might nearly be asked with as great a degree of propriety, what William Beauchamp did not know, as what he did know! Such was the general information possessed by brother B. that he became the arbiter and settler of difficult questions; and it has been known, even among hostile parties, that cases have been taken out of court, and William Beauchamp chosen as as the principal arbitrator, or referee, to settle the dispute between them. His integrity could never, with any degree of propriety, be called in question. Such was his cast of mind, and such his disposition, that when it was deemed necessary Mr. B. frequently made excursions as a hunter, was remarkably successful, and an excellent woodsman. From the foregoing observations the reader might perhaps conclude that our friend B. possessed a robust constitution, but it was quite the reverse; he was weakly from his youth, and from an early period of life was a man of afflictions. He possessed a happy talent, and the prevailing disposition of his soul appeared to be to do good; to become useful in every station of life that he was called to fill, and to discharge his duties with dignity and propriety. His powerful mind, therefore, appeared to rouse him to action in the pursuit of every thing laudable. Having used every exertion to accomplish the objects he had in view, and succeeded, in many particulars, brother Beauchamp retired to his farm, about three miles from town, in 1821. In April 1822, after a lingering illness of five months, with a white swelling, brother B. lost his son, "his only son" William, a promising boy, in the thirteenth year of his age. This was one of the severest strokes of divine providence that he had ever experienced. William was truly a dutiful and interesting boy, possessing a pensive cast of mind, calculated to attract the tender affections of the soul, and to entwine around a parent's heart. When his funeral sermon was preached, the congregation, and the preacher himself, were bathed in tears; at the close of which brother B. rose, and for a few minutes addressed the congregation in such language as would have moved a heart of stone, and concluded by bowing submissively to the will of heaven.* The attention of brother B., and of the writer, after this was called to the building of a church and a seminary of learning in * In a funeral sermon preached at St. Louis, by Mr. Beauchamp, in 1823, on the death of Mr. Otis Tiffany, whose parents resided in Pawtucket, (R. I.,) he makes these observations, taken from the printed sermon now before me. Speaking of the parents, he says, "Could I reach them with my voice, I would say unto them: My friends, my aged friends, my companions in sorrow, I sympathize with you,-deeply do I sympathize. For I too am a smitten parent. Once I had a son, an only son, the desire of my eyes, the delight of my heart. But oh! he is also no more! God took him from my heart. But let us wipe away our tears, and give resignation possession of our hearts. For my son,-and your son-have made their way safe to a world of light. They both died in the triumph of living faith. If we live and die like them, in the favour of God, we shall soon see our sons-for we are pressing hard on the verge of eternity!" How soon he realized this prediction! Mount Carmel. Property we possessed for the purpose, from an appropriation of the proprietors of the town, but the change of the times had so seriously affected us, that it was rendered unavailable. We therefore concluded to postpone it for the present, and he joined the travelling connexion at the Missouri Conference in October 1822; was stationed in St. Louis one year, where he laboured with success. In 1823 he was stationed on Indiana district, as presiding elder over eleven circuits, and was elected also a member of the general conference. But such was the writer's fears and apprehensions of a relapse, (brother B. now having been in the enjoyment of good health for two years past,) that from Kentucky he wrote to a member of the family, (Mr. Beall) to dissuade him, if possible, from proceeding on to Baltimore; and received for answer, that "nothing but death would stop him." He attended the general conference in Baltimore, and such was the estimation in which the character of this great and good man was held there, in the great assemblage of ministers from all parts of the nation, most of whom were hitherto strangers to him, that he came within two or three votes of being called to the Episcopal office, and doubtless, (from information,) would have been appointed, had he been only a few years longer in the travelling connexion. As had been feared and apprehended, the journey to Baltimore, and the charge of his extensive district, almost the bounds of one entire state, was entirely too severe an undertaking for him. His old complaint, an affection of the liver, returned. He had attended three quarterly meetings after his return, and was taken ill near the place appointed for the fourth. He, notwithstanding his illness, was taken to the camp-meeting on the 29th of August, at brother Sewell's, near Peoli, where he became worse, yet gave advice and attended to some business. From thence, he was removed to brother William Cravens' for some time; growing still worse, he was removed to Mr. Joseph Peck's, in Peoli, to be more convenient to medical aid. Hitherto brother B. had prescribed for himself. He now yielded to the prescription of the physicians. The operation of medicine appeared too severe for his weakly constitution, and the last effort to save him was to produce a salivation, under which he sunk. He was ill about six weeks; his wife arrived at Peoli about four weeks before he died. He was conscious of his approaching dissolution, and was fully prepared to meet it. He exhorted his wife to be resigned to the event, and to meet him in glory. His treasure, he said, was in heaven. Numbers called to see him; it was all peace, all calmness with him. A few days before he expired Mr. Beall felt his pulse; he asked him how it was; Mr. B. said it was irregular; he rejoiced, and replied that it would soon cease, to beat no more. Eternity appeared to be opened to his view, his work was done, and he was ready to go. A short time before he expired he prayed for an easy passage through the gates of death. The Lord heard his prayer; and he died so easy, that he glided into eternity, glorious eternity! almost before it was perceived he was gone. Thus expired our great and good brother William Beauchamp, on Thursday night about 12 o'clock, at Mr. Joseph Peck's, in Peoli, Orange county, Indiana, on the 7th day of October, 1824, in the 53d year of his age. On Saturday following a funeral sermon was preached, before the corpse was interred, by Bishop Roberts, from Psalm cxvi. 15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." On the second Sunday following, in the evening, a short discourse was delivered in remembrance of their friend to the citizens of Mount Carmel, by the writer of this memoir, from 2 Kings ii. 12, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." A brief view of his character will follow in conclusion. "Ye noble few! who here unbending stand The storms of wintry time will quickly pass, (To be concluded in our next.] MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY CARPENTER, LATE CONSORT OF THOMAS CARPENTER, ESQ. Communicated for the Magazine by the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson. DEATH has removed from our land, our city, and our church, a "bright and shining light:" Mrs. Mary Carpenter will be long remembered, and long regretted. For many years she stood a pillar in the temple, and a mother in Israel. Young and beautiful, she gave her heart to God, and made her habitation the residence of hospitality and kindness; thither the mourner repaired for encouragement, the afflicted for consolation, and the tempted for advice. The Christian stranger was directed to her well known abode, and was ever received with smiles of courtesy and affection. Hers might indeed be called the "Pilgrim's Home." From the cheerfulness of her manner, and the serenity of her brow, one unacquainted with the chequered scene which the whole course of her life presented, would have thought that she had been exempted from the common ills of humanity; that she had glided gently down the streams of life, while the sun of prosperity shone brightly on her. But the purest gold has been refined; and when the conflicting waves of affliction, and be reavement, and temptation, and trial, beat against her bark, it did not perish, for Jesus was near. Like the disciples of old, she cried to her Saviour, and even in the midst of the tempest without, He spoke, and all was peace and joy within. She could magnify his name, and praise him for providences, which to other than an eye of faith, would have appeared most grievous. Of the earlier part of her life there is the following short notice in her diary :— "Mary Hawkins was born August 22, 1752, and at the age of twenty-one married to Mr. John Houseman. On the following year I rejoiced at the birth of my first child. My soul was filled with gratitude for my recovery, which I did not expect, having prepared my grave clothes; but God knew I was not fit for heaven. I rested in his mercy without considering his justice in punishing the sinner who dies without repentance. My heart continued tender, I wept under the preached word, but my natural disposition being very lively, before the next sabbath these impressions would wear off. Still the mercies of God followed me in such abundance, that when I took a view of them, (which I often did,) my heart was filled with love to Him: but this was not the love of Christ. God gave me a very great affection for Doctor Livingston; though brought up in the Episcopal church, I attended his preaching, and the Lord was pleased to make him the blessed instrument of showing me that hell was open to all who are out of Christ. At first I was grieved that the Doctor should speak so harshly to me. I did not know that it was the Spirit of God, and not man who made the application. Oh, my God! how many ways hast thou to bring poor sinners to thee! What love! What patience!" During the revolutionary war Mr. Houseman and herself retired to the country, where she mourned for the means of grace which she no longer was privileged to enjoy, and wept at the recollection of those she had slighted. Her soul could not find rest or comfort in the things of time and sense, and although she languished for the presence of God, her ignorance of Christian experience was such, that she knew not whither to carry her complaints. There was no religious friend near to point this weary and heavy laden pilgrim to the cross of Christ; to bid her cast her burden there, and rest on him who alone hath the words of life and salvation. She promised that if God should restore her to her home, and to her religious privileges, she would serve him. By the kind providence of her heavenly Father she was again brought to the city in April 1777, and was abundantly prospered in her temporal concerns. Like the patriarch of old she remembered her vow, sought out a house dedicated to the living God, and enrolled her name with those of its members. She writes as follows: "In December 1778, my mind was led by the Spirit to see my lost and undone condition by nature, my sins from a child, my baptismal vows unfulfilled. I cried day and night to the Lord, and I resolved to be found in all the means of grace. I had from a child a great reverence for the sacrament, and I thought it my duty to obey the command of my Saviour by commemorating his death; I therefore gave in my name to the rector of the Episcopal church, to commune the sabbath after Christmas. On my way I was very much tempted to turn back, from a sense of my unworthiness, but this thought came powerfully to my mind, if I perish, I will perish, calling for mercy at the feet of Christ.' I sat weeping during the time of service, much tempted, but God strengthened me, and enabled me to approach the altar. While I stood weeping, and waiting an opportunity to kneel at the altar, my blessed Jesus, by his Spirit, bade me be of good cheer, my sins were all forgiven. My sorrow was gone in an instant: my soul filled with love to God and man. My heart expanded with affection to all around. Oh! glorious time! never to be forgotten by me, either in time, or in eternity. My soul praise the Lord! Yea "I'll praise him while he lends me breath, And when my voice is lost in death Praise shall employ my nobler powers." While I am recording the goodness of God my soul is filled with his love; the Spirit of God bears witness that I am his child. Since that time I have endeavoured to adorn my profession with faith and love : through floods of temptation I have been enabled to give up my soul to him, who has done so much for me." During her first marriage, after rising by great industry to affluence, her husband and herself, with one daughter, were settled in easy and pleasant circumstances. Her husband, however, was soon and suddenly removed into a world of spirits. A few years after she closed the eyes of her only surviving child; but, blessed be God, this child, through her instrumentality, was permitted to drink of the cup of salvation, and enter into the joy of her Lord. In this the Christian could, and did rejoice; and while tears flowed down the mother's cheeks, the smile of gratitude was on her lips, and her tongue uttered praise and thanksgiving. Scenes of uncommon trial followed these bereavements: but in this furnace did her faith fail? No, it shone more brightly. God was to her a "strong tower," and he enabled her to "glory in tribulation," and praise him in the fire. Few persons have been called to sufferings of so varied, and so painful a nature; but love was the shining trait which subdued every pang, and raised her above the common standard of professors. The following extracts from her journal will show the spirit of love, resignation, and humility, which were the principles of her conduct. In sickness she writes "I think it good to have my flesh weakened, and brought low. Jesus knows what is best for such a poor creature as I am; he is my friend, and will have no rival, but will empty me from vessel to vessel until I am made meet for his kingdom. Glory be to his name that he notices me, and purges me that I may bring forth more fruit. |