The Life And Ministry Of John Kershaw

Gospel Standard 1870:

Death Of Mr. Kershaw

Last month it was our painful duty to announce the death of Mr. Philpot; and this month our pain is renewed by our having to announce the death of Mr. Kershaw. The hope which was raised, by a little improvement in his health, that he might be spared yet a short time longer as a blessing to the churches, though only for lighter labours than formerly, has been dashed to the ground and shivered as a delicate china bowl falling from the hand.

We have been favoured with the following from the pen of a once kind and faithful servant, but now a married wife (who was much with our dear departed one), aided by the bereaved and sorrowing widow:

Mr. Kershaw returned home from London on the 17th of last May, very poorly in body. From the remarks he made he evidently thought his work was nearly done; but we hoped with nursing and rest he would soon be restored to his usual health. He appeared much better in a few days, and on the following Sabbath preached in the morning from Deut. 8:2: “And thou shalt remember all the way,” &c. In the afternoon he spoke from 1 Sam. 30:6: “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” It was with difficulty he ascended the pulpit stairs: but we were all astonished at the vigorous manner in which he was enabled to speak. He was evidently in the full enjoyment of the precious truths he brought forward. It was a very solemn time to many of us. He opened the service with the 4th hymn: “Keep silence, all created things,” &c., and concluded with the 143rd: “Rock of Ages, shelter me,” &c. I think I shall never forget his look as he glanced round upon the congregation whilst we were singing the last verse: “While I draw this fleeting breath,” &c. His countenance looked so death-like. When he had finished, his strength completely gave way. The doctor was sent for. He said it was complete exhaustion from over-exertion, causing derangement of the liver, with a tendency to jaundice.

During the week, Mr. K. often said his work was done, and appeared quite happy in the prospect of death. On the following Saturday he was very ill, which was the first time we apprehended any danger. Very early in the morning he began talking to Mrs. Kershaw about his death, and some things he should like to be attended to at his funeral. She, not wishing to hear of his death, tried to put him off; when he remarked, “My dear, you will have to come to it, and you had better hear it whilst I am able to speak.” The day following he appeared much better, and remarked to Mrs. K. that he had been meditating on Phil. 1, especially from verse 19. When I went into the room, and inquired how he was, he said. “Rather better in body and very happy in soul; I am with Paul in the 1st of Philippians.” He asked Mrs. K. to read it, and he dwelt very much on verse 20. He said he longed to depart and be with Christ, which was far better. Still, if it was the Lord’s will for him to abide in the flesh a little longer, for our “furtherance and joy of faith,” he was willing to remain; but he earnestly desired that “Christ might be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death.” Christ was indeed magnified in his body during that long affliction, in which he was confined to his bed until the latter end of July, during five or six weeks of which time we were daily expecting his death, not the least hope being entertained of his recovery by most of those who saw him. But O the joy of his soul during that time! It seemed inexpressible! His cup seemed filled to overflowing. On one occasion, seeing the tears roll down his face, Mrs. Kershaw said, “My dear, I think those are not tears of sorrow.” With all the energy he possessed, he exclaimed, “Sorrow! No! Never name sorrow, but joy!” Not being able to raise himself or turn in bed, and requiring moving so frequently, he had to have two attendants with him in the night for several weeks, many of whom said it was quite a treat to be with him, he was so blessedly favoured in his soul, and enabled to bring forward so many precious things. He would often have those about him engaged in reading the Word of God and good hymns.

It is impossible to remember anything like all which escaped his lips. His sick chamber was like a little Bethel. I well remember one Sabbath morning, whilst sitting by his bedside, he, not being able to speak audibly, beckoned to me, and on putting my ear to his mouth, he said, “O, the blessed covenant!” I replied, “You feel the stability of the covenant and your interest in it?” “O, yes” (with much earnestness); “I am in the covenant. I shall obtain the victory. Blessed covenant! It is all my salvation, and all my desire. I have had such a sweet view of it.” He then requested me to read all the hymns upon the covenant in Gadsby’s Selection. When I read the 411th: “Come, saints, and sing in sweet accord,” &c., the tears rolled down his cheeks; and when I came to the last verse he waved his hand, and said, “I shall soon be there!” At another time he wanted 2 Tim. 4:1-8 read, dwelling much on verse 8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,” &c. Sometimes he wanted all the hymns on death read to him; at other times those on the church, that of Newton’s being a great favourite of his: “Glorious things of thee are spoken.” As also the 112th: “No more, my God, I boast no more,” &c. Also the 340th: “A debtor to mercy alone.” And the 482nd: “In heaven my choicest treasure lies.” And he would often exclaim: “‘Hail, blessed time! Lord, bid me come!” The last verse of the 461st was often his language: “So, whenever the signal’s given,” &c.

In fact, during all his illness, the Lord seemed to keep the enemy at a great distance. We do not remember more than two instances in which he spoke of his being permitted to trouble him. At one time he requested Mrs. Kershaw to find that portion: “Get thee behind me, Satan.” She then said, “Is Satan tempting you?” He replied, “Yes, to pride; because so many of the great people call to inquire after me.” The other time he said to me, “I have had such a conflict with the enemy; but I am more than ever convinced of the reality of those truths I have so long been enabled to preach. They will do to live and die with.”

Many had been the earnest prayers put up to the Lord, on his behalf, for his restoration; and, contrary to all our expectations, he began to recover, and about July 20th was able to be got up. On the 25th he was carried down stairs, and during the following week was taken out a little in an invalid chair. The following Sabbath, Aug. 1, was the day appointed for the annual Sunday-school sermons. He was very anxious to be present in the afternoon, and give out the first hymn; which desire the Lord granted. He was, indeed, enabled to give out all three hymns. It was a solemn and impressive scene, to see our aged and beloved pastor once more within the walls of that chapel he so dearly loved. Many were the tears shed by his dear church and congregation, tears both of sorrow and joy; sorrow to see him so altered, yet joy to have him once more amongst us. It was like life from the dead.

I should have stated that when he began to recover, Mrs. Kershaw said, “Well, my dear, I do hope the Lord will spare you to us a little longer;” at which remark he seemed quite cast down. He did not like the idea of getting better, and did not want to hear of it; but as he gained a little strength the Lord brought his mind to it, and he began to have an ardent desire to speak once more in the name of the Lord, and, as he sometimes said, to tell the dear people how the Lord could support and comfort the mind in the prospect of death and dissolution.

His dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Knight, invited him to Waterloo, near Liverpool: and accordingly, as soon as he was considered fit to travel, Mrs. Kershaw accompanied him there, fondly hoping it might tend to recruit his strength, which it appeared to do at first; but the extremely warm weather which set in at that time tended greatly to prostrate him. He had every attention from his kind friends, but returned home not so much improved as was expected from the change. He, however, gained a little strength; and on Dec. 12th went into the pulpit in the afternoon, and took these words for a text: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (He was in the pulpit the Sabbath morning previously, speaking on the death of a young woman who had been brought up in the Sunday-school, but did not take a text, and spoke only a short time.) He spoke from the first part: “For me to live is Christ.” In his remarks he alluded to the death of dear Mr. Philpot; likewise to what he had experienced in his own sickness. The next Sabbath he preached from the latter part: “And to die is gain.” The following Sabbath he had these words: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Gen. 49:10.)

The Friday following he was not so well, and his friends tried to dissuade him from going into the pulpit on Lord’s day, Jan. 2nd; but, being the first Sabbath in the New Year, he was so very desirous that they could not restrain him. He went in for the last time, and spoke from: “By them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” He afterwards assisted in administering the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.

He gradually sank after this; and on the following Thursday evening took to his bed again, that bed from which he never again rose.

(The great consolations he enjoyed during the early part of his affliction gradually diminished as he gained strength; but a calm settled peace in the “everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure,” rested upon his spirit, which he often expressed to ministers and friends who called to see him.)

On the Friday (Jan. 7th) before he died, he asked Mrs. Kershaw to get the Bible, saying, “It is not my usual custom to tell my texts before I preach from them; but I will tell you what I hope to preach from if I ever enter the pulpit again. It is in Zech.: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.'” And he then added, “You must read the next verse, for I cannot remember it all.” The verse being read, he said, “Yes, that’s it! That’s what I shall tell the people!” (Zech. 4:6,7.)

Through extreme weakness, a kind of stupor seemed to come over him, with intervals of consciousness, Mrs. Kershaw said to him, “You seem to breathe hard.” He replied, “Yes. A few more struggles and all will be over.” She said, “Are you happy in your mind, trusting in the Lord?” He replied, “Yes.”

On Sunday evening, Jan. 9th, while Mrs. Kershaw was standing watching him, he began:

“‘Yes, I shall soon be landed, 

On yonder shores of bliss;

With all my powers expanded, 

Shall dwell where Jesus is;'”

repeating the last line several times; and then: 

“‘Yes, I to the end shall endure,

As sure as the earnest is given; 

More happy, but not more secure,

The glorified spirits in heaven.” 

And in a minute or two afterwards:

“‘Far from a world of grief and sin, 

With God eternally shut in.'”

adding, “God is faithful! God is faithful!” which were the last words he distinctly spoke.

He took little notice after that; but lived until 20 minutes to 9 on Tuesday morning; when he expired in the most calm and peaceful manner, in the 78th year of his age, and the 53rd of his pastorate over the church. 

S. J. Clegg

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John Gadsby saw him on June 19th. His voice was gone; he could speak only in a whisper, but his face was literally radiant with glory. He desired his daughter-in-law to read hymns 518 and 687, both by the late Mr. Gadsby. When she read the last line of the first verse of 518:

“Glory to the Lord on high;” 

again the last line of the last verse:

“Hallelujah to their King;” 

and throughout the whole of 667:

“Immortal honours rest on Jesu’s head,”

he waved his arm triumphantly, and it seemed as if his soul had hard work to keep in his body. He then again called his daughter-in-law to him, and whispered in her ear (he had not strength to do more), “Tell him I cannot forget the solemn manner in which his father used to exclaim, with all the powers of his body and soul, ‘Honours crown his brow for ever!’ O how it rejoiced my soul! I see him now in the pulpit with the eye of my mind.” And again he waved his arm, as if longing to fly up to him. He also expressed a wish that Mr. Philpot would look over the account he had written of himself, and curtail or correct it where necessary. Little did he then think that Mr. P. would be taken first.

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As it was morally certain that a large number of people would be present at the funeral, a programme, to prevent confusion, was printed and circulated, stating the order to be observed, and containing also the hymns which were to be sung. This is a universal rule in the North on Anniversary occasions for Sunday-schools, &c.

The coffin was not closed until nearly ten o’clock, so that all who wished could take a last view of the one they so greatly loved for the truth’s sake. The inscription on the lid was simply: “John Kershaw, died Jan. 11th, 1870, in his 78th year.”

It was arranged, in accordance with Mr. Kershaw’s wish, that the body should be taken into the chapel (the house adjoining the chapel) before taken to the cemetery. This was done exactly at 10.20, the mourners, including the widow, following. Admission into the chapel was by ticket a judicious thought, to prevent the chapel being filled with townspeople to the exclusion of friends from a distance. In a few minutes every seat was occupied, and large numbers had to remain outside. Every one present was not only in mourning, but in deep mourning, corresponding with the grief unmistakably experienced.

At 10.30 Mr. Bowker, of Bury, gave out the first hymn on the paper (112 Gadsby’s):

“No more, my God, I boast no more,” &c.

(This hymn, as expressed in the preceding report, was a favourite one of Mr. K.’s.) Mr. Vaughan, of Bradford, then read 2 Tim. 4:1-7, commenting upon it as he proceeded, and making some excellent remarks with regard to the apostle; but only half an hour being allowed for the whole service in the chapel, his time was too limited to allow him to extend his remarks any way lengthily as to the deceased; otherwise, what an opening there was in verse 7. Mr. Bowker then gave out the second hymn on the paper (466 Gadsby’s): 

“Why do we mourn departed friends,” &c.

[No one who has never heard a northern congregation unite in singing a well-known hymn to a well-known tune can form the slightest idea of the sublimity with which this hymn was sung. (Tune, French.) Every heart, every voice, seemed to join in one harmonious chord, and every syllable, sweet and melodious, was as distinct, as true to time, as if spoken by one individual only, and that individual an orator of note.]

Mr. Vaughan then pronounced the Benediction, and all prepared for departure to the cemetery.

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Preceding the hearse were four carriages, containing ministers; then the bearers; then immediately following the hearse were five mourning coaches; then carriages containing deacons and the committee, into one of which the writer of this account was courteously pressed, along with Mr. Tatham, an ex-Mayor of Rochdale; Mr. Knight, of Liverpool; and Mr. Lake, of Zoar, London; then other carriages; then friends on foot; then Sunday-school scholars and teachers. It was impossible to see from one end of the procession to the other. There were altogether, a friend who counted them informed us, forty-nine carriages, including that of the present mayor and some other leading inhabitants of the town; for Mr. Kershaw was not only a true minister of the gospel, but also a good and useful citizen, the poor man’s friend and advocate in public as well as private, and no man’s enemy; consequently, universally respected.

Thousands of people lined the streets and occupied the windows along the wall of the cortege.

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In two or three minutes after the mourners were seated in the cemetery chapel, a rolling stream of people filled the place. There was no rude pushing, though a tithe of the people could not get in. We should have been amongst the outsiders, had it not been for a little friendly giving way for us at the doors. We sat next to a Mr. Jackson, eighty years of age, one of the deacons, who is the only person now living who was connected with Hope Chapel in 1820. Mr. Kershaw settled there in 1817. The dear man had a coloured handkerchief over his head, the first sight of which drew a tear from our eyes, it so reminded us of our departed friend, who often covered his head in a similar way.

When the doors were closed, Mr. Hand quoted Dan. 12:2, and made a few appropriate remarks thereon, adding: “On the third Sabbath in June last, when, to all appearance, our friend lay at the gate of death, I was at Rochdale supplying his pulpit. He expressed a desire to have the hymns which were sung that morning put upon paper. These hymns I cannot now call to mind, but they were read to him at the time. Before I entered the chapel, he communicated his desire to see me, and said, ‘I wish you, in approaching the throne of grace in prayer, to ask the dear Lord (if it be his will) to grant me a speedy dismissal from the body, that I may be present with him in everlasting rest.’ Those who were with him informed me that, at the conclusion of the second hymn, when he thought I was about to read my text, he offered up a most solemn prayer: ‘Now, O Lord, be with and help thy servant to declare thy solemn truth.’ After this time, as is known to many, he gradually recovered a little strength, and was able to enter his chapel. Upon the last Sabbath, I believe, in October, I was again supplying for him. In the afternoon he entered the chapel, and was enabled to continue there to listen to the sermon. When over, he retired to his parlour, and when I entered the house he sent for me; and, as he lay upon his sofa, he put out his hand, and grasped mine with all the warmth of sincere and brotherly affection, and addressed me thus: ‘The Lord bless you, and always enable you to preach his solemn truth as I have heard you this afternoon.’ Upon another occasion, after he had heard me, he gave me this counsel: ‘Friend Hand, in dealing out the truths of God, always endeavour to leave the historical part of it as soon as you can, and seek to get into the vein of experimental truth, whereby you may feed the living family of God.’ On the Sabbath prior to his departure I was again supplying for him. He was then confined to his bed, suffering acute pain; but his mind was most blessedly ruminating upon eternal things. On the following day, at noon, I, with Mrs. Kershaw, his son John, and a friend, stood around his bed, momentarily expecting his redeemed soul to quit its clay tenement. Mrs. K. said, ‘Mr. Hand, come close to him, and gently ask him if he knows you.’ I did as she requested me. My last words to the departed saint were, ‘My dear Mr. Kershaw, do you know my voice?’ He answered, ‘Yes; it is Mr. Hand.’ I then left him.”

Mr. Hand then offered up a few words in prayer, and was evidently deeply affected.

The body was then taken to its last earthly abode a capacious brick grave and placed between two infant grand-children.

Mr. Taylor addressed the assembled multitude, as follows: “Beloved Brethren and Friends in the Lord Jesus Christ, We have now laid in the cold grave, but hopeful resting-place, the mortal remains of our beloved brother; and say, ‘Earth to earth, ashes to ashes! Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’ But, though sorrow and sadness press upon our spirits, we know that our brother shall rise again; for the earth shall cast out the dead. Yes. ‘Thy dead men shall live; together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs; and the earth shall cast out the dead.’

“It is twenty-six years, within a few days, since I held our departed brother’s hat, while he addressed many hundreds who stood around the open grave and dead body of dear William Gadsby. I have not stood by the grave of any mortal, more sweetly satisfied of the safety of the soul than I do now. This body is the mortal remains, not only of a saint, but of an honoured servant of the Lord Jesus, who has carried the good news and glad tidings of salvation to many souls in trouble; and he had many seals to his ministry and souls to his hire.

“About the end of the year 1827, if I mistake not, I first heard our departed brother preach; and though I was but young, I had heard many glowing sermons by highly educated, and, I must say, some of them excellent men; but friend Kershaw was the first man I observed seeking to apply the truth of God to the heart, and showing how the believer’s soul, echoing back the truth of revelation, seeks communion with God. He seemed to me to have a higher aim than simply to move the senses. He sought to affect the heart; reaching past common things, sought to move the soul. I then thought him a man verily in earnest, though a very plain man indeed. And, brethren, since then our brother John Kershaw has preached the gospel of the Son of God in almost every city, town, village, and hamlet in England and in Scotland, too, he has declared the mysteries of the Cross; and now, like a shock of corn fully ripe, the soul is gathered with the redeemed above, while the mortal remains shall rest in hope, till the morning of that auspicious day when the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. The town of Rochdale has known our brother all his life, and for more than fifty years he has been pastor over a flock of saints there, many of whom are gone before him, over the flood. That our brother’s good character is beyond dispute, as a neighbour, a friend, a citizen, a Christian, and a gospel minister, all who knew him fully admit. In many respects our brother was an amiable man. He was kind, affectionate, and tender, even to a fault. He well knew how to seek for the life of God in a longing sinner’s soul, and, if there, seldom failed to find it; and would seek to comfort the spirit, by bringing on to the fore-ground the invitations and promises of the gospel:

“‘If John found roots, the case was his;

He knew that sighs would turn to praise.’

“I now stand surrounded by many hundreds of his towns- men and friends, who are paying this last tribute of respect to his mortal remains; and not only so, but I feel confident that the very flower and bloom of Rochdale, in divine things, stand before me around this grave; men taught by the Spirit of God, many aged and infirm among you, waiting out your short life’s span, when you also must be laid in the house appointed for all living. The Lord raise your hearts above the fear of death. Death is a conquered foe, and the last enemy to be destroyed. Our most glorious Redeemer has spoiled death, and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. Fear not, brethren, to look the enemy in the face; look beyond him over the flood. ‘The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

“Our Lord Jesus Christ is the way to God, to heaven, and to glory. A word or two about the way to God, brethren. You heard in the adjoining chapel that portion of truth: ‘Ye must be born again;’ a truth indeed, but a truth ignored; yet a truth that will outlive all time, and a truth without the power and experience of which no man can see the kingdom of God. Our Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. ‘No man,’ said he, ‘cometh unto the Father but by me.’ God has said, ‘There is a path that no fowl knoweth, that the vulture’s eye hath not seen;’ and that ‘the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.’ This is the path of the just; that shining path. The redeemed walk there. Upon it they return to Zion; and though there is much sighing, there is also singing; and because the Lord leads them, therefore ‘the righteous shall hold on his way;’ and though the way seem very narrow at times, again it is indeed a place of broad rivers and streams to the poor saints who flow together to the goodness of the Lord, to the place where the hand of the Lord rests, where he himself feeds the flock of slaughter, and carries the lambs in his bosom, and leads gently the heavy-laden souls.

“And now, brethren, a few thoughts on the resurrection of the dead. Paul says to the Romans, ‘If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.’ This doctrine is a doctrine purely of faith. I mean we have no experience of it, in the same way we experience a sense of pardon, mercy, and adoption; or when we have an answer to prayer, we know that God hears us, and that he is a prayer-hearing God. It is not time yet to experience the doctrine in question; but faith, the faith of the operation of God, holds it fast, and says with Paul, ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead,’ and become the first-fruit. And the church must follow: ‘If we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, both by faith here and in eternal glory above.’ As of old, so now, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, then the Christian life is but a name. When Paul preached the resurrection of the body, ‘some mocked;’ and it grieved the Sadducees of old that through Jesus this doctrine was made known. And now the departed, as well as the living, are looking forward to that glorious time, the one saying, ‘How long, O Lord, how long shall it be?’ while we also look for the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory; thus we wait ‘for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.’ This doctrine, my brethren, is the grand key-stone in the economy of salvation: ‘If Christ be not risen, ye are yet in your sins, and we are false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not, and they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished; but now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.’

“The justice of God demands the resurrection of the wicked dead. As the death of the body cannot atone for sin, there must be a reunion, that the soul and body which sinned together may be judged, one complete, entire person. Hence Daniel says, ‘Some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ Then it will be known most fully that God will by so means clear the guilty. (Ex. 34:7; Num. 14:18.)

“But you, ye saints of the Most High God, who have fled for refuge, and have laid hold on the hope set before you, your faith beholds the empty grave of Christ, your death-conquering Jesus, for it was not possible that he could be holden of death. And here, child of sorrow, child of hope, you shelter under cover of him who lives and was dead, who rose and revived, and says, ‘Because I live, ye shall live also;’ and your very heart says, ‘O to know more of the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and to be made conformable to his death.’

“And now, brethren, a word to you who have lost a pastor deservedly beloved. This is the time when the enemy, the accuser of the brethren, may, and will, seek to sow discord among you, and seek to separate chief friends. Brethren, stand fast; I beg of you, stand fast in the gospel of God, Father, Son, and Spirit. Stand close together; stand true to gospel rule. Let no detached power guide your action. No authority outside the church should move you. Accept with gratitude all kindness from such who wish you well, but maintain church government, not party or personal rule. Christ’s church is well directed in God’s word; the Lord himself is her Lawgiver and Saviour; and should you, through weakness or error, mistake a point, as most do, retract at once, and the act being one by the church assembled, the whole body bears the burden, and may find you an errand to God for wisdom, who gives liberally and upbraideth not. And, brethren, above all, keep your pulpit clean; and the Lord give you understanding in all things to do his will.

“And again I say, we leave in this last resting-place the mortal remains of our beloved brother; and as one star differeth from another star in glory, so, exactly so, shall the resurrection body differ from this which we have sown in corruption, to be raised in incorruption, sown in weakness to be raised in power, sown a natural body to be raised a spiritual body. And thus we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the worlding whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. To whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Mr. Leach, of Hollinwood,—[Some years ago, a ragged, barefooted boy, named “William Leach, was pressed into Hope Chapel Sunday-school. He grew up. Grace touched his heart, and he subsequently joined the church. That once barefooted boy is now minister of the church at Hollinwood.]—then gave out the third hymn on the paper (439 Gadsby’s, with two additional verses): “When I survey the wondrous cross,” &c., and closed the mournful whole with prayer.

It was estimated that there were about 1,800 or 2,000 persons present. There would have been hundreds more, had circumstances been more favourable. But the cemetery is nearly two miles from the chapel, the roads were dreadfully muddy, and the air damp and exceedingly foggy; besides which, the early hour fixed for the service must have kept many at home, as even from Manchester there was no train which would be in time after the one at 8.40, and that was due at Rochdale at 9.5, above an hour too soon.

The funeral took place on Monday, Jan. 17th.

A friend (son of the late Mr. Horbury, minister, of Blackburn) has kindly sent us a list of persons present, so far as he could ascertain their names; but it is so numerous, we cannot possibly spare the space for them, though we hoped to have been able to do so. We must content ourselves by saying there were friends from Manchester, Charlesworth, Hollinwood, Bury, Preston, Stockport, Eccles, Holywell Green, Slaithwaite, Bradford, Warrington, Ogden, Blackburn, Thurston, Church, Wigan, Halifax, Bacup, Chatterton, Haslingden, Lansfield, Hyde, Stack-steads, Hebden Bridge, Blackpool, Saddleworth, Denholme, Hindley, Liverpool, London, Oldham, Chester, Clayton, &c. &c.

Notwithstanding that it was Monday, and so early, the following ministers were present: Messrs. Ramsbottom, Accrington; Archer, Blackburn; Vaughan, Bradford; Bowker, Bury; Hand, Charlesworth; Standeven, Eccles; Rastern and David Smith, Halifax; Kent and Powell, Heywood; Leach, Hollinwood; Davidson, Holywell Green; Taylor, Manchester; Nuttall, Ogden; Neal, Oldham; Howarth, Preston; M’Cappin, Chapman, Lewis, Masterrnan, Parkinson, Pickles, and Pitt, Rochdale; Bamford, Slaithwaite; Chandler, Stockport; Ritson, Warrington; Derbyshire, Wigan.

There was a deputation from the church at Manchester, to express their sympathy with the widow and the brethren at Rochdale.

Many of the friends from the country returned to the chapel, or rather to the noble school-room close by, where refreshments were provided. Nearly 200 sat down at one time. They were waited upon by the Sunday-school teachers and others.

We feel that we cannot acquit our conscience without bearing our testimony to the admirable way in which everything was carried out, the only drawback being the early hour fixed for the service. Some had to walk 12 miles, and some had to drive seven or eight miles in the fog, and then travel 40 miles by rail; and even they had to start so early that they reached Rochdale at nine o’clock, so inconvenient were the trains. Mr. Taylor, with three of his deacons (one, Mr. Wilton, being not well able to travel, and the other, Mr. Greaves, being confined to his bed), went all the way from Manchester in a mourning coach. A single half hour or so would have made all the difference. But the time was fixed by the deceased, it being the time he for so many years went into the chapel on a Lord’s day morning.

Mr. K. has left only one child, a son; and he is the father of six children, the eldest being 25. He is Registrar of the district in which he resides, and stands well with his fellow-townsmen. There is also a granddaughter, the mother, Mr. K.’s daughter, having been deceased some years.