THE LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE AND CHRISTIAN FAMILY RECORD. Biography. MEMOIR OF EDWARD CRESWELL, LATE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL PREACHERS' MUTUAL-AID ASSOCIATION. Brother Edward CRESWELL having been, from the origin of the Association, so prominently before the eyes of his brethren, it is natural that they should desire to see some memorial of him in these pages. Unfortunately, our departed brother's innate modesty induced him to destroy most of the papers which would have thrown light upon his earlier years, and' upon his own experience of Divine things. His desire was that nothing should be written of him, for fear the pen of friendship should glide into panegyric-an error too prevalent in religious biography, but not the less to be deprecated by a simple-hearted lover of the truth. Brother Creswell was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the year 1794. His father was a man of good position in society, and exerted considerable influence in his circle. He was a man of strict integrity, and of a generous disposition. This latter quality being greatly imposed upon by some professing Christians tended to sour his mind, and eventually to drive him into the ranks of those who glory in opposing religion. His mother, a humble and sincere Christian, in membership with a general Baptist Church, had to encounter much opposition, but held fast her integrity. By her consistent conduct and judicious counsels, her son Edward was taught the advantage of true godliness, and from a child was conversant with the Scriptures. He lost both parents by death before he was fourteen years old, and was then under the control of careless guardians. His mother's death appears to have made a great impression upon the lad's mind; eternal things pressed upon him with awful weight: conviction of sin pierced his soul; until he was led by God's Holy Spirit to rely upon the atonement made for all sinners by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Here he found peace through believing, and his young soul burned with love to God and man. Very soon he began to exhort sinners to JANUARY, 1873. VOL. XXIII. B repentance, and was much sought after as a lay preacher of the Gospel. His youth, his earnestness and station in life, attracted the multitude, and he has often been heard to say that the largest congregation he ever addressed was on his sixteenth birthday. Some Christian friends urged him to devote himself entirely to the ministry of the Word; but from this he shrank with nervous apprehension of the solemn responsibilities of such a position. Yet, for some time he continued to preach, as opportunity offered, with great acceptance. Then over this bright scene of youthful Christian ardour a cloud of darkness fell, which cannot be clearly accounted for; but it is supposed to have been mainly due to the influence which a dearly loved relative exerted over him. The young evangelist ceased to preach. He no longer found his chief delight in the service of the sanctuary; prayer had lost its hallowing influence. He had left his "first love." Preferring other love to that of his Saviour, he grieved God's Holy Spirit, and lost the evidence of his acceptance with God. Then for some time he went with the giddy multitude to do evil. Society welcomed him to its parties and its pleasures, and in the round of giddy dissipation he was caught as in a whirlpool. The most graceful of dancers; the boldest of hunters; who, like him, could win ladies' smiles or fox's brush? And so he went on, sipping at the cup of worldly pleasure, and tasting of forbidden fruit, as if trying, but all in vain, to satisfy a soul that had tasted of the hidden manna of God's love. For ten years young Creswell led the life of a man of pleasure, and "withheld not his heart from any joy." At this time his face was nobly beautiful, and his figure faultless: he stood above middle height, and was blessed with so vigorous a constitution that no excess seemed to tire him or to wear away his strength. He At length a considerable loss of property led him to reflection. felt the blow, as from the rod of correction which drives out foolishness from the heart of God's children. He mourned with godly sorrow; and earnestly sought again to obtain forgiveness of the past, and strength to stand as a servant of God. He broke off his sins by repentance and his iniquities by turning to the Lord. His prayers were heard, and he found the peace of God. He now removed to London, became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and resumed his preaching engagements. In 1834 he married, obtaining a pious and sensible wife, and resided for many years in Albert Terrace, Knightsbridge. His time was entirely given up to the work of the Church, in the Chelsea and Hammersmith circuits: in both of which he was preacher, class leader, and Chapel Steward. Every Sabbath, and several week evenings, gave him full employment. He was not one of those who give to God that which costs nothing. He made thoughtful preparation for every service; and his sermons, written out in full, bear witness to his industrious research, his prayerful habit of mind, and the methodical neatness of his penmanship. Being himself so fully engaged as a local preacher, he naturally felt a great sympathy for his brethren in the work, and was glad to assist them by all means in his power. So when, in May 1849, Francis Pearson, a local preacher, in a letter to the "Watchman" and the "Wesleyan Times," proposed the holding of a great meeting of local preachers for the purpose of adopting a scheme for their mutual help, Brother Creswell was one of the noble band whose hearts were already attuned to that note; and after some private consultation, the following circular was issued to the local preachers in London : "London, July 16, 1849. "DEAR BROTHER,-We respectfully invite your attendance at a Meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers of the London Circuits, on Wednesday next, July 18th, at Seven o'clock in the evening, at Hart's Temperance Hotel, Aldersgate Street, City, to consider the desirability and practicability of the proposed 'General Benevolent Fund for Local Preachers,' and the propriety of holding an Aggregate Meeting in furtherance of that object. 66 Hoping that nothing will prevent your being present, "We are, dear Brother, yours in Christian bonds, "E. CRESWELL, 5, Albert Terrace, Knightsbridge. The attendance at this meeting was large, upwards of seventy brethren being present. W. Harris was chosen chairman, and E. Creswell (honorary) secretary. The following resolutions were adopted :— "1st. That this meeting cordially approves the formation of a society for the assistance of local preachers in times of sickness, distress, and old age. "2nd. That Brothers Isaac English and William Harris be appointed to attend a meeting of delegates to be held in Birmingham on the 24th inst. for the furtherance of this object. "3rd. That the following brethren, being one representative for each London circuit, do form a committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of collecting statistics, and further aiding in the establishment of the Association:-W. Harris, Stones, Nichols, Illingworth, P. Parker, Dabb, Mann, Holmes, English, Farmer, Lovely, and Creswell. Other meetings of a similar character were held in various parts of the country; and representatives were chosen to attend the Birmingham meeting. On Tuesday, July 24, 1849, that meeting was held, the following brethren being present:-J. Russom, Bristol; J. U. Walker, Halifax; J. Flatman, Downham ; J. Morgan, Hanley; Rowland, Ripley; Horton, Wednesbury; Sharman, Collier, and Howarth, Sheffield; Pearson, Marriott, and Hodgkinson, Matlock; Hodgkinson, Derby; English and Harris, London; Cope, Brooke, Smith, Page, Butcher, and others, Birmingham; altogether twenty-four brethren. W. Harris was voted to the chair, and A. Brooks was secretary to the meeting. The following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, will be seen to be the platform on which the rules were subsequently laid down :— "I. That this meeting form itself into a committee, with power to add to ats number, for the purpose of considering the best means of providing relief for distressed local preachers in the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion. "II. That this meeting recommends that a society be now formed, to be called 'The General Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers' MutualAid Association.' "III. That the object contemplated by this meeting shall be to afford assistance to local preachers in times of sickness, distress, and old age. "IV. That the entrance fee into this society be ten shillings. "V. That the terms of subscription be two pence per week. ← VI. That all persons contributing one guinea per annum become honorary members. "VII. That this meeting is strongly of opinion that the rules of the society be formed upon principles giving the claimants upon the fund a right to relief; and recommends this resolution to the serious consideration of a future meeting. "VIII. That the officers of the Association shall consist of president, vice-presidents, treasurer, secretaries, and committee. "IX. That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to Brother F. Pearson, for his very efficient services in promoting hitherto the object of this Association, and that he be respectfully requested to be the Corresponding Secretary for the further carrying out of its measures. "X. That the following brethren be appointed District Secretaries : Messrs. J. H. Walker, Halifax; J. Russom, Bristol; E. Creswell, London; A. Brooks, Birmingham; J. Flatman, Norfolk; J. Morgan Burslem; and that they be requested to communicate with the friends in the various districts. "XI. That an aggregate meeting be held in London on the 3rd or 4th of October next, and that each circuit be requested to send a representative, in addition to those who may voluntarily attend." The Birmingham committee was subsequently merged in the London committee to which also many other names were added, until that body became such a tower of strength that the aggregate meeting of some six hundred brethren, held in London under its auspices, was eminently successful, and "The Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers' MutualAid Association" was fully established. (To be concluded next month.) In the tract, No. 972, recently issued by the Wesleyan Conference office, and bearing the title "Forsaken Gold-diggings," there is a suggestive narrative of the discovery of a very large gold nugget in a spot which had previously, after much unremunerative toil, been temporarily abandoned by the men who at length were successful. The locality was the White Horse Gully, Bendigo diggings. A company of three-George Potter, Robert Bennett, and John Hassett, had secured a plot, nigh to the spot where was discovered the famed "Victoria nugget." They had searched most of their allotment, and gone over it several times, with only smalk results to reward their toil. Many of the holes they had dug were become full of water, and they had no intention to empty them. They thought they had done all they could, and that further labour would be useless. A. small space, however, remained unexplored; earth having been thrown upon it during the progress of the work. The removal of the accumulated earth must, therefore, be effected before there could be any exploration of that part of the plot. To take another allotment seemed better than tospend time in additional labour there. The men were about to abandon the place, when something induced them to renew their efforts there, and to clear the unexamined spot. Scarcely had they cleared away the soil, when George Potter struck his pick into a hard, massive substance, which lay imbedded in the sand, about eighteen inches only from the surface. That substance proved to be an immense piece of gold, which, when secured and cleared of the earth adhering to it, weighed five hundred and forty-five ounces. The three diggers, who, an hour previously, were on the point of giving up all further search, and abandoning the allotment, were at once made rich, through their toil and perseverance. Many diggings that were abandoned by speculators who lacked the virtue of patience, were afterwards found to contain treasure that would have made them wealthy, if they had persevered. All diggers are not alike successful. Many have toiled for very small results, but some have been extraordinarily successful. One day there was found by two men, working at the diggings, a nugget which they afterwards sold for four thousand pounds. They had been labouring in company for a considerable time without success. Had they given up, as some others in like case did, they would have remained poor and discouraged; but they persevered, and spared no pains. They dug deeply, forming a sort of shaft, or well. They took each his turn to work at the bottom, whilst the other drew up the earth to the top, and examined it, hoping to find some particles of gold. After long working in this manner, the man below struck his pick into something that made him pause, and examine it. He found it to be a mass of gold. After a few more strokes, he stooped |