CITY-ROAD MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1874.

MEMORIAL SKETCH OF MRS. WESLEY BENNETT,
OF HAMPSTEAD.

BY HER HUSBAND.

MISS RIGGLESWORTH, afterwards MRS. BENNETT, was born in Tortola, West Indies, on Christmas-day, 1839, her father, the late Rev. William Rigglesworth, being at that time a Wesleyan missionary to that Island. Within two years his short but useful and honourable career was closed, at Antigua, and his widow returned to England.

From a very early age it was Miss Rigglesworth's desire to be thoroughly acquainted with the Scriptures, and to make them the rule of her life. When only three years old, she was able to repeat, without hesitation, the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. Nor was her memory stored with one subject only: when carried to the door at night she could intelligently point out and name the leading stars. From childhood she served God with all her soul. Her heart's desire was to tread in the footsteps of that sainted father whom she strikingly resembled throughout life.

Her sense of acceptance with God, which never forsook her, went far back into those earlier years, when at a lovefeast at St. Alban's she resolved to be wholly the Lord's. On the Sabbath evening following, in the little chapel at Shenley, kneeling beside her mother, she suddenly turned to her with streaming eyes and a face radiant with joy, and said, "Now I know that God for Christ's sake has forgiven me all my sins." The Master's seal was impressed upon her life. Shenley was at this time drawing largely upon the services of a devoted band of Richmond students, among whom were the Revs. Charles Garrett and F. C. Haime, and the visits of these servants of God were ever among the sunny memories

of childhood.

When only twelve years old a severe attack of rheumatic fever prostrated her, and left her exceedingly delicate, and with the seed of that disease which too soon terminated her eminently useful life. As health partially returned she engaged in every good work with all the energy of a young and ardent disciple. As a Missionary collector, Sunday-school teacher, -teaching rough, unkempt boys whom no one else could control,-Tractdistributor, and in connection with the music of the sanctuary, her services (both in the Stoke-Newington and Highbury Circuits) were very efficient.

VOL. IV. FIRST SERIES.

All who knew her bear loving testimony to her abundant and useful labours, performed without ostentation, but with that quiet humility which counted on no praise save the Master's, on no reward save that which she is now receiving at the right hand of the Father.

In her were united an amiable disposition and a mind enriched by reading; even of abstruse works, such as Dr. McCosh's "Divine Government" this gave her the power to express her thoughts with much ease and feeling both in prose and verse. Her diary, of recent years, is rich in religious thought: the deep longing of the soul for closer communion with Christ, contrition for any supposed waywardness, and the outpouring of a grateful loving heart to Him Who had in these "latter days" given what she had so much desired. Her correspondence was of the same high tone. There was in nearly all her poems an inexpressible pathos and sweetness. In July, 1869, we were married. Of her married life it was an oftrepeated saying of hers, that she thought no two souls were ever more closely united. To her husband she was a tower of strength. Breathing a higher spiritual life, her gentle spirit steered them through trials and difficulties, her strong faith never for a moment doubting the tender faithfulness of God in providence or in grace. It was the separation, that "going home" involved, that caused her the only pang in those parting hours.

The years 1865 and 1867 had been seasons of great suffering. She was brought almost to the verge of the grave, to be again raised up by God for the work yet to be done. The latter year was also marked by peculiar trial on account of the sufferings of others, especially the lamented death of her uncle-the Rev. Samuel Burrell, of Thetford, mysteriously cut off in the prime of life.

On her removal to Hampstead, it was to her a great privation that she could not regularly avail herself of the spiritual advantages associated with a Methodist chapel; the distance to the nearest chapel (two miles) being too great for her bodily weakness. She warmly co-operated with her husband and others in the efforts made to commence a WesleyanMethodist cause there. The new chapel, it must be remembered, was in the centre of a population of thirty thousand souls. To her advocacy we were mainly indebted for the being able to commence under such advantageous circumstances. In connection with the first service, she made upwards of three hundred calls upon families who, with a few exceptions, did not appear to be under the charge of any minister whatever. From that period to the day that fatal illness seized her, she laboured constantly for the success of the Society, far beyond her strength, and with a selfabnegation that could only come from entire consecration to God. Honoured ministers and friends have written since her death bearing grateful testimony to her devotion to the cause of Christ in this place, and to her unwearied labours for its success. The Rev. Francis W,

Greeves, who at that time was Superintendent of the St. John's Wood Circuit, and for three years had close and constant opportunity of observing, writes," Mrs. Bennett was one whom it was impossible not to regard with more than ordinary respect and affection. She was by nature and by grace adorned with an eminently gentle and winning character, and she was a lover of the Lord Jesus, and as such devoted to what she regarded as especially His cause. Those who knew Hampstead four or five years ago, know how much the infant Methodist Church owed to her. I remember well how she longed to see the foundation of the chapel laid, and how, beyond her strength, she was ready to labour in any way for its prosperity."

To her it was ever a delight to entertain Christ's ambassadors and to enjoy their society, and she won the regard of all, whether in our own or other denominations. Tender tributary lines have come from far and near and show that the sweet and gentle heroism of her life lives in the memory of many a noble heart.

Her charity was only bounded by her means. When a child she gave all her little savings to relieve a poor widow; and in later days she always rejoiced to be the dispenser of the Lord's bounty. The Book of books had a warm place in her heart's affections; and our Hymn-Book she was thoroughly acquainted with.

On the night of the 14th of March she was seized with agonizing pain, and in a few days her physicians pronounced her to be beyond the reach of medical skill. During more than seven weeks two worlds seemed to be contending for her sanctified spirit. A knowledge of her critical condition came to her, and she never ceased to give God thanks for all He had done for her and the great joy He was about to give her; for which she longed. In an agony of pain, when spoken to about the tenderness of Jesus, she said, "O, yes!

'Jesus can make a dying bed,

Feel soft as downy pillows are.''

Once when all were gathered round, thinking that the supreme moment had come, she sung the lines beginning with—

"Hark! hark! I hear my Saviour calling."

On another occasion she said the room was filled with angels, and she saw the glorified spirits of dear departed friends, and repeated the verse commencing

"I see a world of spirits bright."

Many times she spoke of the great comfort afforded her by thinking of the first few verses of the fourteenth chapter of St. John's Gospel, remarking, "How comforting to feel all is ready and waiting, and that we have nothing to do; Jesus has prepared everything for us."