brother on account of his having broken caste, entered the house of the sahib, sunk his name and the name of his family, &c., &c. I allowed them to go on for some time, and then begged they would hear me for a little, and having obtained their consent, I preached unto them Jesus as faithfully and affectionately as I could; and, as they had dwelt much on the loss Rama Das had sustained, spoke specially of the benefits the true religion conferred, both in this and the next world, on all those who embraced it. I finally concluded by beseeching them to follow the example of their old neighbour: for that there was salvation in no other. I was convinced that what I had said had some effect on their minds, from the very perceptible change in their conduct towards me. At first they treated me with coldness and as an outcast (which they really regarded me to be), but afterwards they became quite cordial; yea, and actually cooked their food in the same house I cooked in, a thing quite contrary to their custom! and finding I had nothing for curry, they even shared what vegetables they had with me! Seeing all this, I felt that the power the gospel exerts over the human heart is indeed mighty! and that when preached with fervency and affection it is able to subdue and humble the stoutest opponent." In justice to my much esteemed brother it is but right that I say the above is very meagre as compared with the orignal, it seems so prosy and tame beside the same ideas expressed in Oriya. I hope, however, it will not fail to interest the friends of the mission; and then the object for which it has been translated and sent will be fully answered. GEORGE TAYLOR. Foreign Letters Received. CAMP KENDALL.-J. Buckley, Dec. 15. CUTTACK.-J. Buckley, Nov. 3, Jan. 3. CUTTACK.-Mrs. Stubbins, . Contributions -G. Taylor, Dec. 18, Jan. 3. RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, From January 20th, to February 20th, 1863. STOKE-ON-TRENT. Collections and subscriptions 5 10 10 For Special Fund FLECKNEY. Subscriptions.. ... 1 7 0 Collections and subscriptions 15 7 3 SACRAMENTAL COLLECTIONS FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS FUND. Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by Robert Pegg, Esq., Treasurer, Derby; and by the Rev. J. C. Pike, Secretary, Leicester, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books, and Cards may be obtained. THE GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE. APRIL, 1863. MEMOIR OF MR. JAMES HODGSON. culture, a faithful ministry, and the blessing of heaven resulted in his early dedication to God. At the age of fifteen he confessed the Saviour's name and entered the fellowship of the visible church. In a few years his exemplary deportment, his fervent spirit, and his promising talents, attracted the notice and elicited the admiration of his friends. Veterans in the holy war hailed him as a noble volunteer in the sacramental host, and bid him God speed in the moral campaign of life. THE testimony of inspiration con- | knowledge, and in grace. Home cerning the wise and good who have passed into the unseen world is most consolatory. A series of imperishable epitaphs pencilled by the finger of God, commemorate their holy character, their godly life, their triumphant death, and their beatified immortality. Of the sainted dead the voice from heaven proclaims, That the memory of the just is blessed; that the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. They sleep in Jesus. They rest in hope. Their works do follow them. Biography, truthful, discriminating, and suggestive, forms no inconsiderable portion of the sacred canon. In conformity with the spirit and purport of these exalted precedents we proceed to sketch the life and character of our departed friend. James Hodgson, late of Halifax, was the son of John and Betty Hodgson, and was born at a place called the Nook,' in Wadsworth, Yorkshire, August 24th, 1782. Resident in the immediate vicinity of Birchcliffe chapel, his pious mother was accustomed to take her infant charge to that honoured sanctuary, and present him before the Lord. The boy James grew in wisdom, in VOL. IV.-NEW SERIES, No. 4. Sixty years ago, the rural districts of our land were in a deplorable state of religious destitution. Unrighteous legislation corrupted the life and weakened the power of the Established Church. The old Statute Book of the realm frowned on all dissidents from her communion. Ignorance, profanity, and vice, were in fierce confederacy against the Lord and his Anointed. The lofty principles of Nonconformity were in advance of the religious convictions and popular sympathies of the nation. Already, however, indications appeared in society, prophetic of the rising power and ultimate triumph of the pure, the spiritual, | part in the deliberations, the exerand the free, in the kingdom of God. Men conscious of a newly quickened life arose in various parts of the land, and went forth preaching the Word. Churches of Christ were planted, heavenly gifts descended upon their members, the hand of the Lord was with them, and large numbers became obedient to the faith. Our venerated friend participated in this blessed spiritual resurrection. Ere twenty summers of his earthly sojourn had passed, he became famous in the region round about as the Baptist boy preacher.' Neighbours and friends flocked to hear the youthful divine expatiate on the sublime themes of inspiration. The self-propagating force in the church at Birchcliffe now assumed a more expansive form, and in the year 1806, thirty-seven members withdrew from its constituency and were formed into a separate Christian community at Heptonstall Slack. In March 1808, the gifted youth of whom I write became an accredited member of this new organization. Full of manly vigour, strong in holy resolve, and sanguine in his spiritual aims, his accession to the infant church infused new life into their counsels and plans of operation. The daring project of building a new chapel was cautiously introduced and warmly discussed. The advice of the Conference was sought, judicious friends were consulted, and the brethren were encouraged to rise and build. A committee was formed of which the deceased was the most active member. Prompt and efficient measures were adopted. A circular letter was prepared and sent abroad soliciting the aid of sister churches in building the new meeting-house.' And in the autumn of the same year the place was opened for religious worship. The completion of the material temple was followed by united and strenuous exertions to recover the fallen and win human hearts to God. The records of the church testify that our lamented friend took a leading cises, and the labours of the brethren. Meetings for fasting and prayer were appointed, a Sundayschool was established, cottage preaching and district visiting were successfully conducted, and Zion greatly prospered. In October 1810, the departed, by the cordial vote of the church, entered on the functions and responsibilities of the deacon's office, a position of honour and trust which he held up to the time of his demise. He was now in his 28th year. His nature was genial, his manners pleasing, his disposition hospitable. Possessed of a sound constitution, a well-informed mind, good business tact, and a vigorous piety, he held within his group the elements of social advancement, moral power, and Christian usefulness. After a careful perusal of fragmentary excerpts from his diary I feel justified in affirming my con viction, that the leading aim of his life was to employ these noble gifts in the service of God and humanity. Conscious of his absolute dependence upon an all presiding Deity for success in his varied undertakings, and jealous over himself, lest in some unguarded hour he should tarnish his fair Christian name, his custom was to school his high spirit by the discipline of self-scrutiny. Under date of March 15th, 1814, he writes: 'I have the most powerful reasons to be grateful to God. Few of my fears have been realized with respect to my worldly circumstances. I ascribe all to Him this morning, May I lie humbly at Thy feet, most compassionate Father, for what Thou hast done for me. Help me to manage my business agreeably to Thy word. Guard and preserve me from saying or doing anything to impeach my character, injure the people with which I am connected, or cause the interest of religion to suffer in any respect.' The sincerity and fervour of his devotion are indicated by the following extracts: Bless me, even me, O my Father. Give me vigour of mind for my offices in Thy church. His Character and Influence. Fit me for the ministry to which I am called: in all respects qualify me. May I use my influence and authority for the good of mankind and Thy glory. I lay all down at Thy feet. Never leave me, nor forsake me; for Jesus's sake. Amen.' Like every true-hearted son, the subject of this notice was devoutedly attached to his mother. Her death filled his heart with grief. In relation to this affecting bereavement he records: 'I feel a sensible loss of my dear mother who left this world January 22nd, 1818, about three o'clock in the morning. She has borne a long and painful illness with uncommon patience. I feel now as if bereft of almost every comfort. This loss I feel the greatest of every other. I cannot get her back. I must shortly go to her. Oh that I may stand ready when the summons comes.' Our honoured friend was now approaching an eventful crisis in his social life; his deepest anxieties were awakened in reference to the future, and again he appeals to heaven for guidance. I know not what to do in the designs which I am forming for the change of my situation in life. I raise my eyes and heart to Thee Thou great Parent of all living. I would say like Jacob of old, I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me.' His invocation met with a propitious return, and on July 3rd, 1828, Sarah Ibbotson, a truly Christian lady, became his devoted and affectionate wife. One in affection, purpose, and aim, their domestic circle was the scene of concord, piety, and love. Placed in ease and comfortable circumstances the years now glided sweetly away, the meridian of life stole quietly on, departed years chastened his spirit, ripened his thoughts, and enriched his soul with precious memories of Divine goodness, wisdom, and grace. Hence the retrospect he inserts in his diary :: December 10th, 1840. 'I have hastily reviewed my life this morning. I lived ten years at the Nook, in Wadsworth, twenty 123 four years at Highroyd, ten years at Great Burlees, both in the same township, and fourteen years at Stubbing House, near Hebden Bridge. I cannot now detail the changes which have transpired in these years, at these several places of residence. Humility, gratitude, and wonder оссиру and fill my mind. O what sins I behold; what abounding mercy has governed the conduct of an equitable Providence. I feel overpowered under a sense of obligation. I will devote myself to the Lord without reserve; will finally abandon the world with all its flatteries and deceit; will relieve, instruct, admonish and pray, for my fellow-men, and exert myself to promote my Saviour's honour. For my ability to do these things I depend on my Creator, my Benefactor, and Redeemer. To Him I will cry in unceasing supplication. To Him will I live on earth, to Him will I die. Him will I praise in in heaven for ever. Amen.' August 24th, 1841, he thus commemorates his natal day. This is my birthday. I have lived in this world fifty-nine years. What mercies I have received from the Lord. What reasons for humiliation and repentance. What changes in this country and in the world. I feel astonished that I am alive and well. I am resolving by the grace of God to live the rest of my life to serve Him who has loved me and given Himself for me.' These excerpts from the journal of our late brother Hodgson evidently show, that religion was an imperial force in his soul, a formative element in his character, and a controlling power in his life. His social position, his generous sympathies, and his excellent abilities gave him great influence in the church, the Conference, and the Denomination at large. His readiness to incur responsibilities, and his zeal in chapel extension on some occasions, exceeded providential limits, and percipitated himself and his friends into much anxiety and trouble. But the charity which hopeth all things will still add, he was a good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. The records of several of our existing churches in the Yorkshire district bear traces of his memory, labours, and beneficence. He was a minister's counsellor and friend. The General Baptist divine was always welcome to his hand, his home, and his heart. A ministerial brother bears the following eulogistic testimony to the departed: 'When I first made the acquaintance of Mr. James Hodgson, (which was during the ministry of the late Mr. Butler) he was an active, leading man in the church. I admired and almost revered him at that time, and ever since I have had a high appreciation of his character and ability. When I left home for our Academy, he said to me " Be sure you take care of your health,-take care of your health, I say." I greatly admired him in the Conferences. His knowledge, experience, and position in life, gave him great influence over his brethren, which he always sought to wield for the advancement of the cause and the glory of Christ. In my judgment he has contributed more than any other man to give stability and respectability to the General Baptist cause in Yorkshire.' man low, from which he never wholly recovered. At intervals during the last ten years of life, his sufferings were indiscribable. Through this long period of Divine chastening, the good man was patient, trustful, and happy. Loved and venerated by his relatives they vied with each other in tending his bedside and ministering to his ease and comfort. Their hours of midnight watching, their deeds of selfsacrificing kindness, and their words of cheer and hope, are known only to that Heavenly Friend who has said, I was sick, and ye visited me. The frequent calls of ministers and friends contributed greatly to his consolation and joy. I well remember forming one of a group met in the good man's chamber to offer prayer on his behalf. It was a season of elevated spiritual communion. The angel of the Lord came and ministered unto the heir of salvation: he arose in his bed saying, 'Your presence and devotion have cheered my soul. My sufferings are great, but I am in the Lord's hands. His will be done. I am a poor guilty sinner. All my hope of pardon and heaven is in Christ.' In one of my last interviews with the departed, language expressive of gratitude, resignation, and hope, fell from his lips; and on leading his thoughts upwards to the bright future, he wept for joy at the prospect of being for ever with the Lord, and meeting the holy and the good who had gone before to the home of the blessed. The deceased was a liberal patron of our Connexional Institutions. For a series of years he filled the office of treasurer in behalf of the Academy. The annual Association held a high place in his regard, and its objects and plans usually obtained his support and co-opera- In 1862, our lamented friend tion. The welfare and prosperity entered on the tenth year of his of the Denomination ever lay near affliction and the 80th year of his his heart. He dwelt among his own age. It now became evident to all people both from principle and that the mortal hour was fast ap choice, not forgetting, however, that proaching. The silver cord was loosed, the end of the commandment is charity the golden bowl was broken, the pitcher out of a pure heart and love unfeigned. was broken at the fountain, the power Three score years and ten of his of articulation was gone, and amid mortal existence had now passed quietude and silence, his immortal away. The hale and athletic frame spirit passed into the presence of yielding to the exhaustive forces of God, August 29th, 1862. His retime, became the victim of a most mains were conveyed to Heptonstall painful and inveterate malady. A Slack, the beloved scene of his recuticular disease laid the strongligious life and labours. The Rev. |