no lodging could be found for him, and he had to travel ten miles to Mattersey to find a bed. But he continued his visits, and accommodation was provided, a Class-meeting was formed, and the place was put upon the Circuit-plan. In 1815, Worksop was made the head of a new Circuit. Other places were opened in the same neighbourhood, and Societies were formed, which continue to this day. One of these was the village of Normanton, where he engaged to preach on his twenty-first birthday, being on a Sunday. His parents had presented him with a pony, and he rode over from Retford on the Saturday evening. On coming downstairs on the Sunday morning the mistress of the house saluted him with the tidings that some one had broken into the stable in the night and stolen his pony. A long day's journey and three full services lay before him; but such was the calmness with which he received the information that his hostess was much impressed in his favour, and shortly after became a member of the Society. In a few hours it turned out that the pony was not stolen. The guilty parties restored it to the stable during the morning service, and, though shamefully disfigured, it was none the worse for travelling. For long afterwards its grotesque appearance drew attention to the Preacher in the villages, and his congregations so increased that he regarded the injury as overruled for good.

The work of the Retford Circuit was hard and unremitting. Mr. Naylor had little time for study and self-improvement; but a man made of the right stuff conquers his difficulties somehow. Mr. Naylor's habit was to rise very early; and in winter put on a second suit of clothes in order to do without fire, while the means of striking a light were always carried in his saddle-bags; so that he could secure a couple of hours in the morning without disturbing the family. The time thus gained was employed in theological and general reading and pulpit preparations; and, in the course of a few years, his mind became well stored, while his retentive memory and ready utterance enabled him to stand before the public with advantage. Petty persecution was common in those days, and Methodist Ministers were laughed at, and had to endure continual travel, night exposure in all weathers, poor lodgings and long absence from home; but all this trained up a generation of hardy soldiers of the Cross, who are followed by their works.

Young Naylor, writing to his brother, said: 'I bless God that I still feel an unshaken confidence in Him. He is better to me than all my fears. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me. O my God, give me more love to Thee and more zeal for Thy glory! Melt this heart of mine into tenderness. When wilt Thou possess me entirely. Haste happy day when God shall have full possession of my soul! soul! If I love Thee not, O my God, I know not what I love!'

At the District Meeting of 1802, held in Gainsborough, Mr. Naylor was appointed to preach. He took for his text Isaiah lxii. 6: 'I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace, etc.' The Gainsborough Methodists sent him a pressing invitation to become one of their Preachers at the next Conference. His friends at Retford wished him

to remain another year, but he was apprehensive that his material would run short. So to Gainsborough he removed in due time. One of his first acts there was to renew his Covenant with God, and reconsecrate himself to the service of the Church. The Circuit was very wide, and the congregations and Societies were larger than those he had left, and he felt the need of a richer baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Soon after entering his new sphere he was requested to visit various Circuits in Lincolnshire, to preach and make collections in behalf of a new chapel, then near completion, in the town of Gainsborough. This tour occupied a few weeks and was successfully accomplished; but he unfortunately caught the fen ague: a disease which used to be a sad distress to the Methodist Ministers and their families. The malady lingered upon him for months; frequently while it lasted he had to go from bed to the pulpit, and from the pulpit back to bed. On the day the new chapel was opened, however, he was able to conduct one of the services, and was much encouraged by the results. Larger congregations attended, and conversions attested the power of the ministry exercised in it. A somewhat rude attack was made upon the Methodist doctrines by the publication of a small poem entitled The Touchstone. To this Mr. Naylor replied in another poem entitled The Touchstone Touched, in which he displayed the power of easy versification, a thorough Christian spirit and a sturdy adherence to the creed of John Wesley.

After labouring successfully in Gainsborough two years, he was removed to Edinburgh, where he was surrounded by aspects of Methodist life very different from those with which he had been previously familiar. Lady Maxwell and Lady Dalrymple were members of the Society. With the former he and one or two others met in Band. Lady Maxwell generously provided him with a private classical tutor at her own expense-a benefit to him for the remainder of his long life. He had much time for study and made good use of it, and the consequence was that he acquired a degree of scholarship which enabled him the better to sustain the positions he was afterwards called to fill.

While in Edinburgh he was united in marriage to Miss Stewart Graham, daughter of William Panton, A.M., Attorney-at-Law. She was a young lady of genuine piety and amiable disposition, and every way suited to the sphere of a Minister's wife; but the happy union lasted little more than three years. She finished her course exclaiming: Victory! victory! through the blood of the Lamb.'

During Mr. Naylor's two years' term there was an addition of more than thirty members to the Society; and he cherished the hope that his usefulness might be increased if he continued in Scotland for another term, and was thankful when the next Conference appointed him to Glasgow. He diligently availed himself of the scholastic opportunities he found there. Two or three congregations formed his Circuit, and he was laid under the necessity of frequent preparation for the pulpit; but he had time for other studies, which he pursued with characteristic earnestness, and thus to some extent supplied the

lack of his early education. William Naylor knew how to educate himself; he kept his eyes open. He read much, had a good memory and command of language, and he sought help from God. No wonder that he succeeded far beyond those who feebly depend upon prestige or respectable surroundings. The favour which God has shown the Methodist people is seen in the number of men of this kind whom He has raised up to minister amongst them in holy things. In Glasgow not a few were given to him as seals to his ministry.

At the Conference of 1809 he was appointed to the Sunderland Circuit, at that time one of the most important in all England, having two thousand six hundred members and five Ministers. Six or seven Circuits are now found upon the same ground, with twelve or thirteen Ministers. He and his colleagues had to preach nearly every evening in the week, and frequently in the afternoons as well, and had always three full services on Sundays. The labour of ticket giving, etc., and the long journeys on horseback, early and late, may well excite wonder how so much toil could be sustained all the year round. The following memorandum is left among his papers: 'On Saturday I rode fourteen miles to Pithill, and preached at two o'clock; gave tickets, and rode ten miles further to Colliery Dykes, and preached there at seven. Sunday morning preached at Colliery Dykes again at nine o'clock; at Kiphill at twelve, at Greenside at four, and at Winslaton at seven.' The men who could stand such labours as these may be excused a little playful banter in replying to murmurings about hard work in the present day. The first year's toils were rewarded with much prosperity. Fifty persons were added to the Society. The public means of grace were crowned with holy influence. The Love-feasts especially were seasons of grace and sweet delight.' In Sunderland they were attended by hundreds, rich and poor, mingled their testimonies to the glory of God. The noble John Hickling, the Superintendent, led on his younger brethren with zeal and wisdom. But the Great Strike by the pitmen of the North took place at this time, and produced much unhealthy excitement throughout the villages. The Ministers carefully abstained from interfering, until it became known that many of the men had bound themselves together by a wicked oath. They then spoke faithfully to the members of the country Societies, and by doing so gave great offence. Many absented themselves from Class and chapel and insulted their Ministers. More than once Mr. Naylor and one of his colleagues were waylaid at night, and but for the swiftness of their horses would have been seriously maltreated. In the end, however, the firmness of the Ministers effected the breaking up of the combination, the men came to an understanding with their masters, and before the end of the year most of the disaffected were restored to the Church. Yet, as in some parts of the Circuit strong prejudices remained, and it was deemed prudent that some of the Ministers should retire, a very cordial invitation was sent to Mr. Naylor from the Shields Circuit; marrying with a Sunderland lady, every way fitted to be a Minister's wife, he emoved to South Shields. His colleagues were the Revs. Daniel Isaac and

who

and after

John Waterhouse. Their united labours were greatly blessed. At the end of two years, two hundred and twenty-four additional members swelled the Church register; and the increase would have been much greater, but for an unusual number who wearied in well-doing. Mr. Naylor was so painfully impressed with this fact, that he preached on the subject from Jude 22, 23, and published the sermon, by request. For a time it had a large circulation. Dr. Coke visited Shields at this time, and Mr. Naylor went with him from house to house begging for the Missions. They called upon a well-known lady who declined giving, but pressed them to take refreshment. 'No! No! No!' said the Doctor, and at once withdrew, saying when they reached the street, 'Had she given only the value of the refreshment for my poor negroes, I would have thanked her.'

While in Shields Mr. Naylor had a narrow escape from a watery grave. He had to preach in North Shields one stormy evening, and was anxious to return after service as Mrs. Naylor was ill. The weather had become so boisterous that the ferrymen would not venture to cross the river, but some young sailors offered to take him over. Just as they left the shore a captain half drunk leaped into the boat, and they pushed off; but had not gone far when the oarsmen found themselves unable to face the weather, and the boat was nearly capsized on the anchor chains of ships riding in the river. Mr. Naylor thought himself lost, and in silent prayer commended his soul to God. The ebbing tide hurried them out towards the sea, but just as they came near the dreaded bar of the river, the young men succeeded in reaching the opposite shore. Mr. Naylor's first act was to fall down upon his knees to thank God for their merciful deliverance.

On leaving Shields he was appointed to Bramley, near Leeds, and became Superintendent for the first time. No Circuit that he ever occupied afforded him more satisfaction than this. Foreign Missions were just at that time exciting the sympathies of the Methodists. These had been carried on in a small way ever since the year 1769, when the first Missionary collection was made by the Preachers attending the Leeds Conference. Dr. Coke had fanned the flame then kindled, and in 1813 he persuaded the Conference, with tears and entreaties, to send out six young men with himself to India. The question then arose, How are these Missions to be supported? and it was decided to form a Society for the purpose of raising supplies. Mr. Naylor, in his account of the way in which this came about, says:

'One day, to my surprise, I was visited by Mr. Morley and Mr. Bunting, who came to consult me on the proposal to form a Missionary Society, and to request my co-operation. We had a long conversation, and I cheerfully engaged to assist in such a noble project with all my heart. Then said Mr. Bunting, We will go to Wakefield, and see Mr. Buckley and Mr. Watson, and if they will join us, we will have a meeting. Both were willing to unite, and the Ministers of Leeds, Bramley and Wakefield, and a number of gentlemen met together and formed a committee; a public meeting was called, Mr. Thompson, of Hull, M.P., was invited to preside, and a number of Ministers and gentlemen took part in it. I had to preach in Leeds on the Monday night, and gave a word of encouragement to the people. Mr. Buckley preached at Armley, in my

Circuit, on the Tuesday evening from Isaiah lv. 10, 11. The following morning, in Albion Street Chapel, Mr. Watson delivered his noble discourse on Ezekiel xxxvii. 3–10, and the meeting was held the same day, at two o'clock, in the Old Chapel. We met in the vestry a little before the time, and on looking into the chapel we saw it densely crowded. There was no platform, and the chair was placed in the singers' seat under the pulpit. When the time came to begin, no one seemed disposed to leave the vestry. One and another said: I know not what to say; I never was at such a meeting before. At length, Mr. Bunting, in the fulness of his heart, exclaimed: "And I am at a loss to know what to say, but I am willing to be a fool for Christ's sake," and walked into the chapel, the others following. The meeting was addressed by a great many speakers. Mr. William Dawson spoke from the body of the chapel and made a great impression. My resolution was the fourteenth, and others followed, and the meeting finished at six o'clock. In the evening, Mr. Reece preached from Psalm lxxiv. 20. No collections were made, and thus closed a day which will be for ever memorable in the history of Methodism.'

The year before the above meeting was held the total Missionary income was £4,688 10s. 4d., but before Mr. Naylor died it rose to £150,000 per annum. For several years he survived all the others who spoke at the first meeting, and throughout his life he rejoiced in rendering the cause any service in his power.

While he remained at Bramley a revival broke out at Stanningley, where ninety conversions were recorded. Peace and prosperity prevailed throughout the Circuit, and a debt of three hundred pounds was paid off. In the midst of this revival his health for a time broke down. Mental depression, arising from bodily derangement, compelled him for a while to desist from preaching. He was restored, however, quite suddenly, and was not afflicted in the same way again.

From 1815 to 1817 the Hull Circuit was the sphere of his labours, where he was associated with distinguished colleagues, enjoyed good health, and laboured with gladness and zeal, encouraged by many proofs of the affection of the people. Here he was chosen by his brethren in the District as their representative to the Conference, an honourable position in Methodism, which he repeatedly sustained in succeeding years; a position for which he was well qualified, and which he occupied with a single eye to the glory of

God.

From Hull he removed to York, where he remained three years. Up to this time the Preachers never stayed longer than two years in a Circuit, and when it was proposed in the Conference that the term should be three years, subject to the cordial invitation of the Circuit, considerable opposition was expressed, and Mr. Naylor spoke earnestly against it in the Conference. But the innovation was carried, and proved to be wholesome, and afterwards no one was more satisfied with the change than he.

While in York, Mr. Naylor had to pass through much domestic affliction, and followed his saintly mother to the grave. But the work of God went on. He was an indefatigable workman. On he went in the routine of duty the year round without intermission, and even when affliction fell upon his family he was rarely absent from his post. In York he published two discourses by request: one on The Duty of Christians to Unconverted Relatives; the other