WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1870.

MEMOIR OF MRS. KEELING,

OF BARNSLEY;

WITH REMINISCENCES OF HER FATHER, THE REV. JOHN STAMP:

BY HIS SON, THE REV. WILLIAM W. STAMP.

a memory fragrant in

"THE memory of the just is blessed: itself, and fraught with interest and instruction to those who follow. The "mind of the Spirit" is in part made known by the temper and deportment of those who have lived beneath His guidance. As they followed Christ, so are we to be the imitators of their faith, their zeal, and their devotedness to God; asking "for the old paths, where is the good way," in order that we may "walk therein." In this number of the faithful dead, we now place the name of Sarah Stather, widow of the Rev. Ralph Ratcliffe Keeling, who, for nearly twenty-eight years, stood approved an "able" and faithful "minister of the New Testament."*

MRS. KEELING, a twin child, was born December 13th, 1799, in Mr. Wesley's Orphan-House," Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where her father, the Rev. John Stamp, was at that period stationed. The "Orphan-House," as a building, was unique; the only one of its kind in Methodism. The lower part constituted the chapel, over which was a kind of "flat," embracing a large band-room in the centre, with class-rooms surrounding it; whilst on a yet higher storey was a suite of rooms, then occupied by the ministers of the Circuit. In 1857, the old "House" was taken down, and large commodious day-school premises erected on the site.

At the Conference of 1799, Mr. Stamp had entered upon the thirteenth year of his itinerancy. He was born at Morpeth, in the county of Northumberland, on the 28th of October, 1761, to which place his parents had removed from Alnwick, where for

* In the Conference obituary of 1852, he is characterized as a man of sound judgment, great patience, deep humility, and unbending integrity. His "preaching was eminently impressive,... and his labours were largely owned of God in the conversion of sinners, and in the general discipline of the Church of Christ." On the 30th of August, 1851,"he was seized with an illness which precluded much converse with his sorrowing friends, and was summoned by the great Master to come up higher,' in the fifty-sixth year of his age.”

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several generations the family has resided. His early life was passed under circumstances most unfavourable to the formation of Christian character. His parents, though outwardly moral, were altogether strangers to experimental religion. The clergyman under whose ministrations he sat gave painful verification of our Saviour's admonitory appeal, "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?" In the sports of the field, the dissipations of the race-course, and in a passionate indulgence in card-playing, this "leader of the blind" spent day after day, and night after night; his youthful parishioner being not unfrequently his willing associate. Throughout the whole vicinity irreligion and vice held almost undisputed sway.

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On removing to Alnwick, Mr. Stamp was led step by step to a knowledge of the truth as it is "in Jesus." Under the ministrations of the Rev. William Hunter, and the Rev. William Collins, who in the year 1780 were stationed in the Newcastle Circuit, he was awakened to the "conscience of sins," and led to mourn before God. Having for some time sought deliverance as it were by the works of the law," he was at length enabled to trust implicitly in Christ, as having loved him, and given Himself for him; and in the assurance, Thy sins are forgiven," "go in peace," he was enabled to rejoice before God. Business engagements leading him in 1782 to London, he was for some time engaged as a "Community preacher," and in visiting the hospitals and workhouses took great delight. Though frequently urged to offer himself for the work and office of an "itinerant preacher," he shrunk from the task, till, at the Conference of 1787, the startling information reached him that he had been appointed as a "preacher on trial," under the superintendency of the Rev. James Thom, in the Dales Circuit.

After a season of mental perturbation and conflict, Mr. Stamp was led with fear and trembling to enter upon this unexpected sphere of toil. Indeed, much moral courage, as well as intense devotedness to Christ, was called for by the then hazardous duties of the "Itinerancy." "In journeyings often," "in perils by the heathen," "in weariness and painfulness," and not unfrequently "in hunger and thirst," the early Methodist preachers held on their way. The Dales Circuit at this period covered a vast extent of ground, the preachers being often absent from their homes for several weeks together, exposed to all the inclemencies of weather;

The "Community preachers" were a class of persons in connection with the London Societies, whose services were restricted to workhouses, hospitals, and the cottages of the poor. Having acted in a separate capacity for some years, their names were at length associated with those of the local preachers in the several Circuits.

and, with but few exceptions, meeting with poor accommodation and scanty fare. The devoted evangelist was, however, cheered by many indications of good effected by his earnest ministrations; and, under a firm conviction that he had entered upon his providential path, for forty-four years discharged the duties of a WesleyanMethodist minister with fidelity and success.

Mr. Stamp was thrice married. In 1790 he entered into this relation with Mary, eldest daughter of Mr. William Smith, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This gentleman was the son-in-law of Mrs. John Wesley, having been united in marriage with Miss Vizelle, her daughter, in the year 1769. The career of Mrs. Stamp as a wife and mother was short-lived; yet, in both these relations, as well as in her association with the then despised "people called Methodists," the Christian character was by her pleasingly sustained. On the 11th of November, 1794, she entered into rest. This lady, in connection with her sister Jane, (afterwards Mrs. Sundius, of London,) was thus remembered by Mr. Wesley, in his "last Will and Testament: "-"I give the coins, and whatever else is found in the drawer of my bureau at London, to my dear granddaughters Mary and Jane Smith."

Some idea as to the privations to which Methodist preachers and their families were at this period exposed may be gathered from the fact, that in the year 1791, when Mr. Stamp was stationed in the Yarm Circuit, the whole quarterly income of the preachers, in addition to three shillings allowed weekly for "board," embraced simply the following items :-" Quarterage," three pounds; "servant's wage," fifteen shillings; "washing house-linen," three shillings. The payment weekly of three shillings for "board" was during the year superseded by an allowance of eighteenpence per night, when the preacher happened to be at home! All honour to the memory of those devoted men and women, who from love to Christ, and love to the souls of men, cheerfully passed through such self-denial as these figures imply.

In 1797, Mr. Stamp entered a second time into the marriage relation with Ann, daughter of Mr. John Wood, of North Cave, Yorkshire, one of the earliest supporters of Methodism in that interesting village; though, in common with the generality of Methodists in that day, still retaining his connection with the Established Church. Miss Wood was a lady of great transparency of character, highly conscientious, and eminent for her devotedness to the service of her Saviour. After her marriage she evinced an admirable adaptedness to the obligations and responsibilities of her altered position. In the discharge of her domestic duties she was exemplary; nor was she less conscientious or unwearied in promoting, so far as lay within her sphere, the interests of the Societies