Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

those whose friendly influence and exertions have contributed to augment the circulation of the Magazine to near twice the extent that it was some years ago, and to realize an unprecedented amount of profits for the several benevolent objects of the Connexion. Most earnestly does the Editor solicit a continuation of these important services.

It may not be improper here to refer to the purposes of the coming year. It will gratify our numerous readers to be informed that the Magazine in future will be enlarged to fifty-six pages. This has long been felt by the Editor to be a desideratum to afford more ample scope for articles of general interest; and the experiment is now to be entered upon in the earnest and confident hope that the expense of this enlargement will be more than met by an augmented number of subscribers. If the circulation be raised to 4000 copies per month we shall be indemnified against loss, and a clear surplus will be realized as a further augmentation of the profits of the year. The Editor is aware that this announcement will involve additional obligations and responsibilities on himself; but he is ready cheerfully to sustain them for the interests of the Connexion and the glory of God. Besides, while his present stock of materials is not small, he is encouraged by the assurance of help from gifted ministers and friends, whose contributions will impress our pages with mental power, and be perused with avidity by our readers, and, by the divine blessing, enlighten, edify, and profit the souls of our people.

Having made these statements, the Editor calmly commits to the hands of his readers both the past and the future, being confident that his efforts will be received with candour and sustained by kind co-operation; and looking with humble expectation for the blessing of that God who has graciously promised that his truth shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish that which he pleases and prosper in the thing whereto he sends it. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

THE EDITOR.

8, ALBANY CRESCENT, ALBANY ROAD, LONDON.

November 18, 1852.

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

THE METHODIST

NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1852.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. JOSEPH GRAHAM, OF NORTH SHIELDS. BY HIS SON, JOHN GRAHAM.*

RELIGIOUS periodicals are valuable as the depositories of what is worthy of record in the character and experience of those whose place in the Church and influence for good have endeared their memory beyond the immediate sphere of the family most nearly and painfully impressed by their removal from time. But for the facilities which they afford, many precious memorials would be lost and much edification and encouragement would be wanting to numbers who have no means of access to more costly and elaborate biographies. Moreover, what is thus gathered, especially of the short and simple annals" of the pious poor, could in no other form or way be so easily obtained. By our periodicals they are cheaply preserved and spread over the length and breadth of the religious community to which those periodicals belong; thus presenting before our readers constantly-accumulating evidence and illustration of the power of divine truth and grace to form the character and sustain it in a patient continuance in well-doing, till the individuals have received the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls.

Though there are many points of uniformity, yet there is much diversity in the character, attainments and usefulness of those persons who, from time to time, form the material of which the Church militant is composed. The timid and courageous, the quiescent and the active, the man of two talents and the owner of ten, "fitly framed together" give that beautiful variety to the "Holy Temple" which it exhibits. The same individual, indeed, at progressive stages of his spiritual career, often presents to view an altered and improving character, thus giving pleasing indication of growth in wisdom, patience and purity, and acquiring a stability, firmness of principle and conduct, which invite the confidence and excite the emulation of his compeers.

It is judged that there is much in the character and conduct of the late Mr. Joseph Graham that may conduce to the instruction and edification of those into whose hands this memoir may fall.

* Mr. W. G. Tate, an intimate and highly-esteemed friend of Mr. Graham, had engaged to prepare a memoir of him; but indisposition compelled him to abandon the task. To him the writer of this memoir is indebted for the larger portion of the material embodied in this sketch.

B

When the Low Chapel, situated at the east end of North Shields, was opened by the Methodist New Connexion, Mr. Graham was in London. There, by frequenting the same place of business and occupying the same lodgings, he became acquainted with Mr. W. Service, a young man from Sunderland, whose amiable disposition and intelligent conversation won on the susceptible mind of Mr. Graham. He was induced to spend his Sabbaths in attending religious ordinances, which, combined with the pious deportment, literary tastes and studious habits of his new acquaintance, awakened in his soul a desire to wait at the posts of Wisdom's doors and familiarize himself with that literature which purifies, elevates and expands the mind. This acquaintanceship, which seems, in its first influence, to have laid the foundation of what followed, ripened into a life-lasting friendship.

Thus

On Mr. Graham's return home he attended, by invitation, the Sabbathevening service at the Low Chapel, when the late Mr. W. Thompson improved the death of the Rev. John Grundell, who preached his last sermon at the opening services of that chapel.* Invited by some of his musical acquaintances, he joined them in the singers' pew, where he occupied a place as long as our Church and congregation worshipped there, and afterwards in Salem Chapel, to which they removed. he was introduced to our services, which he continued to attend with such apparent benefit that he was shortly after invited to unite in fellowship with the infant Church just formed. This invitation he accepted, stating afterwards that the impressions made on his mind by the ministry of the late Rev. James Dunkerly induced him to take that important and decisive step, and that the same minister was the instrument of leading him into the enjoyment of religion.

[ocr errors]

66

66

At the commencement of his Christian career he was called to acts of decision and self-denial. He had been associated, almost from infancy, with the most prominent gaieties of life. One department of his father's business had connected Mr. Graham with the theatre, and familiarized him with the green-room and the stage. His father, as perruquier" to the company, had an annual benefit-night, when the house was always crowded; and his son, while a boy, appeared in character, danced a sailor's hornpipe" and sang a sea-song. Coming home at the height of the theatrical season, Mr. Graham was called to the immediate sacrifice of that connexion, which he unhesitatingly made. The manager, anxious to retain his services, employed all his powers of argument, entreaty, wit, banter and ridicule in vain. But his greatest struggle was to rescue his entire Sabbath from secular pursuits. Some of his best supporters had been waited on in the morning of that day; but finding him decided, they consented that he should wait on them late on the Saturday evening. This test, a triumph of principle, gave proof of a genuine work of grace, to which even his opposers at length paid homage.

His mother united with the Church at the same time, and also his brother George, who had lately returned from the French prison, where he had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. These took sweet counsel together and strengthened each other's hands in the Lord. That brother so lately restored to his country and friends, after having

*See Jubilee Volume, pp. 320, 321.

« ZurückWeiter »