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volence were manifest to all who knew her, combined with domestic virtues equally conspicuous, which rendered her competent to exact uniform subordination from the juniors of the family to their seniors. It was the practice for each female of the family to occupy part of the leisure from school-hours with a portion of work by which to maintain house order; thus initiated to method and industry, she learned to value any few minutes' leisure, which some squander or lose in supine indolence till they sum up to a great portion of life, that might have been usefully spent, and they habituated to exertion when necessary for affairs of importance. After the death of her mother, which occurred when she was about twelve years of age, she was encouraged by the family pastor to enter upon "Confirmation of baptismal vows," and also to receive the ordinance called the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; but after the death of her father, who only survived his wife a short time, she was sent to a boarding-school. She attended places of amusement as the means of introduction to society, but never showed any delight therein. Hitherto she had lived in the fear of the Lord, and thus beginning in wisdom longed for the spirit which dictated the oftrepeated words of the liturgy, "Thy service is perfect freedom!" but finding, in that course to which she was trained, the companions of the card-table and dinner-parties afforded no help to her mind, she again sought the company of the Methodists, who at that time were favoured with an extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit, many being called up at midnight to join the congregations, and "those who went to mock oft staid to pray." It was at one of such meetings that her spirit, which was obviously restless from penitential remorse, was by faith in Jesus, who was then and there held up by preaching, like as "Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," that whosoever looked away from all intervening objects steadfastly unto Him, as the atoning Sacrifice,

would be saved from the guilt and power of sin, she was suddenly changed and blessed with that "peace of God which passeth all understanding," the evidence of that faith which worketh by love, purifying the heart. She could then joyfully ejaculate, Abba, Father! my Lord and my God! with the witness of the Spirit that her sins were forgiven, and her soul quickened in the "new birth unto righteousness." She then joined the Methodists, and frequently felt herself constrained to declare what God had done for her soul; and her fervent supplications in public were often heard and acknowledged, apparently, by the solemnity which prevailed. Thus she went on for a season joying and rejoicing in the God of her salvation; but was soon called to experience that they "who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Strong opposition was evinced by some of her family, and increasingly so as her influence affected those around her. And, also, in respect of church-fellowship she had to relinquish the society of those endeared by their instrumentality to her conversion; for about that time the secession from the Methodists began. It was judged by the seceders that a separate community should be formed, upon new rules of discipline. She had declared herself decidedly favourable to these regulations before having any acquaintance with Alexander Kilham, who was the first mover in this cause, and to whom she was afterwards married early in the spring of the year 1798. Their union was of short duration, she being left a widow at the close of the same year. On the 3rd of 4th mo. following, the birth of a daughter was an affecting circumstance the joy that one is born into the world being clouded by the melancholy reflection that no father's eye was ready to hail it, as the object of their mutual care and love. She had then to fulfil the parental duties in a twofold capacity, at a time when multiplied sorrows threatened to paralyze her already enfeebled frame. The most oppressive weight

was that at this juncture, when the cause to which a monumental inscription designated her husband as a martyr, was suffering by the loss of his services, she had to endure reproach as a deserter from it; yet to some it was then known, though not divulged, that previous to her beloved partner's decease, they both considered themselves convinced of the principles held by the Society of Friends.

Looking back on the deep trials through which our valued sister had to pass, she thus describes her state of mind: 66 Retracing the few last years of my life, I wonder at the mercy of that power who has brought me through them, and caused me to sink into humble adoration, and to exult in a joy filled with reverence and love to Him, at times when my earthly prospects seem torn up by the roots. A few nights since, when we sat in silence, and could hardly break from it, at -'s house, this view was so deeply and livingly brought before me, and impressed upon my mind that I could say, 'Leave me but Thyself, and all will be well! Thou art the source of goodness, and it is only goodness which can fill my soul with the living interests of true affection! My natural affections have been strong, and my unions, as I thought, deeply rooted! Thou hast in wisdom and, doubtless, in mercy broken them, yet I rejoice in Thee! I adore Thee!' I wished to speak, but I thought words would not convey the gratitude I felt, and feared to speak of the goodness of God unworthily; therefore I continued silent. Surely in heaven we shall be blessed with a language more expressive of the sacred affections that sometimes fill our souls!"

A short time previous to this, in another letter to her sister, she writes, "Some time past I have been led by degrees into a belief that the body of Methodists are not in that way of worship and of general practice most acceptable to God. It is neither by books, nor conversation, nor, indeed, by any human influence that my mind was first drawn towards its

present state: at this time I shall only say that I do not find my mind free to join the Methodists' form of prayer-meetings and preachings; but have not withdrawn myself from the Society. I never, I think, was so deeply sensible of the insufficiency of every help but that which cometh from above. Sometimes the Almighty sees good to impart light and direction through the medium of friends, but in this instance, in my present circumstances, it seems totally denied me, through these means, perhaps, more fully to wean me from a dependence on an arm of flesh. I will endeavour, then, to look up to Him who has commanded that we should trust in Him, though we sit in darkness and have no light. Should the Lord see good to cause me to pass through a furnace of inward and outward affliction, if it be for the purification of my soul, I wish, through Divine grace, to submit with patience. Oh! may I ever have strength to say, The will of the Lord be done!"

In the winter following, she was called to resign the lovely child, who had become increasingly endeared, being of remarkably affectionate disposition. So far from repining at that afflictive dispensation of Providence, this handmaid of the Lord was aroused to redouble her exertions for the public good. The various schools and establishments for benevolent purposes in which she took a prominent part are works that will follow her; and the precious influence of her presence and counsels will be long and livingly retained.

Testimonial of Hannah Kilham, from James
Montgomery.

"It may be truly said of Hannah Kilham that it was given to her not only to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus, but also to suffer for His sake; nor can we doubt but that she was ready at any moment

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to lay down her life in the service of those for whom He laid down His life in sacrifice. Having known her for many years, and having often had occasion to glorify God in her, I can honestly testify that during all that period, either at home or abroad, she was one of the most actively and influentially benevolent persons with whom it was ever my privilege to be acquainted. In all our Christian institutions here, for the personal relief of the distressed, the general amelioration of the condition of the poor, or the direct promotion of the Gospel among all classes, so far as being a member of the Society of Friends she could co-operate with persons of other denominations, she was most exemplary and indefatigable in the discharge of every duty which she undertook. But it was more especially in founding and conducting schools for the instruction of children in humble life, both in Great Britain and Ireland, that the energy as well as wisdom and gentleness of her mind was displayed. In later years her plans, simple but comprehensive, admirably adapted to present application, and nobly prospective of future enlargement, to the highest degreee of practicable perfection, for improving the condition, social, moral, and spiritual of the Negroes in their own country, were far beyond mere human praise; for though pride may superciliously disdain, and learning affect to hold in little esteem her humble but hallowed attempts to reduce the crude languages of West Africa to grammatical rules; yet by these it may be presumed that she has begun a work which has not only shown the way, but in some measure prepared it, for eventually and effectually civilizing and evangelizing the barbarous hordes on both sides of the Niger, whom the natives of misnamed Christendom have been conspiring to plunder, enthral, and oppress by the most iniquitous traffic under heaven, for three centuries past!

"She is now gone to her reward,--not of merit, but of grace; the only ground upon which she ever ven

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