laboured Sabbath after Sabbath, in season and out of season, for some years; when, other teachers arising, he desired more frequently to attend the House of God. He thenceforward, for several years, -attended, three times a day, the Heckmondwike Chapel, a distance of two miles, accompanied by his daughter, irrespective of weather, with great regularity. The Class which he had joined becoming too large, half of it was committed to his care, and it soon became a large Class. As a Leader, too, he was highly esteemed. He had the gift of making Scriptural truth easy to be understood by the least instructed, and edifying to the most advanced. He laboured and prayed for his members, and watched over them as one that must give account.' He was especially tender with the young, and delighted to encourage young men of promise in their first efforts to preach. Many will long remember his sympathizing gentleness, his manly, religious vigour and his devotional ardour. In 1832 he and others laboured hard to get a chapel at Roberttown, but were obliged to give up the scheme. They had Divine service in the school-room, at first once, and then twice, on the Sunday. The school-room becoming too small, another attempt was made, which, after almost incredible efforts on the part of Mr. Beaumont and his friends, issued, in 1839, in the erection of the present commodious chapel. Mr. Beaumont's joy at the opening of the chapel was very great. It is pleasing to know that he lived to see it, in no small degree by his own efforts, entirely free from debt. He held all the lay offices in Methodism with credit to himself and satisfaction to his brethren. He was highly esteemed by all the officers in the Circuit, and his absence from the Quarterly Meeting was always matter of disappointment and wonder, unless he were known to be from home. He was a lover of good men, and especially of Preachers of the Gospel, and for at least twenty years he alone in the village had the privilege of entertaining them both on Sundays and week days. He was a thorough Methodist, and in the troubles through which the Connexion passed during his time, he stood by its Ministers and principles without wavering. He was remarkably cheerful and genial. With the radiant glow of physical health, indicative of a green old age, which, nnder Divine Providence, may be attributed to his activity and temperance, there was also the glow of moral health: a sober cheerfulness, which indicated that religious services and benevolent activities were his element. His uprightness, honour and neighbourly virtues gave him a high position in the esteem of a large acquain tanceship. The writer of this sketch knew Mr. Beaumont for two years, and would have been glad to have known him longer. His company was most interesting and profitable. He had known so many Ministers and other prominent persons, and so many incidents connected with the history of Methodism, that had he possessed the gift of literary composition and a turn for it, he might have produced a volume of considerable interest. It is to be regretted that some of those reminiscences, with which he often entertained his friends, have not been permanently preserved. The illness which terminated in death was short, and the prostration of his strength too complete to allow of much conversation; but every word he uttered, and the spirit which he breathed, confirmed the confidence which a long and consistent life of piety had established-that he was resting on the Rock of Ages. W. E. MRS. NICHOLAS STYLES, of Tysoe, in the Kineton Circuit, was the subject of Divine impressions from an early period of her life. Being left motherless when very young. she acted the anxious part of a parent to the younger members of the family. Her mother's death produced a salutary effect upon her, which she would often mention in after years. In youth she was a member of the Church of England and a consistent communicant. But she traced her conversion to a sermon heard in the Wesleyan chapel of her own village, when she was twenty-four years of age. From that time to her departure to a better world she retained her membership with the Wesleyan Body. One trait of her character was attachment to God's House. Though suffering from paralysis for a considerable time, she reached God's House whenever she could, and when utterly unable to do so, prayed, praised God and read His Word at home. She was a great sufferer, and would sometimes say: 'How glorious it will be when we are clothed with a glorified body, free from pain !' On July 11th, 1876, she fell asleep in Jesus. Her piety, though unobtrusive, was genuine. Naturally retiring, her religion was quiet; but those who knew her the most intimately testify as to its sincerity and depth. May her pious life and quietly triumphant death lead us to follow her! W. HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, PRINTERS, LONDON AND AYLESBURY. WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1878. MEMORIAL SKETCH OF THE REV. RICHARD BELL. Ir is well to remember how much Methodism, in common with other Nonconforming Churches, owes to the self-taught men who have had a place in her Ministry. To this large class the REV. RICHARD BELL belonged. A good moral influence, though perhaps lacking a distinctively religious tone, prevailed in the home in Leeds into which he was born, June 4th, 1820. In recording the death of his mother in 1845, and of his father in 1846, he speaks of the former, as a woman of independent, but meek and quiet spirit'; and of the latter, as 'clear-headed, and of quick, reflective mind': qualities which an ordinary observer might without difficulty recognize as characteristic of his son Richard. Deepening religious feeling marked the closing years of the life of each of his parents. There are still many who remember the powerful ministry of Dr. Richard Winter Hamilton, Pastor of Belgrave Congregational Church, Leeds. It was no small gain to a youth of active and vigorous mind to be brought under the influence of so great and good a man. For some years Richard Bell attended Belgrave Chapel, and, young as he was, revelled in the gorgeous and impressive eloquence of its Minister. The privilege of listening so often to this master Preacher was well improved. The sermons he heard were taken down in shorthand, of which he early acquired some knowledge, and many of the finest passages were committed to memory. Earnestly treasuring up his recollection of these sermons, he unconsciously, and before the shape of his after-course even dimly appeared, laid the foundation of his own rich and popular style. Not, however, immediately through Dr. Hamilton, but through a stranger who once occupied his pulpit, was young Richard led to decision. The sermon on 'Why will ye die, O House of Israel?' so powerfully affected him that he went home resolved to live fully to God. To strengthen his purpose he wrote out a solemn vow dedicating himself wholly and irrevocably to the Lord's service. The vow which he thus took he faithfully accomplished throughout his after life. It was when about seventeen years of age that he became a member of Dr. Hamilton's Church, and joined the Sick- Visiting Society. Thus his natural ardour and diligence were quickened and directed. How earnestly he entered upon the Christian life may be gathered from some rules he drew up for his guidance. Amongst others are these: Resolved: 'To dedicate soul and body to the honour of Almighty God; to do nothing that VOL. II.-SIXTH SERIES. 3 L I should be ashamed of before God or man; to let no day pass without making some improvement; to appoint seasons for self-examination; to commence nothing of importance without asking the blessing of God; to read nothing but the best of books.' He also drew up a series of questions to guide him in the work of selfexamination: 'With what feelings did I awake? In my morning devotions did I enjoy near access to God? Did I really desire the blessings I sought? Having left my closet, did I watch unto prayer? Has my conduct this day been in unison with my prayers? What studies have I pursued this day? What benefit have I derived from them? etc.;' twenty-four questions in all, constituting a very fine sieve through which the young Christian put his daily life. A private journal, which he commenced at this time, gives many indications that he was early impressed with those views of the dignity and responsibility of life on which he afterwards wrote and spoke with much impressiveness. There is not so much novelty in a young man's framing rules for religious and mental self-improvement as in their being faithfully observed. In Richard Bell's case they were. Not that he records no failures, no regrets; but the bent of his life was always forward and upward. Daily heart-searchings, confession, self-humbling, still clearer views of truth, stability of purpose and consequent manifest advance in goodness, the journal, which he kept for ten or twelve years, reveals. Neither intellectually nor spiritually did he 'sleep with the wings of aspiration furled.' To such good purpose did he work on the lines of self-improvement laid down for himself that, two years after the decisive change above recorded, he was able to leave his occupation and enter the academy of Mr. Hiley, Leeds, as an assistant. To this gentleman he expresses himself as much indebted for interest taken in his studies, of which he undertook the direction, recognizing in him solid worth and promise. How hard he strove to reap all the advantages of his new position may be inferred from the fact that, winter and summer, he rose at half-past four in order to carry on his own studies. His choice of books was careful and judicious. Works on logic and rhetoric are frequently mentioned as subjects of earnest study; and subsequently metaphysical writings and standard theological works were sought out with much discrimination. The mental pabulum in which he delighted in these days of apprenticeship to learning might not unreasonably make him, as he could be, kindly severe toward the book-lists of probationers when he was Chairman of a District. It was during this period that he relinquished, not without great reluctance, his connection with Dr. Hamilton's Church, conscious as he was how much he owed to the ministrations of that able man. He addressed a letter to his Pastor explaining his reasons for joining the Wesleyan-Methodists, and acknowledging the debt of gratitude he owed him. From this letter it would seem that he felt unable to remain in permanent connection with a Church |