book, but I believe it to be erroneous. During his stay at Bridge End the chapel was well attended. His labours were very successful, pecuniarily as well as spiritually. By his exertions the debt which encumbered the chapel was removed. In 1786, he was invited to become pastor at Delph, but declined. He accepted a unanimous call to Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1789. His grandson gives, as one reason of the removal, that an increasing family demanded it. He was recommended to Woodbridge by the Rev. J. Clayton, senior. Whilst there, his preaching became attractive and popular. He delivered, and printed by request, several separate discourses, and soon became known beyond the sphere of his immediate ministrations. Amongst other places at which he was invited to supply was the Tabernacle at Bristol. Arising out of his visit, he was requested to visit the destitute flock in Bridge Street, in Bristol, and in the beginning of the year 1799 consented to do At Woodbridge he was respected and beloved, and the testimony still lingers that he was a firm friend, a faithful pastor, and a devoted and useful Christian. His probationary services at Bristol were soon followed by an earnest and unanimous invitation to take the oversight of the church; and at Midsummer, 1799, he entered on his stated pastoral labours among them. Mr. Lowell's ministry was highly acceptable to the people, and greatly blessed to their spiritual welfare. The aspect of things soon began to change. The congregation increased. A spirit of inquiry was awakened. Weekly meetings for prayer were again established, and church meetings resumed. There were then about fifty members. He took an active part in promoting the Missionary and Bible Societies. In 1801 he published, by subscription, "Sixteen Sermons on Evangelical and Practical Subjects, chiefly for the use of Families," 8vo., respecting which the Christian Observer says they are 'solid and scriptural, containing valuable instruction.' At the cessation of the war, in 1802, he published a discourse, entitled "The Blessings of Peace," preached on the Thanksgiving Day, June 1st, and in the same year, a funeral sermon, entitled "Early Piety recommended from the Example of Josiah." In 1813, a large number of soldiers of the Renfrewshire Militia attended his chapel, one sermon addressed to whom he printed, entitled "The Christian Soldier," from 2 Tim., ii, 3. Nearly five hundred red coats attended. He preached and published a funeral sermon on the death of Richard Reynolds, Esq., the philanthropist, in 1816, entitled "The loss of righteous and merciful men lamented and improved." His last production, published after his decease, was a discourse on the "Reasons for Dissent," 1823. He annually visited the Tabernacle in London, as a supply. He caught cold on the 30th of October, 1823, returning from a church meeting, and died three weeks afterwards. The Evangelical Magazine for February, 1824, gives a long and interesting account of his last illness. Just before his death, he composed the following verses, which were sung with deep emotion at the funeral: -- "I come to Thee, my gracious God, And learn the important word, 'Be still.' Thou seest my feeble frame oppressed, But, Lord, perform Thy holy will, Thou knowest how wayward is my mind, And bid Thy servant, Lord, be still. His last words were-I now know and see, and feel the meaning of those lines, "The world recedes, it disappears! Heaven!" He was interred in Portland Chapel, Kingsdown, when an immense concourse followed the corpse. The Rev. W. Thorp, in accordance with the will of the deceased, gave the address at the grave. The pall-bearers were the Revs. Messrs. Ryland, Jay, Priestley, Woolridge, Roberts, and Crisp. The Rev. Wm. Jay, of Bath, preached the funeral sermon in Bridge Street Chapel, and the Rev. W. Thorp (a Yorkshireman) at Castle Green Chapel. A tablet to his memory, in Bridge Street Chapel, bore the following inscription: "In Memory of THE REV. SAMUEL LOWELL, Who finished his course with joy on the 19th of November, 1823, This tablet is erected by his bereaved flock, His character and services." His grandson writes to my enquiries:-"At Bristol, his course was marked by ardent and continued devotion to his Master's cause, and I remember to have heard him say that the Church membership had quadrupled during his ministry. In preaching, he was plain and practical, rather than elegant; but his discourses were replete with genuine piety, and remarkable for the deep affection evinced for the flock committed to his charge. In person he was good looking, florid, and (especially towards the close of his life) somewhat stout. In reply to your enquiry relative to portraits, I possess an exquisite miniature, painted on ivory. There was a life-sized portrait in Bridge Street Chapel, painted by Holiday. My sister still inhabits the house in Kingsdown in which, for twenty-four years, he resided." From a print lent me by Mr. Lowell, I have got a copy, by photography, of his grandfather's portrait, and also the print from the Evangelical Magazine. The Rev. S. Lowell's children were Samuel Thomas, Mary, Hannah, John (died in infancy), Maria, Eliza (died in infancy), Jane, Leathley (died in infancy), John Caleb, Joseph Cockin, Eliza, Martha, and Benjamin Hanson. It seems strange that none of these are mentioned in the Bridge End Registers, and that Mrs. Lowell's name does not appear amongst the list of members. He is said to have resided with his family at Halifax, before 1782, and possibly never removed to Brighouse. Mr. Crisp's MS. states he was ordained in 1786. The two following anecdotes appeared in the sketches I published some years ago in the Brighouse News. Dr. Ryland, the noted Baptist, pleasantly remarked to Mr. Lowell, "Your removals have been very remarkable; from Brighouse, Bridge-end to Woodbridge, and from Woodbridge to Bridge-street; you always keep on the Bridges. I want you to come into the water."' In an American work-Arvines' Anecdotes, published in 1850-I met with the following: "The late Rev. Samuel Lowell, of Bristol, being once at Brighton, expressed a wish to walk on Steyne, and to have the public characters pointed out to him. Amongst the rest, a celebrated comedian was noticed. "Ah," said Mr. L., "is that schoolfellow? I'll speak to him." lowing conversation took place : my old He accosted him, and the fol Lowell.-Sir, I believe I have the pleasure of addressing Mr. Comedian.-Yes, Sir, my name is pleasure of being acquainted with you. ; but I have not the L.-What! not know your old schoolfellow, Samuel Lowell? L.-Yes, I am. C.-Well, I am glad to see you; now tell me your history in five minutes. L.-First, my name is Samuel Lowell; I am a dissenting minister at Bristol, where I have lived upwards of twenty years; I have a large family. C.-So you are a dissenting minister; well, you are a happy man, for you go to your work with pleasure, and perform it with pleasure; I go to my work like a fool, to please fools; I am not a happy man." THE REV. ELI HOLLINGWORTH Was a native of Wooldale, Holmfirth, and recommended from Mr. Galland's church, to the Rev. Samuel Walker, of Northowram Academy, where he was trained for the ministry sometime between 1783 and 1790. He was at Bridge End in 1790. In the commencement of his ministry he was highly esteemed as a preacher, but he afterwards walked unworthily, and neglected to prepare for the pulpit, in consequence of which the Chapel became nearly deserted. He was a cheerful, good-looking man, but addicted to drunkenness. When visiting Mr. George Cooper Rushforth, of Castle Hill, he was wont to remark that he there saw 'A little house well filled, a little farm well tilled, and a little wife well willed.' He married his housekeeper, Hannah, sister of Samuel Battye's wife. For some time, in order to support himself, he made 'pieces' at Rastrick Lane Head. A person named Stanley, corn miller, was permitted to reside in the chapel-house. Mr. Hollingworth neglected to keep the registers properly, and several (including Susan, daughter of Abraham Horsfall) who were born in 'barley time,' 1797-8, when flour was six shillings per stone, and meal fivepence per Ib, and barley bread was eaten by the poor, are unable to meet with the record of their baptism. On the 3rd of May, 1800, this eccentric minister removed to Sowerby, but resigned there in 1803, and removed into Lancashire, where he kept a school. No record remains of him at Sowerby. THE REV. WILLIAM NORTHEND Was a native, I have been told by old people, of Landimere, Northowram, and a member of the old family settled there and at Hipperholme for more than five centuries. He was a student at Heckmondwike, under the Rev. James Scott, Southfield. He had been a weaver previous to his entering on the ministry. He married the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Hesketh, of Northowram, and had two children, Benjamin and Betty. He first settled at Bridlington, where he was ordained in 1777, and laboured for twelve or thirteen years. After this he removed to Welford, in Northamptonshire, thence he again removed to Nayland, in Suffolk, and thence, in 1795, to Haslingden, where he continued till his removal to Brighouse. The following extracts are from the Old Register at Somerset House, London. Mr. Northend writes: : "June 1st, 1800, I preached the first time since 1781, when I preached twice, and administered the Lord's Supper. |