FOR NOVEMBER, 1839. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE LATE GEORGE WILSON, ESQ., : BY THE REV. A. STEAD. THE subject of this memoir was born in Leeds, August 9th, 1762. His mother was a pious and consistent member of the WesleyanMethodist society. Of course, therefore, she would often pray for his conversion and she lived to see her prayers answered; although, in her case, as in many others, the answer was long delayed. He served an apprenticeship in his native town as a Surgeon and Apothecary, and afterwards went as assistant to a gentleman at Egham, near London. This gentleman had so much confidence in him, and affection for him, as to be very desirous of having him as a partner; but it would seem that he greatly disliked the profession. In his conversation with his friends he rarely, if ever, alluded to his former connexion with it; and, on the death of his father, becoming heir to some property, he renounced it altogether. During his residence in the vicinity of London, he was introduced by an uncle to Miss Hardman, the daughter of a respectable merchant in the city; and this eventually led to his marriage. But both he and his wife, alas, were strangers to religion, destitute even of its form; fond of company, dress, and fashionable amusements, and especially of the amusements of the theatre in a word, they were "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." It might be inferred, indeed, that Mr. Wilson was so intent on pleasure as greatly to neglect his business,-a business on which he had entered with only a slight knowledge of its details. And, as the legitimate consequence, partly of his ignorance, and partly of his inattention, the business failed. He commenced another in Leeds; but there, also, he was unsuccessful. Nor did any thing appear to prosper with him until he settled in Huddersfield. For several years even after this period, he walked according to the course of the present world. The testimony of one who was frequently his companion in jovial and boisterous mirth, and ultimately his guide and associate in better things, is to the effect, "that he was then the gayest of the gay!" His powers of mimickry, his flashes of wit and humour, and a disposition, withal, naturally kind, noble, and VOL. XVIII. Third Series. NOVEMBER, 1839. 3 P : generous, soon drew around him a number of persons as thoughtless and as irreligious as himself. They were in the habit of meeting at the tavern almost every night in the week; and there laughable stories were told, the merry song was sung, and the intoxicating glass went briskly round. Even here, however, a fact should be recorded to Mr. Wilson's honour, and as a proof of the natural kindness and generosity of his heart. The friend just referred to informs me, that when these evening parties had become "the town's talk,” and so attractive as to bring to the tavern a considerable number of young men, who were in situations under others, or just commencing business for themselves, he embraced the opportunity of expostulating with them, and warning them of the danger to which they were exposed. "Young men," said he, "what are you doing here? What business have you in a place like this, so frequently, and at such hours? If I, and these my companions, who are older, choose to make fools of ourselves, and to run headlong to ruin, do not you, who are young, imitate our example. Get home with you, and mind your business, and let us see you here no more!" An address like this, it will be thought, evinces little satisfaction with the course which he himself was pursuing; but, on the contrary, is indicative of satiety, disappointment, and disgust. These, doubtless, were the feelings of his heart when he uttered it, mixed up with something bordering on despair in reference to his own case, as if he necessarily must go on, "making himself a fool, and running headlong to ruin!" But the day of his deliverance from the thraldom of sin drew near. In 1808 and 1809 the Huddersfield Circuit was favoured with the labours of the Rev. Robert Newton; and it was under his preaching that Mr. Wilson was brought to the knowledge of the truth. In the latter of these years Mrs. Wilson was walking out one Sunday afternoon, and was led by a shower of rain to take refuge in the WesleyanMethodist chapel. The esteemed Minister just mentioned was the Preacher. She was greatly struck with his person and address, bearing, as she thought, some resemblance to the person and address of Kemble, the celebrated actor, whom she had often seen and heard in London; and the subject of his discourse so arrested her attention, and so operated upon her feelings, that she went home, she scarcely knew how. She said to her husband, "Where do you think I have been?" He said, "Nay, I do not know; but, perhaps, to the church." She rejoined, "No; but I have been to the Methodist chapel; and there I have heard such a man as I never heard before in all my life and if he be right, Wilson, we are sadly and dangerously wrong!" Mr. Wilson looked at her with perfect astonishment, and with deep concern, exclaiming, "My dear! whatever is the matter with you?" Her reply was, "I scarcely know; but this is a most wonderful man; and you must and shall hear him for yourself." He did so; and his attention was arrested, and his feelings aroused to an equal degree with hers. They were both attracted to hear this distinguished Preacher again and again. They felt the force of the truths which he delivered, irrespectively of the eloquent and impressive manner in which he delivered them; and, in short, the Gospel came unto them, "not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." Mrs. Newton was in the habit of meeting a class of females. Mrs. Wilson was soon induced to join them; and, finding much benefit herself in "the communion of saints," as thus enjoyed, she endeavoured to persuade her husband to participate in its advantages. And he had been too deeply convinced of sin, had felt too much contrition on account of it, and was too much in earnest respecting the salvation of his soul, long to resist her entreaties, and the entreaties of those new friends who were now deeply interested in his welfare. The class which he first promised to visit met at nine o'clock on the Sunday morning; and, to show his determination not to violate his promise, and his heartiness in the affair, he was there at the time, although he had not taken breakfast. And the very morning following he commenced family prayer; telling his domestics, who were both astonished and affected, how guilty he had been in neglecting so important a duty in times past; and that it was his fixed determination, the Almighty being his helper, to live in the observance of it for the time to come. I have no means of knowing exactly how long he "sorrowed after a godly sort," or what was the precise character of those exercises of mind through which he was called to pass. Those, however, who had the opportunity of hearing him state his religious experience, were fully satisfied as to its genuineness, and as to the reality of his transition from darkness to light, from guilt to pardon, from bondage to liberty, and from misery to bliss. And it is Mrs. Wilson's conviction, that this transition took place shortly after he began to meet in class; that he soon obtained "joy and peace in believing;" and obtained it, too, without very much of that deep anguish which many have suffered who were, perhaps, less immoral in their conduct, and less forgetful of God; and that, during the whole of this process, he was rather drawn by motives of love than driven by those of fear. In 1818, when I joined the Wesleyan-Methodist society in Huddersfield, Mr. Wilson's Christian character seems to have been firmly established. He was greatly respected by that society, as one of its best, most active, and most influential members; and he was regarded by the inhabitants of the town generally, not only as a changed man, but as a pillar in the church of God. And no wonder that this should be the case: for, if ordinary conversions are "the standing miracles of the church, and the strongest proofs of the truth of Christianity," it might reasonably be expected that the conversion of such a man as Mr. Wilson would be regarded in this light, and would produce, as it actually did, a very general and powerful sensation. At the period in question, and for many years afterwards, he filled the office of Steward to the society; and all who knew him in that capacity, gave him credit for diligence, fidelity, and liberality. For some time he acted, also, as a Local Preacher. His sermons were chiefly on experimental and practical subjects; and, though they exhibited no proofs of a profound and accurate acquaintance with theology, they were well arranged, and delivered with great apparent boldness, and with much pathos and power. sensations when I first saw him in a pulpit! Never shall I forget my man who, as a jester, a song-singer, and a mimic, was "wont to set the table on a roar," transformed into a meek and lowly follower of Christ, and stepping forward as the zealous advocate of the Saviour's cause! He selected for his first hymn, that on the 199th page, "Glory to God, whose sovereign grace Hath animated senseless stones," &c. The two last verses of that hymn he frequently gave out at prayermeetings, and on other public occasions; and they were so applicable to his own case, that those who were acquainted with it, and who joined with him in singing them, could scarcely help catching, as by sympathy, the infection of his spirit. It was so on the occasion in question. When he exclaimed, "Suffice that for the season past Hell's horrid language fill'd our tongues ; We all thy words behind us cast, And lewdly sang the drunkard's songs : "But O the power of grace divine! In hymns we now our voices raise, Loudly in strange hosannas join, And blasphemies are turn'd to praise; Nor was the the whole congregation was moved; and, "Glory be to God! glory be to God!" resounded from every corner of the chapel. effect less remarkable under some parts of the sermon. great energy and animation, he said, "Most of you are acquainted with my early history. You know that I have been a valiant champion in the service of the devil; and I am now determined to be as valiant in the service of God." Occasionally, at least, his preachingefforts afforded him real delight; and he only desisted from them on account of the state of his health, his medical attendant assuring him that, except he did desist, he would one day die in the pulpit,—an opinion in which it was perfectly easy for all who knew him to coincide. To the last, however, he was able to preside at Missionary Meetings, a task which he was frequently called upon to perform; for there were many places, especially in the vicinity of Harrogate, where he was expected annually to take the chair. His speeches were |