accordingly recommended to the ensuing Conference, which cordially received him as a preacher on trial. He was appointed to the Barnsley Circuit, where he remained for two years. Here his labours gave great satisfaction, whilst the knowledge the people gained of his character secured for him a warm place in their hearts. His preaching was clear and lively, and manifestly attended with the Divine blessing. That Circuit is large, and, as in some of the more distant parts, the minister is required to stay all night after conducting the week evening service, the families who provided accommodation for Mr. Walker were always rejoiced to see him. As a colleague he might be regarded as a model young man. He was punctual in fulfilling his appointments, thoughtful about the general interests of the Circuit, careful in attending to business matters entrusted to him, and while kindly to all with whom he was brought into contact, nevertheless manifesting that independence which enabled him to keep his place. He took great pains with the class of which he was the leader, and was rewarded by always having a good attendance, as well as seeing it considerably increased in the number of its members. On the eve of his departure to another sphere of labour, the friends presented him with a substantial testimonial in token of their appreciation of his ministerial character.

From Barnsley he removed to Stockton-on-Tees. While residing in the latter town his mind was considerably exercised with the question of entering the Foreign Mission field. Men were wanted for China. He was willing to go, and I believe desirous. Most young ministers have missionary aspirations. There is in such enterprises much to fascinate, especially adventurous spirits, and when, moreover, there is an impression on the mind that work of this kind is the work to which God calls, there is a readiness to enter whenever the door opens. A correspondence was carried on which did not end in anything so far as Mr. Walker was concerned. Other brethren were sent, and he settled down to the discharge of the duties of a minister at home. Those who knew him intimately were assured that he was well adapted for that kind of work, and that he would have made an excelleut missionary.

His next appointment was in Liverpool, where he remained two years. The close of his first year's appointment likewise terminated his probation. He attended the Huddersfield Conference, when he witnessed a good confession before many brethren, and received ordination. Leaving Liverpool he was stationed two years in Birmingham, thus spending five years of his ministerial life on Home Mission stations. These appointments, designed to raise new churches, are generally trying, and involve much uphill work. In each place in

which Mr. Walker lived his labours were productive of great good. Souls were converted to God, and the Churches were edified and strengthened, and led onward in their evangelical undertakings.

Concerning our late brother's views and aims as a minister we have to refer to his manner of life, and the way in which he sought to perform what he deemed to be the duties of his office. He evidently had formed a high idea of ministerial character, and deeply felt the responsibilities of ministerial position. He frequently read Baxter's "Reformed Pastor," and professed to derive much advantage from it. He lived as one who must give an account. He endeavoured to discipline and store his mind, that he might bring out of that treasury things new and old, to instruct and save his hearers. While he attended with systematic diligence to his pastoral duties, he gave attention to reading and study in order to prepare himself for the pulpit. He was somewhat fond of the Puritan divines, but he likewise kept himself acquainted with the religious thought of the day. He took up the study of Greek in order to read the New Testament in the original, and had made some progress in that language.

As to Mr. Walker's productions for the pulpit we have to form our judgment from a recollection of some of his efforts, and from the testimony of his hearers, as he has left no manuscripts behind, nor even the outline of a sermon. We are informed that he frequently wrote his sermons, but he sometimes first preached from a text and then wrote his discourse afterwards. Generally his preparations for the pulpit were very carefully made, in order that there might be freshness and force in his ministrations.

His last appointment involved his preaching regularly before one congregation for between three and four years, and his sermons, highly acceptable from the first, increased in their value to the end of his ministry. His pulpit efforts arrested attention and always interested his auditory. His sermons were thoughtful and robust, with a strong practical cast. He took care to preach Christ. An Alnwick friend writes: "Christ and His salvation seemed his special theme. No sermon was complete in which the Saviour was not lifted up and His great love made known. His heart was on fire for Christ, and his wondrous earnestness could not fail to impress the most unimpassioned hearer." Anecdotes were sometimes employed to illustrate, occasionally quaint phrases were thrown out in which some important truth was wrapped, and which would be likely to fix itself in the memory, whilst his appeals were very direct and powerful. His sermons were not of that colourless character, made up of platitudes or of carefully constructed sentences,

which when heard scarcely interest, and certainly make no impression, but they were composed of good thoughts carefully arranged and forcefully expressed. There was no attempt at ornamentation. Even allusions which might serve the double purpose of ornament and illustration were passed by, lest they should divert attention from his great purpose, and in clear, direct, and forcible language he cast his thoughts before the people.

Out of the pulpit he was active and industrious. He always had some work on hand to occupy his time. When something special was completed he began something else. He took little rest himself, nor did he give his people much.

As a pastor he visited his people to counsel and comfort them. He regarded this department of work as one which enabled him to do good to the people and strengthen the interests of the Church. It was, moreover, work which harmonised with his inclinations, hence it was to him a pleasure to call at the homes and see the families that composed his congregation. His disposition was genial and social. Hence he drew the sympathies of those with whom he was brought into contact towards himself and the objects he advocated. He was a welcome visitor, whilst his cheerfulness attracted children (no mean judges of character) to him. In company he was courteous, yet somewhat reticent with strangers; with those however with whom he was on terms of friendship he was free in his communication. He had a ready perception of the ludicrous, yet the humour, of which he was not deficient, was so balanced and restrained by other qualities that in him it was always without venom, and his cheerfulness never approached to lightness. His self-respect enabled him to maintain proper dignity of character, and as he took no liberties with others, none thought of taking liberties with him. In presenting the excellences and traits of his character it will not be supposed that he forgot he belonged to a frail and erring race. He was not perfect, nor was his career free from mistakes. We can only point to One perfect character, and after His likeness and example our departed brother sincerely and constantly aspired.

In 1870 he was appointed to our Alnwick Church, and entered on his labours with the approbation and good wishes of our people in that ancient town. A short time previously the congregation and church, after many struggles, had succeeded under the pastorate of the Rev. A. Hallam, a beloved brother, who has also gone to his rest, in providing for themselves a handsome chapel in Bondgate. A school-room, chapel-keeper's house, and organ were yet required to complete the establishment. Mr. Walker set himself to secure these, and by constant effort and the hearty co-operation of the people had

the satisfaction of seeing all erected and free of debt. In addition to his ordinary labours he frequently preached in the Market Place, and sometimes followed up his efforts in the church by delivering an address on the Sunday evenings in the open-air. This is a course that is fraught with great danger to the speaker. Generally in summer weather there is not much risk in having a service in the openair instead of indoors; but there is great risk to the health in conducting one in the open-air, immediately following the indoor service. The heated state of the body renders it peculiarly liable to take cold, whilst its exhausted condition consequent upon the previous expenditure of vital energy makes it incapable of resisting attacks which arise from the changes in the atmosphere. Our brother was intensely anxious to do good, and adopted this plan, in conjunction with others, of preaching outside after the churches had closed, with the hope of reaching some who otherwise would never hear the Word at all.

As Mr. Walker had been brought up in total abstinence principles, he deemed it to be his duty to identify himself with the Temperance party in Alnwick and give his influence to the movement. He became one of its vice-presidents, and was instrumental in establishing a Band of Hope in the town, and subsequently one in connection with his Sunday school. A gentleman residing there testifies that our late brother "was the means of rescuing many from the drunkard's path, in restoring some who had fallen, and in pointing some to the Lamb of God, his temperance labours resulting in spiritual good to many."

His appointment to Alnwick was very congenial to his nature. The friends were kind and thoughtful, and ever ready to second his efforts. The lady whom he had married some years previously to his going there, and who now mourns his loss, cheerfully devoted her time and influence to the interests of the Church. The word he preached was attended with power, God blessed his labours, souls were saved, and Zion was strengthened. His influence was felt in the town, and by neighbouring churches and ministers he was held in high esteem. It may not be out of place to introduce here a quotation from a letter written by the Rev. D. Donaldson, Presbyterian minister, who has long had a charge in Alnwick. He says, "In common with all parties I had formed a high opinion of Mr. Walker, of his abilities and usefulness in the Church, and I saw with much and cordial satisfaction the promise given by him of growing service and power. While warmly attached to his own communion, he was always ready to help in our meetings, his heart was in every movement going on amongst us for the good of others, and his

labours were abundant. Indeed, I thought, and often said to him, that he was not sufficiently careful of himself, especially during the latter part of his ministry when his health was beginning to fail. Latterly he seemed to be anxious to do all his strength would permit, under the secret consciousness that his time of work here for the great Master's sake was not likely to be long."

During the third year of his appointment to Alnwick indications of failing health, referred to in the above letter, presented themselves. His voice, formerly strong and clear, became weak and hoarse, and his ordinary labours distressed him. Medical advice was sought, and short seasons of rest with change of scene were tried with some advantage, so that he was able at the Conference of 1874 to accept a fourth year's appointment to Alnwick, where the continuance of his labours was strongly desired. The fall of the year found him again in declining health, old symptoms appearing in aggravated forms. The last time the writer saw Mr. Walker, who had been to him for many years as a brother well beloved, Mr. Walker called on him to arrange to be liberated from some deputational work to which he had been appointed by the Missionary Committee. He felt himself inadequate to undertake the duties, though he did not regard his indisposition so serious as it ultimately proved. Later on in the year he became increasingly weak, complained of a pain in his side, was troubled with a cough, while his voice became more husky and unnatura!. Various medical men were consulted, and their opinions were the reverse of discouraging so far as they expressed them.

For some time Mr. Walker had cherished an opinion that a voyage to a warm climate, or a residence in a country where the atmosphere is warmer and drier than ours, would conduce to his restoration. He fully believed that he was only suffering from some temporary debility, which under favourable conditions would pass away, and that in the course of a few months, or at the most a couple of years, he would be so restored that he would be able to fulfil all the duties of his office. As he got worse, however, he appears to have become doubtful whether even a change of climate would be of much service to him. An opportunity presented itself to him, through the kindness of some Alnwick shipowners, of visiting Queensland, West Australia, without expense save in the outfit for such a long voyage, and after much thought and prayer it was decided that he should go. Near the end of March the writer received the following letter from him :

"ALNWICK, March 26th, 1874.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,-You will be surprised to hear that (D.V.) I will sail from Liverpool in about three weeks' time, on a