Death of Thos Mallinson Esq. J.P.

 

Our obituary to-day announces the death of this highly esteemed townsman, at the age of 51 – a death which will cause general regret throughout the neighbourhood. The severity of the calamity has, however, been somewhat mitigated by the long illness by which it was preceded, and by the removal of Mr Mallinson to Dublin, two years ago, which gradually accustomed the public mind to his absence from his usual sphere of local activity. Still the event has thrown a gloom over a large portion of the community, and the vacancy caused by it will be keenly felt.

 

Mr Mallinson retired from business and public life here about two years ago, to escape the pressure which he felt was bearing down on his constitution.  He went to Dublin with his family, exchanging residences with Alexander Hall, Esq., now of Huddersfield.  He continued in Dublin for a year, visiting Huddersfield something like once a month, but always glad to return to his retreat.  At the end of that time, he went to Malvern, for the purpose of still further recruiting his declining health; but there, it is said he slept in a damp bed, and became very ill from the effects of it; in fact, he was so ill that it was feared he would die before he could be brought home.  With great care, however, he was brought safely to Huddersfield, and taken to Newhouse, where he remained in close confinement as an invalid for nearly a year, sometimes getting up for a few hours a day, but never able to stir out of doors.  Towards the middle and end of last month, he rallied considerably, and was in hopes of recovery; but three weeks before his death, a change took place for the worse, and he declined rapidly till Thursday morning last, at twenty minutes to two, when he expired.  The disease which has afflicted him all the time, and which finally carried him off, was pulmonary consumption.  Mr Clarke, surgeon, was in close attendance upon him during his illness, and everything that medical skill could suggest was done to check the course of the disease but without avail.  The death of Mr Mallinson has plunged his family into the deepest distress.

 

Mr Mallinson took a very active part in the public affairs of Huddersfield.  He was among the first elected as a Commissioner under the Improvement Act of 1848, and held his seat at the Board for six years, rendering valuable service in the various important public projects which engaged the attention of the Commissioners during that period – including the Model Lodging House and the Cemetery.  About the year 1852, he was put on the commission of the peace, and shortly afterwards qualified for the Bench, to which he was an ornament.  As a magistrate, he was distinguished for soundness of judgment and kindness of disposition, and at the same time for the impartiality and integrity with which he administered justice.  He was President of the Chamber of Commerce for a period of two years, during which time he actively engaged himself in the general business of the Chamber, and rendered important service in connection with the negotiation of the French Treaty, in which he was ably assisted by Messrs Huth and Weiss.  His value in that capacity was felt by every member of the Council.

 

As is well known, he took a prominent part in the secession which occurred some years ago from Queen-street Chapel, and which resulted in the building of the fine Free Wesleyan Church, in Brunswick street.  On that occasion he received a hearty invitation to join the Established Church, but firmly declined, declaring that he was thoroughly Nonconformist in his principles.

 

 In politics, he was a Liberal, though not inclined to sympathise with what are termed the Extreme Radicals.  His votes, however, have been recorded on the side of the Liberal candidate, both in the county and the borough.  When Mr Joseph Starkey was before the constituency, he promised him his vote, but afterwards regretted it when Lord Goderich came out as Mr Starkey’s opponent.  Yet, as a man of his word, he recorded his vote, not, however, till a quarter to four, when the poll was near its close, and Lord Goderich was safe, thus redeeming his pledge and yet withholding his influence from the side on which his vote was given.

 

In the unhappy dispute between Sir John Ramsden and his tenantry, Mr Mallinson was anxious to promote a satisfactory settlement, and wrote several very able letters in exposition …….

 

In the solemn presence of death, we would shrink from everything like fulsome eulogy, but it is due to truth to say that Mr Mallinson was a most useful and therefore respected citizen an upright tradesman, and a conscientious Christian man, labouring anxiously to discharge the various public and private duties devolving upon him.  As such, his fellow townsmen who knew him best, will grieve over his removal as a loss to the community he had benefitted and adorned, and will honour his memory as one of Huddersfield’s worthiest sons.  We regret that the late period of the week at which we are compelled to write this brief notice prevents us from giving a less hurried and imperfect sketch, but we could not pass over the matter in silence, and we therefore reverently offer this slight token of respect to Mr Mallinson’s memory.

 

It is expected that the funeral will take place next Wednesday.  The body is to be interred in the Cemetery.

     

The Huddersfield Examiner, 18 April 1863

 

 Funeral of Thomas Mallinson, Esq., J.P.

 

The remains of this deeply lamented gentleman were interred on Wednesday last, in the consecrated portion of the Huddersfield Cemetery, and the universal respect in which the deceased was held was made manifest on the occasion.  A public procession, by request of the Commissioners, assembled at the Armoury, in Ramsden-street, at a quarter to eleven, and walked to Newhouse, where it joined the funeral cortege.  The procession was headed by Mr Superintendent Hannan and Mr James Armytage, town surveyor; then came the magistrates, viz., T.P.Crosland, Wright Mellor, S.W.Haigh, Bentley Shaw, L.R.Starkey, Joseph Sykes, and J.T.Armitage, Esqs.  These were followed by J.Sykes and W.Keighley, Esqs., constable and ex-constable, and by J.C.Laycock, Esq., and Mr T.Bradley, magistrates’ clerks.  Then came a promiscuous body of townsmen, including the members of the Improvement Commission, several of the Waterworks’ Commissioners, the Gasworks’ Directors, the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, the Council of the Huddersfield College, &c.; the trustees of Brunswick-street Chapel; several of the Poor-law Guardians, including W.Moore, Esq., Mr E.Clayton, Mr J.Blackburn, Mr J.Blackburn, Mr J.Shaw, &c.; several of the directors of the Halifax and Huddersfield Banking Company, including two from Halifax, who had come to show their respect for the deceased, who was one of their number during life, followed by a large body of townsmen comprising the members of all denominations.  There were also present in the procession,the Revs. Richard Skinner, Ramsden-street, H.Westbrook of St John’s, J.Hanson, Bath Buildings, J.H.Lord, Queen-street, and Mr Cook, Queen-street; also John Crossley, Esq., Mayor of Halifax, and S.Morley, Esq., of London.  On arriving at Newhouse, the procession went before the funeral cortege, which was composed as follows: -

 

1,        Mr Stansfield, of Harris and Stansfield, and Mr Platts, joiner.

2,        a mourning coach, containing the Revs. S.Holmes, vicar of Huddersfield, R.Bruce, of Highfield; and T.Stevenson, of Brunswick-street; and Dr. Clarke.

3,        a mourning coach containing Messrs Archibald McComas and Samuel McComas, of Dublin; Mr James Shaw, Messrs S.Lindsay and Terry, London.

4,        THE HEARSE, drawn by four horses, and driven by Mr Robert Coney.

5,        a coach containing the four sons of the deceased, Messrs Thomas, Alfred, Albert and Edward.

6,        a coach containing the four brothers of the deceased, Messrs William, John, George and James Mallinson.

7,        a coach containing four brothers-in-law of the deceased, Messrs A.Hall, R.Butterworth, Richard Butterworth and T.McComas.

8,        a coach containing three brothers-in-law of the wife of the deceased, and one brother; Messrs J.Dyson, of London; W.Gregory, of Huddersfield; Mr Taylor of Leeds; and Mr Harris, of Harris and Stansfield.

 

Then came four private coaches, viz, those of T.P.Crosland, Bentley Shaw, Jere Kay, and John Freeman, Esqrs.  Messrs Harris and Stanfield acted as undertakers.  The arrangements, however, were under the more immediate superintendence of Mr Stansfield.  When the procession reached the cemetery, a large crowd had assembled to watch the ceremony of interment.  The coffin was conveyed to the chapel belonging to the consecrated portion of the cemetery, where the Church of England burial service was read by the Rev. Samuel Holmes, the vicar of Huddersfield, in a white surplice.  A procession then took place to the grave, where the remains of the deceased were lowered to their last resting place amid the profound silence of the assembly.  The relatives of the deceased then stood round the grave, surrounded by friends and townsmen, and the vicar completed the service, amid genuine tokens of grief, observable on every hand; after which, the large concourse of people broke up, and dispersed.  Arrangements have not yet been made for the preaching of the funeral sermon; but it is expected to take place on Sunday week, by either the Rev Mr Brock, of London, or the Rev R. Bruce, of Highfield.

     

The Huddersfield Chronicle, Saturday, April 18, 1863

 

Funeral of Thomas Mallinson, Esquire, J.P.

 

On Wednesday the grave closed over the mortal remains of the above-named lamented gentleman, whose death was recorded in our last week’s issue.

 

Actuated by feelings of esteem for the private and public virtues of their departed fellow-townsman, a number of gentlemen met at the Board room of the Improvement Commissioners on Monday morning last, to consider the most desirable course to adopt for testifying respect to the memory of the departed, and their deep sympathy with the bereaved family.

 

JOHN SYKES, Esq, the Constable, was called to the chair. Amongst the gentlemen present were – Major Crosland, Wright Mellor, Esq., Messrs J.C. Laycock, Jere Kaye, W. Keighley, T. Firth, jun., T. Varley, Beaumont Taylor, J. Liebriech, N. Learoyd, T.S. Bradley, W. Lidster, Thomas Denham, J.F. Briggs, J. Moody, J. Dodds, J. Beaumont, sen., J. Batley, W. Burrows, J.T. Pagett, R. Porrit, Revs R. Bruce, J. Hanson, and S. Stevenson, (minister of Brunswick-street Chapel).

 

The CHAIRMAN said he believed there could be but one feeling, and that would be a feeling of deep regret at the event, which had caused him to invite their presence.  After a protracted illness, borne with truly Christian resignation, it had pleased an all-wise Providence to take from amongst them one who for a number of years had taken a very warm interest in the affairs of his native town, and who had performed the duties devolving upon him in the various offices he had held, in a manner highly creditable to himself, and satisfactory to his fellow townsmen.  (Hear, hear.)  He did not think they would be acting consistently with their duty if they did not testify their respect to the memory of their deplored friend by following his remains to their last resting place, and by testifying their sympathy with the afflicted family in their great bereavement.  (Hear, hear.)  Perhaps Major Crosland, who was the initiator of the movement, would favour the meeting with his opinion.

 

Major CROSLAND said he felt very deeply the loss, which the town and neighbourhood had sustained in the death of Mr Thomas Mallinson.  Being almost contemporaneous with him in many matters, he (Major Crosland) had had many opportunities of witnessing the manner in which Mr Mallinson had discharged the various duties of life; and the result of all his experience was the realization of the solemn fact – that a great and good man had passed from amongst them.  (Hear, hear.)  Mr Mallinson had been actively connected with Huddersfield and the district for a great number of years.  He had taken part in every movement having a tendency to advance the interests of his fellow men, and to secure the progress of the district in which he lived.  (Hear, hear.)  In every relation of life he believed him to have been truly a good man – a man worthy of imitation, and one from whom an example might profitably be taken by our rising men.  (Hear, hear.)  Acting in conjunction with several of his friends, who were also warm friends and admirers of the deceased, he (the Major) had waited upon the Constable, with the view of initiating some token of respect to the memory of the deceased; and with that courtesy manifested on all occasions, the Constable readily consented to call the present meeting.  Agreeing with the suggestions thrown out by the Constable, he begged to propose that the inhabitants be invited to accompany the remains of the deceased to the grave; and that an address of condolence be drawn u, and forwarded to the bereaved family.  They had performed similar mournful duties on previous occasions; but never, he believed, would they have followed to the grave greater worth than in this instance.  He (Major Crosland) had enjoyed the warm friendship of the deceased for many years; and though it had been his lot – as ir would ever be the lot of men – occasionally to differ, yet such was the happy disposition of the deceased, that even to differ with him was a pleasure – so genuine and open-hearted was his manner, and such was the consideration with which he regarded the feelings of those with whom he could not agree.  (Hear, hear.)  He was sure that the proposition submitted would meet with the cordial approval of all the friends of the deceased, both present and absent.

 

Mr C.H.JONES, though he had not known Mr Mallinson as long as the previous speaker, said he had been acquainted with him sufficiently long to know the great loss which the town had sustained by his death.  His own personal loss was very great.  For nearly thirty years he had enjoyed his acquaintance; and a more genial spirit – a more thoroughly honest and upright man – he had never met with.  It had been his good fortune generally to agree with the deceased in his opinions on public matters, and he had always experienced great pleasure in working with him, finding in him on all occasions a gentleman acting up to his professions, and displaying a feeling which made his society a pleasure to all connected with him.  The town had indeed sustained a great loss; and the loss to his family was irreparable.  Arrived at that ripe age when his judgment was thoroughly matured by experience, he was well qualified to occupy the most responsible positions in connection with the institutions of the town, and every institution with which he had been connected had been benefited by his services.  His loss must indeed create a great gap.  To himself, the loss was almost that of a brother.  So close and intimate had been his correspondence with the deceased that he could not trust himself to express the feelings with which his mind was agitated upon reflecting that he was no more, and that “his place on earth should know him no more for ever”.  He cordially seconded the proposition submitted by Major Crosland.

 

Mr WM. KEIGHLEY also gave to the proposition his entire concurrence.  For upwards of 20 years the deceased had been to him a warm personal friend, even before he (Mr Keighley) was known in Huddersfield.  In him he had always found a sympathising and consistent friend; and though not on all occasions agreeing with each other in opinion, their difference of opinion was no obstacle to their friendly intercourse; but on all occasions they were enabled to meet with unimpaired friendship.  Next to the loss, which deceased’s own large and bereaved family had sustained – and towards that family in their affliction the meeting entertained the greatest sympathy – the public loss was the greatest.  In his public relations, few men had acted more disinterestedly than Mr Mallinson; and few men had done so much for the public.  Whether in connection with the Railway, the Improvement Commission, the formation of the Model Lodging-house, the new Cemetery, the Chamber of Commerce, or any other public movement, he was always ready to advance to the front; and his labours, particularly during the two years he occupied the position of President of the Chamber of Commerce, was such as to entitle him to the gratitude of all persons connected with the manufacturing and commercial interests of this community.  Indeed he (the speaker) had sometimes thought that the great labour he had devoted to the duties of that office had tended in some measure to undermine his health, and lead to the event, which they now so deeply lamented.  He felt that he could not adequately express his own loss in reference to the removal of the deceased.  The event was monitory to them all – a solemn warning that “in the midst of life we are in death”, and the effect of its teaching should be to lead them to prepare to leave this world and to enter (as he had no doubt their deceased friend had done) upon a better.

 

The proposal that the inhabitants be invited to follow the remains of the deceased to the grave was then unanimously approved; and Messrs J.C. Laycock, Wright Mellor and N. Learoyd were appointed to draw up an address of condolence to deceased’s family in accordance with the remaining part of the proposition.

 

In deciding upon the necessary preliminaries for carrying out the procession, the Rev R.BRUCE expressed his concurrence in the steps taken to manifest respect for the memory of the deceased, who had been to him, for many years past, a most kind and faithful friend.  He (Mr Bruce) had visited him frequently during his illness, and it would be one comfort to his surviving friends to know, that his illness was borne with a Christian patience and resignation almost unparalleled.  Scarcely ever had he (the speaker) witnessed a sick bed marked with so much real Christian pleasure.  By all parties, both of politics and of religion, his memory would be deservedly respected; and this he doubted not would be manifested by the large number of persons who would follow his remains to the grave.

 

Mr THOMAS FIRTH, junr, testified his great sense of the loss sustained by Mr Mallinson’s death.

 

It having been arranged that the inhabitants desirous of joining in the procession should assemble at a quarter to eleven o’clock at the Armory – (this building being placed at the disposal of the inhabitants for this purpose by Major Crosland) – the meeting dispersed, after acknowledging by a vote of thanks the services of the Chairman.

 

At the time appointed on Wednesday morning, a procession, including magistrates, commissioners, and other influential gentlemen of the town, to the number of 150, issued from the Armory, and wended its way through the town to the residence of the deceased at Newhouse.  Here it was joined by the sad funeral cortege; and the whole proceeded in the following order to the Cemetery, amid the sorrowing gaze of hundreds of spectators:

 

Surveyor and Superintendent of Police

The Magistrates

The Constable and Ex-Constable

Gentlemen of the Town, including

Improvement Commissioners

Waterworks Commissioners

Council of the Chamber of Commerce

Bank Directors (including two gentlemen from Halifax)

Council of the Huddersfield College

Trustees of Brunswick-street Chapel

Dissenting Ministers

Undertaker

 

First Mourning Coach, containing the Vicar (the Rev S. Holmes), the Rev R. Bruce, the Rev S. Stevenson, and Mr Clarke, surgeon.

Second Mourning Coach, containing James Shaw Esq., Mr A. and Mr S. M’ Comus, Mr Lindsay and Mr Terry. (The four latter gentlemen were pall-bearers).

Hearse, drawn by four horses.

Third Mourning Coach, containing the Four Sons of the deceased.

Fourth Mourning Coach, containing Mr William Mallinson, Mr John Mallinson, Mr George Mallinson, and Mr James Mallinson, the four Brothers of the deceased.

Fifth Mourning Coach, containing Mr Robert Butterworth, Mr Richard Butterworth, Mr Alexander Hall, and Mr Thomas M’ Comus.

Sixth Mourning Coach, containing Mr James Dyson, Mr Wm Harris, Mr Abraham Taylor and Mr W.W. Gregory.

Private Carriages of Major Crosland, Bentley Shaw Esq., Jere Kaye Esq., and John Freeman Esq.

 

At the Cemetery, where the genial Spring has just cast a fringe of loveliness over the sleeping dust of departed friends, a large concourse of people had assembled.  The newly constructed vault was the object of melancholy interest.  It is situated in the consecrated portion of the ground, at a part where interments yet have not been numerous, although in close proximity the polished marble or the sculptured urn stand high amid the blooming flowers, to remind the reflective spectator of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death.  Flowers – mementoes of affection from the hands of surviving friends – decked, with their fleeting beauty, the interior of the lonely prison-house so soon to receive the cherished remains.

 

On the arrival of the mournful cavalcade at the Cemetery, it was received by the Rev the Vicar of Huddersfield, by whom the beautiful and solacing “service for the burial of the dead”, was impressively performed.

 

The scene at the grave was very affecting; and many an eye amongst the silent mourners was damp with the tear of sorrow.  The sons of the deceased – all of whom were present – were specially affected.

 

“Ashes to ashes – dust to dust”

 “Earth’s highest glory ends in ‘Here here he lies’

 And ‘dust to dust’ concludes her noblest song”

 

We may add that the arrangements for the funeral were efficiently carried out under the superintendence of Messrs Harris and Stanfield, undertakers, New-street.  During the progress of the procession through the town, a few of the shops temporarily closed; and the bell of the Parish Church tolled during the ceremony.

     

     

The Times, Friday, Feb 02, 1866

 Court For Divorce And Matrimonial Causes, Feb. 1.

Mallinson v. Mallinson

 

 

     

Huddersfield Examiner, Saturday 4 September 1869

 

THE LATE MR. GEO. MALLINSON

 

On Sunday last, the Rev. Marmaduke Miller, after preaching a sermon from Revelations,

14 c. 13 v., spoke as follows, when referring to the death of Mr. George Mallinson: -

 

Last Sunday, I signified my intention of saying a few words to you to-night in relation to the death of our aged brother Mallinson.  It was not my intention to preach what is commonly called a funeral sermon.  The members of his family did not wish this.  And I have myself but little sympathy with funeral sermons.  There is a strong temptation at such times to indulge in high eulogium.  It is difficult on such times to be exactly truthful.  It is not certain whether the departed had any faults at all, but if they had they are sure to be of that delightful class which lean to virtue’s side.  Now the holiest of saints have their failings, their infirmities, their indiscretions, their mistakes, and shortcomings.  The wisest men are not always wise.  The best of men are but men at the best.  “The most perfect Christians have had occasion to go softly, and even to walk mournfully before their God, on account of the repeated inconsistency between their profession and their life, between the thing which they have prayed for, and the thing which they attained.”  Now, in a funeral sermon it is difficult, if not impracticable, to refer to those infirmities, and, there, I have no great love for them.  And then again, Christian people in our time place far too much importance upon the way men die as compared with the way they live.  It is, no doubt, very delightful to see our friends triumphing, by God’s grace, over weakness and trampling Death’s sceptre under their feet.  But, then, we must not place too much importance upon these feelings as indications of their state before God. Some diseases are calculated to exercise a depressing influence upon the mind.  Hence, in reading God’s Word, we find very little notice taken of the death of the saints.  God has told us much about the lives of many of His servants, but very little about their death.  We know much about the life of Abraham, of Moses, of David, but how little do we know about their death?  And the few which seem exceptions to this rule do in reality confirm it.  Stephen, for instance, contributed more to spread Christianity by his death than by his life, and, therefore, his death is recorded.  Our Lord’s death, again, was an atonement for the world’s sin, and, therefore, that is recorded at great length.  But we have not one word respecting the death of Peter, or Paul, or Thomas, or John.  No, the book which we have concerning them is very properly called the Acts of the Apostles.  It tells us what they did, how they acted, what they suffered for Christ.  It follows them from town to town, and province to province, and shows us how terribly they toiled, how patiently they suffered, with what untiring perseverance and sleepless vigilance they prosecuted, their Master’s work.  But is does not go into the sick room and hand down to us expressions respecting their hopes and fears, or the degree of assurance with which they passed from hence to be for ever with the Lord.  Nevertheless, although I have no great love for funeral sermons, yet there are cases when a few words seem to be called for, and I am quite sure that you will all regard the departure of our venerable friend, Mr. Mallinson, as one of these.  He was the oldest member of this church he was the oldest class-leader and local preacher in this church; probably, he was the oldest local preacher in this town or neighbourhood.  But he was not only the oldest member of this church, but in many respects its foremost member.  He was thought worthy of the honour of being invited to lay the foundation-stone of this sanctuary.  It therefore seems fitting, when God calls away one who for so long a time has faithfully served his generation, that some notice should be taken of the event.  The leading facts of our departed friend’s life may soon be told.  He was born in Huddersfield on the 27^th March, 1785.  In those days there were no schools for the children of working people; indeed, it was thought a useless, if not a dangerous thing to teach working people to read and write.  Our departed friend enjoyed none of the advantages of school training and discipline; he was early put to work.  But during his apprenticeship desires for knowledge were awakened.  He diligently improved his opportunities, and not unfrequently robbed himself of sleep in order to cultivate his mind.  Soon after he was released from his apprenticeship he began to seriously think about life’s mystery and meaning, and one evening, when walking home from a dancing party, he determined to turn over a new leaf.  He resolved to give his heart to God, and lead a strictly religious life.  He joined the Methodist society somewhere about the year 1806.  The society was then very small, owing to the secession of the New Connexion Methodists, which had taken place a few years previous.  Soon after he joined the Christian Church he became married. Most men have turning-points in their history; they come to a forked road in their journey, and almost everything depends upon the path they take at that particular crisis.  Joining a Christian Church, and marrying a pious, prudent woman for a wife, were the turning-points of our friend’s life.  If he had not joined a Christian Church, it is morally certain that his whole life would have been very different from what it was.  And if he had chosen a foolish, thoughtless woman for his wife, he might have struggled in vain to have gained the honourable position he ultimately attained. Young men, be careful how you act in this matter. You may be getting near the forked road, when your earthly position will be determined.  Think well what you are doing, “Measure your cloth ten times, “ says the proverb, “for you can only cut it once.” Our departed friend attributed much of his success in life to the pious wife who was the partner of his joys and sorrows for nearly sixty years, and I can easily believe that he was right in that opinion. We may dismiss our friend’s secular life in a sentence or two.  In our age we set too high a value upon worldly success.  Our hero is the pushing man who gets on in the world.  Now, I myself don’t feel disposed to doff my hat to a man simply because he commenced business without a penny, and has realised a competency, or even made a great fortune.  That is all very well as far as it goes, but the man who increases in knowledge, and wisdom, and goodness has done a far nobler thing, and such a man I honour far more. However, our friend’s life was successful on this lower ground.  He carved out his own path.  By untiring industry he worked his way up to a respectable position.  In his early days he was a hard worker.  He told me that in the beginning of his business life, he frequently rose at three and four o’clock in the morning.  And I have been informed that he would walk to Manchester in a morning, do business, and walk home again in the evening.  And by his skill and industry he had the happiness of comfortably providing for his own old age, and of giving his children a better start in life than he received.  The same spirit of diligence and earnestness he manifested in his business life, he carried with him into his religious life, which is not always the case.  Having joined a Christian Church he was soon engaged in Christian work.  He entered the Lord’s vineyard, not only to be instructed and fed, but also to labour. He had not been long in the Church before he was requested to become a local preacher.  The exact time when he entered this work cannot be stated, but there are those living who heard him preach more than fifty years ago.  Methodism owes much to its local preachers; and the neglected parts of England owe much to their earnest labours. Fifty years ago the gospel would not have been preached in half the villages of our land except for this agency. Indeed there are hundreds of villages at this very day that would seldom hear an earnest gospel sermon were it not for Methodist local preachers. I know indeed from the early days of Methodism many have spoken slightingly of the labours of this class of men. John Wesley himself was at the first startled by laymen preaching. Many clergymen and professional ministers are still accustomed to sneer at these tradesmen preachers. And when listening to such sneers, one is tempted to reply in Milton’s words: - “It were to be wished they were all tradesmen; they would not then so many of them, for want of another trade, make a trade of their preaching.” I verily believe that many of these tradesmen preachers would preach a more effective gospel sermon than half of the rev. professors at Oxford. And I am thoroughly convinced that the heathenism of our country will never be reached except through the agency of earnest religious laymen. Our departed friend diligently devoted himself to this work. As far as time permitted, he carefully prepared his sermons. I never had the opportunity of hearing him preach, but during his illness he frequently gave me outlines of his sermons, and if those were fair specimens of the rest, I should say that there would be a good deal of rough originality in his preaching. His style, as he frequently told me, was very plain, making no foolish attempt at rhetorical embellishment. His services were well appreciated by the people generally, and his appointments were consequently numerous. For many years he was preaching almost every Sunday, and his labours were not without fruits. There were at least three Wesleyan itinerant ministers who ascribed their conversion, under God, to the preaching of our departed brother; two of them became chairmen of districts, and one became a foreign missionary. His labours as a local preacher were not confined to the Huddersfield Circuit. In the earlier part of his business life he used to travel over a wide area; and in those days the facilities for travel were not what they are in our time; consequently he was often away from home on Sunday. Those Sundays were generally spent in preaching the gospel, and in many places his visits are remembered even to this day with much pleasure. It falls to my lot to travel about the country pretty much, and since I have been the pastor of this church, I have frequently been asked by good people whether old George Mallinson was still living. When I have told them he was, and asked whether they knew him, I have found that they had pleasant recollections of his visits forty years ago.  And when I have returned home, and informed our friend of the persons who had kindly inquired after him, his face has brightened up, as he has told me when he last visited the place, and in many cases he was able to recollect the text he preached from, and other interesting facts.  As a local preacher, he faithfully served the church of his choice, and many of his quaint, pithy remarks lived long in the recollection of the people in the villages amongst whom he preached.  For more than half a century he was a class leader as well as local preacher, and I have been informed by those who met with him, that he was a wise and faithful leader. Almost every other office that a layman can fill in the Wesleyan body he filled. He was chapel steward, circuit steward, and trustee of Queen Street and of other chapels. Up to the year 1849 he was an earnest and liberal supporter of all the interests of Methodism as represented by the Wesleyan Conference. With the causes that led to his separation from that body most of you are familiar, and I need not say more than a word or two on the matter. It is not yet eighty years since the death of John Wesley, but during that time there have been at least three large secessions from the Wesleyan Methodists. None of these secessions turned on points of doctrine or modes of worship. All the seceders still believe in Wesleyan doctrine, and all retain the same means of grace and modes of worship. The difference in each case has been concerning discipline, and church government. It is abundantly clear that Wesley did not in the beginning contemplate his followers becoming a church. They were formed into societies and were expected to go to the clergy of the Church of England to receive the sacraments. Very soon after Wesley’s death there was great dissatisfaction on this point, and in 1797 a secession took place under the leadership of Alexander Kilham. A second secession took place in 1835, and a third, the largest of all, in 1849. A large portion of the society at Queen Street sympathised with this secession, and at length they were cut off from church fellowship, and our friend was one of this number. Up to a short time before the secession of 1849, I have been informed that our friend was what might be called a pretty strong Conference man. But after he had thoroughly examined the questions of church polity, he was fully satisfied that the rights of the laity were not properly guaranteed in the parent body of Methodists. And afterwards his sympathies were strongly in favour of Free Methodism. For several years he attended the Reform delegate meetings, and took a somewhat prominent part therein. And to the last his views and feelings on this subject remained unaltered. Nevertheless, whatever soreness or irritation he might have felt at the time when he was severed from the body, it had entirely passed away. He had nothing but good wishes for the body he had been identified with for nearly fifty years, him and I know it gave great pleasure when some eighteen months ago, I occupied the Wesleyan pulpit at Honley, and when one of the Buxton Road ministers occupied this pulpit. He was ever ready to say, “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” In 1857 this church, as a distinct organization, was formed, and as I have already said, when it was decided to build this chapel, our friend was selected to lay the corner stone. He watched its erection with the deepest interest. He witnessed its completion with the fullest satisfaction. It was one of his pardonable weaknesses in the last year or two of his life to talk about the comfort and beauty of this chapel; he thought there was scarcely another like it. He literally took pleasure in its stones and favoured the dust thereof. But still more affectionately did he care for its spiritual interests. When this chapel was opened our friend was in his seventy-fifth year, and therefore has not since then been able to render much active service. Indeed, since I have been your pastor, he has never been able to worship with us, but he took the deepest interest in all our doings. I never visited him without having many questions asked concerning our welfare. He generally knew what the Sunday texts had been, and not unfrequently had been told portions of the sermons. Since I came amongst you I have received words of encouragement from many dear friends, but no one has been more anxious that I should be both happy and useful in my work than our departed friend. Some three years ago it pleased God to take away his wife, who had been a true helpmeet for fifty-seven years. Since then he has nearly always been confined to his bed; but although confined to bed his mind has been very active. Sometimes when old men are taken from the busy activities of life, they are full of murmurings and fretfulness; time hangs heavily on their hands, and they soon sink into dotage and second childhood. It was very different with our friend. His mind was well employed. His head was a library, in which many thoughts were treasured up; many outlines of sermons, and the results of much general reading were there harvested. Through life he had been a diligent, careful reader of God’s word, and had treasured a great deal of it in his memory. During his illness, he would frequently repeat from memory seven or eight psalms consecutively in a morning. Many other lengthened portions of scripture were equally familiar to him. And almost daily did he quote psalms and chapters until within the last six months of his life. Another method he adopted of employing his time was that of writing hymns. And he has left behind him five and twenty manuscript volumes, containing between three and four thousand hymns. Latterly his method was to sit up in bed and write a hymn in pencil, embodying any thought that powerfully arrested his attention; when he had made it flow on smoothly as he could, he would in a clear hand, copy it in ink into one of the books he kept for this purpose; and in this way he has during the last few years of his life filled some five and twenty good sized books. Now, I am not going to say that there is any great literary merit in these hymns. Men do not begin to write hymns that are worth anything after they have passed their three score years and ten. He himself did not foolishly fancy that there was very much merit in these hymns. Sometimes when I visited him he would show me one that he had written since I last called, and would tell me with a smile, how some one or other member of his family had read it, and pooh-poohed it. He would then ask me to read it to him, and I rather fancy that he preferred me to read them, for he used to say that they sounded the best when I read them, which arose, I suppose, from the fact that when there was a limping line I humoured it. However, as he has often said, they please me, and hurt nobody, and it is a good employment. And in that he was quite right. I think we see an admirable trait in his character in the writing of these hymns. It was much better for him, when past his four score years, to fix his mind on good thoughts, and strive to give metrical expression to them; than to let his thoughts drift hither and thither, without purpose or aim.  I have no doubt that this exercise had much to do in preserving his faculties so clear and fresh. He daily had the scriptures read to him, and frequently made remarks thereon. He also daily had the newspapers read to him, and in this he contrasted favourably with many old men whom I have known.  It is one of the common weaknesses of old men to have but little sympathy with the progressive movements of the age. They live in the past, and are fearful that every change will be for the worse. Their faith in God’s continual education of the human race seems to be weakened. But our aged friend was free from this weakness. He did not believe that the former days were better than these, and that the world was daily growing worse. One would scarcely have thought that a man in his 85^th year, who had been confined to his bed for years, would take a deep interest in the Irish Church Bill. Yet that was the case with our friend. He knew exactly the nature of the changes that were taking place, and had the fullest sympathy with them. He was one of the few old men we occasionally meet with, who hold fast their faith in God’s government of the world, and are ready to bid the new generation God speed along the untrodden paths, which they have afar off by faith. It only remains for me now to say a few words concerning our friend’s inner spiritual life. As I have only known him during the last three years, I may perhaps fail in presenting you with a vivid picture; but it is not at all difficult to describe the prominent traits of his character, so far as they were revealed in the sick room. In estimating a man’s religious character we often make a mistake in expecting spiritual life to always develop itself exactly in the same way. In our narrowness we would like to put all men into the same mould, and turn them out to a fixed type and shape. But God is not governed by our little theories and narrow conceptions. Spiritual life will develop itself in various ways. In the spiritual life of some men, thought and intellect are predominant; this is generally the case with Scotchmen. In other men emotion, feeling, is predominant. Now, our friend always impressed me as belonging to the first class. His mind was cast more in the mould of a rationalist than that of a mystic. His religious feelings were not of the ecstatic kind. I should judge that in his earlier days he would enjoy breaking a lance in debate with the Calvinist or the sceptic. He had clear, sober, intelligent views of scripture, and of God’s moral government. He liked a doctrine or truth to commend itself to his common sense, and then he was content. The most predominant feeling of his heart was that of thankfulness. Old age is frequently querulous, but our friend lived in the spirit of gratitude. I seldom visited him without hearing him recount his varied mercies. He seemed particularly thankful that in his old age he was not dependant upon others for the supply of his daily wants. And I think this is a right feeling. It is no doubt beautiful to see an old man leaning on the shoulders of those whom he has reared; but, as Ward Beecher has says, “there is something more beautiful in the thought of a man leaning upon his own staff,” and that is what our friend did. His trust in God was steady and strong. He always impressed me as a man whose preparations for dying had been made, and who had nothing to do but to wait until God should call. He frequently expressed his willingness to live, or his readiness to die, even as God thought the best. There was not much change in his health until a few days before his death. He then began to suffer sharp pain, which in time passed away. He then fell into his last sleep; amongst his last words were, “Thy will be done.” And so he quietly passed away. Devout men carried him to his burial; and now he rests from his labours, and his works follow him.

 

“The religious actions of the just,

Smell sweet in death, and blossom in the dust.”