapel, Chelsea, on 
 January 20th. We had anticipated this gathering 
 with high expectations, and had spared no effort to 
 secure a good attendance. 
 
 The writer intended being present, but severe indis- 
 position prevented. This was a bitter disappointment 
 to my daughter, but God helped her, and she was equal 
 to the emergency. She escorted the men to Chelsea, 
 entered heartily into the services, and returned with 
 her charge at a late hour, the Convention having formed 
 quite a new era in their history. 
 
 Next she was officially requested to give a report of 
 the Chelsea Convention. A smile played on her pale 
 face as she read the letter conveying the request ; a pile 
 of written letters lay before her, directed envelopes 
 were waiting for many more, and, pausing for a time, 
 she took up her pen, and struck off the scenes and 
 experiences of the meeting with such naturalness and 
 graphic power, that our Aldershot chaplain wrote in his 
 next letter to her, ' I am sending a copy of your well- 
 written paper on our meeting to all the subscribers to 
 our Homes.' We give it just as it appeared in the 
 Christian Journal. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 183 
 
 THE NAVAL AND MILITARY GATHERING AT SLOANE 
 TERRACE CHAPEL, CHELSEA. 
 
 THE AFTEK MEETING. 
 
 ' The room beneath the Sloane Terrace Wesleyan Chapel was a 
 bright and happy place on a recent Tuesday evening, where 
 soldiers and sailors gathered after the Convention to greet 
 each other and to live over again God-given victories by land and 
 sea. Kindly hands had prettily decorated the hall with flags 
 and laurels, and sunny faces welcomed the guests everywhere. 
 
 'After long marches from Aldershot Camp and Portsmouth 
 Docks, not to mention Woolwich, Chatham Common, and Houns- 
 low Heath, no one wt s sorry to hear the " fall-in " for tea real 
 teapot tea with ham sandwiches and roast beef of Merrie 
 England, and all other good things, provided by generous 
 friends. Afterwards there was hearty singing of John Cennick's 
 well-known lines, " We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food." In 
 other days and in other lands how often had those voices joined 
 in the same simple, thankful song ! 
 
 ' " In half an hour the lovefeast will be held in this room." 
 announced Mr. Allen, and in the interval old friends and new, 
 comrades and shipmates, met again in the chapel, where in the 
 afternoon they had knelt in solemn prayer at God's altar, and, 
 " in remembrance " of Christ's love, had vowed to stand by His 
 colours till death. 
 
 ' God keep you faithful, brave bluejackets, and bring you safe 
 to the desired haven ! God help you, soldier-brother, where 
 smoke and fire is thickest ; there is work for you to do ! 
 
 ' " This blessed chapel," said one young sergeant of a Line 
 regiment, " I shall never forget this place." Here, for the first 
 time, he had openly confessed Christ, who had lately said to him f 
 ' Thy sins be forgiven thee." " For three years I have lived 
 away from my Saviour," said -another sergeant of the same regi- 
 ment, just home from India ; " but He is in my heart now. I 
 could not help coming back to Christ to-day." "This is my 
 chapel," said a young Grenadier Guardsman, who came to know 
 Christ first at Kneller Hall ; " I always get comfort and help 
 here." Precious memories of Sloane Terrace Chapel will linger iu 
 
184 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 many hearts. In " log" and "small book" January 20th, 1885, 
 will be a red-letter day. 
 
 ' " Stand up, stand up for Jesus ! " was the first hymn for the 
 family gathering, and it was sung in right hearty fashion ; every 
 word seemed a holy inspiration to " lift high His royal banner 
 against unnumbered foes." Then came words of prayer for all 
 in the meeting and for absent friends and comrades " in peril on 
 the sea " or on the desert battle-field, so far away from home and 
 dear ones. 
 
 ' Mr. Allen, in earnest words, told how he and the Army and 
 Navy Committee had so often wished a meeting like this could be 
 arranged to promote God's work, especially among Wesleyan 
 sailors and soldiers, and now that the desire of his heart had been 
 so gloriously realised he could almost say with Simeon of olden 
 time, " Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace ; ' 
 but, unless God very distinctly reveals it to us, we think we can- 
 not spare the enthusiastic, self-denying chaplain yet, and in tower 
 and camp or prison cell, long, long may his voice be heard telling 
 of Jesus, the tender, loving Saviour ! Mr. Allen specially com- 
 mended to the meeting's consideration the new translation of the 
 President's glorious battle-cry, " Salvation in every barrack- 
 room." 
 
 ' Major J. Smith, who never loses esprit dc corps, declared he was 
 still as ready to go to the front as in days gone by ; and then 
 touchingly retold tales of "Jack's" devotion to his soldier- 
 brother in the dark, sad Crimea, and how bravely, without a 
 grumble, the troops were landed by their friends of the sister 
 Service to face, in England's honour, England's bitter foe ; and 
 so in the battle against sin the gallant officer urged comrades of 
 the red and blue to stand firm for Christ, " shoulder to shoulder." 
 
 ' On the platform were Mr. Spoor and Mr. Horton, and other 
 chaplains and ministers ; but the speeches, by order, came from 
 the floor of the house, and eager lips began to witness for Jesus. 
 " I am a gunner in the Artillery," said one true soldier of the 
 Cross. " I was once the only Christian, to my knowledge, 
 in a garrison of three thousand troops. I felt so helpless to win 
 my comrades, that I prayed God for help in my loneliness. While 
 I thus prayed I remembered there was a Tract Society in London, 
 and I thought I would write and tail tho managers how I longed 
 
MISS WESLEY. 185 
 
 to work among my comrades ; that I had no tracts, and was a 
 poor man with wife and children, and no money to buy tracts. 
 A minister signed the letter, and then there came one pound's 
 worth of tracts. Praise the Lord 1 I then went into the rooms 
 with a glad heart. Soon souls were saved, and the Lord sent an 
 officer tc us who greatly cheered us, and our little band went 
 forward daily increasing." " When the Lord saved me," said 
 another, " he saved the wildest young soldier in the service. 
 Read Acts ix., that's all about me ; but I'm saved now, through 
 the -blood of the Lamb. A comrade on the barrack-square 
 shouted to me, ' Frank, take care of yourself ; ' but I answered 
 back, ' No, no I I cannot ; ' but I have committed myself into the 
 hands of God, and He will keep "me safe for ever." 
 
 ' " One a day I " merrily told out another ; " speak to one 
 a day about Jesus. ' One a day,' that's my motto." A veteran 
 and officer of the Rifle Brigade, who had just obtained his com- 
 mission, said it was all through his being a Christian that he had 
 succeeded in gaining it. He would have failed but for God in 
 whom he had trusted. 
 
 ' The time passed too quickly. It is impossible to describe the 
 fervour and life of the meeting while the sailor's hymn, " Pull 
 for the shore," was being sung. And then, before the sailor 
 friends ventured to the Vernon, the ffecla, the Excellent, and 
 the Triumph, they gave heart-stirring testimonies of how near 
 God had come to them on stormy seas, and that above the waves 
 of sorrow and sin they had heardjtheir Captain's voice whispering, 
 "Peace, be still." 
 
 ' " I'm one year old to-day," said a young man-o'-war's-man, 
 " Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away 1 " " Go on. 
 mate ! " " Hallelujah ! " " Glory ! " were exclamations that 
 came in glad chorus from all parts of the room. As we were 
 shaking hands with our sailor friends, wishing them "fair winds," 
 " God-speed the ship," one dear lad of the Triumph asked special 
 prayer for himself and mates, as next week they would be sailing 
 away to the South Pacific. The Triumph, commissioned only 
 on January 1st, is already a flagship for Christ. 
 
 ' We sang, as our bluejackets left us 
 
 ' " All the storms will soon be over, 
 And we'll anchor in the harbour." 
 
186 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' Major Thomson, of Hounslow Barracks, a brave worker for 
 Jesus, gave as his experience : " I'm a soldier bound for glory- 
 I'm a soldier going home ; " and urged all Christian workers in 
 the army to keep " toiling on," for the Master was watching, and 
 He would give grace and glory. Then Mr. White, A.S.R., and 
 others gave red-hot words. Some told of the table covered with 
 green baize in the prayer-room at North Camp, around which 
 they had first met for prayer, and of mission-halls, and chapels, 
 and churches, all sacred spots, where earnest workers had led 
 them to Jesus. 
 
 ' " We could keep on all night like this," we heard a soldier 
 say to his comrade ; but Mr. K. M. Spoor sounded " last post " by 
 reminding his soldier-lads that Aldershot must be reached that 
 night, and as we, too, did not want to " overstay our pass," we 
 said "Good night" to everybody, and, with a quiet, reverent 
 heart, went back to our duty, feeling that it was good to be there, 
 and singing with renewed vigour 
 
 ' " To Queen, to country, but, 0, most to Thee I 
 My life I give, who gave Thy life for me." 
 
 1 Hounslow Heath? 'E. A. W. 
 
 On the 20th of February, the Grenadier Guards 
 embarked at Gravesend to the Soudan ; a farewell tea 
 was prepared for them in exquisite style on the pre- 
 vious evening at Windsor, and Miss Wesley was urged 
 to attend the meeting which was held, and give a 
 parting address. She had great reluctance in speaking 
 at large gatherings, and never ascended a platform ; 
 but considering the object, she could not refuse. She 
 had mentally prepared an address, but it all went from 
 her, but God gave her at the right moment the right 
 thoughts and words she required, and they were well 
 received. Many soldiers and civilians, chaplains, and 
 other ministers who were present, have borne testimony 
 to the appropriateness of this farewell address, and 
 the tearful eyes told of the influence which accompanied 
 
MISS WESLEY. 187 
 
 it. It was another tax on her declining energies ; but 
 she felt herself moving in her own sphere, and could 
 leave all results with God. It gave her the opportunity 
 of a more intimate acquaintance with Mrs. M'Aulay, and 
 of spending a few profitable hours at her godly home, 
 preparatory to their meeting in the better land, which 
 came so soon afterwards. 
 
 The Rev. William Jackson, who so nobly offered to 
 become chaplain to the Suakin and Berber expedition, 
 when giving an account of his voyage and work, men- 
 tioned especially the blessed influence of the Windsor 
 farewell meeting on the men, and the powerful effect 
 which the valedictory words exerted on himself. He 
 writes : ' Before embarking it was my privilege to 
 attend at Windsor a meeting of Wesleyan soldiers 
 about to go to the Soudan. The earnest, loving, 
 parting words of the various speakers, of whom Miss 
 Wesley was one, begot in me deep sympathy with the 
 soldier, and led to the solemn promise that I would 
 stick to our men through all difficulties, which promise, 
 continually kept in mind, proved a strong incentive to 
 duty.' 
 
 On Friday morning February 21st, Miss Wesley 
 returned from Finsbury Park, and resumed her usual 
 duties ; and on the Saturday she journeyed to Win- 
 chester to fulfil an engagement which had been for 
 some time made, to conduct, with her father, a mission 
 there. Her father had clung to the hope of accom- 
 panying her, but he was too unwell, and a student 
 from Richmond took his place, aided by Miss Wesley. 
 Just before starting to Winchester, a cheering letter 
 arrived from one of her Gravesend converts, Joel Austin, 
 which is here given, with Miss Wesley's reply : 
 
188 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' STOTFOLD, HEETS, January 31st, 1885. 
 1 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 1 1 have had it in my mind to write you many times since I 
 received your last letter in December, 1879, at which time I was 
 in Chatham hospital ; but though I have not written you, I have 
 often read in the " Recorder " of your continuous work among 
 soldiers, and to-day, after reading of your address at the New 
 Year's entertainment at Hounslow, I have resolved to write 
 to you. 
 
 ' Tour last letter is now before me, which has been read and 
 re-read many times, yet it is as comforting as when I first 
 received it. 
 
 ' I left the service on the 18th December, 1879, and for some 
 months after I was a complete invalid. About that time my 
 brother John arrived at Sheerness in the " Opal," so that he was 
 enabled to conduct me home. Since then he also has been in- 
 valided, and now we are living within twenty yards of each other. 
 We are, I am glad to say, both of us in fair health, and best of all, 
 the blessing of our Father in heaven is resting upon us : both of 
 us are in receipt of good pensions, considering that we had not 
 served our full term, and both held the rank of colour-sergeant 
 at the time of discharge. I am sure it will greatly cheer you to 
 hear so much of our welfare. 
 
 ' But greater still will be your joy to hear that we are both 
 holding 'on to the Cross, and to Him who has been our Guard and 
 Guide through life. We are both of us at work in the Sunday- 
 school here, John having the select class of boys, and I the first 
 boys' Bible-class. 
 
 ' I am sure I need not tell you the joy and delight there is in 
 such work, for you have had a long experience of it ; but I must 
 say, though at times it seems as if nothing good results therefrom, 
 yet we have the promise of God that if the seed be faithfully 
 sown, the harvest shall aesuredly follow. 
 
 ' I have often thought about you, and wished you had been 
 nearer to us, for this reason in particular, w can never get our 
 female teachers to address the school, and I thought it Miss 
 Wesley was only here, she would encourage them by hr 
 example. 
 
 ' Our prayer is that God will continue to bless you in your 
 
MISS WESLEY. 189 
 
 Christian work, and that your crown may be decked with many 
 precious jewels ; and that we each may be counted worthy, 
 through the blood of the Lamb, to sit down with Christ in His 
 kingdom. 
 
 ' Hoping to hear from you shortly, and with Christian love 
 to you all, in which John joins. 
 
 1 Believe me to remain, 
 
 ' Yours in the cleft of the Rock, 
 
 JOEL AUSTIN.' 
 
 "With what power do the cases of these two 
 brothers recommend heart and life religion to our 
 soldiers ! There are three things which genuine 
 religion secures, and which, as certainly in the army as 
 elsewhere, lead on to each other : good character, good 
 conduct, good reward. The following is Miss Wesley's 
 reply : 
 
 'HAMPTON HOUSE, HOUNSLOW, 
 
 ' February 13th, 1885. 
 
 1 Your letter came like a bit of summer sunshine, dear friend 
 Sergt. Austin. It was worth waiting six years for a letter that 
 brought such glad news. Praise the Lord that you and your dear 
 brother are hiding in the cleft of the Eock ! It did rejoice my 
 heart to know that you still are sheltered there. Life's storms 
 must come ; but oh 1 the bliss and satisfaction to know-that you 
 are resting on Jesus the Rock which cannot move. Very often 
 1 1 have thought of you and your brother, and wondered where you 
 were living. Miss Terry has often also asked for news of you. And 
 so ' The Opal ' and ' The Juno ' are left for ever, and you are both 
 living near each other in the old dear English homes. It must be 
 sweet to rest in happy England. We often hear from Major 
 
 T h, he is living at Southampton, retired now ; he is quietly 
 
 working for Jesus. Sergt. P s is still very true for Jesus at 
 
 Chatham. The Lord's work is prospering at Gravesend. I and 
 my father were there in the summer, and we had a glorious Sun- 
 day. Sergt. W d and many, many old friends welcomed us ; 
 
 but nearly all new faces at Milton Barracks. Oh 1 that we may 
 
190 MEMOEfALS OF 
 
 *s-*^-*>*s-\s^s~^s\j f \s\s^^*~/ n ^^s^s-^s^-T>^^ 
 
 meet the old friends in the glory land. Mr. and Mrs. M y are 
 
 still there ; Miss M y is married, and little Miss C k 
 
 suddenly has gone to be with Jesus ; she was found one morning 
 asleep in Him when the maid went to call her. We talked often 
 of you and the other dear comrades, who had met with us in those 
 dear rooms at Peacock St. I often think of the glad evening 
 when your burden of sin and sorrow rolled away : what a glorious 
 thing for you that the blessed sense of sins forgiven ever came to 
 your heart ! and now we rejoice to hear that you are working for 
 Jesus. What an honour to win souls for Him. 
 
 ' Some of your Bible-class boys may join the army, or go else- 
 where ; may they witness for Jesus. Many of our Winchester lads 
 are wounded, and already some sleep in that far away desert land. 
 Some have died with a bright hope of eternal life. Feb. 22nd I 
 join in ten days' mission for soldiers at Winchester. Do pray for 
 me then ; I shall have to speak every day and sometimes twice. 
 Here we are busy every day. This is a difficult depot, but the 
 Lord is greatly blessing us. My father preaches in barracks 
 every Sunday morning, and the congregation has trebled in eigh- 
 teen months. But for the last three weeks he has been weak and 
 tired, and unable to do duty ; but I hope he will soon get better. 
 My mother is wonderfully bright and well. They both send 
 Christian love to you and yours. They were rejoiced to hear that 
 you were still so busy in the Lord's work. 
 
 ' This letter I commenced days ago, but I had to lay it aside to 
 write for Egypt, and also to send " God speed " messages to many 
 other friends ordered to the front. Pray for them, plead for them, 
 that their souls may be saved to the uttermost, and that they may 
 win other souls for Jesus. We had a glorious meeting in London 
 of Wesleyan Christian soldiers and sailors. It was grand to hear 
 them witness for Jesus. I have written an account in the new 
 Wesleyan paper, " The Christian Journal," for Feb. llth ; I would 
 send you the paper if I had a spare copy. 
 
 ' There is a glorious work on The Triumph. Now twenty souls 
 there for Jesus. Oh ! the joy of being able to sing : 
 
 " Not my own, but saved by Jesus ; 
 Not my own, my time and talent ; 
 Freely all to Him I bring, 
 
MISS WESLEY. 191 
 
 To be used in joyful service, 
 For the glory of my King." 
 
 ' " The Lord bless you " is still the prayer of your old friend 
 in the same blessed service. 
 
 'ELIZABETH A WESLEY.' 
 
 It is a joy to me which words fail to express, that 
 this letter from a faithful ex-soldier convert, whose pen 
 to her had been silent for six years, should have 
 reached Miss Wesley, to cheer .her as she was entering 
 on the last great work of her life. 
 
 Into the ' sunshine ' of this letter she threw, as with 
 prophetic touch, the shaded words how true ! ' Life's 
 storms must come ' : and they were then gathering 
 around her. 
 
 Before closing this chapter the author thinks it 
 desirable to mention that he has a brother, the Rev. 
 John Wesley, who has been for thirty years a minister 
 in the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. 
 Other members of the family are mentioned on a 
 previous page. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE WINCHESTER MISSION. 
 
 BY THE KEV. KALPH W. G. HUNTEB. 
 
 ' r I THE first time I ever saw Miss Wesley was shortly 
 JL after I came to Winchester, in September, 1884. 
 She was then on a visit to her father's old Circuit, and 
 I was only informed of her arrival in the city whilst I 
 was waiting in the vestry, previous to the service, one 
 Sunday morning. It was an announcement for which 
 I was quite unprepared, and my interest was instantly 
 aroused. Ever since my arrival at Winchester, her 
 name had been constantly on the lips of the people; 
 Miss Wesley was everywhere the favourite topic with 
 my new friends. Her life and work amongst them 
 had, in a manner and to a degree unknown to me in 
 all my previous experience impressed the imagination, 
 and aroused the affections, of the good and loyal 
 Methodists of old Winchester. Her character, drawn 
 with various skill by my many informants, aided by 
 the photographer's art, was already engraven on my 
 mind, just as if I had seen her in a vision of angels, or 
 as if I had known her in the common ways and loving 
 ministries of her daily life. When she entered the 
 chapel, I knew in a moment it was Miss Wesley, as 
 she was always so reverently called. Perhaps I should 
 
MISS WESLEY. 193 
 
 err in judgment if I were to describe her personal 
 appearance. 
 
 ' One of the Winchester leaders, when taking me to 
 one of my country appointments as guide, had spoken 
 of a certain charm I think he used the word " fascina- 
 tion," of presence and manner in Miss Wesley, as 
 being an element though a subordinate one in her 
 extraordinary influence over the soldiers. When I saw 
 her, I knew that the instinct of my companion in that 
 afternoon journey had not failed him. Other and 
 better opportunities which I had of seeing her, only 
 tended to confirm this judgment. The beneficent 
 Creator who had endowed her with such rich and 
 womanly sympathies, had made her face a fair and 
 pleasant one for the eye to behold. In its general 
 outline there was quite a recognisable likeness to the 
 well-known features of the greatest of her race^John 
 Wesley. Her countenance shone with what can best 
 be described as spiritual light radiant, and healthy in 
 expression as her own cheerful, unconstrained piety. 
 Her hair was of that poetic colour so dear to the 
 young artists of Grosvenor Gallery. To me it suggested 
 the nimbus of glory encircling the head of the saints in 
 the old pictures. In her dress she did not affect the 
 plainness of the ladies of the stricter sort in the Society 
 of Friends, nor of the mothers of early Methodism. 
 Her outward adornment was just what we could wish 
 for in our wives and daughters, and was absolutely 
 devoid of any suggestion of vanity or even self-con- 
 sciousness. It was simply the outward and visible 
 sign of good taste ; and was as natural to her as her 
 love of flowers, music, and soldiers. Elizabeth Ann 
 Wesley was not an ordinary woman. She was a 
 
 o 
 
194 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 saint ; yet she had nothing of the nun in her composi- 
 tion. In her rich nature all the elements were mixed. 
 In her we have a conspicuous illustration of the divine 
 use of the human in Christian character and work. 
 She was made for the eye and the ear, or she would 
 not have found her way to the heart and conscience as 
 she did. Without heart or purpose, there was that in 
 her which, together with a higher influence, commanded 
 a hearing for the heavenly truth, which it was the 
 passion and the beauty of her life to exhibit. 
 
 ' On the Monday morning she came with some 
 friends to see us in our new home to her, the old home 
 of many happy hours, and where, in the little front 
 garden, still grew the ferns and flowers of her planting. 
 
 ' About this time public feeling, in regard to the im- 
 perative duty of rescuing the hero Gordon, who was then 
 shut up in Khartoum, ran very high, and the memory 
 of the unfortunate Egyptian expedition will not have 
 passed out of mind. Large numbers of troops were 
 ordered abroad, and many of our Wesleyan soldiers in 
 the Winchester garrison had to go. It was arranged 
 to hold a farewell tea-meeting, and, as many of those 
 who were about to leave were Miss Wesley's " lads," it 
 was proposed to send to Lichfield, where she was 
 visiting, to ask her to come and say a few parting 
 words. The whole matter was arranged hurriedly, the 
 notice was very short only a few hours but Miss 
 Wesley came. The meeting would not be forgotten 
 by many a brave fellow who went to fight perhaps to 
 die in the Soudan. 
 
 ' This was the second of Miss Wesley's visits to 
 Winchester during my time. There was another and 
 the last. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 195 
 
 ' It had been decided at a leaders' meeting to hold 
 a week of mission services for civilians and soldiers at 
 Winchester, in the spring of 1885, and an effort to 
 procure the appointment of the district missionary 
 having failed, it was arranged that the Circuit minister 
 should conduct them, and that Miss Wesley should be 
 invited to co-operate with him ; not only for the service 
 she could so well render, but because her mere pi'esence 
 would prove such a powerful attraction to the soldiers. 
 In conveying the request of the friends, I intimated 
 that we did not wish her to trouble too much about 
 the mission, that what we chiefly wanted was her 
 " bright, sunshiny presence " amongst us. It was also 
 resolved that the Rev. Samuel Wesley, whose quarterly 
 appointments to the Winchester pulpit were always 
 anticipated with so much pleasure, should be asked to 
 preach the sermons on the Sunday commencing the 
 mission work. 
 
 ' Mr. Wesley's health prevented him being present : 
 it was a mutual disappointment. 
 
 ' Miss Wesley came and threw herself into the 
 preparations for the mission with the utmost enthu- 
 siasm. All her wishes as to the methods which should 
 be adopted in order to interest the soldiers were met, 
 and everything was done which, as far as we could 
 see, would ensure the success of the services. 
 
 ' A supply was obtained from Richmond College for 
 Mr. Wesley, in the person of the Rev. A. H. Bestall, but 
 the venerable garrison chaplain did not lose his per- 
 sonal interest in the mission. In a letter he sent to 
 Mr. Hunter, the resident minister at Winchester, he 
 remarks : 
 
 ****** 
 
 2 
 
196 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ' " Lizzie was very much exhausted, having had very 
 heavy work before Christmas and New Year's 
 Day, and my illness had greatly affected her. A lady 
 had an interview with her on the Sunday before (22nd 
 Feb.) to whom she said : ' I know not how I am going 
 to get through this mission next week, but I am antici- 
 pating it so ! " Her friend said in reply : " You look so 
 ill and exhausted, you ought to have the doctor." She 
 said : " Bless you ! say nothing about it, or they won't 
 let me leave." Yet she plodded on at the barracks 
 here, and attended the meetings for soldiers, and meet- 
 ings for young people, and for Temperance, resolved to 
 leave all her work finished up. Letters written, &c., 
 just as if she were about to close all with the mis- 
 sion, though we little thought what the issue would 
 be : she was writing letters and preparing for her next 
 day's journey till three o'clock on the Saturday morn- 
 ing, and had hardly taken any food. 
 
 ' " Her mind had been painfully exercised for some 
 weeks, by one of the saddest cases that had ever inter- 
 ested her. A private soldier of aristocratic descent, 
 superior powers, liberal education, and who had passed 
 through the training of a commissioned officer, after 
 having recklessly spent an immense fortune, had 
 become an utter wreck, was invalided and dismissed 
 the service. There was hardly anything left in his 
 character to inspire hope or justify exertion, yet Lizzie 
 did not despair of his recovery, and arranged for him 
 with his friends to go abroad, and up to the night 
 before she left, was making all the necessary purchases 
 for his voyage. 
 
 '"Under these circumstances she left for the mis- 
 sion, and almost entirely without preparation." 
 
MISS WESLEY. 197 
 
 A letter addressed to Mrs. Etheridge, the lady with 
 whom she was going to stay, will show the spirit in 
 which she entered on her work : 
 
 1 HAMPTON HOUSE, HOUNSLOW, 
 
 Feb. 9th, 1885. 
 
 'I shall love to come to you, dear Mrs. Etheridge, at "the 
 mission," and it is very kind of you to so lovingly ask me. 
 
 ' Only, may I ask that you will not let me disturb you in any 
 way. Please never wait five minutes for me at breakfast, dinner, tea 
 or supper, and please do not let me inconvenience you in any way 
 by day or night. I shall be as happy as a lark anywhere in your 
 home. I shall be so glad to have your loving help in the 
 mission ; we can trudge out to see the dear people together, 
 especially we must cheer up sisters B. 
 
 ' I hope I am getting ready in heart for ' the mission," but head 
 preparation is almost impossible. I am hurried about here and 
 everywhere. 
 
 ' I have just sent off letters to poor wounded Rifles in the desert 
 land, who once, day after day, met with us in our precious Peter 
 Street ; and now I have to go and see a young sergeant's wife who 
 is very ill, and comfort another whose husband died, after only a 
 moment's warning, on Friday. 
 
 1 The work here is going on quietly, but very blessedly. So 
 earnestly some are seeking Christ ; meetings every night lately, 
 but Saturday, and then we go to Blue-Ribbon meetings ; to-night 
 we are expecting a glorious time. 
 
 ' One young soldier was saved last week in a barrack room, while 
 three fights were going on. 
 
 ' I am sure we shall have a time of blessing at " the mission." 
 We must claim God's promises for our very own. I am specially 
 anxious about the meeting for women, do let us pray much about 
 that. My father is much better; I hope to come with him on the 
 Saturday afternoon. Will there be a prayer-meeting on the even- 
 ing of Saturday ? 
 
 ' It will be a pleasure to work with Mr. Hunter, and won't it be 
 beautiful to be once more with my own true Winchester friends. 
 Tell dear Mr. Etheridge this new vestry will be splendid for 
 the Society-class. 
 
198 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 1 Mother is so bright and well, she is so delighted to hear of 
 your success in your brave work for the chapel, Eebie told me 
 too, bravo ! There are good times coming for Winchester Metho- 
 dism, and you are helping to bring them nearer by plenty of 
 light at the chapel door, amongst other things. By the new gas 
 lamps we shall be able to take down names and addresses of any 
 who rush out of the prayer-meetings, afraid lest they should be 
 converted. How are the darlings ? 
 
 ' God bless you and yours and " the mission," and Mr. Walker 
 and all the brave workers, to whom we all send truest love. In 
 His love, dear friend, Always yours, 
 
 ' LIZZIE WESLEY.' 
 
 ' It is necessary to explain one or two references in 
 the above letter, by mentioning the fact that a chapel 
 improvement scheme hadjast been successfully carried 
 out, including the erection of a new vestry, putting up 
 new gas lamps at the front entrance, and other needed 
 alterations. 
 
 ' A line announcing the time of her arrival was 
 received on Friday, February 20th. 
 
 ' " Just home from Windsor, a farewell meeting for 
 the Guards last night. Already I am feeling the 
 missionary spirit, but am rather tired to-day." 
 
 ' The following has been communicated by Mrs. 
 Edmeades. 
 
 ' " Miss Wesley came to Winchester on Saturday 
 afternoon, Feb. 21st, and on her entering the house we 
 were struck with her worn, tired appearance. On 
 questioning her as to what she had eaten that day 
 she said ; " Nothing yet, but I am going to make a 
 good tea after I have been down to see the vestry." 
 We tried to persuade her to have something to eat 
 first, but she was so anxious to get down to St. 
 Peter Street that we went. She was very delighted with 
 
MISS WESLEY. 199 
 
 tlie new vestry, and after examining it thoroughly 
 she said : " Do let us have a word of prayer, to thank 
 God for this beautiful room." So we all knelt down, 
 while she prayed in her simple, sweet way. Then we 
 came home and had tea, and afterwards she spent about 
 an hour in preparing for the next day. After that we 
 walked with her down to Mr. Etheridge's. On the way 
 she called on several friends, and invited some soldiers 
 to the services to be held during the week.' 
 
 Tip to this time she had always been regarded in 
 the popular estimation as being endowed with more than 
 average powers of vitality and endurance. Alas ! the 
 event proved that her spirit was far in advance of her 
 real strength. It burned with such celestial ardour, that 
 it would have worn out a frame of more than common 
 hardness. As it was, before this mission was entered 
 upon, long continued and excessive exertions had so 
 thoroughly undermined her constitution ; and though 
 her real weakness was not known to us, yet as she did 
 not seem to be in her usual health, she was strongly 
 advised to make her own part in the work of the 
 coming week as light as possible. 
 
 The Rev. A. H. Bestall accompanied my daughter to 
 Winchester, having kindly engaged to become my sub- 
 stitute in conducting the services on the first Sabbath 
 of the mission, and has, at my request, supplied the 
 following account of the journey, and the opening of 
 the mission : 
 
 1 My acquaintance with Miss Wesley will always be a green 
 spot in my memory ; and in days to come, when wearied and cast 
 down, I shall be able to refresh myself by thinking of her truly 
 beautiful character. 
 
 ' It fell to my lot in the order of Providence, to open a series 
 
200 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 of Evangelistic services at Winchester, on Sunday, February 
 22nd, 1885, of which Miss Wesley was the central figure. I met 
 her at Waterloo Station on the afternoon of the previous day> 
 and we had scarcely steamed out of the terminus before our talk 
 was turned to spiritual things. She carried in her hand a small 
 basket, which I found to be filled with religious pamphlets, 
 tracts, &c. 
 
 ' I was intensely struck with her cheery nature, completely 
 saturated, as it was, by heavenly influence, and long before we 
 reached our destination, my fears as to ' to-morrow's work ' were 
 all dispelled, and hopeful expectations filled their place, as she 
 exclaimed : " We are about the dear Master's work, you know ! 
 We shall have a glorious time ! " 
 
 ' Our kind friends, the Edmeades, met us, and after a little 
 rest, we went, in company with Mr. and Miss Edmeades, to see the 
 newly-erected vestry. Miss Wesley seemed delighted ; and after 
 looking round at the texts upon the walls, she said : " This is 
 lovely I Do let us have a word of prayer : " and down we knelt, 
 while prayer was offered, that the new building might be sancti- 
 fied by the salvation of souls on the coming day. On our way 
 through the old city every friend's house we passed was a signal 
 for a pause, and when my companion spoke to its inmates every 
 little circle seemed to be lighted up by her presence, and delight 
 at seeing her sat upon every face. 
 
 'The Sunday's work began at seven in the morning. Miss 
 Wesley, although strongly advised to spare herself for efforts later 
 in the day, was one of the company bowed at the throne of 
 grace at that early hour. During the morning service she sat 
 with the children, and scarcely let a member of the congregation 
 leave the chapel without a cheery word of greeting. 
 
 ' In the afternoon she held a Mothers' Meeting in the vestry, 
 and the Spirit's power was manifested in the bringing back of some 
 poor straying pilgrims into the way that leadeth unto life. 
 
 ' During the early part of the evening service she was busy 
 inviting passers-by to enter the chapel. Soldiers were specially 
 her mark, and as a result of her personal invitations many seats 
 were filled with " red-coats " of the British army. In the prayer- 
 meeting the power of conviction was present, and to our joy 
 penitents began to enter the " Inquiry Room." The soldiers 
 
MfSS WESLEY. 201 
 
 nearly all remained from the preaching service, and many of 
 these sought the Saviour, and found Him with rejoicing. Shortly 
 before the close of the day's work Miss Wesley spoke a few words 
 to the troops present. I never shall forget the influence that 
 rested upon all, while she held us in rapt attention by her chaste 
 and sweetly flowing eloquence. I felt I was listening to a soul 
 that held peculiarly blessed intercourse with the eternal world, 
 for with perfect naturalness, as though she knew the road by 
 heart, she led us up the paths of Zion's Hill to see Zion's king. 
 ' I left her for college on the next day. I met her often after 
 the mission ; but I never saw her except busily engaged for 
 Christ. Hundreds of soldiers live to-day to speak their gratitude 
 to God for Lizzie Wesley's life and work. Her success can best 
 be explained by what she once told me was her heart's motto : 
 " Jesus Only ! " I never met a mortal who displayed so much 
 of the immortal. Her toil was of the angel character, among 
 whose ranks none did more perfect service in the world of light, 
 than did she in this world of sinners. Truly she was a rival of 
 St. Paul ! For her to live was Christ, and her death was but her 
 everlasting gain ! 
 
 'A. H. BESTALL.' 
 
 Mr. Hunter here resumes his narrative : 
 ' It would be impossible for any one person to 
 gather up into a connected narrative all the self- 
 imposed and loving labours of that last week. Had 
 she been amongst strangers it might have been differ- 
 ent. The calls would have been fewer, and her life 
 more retired and quiet ; but amongst people who 
 adored her, to whom a visit, a word, a smile, came like 
 a revelation from heaven, it was difficult to find a 
 moment altogether free from work. Sick people to 
 whom she had ministered in earlier days were asking 
 to see their old friend, Miss Wesley, and she must go. 
 No one must be neglected; everyone must be seen. 
 Meals were sometimes missed, and often hardly 
 touched, but, though frequent endeavours were made 
 
202 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 to protect her from herself, no one, as yet, suspected 
 the fearful drain all this was making on her vital 
 energies. 
 
 ' On the Monday evening, in her address, which 
 was full of inimitable touches, charming surprises of 
 freshness of expression, loving, womanly frankness 
 and directness bf allusion to soldier- life, she said : " I 
 have given my life for you in a very peculiar sense, 
 I am yours" 
 
 ' No stroke of any orator I have heard ever thrilled 
 a sympathising audience more powerfully, than did the 
 simple utterance of this English girl thrill the soldier 
 congregation to whom it was so sincerely spoken. 
 
 * In a letter to her father, which is full of instruc- 
 tions respecting the outfit of the unfortunate soldier 
 referred to in Mr. Wesley's letter to myself, she thus 
 describes the work : 
 
 ' " The barracks here seem on fire. Last night the 
 chapel full : three parts soldiers. Tuesday night so 
 many soldiers were weeping and praying, that it was 
 impossible to count them or to take their names. The 
 chapel looks every night a blaze of scarlet. Two 
 hundred soldiers are invited to tea for Friday." 
 
 ' It was a great privilege, and, to me, quite a lesson 
 in army work, to watch her method in the garrison, 
 where we used to meet by appointment. It was some- 
 thing to see her, as she went from room to room, 
 toiling up and down the endless staircases of the old 
 king's palace. Her perfect tact, which anyone might 
 study, and which was so unstudied and instinctive, 
 her sympathetic flexibility of mind, her intuitive 
 perception of what it was best to say in every fresh 
 situation, her amazing courage in carrying the attack 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 into the most unlikely and difficult quarters ; her daring, 
 never faltering, ever womanly, ever charming in her 
 fixed resolve to secure the victory at every point ; the 
 ease, at which I could not at times help smiling, with 
 which when inviting to the services she vanquished 
 objections and excuses, and captured the objectors 
 all these are before me as I write. 
 
 ' I think I can see her now with her vade mecum, 
 the inevitable basket, filled with her little books and 
 illustrated papers for the barrack rooms, with card 
 texts and mottoes, which she fixed up herself over the 
 chimney-pieces where they might be always seen, with 
 her beautiful scrap and picture books, which she had 
 put together with her own hands for the children, with 
 leaflets announcing the services, for general distribu- 
 tion, and bunches of violets, lavender- bags, and 
 oranges for the sick in the wards of the hospital. 
 I well remember the excitement her visits always 
 produced in the garrison, how the men crowded at the 
 windows as she passed along, or gathered round in 
 interested, respectful groups, as she paused to give her 
 invitations. 
 
 ' Night after night the vestry was full of penitents, 
 and the meetings were generally protracted to a late 
 hour. 
 
 ' It was one of the grandest and most inspiring 
 sights I have ever witnessed, to see these soldiers 
 marching up the aisles of the chapel to the inquiry 
 room in long lines single file whilst the building 
 rang with the rousing strains of martial mission music. 
 
 ' God grant that much fruit of that week's work 
 may appear in the Great Day ! 
 
 ' It was during this visit to Winchester that Miss 
 
204 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Wesley met for the first time and the last Mrs. 
 Josephine Butler, who, I think, has been rightly 
 described as one of the three greatest Englishwomen 
 of the century. Mrs. Butler's genius is of that high 
 and human order, that, if she had chosen to have fol- 
 lowed in the steps of Jane Austen or George Eliot, she 
 would have taken rank amongst the women who are 
 immortal in the literature of imagination. She is all the 
 greater because she has consecrated her rare gifts to the 
 noble work of saving some, and rescuing others, of her 
 sex from the vast sisterhood of sin and misery. It was 
 when the whole matter in reference to Miss Wesley's 
 visit to Winchester was in course of arrangement, that 
 Mrs. Butler expressed to me a wish to give a tea to 
 the soldiers in our schoolroom, if we would lend it to 
 her for the purpose, adding that, if her idea could be 
 carried out, very likely Canon Butler would be present. 
 It was oat of this proposal that the tea and great 
 public meeting of Friday, February 27th, 1885, had its 
 origin ; and not only several hundred soldiers, but many 
 of the officials, members, and friends of the Society 
 enjoyed Mrs. Butler's generous and catholic hospitality. 
 Miss Wesley entered into this arrangement most 
 heartily. She called on Canon and Mrs. Butler more 
 than once during the week, and was warmly received 
 and cheered by them. 
 
 ' That meeting had been much talked of in soldier 
 circles. Miss Wesley's presence in the city, the reports 
 of our services, and Mrs. Butler's general invitation, 
 had stirred the whole garrison, and nearly all the 
 soldiers who were off duty (saving those who were 
 Roman Catholics) came, the red-coated men of the 
 Hampshire regiment as so many of the rifles had 
 
MISS WESLEY. 205 
 
 left predominating. The gallery at the west end of 
 the building was one ' blaze of scarlet,' and the room 
 in every part was packed, chiefly with soldiers. On 
 the right of the gallery facing the larger portion of 
 the audience, was the little group from the Cathedral 
 Close, Mrs. Butler and her friends. Not far away was 
 the mission choir, whilst skirting the sides of the 
 room, right and left, and to the rear of the large 
 audience, was a sprinkling of civilians. The spectacle 
 is deeply impressed on my mind, owing to the tragic 
 interest with which it will for ever be associated, pre- 
 senting, as it did, in a living picture, the last brilliant 
 effort of Miss Wesley's life. 
 
 ' The programme for the evening, drawn up by 
 my wish by Mrs. Butler, and preserved with other 
 mementoes of the week, lies on the table before me as I 
 write. After one or two had spoken came her own 
 address, rich with tender, faithful, motherly counsels 
 to the young men around her, and pointed with per- 
 sonal references of the most touching character. Miss 
 Wesley followed shortly after, but, in order to preserve 
 the sequence of events, I will here quote from a letter 
 which I have since received from a lady, who was 
 with her nearly the whole of the evening : 
 
 ' " At the great soldiers' meeting she was very ill. 
 After the men had finished their tea I missed her, and 
 going up into the chapel, I found her looking dread- 
 fully white. She said : " I am so glad you've come, do 
 feel my heart." I put my ear to her side and was 
 horrified to hear it flutter. I begged her not to take 
 any part in the meeting. She replied, " Oh, I must, 
 but will you ask the kind friends to leave me for five 
 minutes in the vestry, and I shall be all right again." 
 
?03 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 We left her, and she soon came out looking so calm 
 and happy. I said, " Do you feel better ? " She said, 
 " Yes, better, but do pray for me." 
 
 ' Entering the crowded room she said to her friend, 
 " I should like to die here in this meeting. O! the 
 joy I feel ; I never felt like I do to-night." 
 
 ' Just before she began to speak she said that the 
 pain in her side was awful. However, what she felt 
 was not visible, for when her name was mentioned she 
 answered to the call with a sweet and serious radiance 
 of expression, as if she were about to enter upon the 
 supreme moment of her life as a queen who goes to her 
 bridal. She took up her position half-way up the gallery 
 and surrounded, on every side, by the soldiers. Rest- 
 ing one hand on the pillar to her left, she advanced the 
 other, holding in it the military attestation paper. As 
 we think of her, standing up there under the lights, 
 and in full view of so many who would hear her for 
 the last time with one step in eternity we have 
 before us a situation touched with suggestions of 
 almost infinite beauty and pathos. 
 
 ' As soon as she commenced to speak, every one was 
 struck with the strength and penetrating quality of her 
 voice, as compared with what it had been when heard 
 in the chapel on the previous evenings, clear musical, 
 sympathetic, inflected, and modulated perfectly, as she 
 passed from playful banter to serious counsel, and 
 from serious counsel to pathetic earnest entreaty. 
 
 ' Ready-witted at all times, her mind seemed, that 
 evening, to act under extraordinary inspiration and 
 as is sometimes said she did with the meeting what 
 she liked. Laughter, teai*s, and loud amens responded 
 to the light touches of her gentle rhetoric. Who 
 
MISS WESLEY. 207 
 
 would have thought, as the smiles and murmurs of 
 approval passed round, that death's hand was upon her 
 that this was almost the last unnatural effort of 
 exhausted nature, that the amount of vital force she 
 gave away that night, in her generous love for the 
 British army, was all she had the last frail support 
 on which hung her precious life. 
 
 ' She took for her text the soldiers' attestation paper. 
 " Soldiers," she asked, " What is the first question on 
 this paper ? " 
 
 ' Here she failed to elicit the correct answer. 
 Attempt after attempt was made, but not one hit the 
 mark. It should, however, be admitted, that the ordeal 
 through which a raw recruit has to pass, when these 
 questions are asked, is a trying one, and is enough to make 
 a strong man nervous. It is, in some cases, so confus- 
 ing that even young men of Methodist training do not 
 always manage to declare themselves ' Wesleyans.' 
 We cannot, therefore, wonder that Miss Wesley's 
 auditors should have failed to extract from their recol- 
 lections of that bewildering examination the precise 
 order in which the questions were originally put. At 
 length, when one soldier shot a reply even more hope- 
 lessly wide of the mark than the rest, she extinguished 
 him in her own characteristic good-natured way. 
 
 ' " It is quite clear," she said, " that you don't know 
 anything at all about it." General laughter and 
 cheers greeted this unexpected and vivacious rejoinder. 
 Friends who had heard Miss Wesley several times, 
 declared to me afterwards that they had never known 
 her to so thoroughly command an audience ; to me, who 
 had only had a few opportunities of hearing her, it 
 was quite her finest effort. Was she not like the 
 
208 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 S~*~'^S^S**si f *~S^S^S^S~*^~*-'~^^^ 
 
 Hebrew champion, endued with special strength in 
 this almost her final testimony for the Master ? 
 
 ' " The first question," she went on, is " What is 
 your name ? " 
 
 ' This was made the subject of pointed spiritual 
 application, as were many other questions which were 
 susceptible of such treatment, and which were all 
 handled with great dexterity and spiritual power. 
 Having succeeded in arousing their attention and 
 calling forth thoughtful replies to her thrilling 
 questions, relating to the supreme service of Christ 
 with its honours and rewards, she called upon them in 
 the most impressive tones and manner, and with all 
 the present and the future full in view, to follow her 
 in their voluntary oath of allegiance to our gracious 
 Queen, as she applied it to their sworn fealty to the 
 King of kings, and they audibly and slowly repeated 
 after her each word of the oath. It was a solemn 
 engagement for life ; and they closed with the prayer 
 for Divine aid that they might be faithful unto death, 
 each joining in the words : " So help me God." Thus 
 sublimely ended this extraordinary address, and the 
 public work of Miss Wesley. 
 
 ' This effort left her much exhausted, though how 
 much she really suffered was known only to herself so 
 brightly and bravely did she pass it off. However, to 
 use her words after the crash, " It was the last straw." 
 She used to say, when she lay helplessly waiting for 
 the summons that, " she wished she had died then." 
 
 ' On Saturday she made several calls. Friends came 
 in at tea time and she talked and prayed with them. 
 It was a time of sweet communion at Mrs. Etheridge's 
 house. She went to the piano and sang several songs 
 
MISS WESLEY. 209 
 
 \s-^s^^*/^s^s^~^ n *s-*s-^^^^s~*s\s~^^ 
 
 with great feeling, amongst which, there was one 
 which will never be forgotten by those who heard it : 
 
 ' GOOD NIGHT. 
 
 
 
 ' Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest ; 
 Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour's breast : 
 We love thee well ; but Jesus loves thee best. 
 
 Good-night 1 Good-night 1 Good-night ! 
 
 ' Calm is thy slumber as an infant's sleep ; 
 But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep ; 
 Thine is a perfect rest, secure, and deep. 
 
 Good-night 1 
 
 ' Until the shadows from this earth are cast ; 
 Until He gathers in His sheaves at last ; 
 Until the twilight gloom be over-past. 
 
 Good-night ! 
 
 ' Until the Easter glory lights the skies ; 
 Until the dead in Jesus shall arise, 
 And He shall come, but not in lowly guise. 
 
 Good-night I 
 
 ' Until made beautiful by Love Divine, 
 Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine, 
 And He shall bring that golden crown of thine. 
 
 Good-night 1 
 
 1 Only " good-night " beloved not " farewell 1 " 
 A little while, and all His saints shall dwell 
 In hallowed union, indivisible. 
 
 Good-night 1 
 
 ' Until we meet again before His throne 
 Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own ; 
 Until we know even as we are known. 
 
 Good-night 1 ' 
 
 On Sunday slie went to the early morning prayer- 
 
 p 
 
210 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 xXXXXN^N^Nj'XXXXXXN_.''N-.'X^Xy 1 'X> 1 'XX^ 
 
 meeting and to both the public services ; she also 
 addressed the children in the afternoon, and came to 
 the prayer-meeting previous to the evening service. 
 She seemed to me to be quiejter than before, but there 
 was a somewhat general reaction after the great 
 excitement of the meeting on the Friday. She found 
 time to make calls between the services, and she scarcely 
 partook of food all day. 
 
 We had a long prayer-meeting at the close of the 
 Sunday evening service. I was with her at supper after- 
 wards at Mr. Edmeades' house; others were there, mostly 
 heryoungfriends, whom she always liked to have around 
 her. She came in late, for it seemed impossible for her 
 to get away from the chapel, there were so many to 
 speak to, penitents to be encouraged, and friends to 
 whom she had so many things to say. When she left 
 the chapel that night it was for the last time. 
 
 She did not say much that evening, but seemed 
 happy. It was the last gathering, and the last supper, 
 and the room was full. The old songs of the mission, 
 her favourite battle-hymns, were sung over again. 
 After prayer, we parted. I did not see her again until 
 everything was changed. 
 
 On my return home late on Monday evening from 
 a distant village, where I had been conducting a mis- 
 sion service, I was alarmed and distressed to hear that 
 Miss: Wesley had been taken suddenly ill, of which I 
 gathered the following particulars : 
 
 She had retired at a late hour, but was unable to 
 lie down and rest. She informed a young friend who 
 spent the night with her, and who was astonished to 
 find Miss Wesley in such a weak state of health, that 
 she had been unable to do so for months. She had not 
 
MISS WESLEY. 211 
 
 -^^-^ J r>*s^s*^ii~*s^S^ n *s f >*s^s**s^s^^ 
 
 mentioned this to her friends before, lest it might lead 
 them to place some restraint upon her work. The 
 discovery came too late to prevent the disaster which 
 so many have lamented. 
 
 Mrs. Edmeades has supplied me with a short 
 account of the collapse which took place that (Monday) 
 afternoon. ' On the Monday Mr. Etheridge invited 
 me to go with them for a drive, which I did. I thought 
 Miss Wesley was looking very ill when we started, but 
 she tried to laugh away my fears ; she spoke to several 
 persons on the road, giving them little books, and a 
 few kind words. When we reached Avington Park she 
 saw some snow-drops, and her first thought was of the 
 soldiers at home, so she stopped and gathered a quan- 
 tity. About half-way home she suddenly said to me : 
 " I am so glad you are with me, dear Mrs. Edmeades, I 
 feel as though I shall die before I reach home." She 
 several times told me how near and how precious Jesus 
 was to her. She begged me not to leave her, and I did 
 not until she had seen a doctor, who told her that she 
 must discontinue all work and that she must be got 
 home at once. This was a terrible disappointment to 
 her, but she cheerfully submitted.' 
 
 The following letter was received from Mrs. Butler 
 during the day : 
 
 ' Monday, March 2nd 1885. 
 ' MY DEAB Miss WESLEY, 
 
 ' I should have dearly loved to see you again, perhaps you may 
 be able to join our little prayer union to-morrow at eleven before 
 you leave. I am so glad to have met you, and if in any way God 
 will use me to strengthen some of the dear Christian soldiers you 
 leave behind here, I shall be so happy. I am an old worker, how- 
 ever, and much worn out, my activity is not great now, but thank 
 
 p 2 
 
212 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 God, He gives me greater and more numerous victories of faith 
 now that I cannot work so hard. 
 
 ' May He abundantly bless you in all your labours. 
 
 ' Yours most truly in Him, 
 
 'JOSEPHINE E.BUTLER.' 
 
 It was arranged, in accordance with Miss Wesley's 
 wish, to hold an informal farewell meeting that 
 evening, when she would address a few last words of 
 counsel to the soldiers who had given in their names 
 during the previous week. Several friends had pro- 
 mised to assist. On her return from the drive that 
 afternoon, ill though she was, she declared her inten- 
 tion to be present, but was positively forbidden by her 
 doctor, who said that "to go would be almost certain 
 death. It was a great trial to forego her intention, but 
 she yielded to the entreaties of her friends, and wrote 
 the following message in pencil, and asked good Mr. 
 Etheridge to take it with him to the meeting, and read 
 it to the soldiers : 
 
 v 
 'Miss WESLEY'S LAST MESSAGE. 
 
 1 MY DEAB FEIENDS, 
 
 ' I am very sorry I cannot be with you to-night, but Jesus will 
 come. 
 
 ' Open the door of your hearts and let Him in. Let Jesus live 
 in your hearts always. Perhaps I may never see you again, but 
 will you meet me in heaven ? 
 
 ' You promised to bear true allegiance to Christ and to obey all 
 His orders. Let this be your daily prayer " So help me God." I 
 like that little word so, it means, so help me God as only Thou 
 canst. God so loved the world that whosoever believeth on Him 
 hath everlasting life. 
 
 ' I am so glad to have known you all. We will thank God for 
 our happy meetings. Keep true to Jesus, dear friends who have 
 just found salvation. Pray very much. Bead your Bible often. 
 
MTSS WESLEY. 213 
 
 '~*^^S^S^S^S^S-*^>~f~*S^^'^S~*S**S-^S**^^ 
 
 ' And you, dear fellow-workers, go on in the Lord's strength. 
 He is always lovingly watching your toil. 
 
 1 And you, who do not know Jesus and who said when I asked 
 you to serve Him " not to-night," come now. He will save you 
 just now. I am praying for you. Will you pray for me 1 
 ' Your friend for Jesus' sake, 
 
 ' ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 
 ' Take always " Christ for me " as the motto of your life.' 
 
 Great was the sorrow with which the sad news, and 
 these loving words, were received. Next day the house 
 where she laid was besieged with inquirers, amongst 
 whom were many soldiers. Some of them in tears, 
 asking poor fellows what could not be granted, that 
 they might only see her. 
 
 I have said, perhaps, too much, and yet not enough 
 if all were written that could be. A veil must be 
 drawn over much of the sorrow that we felt. It is not 
 meet that a life of such starry brightness should be 
 obscured by our. regrets. So I will now simply record 
 the circumstance, that I saw her lying at Mr. Etheridge's 
 that day, like an angel that had drooped her wing, still 
 talking about her soldiers, and thinking lovingly of 
 her friends, after whom she inquired, mentioning them 
 by name. 
 
 The same friend from whom I have quoted before 
 will now complete this narrative : 
 
 ' Her one desire was that I should take her home, 
 which I did on Wednesday the 4th of March. She had 
 got so weak that she had to be carried over the line on 
 to the opposite platform, but ill as she was she spoke a 
 word for Jesus at every opportunity. The journey was a 
 very trying one, and the shaking of the train made the 
 pain almost unbearable. To quiet herself she repeated 
 
214 MEMORIALS OF MISS WESLEY. 
 
 over and over again, all the way home, the words of 
 that beautiful hymn " Not my own." 
 
 ' It has been a mournful duty, this which has fallen 
 to me. Sometimes we are inclined to ask whether a 
 life so valuable, might not have been spared longer to 
 the Church, yet if it had been in human power to have 
 restrained her zeal, who would have dared to have done 
 so ? especially as no one knew but herself how ill she 
 really was. No one could have stopped her in that 
 sacred mission to which she was firmly convinced she 
 had been divinely called. We may now think of, and 
 praise God for, the beauty of her life. She was our 
 queen of workers, a true daughter of Zion, our pride 
 and our joy, and she was a Wesley most precious 
 therefore to us, the youngest of a famous race. 
 
 ' By her death she has paid the debt we owe the 
 soldiers of the British army. They have died for us, 
 she has died for them. She has died that they may not 
 die a far sadder death than hers. Let us who remain 
 learn the great lesson which her life bequeaths. If we 
 are not called upon to die, as she died, let us, at least, 
 so live and work for them that they may " live also," 
 and when they die they may die a death as bright and 
 glorious as was hers.' 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HOTTNSLOW CLOSING SCENES. 
 
 THE master-passion of our prostrate toiler had 
 lost none of its strength, and on the Sabbath 
 morn after her return home, Major Thomson read to 
 the soldiers at their parade service, and at her request, 
 a short stirring address which she had pencilled 
 whilst suffering acute pain. These expressions of her 
 heart were as follows : 
 
 'To MAJOR THOMSON. 
 
 ' Please tell my soldier friends to-morrow what a glorious 
 " Mission " we had at Winchester, every night many soldiers were 
 seeking Christ 250 from barracks at last meeting, many of whom, 
 when asked, bravely stood up for Jesus. I am praying for our 
 own soldiers at Hounslow, that they may decide also to be on the 
 Lord's side. 
 
 ' From one who gives her life to win them for Christ.' 
 
 ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.' 
 
 From the time Miss Wesley was brought home, ill 
 and helpless, to the close of her life, five months elapsed ; 
 but she could hardly have been more fully bent on 
 finishing her work, and resigning all into the hands of 
 God. Two of her significant records, though extracts, 
 were intended to express her resolves and experiences 
 at the times they were made. 
 
 The first of these, from George Eliot's writings, was 
 
416 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 made when the term of our service at Winchester was 
 closing : 
 
 ' I ask for nothing through the rest of my life but 
 that I might be devoted to God's work, without swerv- 
 ing in search of pleasure, either to the right hand or 
 the left. Jt has often been a hard struggle, but God 
 has been with me.' 
 
 ' Winchester, Sunday, August 5th, 1883.' 
 
 The second entry was made eight months after our 
 location in Hounslow, and it was most expressive in its 
 application to her: 
 
 ' We have all eternity to rest in. (Arnaud.) 
 
 * Hounslow, Good Friday, 1884.' 
 
 She was then in the full sweep of her work with all 
 possible energy, till eternity was entered. She never 
 seemed to need thoughts of rest to cheer her toil the 
 labour was to her so sweet in itself. Heaven was to 
 her as a " rest " of ceaseless and untiring activity. 
 
 One day, when enjoying the luxury of hasty toil, 
 she asked me to copy for her immediate use those para- 
 doxical lines of Whittier's, which so forcefully expressed 
 her own sentiments as to Christian labour, and its 
 more than golden harvest : 
 
 ' Self -ease is pain ; the only rest 
 Is labour for a worthy end ; 
 A toil that gains by what it yields, 
 
 And scatters to its own increase, 
 And hears, while sowing outward fields, 
 
 The harvest song of inward peace.' 
 
 We had toiled together for nearly twenty years as 
 only a father and daughter could; there had been a 
 
Mf&S WESLEY. 217 
 
 delightful oneness between us ; we had both fallen at 
 the post of duty, and in the midst of many hard- won 
 victories ; and now, by an inscrutable Providence, we 
 were separated from each other. 
 
 My medical attendant had advised change of air, and 
 two days after the shock occasioned by seeing my 
 daughter brought home hopelessly invalided, it had 
 been arranged for me to leave home for ' The Yarrells,' 
 Dorset. It was a relief to me that on my way a few 
 days were to be spent with one of my Winchester 
 friends ; there an alarming illness arrested me, which 
 for some days placed my life in great danger, and 
 necessitated a month's careful nursing, at the expira- 
 tion of which the doctor's permission was given for me 
 to return to Hounslow. Accompanied by my helpful 
 wife, whose fortitude never forsook her ; escorted by 
 the son of my kind host ; and under the care of God, 
 I reached my home safely. 
 
 All that loving care and medical skill could perform 
 had been done for us both during our absence from each 
 other, and it was a glad meeting ; but though my 
 stricken child had not lost her brightness, she bore the 
 marks of extreme suffering and weakness, and none 
 but herself could have much hope of her resuming 
 work. 
 
 The little rallying power left her began to assert its 
 existence, and she slowly gained strength enough to 
 leave her room and come down stairs. This small im- 
 provement brought back hope, but it was not without 
 its danger, for as every little bit of strength returned 
 she felt that it must be used. We were anxious that 
 it should be nursed and fed that it might grow ta 
 vigour, and then be employed in active service. But 
 
218 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 objects of her concern came opportunities of bene- 
 fiting them were presented ; her miscalculated power 
 was used to exhaustion and relapse followed. 
 
 After rallying from one of these she received the 
 doctor very brightly and said : ' Now I wish you to 
 give me your decided opinion of my case.' He at once 
 informed her she was suffering from organic, chronic 
 'heart disease, and that there was no hope of cure. 
 ' Shall I be able to WORK ? ' she inquired, ' for I have 
 known persons who have had heart disease, and have 
 lived long and been equal to considerable effort.' 'You 
 will not be able to take military work again,' was the 
 answer. Thus, ' half her life joy ' was gone at a stroke* 
 and the keenly felt loss was instantly visible in an 
 almost mortal paleness, but not a word could she 
 speak. ' Surely ! Doctor, I can take my class of girls ? ' 
 was the next inquiry. After a brief explanation of the 
 mode of conducting it, the reply was, ' No I fear not 
 the singing would be injurious and you could not 
 bear the excitement and strain. All work must be 
 given up for a long time, and absolute rest taken.' 
 Her sorrow had now grown to irrepressible anguish, 
 and as soon as tears and words came to her relief, she 
 exclaimed, ' Oh ! then I would rather die ; for life to 
 me without work would be intolerable : I could not 
 bear to be useless. I did think, doctor, that I might 
 have had my class ! ' She had no dread of death ; and 
 only desired life for the good of others. With painful 
 reluctance she gave up her class-book felt that she 
 was no longer the leader of the girls around whom her 
 heart had become entwined and that her life was 
 reduced almost to a blank. 
 
 One question yet remained for solution at the 
 
MISS WESLEY. 219 
 
 clou-tor's next visit, and it was hopef tolly put ' May I 
 write doctor ? ' ' Yes ' was the reply, ' it will employ 
 and interest you, and in moderation, it will not hurt 
 you.' This permission lighted up her face with the 
 old gladness, she felt that she had not lost touch with 
 the objects of her solicitude, and that she had still an 
 important means of doing good left. Seven communi- 
 cations left for the post that night the arrears of her 
 correspondence were overtaken and she continued the 
 use of her pen and pencil till her right hand forgot its 
 cunning. Encouraged by her little returning strength, 
 she snatched eveiy opportunity of speaking a word 
 for Christ, whatever might be the penalty the inter- 
 view involved. She kept control over her favourite 
 Monday night meeting and made arrangements for it 
 continued the supply of tracts and flowers for the 
 sick wards at the hospital sent a written loving 
 message to the men at their Sunday-morning service 
 and now and then a book and special message 
 to some particular soldier. As in the light of eternity, 
 she scrutinised her work ; and declared that she had 
 done it all for Jesus, while she rested on Him alone for 
 salvation. 
 
 The reading of a tract on ' Converse with Christ' 
 produced a profound solemnity of mind, and led her 
 to deep searching of heart, which continued for some 
 time. This treatise contended for the possibility of 
 being very religious busy all day about God's matters 
 giving time, and money, and thought to Him and 
 yet having no converse with Him : it represented a 
 busy worker getting wrong altogether for the want of 
 conversation with Christ, and waking up in the judg- 
 ment to see His work all crumble away, and he and 
 
MEMORIALS OF 
 
 the Saviour strangers to each other. The result of the 
 frequent reading of this tractate was the discovery 
 that she had not substituted toil in the place of 
 communion with Christ ; yet it led to more intimate 
 converse with Him. 
 
 Her last birthday brought her, as usual, many 
 letters ; and her reply to one of these, which she wrote 
 to a fellow- worker, will now be read with interest. She 
 sank from exhaustion before it was finished, and had 
 to rally again ere she could resume it. 
 
 Last letter to Emma Snoad. 
 
 ' HOUNSLOW, May 24th, 1885. 
 
 'EMMA, DEAR OLD FRIEND, 
 
 ' Among my birthday letters I sought for yours most eagerly. 
 I thought, though Emma does not know it, her letter will 
 comfort me more than any of the others, because she and I have 
 kindred feelings, both tired workers laid aside to rest awhile. I 
 knew it would come but oh I am so sorry to find you are still 
 so weak ; and in your beautiful Cobham, with all its country 
 glory, surely sickness cannot come there, one might dream as they 
 lived in its loveliness. But the shadow falls often where least 
 expected, and always where the sunshine is the brightest. 
 Mine came in this way Our " Mission " in Winchester to the 
 soldiers was so blessed that it was continued a few days longer, 
 and on the last Monday morning I was quite obliged to give up 
 and be ill, though all the week I had been feeling very overdone. 
 The doctor came and said it was what he had expected for 
 months, I had a weak little frame which was never able to do 
 the work I had give a it, heart disease I had already very badly, 
 and slight inflammation of the lungs. No more work must I do 
 for long months, and much I must give up entirely. A friend of 
 ours brought me home, father was just recovering from a long 
 illness. Mrs. Edmeades took him back to Winchester, and there 
 he was taken very ill again. 
 
 ' Poor mother nursed me bravely with a sad heart, occasionally 
 going over to see dear father. I have had one serious relapse, but 
 
MISS WESLEY. 221 
 
 now I feel stronger, still a prisoner to the house. The kindness 
 of friends here, and the tender sympathy of our officers and 
 soldiers, have endeared them to us so much, and it is very hard to 
 feel we must leave them and our work. This is hardest of all ; I 
 began to write this letter last Sunday, but I was tired and I put 
 it away so carefully that I lost it ! 
 
 ' Father is better to-day and has gone to chapel, but while 
 these cold winds are here I must not igo out. Our ministers' 
 " House of Rest," at Colwyn Bay, Wales, has been offered us 
 for September, but our going is uncertain ; we must have our 
 holiday sooner it seems, and then what we shall do afterwards 
 only God can tell us. Whatever he chooses for us we will accept, 
 perhaps father may get strong enough for another year here, then 
 I could do odd " bits " of work. We have now 600 extra young 
 soldiers here ; a grand field is opening up. 
 
 ' Mr. Collier is so kind, he is constantlyjtrying to do something 
 to help us all. Mr. Ingram also comes over to cheer us, but for 
 weeks I was not allowed to see anyone. Richmond students very 
 often do father's duty in barracks. How many interruptions I 
 have had in this chat. Last Whit-Sunday what a glorious time 
 we had at Gravesend. Perhaps, dear, we loved our work too much ; 
 it is possible, and Jesus wanted us to talk and commune with 
 Him, without the hurry and bustle. I like so much Nov. 1884, 
 Girls' Magazine, " Father's Slippers," do you remember 1 
 
 'The girl was so busy working them for his birthday, and 
 when he wanted her to be with him, ''Voice and Heart," she was 
 too busy ..." He asks for an hour's communion, our voice and 
 our heart, but we are so full of our little working, we seldom his 
 presence see ; " and yet I am sure I came closest to Jesus in my 
 work. This working for souls seems such a glad excuse for 
 talking to Him. Do you feel this, Emma 1 Satan has been so busy 
 with me, temptations of all sorts, mental. ... I so loved to have 
 that sunny glimpse of you last year. Did you go to the May 
 meetings / I do so hope you already feel stronger, dear child. 
 How I should love to be near you for help and comfort, we could 
 cheer each other now, as we never did before. 
 ' Always loving you, 
 
 ' And always your friend, 
 
 ' LIZZIE.' 
 
222 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 This letter wants no comment : it is a message 
 from the border- land heaven. 
 
 The next letter is the last she wrote to her nnsaved 
 school-fellow, and with a persistence which death only 
 could exhaust, she sought to charm her to Jesus. Another 
 breakdown and complete failure of memory testified 
 to her intense concern for the salvation of one soul in 
 this final effort. 
 
 Last letter to Annie G . 
 
 1 HOUNSLOW, May 24th, 1885. 
 ****** 
 
 ' I was so glad, dear Annie, to have your letter on April 2nd ; I 
 was quietly lying in bed. and had plenty of time to dream over 
 the past, and to wish it had been oh ! so much better and wiser, 
 more heart devotion to God. 
 
 ' When death's dark robe comes so near that we can almost hear 
 the rustle, how small every other living thing seems, but God-like 
 living. Life for a happy eternity is the only living worth the 
 name. 
 
 ' My darling friend, how I have longed for you to know Jesus. 
 Are you getting nearer to Him ? I thought so often of you when 
 I was ill, and I promised Jesus that if I was able to write again, 
 I would once more tell you of His love for you. 
 
 ' Do you not want Jesus, Annie 1 He wants you I am sure. 
 Come to Him, He calls you, Annie. 
 
 I suppose ... It is now Monday evening and I know not 
 what I was saying next, when I was tired and laid aside my 
 letter. 
 
 ' We are very uncertain about remaining here, but God will 
 guide. I must hastily close now ; I would like to come with the 
 letter, Annie. 
 
 ' Mother's love to your mother and to you all. Ever your friend, 
 
 ' LIZZIE. 
 
 ' I was so glad to get my birthday letter, dear. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 223 
 
 On reading this closing letter and calling to mind 
 the effort by which it was preceded, one cannot help 
 exclaiming, ' How much easier it must be to yield to 
 the influences which are brought to bear upon us for 
 our salvation than to resist them all and be lost ! ' 
 
 On Sunday, May 31st, dear Lizzie attended the 
 morning service at the chapel ; it was a Sunday-school 
 sermon, and the Rev. S. F. Collier preached. We tried 
 to dissuade her from making the effort, she looked so 
 ill, but it was of no avail, for she said she felt so much 
 better, and had fully resolved once more to join in pub- 
 lic worship. The friends were as glad as they were 
 surprised to see her ; but all, except herself, felt that it 
 would be the last time ; and so it proved. She enjoyed 
 the service ; and it was a joy to her that it was on 
 behalf of an institution in which she had been for so 
 many years so deeply interested. 
 
 On her way home, though much exhausted by the 
 effort, she saw a group of people of a class which 
 always excited her interest standing, as usual, around 
 the lodging house, and with all her old zeal she was 
 soon in the midst of them, giving them the best advice 
 and distributing tracts. Any other Christian worker 
 might have received insult, but she dared to do her 
 duty; they yielded to her irresistible influence, and 
 treated her with the greatest respect. 
 
 She closed the day by gaining access to soldiers in 
 -the street and inviting them to the evening service, 
 which she was unable to attend herself. A lady friend 
 who accompanied her, informed me that she had diffi- 
 culty in getting her away from them, and she was 
 afraid of the effect of the earnest entreaty on herself. 
 
 On the following morning, Monday, June 1st, a lady 
 
224 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 took her in her carriage to the barracks. The arrange- 
 ment had been made without our knowledge, and under 
 the same conviction that she must go. She had by a 
 great effort provided herself with flowers for the sick, 
 and flowers in pots for the hospital wards. With her 
 former delight, she visited the wards, talked and prayed 
 with the men in a way that they assured me they could 
 never forget, gave them flowers and books, and with 
 reluctance left for ever the scene of her toil. The 
 doctor, the hospital sergeant and the lady who kindly 
 accompanied her, fearing the consequences, pressed her 
 to leave, but before doing so, she invited the soldiers 
 who gathered around her to attend the meeting always 
 held for them on the Monday evening, promising to be 
 there if they would comply. 
 
 The Monday evening came and found her extremely 
 weak, but no persuasion could prevent her from making 
 the attempt. She pleaded the promise she had made to 
 the men; and evidently feeling that if she did not 
 avail herself of that opportunity she would never have 
 another, she walked to the schoolroom, taking flowers 
 with her. Her little strength failed, and she would 
 have fallen, but her wonderful courage sustained her, 
 and assisted by friends, she entered the room. It was 
 a solemn scene. She gave to those who were there 
 her kindly recognition, offered a short but powerful 
 prayer, and then, with heart-breaking and. heart- 
 thrilling pathos, and beseeching importunity, she im- 
 plored the soldiers to fly to Jesus, and make Him their 
 friend. She paused . . . and closed with the words : 
 ' I can do no more : I have consecrated my life for 
 you.' So it proved. The scene was touching, sublime, 
 grand ! The angels might have paused in their flight to 
 
MISS WESLEY. 225 
 
 behold it. She took her farewell of the place in which 
 she had spent so many happy evenings, and never 
 entered it again. As she left the schoolroom, she saw 
 a gathering of soldiers on the other side of the street, 
 and though almost in a fainting state, by the help of a 
 soldier she reached them, gained their attention, gave 
 them words of invitation to the Saviour, and besought 
 them to accept of His offers. Then, leaning on the arm 
 of Major Thomson, she reached home. Such was her 
 last public work. 
 
 Another serious relapse followed this strain on her 
 strength ; and the frequent calls of soldiers and friends 
 rendered it impossible for her to rally. Yet she still 
 clung to her work, kept up communication with the 
 military, and provided for their entertainment and 
 spiritual improvement. One of her earnest messages 
 sent at this time to the men at their Sunday service 
 will show what careful provision she made for them, 
 and how conscious she was of her rapidly failing 
 
 strength. 
 
 * HAMPTON HOUSE, June 8th, 1885. 
 
 ( MY DEAB FRIENDS, 
 
 ' To-morrow night four friends from London are coming to sing 
 and speak for Jesus, they have beautiful voices and you will 
 thoroughly enjoy their singing. The meeting begins at seven 
 o'clock, Bell Road, Wesleyan schoolroom. Will you come ? Some 
 I know, are going to Aldershot to-morrow, may God bless them 
 in the camp, and protect them from danger and sin. We would 
 advise especially any of the recruits of 5th Batt. Royal Fusiliers, 
 to find out the Wesleyan Soldiers' Home, Grosvenor Road, Alder- 
 shot, where they will have a hearty welcome. The home is always 
 open. Those who remain in the barracks we earnestly invite to 
 come to the schoolroom to-morrow night, and will you bring at 
 least one comrade with you ? 
 
 ' Months ago I could come among you and talk to you about the 
 meetings ; but sometimes I fear I shall never have strength again 
 
 Q 
 
228 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 to run up the high stone steps, and in and out the passage, asking 
 everybody to come to the meetings. Will you do this to-morrow 
 for my sake, just to help me ? I will pray for you all, and ask 
 God to help you to serve Him faithfully, as you do your Queen and 
 country. 
 
 ' Sometimes I fear you forget your best Friend, you are half 
 ashamed to wear Christ's uniform, or to join His colours ; but in a 
 hundred years from now, Queen Victoria's colours will be nothing 
 to you, and to belong to Christ's army will be everything. Dear 
 friends of the King's Hussars, are you true to God ? Is He your 
 King ? When He comes to meet you all at the judgment throne, 
 will He claim you as His soldiers ? God knows those of you who 
 belong to Him. 
 
 ' And you friends of the Fusiliers, with the brave royal blue, the 
 proud grenade and the bonnie rose of England, let the traditions 
 of duty done so nobly at Alma and Inkerman give you courage to 
 stand up for Jesus in the barrack room, or on the square, and not 
 to be afraid of a comrade's laugh when you are trying to fight for 
 right. 
 
 ' We do not have many of our Middlesex Regiment friends at 
 this pleasant morning service, but to those who are here to-day I 
 would like to tell of one soldier who came to see us yesterday, after 
 3 ears of foreign service, one who was "recommended" for his 
 courage and bravery during the Egyptian and other campaigns. 
 One Sunday night, nine years ago, we found him in a little 
 prayer-meeting weeping bitterly over his sins, and asking, " Can 
 God forgive me who am such a black sinner I " 
 
 ' Jesus answered " Yes." He washed that sinner's heart white 
 in His precious blood, and to-day that brave sergeant is happy in 
 sins forgiven. You know how soon the pure white facings get 
 soiled, and then you have to be busy with the pipe-clay again. 
 Some people's religion is like that, soon rubbed off ; get the right 
 sort of religion. Let this be your heart -felt prayer, " Wash me 
 and I shall be whiter than snow." Honours won bravely at Albuera 
 and Vittoria will never be a passport to heaven. This only 
 password will admit you there, " The precious blood of Christ." 
 For His sake, 
 
 ' Believe me to be your friend, 
 
 ' ELIZABETH A. WESLEY.' 
 
MISB WESLEY. 227 
 
 Corporal B and his comrade were passing one 
 
 afternoon when dear Lizzie was very ill ; she caught 
 sight of them, and beckoned them in. On my naming 
 very seriously the doctor's strict prohibition, she said, 
 in the most imploring tones which no one could deny, 
 ' Oh ! papa, do let me see them. I will be so quiet, 
 and it will not hurt me.' They entered; and after 
 she had talked very nicely to the corporal, she 
 addressed herself in her own sweet way to the young 
 private soldier, and said : ' Were you ever ill ? ' ' Yes 
 Miss,' was the reply. ' Very ill ? ' ' Yes, Miss.' ' How 
 did things appear to you then ? Had you religion ? ' 
 ' No, Miss.' ' Did you not feel very serious and con- 
 cerned ? ' 'I did, but it passed away/ ' Well I am 
 very ill and they say I shall not get better ; and if I 
 had all to do now, it would not be done. Besides, I 
 am not allowed to work now ; and seeing you is an 
 unexpected opportunity of saying a few words, for 
 which I am thankful. Ah ! you will be ill again some 
 day. You will need the Saviour then. Promise me you 
 will seek the Saviour.' She prayed with him pinned 
 the bit of blue on his tunic and then, praying with 
 the deepest feeling that he might be true, they parted. 
 He was deeply impressed ; and no wonder. She was 
 a mere shadow in appearance ; but the earnest feeling 
 which trembled in these solemn words came from a 
 spirit which was looking within the veil, and pluming 
 its wings for flight. Who could deny the fainting and 
 faithful heroine this opportunity of lifting the blood- 
 stained banner of the Cross before this young soldier, 
 and beseeching him to enlist under it, by becoming a 
 believer in the Crucified One ? Few ever estimated 
 opportunities of doing good more highly or more 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 -'^-'"V-f'Xrf'Xrf'^w'^^V^'N^'NXNXNw'XXN^^XN^^^ 
 
 gladly availed herself of them ; but she now learned 
 the value of an opportunity of speaking a word for 
 Christ, as we all shall some day, when they were all 
 closing for ever, and when the first flash of eternity 
 was upon her. There is a lesson forcefully taught us 
 in this touching expression of the thankfulness for this 
 unexpected opportunity which she so eagerly snatched 
 of speaking only a few words for Jesus. 
 
 It would be strange if the life of such a worker 
 for Christ and against Satan could close without severe 
 attacks from the enemy whose ranks she had so greatly 
 thinned. She had them ; and they were some of the 
 most fiery darts of the wicked one that pierced her. 
 Placing her case in contrast with that of others, she 
 was tempted to reflect on the Divine character from 
 the arrangements of His providence. She said to me : 
 ' Papa ! I am doing the Lord's work, I never loved it 
 more than now, it never seemed so necessary or so 
 hopeful as now. He has required me to be zealous ; 
 all my zeal is from Him ; and while the servants of 
 Satan are spared and strong to serve the enemy of 
 God and man, here am I sinking in the midst of my 
 beloved work. What a. mystery it is ! I am afraid 
 we have not been sufficiently devoted. There must have 
 been something defective in us or in our work, or it 
 would not have been so abruptly closed.' So far from 
 grudging any personal trial, weariness, or sacrifice, 
 she was charging herself with defective doings ; the 
 idea of ' resting awhile ' she could not entertain. As 
 though she saw the sun slowly going down while it 
 was yet day, she pushed on with her work plied her 
 pen arranged with her father for the coming up of 
 the militia put in tasteful order a profusion of 
 
MISS WESLEY. 229 
 
 flowers sent her for the soldiers made pretty scrap- 
 books for children worked beautiful articles for 
 friends who had shown her kindnesses in fact, did 
 everything, however minute, that came to hand. 
 Having fully improved the present, she could con- 
 sistently hope as to the future. Nor did she despair 
 yet of the restoration of enough health and strength 
 to see a Soldiers' Home founded in Hounslow, if not 
 to take charge of it ; and she fondly dreamed of other 
 projects. There was a pleasure which the selfish 
 know not in the very dreams of her cheerful benevo- 
 lence. 
 
 Her correspondence will give the best history of 
 this suffering portion of her life. 
 
 Several letters from that God-honoured woman, 
 
 the late Elizabeth M'Aulay, were of great service to 
 
 her ; and we give an extract from one which tended 
 
 reatly to calm the mental perplexity which she had 
 
 disclosed to her. 
 
 'BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, FlNSBURY PARK, 
 
 < June 24th, 1885. 
 ' MY DEAR SUFFERING FRIEND, 
 
 * * * * 
 
 1 " In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His 
 Presence saved them." Do you believe this 1 If a fuller salva- 
 tion be secured by this affliction for yourself, and a greater glory 
 brought to Him who understands every thing, will you not 
 rather say, " Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt " 1 
 ***** 
 
 ' Why should we be surprised at any lie the devil tells 1 You 
 know Him who says he was a liar from the beginning. My 
 precious child, your faith and hope must be in God. The why 
 and the wherefore of much evil that is in the world is shrouded 
 in deepest mystery. But all is not evil that appears such. Your 
 Master said a long while ago " Come ye yourselves apart and 
 
230 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 *s^s^~s~**s^s r ^s~^s^s^ J s*is^s*^s^*^^^ 
 
 rent awhile" and you said " No thank you, dearest Lord, I can 
 go on yet ; " and so in sheer compassion He drew you aside, and 
 laid you down, and as He did to His ancient prophets, He has 
 put bands upon you that you cannot rise. Now, darling, will 
 : you be quiet till He choose to loose them? He knows every 
 separate youth, and all his history, and all his probabilities, and 
 possibilities, and yet He says : " Sit still My daughtei, until thou 
 know how the matter will fall." Trust His wisdom as you do 
 His love. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 ' Believe me, your very affectionate friend, 
 
 ' ELIZABETH M'AULAY.' 
 
 A letter has been sent me by a tried young lady 
 friend which my unresting daughter wrote her a 
 few days earlier. 
 
 1 HOTTNSLOW, June 14th, 1885. 
 
 ' MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 ***** 
 
 ' This afternoon I have been allowed to have three soldier 
 friends to tea, wandering boys, and this has given me a pleasant 
 Sunday : twice I have gone to chapel, but I find it excites me 
 to see the people. 
 
 ' Once only a lady friend drove me to the hospital in her 
 brougham with cushions and every care, but I could not bear 
 it very well and had a serious relapse. The doctors thought I 
 could not recover, as lungs and heart were so weak. The latter 
 I shall always have weak and diseased. This makes me feel sad 
 sometimes j but I am learning to accept it as God's will ; He 
 knows best. 
 
 ' I hope rest will give me at least strength to do quiet work. I 
 am so sorry not to be able to go into the camp on the Heath. We 
 shall have 1600 militia there soon. 
 
 ' Since I have been ill every one has been so kind to me, of 
 all ranks. I have especially noticed that the roughest have been 
 so gentle and kind, by flowers and by letters, and messages, a 
 quiet few minutes' talk : they have given me such true sympathy 
 I think God has let my weak ill health keep them in their 
 
MISS- WESLEY. 231 
 
 struggles after Him : they have been so much more ready to heav 
 of God. 
 
 ' I try to find all the sunshine, but sometimes I get sad, 
 especially about dear father, but he seems much better, and 
 preached to our soldiers last Sunday. We are all going away for 
 a change of air soon dear mother has kept up so bravely, but 
 she often looks so tired. 
 
 ' Last Monday several friends of mine came and sang and 
 recited and talked to our soldiers at their meeting. There was a 
 large attendance, but one little worker had to stay patiently at 
 home. 
 
 ' So many other things I would like to say, dearie, but I must 
 not : only one loving message Lean hard on Jesus. He loves 
 'you, and can carry us and our burdens. 
 
 ' ;i I always go to Jesus, 
 
 No matter when or where. 
 I seek His gracious presence, 
 
 I'm sure to find Him there, 
 In times of joy and sorrow, 
 
 Whate'er my need may be, 
 I always go to Jesus, 
 
 And Jesus comes to me." 
 
 ' The future will be all right, dear friend. Keep trusting. 
 ' With truest love, yours affectionately, 
 
 ' LIZZIE WESLEY.' 
 
 Yet another letter from lier unresting brain and 
 tired hand, written to her esteemed friend who enter- 
 tained her during her last effort at Winchester is 
 worthy of preservation. It was accompanied by a 
 pretty present which her busy fingers had worked. 
 She had exquisite taste in the execution of all kinds of 
 needlework and works of art ; and her many friends 
 who keep these ornaments as sacred, and call them 
 their ' gems,' wonder how she could find time to 
 produce them. It will not be deemed out of place, 
 
232 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 especially by our fair readers, to state that Miss 
 Wesley was as efficient in the useful and domestic 
 departments as she was skilful in the production of 
 what was beautiful and ornamental. 
 
 ' HOUNSLOW, June, 1885. 
 
 1 These little forget-me-not flowers bring my truest love to 
 you, dear kind friend. I enjoyed working them so much ; but 
 mother's fingers made the cushion. Please let it lie on your 
 toliet table as a wee little reminder of a tired girl to whom you 
 gave up your own nice room. Now the east winds are going I 
 shall soon get stronger. I have already had two tiny walks, and 
 to-day I was going out to luncheon, but it has been raining. 
 Father has just gone to Major Thomson's quite brightly, he looks 
 so much better. I fear I cannot help him as much as I did ; but 
 we must leave all the anxious future in wiser hands than ours.. 
 
 ' General and Mrs. K , and many other officers have called 
 
 lately, all hoping we shall stay ; and best of all, these poor 
 London waifs at the barracks give us their constant sympathy. 
 
 ' I would like to live and die in my old beloved work, if it had 
 been God's will. There is so much work waiting to be done 
 among our soldiers here, and the militia "are beginning to camp 
 out ; but I must not want to work if God says " Rest 1 " 
 
 ' Dr. W said the other day, " You must never sing again 
 
 much, and not at all for months." So I remembered the last 
 time I sang it was that morning in the " sermon room " when 
 
 Mr. E , senr., came in, and we sang that precious hymn, 
 
 " Not my own." I felt that Jesus came so near that morning, and 
 God Himself accepted the sacrifice we all made. 
 
 ' I little thought then that the gift God wanted from me was 
 my precious work ; but even yet I believe He will give me 
 renewed strength to do odd bits of work. It was a great trial to 
 give up my class-book (of my girls' class) last week. I thought I 
 might have kept on my class. 
 
 ' So many other things I want to say, but I feel tired so can 
 only kiss you " Good-night " dear. Ever yours lovingly, 
 
 LIZZIE WESLEY.' 
 
 1 We hope to go away soon I am going to Kew first to see 
 how I can manage. The change will do father so much good. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 233 
 
 'Give my love to Mrs. S , tell her I shall perhaps see 
 
 her in Lincolnshire soon, and if not, in the glory land. 
 
 ' P.S. Post time : but just a wee message to Mr. B . 
 
 ' I am downstairs to-day have had tea in a respectable way 
 with everybody else : not upstairs tea now. 
 
 ' Father was so cheered by your letter this morning ; it came 
 just at the right time. 
 
 ' I was wondering last Sunday morning at 12.30, whether you 
 have any new members ? 
 
 ' I can do nothing now but pray for you busy workers. I do 
 hope the Reserves coming up will be " a means of grace " as they 
 were to us before. 
 
 ' Do please ask Mr. Hunter to let them have meetings in the 
 
 little room nightly. G if he is up, will work well ; and if 
 
 Mrs. E and Mrs. S bless them both will go and do 
 
 Lizzie Wesley 'sold work aided by the other lady-workers there 
 will be glorious times. You gentlemen will not mind will you 
 going without the nice puddings for supper ? Our love to you 
 both. Yes ! I do hope for more happy days in your home so 
 bright and glad.' 
 
 What a power for good still was this dear girl's 
 pen ! And she wielded it with her ' might ' as long as 
 she could grasp it. 
 
 One of her bitterest disappointments yet awaited 
 her. Lizzie had set her heart on securing a Soldiers' 
 Institute. She hoped we might combine with it a 
 mission-room for civilians. But in this desirable 
 object no one gave her sympathy, they rather chilled 
 her hopes. Yet she clung to it. She depended much 
 on the advice of a friend, a former resident in Houns- 
 low, and on his visit to their house she opened her 
 mind to him on the subject. When the subject had 
 been fully considered, he replied : ' Neither you, nor 
 your father, nor the Hounslow friends can attempt 
 
234 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 any thing of the kind.' Dear Li2zie's face turned pale : 
 her sorrow and disappointment were intense, and she 
 said to her father, ' Well ; I suppose I must give it 
 up." She never again mentioned the subject. 
 
 It was painfully evident that Lizzie's strength was 
 fast failing, and that the sufferer's symptoms were 
 daily becoming more serious ; so it was resolved after 
 other proposals which seemed hopeful had failed, to 
 take her to Bamsgate as the resort she could reach 
 with the least effort, and hoping that its bracing air 
 might exert a restorative influence. We had esteemed 
 friends there who knew her early work, and who 
 strongly wished to take charge of her. She left with 
 her anxious mother and her kind host on Thursday, 
 June 25th, and though she was sad on leaving me very 
 ill, yet she was like herself calm trustful and 
 brightened up, as though determined to allow hope to 
 do its best. She prepared before leaving home for 
 opportunities of Christian work, carefully selected a 
 large number of very suitable books, leaflets, and tracts, 
 and delighted in the prospect of using them during 
 her stay. Though tired by her ride to the station and 
 her walk to the railway carriage, yet before the train 
 started, she gave a tract to a soldier on the platform, 
 and a book to a porter, with a few earnest words. The 
 guard at the end of the journey also had religious 
 conversation with her before they parted, and received 
 a well-known book from hex*, entitled " Heaven and 
 How to Get There.' 
 
 Ungenial weather set in, the east wind continued, all 
 external influences proved inauspicious, and after 
 spending nine restless days and sleepless nights, and 
 without once being able to leave the house, she came 
 
It fSS WESLEY. '235 
 
 liome with diminished strength. Now all our hopes 
 seemed gone even of partial recovery. The few 
 weeks left of her life, though spent in languor and 
 pain, had no tinge of gloom or melancholy in them. Her 
 only sorrow arose from her life being apparently cut 
 short with such a grand future opening before her, as 
 we had all hoped, both of toil and triumph. 
 
 It was most touching, as we surveyed the tracts 
 generous friends had sent us for the militia, to hear 
 her say Iwith the old sparkle in her eye, ' Papa ! we 
 must select and keep a few of each as specimens for the 
 future.* Her nights were the saddest portions of her 
 illness, preceded as they were by wearisome wasting 
 days. In the sleepless night-watch she said : ' Very 
 different nights, mother, to what I used to have : 
 instead of weariness in writing letters, languor in 
 suffering and pain : unable to write a letter : going to 
 bed at ten o'clock, and long night-watches.' 
 
 She wished me to record two extracts for her; they 
 were the last entries made at her request, and adapted 
 to her state. The first was the sentiment of Fenelon's: 
 ' How rare it is to find a soul still enough to hear God 
 speak ; ' and the second some sweet lines which had 
 soothed her when she was tired, restless, and longing 
 for sleep : - 
 
 ' Lay Thy hand upon me 
 When I fall asleep ; 
 
 *A parcel of illustrated periodicals sent to her to help her in 
 her work by George J. Stevenson, M.A., of London, when she 
 was at Winchester, elicited from her in reply, ' Are all thesis 
 books for m3 to give away without anything to pay for them ? 
 such was the openness and honesty of her heart. 
 
236 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 Through the silent hours, 
 
 Close beside me keep, 
 Calm my spirit's chafing, 
 
 Restless with long care ; 
 Murmurs melt in silence 
 
 When Thy hand is there.' 
 
 In the quiet of the sick chamber, she listened to 
 the tranquillising voice of Jehovah, saying, ' Be still, 
 and know that I am God ' ; then all her fears and 
 apprehensions were hushed. 
 
 A suffering neighbour of ours has just sent me her 
 testimony to the kindness of my daughter ; and her 
 husband also adds his brief account of the change he 
 has experienced through her instrumentality. 
 
 ' Miss Wesley's great kindness to me I can never 
 forget, it was so different to ordinary human kind- 
 ness. She obtained admittance for me into a London 
 hospital, that I might have the best treatment. She 
 travelled with me, saw me comfortably there, and her 
 conversation through the journey so cheered me that 
 it very much broke the trial of leaving, for a time, 
 my family. I have often said she was an angel upon 
 earth ; and she was the means of drawing me closer to 
 Grod. I inclose a consoling letter which she sent me, 
 and which I often read now with very great profit. 
 Her good and kind wishes for me and mine have since 
 been granted. 
 
 " HAMPTON HOUSE, HOUXSLOW, 
 
 " Christviastide, 1884. 
 
 " I AM so glad to hear, dear Mrs. Andrews, that you are better, 
 and so happy at the hospital. I knew you would be. All will 
 be right if you only trust in Jesus. 
 
 " ' Trusting as the moments fly, 
 Trusting as the days go by, 
 
MJ88 WESLEY. 237 
 
 ^X-^N^^VXVrf^N^^VX-W'^j^vXVXN^NiX^^-VXXXXX^XX. 
 
 Trusting Him whate'er befal, 
 Trusting Jesus that is all.' 
 
 " Mr. Andrews called to tell me how you were getting on ; 
 but we were just getting ready for a concert for our soldiers, and 
 I did not get time to ask him many questions about you. 
 
 " The dear children are well. 
 
 " You will miss the dear home faces, but you will soon be 
 with them all again. 
 
 " I hope this coming year will be a beautiful year for you and 
 yours a year given to Jesus. 
 
 " Ask Him to live in your home, and to be the sunshine of the 
 place. 
 
 " How good Jesus is I and so willing to live in our hearts if 
 we only ask Him. 
 
 " This is a loving little message, sent in great haste by, 
 " Yours in His love, 
 
 " ELIZABETH A. WESLEY." ' 
 
 The testimony of this good woman's husband is 
 equally decisive. 
 
 ' I have reason to thank our Heavenly Father for 
 bringing me to know Miss Wesley. She was the 
 means of my conversion to God. I shall never forget 
 the influence she, without knowing it, exerted on me 
 the first time I saw her at her own home ; it was her 
 great kindness to my wife which led to that interview, 
 and when the dear young lady was leaving home for 
 the last time, hoping to be benefited by the change, 
 she sent by her father messages of kindness, and 
 pretty scrap-books which she had made for our child- 
 ren. No one with any heart at all could refuse her.' 
 
 Not willing to give up without testing for herself 
 what strength she had left, our sinking one resolved 
 on making one more effort, and on Saturday afternoon, 
 July 25th, she expressed a strong wish to get down- 
 
238 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 stairs, assigning as her reason that she could not 
 gather strength in her own room. By a great effort, 
 and very slowly, her strong will enabled her to descend 
 the steps ; but her exhaustion was so great that she 
 evidently felt she was down for the last time. A 
 friend was mentioned who would carefully carry her 
 back, and she said with a look of great seriousness, 
 as though the shadow of death had fallen upon her, 
 ' I should like to be carried by a private soldier.' It 
 was by a calm and slow step that her apartment was 
 once more reached. 
 
 On the Sunday evening, July 26th, a lady friend sat 
 with the invalid, that her tired mother might rest a 
 little. While seated at the landing window, and 
 enjoying the cooler air there, Lizzie calmly said to her 
 friend, ' I feel that my work on earth is done, and that 
 this will be my last Sabbath. I am sure, from my 
 own feelings, that this state of things cannot last long. 
 It seems strange that I should be taken away so early, 
 but I feel thab it is right, and I must leave it all. 
 How kind God is ! I have such loving thoughts of 
 God. How kind it is of friends to sympathise with 
 me and minister to my wants. Many who are ill as 
 I am have not my comforts and friends, and I feel so 
 thankful for all.' 
 
 During the last week of her life she suffered much, 
 had excessive languor, hardly any sleep, with total 
 loss of appetite, but it was all borne without a mur- 
 mur, and with brightness and cheerfulness. 
 
 On Monday, July 27th, two esteemed friends from 
 Winchester paid her their last visit. She was in a 
 state of extreme exhaustion, but on seeing each sepa- 
 rately, her face was lighted up with feeling and 
 
MISS WESLEY. 
 
 delight. Mr. Edmeades said her smile was worth taking 
 a journey to witness : he never could forget the 
 heavenly expression of her countenance. It was more 
 beautiful than he ever expected to see on earth, and 
 could hardly need much alteration to appear in heaven. 
 Her father, on entering her room each morning, 
 found her with her Bible, and gave her the passage of 
 Scripture and the verse of a hymn which he had 
 just read to aid his own devotions from the Morning 
 and Evening Monitor which she had used when a 
 school-girl, and then prayed with her. She could only 
 bear a few quiet words. The hymn (358 Wesley's) 
 she often read, and it became such a favourite with 
 her. She smiled as her father remarked to her how 
 different the hymn was to her accustomed mode of 
 procedure when she made Christian work in a sinful 
 world such a luxury, and went into it with such a 
 swing, reading the verse : 
 
 ' From the world of sin, ajid noise, 
 
 And hurry, I withdraw ; 
 For the small find inward voice 
 
 I wait with humble awe : 
 Silent am I now and still, 
 
 Dare not in Thy presence move, 
 To my waiting soul reveal 
 
 The secret of Thy love.' 
 
 If ever there was a devout soul in this busy, noisy 
 world Miss Wesley's was one ; but her devotion was 
 unselfish : it often found time for converse with God 
 when others were sleeping, and it so sti-engthened the 
 mainspring of obedience as to impel her to go about 
 doing good. But she now felt that her active life was. 
 
240 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 at an end. She was looking calmly into eternity, and 
 expecting soon to enter it ; and the sentiments of the 
 above hymn were felt to be in perfect harmony with 
 her experience. 
 
 Saturday, August 1st, was her last day. She had 
 had a weary, sleepless night, and seemed worn out, 
 but patience had her perfect work, and her fortitude 
 never forsook her. She fully expected this would be 
 her dying day, and knew that with all that tender love 
 and watchful care and human skill could do, death 
 would be no shadow, but a reality ; yet she thought, 
 fully, slowly, and calmly walked through the valley 
 attended by her Saviour, and fearing no evil. Her 
 parents were not aware of the premonitory words which 
 she had spoken to her friend on the Sabbath, and were 
 hoping she might stay with them a little longer. 
 
 In the morning of the day the Rev. S. F. Collier 
 paid her his last visit, and on entering her room offered 
 an exclamatory prayer, ' May God bless you ! ' to 
 which she instantly replied, ' He does bless me : He is 
 very, very near now.' He prayed, and commended the 
 dying saint to God, and on leaving asked if Mrs. Young 
 should again attend her ? and she replied, ' I fear she 
 is tired, and I should not like to weary her.' She was 
 to the last so tenderly thoughtful of others. Mrs. 
 Young soon, with her unfailing kindness, came, and as 
 she entered her chamber she looked up with an unearthly 
 expression, and exclaimed, ' I do love Him. They're 
 coming ! ' She then conversed with her friend freely, 
 and said, ' I've not been well for years, and feeling 
 that my time was short, I was anxious to do all I 
 could.' To her father, who remarked : How very gra- 
 ciously God completes the preparation of His loved ones 
 
MISS WESLEY. 241 
 
 at last, she replied, with an expressive smile, and in 
 enigmatical language which she knew would elicit 
 inquiry : ' Ah ! He doesn't love me as I love Him.' 
 Her father said, as she expected, ' That requires some 
 explanation, Lizzie.' She then most impressively 
 placed herself in contrast with the Great Supreme, 
 and said, with deep humility, ' When God looks on me 
 He beholds a crooked, gnarled, imperfect thing ; but 
 when I look on Him ! ' she paused reverently, but 
 added no more. ' Ah,' replied her father, 'I see your 
 meaning now, you speak of the love of complacency.' 
 She bowed assent, and was evidently glad that I had 
 caught her partially and purposely hidden meaning; 
 but she was suffering too much for further remark. 
 Hers was love for an absolutely perfect Being; but God's 
 love for her was Divine love for an imperfect child ; and 
 between the two the thought had instantly struck her, 
 that there could only be contrast without comparison. 
 Seeing her father sad in prospect of separation from 
 her, she said, ' You can do better without me than I 
 could do without you. I shall be there to welcome 
 you, and it won't be long.' Several times she said, ' I 
 would rather go now than live such a life as I am told 
 I must live with heart-disease a life without work. 
 Oh ! I would rather go now.' So the last morning 
 passed. 
 
 In the afternoon, she quoted, with deep emotion, 
 the verse of Charles Wesley's : 
 
 1 Me for Thine own Thou lov'st to take, 
 
 In time and in eternity ; 
 Thou never, never wilt forsake 
 A helpless worm that trusts in Thee.' 
 
 R 
 
242 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 ^S*+s~***^^r^r^,S^S*<**r*^r**^ t ^^ 
 
 She was reminded by her mother that those were 
 some of the last words of her beloved cousin who died 
 young and were now his epitaph. Her smile betokened 
 her that she remembered it. The pain from which she 
 had long suffered being very acute, she looked up, and 
 with a simplicity so tender, she offered the following 
 prayer : ' Please, Jesus, give me five minutes' freedom 
 from pain.' The prayer was instantly answered, 
 the pain left her, and never returned. 
 
 In the evening her mother asked, 'Whom should you 
 like to see ? ' She immediately replied, ' None but 
 Jesus.' Her mother informed her that her dear cousin 
 had arrived from Raunds, and after she had given her 
 a loving and cheerful recognition, she looked into her 
 face with a heavenly smile, and said : 'Jesus saves me 
 now ' / A little later on, as though she had caught 
 the strain from one of her meetings, she said with 
 energy, ' Tell them to sing it over again ! Jesus saves 
 me now ! ' She thought of friends who had been very 
 kind to her, and sent loving thanks to them, not for- 
 getting any. She remarked how worn Mr. Collier 
 looked in the midst of his toil, and sent kind words to 
 him, and added: 'He must remember that "under- 
 neath are the everlasting arms." ' She then sum- 
 moned all her strength to give utterance to her 
 favourite watchwords, and exclaimed : ' Jesus only ! ' 
 Her mind seemed to be in heaven, which she was so 
 near entering, and looking intently at her mother, she 
 said, ' I shall see some soldiers in heaven.' Her thank- 
 ful and yet sad expression, with the emphasis she laid 
 on the word ' some,' told that the good hope she had 
 of ' some ' had more than justified all her toil and 
 sacrifice. After another pause, she resumed her 
 
WESLEY. 243 
 
 illumined aspect, and quoted the self-renouncing line : 
 ' Just as I am, without one plea.' All present now felt 
 that the last conflict was nearly over ; but the solemn 
 stillness of the scene was again broken by the last 
 question which the sufferer put to a Christian lady 
 who was watching her : ' How long do you think it 
 will probably be now ? ' ' You will be from earth to 
 heaven in a moment ! ' her dear friend replied. ' That 
 is not what I mean,' said dear Lizzie. ' How long will 
 it be before the end comes ? ' ' Very soon noiv,' her 
 friend replied. It was evident that the departing one 
 had a purpose in putting this last question, which was 
 soon disclosed. She wished to send a last message to 
 particular friends. Feeling herself just within the 
 heavenly portal, and anxious in death that a family 
 to whom she was strongly attached, and in whose 
 welfare she had taken a deep interest, should follow 
 her, she again looked up into her mother's face, 
 and mentioning the names of three of its esteemed 
 members, said in connection with each : ' Tell - 
 to meet me in heaven.' Her strength failing, she 
 could not stay to mention the other names, and added, 
 ' Tell all the rest to meet me in heaven.' Yet one more 
 request remained ; and thinking of those for whom 
 eight years of her life had been spent, she said in tones 
 which we wish could peal through the British Army, 
 ' TELL ALL THE SOLDIERS TO MEET ME IN HEAVEN.' Her 
 Lord still delaying His coming, she devoutly and 
 solemnly said, ' Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly.' 
 Her last words were reserved for God, and were the 
 expression of her filial acquiescence in all her heavenly 
 Father's allotment, notwithstanding she was being 
 removed from the field so early. With a perfectly 
 
 E 2 
 
244 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 resigned spirit, she faintly whispered, ' Thy will be 
 done ; ' and having uttered these words, she calmly 
 and beautifully passed away from earth, and entered 
 into rest at ten o'clock on Saturday night, August 1st, 
 1885, in the thirty-third year of her age. 
 
 ' Was not thy race too swiftly run 1 
 
 Could'st not thou " rest awhile " 1 
 Our answer is thy Lord's, " Well done " ; 
 With thee we'll share His smile.' 
 
 Life is not to be measured by the space which 
 elapses, but by the materials with which the space is 
 filled up. Measured by its deeds, Lizzie Wesley's was 
 a long life. Her earthly course consisted of the same 
 number of years as the Saviour's ; and it may yet be 
 seen also that the most important works of it were 
 crowded into its last three years. 
 
 It was a remarkable coincidence that the month's 
 mission on Hounslow Heath during the training of 
 the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Middlesex Regiments 
 (Militia), which my daughter hoped to enjoy, closed 
 with her life. The following extract from the report 
 in The British Flag will be read with mournful interest. 
 
 'At the opening service, Sunday, July 5th a large 
 number of soldiers and their friends were present, 
 who listened with deep attention to the address 
 delivered. One face was missed from the assembly, 
 that of Miss Wesley, a soldiers' true friend, and a 
 lady well known, loved, and respected by all ranks in 
 the barracks at Hounslow. During the meeting, hopes 
 were expressed that God would give her strength to 
 enable her to be at some of the gatherings later on, 
 but it was willed otherwise. The Lord had deter- 
 
MISS WESLEY. 245 
 
 mined to take her to Himself ; and the same day that 
 the militia were disbanded and returned to their 
 homes, the disembodied spirit of that dear worker 
 was called to the bright and better home above. Her 
 heart was much set on this mission, and the Lord per- 
 mitted her to live to the close, and finish the work He 
 had given her to do.' 
 
 The sorrow occasioned by the death of one so 
 bright, good, and unselfish, and who had been so 
 actively and entirely devoted to the interests of 
 others was deep, and widely felt. The event made 
 many hearts and homes of the town and neighbour- 
 hood sad, and as soon as it became known, the public 
 expression of mourning testified that a public loss had 
 been painfully experienced. Hundreds of condoling 
 letters were gratefully received by the bereaved 
 parents ; and wreaths in numbers of much delicacy 
 and beauty, with some, not less divine, though twined 
 of more simple flowers, were sent to garland the 
 shrine of their loved one. The many that gazed on 
 the placid countenance in death could not forget the 
 calmness and sweetness of its expression, while the 
 dear memories she has left in their hearts live on. 
 
 As a lady friend, who gave my dear Lizzie cheering 
 help, looked on her loved form for the last time, as it 
 lay in the bedroom, she returned home and wrote the 
 following lines, hoping to stimulate others to do more 
 for Christ and a perishing world : 
 
 ELIZABETH A. WESLEY. 
 
 ' To-day there are sore-riven hearts and tear-stained faces in 
 a desolate home in our midst, and the wail of sorrow has gone 
 forth to many another home, and barrack-room, and camp- 
 ground, for there has passed from amongst us a young and 
 
246 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 beautiful life. With the Christ-love in her heart, the joy -smile 
 on her lip, the light of heaven in her eye, and its own welcome 
 in her sweet and cheery voice, she went in and out, day after 
 day, for many a year doing her Divine Master's bidding ; never 
 faltering, though often worn and weary ; and now, with an 
 " Even so, come, Lord Jesus," she has obeyed this last behest, 
 and has gone to join the "martyr-throng," for sweet Lizzie 
 Wesley, the soldiers' friend, has literally " died for the truth." 
 Some few months since, when her father urged her not to work 
 so hard, she replied, " I must father, I must ; because others 
 will not work ; " and so from early morn till often far be- 
 yond midnight (when she forgot the hours in writing to many 
 a lone soldier away on the battlefield or in the fiercer ^conflict 
 of garrison life), she spent her life's strength for others' weal. 
 There in the death-chamber, cold and still, with the lilies and 
 roses (love's offerings) around her, giving out a fragrance sweet 
 and pure as her own life, she rests ; and through the solemn hush 
 one hears, " I must father, I.must ; because others will not work." 
 Shall not this cry, as a battle-cry, go forth amongst us and stir 
 up many a Christian laggard to duty and privilege ? There are 
 noble workers falling around us day by day because " the 
 labourers are few." Are those who are left to wear out their 
 lives in agony of wrestling and toil because their fellows 
 children of the same Father brethren of the same "Elder 
 Brother," who gave His life for them and " heirs of the same 
 promise," will sit at ease in Zion ? Let the sweet voice ot her 
 who, " being dead yet speaketh," come into many a heart and 
 say (as was her wont), " Work for the dear Master's sake," then 
 (as you obey) shall you know the true heart of life and wear 
 life's crown of rejoicing, and some day hear a still sweeter 
 voice say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! enter thou 
 into the joy of thy Lord." (' LILLIE.') 
 
 The burial of the mortal remains of Miss Wesley 
 presented a scene as beautiful in its sadness as her life 
 was bright in its gladness. Rarely has such an inter- 
 ment of a young lady been witnessed, or a more 
 impressive tribute paid to character and worth. Her 
 
MISS WESLEY. 247 
 
 \S*^S~^S^S~^/^~^S~^S^r^S^r^S\S r ^/ r *^^ 
 
 death was announced in orders at the barracks, and 
 all soldiers not on duty, who wished to attend the 
 funeral of their friend, were allowed passes. We 
 were informed by the men that the sad announcement 
 in every room produced soldierly sorrow, silent and deep, 
 quite unusual there. Long ago Miss Wesley had 
 expressed the wish to sleep surrounded by her relatives, 
 in the grave-yard connected with the Wesleyan Chapel, 
 Raunds, Northamptonshire, and that desire was held 
 sacred. The early hour at which the memorial service 
 was held at Hounslow befoie leaving for the distant 
 place of sepulture, did not prevent the military and 
 civilian friends of the departed from gathering in large 
 numbers, to pay the last mark of respect to her 
 memory. Soldiers, officers, and other friends formed 
 a procession of mourners, and followed the hearse to the 
 chapel. The coffin, bearing many wreaths of beautiful 
 flowers, was borne into the sanctuary by six soldiers of 
 the Royal Fusiliers, and placed on a platform in front of 
 the pulpit, the large audience rising as the loved 
 remains entered. 
 
 The hymns selected for the occasion were bright and 
 sweet enough for the heavenly choir ; but that morn- 
 ing, so much of earth's sadness would mingle with them, 
 that, instead of being sung out, they were like music 
 trembling on the harp-strings. The burial service was 
 read by the Revs. B. Burrows and S. F. Collier; but 
 such was the emotion produced by the scene and the 
 circumstances, that they could often only command a 
 whispered utterance. The Rev. J. Ingram, having known 
 Miss Wesley from her girlhood, gave the address. He 
 caught inspiration enough to rise above his own feel- 
 ings ; and as he sketched, from his own knowledge, the 
 
248 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 character and toils of the departed one, the audience 
 listened with intense attention, and serious interest. 
 When the closing scene of her life was given and some of 
 her last sweet words, the heart-felt sorrow could no lon- 
 ger be concealed or repressed. The following simple 
 words were spoken with deep feeling : ' This earth is 
 poorer since Lizzie Wesley left it ; and heaven is 
 richer since her ransomed spirit entered there,' they 
 bowed with grief the stalwart soldiers ; as they did 
 the girls of dear Lizzie's Bible-class, who had all 
 gathered in the orchestra ; and the hearts of the whole 
 assembly yielded to their melting touch. Six soldiers 
 of the King's Own Hussars bore the coffin from the 
 dais to the hearse, the plaintive tones of the ' Dead 
 March ' in Saul blending in sad unison with the sorrow 
 of all hearts. The deceased was followed to the end 
 of the town by many friends of all classes, and a 
 company of Hussars, a company of Fusiliers, and the 
 soldiers from Kneller Hall, with officers, who formed 
 line and saluted as the corpse left the town ; friends, 
 to show their respect for the departed, followed the 
 bereaved parents and the saintly dead to Willesden. 
 On reaching Raunds, the numerous and respected 
 relatives of the departed followed all that was mortal 
 of their loved one to the last resting place, where the 
 burial service was impressively conducted by the Revs. 
 J. W. Millward and S. F. Collier. A very able and 
 appropriate sermon was preached in the evening by 
 the Rev. S. F. Collier from the words ' Be not sloth- 
 ful, but followers of them who through faith and 
 patience inherit the promises.' (Heb. vi. 12.) And 
 there, with the scenes of her early joys near, she rests, 
 ' Until the day break, and the shadows flee away.' 
 
MISS WESLEY. 249 
 
 Her tomb bears the following inscription : 
 
 In iobht 
 
 OF 
 
 ELIZABETH ANN WESLEY, 
 
 DAUGHTER OF 
 THE KEY. SAMUEL AND ANN WESLEY, 
 
 WHO DIED IN GREAT PEACE, 
 
 AT HOUNSLOW, AUGUST 1ST, 1885, 
 
 AGED 33 YEARS. 
 
 MISS WESLEY WAS EARLY CONSECRATED TO GOD ; HER LIFE 
 WAS ONE OF UNSPARING TOIL AND GREAT USEFULNESS, 
 
 AMONG SOLDIERS, CIVILIANS, AND THE YOUNG; 
 AND HER DEATH WAS BEAUTIFULLY TRIUMPHANT. 
 
 ' And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the 
 firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness as the 
 stars for ever and ever.' (Daniel xii. 9.) 
 
 Very marked respect was paid to the memory of the 
 deceased on the Sabbath following the interment, by 
 the memorial services which were held, and the 
 obituaries which were read in the places of worship of 
 towns in which she was known, and by the touching 
 references which were made by ministers of various 
 denominations to her beautiful and useful life, and 
 the public loss which had been sustained by her early 
 death. 
 
 The following is a report which was given of the 
 memorial service held at Winchester : 
 
250 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 \'A memorial service, having reference to the death of Miss 
 Wesley, was held in St. Peter-street chapel, Winchester, on 
 Sunday morning, August 16th. The preacher was the resident 
 minister, the Rev. E. W. G. Hunter. A very large congrega- 
 tion, composed of civilians and soldiers, attended. Amongst the 
 former were members of the Church of England and of the 
 various Nonconformist Churches in the city. Many were in mourn- 
 ing out of respect for the deceased. 1 The solemn draping of the 
 pulpit was relieved by wreaths of immortelles. Flowers had been 
 sent from Canon Butler's, in the cathedral close, for the same 
 purpose. The congregation were deeply affected throughout the 
 entire service. After the preacher had spoken of the general 
 work of Miss Wesley among civilians, he expatiated on the 
 exquisite and irresistible tact and sympathy she had shown in 
 her abundant labours among the soldiers. Mr. Hunter referred 
 to the affectionate nature of Lizzie Wesley, her tenacity in 
 keeping up her many friendships, her humility and sweetness of 
 spirit, her simplicity, naturalness and directness, her brightness, 
 eheeriness, and hopefulness, and the pure, fresh, healthy charac- 
 ter of her piety. He concluded by a special appeal to the 
 soldiers present. The following descriptive lines by Mr. Hunter 
 are too precious to be lost : 
 
 ' She has gone whispering words of evangel 
 To the last, with her spirit-touched lips ; 
 She has gone, like a glorious angel, 
 Who suffers a moment's eclipse. 
 
 ' Like a star breaking forth from death's vapour 
 
 She has passed to those heaven-clear skies, 
 Could the sad see her stand in her beauty, 
 With love's deathless light in her eyes, 
 
 ' Could it be she would point them to Jesus, 
 
 She'd come back for them now if she dare, 
 For her heart still beats for her soldiers, 
 And she longs to see all of them there.' 
 
 The next Sunday evening service at Hounslow 
 
MISS WESLEY. 251 
 
 Wesleyan chapel, after the departed one's burial, was 
 conducted by the Rev. B. Burrows, who preached a 
 sermon adapted to the solemn occasion, of great power, 
 and accompanied by a divine unction, which all seemed 
 to feel. In the large congregation there were a hun- 
 dred soldiers, and as there was no prayer-meeting 
 announced, on account of the oppressive heat, the 
 military, who were deeply impressed, gathered in 
 front of the chapel, and inquired, ' Can we not have a 
 prayer-meeting ? ' The reply was, ' Oh, yes ! ' and 
 fifty men remained to pray in the school-room, eight 
 of whom found forgiveness and peace with God. The 
 good work continued to spread, till the men said, 'Miss 
 Wesley is missed everywhere, but her influence is felt 
 all around, and it seems as if her death would be the 
 means of saving more than her life.' Thirty gave in 
 their names to join Major Thomson's class. To make 
 the best of the religious awakening, we held a series of 
 special services, at which a large number of recruits 
 became saved, and many of them resolved to enter the 
 same regiment that they might be true comrades in 
 their religious life. 
 
 Thus the death of Miss Wesley was the means of 
 developing seed which had long been sown, and led to 
 results which it was delightful for us to witness, and 
 which, we have reason to hope, gave a deeper swell of 
 joy in heaven. 
 
 These blessed fruits of that now resting one's 
 patient toil have not yet ceased, but are often appear- 
 ing in one form or other. Since these memorials were 
 begun, many instances of her success have been 
 divinely sent to cheer me in my work, and as if to 
 express God's approval of it. 
 
252 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 We were informed in August last, by a lady who is 
 doing noble work for Christ at Secunderabad, that a 
 private soldier with whom my daughter had taken 
 great pains, and one of the last to whom she wrote, had 
 died in hospital, assuring his chaplain that he was 
 trusting in Jesus, and that Christ was with him then. 
 
 A pleasing letter reached me in February, 1887, from 
 a lance-corporal of one of our West Indian regi- 
 ments, testifying to Miss Wesley's beneficial influence, 
 and expressing the wish that Africa and the whole 
 world could be led to embrace the religion that made 
 him so happy. 
 
 The wife of one of our non-commissioned officers 
 who saw very much of my daughter's goodness and 
 zeal, and who cherishes a loving memory of her, called 
 only a few days since to assure us that she has now 
 entered on the service of the same Saviour. 
 
 The deep interest which Miss Wesley took in the 
 young, and the charm she threw around goodness and 
 usefulness before them, deepens the conviction that the 
 beneficial results of her labours will continue to grow. 
 
 Here is a simple letter from a cavalry soldier's boy, 
 who has been mentioned in the narrative of our Houns- 
 low work ; his letter came to soothe us a few days after 
 my dear daughter's burial : 
 
 ' CA VALET BABBACKS, YOBK, Aug. 12th, 1885. 
 ' DEAR SIB, 
 
 ' We are very sorry to hear of the death of Miss Wesley, and 
 were taken by surprise, as we had not heard that she was ill. 
 
 ' You will know that the Wesleyan Conference has just been 
 held in Newcastle, and I had a newspaper ready to send to Miss 
 Wesley, when we received the information of her death. 
 
 ' I am sure it will be a very great sorrow to you, and all is ouj 1 
 regiment who knew her are very sorry. 
 
MISS WESLEY. 253 
 
 ' If ever I go to Raunds, I shall seek out her grave ; but I 
 know she is not there, it is only her body : she is, we are sure, 
 with her dear Saviour, whom she loved so well. 
 
 ' I shall always prize the little book she gave me, and the let- 
 ters she sent me. 
 
 ' You will like to hear that I have given my heart to God, and 
 I am trying to love and serve Him, and I mean to be one of His 
 soldiers as long as I live, and I hope to meet you and Miss Wesley 
 in heaven. 
 
 ' My father and mother join me in regards and love to you. 
 ' I am, yours faithfully, 
 
 ' AETHUE E. WILLIAMS.' 
 
 May we not hope that this memorial, as a call from 
 the tomb, will he even more persuasive than was the liv- 
 ing voice in urging the young, first, to consecrate them- 
 selves to God ; then, in the light and freshness of life's 
 fair morning, to enter the field of Christian toil ; and 
 having entered it, to lay down the implement of labour 
 only at the grave ? 
 
 The example portrayed in these pages should have 
 the double effect of summoning new workers, and 
 arousing old ones. The life of self-denying toil led by 
 Miss Wesley powerfully enforces the study of the 
 Saviour's example for close imitation and daily converse 
 with Christ as the means of acquiring power to copy 
 the Christian's model. The practical question which 
 she placed in several parts of her room so that it might 
 catch the eye was, ' "What would Jesus do ? ' And in 
 connection with this inquiry, there was the statement 
 ' For even Christ pleased not Himself. (Rom. xv, 3.) 
 Miss Havergal's consecration hymn was always at her 
 bed's head, and she carried it out, in all its entirety, 
 every day. It was Christ- like for our determined 
 toiler to resolve on finishing her work at any cost, and 
 
254 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 when it was done, and .she had fallen so early, and her 
 parting words fell on our ears and on our hearts, ' I've 
 not been well for years ; and knowing that my time 
 would be short, I was anxious to do all I could,' we 
 could not but think of the startling declaration, ' If any 
 man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His.' 
 
 My energetic and catholic-spirited fellow chaplain, 
 the Rev. Alfred Ernest Bull, Vicar of St. Paul's, 
 Hounslow, gave the following remarks on my daugh- 
 ter's character and work in his fraternal letters of sym- 
 pathy after her death : ' I cannot adequately express to 
 you my admiration for that noble character. She was 
 indeed a burning and a shining light. Many have 
 wished that she had been more mindful of her bodily 
 health and that she had not so thoroughly overtaxed 
 her strength, but she has fallen in a good cause. In 
 her love for souls she laboured like one ready to die for 
 the name of the Lord Jesus. How unspeakably blessed 
 she must now be ! ' 
 
 It is not for us to blame her for her unceasing work 
 in the Master's name. Would to God that the Church 
 had many more such heroines and heroes, willing to 
 sacrifice even life itself to pluck sinners as brands from 
 the burning. The Church needs it. the time requires 
 it. 
 
 JS"o doubt she laboured under the directing influ- 
 ences of the Holy Spirit, who fired her soul with such 
 love to Christ as no waters could quench. 
 
 Miss Wesley felt very early and deeply that she had 
 her own life-work to do, and that no one else could do 
 it. And is not this true as to every one ? On the busy 
 istage of this world wliere is the mere spectator to be 
 found ? As soon as my daughter saw that her special 
 
MISS WESLEY. 255 
 
 work was among a particular class, she sought and 
 obtained every possible qualification for it, and did it so 
 heartily as to have the only reward she sought, the 
 Divine approval and the good of those for whom she 
 toiled and so early died. An amazing amount of 
 energy is now concentrated on particular classes. The 
 soldier is not now, as formerly, neglected. ' The worse 
 man, the better soldier,' is a sentiment which is now in- 
 dignantly denied, instead of pleaded in excuse of 
 neglect. My unselfish daughter never thought of liv- 
 ing in these Memorials ; nor had she any hope of her 
 father living to produce them. But if this task of 
 paternal love shonld succeed in multiplying the true 
 friends of our soldiers and sailors, and in prompting 
 them to seek their highest good as their special work, 
 we shall rejoice together in that world where the ele- 
 ments of war will have no existence, and victors in the 
 Christian warfare shall sit down with Christ upon His 
 throne. 
 
 These Memorials cannot be closed without a few 
 kindly parting words to soldiers. Some of you, dear 
 friends, who never knew Miss Wesley personally, have 
 heard of her intense regard for you, and her constant 
 concern for your salvation ; and our surprise is that 
 you have no anxiety about your own eternal safety. If 
 thousands of earnest Christians had the same care for 
 the souls of British soldiers, it would not effect the sal- 
 vation of a single one, without personal repentance, and 
 an individual reliance on Christ. Many soldiers who 
 will read these pages knew their departed friend, and 
 cannot possibly forget the earnestness with which she 
 prayed for them, and implored them to seek the 
 Saviour for themselves ; but she died without knowing 
 
256 MEMORIALS OF 
 
 that they had sought and found shelter in the only 
 refuge. A truly Christian soldier has greatly the ad- 
 vantage of an irreligious one as to both worlds. A sol- 
 dier who lives under the power of religion will be 
 bright, obedient, loyal, courteous, prompt, truthful, 
 honest, temperate, moral, brave, ready to die, and sure 
 of heaven after death. Soldiers possessing such quali- 
 ties will be rising men ; any officer might be proud to 
 command them ; and an army composed of such men 
 would be the most invincible of the world, and would 
 greatly accelerate the conquest of the world for Christ. 
 These records may be read by some whom Miss Wesley 
 was the means of reforming after they had reached the 
 very climax of folly and wickedness, and not a few of 
 whom had madly bounded away from hearts of paren- 
 tal and sisterly love and homes of culture and comfort ; 
 and having nobly stood for some time, and rendered 
 their unwearied friend the most valuable service, they 
 gradually relapsed, and caused her heart- sorrow which 
 shortened her life. No letter from her : nothing but 
 prayer, could now reach them ; for they had fled, as if 
 to escape from themselves, she knew not whither. But 
 the dying message she reserved for them, and sent to 
 them in her last moments, may reach them. And what 
 was the message ? Was it one of reproach ? anger ? 
 despair ? Oh, no ! The benevolence of Miss Wesley 
 was too near akin to the Saviour's love for that. Her 
 last message was one of persistent hope : 
 
 'TELL ALL THE SOLDIERS TO MEET ME IN HEAVEX.' 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A choking text . . .160 
 
 Aged visited, the . .13 
 
 Aggressions . . .115 
 
 Aldershot . ' . . 124, 225 
 
 Allen, Rev. R. W. . . 181 
 
 Alfestone, Florentine . 127 
 
 Ampthill . . . 8, 14 
 
 Andrews, Mr. . . 236,237 
 
 Arabi and soldier . .139 
 
 Army Reserves . . . 126 
 
 Aristocratic soldier . .196 
 Austin, Sergeant John, 
 
 69, 71, 73, 75, 91, 99 
 
 Austin, Sergeant Joel . 188 
 
 Autumn essay . . .94 
 
 Avington Park . . .211 
 
 B , Corporal . . 227 
 
 Ball, Miss .... 3 
 Bathurst, Earl ... 3 
 Beautiful infancy . . 1 
 Bestall, Rev. A. H, 195, 198, 201 
 Birthplace, Miss Wesley's 1, 46 
 Birthday verses . . .47 
 Birthday, her last . . 220 
 Blue ribbon . . . 124 
 Bourne School . . 14, 20, 45 
 Bronzed soldier, the . . 142 
 Brown, Private . . 135 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ' British Flag,' the . . 144 
 Bull, Rev. Alfred E. . 254 
 Butler, Mrs. Josephine 204, 211 
 Burrows, Rev. B. , . 247 
 
 Cargill, Miss . . .16 
 Camp, mission in . . 177 
 Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. . 104 
 Carrie, marriage of . .103 
 Character . . . 3,24 
 Chelsea Convention . . 182 
 Children loved . . .160 
 Christmas . 56, 130, 181 
 Cirencester ... 4 
 Climate and health . . 128 
 Clark, Private . . .125 
 Conversion . . 16, 104 
 Cobham visited. . 173,174 
 Collier, Rev. Samuel F. 
 
 221, 223, 240, 242, 247, 248 
 Converse with Christ .219 
 Crimean campaign, the . 6 
 Crake, Private . . .134 
 
 Deprivations . . 218, 232 
 Diary extracts, 18, 19, 36, 
 
 37, 58, 101, 105, 107 
 Discouragements . 145, 233 
 Domestic skill . . .232 
 
 a O 
 
 9 & 
 
258 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Doctor's opinion, the 
 Doabts . . . 
 Dowty, Rev. John , 
 Dumb animals . . 
 Dumb girl . . 
 Dying soldier . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 , 218 
 
 , 27 
 
 , 22 
 
 , 2 
 
 31 
 
 131 
 
 Eastington . . 27, 38 
 Edmeades, Mr. 200, 210, 
 
 211, 239 
 
 Ekins, Mrs. ... 8 
 Eliot, George . . . 215 
 Etheridge, Mr. 197, 199, 
 
 208, 211, 213 
 
 Eternity, rest in . .216 
 4 Evening Monitor' . . 239 
 Evangelistic services . 115 
 
 Faithful in friendship . 45 
 Faded leaves ... 31 
 Faith rewarded, 4, 57, 242 
 Farewell meetings, 81, 125, 153 
 Father's birthday . . 107 
 First ticket received . . 20 
 Flowers, love of, 193, 211, 
 
 219, 224, 232 
 
 Four letters daily . . 67 
 Funeral address, a . . 126 
 Funeral at Hounslow . 247 
 
 F g, G. F., conversion 
 
 of . . . . 123-25 
 
 Gadd, Richard ... 43 
 Garrison work . . .166 
 Gordon, General, 136, 164, 
 
 172, 194 
 
 ' Good Night ' verses . 209 
 Gravesend, 50, 103, 172, 
 
 173, 179 
 
 AAGE 
 
 Grenadier Guards . . 186 
 Guest, Rev. William . 83, 85 
 
 Higham Ferrers . . 82 
 Happy deaths . . 93,244 
 Havergal, Miss F. R. 108, 253 
 Herdmay, Miss . . 142 
 Helpful questions . .117 
 Hilton, Sergeant . . 69 
 Hooper, Charles . . 34 
 Hospital scenes . . 63, 65 
 Horncastle . . .20 
 Hounslow . , . .156 
 Hounslow Heath . 176, 244 
 Hunter, Rev. R. W. G., 192, 
 
 197-, 233, 244, 250 
 Institute opened . . 55 
 Institute desired . . 229 
 Ingram, Rev. J. 69, 221, 247 
 Inscription on grave . 249 
 Jackson, Rev. William . 187 
 Jenkins, Mr. . . .123 
 
 Kelly, Rev. C. H. . 51 
 
 Kennedy, Sergeant . .135 
 
 Kent, Colonel . . .157 
 
 Kerr, Mrs. . . .165 
 
 Kew visited . . . 232 
 
 King's Own Hussars . . 248 
 
 Kirton, Ann . . .118 
 
 Kneller Hall 
 Knock, Mr. 
 
 157, 158, 248 
 . 93 
 
 Last words . 11, 153, 225 
 Last birthday , . . 220 
 Last service . . . 223 
 Last public prayer . . 224 
 Last barracks visited , 224 
 Last letter to soldiers . 225 
 
INDEX. 
 
 259 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Ladies and prayer . .115 
 Lessons for school . . 29 
 Letters, four daily . . 67 
 
 [Letters See list separate.] 
 Love of children . .160 
 Love of flowers 
 
 193, 211, 219, 224, 232 
 Losing caste . . .117 
 Loyalty ... 50, 86 
 
 M'Aulay, Rev. Alexander 
 
 14, 181, 182, 187 
 M'Aulay, Mrs. . . . 229 
 Male, Rev. Arthur H. . 136 
 
 May, J. R 81 
 
 May, Miss . . , .88 
 Memorial services . . 250 
 Middlesex Militia . 176, 224 
 Middleton, R. W. . . 12 
 Milton Barracks . 67, 89 
 Mission band . . .114 
 Mizpah ring . . .80 
 Montgomery, Colonel . 157 
 Mob quelled . . ,148 
 ' Morning ' verses . . 33 
 Mullings, Mrs. R. . . 3 
 Music studied ... 8 
 My class for Christ . . 30 
 M , Private . . 157 
 
 Naval and military joined 183 
 Netley Hospital . . 134 
 Newark . . . .14 
 Notes on Old Year . . 120 
 Notes of lessons . . 
 O'Donnell, D. . 171 
 
 Old people visited 
 Parting words . 
 
 5 
 
 255 
 
 Payne, Mrs. . 
 Pearse, Rev. M. G-. 
 Pearce, Corporal 
 Phillips, Colonel 
 Poole . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 . 140 
 75,77 
 . 136 
 . 157 
 84,94 
 
 Preparation . . 119, 120 
 
 Presentations . 79, 80 
 
 Prejudice conquered . 165 
 
 Primitive Methodism . 171 
 
 Prisoner reclaimed . .172 
 
 POETEY : 
 
 Birthday verses . . 47 
 
 Good Night . . .209 
 
 Morning . . .33 
 
 To Lizzie . ,22 
 
 Hunter's, Mr., verses , 250 
 
 Power of Prayer . . 9 
 
 Prayer Answered . 10, 242 
 
 Prince of Wales . . 77 
 
 Queen's regulations . . 54 
 
 Quilter, Rev. H. J. . , 90 
 
 Ramsgate visited . . 234 
 
 Railway works . . .46 
 Randies, Rev. Marshall . 24 
 Rewards .... 247 
 
 Return of troops . . 64 
 
 Rest in eternity . .216 
 
 Roberts, Louie . . . 151 
 
 Roman Catholics . 164, 165 
 
 Romantic walk, a . .138 
 
 Royal Fusiliers . . . 247 
 
 Rugby ... 11, 46 
 
 Scarlet fever . 
 Scott, Private . 
 Seaman, Private 
 Servant on fire . 
 
 . 7 
 
 139, 140 
 . 72 
 . 149 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PAST! 
 
 Sharp, Eliza . . .9 
 Shaw, Rev. T. . . .20 
 Sleaford . . . .11 
 Soldiers, work for . .51 
 Soldiers' Institute . 229, 233 
 Song service, a . . .114 
 Speak to every soldier . 54 
 Stephenson, Dr. T. B. . 77 
 Stevenson, George J. . 235 
 Stokes, Rev. P. . . . 124 
 Stonehouse . . .41 
 1 Stop a minute ' 3 
 
 Stratton . . . .2 
 S tyring, Henrietta . .105 
 Sudden illness 23, 101, 225 
 Suicide prevented . . 76 
 Swindon ... 29, 40 
 Sympathy . 50, 80, 131 
 
 Tarrant, R. J. . . .42 
 Teignmouth . . 43, 99 
 Temperance pledge . . 59 
 Temperance work 
 
 119, 140, 147, 166 
 Temptations . 27, 60, 77 
 Testimony of soldiers . 161 
 Testimonials . . 79, 155 
 Terry, Miss . 80, 111, 112 
 Thomson, Major 215, 225, 251 
 Tilbury visited . . .152 
 Tract distribution 
 
 28, 92, 147, 166, 179, 235 
 
 Try again 60 
 
 Two welcomes . . .129 
 
 Union services . , 114, 183 
 
 Victory celebrated 
 Voluntary pledge 
 
 163 
 20 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Wall, Mrs. . . .104 
 Wall, Sergeant . . .137 
 Walton, Colonel . . 12 
 Warrington . . . 143 
 Walker, R. T. . . . 151 
 War Office sanction . . 158 
 Were you ever ill ? . . 227 
 Weston-super-Mare . . 7 
 WESLEY 
 
 Ann ... 1, 47 
 
 Charles (Australia) . 71 
 
 Charles (poet) . . 241 
 
 Eliza (Islington) . .170 
 
 John (1662) ... 86 
 
 Thomas (Cradley Heath) 171 
 
 Thomas (Nova Scotia) . 171 
 
 Samuel . . . .47 
 
 'Wheatsheaf . . 94,98 
 
 Williams, Arthur E. . . 252 
 
 Winchester . 40, 192, 250 
 
 Winchester mission . .192 
 
 Windsor meeting . 186-87 
 
 Winterburn-Whitchurch . 86 
 
 Women helped . . 174-75 
 
 ' Yarrells,' the 
 Young, Mrs. 
 
 . 217 
 . 240 
 
 LETTEKS FEOM 
 A Soldier . . 132-33 
 Austin, Joel . . .188 
 Butler, Mrs. Josephine .212 
 Father to Lizzie . 46, 47 
 
 H* B to Lizzie . 58 
 
 Kirton, Ann . . .118 
 Lillie . . . 245-46 
 M'Aulay, Mrs. . . 229 
 
INDEX. 
 
 261 
 
 PAGE 
 
 LETTERS FROM (continued) 
 Middleton, R. W. . . 13 
 Shillito, James . . 167 
 Williams, Mrs. . .168 
 Williams, Arthur E. . 252 
 
 LETTERS TO 
 Austin, John . 
 Austin, Joel . 
 A sick soldier 
 A young woman 
 
 Annie G . 
 
 A young lady 
 Andrews, Mrs. 
 
 71, 75, 91 
 . 188, 189 
 . 146 
 . 159 
 . 222 
 .230 
 . 236 
 
 PAGE 
 
 LETTERS TO (continued) 
 Carrie ... 82, 87 
 Etheridge, Mrs. . . 197 
 Her parents . ... 15 
 Hilton, Sergeant . . 68 
 May, Miss . .88 
 
 Pearse, Eev. M. Gr. . 77 
 Scholars 
 
 102,103,108,161,162 
 Soldiers . . . .212 
 Snoad, Emma . . 220 
 Terry, Miss . . .111 
 Thomson, Major . . . 215 
 
 i Williams, Arthur E. . 149 
 
262 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 REV. S. WESLEY'S CIRCUITS. 
 
 1839 . 
 
 v- 
 . St. Alban's 
 
 1 year. 
 
 1840 . 
 
 . Luton, Beds. . . 
 
 2 years. 
 
 1842 . 
 
 . Higham Ferrers 
 
 3 
 
 1845 . 
 
 . Wellingborough 
 
 3 
 
 1848 . 
 
 . Bourne, Lincoln 
 
 2 
 
 1850 . 
 
 . Forest of Dean . 
 
 1 year. 
 
 1851 . 
 
 . Daventry (Rugby) . 
 
 3 years. 
 
 1854 . 
 
 . Stroud 
 
 3 
 
 1857 . 
 
 . Weston- Super- Mare . 
 
 3 
 
 1860 . 
 
 . Bedford (Ampthill) . 
 
 3 
 
 1863 . 
 
 . Sleaford, Lincoln 
 
 3 
 
 1866 . 
 
 . Horncastle . ~ . 
 
 1 year. 
 
 1867 . 
 
 . Stonehouse, &c. 
 
 3 years. 
 
 1870 . 
 
 . Swindon . 
 
 3 
 
 1873 . 
 
 . Gravesend 
 
 3 
 
 1876 . 
 
 . Poole, Dorset . 
 
 3 
 
 1879 . 
 
 . Teignmouth 
 
 1 year. 
 
 1880 . 
 
 . Winchester 
 
 3 years. 
 
 1883 . 
 
 . Brentford for Hounslow (Army 
 
 Chaplain and Supernumerary). 
 
 BATMAN BROTHERS AND LILLY, 113, FABBINGDON BOAD, LONDON, B.C. 
 
tmm 
 
 W '