both herself and her children were impressed with the belief that her end
was drawing near; on the 15th she passed a very trying day, but in the
evening revived a little and spoke most sweetly of the fulness and
clearness of her hope, and her perfect confidence in the love and mercy
of her God, extended to her for the sake of her beloved Saviour; she was
full of sweetness and affection to all around her, her heart overflowing
with gratitude to God and man. "Dear Hannah C. Backhouse," she remarked,
"visited me a short time before I came here, and she said, 'I believe
Jesus has thrown his arm of everlasting love around thee, and is drawing
thee nearer and nearer to himself, and he will draw thee nearer and
nearer, till at last He will press thee into his bosom.' It was a sweet
message; I have often thought upon it since, and I now feel such close
union of spirit with God, that I cannot doubt it is even so." On the
passage of Scripture being repeated, "The angel of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear him," she added, "yes, and preserveth
them.--'This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and delivered him
from all his troubles.' The fear of the Lord has been my support for
many years past." And on being reminded of that verse of Scripture, "Thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me," she said, "He has been my staff and
my rod in the dark valley of death, keeping my head above the waters, and
he has given me hope full of immortality,--full of immortality! and I
shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever; I humbly trust that such
will be my portion." She then remarked "It is just a week to-day since I
began to be so very ill;--strange conflict of the body, with the mind so
perfectly tranquil, in strong confirmation of the blessed promise, 'Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.'--I have
often thought I heard the song of Moses and of the Lamb, as I lay here in
deep exhaustion." At another time she remarked, "I have often sinned,
and erred much, but I have One in heaven that pleadeth for me."
She hailed with much joy the arrival of a beloved friend, and spoke of
the event as filling up the only remaining desire she had on earth; their
meeting was a season of mutual love and thanksgiving to the Lord. On
Second day, the 24th, she said, "I am so loosed from every thing below,
as I could not have believed;" and in the evening expressed that she was
so filled with thankfulness her heart was overflowing! She intimated her
belief, when her room was made ready for the night, that it would be the
last she should have to pass, and the next morning it became evident that
she was rapidly sinking. It was said to her that it was a long and
trying travel, but she was near to a better land! when she quickly
responded, "Yes, Emanuel's land:" and on its being remarked, "The crown
is nearly won;" she emphatically replied, "Oh, I wish it were on!" A
short time after this, her redeemed spirit was gently liberated from the
shackles of mortality, to be, we humbly believe, "for ever with the
Lord."
FANNY MARTIN WALLER, _Guildford_. Daughter of the late Thomas Waller. 30
12mo. 14 1849
EDWARD WALLIS, _Melksham_. Son of Abraham Wallis, of London. 26 3mo. 6
1850
JOHN WALTON, _Southport_. 61 1mo. 7 1850
ALFRED WATKINS, _Eydon_, _Northamptonshire_. Son of John and Susanna
Watkins. 16 4mo. 22 1850
JANE WATSON, _Allonby_, _Cumberland_. 85 10mo. 20 1849
FERGUS WATSON, _Allonby_. 90 1mo. 21 1850
ANN WATSON, _Heworth_, _Newcastle-on-Tyne_. Wife of John Watson. 72
12mo. 6 1849
MARY WATSON, _Cockermouth_. 64 10mo 18 1849
LUCY BELL WESTWOOD, _Brampton_, _Hunts_. Daughter of John and Elizabeth
Westwood. 17 3mo. 19 1850
JOSEPH WHEELER, _Birmingham_. 81 11mo. 21 1849
THOMAS WHITE, _Ratcliff_, _London_. 80 3mo. 7 1850
JANE WHITE, _Chesham_, _Bucks_. 41 1mo. 2 1850
MARIA BELLA WHITE, _Henley-on-Thames_. Widow of Gabriel G. White. 84
8mo. 17 1850
ANNE WHITFIELD, _near Coothill_, _Ireland_. 85 3mo. 12 1850
RICHARD WHITING, _Tottenham_. 84 7mo. 3 1850
ANNE WHITTEN, _Roscrea_, _Ireland_. Widow. 72 3mo. 24 1850
MAUDLIN WICKETT, _Darlington_. Widow of Benjamin Wickett. 94 11mo. 15
1849
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, _Denbigh_, _Cheshire_. 70 11mo. 2 1849
WILLIAM WILSON, _Bradford_. 82 11mo. 23 1849
The following account has much of it been taken from a brief memoir of
William Wilson, which appeared in the "Bradford Observer," and which has
since been published as a tract.
William Wilson might truly be said to be "an Israelite indeed, in whom
there was no guile." He had his _peculiarities_ of character, but with
all, was _singularly good_, and we cannot doubt that his prayers and his
alms, had come up for a memorial before Him, who seeth in secret.
At the age of fifty, with an ample fortune, he relinquished a business,
in which he had most diligently laboured, when the full tide of
prosperity was flowing in upon him, in order that he might devote his
time, and the means placed by Providence at his disposal, to the cause of
neglected and suffering humanity.
For more than thirty years it became the essential and exclusive
employment of his life, to explore and to relieve cases of poverty and
distress, and in the accomplishment of this undertaking, he employed the
same assiduity and care, which he had been wont to exercise in the
management of his secular calling, distributing many times at the rate of
a thousand pounds a year.
As a steward of the gifts of God, he carefully invested his money so as
to secure a fair rate of interest, and on no occasion did he relax from
the utmost exactness in his monetary dealings; and yet it is believed
that his personal and domestic expenditure never reached 150 pounds per
annum.
His house, like his person, was a pattern of plainness and simplicity.
His furniture consisted of nothing fashionable or superfluous; and his
table was equally marked by comfort and frugality.
He was a warm advocate in the cause of Temperance, and was deeply
interested in the subject of "the prevention of Cruelty to Animals."
Of Tracts, he must have paid for, and circulated gratuitously, some
millions! His whole time and energies were fully employed, and often
heavily taxed, in devising and carrying out schemes of mercy and
benevolence, and his life presented one uniform tenor of consistent
piety. To strangers he might appear reserved, but his apparent reserve
only resulted from his constitutional modesty, and retiring habits,
whilst to those who enjoyed his friendship, he was frank, open, and
intelligent in no ordinary degree.
William Wilson was never robust, but toward the close of his life, his
feebleness became more apparent; for more than a week he was confined to
his bed, but without any urgent symptom of disease. His mind was calm
and peaceful,--he knew and loved his Saviour, and through His mediation,
we cannot doubt he has inherited the blessing to the pure in heart,
leaving behind him, in many respects, an example worthy to be followed,
practically bearing a noble testimony to "christian moderation and
temperance in all things," and against that covetousness which is
idolatry. The memory of such a man is blessed.
ELIZABETH WILSON, _Rawden_. 69 4mo. 12 1850
MARY WILSON, _Kendal_. Widow. 60 1mo. 31 1850
JAMES WILSON, _Elm Farm_, _Liverpool_. 76 10mo. 31 1849
ELIZABETH WOOD, _Chelmsford_. 68 1mo. 17 1850
JANE WOOD, _Highflatts_. Wife of John Wood. 28 4mo. 4 1850
FRANCIS WRIGHT, _Kettering_. 76 5mo. 13 1850
THOMAS WRIGHT, _Cork_. 61 10mo. 9 1849
Many, both within the limits of our own Society and out of it, can bear
testimony to the integrity, benevolence, and Christian deportment of this
dear friend. In his transactions with his fellow-men, he was
particularly careful not to over-reach, or to avail himself of advantages
subversive to their interests; and in the social circle, as well as among
the poor, his kindness of disposition was conspicuous. During the
scarcity of provision in Ireland, his liberality was great, and his
exertions on behalf of the destitute almost unremitting.
His illness commenced in the early part of the 9th month, 1849, and on
finding that the complaint did not yield to remedies, he expressed his
earnest desire for resignation to the divine will, remarking, that
whatever might be the termination, he believed "all would be well." He
intimated, that he had not been one who could give much expression to his
religious feelings, but that for many years his mind had been daily
exercised before the Lord on his own behalf, as well as on that of his
family. The prosperity of our religious Society lay very near to his
heart, and he expressed his earnest desire for its preservation in
"humility and simplicity."
The patience with which he bore the debility attendant upon his complaint
was remarkable; His mind expanded in love to his family, his friends, and
to all the world, repeating emphatically, "I love them all."
He frequently spoke of his willingness to depart; and as his illness
advanced, there appeared an increasing sweetness and solemnity in his
manner, and he mostly addressed those about him in terms of affection,
expressing his thankfulness for their attention, and desiring that the
Lord would strengthen them. On a hope being expressed that his mind was
peaceful, he replied, "Yes, quite so." He took an affectionate leave of
his wife and those around him; after which nature rapidly sank, and he
quietly, and it is humbly believed, peacefully expired.
ELIZA WRIGHT, _Sutton_, _Cambridgeshire_. Daughter of Thomas and Mary
Wright. 7 9mo. 8 1850
THOMAS WEIGHT, _Sutton_. 49 9mo. 16 1850
HENRY WRIGHT, _Middlesboro_. 30 9mo. 10 1849
JOHN FULLER YOUELL, _Yarmouth_. 28 12mo. 1 1849
INFANTS whose names are not inserted.
Under one month . . . Boys 1 . . . Girls 1
From one to three months . . . do. 2 . . . do. 3
From three to six months . . . do. 1 . . . do. 3
From six to twelve months . . . do. 1 . . . do. 1
HANNAH CHAPMAN BACKHOUSE.
_Died_ 6_th of_ 5_th month_, 1850.
Hannah Chapman Backhouse was the daughter of Joseph and Jane Gurney; she
was born at Norwich the 9th of 2nd Month, 1787. Of her very early life
she has left but little record. She disliked study, and was fond of
boyish sports, until about the age of thirteen, when she began to feel
enjoyment in reading.
Possessed of a naturally powerful and energetic mind, with talents of a
very superior order, she soon began to take great delight in study, and
was ambitious to excel in every thing that she undertook. Drawing she
pursued with intense eagerness, and in this and other acquirements, she
made great proficiency. Until about the age of seventeen, her highest
enjoyment was derived from the cultivation of the intellectual powers,
and in the endeavour to raise these to their highest perfection, she
imagined the greatest happiness to consist. In her journal she
writes:--"My thoughts have been this week, one continued castle in the
air of being an artist; the only reality they were built on, was my
having painted in oils better than I thought I could, and a feeling that
I shall in a little time succeed, and an unbounded ambition to do so. I
have had many arguments with myself, to know if it would be right. I
think it would, if I could make good use of it."
But gradually she found that no object which had this world for its
limit, could satisfy the cravings of an immortal soul. She began to feel
that she was formed for higher purposes than the gratification of self in
its most refined and plausible form, and in 1806, we note the gradual
unfolding of that change of view, which through the operation of the Holy
Spirit, led her to the unreserved surrender of her whole being to the
service of her Lord;--a surrender that in so remarkable a manner marked
her unwavering path through the remaining portion of her dedicated life.
Speaking of this period, after her first attendance of the Yearly
Meeting, she says,--
July, 1806. "This time, for almost the first in my life, I seem come to
a stand in the objects of my darling pursuits, which I may say have been
almost entirely the pursuit of pleasure, through the medium of the
understanding. This I feel must be a useless search, for the further I
go, the more unattainable is the contentment which I hoped a degree of
excellence might have produced;--the further I go, the further does my
idea of perfection extend; therefore this way of attaining happiness I
find is impossible. Never in my life was I so sensible of the real
weakness of man, though to all appearance so strong; for I am persuaded
that it is almost impossible to conduct oneself through this world,
without being sincerely religious. The human mind must have an object,
and let that object be the attainment of eternal happiness. * * * After
such considerations, can I be so weak as not to make religion my only
pursuit? That which will, I believe, bring my mind into beautiful order,
and, rendering all worldly objects subservient to its use, harmonize the
whole, and fit it to bear fruit to all eternity, and the fruit of
righteousness is peace. I have felt my mind very much softened of late,
and more and more see the beauty of holiness, but all the progress I can
say that I have made towards it, is in loving it more;--yet I feel I have
a great way to go before my heart is entirely given up."
Feb. 9th, 1807. "To-day I am twenty; let me endeavour to describe with
sincerity what twenty years have effected upon me; how difficult self-
love and blindness make answering the questions, What am I? How far am I
advanced in the great end of being, the making such use of my time here,
that it may bear fruit when time with me is over? When I look upon
myself with the greatest seriousness, how ill do I think of myself! I
see myself endowed with powers, which I often, (I hope, with a pure and
unfeigned heart,) wish may be applied aright. But in my mind, what
strong 'bulls of Bashan' compass me about! What I fear most, and that
which sometimes comes upon me most awfully, is, that my will is not
properly brought into subjection. * * * Often when clothed with something
of heavenly love, do I feel that I had rather be a door-keeper in the
house of my God, than dwell in king's palaces, but I fear the general
tendency of my pursuits would make me more fit for the latter than the
former. What I want and do most sincerely wish for, is, that I may be
truly humble, and that where pride now reigns, humility may prevail; and
where ambition, contentment."
In 1808, the death of a favourite first cousin appears to have been the
means of greatly deepening her serious impressions, and of increasing the
desire to "relieve herself," as she expresses it, "from the miserable
state of inconsistency in which a gay Friend is situated." A short time
subsequent to this period, she writes:--
May, 1808. "With my father and mother I left the Grove this morning,
with a mind much softened, though not afflicted by parting with those I
love, earnestly wishing that what I was going to attend,--the Yearly
Meeting, might stamp more deeply the impressions I had received. We
reached Epping that night. I felt very serious; Love seemed to have
smitten me, and under that banner, I earnestly hoped that I might be
enabled to partake of whatever might be set before me in the banqueting
house. I saw that it would be right for me to say _thee_, and _thou_, to
everybody, and I begged that I might be so kept in love as to be enabled
to do it,--that love might draw me, not fear terrify me."
"How deeply I felt to enjoy First-day, and was strengthened at meeting.
For the first time, to-day I called the days of the week numerically, on
principle, it cost me at first a blush. This day has afforded me deeper
and sweeter feelings than any I have yet passed; surprise and ridicule I
have felt to be useful!"
"Left Bury Hill early: I can look back to the time I have spent here as
the happiest in my life; and I have earnestly wished that my example and
influence in future life, may be useful to those whom, never before my
mind was so altered, did I love with so sweet or so great an affection."
After alluding to some further change, she writes; "I felt increasingly
the weight of advocating the cause I have engaged in; oh! may no word or
action of mine, stain the character I am assuming, and may no
self-exaltation be the consequence: the mind, I feel, must be kept deep
indeed, to avoid the rocks that do every where surround."
6th Month, 1808. "Went to meeting--thought that by observing the
commandment, and confessing Christ before men, we should only be showing
the beautiful effect of obedience, in the fruit of the Spirit it
produces,--that it does not consist in speech, dress, or behaviour, but
that by being obedient in these and all things, to the law written in our
hearts; we should be overshadowed by that sweetness and quietness of
spirit, the fruits of which would prove whose government we are under."
7th Month, 1808, Cromer. "Walked on the shore, the sky was illuminated
by the setting sun the scene was of nature's greatest beauty, I could not
speak, but it was not the effect of the scene. Such scenes in which I
used to revel, have lost much of their influence in the inferior peace
they bring, to that which a few small sacrifices, the effect of
obedience, produce."
Grove, 11th Month, 1808. "Patience tried, and censoriousness of mind and
some words allowed to have too much dominion. The higher we rise, the
more we feel the foibles of others; and then the more need have we of the
spirit of love and charity, to be patient with them; and if we are not,
it is not excellence, but only the sight of it we have gained."
12th Month, 1808. "I fear I have not sufficiently this week, wrestled
for the blessing of peace. I am sensible of having the power of
pleasing, of having stronger natural powers and more acquirements than
most women,--I am conscious too, of having with all my might, sought that
which is highest, and that my heart has been made willing to sacrifice
all for the attainment of it, and wonders have I already known; if I do
not now diligently seek that which can make me feelingly ascribe all the
glory, where alone it is due, fruitless must all my talents be, and great
my fall."
12th Month, 12th, 1808. "--- came, the conversation in the evening,
softened my heart in the deduction I drew from it, of what a prize was
our possession,--how anchorless the world seemed to be,--and I loved dear
Friends!"
2nd Month, 9th, 1809. "Twenty-two years old. Through the mercy of
everlasting kindness, great is the change that this year has wrought in
me; the power of Love has enticed me to begin that spiritual journey
which leads to the promised land: I have left, by His guidance and
strength, the bondage of Egypt, and have seen His wonders in the deep.
May the endeavour of my life be, to keep close to that Angel, who can
deliver us through the trials and dangers of the wilderness of this
world.
I have not studied much this year, yet I have almost every day read a
little, and never was my sight so clear into the intellectual world. The
works of the head may, I believe, usefully occupy such portions of time
as are not necessary for discharging our relationship in society. * * *
But above all things be humble, which a love of all perfection is, I
believe, not only consistent with, but the root of."
In 1811, Hannah C. Gurney married Jonathan Backhouse, and settled at
Darlington. The early years of her married life appear to have been much
devoted to her young family. For a time, her journal was entirely
suspended; but in 1815 she writes: "These last four years, are perhaps
best left in that situation, in which spiritual darkness has in a great
measure involved them; it may be the sweet and new objects of external
love, and necessary attention in which I have been engaged, have too much
drawn my mind from internal watchfulness, after the first flow of
spiritual joy began to subside; or it has been the will of the Author of
all blessing to change the dispensation, and taking from me the light of
his love, in which all beauty so easily and naturally exists, to teach me
indeed, that the glory of all good belongs to Him alone, and that He is
jealous of our decking ourselves with His jewels."
In 1820, she first spoke as a minister, in reference to which she writes:
3rd Month, 1820, "Had felt for some time, and particularly lately, a warm
concern for the interest of our family, which to my humiliation,
surprise, and consolation, I was strengthened to express to them in a
private opportunity, before I left Sunderland. On our ride home, I felt
the candle of the Lord shine round about me, in a manner I had not done
for years, accompanied with much tenderness and some foreboding fears. I
felt I had put my hand to the plough, and I must not turn back, but I
remembered the days that were past, and I knew something of the power of
Him in whom I had believed; though fear often compassed me about, and too
much imagination."
1820. "My heart has burned as an oven, internal and external
supplication has not been wanting to ease it; may I endure the burnings
as I ought." Speaking of attending the Yearly Meeting soon after, she
says: "I saw many dangerous enemies of my own heart near me, yet was
there mercifully preserved a germ of truth, in which met the hearts of
the faithful, and which was an encouragement to me; I afterwards spoke
twice in the Yearly Meeting, and the composure at the moment, and after a
time the peace that ensued, seemed to assure me that I had not run
without being sent. The remembrance of former days came strongly before
me, and in thus again publicly manifesting the intent of my heart, I felt
the comfort of being no stranger to that Hand, which, as it once fed me
with milk, seemed to me now after a long night season, feeding me with
meat."
After her return home, she writes: "Opened my mouth in Darlington
meeting, on First-day afternoon. A mountain in prospect! The meetings
now became very interesting to me, and as the reward of what I was
induced to believe was faithfulness, often greatly refreshing."
In the course of this year, she lost her eldest son, a child of great
promise, and the suffering attendant upon this deep sorrow, in addition
to close mental baptism, at times greatly prostrated her physical powers.
11th Month 4th, 1820, we find the following-memorandum: "'Oh how great is
Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, which Thou
hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men.' In
looking back to the last two or three months, I feel I may adopt this
language: in them I have known the greatest portion of suffering that it
has yet been my lot to taste."
3rd Month, 1822. She writes, "In the afternoon meeting, a subject seemed
so clear before me, that I ventured to speak; but oh! the evil of my
heart, the consciousness of having, or supposing I had, chosen my words
well, was like the fly in the ointment of the apothecary, the baneful
effects of which, I felt many days after. The more I see of my own mind,
the more may the breathing of my soul be,--'If Thou wilt, Thou canst make
me clean.' Sometimes to believe that it is His will, is sweet to me, but
we must maintain the fight, for though the victory is His, the fall is
ours."
"The constant and deep consideration for others in the most minute
actions of life, how I love it, and feel myself 'as a bullock
unaccustomed to the yoke.'"
5th Month, 6th, 1822. "Days and nights of much spiritual conflict, or
rather perhaps the sight that there was much to conflict with; weak in
body and weak in mind! In my ministry more patient and deep deliberation
wanting. Last night, believed I had not kept close enough to my Guide in
prayer, with which I felt some distress,--perhaps not altogether
wrong,--but had not stopped when I ought, nor waited at every moment for
clearness and strength in the exercise; I hope I shall not hurt others."
6th Month, 1822. "A month is now passed in which I have been sweetly
enabled to enjoy the love of God in my heart. I trust we shall
experience preservation, though we may well fear for ourselves, and be
the subject of fear for others. Oh! that, without affectation, we may
live deeply in the root of life!"
4th Month, 1823. "I have much to bind me to this earth, but perhaps more
power of gratefully enjoying its blessings is wanted, and may be in store
for me before I leave it; some minds seem deeply anchored in the truth,
meekly and patiently bearing the trials of the day, with firmer faith and
greater purity, but each heart alone knows its own bitterness, and I
believe there is never much attainment without much suffering;--a
chastened habit of thought, how desirable to be the habit of early life!
riches and indulgences how inimical to it!"