14 THE LATE MISS ANNIE E. COURTNEY. ness, she had been at fault. A child of consecrated parents, we do not marvel to find that even from her earliest days she knew the Scriptures and loved the Saviour. In due time though compara-, tively young, she entered the fellowship of this church, and during the intervening years till now has adorned the Christian profession, by a life of holy labour and love. Whatever concerned the welfare of this church from first to last concerned our friend, among her purest and holiest joys being the success of the Zion she loved so well. In early youth even, it was not difficult to discern the buddings and foreshadowings of those talents and aspirations which have already in many of our circles made the name of our friend familiar as a household word. She possessed the Divine afflatus. Hers was essentially a poetic and communicative nature. To think clearly and write forcibly was as natural to her as it is natural to many people, alas! never to think or read at all. I need not go over the list of her published works, works that have thrilled the hearts and moistened the eyes of tens of thousands in this and other lands. As a speaker our departed friend was always welcomed both in London and elsewhere. And although it is given to few of the sisterhood in the household of faith to exercise their talents thus, yet she evidently had a God-ordained mission in this direction, and one which she fulfilled nobly and well. For some months past her health had been failing, and it was found eventually that nothing short of surgical operation could alleviate or eradicate the malady from which she suffered. At first the shock was great and painful, but she afterwards became quite resigned to her Father's will. The operation was performed on Monday, Oct. 20th. On Tuesday, alas, she was no more. The silver cord was gently loosened, the golden bowl was broken. Mortals cried 'a saint is dead.' Angels sang 'a child is born. And oh, in honour of such a nativity, surely the bells of the celestial city would ring again for joy. One writes, 'when she knew she could not live, she talked with us, and made known her wishes and requests. Her love was to be given, to use her own words, “ to all the dear friends at Latimer.” She wished it told to those she loved “that there was no happiness or joy in life out of Christ.” Her grief was that she had not loved Him more, and then with much earnestness, she added, “But oh, I do love Him now.” When not talking she was in constant prayer. Once she said very clearly “Hear my cry, O God, for Christ's sake.” She would then be much in silent prayer, only saying aloud “ for Christ's sake, Amen and Amen.” Her last words of all (oh! so precious and so consoling to those she leaves behind) were “ Fully trusting in the perfect atonement of Jesus Christ, my Saviour.”! “And so passed away a loving and devoted with one wily the bellyhild is bornes. FATHER TAYLOR ON EMERSON. 15 daughter, an affectionate sister, a faithful friend, an old scholar in our Sabbath School, a constant member of our Church, an able writer, a fluent and happy speaker, one who never made an enemy and never lost a friend, ever ready to sacrifice herself and all she had for others' good—a saint we verily believe, if ever one walked this earth of ours—I say so passed away this precious soul, redeemed and washed in blood Divine from amid the toils, and cares, and strife of life to.where, beyond these voices, there is peace.” Away in the blissful portals, And we like to think her spirit Is often with us here, And Heaven seems all the nearer Upon the golden strand. Now she is living there. Her aim in life was ever To do her Master's will, Poor sinning souls to fill. No more of strife and conflict, She has gone from earth to Heaven, Her race, though short, well run ; But her works will follow on, The crown upon her forehead, And she hears her Saviour saying The prize her life has won. Amid the Heavenly throngWe miss her bright example, “ Well done, My faithful servant, Her love and counsel too, You now shall take your place Her sympathy in trouble, Among My white-robed children Heartfelt, sincere and true. Who see the Father's face.” Oh God, to us, what mystery Behind this cloud is hidden ! Give us more faith to pierce its gloom Hurt anyone she knew. And teach us sweet submission. So grateful for a kindness, Oh! well beloved of God above And earthly friends below, breaking, Her cheerful earthly presence And we miss thy presence so,Can gladden us no more, We would not wish thee back again, But in angel form she's drawing From the bliss of perfect love. Be it ours to meet thee by and by, Where happiness is sure. And live with thee above. LILLA. FATHER TAYLOR ON EMERSON. MRS. E. D. CHENEY, in her lecture on Emerson at Concord, said, “ One of the richest treasures he found in Boston was the old sailor preacher, Father Taylor. His bon-mot in regard to Emerson is here given as I had it from the lips of Governor Andrew, to whom Father Taylor had said it. It was this : Mr. Emerson is one of the sweetest creatures God ever made, but there is a screw loose somewhere in the machinery; yet I cannot tell where it is, for I never heard it jar. He must go to heaven when he dies, for if he went to hell the devil would not know what to do with him. But still he knows no more of the religion of the New Testament than Balaam's ass did of the principles of the Hebrew grammar.'”—The Inquirer. SUNDERLAND SAILORS' SOCIETY. speed. Last night we were present at a Monster North Country sailors' tea-meeting, at which there was " a second sitting in the splendidly decorated new Assembly Hall. From four to five hundred must surely have taken part in the feast. And such was the sustained interest and enthusiasm that the meeting did not break up till ten o'clock. The meeting, in its representative character and attendance was worthy of the occasion, which was not only the Forty-second Anniversary of the local mission, but its return as an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. The Rev. G. S. Weston (who, to the grief of many Sunderland people, will shortly, by the unchangeable laws of Methodism, be removed to another circuit-we are glad it is to London), in an eloquent speech described this mission as a somewhat wayward child, and the feast with the fatted calf was to welcome the prodigal back again to the parent's arms! “But unlike the ancient prodigal it did not take away the parent's substance, neither did it return empty handed. It came not only clothed and in its right mind, but with a respectable balance in hand! It returned not so much for sustenance as sympathy and sonship, union and communion in the service of the King. In looking at the old family record (Board Minutes) we find the child, like many another did not go away in anger, but simply because it thought it could do better alone. But years soon prove to us that both in the social and spiritual, isolation is not the law of the kingdom. “At a Board Meeting, April 14th, 1843, read communications from the Revs. Messrs. Spencer and Parker, stating the results of the deliberations of their respective committees at Devonport and Sunderland, and that by a unanimous resolution passed at their last sittings, they had become auxiliaries to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society.” Then there is a letter inscribed on the minutes, dated March 20, 1851, addressed to Mr. T. A. Fieldwick, which shall explain itself. Read a letter from the secretaries of the Sunderland Sailors' Society : "After a full and mature deliberation on the subject it was at that time deemed desirable that the official connection hitherto subsisting between the British and Foreign Sailors' Society and the Sunderland Society should be dissolved, and a resolution to that effect was adopted, of which the following is a copy : “ • Resolution of April 6th constituting “the Sunderland Sailors' 18 SUNDERLAND SAILORS' SOCIETY. 701c911. The fits treasuregung capt Society an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society be now rescinded.” We beg at the same time to assure you that whilst the committee thought this step desirable under the circumstances in which this society is placed, it is not the result of any unfriendly feeling towards the parent society, the interests and welfare of which they will always have pleasure in forwarding. With best wishes we remain, dear sirs, yours very truly, R. W. MCALL, Secretaries. Only two of that old committee are still living, The noble president (Captain Thomas Anderson)—we call him Admiral-of the society, a fine specimen of the English merchant sailor who has climbed to the top of the ladder, an honoured deacon in the Rev. J. K. Nuttall's church. Still erect, with clear brain, well stored mind, excellent memory and cultured heart. Though the physical bark, after voyaging some seventy-three years, is somewhat shattered, we trust the Eternal Harbour will not be reached for some years yet. For the sake of our young captains to-day we hope he will draw from his well treasured storehouse for Chart and Compass readers as “The first prayer-meeting I conducted.” The other we would not call admiral but bishop, the Right Rev. John Parker, whose ministerial Jubilee has just been held in Sunderland. And the crown of this year will be to him the union which we witnessed last evening. Perhaps the sailors' cause in Sunderland for the last fifty years owes more to this man of God than to any other. It is not every heart that is capable of retaining so long an undying interest in one mission. But the old sailors' magazines as well as the new Chart and Compass proves there is life in the G.O.B. yet. Only a few days ago he and Captain Wiggins sallied out and obtained over £70 to square accounts for this anniversary. We were glad to be on the quarter-deck platform with Captain Wiggins, of Arctic fame, in the chair. The Royal Geographical Society might well be proud of such a fellow. For years he has been connected with the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, first carrying its Bethel-flag to the most northern region it has yet reached, and since as corresponding director. The Rev. W. W. Walton, who ably represented the Presbyterian Charch, spoke a few words, which not only seemed to come out from a fertile brain, but from a nature on fire. He spoke of the indebtedness of the church to great sailor preachers, and referred to John Newton and the late Pastor Rees of Sunderland. We find in our minute book this significant reference to the latter : • March 31st, 1863.-Read letter from Rev. A. A. Rees, Sunderland, asking for a Bethel-flag. Granted.” |