CITY-ROAD MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1876.

MEMOIR OF MRS. JOHN BANKS, OF LEEDS.

BY THE REV. G. STRINGER ROWE.

MRS. BANKS was born in the year 1809, at Yeddingham, one of the villages of East Yorkshire. At the age of twelve years she was sent to school in the city of York: and it is about this time that we are able to find the earliest traces of that work of Grace in her which afterwards attained to such completeness, and made her to be such as we knew her whilst filling so important and useful a place in the service of Christ.

She herself said, that she had distinct recollection of feelings of great delight in knowing the love of God, when only eleven years old. The good which was then beginning was to be ripened into better things while she was at school; first of all, by means of the godly and earnest teaching of certain clergymen to whose preaching she listened at St. Sampson's, York, the church which the school attended. But, as far as we can judge, she owed most in this respect to the personal influence of one of the governesses, who is described by another of her pupils as "a holy and devoted Christian." This faithful servant of the Lord, using well the fine opportunities which her position afforded, sought to lead her young charge to Christ, while she was teaching them the lessons of their ordinary school work.

There are many here* who loved our dear friend well, many who rejoiced to be yoke-fellows with such a worker in the Master's work, many, too, who received from her ready hands abundant Christian kindness and timely help, and some who, by the same hands, were led into the way of life. Surely all these are bound to render praise to God, Whose grace, in the fidelity of that Christian teacher, first brought into loving activity in His service the young girl who was afterwards to become one

* This memorial Sketch was prepared for the Funeral Sermon, preached in Brunswick Chapel, Leeds, March 8th, 1874, on the occasion of Mrs. Banks' death; and it has been thought better to print it in the form in which it was then read to the great multitude, who were gathered together to testify their love and reverence for her whose Christian goodness and zeal had brought blessings to so many of them, and whose sudden removal from the large space covered by her devoted service struck the church with a grief that was almost consternation.

VOL. VI.

FIRST SERIES.

L

of its most diligent servants! You have known her when, in the vigorous use of her mature and well instructed mind, and the exercise of her largesouled charity, she spent her time and strength and money in doing good. You have seen the full, broad tide of her Christian philanthropy, and to many of you it has brought refreshment and blessing. I now ask you to look back to its early source, and to thank God for the woman's hand which first set a-flowing those streams of helpful love. This Christian governess was accustomed to take some of her pupils-and the subject of this Sketch amongst them-to visit the sick and the poor, to instruct them in those arts of relief and consolation, and that skill to aid the needy and the suffering, without which no Christian education is complete.

When the school-girl returned home to take her place in the household, and to face the facts of life, she came prepared with lessons welllearned, not only from books, but from actual contact with the wants and troubles of her fellow-creatures, whom, she had been taught, it was her duty and her great privilege to succour and to bless.

At this critical point in the life of youth, when the restrictions of school-discipline, and the systematic occupation of school-work, are suddenly removed, all good training, in too many instances, comes to an end. At such a time, the young heart, with its large capacities of enjoyment, and new sense of liberty from the daily task, is in great danger of seeking its rest in indolence, and its pleasure among the glittering frivolities which present their easy attractions on every hand. Here again, the Lord provided for His young servant the help she required. Her father had removed to Heslerton; and the wife of the Rector of the parish took the young girl in hand on her leaving school, and associated her with herself in deeds of charity and religion. Thus our revered friend began that course of zealous labour on behalf of others, in which we have seen her attain to such eminent distinction.

At the time just referred to she became a teacher in the Sunday-school, a district visiter, and, as occasion required, a diligent collector of funds for many good objects.

You will not have failed to remark that, up to this point, nothing has been said of the time of her conversion. No record can be found, neither was she ever known to speak of any marked period of spiritual change.* Of one, whose consecration was so complete, whose life was so full of Christ, never showing any disagreement with her avowed faith and joy in the Lord, it was impossible to doubt that she knew-and knew in a high degree the "renewing of the Holy Ghost." But hers was one of those cases wherein the saving work was wrought gradually. The early and

* It will be seen, however, in a subsequent quotation from her journal that she dated her early calling into the fold at about the year 1820, when she was eleven years of age. (See P. 149.)

gentle operations of the Almighty Spirit were obediently yielded to; and thus, from a very tender age, she began by a regular process of grace to grow up into Christ.

She thus closes a fragmentary journal kept during part of the year 1842

"Dec. 11th.-Since I last wrote, I have much to record of the Lord's goodness. My health has been very indifferent, and for nearly three weeks I have been confined to the house, with the exception of a day or two. But God has been so graciously near, and His presence so cheering, that I could rejoice in Him 'with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' I did feel that Jesus was mine, and I was His own, purchased with His blood. My soul longed to leave its earthly tabernacle and to join the glorified spirits before the Throne, who see Him face to face. I seem to have the sentence of death in myself, and think that the time of my departure is not far distant. But I leave that to Thee, O my Heavenly Father! praying that Thou wouldst sustain my soul in death, and enable me to glorify Thee. If I continue on earth a little longer, Lord, make me to live to Thy glory. I feel a longing desire for the salvation of my dear parents, and our servants. Lord, give me their souls! I praise Thee for one praying soul amongst them, who, I trust, will be my 'crown of rejoicing' in the day of the Lord.

"Dec. 31st.-By the good hand of my God, I am brought to the concluding day of this year. 'Bless the Lord O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!' Innumerable have been my mercies; all my temporal wants supplied; and great spiritual blessings, Fatherly chastisements, and supporting mercy, and restoring grace. Truly the Lord has been my Helper, or I should have perished! I do long to be with Him, to see Him as He is."

In June of the following year, 1843, she writes :

"O it is sweet to feel that I am nothing, that He is all! Lord, empty me more and more. Fill me with Thyself, that it may be manifest in all my deportment that 'Christ liveth in me.' I would praise God for His goodness in bringing some souls in this neighbourhood to seek His face. I trust there are some within our own house seeking Him. O that we might be a household fearing God!

"I yesterday visited S. Thompson, dying from locked-jaw. My heart yearns over this dying youth, who is apparently unconscious of his danger. Lord, awaken him to see it!

"Another interesting visit to J. Craven, who thanks God for the books lent as having been the means of enlightening his mind.

"October 31st.-Since my last entry in this little book, God has helped and supported me in time of need; and though my way has, especially of late, been very trying, and I have been ready to faint, yet the Lord has sustained me. I see there has not been one trial too many. There is such a depth of pride and sin in my heart. I have set apart this day as a day of abstinence, and desire to be humbled before God for my many transgressions, and to seek help and strength for the future. Make me, O Lord, more watchful over wanderings in prayer, and daily to live in closer union and communion with my Saviour. My health has been unusually good, and thus I have been enabled to attend the schools. Thank God for increased attention, and the hopeful state of some of our children. One dear young woman of my Bibleclass has been taken from us, I trust to join the Church in Heaven. Praised be God! I do feel increasing love to this work, and encouragement to go on trusting in the Lord's faithful promise. May I only live to glorify God, and be the instrument of leading others to this precious, precious Saviour!"

Again she was placed in new circumstances, her father having purchased a house in the village of Snainton, and removed thither with his family. But no change of place brought any lessening of her Christian work. Sometimes she paid long visits to other members of the family; and was everywhere found diligent in striving to do good. Her loving heart showed itself in a bright and winning demeanour, which gave her a quiet power to which others found it pleasant to yield; and no one yielded to her influence without gaining a blessing. It was at Snainton that she first joined herself to the Methodists, amongst whom she remained, and was found faithful, to the end of her life.

She thus sums up the history of the year 1847 :—

"I desire to praise my God for the mercy that has flowed with an unbroken stream through the past year. It has been one of the happiest years of my life. God has graciously made my way plain before my face, and opened to me many precious privileged opportunities of doing good. He has condescended to give me some precious souls for my hire, has removed many difficulties with regard to the Infant and Day schools; and, in answer to prayer, given me the means of carrying them forward. I desire to record this, in order that it may strengthen my faith in future trial and difficulty, and that I may never forget the goodness of God in this matter. O may He bless these schools to the conversion of many, many precious souls! This is my first desire for them. The past year, so full of mercy, has not been improved as it ought to have been to His glory. If I have learnt anything, it is my own helplessness and weakness, and, I trust, more of the preciousness and all-sufficiency of Jesus. He is my All in all."

In January, 1851, she was married, and came to Leeds, and thus entered once more into altogether new scenes. Her chief satisfaction in this event consisted in the fact, that she was united to one who was devoted to the service of the Lord. The consecration of her life to the work of Christ remained unaltered; and she at once addressed herself to her holy ministering to the sinful, needy and suffering round about her. Here, in this great and crowded town, she found demands on her service which appalled her. Hitherto her acquaintance with poverty and distress had been chiefly confined to the rural districts in which the greater part of her life had been spent. Her soul was now stirred by witnessing those frightful aggravations of misery and vice which are to be found only in the lowest ranks of a dense population. Others-other Christians-might be able to content themselves with bestowing a sigh upon all this evil and pain, perhaps adding to the sigh a subscription to some charity, and then forgetting the uncomfortable truth as speedily as possible. But with Mrs. Banks religion had never been a mere theory or sentiment. It supremely controlled her entire life. To recognise the claim which others' want had upon her resources had so long been habitual, that it had become instinctive; and, when she saw distress, she sought at once, without hesitation or debate, to give her aid for its relief. Mourning that the work to be done so far exceeded her powers, or, indeed, the powers of all the lives as

yet consecrated to the holy service, she was not thereby deterred from making her labour to cover the whole ground of her ability, and at once threw herself into that active engagement in works of charity, wherein you knew her so well, and, at last, have seen her

She writes:

"Her body with her charge lay down,

And cease at once to work and live."

"I have entered upon a new sphere of labour in this large and populous town, as a Sunday-school teacher at Lincoln Fields, and as a Class-leader. O that God may perfect strength in my weakness, and give me grace to live and labour for Him! I have often need to put up the prayer, 'Lord, I am but a little child; teach Thou

me!'"

The following extracts from Mrs. Banks' private journal are of great interest, giving us, as they do, to look into her spirit and feelings as she went on working for her Lord :—

"On Tuesday evening, my spirit sank within me at the thought of immortal souls hastening to eternal death. The apathy of the few boys who came to school deeply affected me. Lord, arise and maintain Thine own cause. Make bare Thine arm, and let a general awakening take place!

"Through unwatchfulness, lost that near sense of the presence of God: but on Saturday, I again felt to draw nigh to the Lord. My soul pleaded for a baptism of the Holy Ghost, especially for a blessing at the Band-meeting: and the Lord blessed me and refreshed me. In the night season I looked to Him for a good Sabbath. On my first awaking, Satan was very busy, filling my mind with earthly thoughts; but, in going to Lincoln Fields, I was enabled to look up to Jesus, and, while Mr. Simpson preached from 'Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,' I felt the Lord very near, and that I could, from my heart, join in the petition.

"September 3rd, 1853.—In the afternoon at school much depressed with the conduct of my class, who, I fear, are wandering about. The condition of this neighbourhood is awful.

“March 3rd, 1854.—At Lincoln Fields, heard of the death of another woman in my tract district. This is the third in less than a fortnight, besides the awful death of the poor creature who was burnt,-all fearfully sudden, because unprepared for. O to feel for dying men and women! Lord, give me more weeping sympathy for the perishing souls around me! I mourn my want of love for souls. In this, as in every other respect, may I have the mind of Christ.

"My soul was filled with adoring gratitude to my Heavenly Father for calling me so early into His fold,—now about thirty-four years ago,—and helping me to seek all my pleasures in religion. What it was then it is now, but sweeter and richer and happier. My whole soul, this night, bowed at the feet of Jesus, and asked to live and labour for Him, to go His errands and to do His work. That passage was brought to my mind, 'Thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.' I feel as much, I think more, spring and elasticity in working for God. To Him be all the praise!

"Oct. 1858.-This morning commenced my work of tract-distribution and visiting afresh. Went to Mushroom Court. In the first house saw three children nearly without clothing, in a wretched bed; the mother out. In another house, two wretched young women. One of them very eagerly said she should like a tract, for she greatly needed it, and was miserable. Could make nothing of the other. The miserable woman who keeps this house was a member of mine for a short time, but seemed quite unmoved when spoken to.