66 the Church service out of my mother's the path of duty. He has himself given large Prayer-Book, and I well remem- the particulars so briefly and clearly ber that this pleasure was increased that we give them in his own words:when I was allowed to throw a table- 'My great difficulty was now my cloth over my shoulders, which gratified deafness. I could not hear the prome as much as if it were a surplice." fessor distinctly, though I was allowed This passion grew with him. At ten to sit very near the chair-right in front his mother having removed to another of the professor's table, in fact. Many locality, he attended another church, were the expedients I devised, with the "where also," he says, "I became a view of catching all the tones of the regular attendant, still manifesting the professor's voice. I remembered that strongest desire to wear a surplice." wood was a good conductor of sound, While at Bristol he received ordina- and that a wooden rod, one end of tion from the hands of the Rev. T. F. which placed against the teeth and the Churchill, who had retired to this city other end rested on a table, conveyed when compelled from declining health sounds with accuracy from a considerto give up his ministry in London. able distance. So I constructed a rod Here also his attention was attracted to of beech-wood, cut with a notch at one the then new science of Phrenology. end, which I fixed to the edge of the Dr. Crook, a well-known member of the professor's table, and placed my teeth at New Church in London, visited Bristol the other end, and I heard distinctly; for the delivery of a course of lectures but, alas! this experiment succeeded on Mnemonics. These lectures were too well, for any noise from the stufollowed by an evening course on Phren- dents-the scraping of a pencil, for ology, which Mr. Goyder attended, and instance, the thrumming of the fingers in which he became intensely interested. on the desk, or the shuffling of the feet It was not, however, until many years on the floor, or even the subdued conafterwards that circumstances led him versation of the students-often rento give a still closer study to the sub- dered the professor's voice confused and ject and to engage in its promulgation. indistinct. I then changed my wooden A prominent feature in the life of our rod for a hollow tube of iron, and had it friend was an intense love of truth and deeply cut, with spiral lines on the sura restless activity in its pursuit. When face, forming it, as nearly as I could, to satisfied that the general features of this resemble the labyrinth of the ear, and science were correct, he set himself to I found great relief from this, but still a careful investigation of its details and experienced annoyance from the causes particulars. In this labour he studied above mentioned. With the view of persons and characters as well as books, deadening these sounds, and still preand to fully qualify himself for the serving in tact the voice of the proprofessorship of the science, which fessor, I rested the posterior part of the several eminent men were labouring to vertex of my head against the support establish in one of the most distin- at the back of my seat, and I was guished of our northern universities, he amazed at the effect-I heard distinctly. undertook a course of collegiate studies, In this way I listened to the various and mastered under great difficulties professors, and though I could not the sciences which enabled him to pass distinctly hear every word of the leca successful examination for his degree ture, I, for the most part, was enabled of M.D. at the University of Glasgow. to obtain the substance; and I attenFrom early life he had suffered from tively conned the subjects of each day's deafness, and this had so increased upon attendance at the university at my own him that at the time he undertook this home, and thus kept pace with the course of study he could only hear by other students.' the use of an acoustic tube. The means employed for the attainment of his degree furnish a fine example of the " pursuit of knowledge under difficulties," and illustrates very forcibly a marked feature in our friend's character-his indomitable perseverance in the pursuit of what he regarded as The removal of Mr. Goyder from Bristol interrupted for a time his labours as a minister. At Liverpool, and also at Preston, he continued to render occasional service, chiefly under the direction of the Manchester Missionary Society. His appointment to Accrington in 1829 restored him to full 66 ministerial usefulness. Here his min- he had been settled, but it was still istry was eminently successful. The inadequate to his wants. His miniscongregation was so much enlarged as terial labours were therefore suppleto necessitate the erection of a gallery mented by lecturing on scientific subon three sides of the church. Every- jects and by literature. As a lecturer, thing seemed to improve, except the he was clear, logical, and attractive; income of the minister, which was as a writer, neat and perspicuous. In wholly inadequate to his requirements, addition to his theological publications, and in the end compelled him to depart. he published a small volume on "AcAfter a short residence at Hull, he quisitiveness," "Lectures on Freebecame the minister of the Temple in masonry,' a small work on "Mental Percy Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Arithmetic," and contributed to periHe was now in the prime of life, and in odical publications. In relation to the the full vigour of his powers. His Church he published a "Concise Hisdeafness had unpleasantly increased, but tory of the New Church;" "The Heart, he nevertheless set about his work with its Tendency to Evil;" Biography of remarkable energy and zeal. He not Swedenborg;" "Spiritual Reflections;" only announced discourses on attractive the "Glasgow Series of Christian and interesting subjects in the Temple, Tracts," extending to between twenty but organized missions to the various and thirty, and mostly the production populous places on the banks of the of his own pen; a volume of Sermons; Тупе. He published also a small and a revised translation and exposition periodical, the Herald of Truth, in aid of the Gospel by Matthew. His extenof his mission-work; wrote and pub- sive labours and the somewhat wide lished some able pamphlets in connec- circulation of his published works made tion with a local controversy, instituted him extensively known; and wherever a Pestalozzian school, and availed him- he was known he had friends by whom self of every opening before him for he was warmly esteemed. useful labour. The imprudent appointment of an unsuitable teacher to the day-school, combined with other causes, interrupted his work, and led to his removal to Glasgow. His removal to Glasgow was the commencement of the real work of his ministry. Here he laboured with unflagging zeal and earnestness for the next thirteen years. Some respectable and influential members were added to the Church, and the Society markedly progressed. And here, as well as at Newcastle, he extended his labours by extensive missionary operations. The expenses of these missions were largely sustained by the offertory which is everywhere established in Scotland. Many of his discourses were also published as tracts, and formed part of a series which he published under the title of the "Glasgow Series of Christian Tracts." These tracts had an extensive circulation, and were very useful in spreading a knowledge of the truth. He instituted also the Annual Assembly of the Societies of the New Church in Scotland. This Association still continues its Annual Assembly, and devotes its attention to missionary labour. His stipend at Glasgow was larger than at any other place in which At the close of his ministry at Glasgow, Dr. Goyder continued his labours in the Church for many years. These labours were in Ipswich, Melbourne, and Norwich; and, when partially incapacitated by age and growing infirmities, he continued to preach occasionally at the College Chapel at Islington, and to render such services as he was able to the College. When compelled to relinquish all active use in the Church, he retired to the presence of members of his family, finding his last home at Bradford, where the end of life was watched with all the care and attention that affection and medical skill could impart. The warmest friends of our departed brother do not claim for him an exemption from human infirmities; but none who really knew him will fail to appreciate his sincerity and simplicity of character, and his ardent love of truth and earnest zeal in its promulgation. He has laboured earnestly during a long life, under difficulties that would have cast down less ardent men, to promote the good and the true, and he leaves the world with the esteem and love of many who have benefited by his labours. Mr. Goyder leaves a widow, his senior in years and his faithful helpmate dur ing the long period of their married pleasant to note that his labours were life. Mrs. Goyder desires us to express at least recognised by his friends. In her thanks to the many ministers and August 1865 he was presented by the friends who have so kindly and thought- teachers and scholars with a magnififully condoled with her in her bereave- cently-bound copy of the Divine Word, ment, and to ask them to accept this together with an address in which acknowledgment as a reply to their his efforts were warmly appreciated. communications. The writers of the address said, 'It is now twenty-nine years since you entered on the God-like office of training the youthful mind in the principles of true religion.' Only think of the constancy, the perseverance here manifested, and the genuine love for the work, which must have sustained our departed friend during that long period. Three years later we find him still teaching the young men, who, as a mark of esteem, presented him with a lifelike portrait of himself. Amid all this labour for the Church, his public duties as a citizen were never neglected. For many years he was a poor-law guardian, discharging his duties with that same loving faithfulness which he manifested in all the relations of his church life. The keynote of our friend's life was love; we are, therefore, not surprised to learn that as an employer of labour he was universally ISAAC GEE, Esq. This esteemed member of the New Church departed from the scene of his earthly usefulness to his eternal home on the 2nd of June. His long connection with the Church and Sunday-schools of the Society at Kearsley had endeared him to a large circle of friends; and a long and painful affliction had excited their sympathy and affection. He has departed after a life of extended usefulness, and he ceases from his labours and his works, do follow him. From the Farnworth Journal of June 9th we give the concluding portion of an impressive funeral sermon by Rev. P. Ramage: in the moral as well as the material welfare of those whom he employed, and was ever desirous of helping them to live nobler and purer lives. Over a life so rich in deeds of usefulness to men-so fragrant with pleasant memories-we had no doubts, no fears. We did not say, 'Peace be with him,' but rather, May some of his peace, his calm, patient spirit of work in the Lord's service be with us; and may his bright example be long held in grateful remembrance by that church which had been so much benefited by his labours.' "With the departure into the spiritual world of the late Mr. Gee, there has gone from our midst the last male member of a family, whose name was intimately associated with the rise and early progress of this church. The beloved. He exhibited a real interest deceased, when in the vigour of his manhood, was an energetic worker. For some twenty years he held three of the most important positions in connection with a religious communion. He was secretary of the church, leader of the choir, and superintendent of the Sunday-school. This latter position he held for nearly thirty years. Animated by an intense love of his Church, he clung to it through good and evil report. His life, viewed from the heavenly stand-point, was rich in promise and radiant with hope. The field of labour which lay nearest his heart was the Sunday-school. Here he exerted an influence which can only be fully known in the eternal world. The labourer in the Sunday-school works for the future. The future alone can disclose how many lives he had influenced for good. Workers like Mr. Gee were the real builders of the Church. And it was ERRATA. Page 348. Omit name of E. H. Bayley THE recent session of the General Conference of the New Church was, in some respects, the most satisfactory ever held. In no previous year has the business been more carefully attended to, and never certainly were the debates conducted with such perfect temper and courtesy ; the number of members who signed the roll was equal to the average of recent years; the attendance at the successive sittings was more than usually regular; and let us not forget to say that the arrangements of the Committee of the Salford Society were in all respects admirable. The visit of the American ministers, and of other gentlemen from the other side of the Atlantic, added considerably to the interest and usefulness of the proceedings; and the several addresses given by these gentlemen, both during the sittings of the Conference and at the evening meetings, were directly and indirectly beneficial. In listening to the two admirable speeches of the Rev. Chauncey Giles, speeches which diverted our thoughts for a time from figures and statistics, one could not but regret that the meetings of Conference did not afford regular opportunities for the delivery of addresses on the important and suggestive topics they introduced, or on others of kindred character. It is perhaps pertinent to hope that the time may come when Conference, either by more rapid despatch of its business or by the more probable plan of extending the number of its days of meeting, shall be able to devote at least one day to the hearing of papers and discussions on questions relating to the spiritual progress of the Church, and to other subjects which cannot be introduced at the ordinary sittings, and perhaps the transactions of such assemblies would render the annual records of the Conference proceedings additionally attractive. This year, for example, advantage might have been taken of the presence of Rev. W. H. Benade to invite him to give an account of the results of his recent investigations in the East. We venture to speak with greater confidence about this suggestion, with the recollection of a delightful and useful meeting held at the house of one of our Manchester friends on the Monday in the week following the Conference week. The occasion was one of the old coffee-meetings, assemblies first instituted by the Rev. John Clowes more than seventy years ago in the early period of the Manchester Printing Society. The Society has many memorable traditions, but we question if it ever held so interesting a meeting as this; and those who had the good fortune to be present will not soon forget the delightful sphere and the suggestive debate. The subject of the evening was the relation of living organisms to the science of correspondence, and there was no lack of thoughtful and instructive discussion. About seventy friends assembled, ten of whom were ministers, and a considerable number of Conference delegates were also present. The ministers were the President and Vice-President of the Conference, the Revs. Chauncey Giles, C. A. Dunham, Dr. Bayley, J. F. Potts, W. Westall, C. H. Wilkins, E. Whitehead, and I. Tansley, the majority of whom took part in the discussion. In the course of the evening a hope was expressed that an arrangement might be made by the Conference Council and the Palace Gardens Society for a special meeting on the Monday following the annual meeting of the Conference next year of the kind mentioned above. Before leaving the subject of the visit of our American brethren, we would repeat what was often said during the week, and record the great gratification and delight universally felt at the presence of these gentlemen, now happily so well known and so much beloved; and in expressing our sympathy with the kind feeling and fraternal regard which prompted this visit, let us hope that we on our part may be more ready than we have been heretofore to manifest it in the way often suggested by our visitors, and that English messengers to the American Convention may ere long regularly express with the living voice the friendly sentiments and hearty sympathy so generally felt for our brethren across the ocean. A report of the proceedings of the week will be found elsewhere, and it is only necessary here to refer to a few of the measures adopted. |