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EXTRACTS  FROM  REVIEWS 

OF   THE 

VILLAGE  BLACKSMITH. 


"  The  '  Village  Blacksmith '  is  altogether  one  of  the  most 
interesting  volumes  of  its  kind,  and  the  best  written  we  have  met 
with.  No  one  can  take  it  up  without  the  certainty  of  reaping 
instruction  and  delight.  Mr.  E.  has  exhibited  the  continued  sweet- 
ness and  playfulness  of  beautiful  imagery  which  distinguishes  his 
prose,  and  in  every  page  tells  us  in  spite  of  himself,  it  is  '  Prose 
by  a  Poet.'  Its  peculiar  feature  is  graceful  simplicity,  with 
poetry  oozing  through  every  sentence.  His  arguments  are  clear 
and  forcible,  expressed  in  language  generally  elegant;  and  we 
feel  that  we  are  perusing  the  pages  not  only  of  a  man  of  genius, 
but  of  an  ardent,  active,  and  cheerful  Christian.  And  withal, 
there  is  a  tone  of  delightful  pleasantry,  half-concealed  in  the 
writings  of  Mr.  E.,  which  is  often  placed  under  unnecessary  res- 
traint." ECLECTIC  REVIEW,  Oct.  1831. 

"  The  simplicity  of  Samuel  Hick  often  bordered  on  the  ridicu- 
lous, and  it  required  not  only  tenderness  and  experience,  but  the 
penetration  and  judgment  of  a  master  of  the  human  heart  to 
discriminate  between  them.  The  literary  merits  of  this  work  are 
superior  to  the  maudlin  mass  of  religious  memoirs,  as  the  comet- 
coursed  villagu  blacksmith  was  unlike  the  amiable,  but  inanimate 
personages,  of  whom  they  bear  witness.  We  recommend  the  '  Vil- 
lage Blacksmith,'  as  likely  to  amuse,  instruct,  and  edify — and  the 
volume  as  containing  more  pure,  manly,  and  beautiful  English, 
than  is  to  be  found  in  any  half-dozen  modern  novels.  A  poet's 
prose,  where  it  is  not  inflated,  is  the  best  of  all  prose  :  and  in  the 
work  before  us,  Mr.  Everett's  taste  and  judgment  have  fortunately 
prevented  him  from  falling  into  the  common  error ;  and  he  has 
introduced  only  so  much  imagination  and  metaphor  as  to  elevate 
the  subject,  delight  the  rtader,  and  to  throw  over  the  whole  the 
quiet  and  pure  spirit  of  his  own  muse."  THE  ATHEN^CM,  Nov. 
19,1831. 

"  An  interesting  Memoir  was  published  a  few  months  ago  of  the 
life  of  Samuel  Hick,  late  of  MicklefiVld,  Yorkshire,  the  details  of 
which  are  of  so  extraordinary  a  nature,  that  they  appear  more  in 
the  character  of  a  romance  than  real  lite."  MANCHESTER 
CHRONICLE,  July  30,  1831. 


"  The  volume  now  lying  before  us  epitomizes  the  life  of  a  black- 
smith, distinguished  for  his  integrity  and  piety,  and  who  has  been 
very  useful  in  his  day  and  generation.  It  is  written  in  an  easy, 
graceful  style ;  and  it  cannot  fail  to  interest  those  whose  hearts 
oan  warm  to  the  expressions  of  sincerity  and  benevolence,  which 
breathe  through  every  page."  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE,  April,  1832. 

"Perhaps  few  men,  besides  Mr.  Everett  himself,  could  have 
constructed,  had  they  been  so  disposed,  such  a  goodly  fabric,  or, 
to  change  the  metaphor,  have  produced  such  a  dish,  out  of  such 
materials;  for  in  the  crudity  of  those  very  materials  is  to  be  seen 
the  skill  of  the  artificer, — who  makes  light  shine  out  of  darkness, 
speaks  confusion  into  order,  and  throws  a  charm  around  what  else 
had  been  repulsive  to  both  sight  and  taste.  Yet  amid  innumerable 
disadvantages,  there  was  one  advantage  in  the  subject  alone,  which 
the  writer  appears  to  have  had  prophecy  of  soul  sufficient  to  foresee 
would  arrest  the  attention  of  the  reader,  like  the  fiery  brilliancy 
of  a  comet,  exclusive  of  its  erratic  course.  With  the  exception  of 
the  Vulcan  of  the  heathen,  and  the  Knot-tier  of  Gretna-green,  we 
know  of  no  '  artificer  of  brass  and  iron,'  not  even  Tubal-Cain 
himself,  the  secrets  of  whose  history  would  be  more  interesting 
than  those  of  '  The  Village  Blacksmith,'  and  in  the  life  of  no 
one  of  them  will  be  found  such  an  'instructor.'"  IMPERIAL 
MAGAZINE,  April,  1832. 

"  This  is  a  singular  little  work,  furnishing  another  very  remark- 
able history  of  human  character  acted  upon  by  ideas  of  religion, 
which  it  were  hard  to  characterize  as  too  enthusiastic  when 
stamped  by  so  much  of  charity  and  good  works.  We  have  not  for 
a  long  time  seen  a  volume  which  we  read  with  more  curiosity  and 
pleasure — curiosity  in  following  the  developement  of  the  character 
of  the  natural  and  simple  man,  in  his  rough,  but  honest  and 
untutored,  and  often  singularly  correct  views  of  things, — and  plea- 
sure at  that  unwearied  pursuit  of  good,  which  marked  every 
moment  of  his  life.  His  dreams,  his  mental  impressions,  his  self- 
denials,  his  sympathy  for  the  poor,  his  undaunted  courage  in 
respect  to  what  he  thought  was  right,  his  untutored  dialect,  his 
firmness  under  persecution,  and  the  quaintness  of  his  manners,  are 
all  delightful.  One  thing,  however,  must  be  noted  by  way  of 
detracting  from  tha  subject  of  the  memoir,  as  the  whole  cause  of 
our  satisfaction  in  perusing  it,  and  that  is, — the  excellence  of  the 
composition — the  neatness  and  clearness  of  the  writer's  style,  and 
the  charming  simplicity  which  prevails  throughout.  Hick  was 
himself  what  Coleridge  would  call  a  phsycological  curiosity,  and 
the  memoir  is  not  less  a  curiosity  for  its  purity  and  elegance. — The 
Life  of  Hick  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  Christian  philo- 
sopher ;  it  is  a  most  interesting  account  of  a  mind  deeply  impressed 
with  religion,  and  furnishing  a  beautiful  exemplification  of  the 
outpouring  of  a  simple,  benevolent,  untutored  spirit,  full  of  hope 
and  enthusiasm."  THE  METROPOLITAN  LITERARY  JOURNAL, 
May,  1832. 


3 
EXTRACTS  FROM  REVIEWS. 

OF 

THE  WALL'S  END   MINER." 


"  OF  the  merits  of  this  interesting  and  instructive  volume,  we 
must  be  understood  to  speak  candidly — we  are  disposed  to  do 
justice — they  are  of  an  order  which  cannot  fail  to  elicit  commenda- 
tion. The  memoir  of  an  orphan,  from  beginning  to  end,  is  well 
written — the  characters  introduced  fairly  sustained — and  the 
interest  kept  up  throughout."  MONTHLY  MAG.,  Feb.,  1836. 

"  With  how  small  a  portion  of  the  world  is  the  most  widely- 
travelled  acquainted ;  in  how  narrow  a  circle  of  interests  and 
feelings  does  the  most  liberal  thinker  live!  Want  of  time,  want 
of  opportunity,  the  pursuit  of  one  or  two  engrossing  objects 
confine  him  to  his  own  orbit  in  spite  of  himself;  but  should  any 
casuality  lead  him  to  tracts  new  and  strange,  he  has  the  advantage 
over  the  narrow-minded  of  being,  at  least  willing  to  contemplate, 
and  to  open  his  understanding  and  heart  to  things  which  may  not 
heretofore  have  been  comprehended  in  his  philosophy.  At  least 
such  we  feel  to  be  our  case,  in  stumbling  upon  a  book  like  '  The 
Wall's  End  Miner,'  a  work  which,  in  its  own  class,  will  have — 
probably  has  had  already — both  circulation  and  influence. — We 
can  perceive  that  though  there  be  only  a  hair's  breadth  between 
enthusiasm  and  fanaticism,  still,  the  separation  is  clear  and  deci- 
sive :  on  one  side  of  the  boundary  the  morals  and  charities  of 
life  exist  and  flourish,  though  in  an  atmosphere  strange  to  us." 
ATHEN.EUM,  Feb.  27,  1836. 

"  This  work  will  be  very  acceptable  to  readers  of  the  persuasion 
of  the  Wesleyan  Methodists,'  and  the  various  sects  that  have 
branched  off  from  that  vast  stem.  The  narrative  is,  of  itself, 
very  interesting."  METROPOLITAN  MAG.,  Masch,  1836. 

"William  Crister's  narrative,  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Everett,  is 
both  interesting  and  instructive,  and  we  shall  be  much  mistaken 
if  this  small  volume  does  not  obtain  a  more  extensive  circulation, 
and  make  a  deeper  impression  than  the  author  has  ventured  to 
anticipate.  It  is  well  written,  and  we  sincerely  recommend  it  to 
those  who  wish  to  become  acquainted  with  excellences  of  character 
which  have  been  exemplified  in  humble  circumstances."  NEW- 

CASTLE    COURANT,  Dec.   19,  1835. 

SECOND   EDITION. 

"  We  need  say  no  more  in  recommendation  of  this  volume 
than  that,  '  The  Wall's  End  Miner  '  is  an  excellent  companion 
to  the  '  Village  Blacksmith.'"  WATCHMAN,  March  28,  183b. 


"  We  are  glad  to  see  a  second  and  improved  edition  of  the 
Memoir.  It  abounds  in  very  useful  reflections  and  observations. 
Mr.  Everett-,  writes  like  one  who  well  knows  how  to  seperate  not 
only  the  chaff  from  the  wheat,  but  the  bran  from  the  finer  flour, 
and  has  furnished  a  very  useful  addition  to  the  stock  of  Christian 
biography."  WESLEITAN  METHODIST  MAGAZINE,  April,  1838. 

"  This  is  a  brief  and  novel  Memoir  of  a  singular,  yet  sincere 
..  .'iplij  of  Jesus,  and  a  Northumberland  Collier."  NEW- YORK 
CHIUSTIAN  ADVOCATE  AND  JOURNAL,  August  16th,  1839. 


THE  POLEMIC  DIVINE : 

OR 

MEMOIRS  OF  THE  LIFE,  WRITINGS,  AND  OPINIONS, 

OF   THE 

REV.   DANIEL   ISAAC: 


"  THESE  are  judicious  and  interesting  Memoirs,  illustrative  of 
the  upright,  unaffected,  and  sound-minded  subject  of  them.  They 
will  interest  the  reader  of  popular  works,  as  well  as  afford  some 
true  and  agreeable  lights,  whereby  to  study  varieties  of  human 
nature,  and  when  placed  under  peculiarcircumstances."  MONTH- 
LY REVIEW,  Sept  1839,  p.  145. 

"  It  is  not  merely  the  scarcity  in  the  article  of  biography,  which 
makes  us  relish  this  life  of  Daniel  Isaac.  Were  the  memorials 
of  departed  worth,  genius,  and  learning,  '  plenty  as  blackberries,' 
we  should  still  keep  a  corner  for  any  fresh  leaves  from  Everett's 
Book  of  Worthies.  We  know  him  of  old,  to  be  happy  in  the 
choice  of  his  subjects,  and  skilful  in  the  treatment  of  them. 
Enough  to  say,  that  we  have  read  through  this  Life  with  pleasure, 
and  cannot  close  it  without  recommending  it  to  all  such  as  love 
what  is  earnest  and  genuine,  whether  it  go  forth  licensed  by  a 
bishop,  or  a  synod  of  non-conformists." — ATHENAEUM  Aug.  24th, 
1839,  p.  628. 

"  Of  Daniel  Isaac  we  must  speak  with  praise.  He  was  simple, 
sincere,  and  temperate,  with  considerable  humour,  and  with  little 
temptation;  but  we  have  more  to  do  with  the  subject  than  with 
the  man." — WEEKLY  DISPATCH. 

"  This  book  will  be  of  considerable  interest  to  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists,  among  whom  Mr.  Isaac,  a  man  of  strong  character, 
was  an  eminent  and  influential  preacher.  It  gives  considerable 
insight  into  the  domestic  life  of  the  lower  and  middle  classes  of 
England.  Though  not  without  some  of  the  small  blemishes,  or 
rather  distinctive  marks  of  his  sect  and  calling,  Mr.  Isaac  was 


both  a  good  and  an  able  man,  full  of  life  and  energy;  possessing 
and  exercising  the  power  of  independent  thought  upon  most 
subjects." — TAIT'S  EDINGBURGH  MAGAZINE,  Nov.  1839,  p.  758. 
"  This  is  one  of  that  class  of  works  which  appeal  to  a  certain 
exclusive,  but  very  extensive  order  of  readers,  and  to  them  it  will 
prove  very  acceptable.  The  Polemic  Divine  is  neither  more  nor 
less  than  a  memoir,  (somewhat  too  lengthy,  we  must  observe),  of 
the  late  Mr.  Daniel  Isaac,  a  Wesleyan  Preacher,  and  one  of  suffi- 
cient celebrity  in  his  day  and  order  to  justify  a  work  of  the  kind 
devoted  to  his  memory.  The  work  is  written  with  care  and 
industry,  and  may,  as  a  biography,  be  read  with  interest  by  other 
persons  than  those  devoted  to  the  extensive  sect  to  which  the 
writer  and  the  subject  belong." — NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 
Nov.  1839,  p.  431. 


Idanu.i.CJ'Paterneftir 


MEMOIRS 


LIFE,    CHARACTER,   AND   MINISTRY, 


WILLIAM  DAWSON, 

LATE  OF  BARN-BOW,  NEAR  LF.KDS. 


JAMES  EVERETT, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  VILLAGE  BLACKSMITH,"  "THE  WALL'S  Exu  MIXER, 
"THE  POLEMIC  DIVINE,"  &c.,  &c. 


"  Narrow  is  that  man's  sou],  which  the  good  of  himself,  or  of  his  own 
relations  and  friends  can  fill,  but  he  who,  with  a  benevolence,  warm  as  the 
heat  of  the  sun,  and  diffusive  as  its  light,  takes  in  all  mankind,  and  is  sincerely 
glad  to  see  poverty,  whether  in  friend  or  foe,  relieved,  and  worth  cherished, 
makes  the  merit  of  all  the  good  that  is  done  in  the  world  his  own.  by  the 
complacency  which  he  takes  in  seeing  or  hearing  it  done  " — ANON. 

"  HE  WAS  A  BURNING*  AND  A  SHININO  LlOHT." — John  V.  35. 


LONDON: 
PUBLISHED  BY  HAMILTON,  ADAMS,  AND  CO. 

PATKRXOSTER-KOW. 

1842. 


TO 

THE   REV.  THOMAS  GALLAND,  A.  M., 

WH*OSE  VIRTUES,  TALENTS,  AND  LEARNING, 
WERE  HIGHLY  APPRECIATED   BY  THE    SUBJECT  PORTRAYED, 

Jrfjfsc  fttcmoivs 

ARE  RESPECTFULLY  AND  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED, 
AS  A  TOKEN  OF  PERSONAL  ESTEEM, 


THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


As  to  personal  history,  many  of  the  more  prominent 
facts  recorded  in  these  Memoirs,  -were  communicated  to 
the  biographer  by  the  subject  himself,  either  directly, 
in  the  way  of  information,  or  incidently,  in  the  course 
of  general  conversation.  Partly  through  the  accumula- 
tion of  these  facts — which  a  friendship  of  nearly  twenty 
eight  years  continuance  might  naturally  be  expected  to 
produce,  but  still  more  because  of  the  high  value  fixed 
upon  moral,  religious,  and  intellectual  character,  a  pur- 
pose was  formed,  hi  the  event  of  the  writer  being  the 
survivor,  of  furnishing  a  simple  narrative  of  the  life  of  his 
friend.  This  design  being  reserved  to  himself,  he  was  not 
a  little  surprised,  soon  after  the  decease  of  the  beloved 
subject,  to  be  waited  upon  by  the  executors, — Messrs. 
Charles  Smith  and  Edward  Phillips,  of  Leeds,  request- 
ing him  to  undertake  the  Memoir  of  their  long  endeared 
and  venerated  friend ;  stating,  at  the  same  time,  that  the 


VI  PREFACE. 

family  united  in  the  request.  Something  providential 
appearing  in  this  coalescence  of  intention,  arrangements 
were  immediately  made  to  enter  upon  the  work.  The 
executors,  with  promptitude  and  kindness,  placed  the 
papers  of  Mr.  Dawson  in  the  hands  of  the  writer  ;  and, 
combining  with  his  own  collections  whatever  was  avail- 
able for  the  purpose  of  biography,  he  proceeded  with  all 
possible  care  and  despatch,  to  furnish  £he  following 
pages  ;  which,  under  these  circumstances,  are  presented 
to  the  public,  not  only  with  the  sanction  of  the  family, 
but  under  the  authority  of  the  executors. 

Though  the  writer  had  a  valuable  collection  of  Letters 
in  hand,  obligingly  furnished  by  different  friends,  he 

studiously  avoided  the  introduction  of  them  into  the 

> 

Life ;  first,  because  they  would  have  swelled  it  to  an  in- 
convenient size ;  secondly,  he  was  anxious  to  introduce 
as  much  incident  as  possible ;  and  thirdly,  he  foresaw 
that  the  Letters  themselves  would  form  an  excellent 
volume — running,  chronologically  arranged  by  the  side 
of  the  Life,  as  a  kind  of  companion, — leaving  it  optional 
with  the  reader  to  take  one  or  both,  as  inclination  or 
circumstances  might  lead. 

In  each  of  the  biographies  in  which  the  writer  has 
been  engaged,  it  has  been  a  maxim  with  him  to  be 


PREFACE.  Vll 

honest — to  give  both  sides.  He  has  never  been  either 
afraid  or  ashamed  to  look  human  nature  in  the  face,  so 
far  as  simple  character  has  been  concerned — apart  from 
vice — whether  in  its  strength  or  weakness,  its  eccen- 
tricities or  its  regularities ;  nor  has  he  ever  tried  to 
make  a  man  what,  in  reality,  he  was  not, — so  that  when 
his  friends  and  neighbours  have  seen  him  in  print,  they 
have  been  unable  to  recognize  him — having  been  made 
so  much  better  than  he  actually  was.  Religion  requires 
no  deception  ;  and  happily  for  the  biographer,  he  under- 
took a  subject  that  could  sustain  a  scrutiny, — a  subject 
as  open  as  the  day, — and,  for  sincerity,  as  transparent 
as  the  light.  That  subject  the  biographer  commits  to  the 
world,  ,with  an  ardent  wish,  that  the  virtues  embodied 
there,  may  be  exhibited  both  by  himself  and  his  readers. 

JAMES  EVERETT. 

YORK,  Feb.  12th,  1842. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Piety  connected  with  secular  employment. — Parentage. — Lord 
Irvine. — Sir  Rowland  Winn. — Luke  Dawson. — Mrs.  Daw- 
son. — Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne. — Confidential  servant. — Wil- 
liam's brothers  and  sisters. — His  birth — strong  affection — 
early  developement  of  imitative  powers. — Kippax. — Rev. 
Miles  Atkinson. — Rev.  William  Richardson. — Domestic 
training. — William's  first  serious  impressions. — Religious 
Books. — Health. — The  Village  School-Master.— Rev.  W. 
Hodgson. — Mr.  Ephraim  Sanderson. — Subject  of  these  Me- 
moirs finishes  his  Education  at  Aberford. — Rev.  Thomas 
Dikes. — His  usefulness. — Distress  on  account  of  sin. — A 
Dream. — John  Batty.— Samuel  Settle. — Doctrine  of  Assu- 
rance.— Importance  of  an  early  religious  bias. — William's 
state  of  mind  and  character,  as  given  by  his  pastor. — The 
Rev.  John  Graham. — Advantage  of  falling  into  good  hands. 
— Depression  of  spirit. — Insignificant  means  of  relief. — 
External  objects. — The  poor  Negro. — Death  of  William's 
father.— Christian  liberty. — Letter  of  Counsel  from  the 
Rev.  T.  Dikes 

CHAPTER  II. 

Commences  a  Diary.  —  Essays.  —  Letter  from  the  Rev.  T. 
Dikes. — Select  religious  Meetings. — Labours  of  the  Rev.  J. 
Graham. — Rev.  T.  Gall  and. — W.  Dawson  begins  to  ex- 
hort.— Attends  the  religious  Services  of  the  Wesleyans. — 
Hears  the  Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn. — Monarchy. — Prays  in 


X  CONTENTS. 

public. — Early  Compositions. — The  fall  of  Man. — Sojourn- 
ers. — The  Scriptures — The  Apocalypse. — Reading.— Books. 
— Attempts  to  court  the  Muse. — Rev.  R.  Hemington. — W. 
Dawson  becomes  more  public  in  his  character. — "  Grime 
Cabin." — Renewal  of  Covenant. — The  Rev.  Joseph  Benson. 
— S.  Settle  sent  to  Magdalen  College,  Cambridge  . .  . .  25 

CHAPTER  III. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Settle. — Mr.  Kilham  and  his  party. — York 
Assizes. — A  religious  Diary. — Extracts  from  it. — W.  Daw- 
son  formally  takes  a  text. — Besetment. — William  Smith. — 
Kindness  to  the  Widow. — Reproof. — Pressed  to  enter  into 
Holy  Orders. — The  Elland  Society. — The  Latin  Language. 
— Difficulties  and  Cares  of  Business. — The  Rev.  J.  Gra- 
ham's testimony  in  favour  of  Wm.  Dawson. — Slender  Re- 
muneration.— Despondency. — Letter  from  Mr.  Settle.  . .  51 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Renewed  Dedication. — Rev.  J.  Benson. — Mr.  W.  E.  Miller. — 
A  noisy  Prayer-Meeting. — Letters  from  Mr.  Settle. — Pro- 
gress in  Learning. — The  Rev.  J.  Atkinson. — Evening  Lec- 
tures.— Liberality. — Further  intimations  of  Holy  Orders. — 
— Reading  and  Studies. —  Portrait  of  a  worldly-minded 
Farmer. — Inward  conflicts. — Messrs.  Myles,  Pawson,  Brad- 
burn,  Mather,  Griffith,  and  Dr.  Coke. — Out-door  Preaching. 
— State  of  Sinners. — Extended  usefulness. — Early  Sermons. 
— Extracts  from  them. — Preaches  more  generally  and  pub- 
licly.— Colton.— Service  by  lantern  light  in  the  open  air. 
— Mrs.  Dean. — Loud  preaching 80 

CHAPTER  V. 

Voluntary  and  involuntary  evil. — Letter  from  Mr.  Settle. — 
College  trials. — Bias  towards  Methodism. — Miss  Barritt — 
Love- Feasts. — Messrs.  Mather'  and  Blagborne. — Pride. — 
Balancings. — Fear. — Enthusiasm. — Reading. — Lay  help  in 


CONTENTS.  Xi 

the  Establishment  not  encouraged. — Samuel  Hick. — Se- 
verity.— Labours. — Extracts  from  the  Diary. — Usefulness. 
— Public  Addresses. — Sin. —  Assurance. — Death. — Sinners 
in  danger. — Sceptics. — Growing  Piety. — Painful  Exercises. 
— Local  Militias. — State  of  the  Country. —  Prudence. — 
Morning  Comtnunings.  —  Scrupulosity  of  Conscience.  — 
Stands  Sponsor. — Thoughts  on  Marriage. — Feeling  mani- 
fested by  external  Signs. — Letters  from  Messrs.  Graham 
and  Settle. — Freedom  of  Mind.  —  Trials  often  heighten 
coming  Joys. — Visit  to  the  Rev.  J.  Graham,  York. — Genius 
of  Methodism. — Further  References  to  the  Elland  Society. 
— Prayer. — The  turning  Point. — Rev.  Miles  Atkinson. — 
Peculiar  situation  of  W.  Dawson. — Decides  against  Holy 
Orders. — Rev.  J.  Graham. — Rev.  S.  Settle. — Rev.  Joseph 
Benson. — Rev.  T.  Dikes. — Religious  state  of  W.  Dawson.  110 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Wesley's  Life. — Reconciliation  necessary  for  a  Minister  of  the 
Gospel. — People  generally  moulded  by  the  Ministry. — 
Increasing  faith. — Little  faith. — Jeremy  Taylor. — Extracts 
from  the  Diary. — Bohler's  advice  to  Wesley. — Faith  to  be 
preached. — Faith  in  its  simplicity. —  Examples  of  it. — 
Friendship.  —  Covenant. —  Messrs.  Graham  and  Settle. — 
Advantage  of  different  Christian  Communities. — Authors 
and  reading. — Sentiments  of  Dr.  Johnson  and  Sir  P.  Sidney 
on  Knowledge. — "  Visitation  of  the  Sick." — Industry. — 
Messrs.  Settle  and  Wade. — Mr.  Suter. — W.  Dawson  sup- 
plies the  place  of  the  Vicar  of  Thorpe-Arch. — Personal 
Piety  and  public  Usefulness. — Self-abasement. — A  hoary- 
headed  Enquirer  after  truth. — Watch-nights. — Tries  Class- 
Meeting. — Preaches  in  the  Coal-mine. — Dress. — Useless 
and  unseasonable  Conversation.  —  Omissions  of  Duty. — 
Death  of  the  Rector  of  the  Parish. — Public  business,  and 
rules  to  be  observed  in  transacting  it. — Hard  Bargains, 
and  love  of  our  neighbour. — Inferior  usage. — Contentment. 
— Presentiment. — Visit  of  an  uncle  to  Barnbow. — Sermon 
to  Young  People.- — Providential  deliverance. — Aptitude  for 
improving  occasions  and  events 155 


Ill  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  old  year. — Time. — The  eighteenth  Century. — Opinions 
of  Johnson  and  Clarendon. — Disinterested  toil. — Useful- 
ness.— Samuel  Hick. — Class-Meeting. — Thomas  Stoner. — 
Blessedness  of  Christian  communion. — Social  and  literary  ad- 
vantages. — Reading  and  religious  discourse. — Providential 
choice  of  lot — Wit,  true  and  false. — Study. — Reproof. — 
HOME  religion. — Domestic  changes. — Escape  from  death. — 
Murder. — Local  preachers. — Pulpit  preparation. — Over  ex- 
ertion.— Progress  in  piety. — Sinners  disturbed  in  their 
pleasures  by  rousing  sermons. — Increasing  labour. — Pity  to 
the  poor. — Becomes  an  accredited  Local  Preacher. — Wes- 
ley, Whitfield/an'd  "Cennick's  sermons. — Richard  Burdsall. 
— Enlarged  sphere  of  labour. — Affliction  and  its  fruit. — 
Meets  the  Local  Preachers,  and  attends  the  Quarter- Meet- 
ing.— Preaches  in  Leeds. — Rev.  S.  Bradburn. — Rev.  W. 
Bramwell. — Sinkings  and  swellings  of  heart.— Watchfulness.  183 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Activity. — Proposed  for  the  itinerant  work. — Enlarged  sphere 
of  action. — Cotton  Mather's  "  Directions." — Desirous  of  a 
chapel  at  Barwick. — Severe  mental  exercises. — Doubts. — 
Mr.  Barber. — A.  Mather's  Life. — Bunyan's  "  Grace  Abound- 
ing."— Indiscreet  praise. — Pride  and  humility. — Sensibility. 
— Perplexity. — Appointed  by  Conference  to  a  circuit. — De- 
clines travelling. — Dissimulation  and  sincerity  met  by  the 
providence  of  God. — Mr.  Bramwell. — Visitations  from 
above. — Paradoxical  character  of  Christian  experience  to 
the  world. — Expense  in  dress. — Prosperity  of  the  work  of 
God. — W.  E.  Miller. — High  rents. — Feasts. — Secrets. — Un- 
pleasant forebodings. — Natal  Anniversary. — Death  of  Wil- 
liam's grandmother. — Ground  bought,  and  a  chapel  in  the 
course  of  erection. — Mr.  Bramwell  leaves  the  circuit. — Re- 
flections upon  it 213 


CONTENTS.  XUl 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Opening  of  a  chapel  at  Barwick. — Collecting  Book. — The 
Rev.  Thomas  Taylor  and  John  Grant. — Occasional  sermons. 
—  Visit  to  Hull. — Rev.  Joseph  Bradford. — Character. — 
Characteristic  distinctions. — Dr.  Bates's  Works. — Samuel 
Popplewell,  Esq. — Afflictive  dispensation  of  Providence. — 
Friendship. —  Rev.  Miles  Atkinson  as  a  preacher. — Increas- 
ing popularity. — Biographer's  first  interview  with  Mr. 
Dawson. — Rev.  Andrew  Fuller. — First  Public  Missionary 
Meeting  among  the  Wesleyans  at  Leeds. — An  Extract  from 
Mr.  Dawson's  speech  on  the  occasion. — Comparative  view 
of  the  Wesleyan  Missions. — The  partial  and  indirect  influ- 
ence of  Mr.  Dawson's  occasional  play  of  fancy  upon  speak- 
ers  and  hearers.  236 


CHAPTER  X. 

Conscience, — a  singular  Incident. — Tenderness  in  preaching. 
— The  Shepherd  personified. — Indirectself.praise — Revival- 
ists.— Mistakes  in  Conversion  corrected. — Early  Gift  in 
Prayer  among  young  Converts. — Establishment  of  Mission- 
ary Societies  at  York  and  Wakefield. — Extracts  from 
Speeches. — Mr.  Edward  Wade's  death. — Selby  Missionary 
Meeting. — Timidity. — Characteristic  Remarks. — Conver- 
sational Meetings  among  the  Local  Preachers. — A  spiri- 
tual Ministry. — Deputation  from  a  distance. — Death  of  the 
Princess  Charlotte. — Visit  to  the  North. — A  Dream. — 
Quarrels  from  trifling  causes. — Fault-finders. — Prejudice. — 
Chester  and  Liverpool  Meetings. — Dr.  Adam  Clarke. — Pro- 
priety of  bringing  acquired  knowledge" 'fJtTEear  oh  the  cause 
of  Truth.— Death  of  the  Rev.  William  Bramwell.— 1*he 
Backslider. — Tract  Distribution. — Addresses  to  Children. 
— Objections. — The  Eternal  Sonship. — Authors 263 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

StageCoach  Dialogues. — Retort. — Incognito. — Lord  Milton. — 
Touching  Tale. — Conversations. — Matrimony. — Business. 
— Misers. — Popery. — Socinianism. — People. — Ministers. — 
Poetry  of  action. — Impotency. — Penitents. — The  World- 
ling.— The  character  of  Mr.  Dawson  as  a  Preacher. — Power 
of  imagination. — Terrific  Imagery. — Candour  in  hearing. 
— Selection  of  Hymns,  and  remarks  upon  them. — Indis- 
cretion in  singing  pieces  after  sermon. — Death  of  Friends. 
— Death  on  the  Pale  Horse. — The  Secret  of  successful 
preaching. — Sermon  to  Sailors. — Death  of  Friends. — Rev. 
David  Stoner. — Different  Pulpit  methods. — Mr.  Dawson's 
Class.— False  wit.— Bible  Meeting  at  Hull.— Death  of  Mr. 
Dawson's  Mother  . .  293 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Increasing  labour. — Conversion  of  a  Sceptic. — Opening  of 
Brunswick  Chapel,  Leeds. — Contrast  between  the  Pulpit 
and  the  Farm. — Silver  taken  at  the  foot  of  the  gallery  stairs. 
— Difference  between  popularity  and  usefulness. — Revivals. 
— Industry. — The  grave  and  the  ludicrous. — Daniel  in  the 
lions'  den. — John  Richardson. — Biography. — Death  of  t!ie 
Rev.  David  Stoner. — His  character. — The  fallen  trumpet. 
— Difference  between  Nature  and  Art. — Mr.  Samuel  Ent- 

wisle Mr.  Hugh  Gill. — Dr.   Me  Allum's  character  and 

death. — Leeds  Organ  Question. — Mr.  Baines  and  the  Leeds 
Mercury.— -Disputes. —  Journies.  — A  mishap. — Platform 
Readings. — Prayer  Meetings,  and  their  good  effects. — Di- 
vine Influence. — Restitution. — Contentment. — Solicitation 
of  Subscriptions.— Melancholy  effects  of  false  alarm  at  Heck- 
mondwike. — The  Rev.  Gideon  Ouseley. —  Popish  Contro- 
vertists. — Death  of  "The  Village  Blacksmith." — Farm  un- 
successful.— Curiosity  in  check. — Visits. — Obituaries.  ..  321 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Christian  friendship. — Rev.  J.  Storry. — Martha  Hick. — Ex- 
cessive labour. — Sensibility. — Extempore  speaking. — Com- 
mon  sense. — Young's  Night  Thoughts. — Mercy. — Critics. 
— Living  Epistles. — Shadow  of  Death. — Attitudes. — Con- 
versation.— Backslider  restored. — A  School  Address. — 
Hymns. — The  wig. — The  "  Factory  Question." — Affability. 
— Visits. — London. — Collections. — Hard  toil. — Titles  of 
Public  Addresses. — The  Reform  Bill.— War. — The  Cholera. 
— The  tax -cart. — Invitations. — Travelling  conducive  to 
health. — Dr.  Clarke  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Watson. — Suc- 
cessful beggingT^^lttanner.— ^Stripes  of  Transgressors. — 
Power  over  an  auditory. — Providence.  —  Mr.  Reinhardt — 
Mrs.  Turton. — Willingness  to  labour. — The  auctioneer's 
stand. — Piety  maintained. — Rev.  Robert  Aitkin. — Socia- 
bility.—Good  done  at  Barwick. — A  travelling  fete. — Con- 
tentment.—  The  North. — The  Theological  Institution. — 
Additional  labour ~~.r.""  «v"Tni'."~rT"~". .  ..  360 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Love,  a  great  moving  principle. — Rev.  S.  Settle. — The  old 
ship. — John  Patrick. — Rev.  R.  Aitkin. — Visit  to  the  Theo- 
logical Institution. — Hint  to  chapel- keepers. — Scattered 
fears. — A  Rent-day  homily. — Religion  requires  constant 
application. — Continuance  of  excessive  labour. — Liberality. 
— A  platform  dilemma. — Failures. — Tea  Party. — Presen- 
tations.— Humility. — The  Dawsonian  Fund,  and  its  object 
— Symptoms  of  physical  decay. — Outgoings. — Mr.  R.  M. 
Beverley's  "  Travelling  Revivalist." — Perseverance. — Cor- 
respondence.— The  Hoppings. — Second  case  of  liberality. — 
The  Holy  Spirit. — Menders  of  Systems. — The  Christian 
race. — Penitents. — "  Teetotallism." — Politics  prejudicial  to 
religion. — Adaptation  of  tne  Gospel  to  ManT^Honles*  sub- 
scribed towards  the  Dawsonian  Fund  presented  to  the  Mis- 
sionary Committee,  and  accepted. — Mr.  Dawson's  views  on 
the  subject  —Extraordinary  collections  at  Huddersfleld. — 
Conversions 395 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Notice  of  Mr.  Dawson's  engagements. — Residence  in  Leeds. — 
Unmitigated  toil. — CENTENARY  OF  WESLEYAN  METHOD- 
ISM.— Speech. — Moral  and  religious  Advantages  of  the 
Centenary. — List  of  Appointments. — Out-door  preaching. 
— Narration  of  Cottage  Stories. — Eccentricities. — The  Holy 
Spirit — Spurious  Christianity. — Plainness  in  Preaching. — 
Leeds  Parliamentary  Revision. — Courtesy  of  the  Mayor  of 
Leeds. — Windsor  Castle,  Busts,  and  Paintings. — Nature 
and  Art — Leadership. — Character. — Kindness  and  Friend- 
ship.— Ireland  and  the  Irish. — Mr.  Thomas  Stoner. — Ser- 
mons.— The  Gown. — Duke  of  Devonshire's  grand  Con- 
servatory.— Habit  of  Industry. — Disinterestedness. — Shef- 
field.—  Indisposition.  —  A  second  case  of  Restitution. — 
Presentiment. — The  London  "Times.'' — Mr.  Thomas Lumb. 
—Isle  of  Wight— Sickness 433 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  King's  Daughter.— The  Will  of  God.— Proverbial  Say- 
ings.— Indisposition. — Acaster. — Plan  of  Labour. — Mr.  J. 
Wild. — Dover. — Letter  to  Mrs.  Ince.— Croydon. — Birk- 
hamstead. — Last  Sermon. — ReturnHome. — Colne. — Sudden 
Death. — Reflections. — Processions. — Funeral  Obsequies. — 
Tokens  of  Respect — Concluding  Observations 463 


MEMOIRS 


WILLIAM  DAWSON 


CHAPTER  I. 

Piety  connected  n-ith  secular  employment.  —  Parentage. — Lnrd 
Irvine. — Sir  Ron-land  Winn. — Luke  Damson. — Mrs.  Damson. 
— Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne. — Confidential  servant. —  William's 
brothers  and  sisters. — His  birth — strong  affection — early  devel- 
opement  of  imitative  poivers. — Kippax. — Rev.  Miles  Atkinson. 
— Rev.  William  Richardson. — Domestic  training. —  William's 
first  serious  impressions. — Religious  Books. — Health. — The  Vil- 
lage School-Master. — Rev.  W.  Hodgson. — Mr.  Ephraim  San- 
derson.— Subject  of  these  Memoirs  finishes  his  Education  at 
Aberford. — Rev.  Thomas  Dikes. — His  usefulness. — Distress  on 
account  of  sin. — A  Dream. — John  Batty. — Samuel  Settle. — 
Doctrine  of  Assurance. — Importance  of  an  early  religious  bias. 
—  William'1  s  state  of  mind  and  character,  as  given  by  his  pastor. 
— The  Rev.  John  Graham. — Advantage  of  falling  into  good 
hands. — Depression  of  spirit. — Insignificant  means  of  relief. — 
External  objects. — The  poor  Negro. — Death  of  WiUiam's  father. 
— Christian  Liberty. — Letter  of  Counsel  from  the  Rev.  T.  Dikes. 

PERSONAL  religion  cannot  appear  otherwise  than 
glorious  in  a  Christian  minister,  dissevered  from  all 
secular  employment,  and  exclusively  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  the  sanctuary.  Under  such  circumstances, 
he  is,  in  scripture  phraseology,  "as  the  sun  when  he 

A 


MEMOIRS    OF 


goeth  forth  in  his  might;"  unaccompanied  by  a  single 
cloud,  and  mounting  up  his  shining  way,  amid  the 
pure  azure  of  heaven,  till  he  attain  his  meridian  height 
and  glory.  The  same  amount  of  piety  in  a  man 
mixed  up  with  the  bustle  and  business  of  life,  is  in 
danger  of  having  a  portion  of  its  real  worth  im- 
perceptibly abstracted  from  it,  in  consequence  of  the 
association ;  whereas,  the  real  glory  of  the  latter  tran- 
scends that  of  the  former,  by  reason  of  his  coming 
out  of  a  feast,  a  place  of  trust,  with  its  untold 
thousands,  a  mercantile  transactian — out  of  the  world, 
in  short, — as  pure  as  from  the  temple  of  God,  with  its 
means  of  grace.  Such  a  man  was  WILLIAM  DAAVSON, 
the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  whose  honour  as  a  man, 
and  whose  character  as  a  Christian,  stood  not  only 
unimpeached,  but  were  the  subjects  of  glowing  eulogy  ; 
being  deservedly  classed  with  those  "that  buy,  as 
though  they  possessed  not,"  and  that  "use  this  world, 
as  not  abusing  it." 

The  grandfather  of  William  was  colliery  agent  to 
Lord  Irvine,  of  Temple  Newsome  ;  and  one  of  the 
brothers  of  his  grandfather  was  land  and  colliery 
agent  to  Sir  Rowland  Winn,  Bart.,  of  Nostal  Priory, 
near  Wakefield,  about  the  time  that  the  celebrated 
John  Nelson  was  employed  as  a  stone-mason,  in  the 
re-election  of  the  family  mansion. 

The  name  of  William's  father  was  Luke  Dawson, 
and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ann  Pease.  The 
latter  was  distinguished  for  great  strength  of  mind,  a 
shrewd  insight  into  business  transactions,  combined 
with  considerable  foresight — being  capable  of  diving  into 
remote  conclusions  from  present  appearances ;  added 
to  which — possessing  the  fear  of  God,  she  was  a 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  3 

woman  of  sterling  integrity.  Being  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  Leeds  occasionally,  and  of  comparing  the  past 
with  the  present,  she  sometimes  amused  her  children 
with  the  change — telling  them,  that  she  recollected  to 
have  seen  grass  growing  in  Briggate,  after  attaining 
the  age  of  womanhood.  Her  husband,  the  father  of 
William,  acted  as  steward  to  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne, 
one  of  the  descendants  of  the  ancient  family  of  Gas- 
coigne, of  Gawthorpe,  the  baronetage  of  which  became 
extinct  on  the  death  of  the  late  Sir  Thomas,  when 
Richard  Oliver,  Esq.,  of  Parlington,  succeeded  him  in 
his  estates,  and,  in  compliance  with  his  will,  assumed 
the  name  of  Gascoigne.  The  office  of  Mr.  Luke 
Dawson  was  to  superintend  the  colliery  department, 
which  office  he  sustained  for  a  period  of  twenty-one 
years,  when  death  put  an  end  to  his  labours.  He 
died  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  leaving  a  widow 
who  reached  her  "three-score  years  and  ten."  His 
comparatively  premature  removal  from  this  transitory 
state,  was  not  remarkable,  having  been,  in  the  language 
of  the  subject  of  these  pages  to  the  biographer,  "but 
a  sickly  man."  One  circumstance,  in  addition  to 
the  fact  of  his  office  having  terminated  only  with  his 
life,  goes  to  prove,  that  he  had  not  only  the  respect, 
but  the  fullest  confidence  of  his  master.  In  a  case  of 
some  difficulty,  when  a  party  appealed  to  Sir  Thomas, 
whose  decision  would  have  been  final,  and  to  give  which 
would  have  been  attended  with  no  impropriety,  he 
replied,  "  Gentlemen,  I  shall  not  decide,  till  I  have  first 
seen  Luke  Dawson,  and  consulted  him  on  the  subject." 
Mrs.  Dawson  bore  ten  children  to  her  husband. 
Two,  who  were  twins,  died  soon  after  they  were  born ; 
another — a  boy,  quitted  life  at  the  age  of  one  year  and 


MEMOIRS    OF 

three  quarters ;  and  a  fourth — a  girl,  was  called  hence 
when  verging  on  her  second  year;  the  other  six  reached 
maturity,  one  of  whom — a  sister,  who  was  marrried,  died 
in  London ;  and  four  of  the  remaining  five,  two  brothers 
and  two  sisters,  survived  the  subject  of  these  pages. 

William  was  the  oldest  child,  and  was  born  March 
3()th,  1773,  at  Garforth,  a  small  parish  town,  three 
miles  from  Aberford,  and  seven  from  Leeds,  in  the 
county  of  York.  The  other  children  were  born  at  Barn- 
bow,*  a  short  distance  from  Garforth,  whither  his 
parents  went  to  reside  while  he  was  yet  a  child  in 
the  arms.  The  house  at  Barnbow  being  then  in  the 
course  of  erection,  William  was  sent  to  Whitkirk,  little 
more  than  two  miles  distant,  to  reside  with  his  grand- 
father and  grandmother  on  the  paternal  side,  with 
whom  he  continued  for  a  period  of  nearly  five  years. 
One  circumstance  connected  with  infancy  may  be  noticed, 
as  it  had  an  influence  upon  his  opinions  in  mature 
life.  During  the  first  half-year  of  his  existence,  he 
Avas  feeble  and  sickly,  and  cried  both  night  and  day ; 
so  much  so,  that  his  father  and  all  the  domestics,  with 
the  exception  of  his  mother,  wished — for  his  own  sake 
— supposing  that  his  life  would  be  one  of  debility  and 
suffering,  that  the  Lord  would  call  him  hence.  To 
this  almost  incessant  crying,  he  afterwards  attributed 
the  strength  of  his  lungs  ;  and  certainly,  if  there  is 
any  truth  in  the  remark,  that  strength  is  acquired  by 
exercise,  his  opinion  was  correct.  When  able  to  run 
abroad,  he  had  a  little  play-fellow,  of  the  name  of 
William  Arthur,  of  whom  he  was  passionately  fond. 

*  The  population  of  Garforth,  according  to  the  census  of  1831 ,  amounted  to 
731  persons.  The  townships  of  Barnbow,  Morwick,  and  Scholes,  contained  a 
population  of  764;  the  first  comprising  273,  and  the  two  latter  491. 


WILLIAM    DAWBON.  5 

His  namesake  having  taken  the  small-pox,  he  was 
cautioned  against  visiting  the  house.  Heedless  of  the 
injunction,  and  insensible  of  the  danger,  he  proceeded 
to  the  abode  of  the  little  invalid.  His  absence  soon 
awakened  suspicion  at  home ;  and  those  who  were  sent 
in  pursuit  of  him,  found  him  with  the  sick  boy,  into 
whose  bed  he  had  crept  unperceived  by  the  family. 
There,  in  his  child-like  way,  and  with  a  warmth  of 
feeling  creditable  to  riper  age,  he  was  consoling  him 
under  his  affliction.  This  is  a  fine  instance  of  what  is 
denominated  the  "  intelligence  of  affection,"  which  is 
carried  on  by  the  eye  only,  and  which,  while  it  exists 
in  the  heart,  is  often  falsified  by  the  tongue,  through 
the  refinements  of  society.  The  eye  of  little  Dawson 
saw  the  plague-spot  of  that  disease  of  childhood  upon 
his  companion  of  "sports  and  pastimes;" — his  heart 
was  smitten  with  a  tenderness  of  which  he  knew  not  the 
name; — he  clasped  the  contagion  to  his  bosom,  and 
bore  it  away  to  his  own  couch,  where  he  lay,  like  his 
play-fellow,  the  subject  of  tender  domestic  solicitude. 
Both  of  the  invalids,  however,  soon  recovered,  and  were 
as  soon  beheld  sporting  on  the  village  green,  shewing  to 
the  separate  families  by  what  fine-spun  threads  the 
affections  are  drawn  together, — threads  as  fine  as  those 
spun  from  the  bowels  of  the  spider,  and  yet  so  strong, 
as  to  bid  defiance  to  disease  and  death  in  mature  age. 

The  house  of  old  Mr.  Dawson,  adjoining  the  burial- 
ground  belonging  to  the  Established  Church,  the  two 
boys  were  often  found  gambolling  among  the  tombs, 
— a  ground,  which,  next  to  a  place  of  worship,  should 
be  held  sacred,  but  which  is  too  often  thoughtlessly 
passed  over  by  both  old  and  young,  and  not  suffi- 
ciently fenced  by  the  proper  authorities.  The  subject  of 


6  MEMOIRS    OF 

;  these  Memoirs  having  been  taught  to  read,  and  having 
strolled  into  the  church  one  day,  while  the  sexton  was 
engaged  in  the  discharge  of  some  of  his  duties,  pro- 
posed to  his  companion  "a  game,"  as  it  was  termed, 
"at  parson  and  clerk," — selecting  for  himself  the  more 
dignified  character  of  the  former,  and  assigning  to  his 
fellow  the  more  humble  office  of  the  latter.  Accordingly, 
Dawsoiv  who  could  in  many  instances  mimic  to  the 
life,  entered  the  reading-desk,  opened  the  Bible,  whose 
unwieldy  size  required  all  the  physical  energy  he  pos- 
sessed to  unfold  its  pages,  announced  the  book,  and, 
with  an  audible  voice,  read  a  chapter,  occasionally 
bending  his  eye  upon  his  less  dignified  companion  in 
the  clerk's  place  below,  which  he  was  the  better  able 
to  effect,  in  consequence  of  having  elevated  his  person 
by  something  which  he  had  found  at  hand  adapted 
to  the  purpose.  This  led  his  mother  pleasantly  to 
remark,  in  after  life,  when  his  ministerial  labours  were 
adverted  to — "He  was  born  a  preacher." 

On  the  death  of~fcis~  jgYandfatKer,  he  returned  to 
his  parents  at  Barnbow,  where  he  resided  till  within 
three  or  four  years  of  his  own  demise.  He  accompanied 
his  father  and  mother  to  Kippax,  about  three  miles 
distant,  where  they  sat  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
Miles  Atkinson,  afterwards  of  Leed  ;* — a  man  of 
evangelical  sentiment  and  Christian  character,  both  of 
which,  in  all  probability,  led  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson 
to  prefer  Kippax  to  their  own  parish  church  at  Bar- 
wick.  This  is  the  more  likely,  as  the  latter — had  they 
not,  like  the  children  of  the  "elect  lady,"  known  and 

« It  is  to  this  excellent  man,  that  Mr.  Wesley  refers  in  his  Journal,  May  2, 
1779,  having  been  requested  by  him  to  preach  in  his  church.— Works,  Vol.  IV. 
p.  151. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  7 

walked  in  the  "truth,"  presented — especially  in  un- 
favourable weather,  greater  inducements  to  flesh  and 
blood,  than  the  former,  requiring  a  journey  of  only  two 
miles  instead  of  six.  William  heard  Mr.  Atkinson  during 
a  period  of  four  years,  but  observed  to  the  biographer, 
that  he  was  unable  to  comprehend  what  was  advanced, 
and  was  consequently  not  properly  impressed  by  it ; 
a  circumstance,  perhaps — as  the  ministry  was  strictly 
evangelical,  though  not  striking, — more  to  be  attributed 
to  the  carelessness  of  the  hearer,  than  to  any  want 
of  perspicuity  in  the  matter,  or  seriousness  in  the 
demeanour  of  the  preacher. 

After  this,  when  in  his  ninth  year,  he  sat  under 
the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  W.  Richardson,  who  offi- 
ciated in  the  same  church.  Mr.  Richardson  was  more 
adapted  to  his  genius;  for  dealing  occasionally  in  strong 
expressions,  not  unfrequently  spiced  with  the  quaint- 
nesses  of  the  preceding  age,  he  at  once  caught  and 
fixed  the  attention  of  his  young  auditor,  whose  mind, 
like  the  opening  bud,  was  gradually  expanding  to  the 
sun  of  instruction.  One  of  these  peculiar  forms  of 
expression  he  carried  with  him  through  life,  some- 
times employing  it  to  good  purpose:  "I  love,"  said 
Mr.  Richardson,  when  speaking  of  persons  acting  with 
a  "single  eye," — "I  love  those  one-eyed  Christians."  * 

With  such  aid  in  the  pulpit,  Mrs.  Dawson,  to  whom 

*  Air.  Richardson  afterwards  removed  to  the  city  of  York,  where  he  exercised 
the  ministerial  office  30  years,  having  been  in  the  ministry  50  in  all.  On  his 
decease  was  published,  "The  Faithful  Minister,  Israel's  best  Defence.  A 
Sermon  preached  at  St.  Michael-le-Belfry,  York,  May  27th,  1821,  in  con- 
sequence  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  \V.  Richardson,  Minister  of  that  Church. 
By  the  Rev.  J.  Graham,  Rector  of  St.  Saviour,  and  St.  Mary,  Bishop-hill, 
sen.,  and  Domestic  Chaplain  to  the  Rt.  Hon.  Earl  Bathurst."  8vo.  pp.  33. 
It  appears  from  Mr.  Graham's  account  of  Mr.  Richardson,  that  he  was  no 
ordinary  man ;  his  perception  being  acute  and  discriminating— his  memory 


0  MEMOIRS    OF 

William  looked  up  as  his  priestess,  and  who  was 
anxious  to  promote  the  religious  welfare  of  her  chil- 
dren, was  greatly  assisted  in  her  domestic  appeals  to 
the  conscience.  Though  she  had  no  vices  to  preserve 
in  check,  no  acts  of  immorality  to  condemn,  yet  she 
knew,  that  personal  religion  was  not  of  spontaneous 
growth, — that  human  nature  would  no  more  send  forth 
its  shoots  of  piety,  without  culture  and  grace,  than  a 
naturally  unfruitful  soil  will  yield  golden  crops  with- 
out care,  seed,  manure,  and  tillage,  of  which  she  had 
a  striking  example  in  a  portion  of  the  land  tenanted 
by  her  husband.  While  Mr.  Dawson,  therefore,  was 
engaged  with  his  farm  and  his  stewardship,  Mrs.  Daw- 
son  took  upon  herself  the  momentous  charge  of  the 
children,  as  to  religion  and  morals.  For  this,  she  was 
not  only  religiously  disposed,  but  admirably  fitted ;  and, 
as  in  the  order  of  Providence,  she  was  destined  to  be 
left  with  them,  while  some  of  them  were  yet  young,  she 
acquired  by  it  a  commanding  influence  through  life, 
which  was  the  more  important  as  age  advanced.  In 
order  deeply  to  impress  William's  mind,  together  with 
the  hearts  of  the  other  children,  as  they  rose  under  her 
training  hand,  she  prayed  with  them,  read  the  Holy 
Scriptures  to  them,  and  enforced  many  of  her  remarks 
by  select  portions  from  the  "PRACTICE  OF  PIETY."  Two 
paragraphs  of  the  latter,  William  observed  to  the  writer, 

accurate  and  tenacious — his  judgment  sound— his  reading  extensive — bis 
learning  solid  and  useful — his  discourses,  at  the  same  time,  being  enriched 
with  maxims  of  substantial,  practical  wisdom — and  his  conversation  eminently 
engaging  and  improving.  As  to  personal  religion,  his  devotion  is  stated  to 
have  had  the  character  of  strength  rather  than  warmth,  being  seated  in  the 
mind  rather  than  in  the  passions.  He  was  the  staunch  friend  of  Bible,  Mis- 
sionary, and  other  valuable  institutions,  and  was  considered  the  "  FATHER" 
of  the  Sunday  Schools  belonging  to  the  Established  Church,  in  the  city  of 
York. 


WILLIAM    DAVVSON.  9 

late  in  life,  fastened  their  contents  upon  his  mind; 
further  stating,  that  he  often  wept  and  prayed  over 
them, — adding,  in  his  expressive  way, — "Many  a  time 
have  I  thumbed. them  since." 

"Drelincourt  on  Death,"  and  "Flavel  on  the  Soul," 
were  also  books  which  he  read  in  early  life,  and  which 
seriously  impressed  him  with  the  awful  realities  of 
an  invisible  world.  But  there  was  one  book,  he  re- 
marked, when  speaking  of  his  juvenile  days,  the 
exact  title  of  which  had  passed  from  the  memory, 
but  whose  purport  seemed  to  be  the  vast  importance 
of  religion,  professing  to  solve  the  momentous  ques- 
tion— Shall  I  be  Lost  or  Saved?  which  made  the 
deepest  impression  upon  his  mind.  The  book,  he 
stated,  was  afterwards  either  lost  or  destroyed;  and 
as  religion  rose  in  importance  in  his  esteem,  he  felt 
the  more  anxious  to  procure  a  copy,  but,  in  the 
whole  of  his  search,  he  was  never  able  to  meet  with 
anything  capable  of  satisfying  his  mind  with  the  fact  of 
it  being  an  impression  of  the  same  work.  It  did  not 
occur  to  the  biographer,  till  sometime  after  the  con- 
versation took  place,  that  it  might  possibly  have 
been  a  copy  of  "The  Great  Concern;  or,  a  Summary 
Account  of  the  Fear  of  God,  and  Keeping  his  Com- 
mandments, by  Samuel  Wright,  D.D.,"  a  third  edition 
of  which  was  published  in  London,  in  1733,  and 
was  a  likely  book  to  find  its  way  into  a  family  where 
the  "Practice  of  Piety"  was  so  highly  esteemed. 
But  whatever  might  be  the  work,  he  observed  at  the 
same  time,  with  deep  and  sweet  emotion, — as  though 
all  other  oracles  spoke  through  one,  and  as  if  every 
ray  of  light  from  other  sources  flashed  upon  his 
spirit  through  the  same  medium — "I  owe  much  to 

A2 


10  MEMOIRS    OF 

my  MOTHER!" — a  subject  on  which  he  was  always 
tender,  and  under  which,  whenever  he  touched  it, 
an  audience  has  sighed  and  wept  like  a  child  weeping 
before  its  parent ;  and  has  been  as  much  subdued  into 
softness,  as  the  maddened  spirit  of  Saul  was  toned 
down  to  subordination  and  quiet,  when  the  fingers  of 
the  Hebrew  bard  swept  across  the  strings  of  the 
Jewish  harp.  O,  yes !  the  kindest  lessons  are  those 
which  a  mother  teaches,  as  the  most  touching  and 
solemn  warnings  are  those  which  issue  from  her 
heart  and  from  her  lips,  when  she  warns  away  her 
child  from  danger :  and  William  Dawson  was  one 
who,  though  he  stood  in  awe  of  his  mother,  never 
ceased  to  love  her,  whether  in  youth  or  in  age ;  and 
the  biographer  himself,  with  silverlings  now  sprinkling 
his  head,  still  recollects,  while  writing,  with  a  gush- 
ing heart,  and  eyes  swimming  in  tears,  a  mother's 
love, — a  mother  who  descended  into  "  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,"  with  many  endearing  recollections, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  between  eighty  and  ninety. 

The  subject  of  these  Memoirs  seems  to  have  had  much 
more  of  the  mother  than  the  father,  both  with  regard 
to  physical  energies  and  intellectuality.  He  possessed, 
with  the  exception  of  the  first  half-year  of  his  life,  a 
sound,  healthy  constitution, — was  remarkable  for  mus- 
cular strength,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  exercise  it, 
— and  manifested,  as  age  crept  on,  amazing  vivacity, 
with  occasional  corruscations  of  genius.  His  grand- 
mother, adverting  to  his  general  health,  his  readiness 
for  his  meals,  and  the  cheerfulness  with  which  he 
seemed  to  partake  of  the  bounties  of  Providence,  used 
to  say,  "Child,  thou  hast  a  crop  for  all  kinds  of  corn." 
With  some  of  these  proverbial  expressions,  whose  sense 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  1 1 

was  full,  and  whose  alliteration  rhymed  to  the  ear,  he 
would  occasionally  amuse  the  writer. 

His  first  school-master,  on  leaving  Whitkirk,  was 
Joseph  Cromack,  of  Barwick.  The  school-room  in 
which  he  was  taught,  adjoined  the  church-yard,  and 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  erection.  Here,  but 
slender  progress  was  made  in  learning.  Joseph  seems 
to  have  wanted  some  of  the  pre-requisites  for  his 
situation,  and  to  have  been  only  less  pedantic  than 
another  master  of  the  ferula,  to  whom  William  re- 
ferred one  day  to  the  writer,  of  the  name  of  John 
B.,  who  kept  a  school  at  Scholes.  He  humorously 
represented  John  as  a  wholesale  reader  of  one  of  the 
largest  Leeds  papers — commencing  with  the  first  ad- 
vertisement on  the  first  page,  and  systematically  pro- 
ceeding with  every  word  to  the  imprint  at  the  close. 
Adverting  to  some  effects  which  were  advertised  for 
sale,  but  not  being  conversant  with  the  several  items, 
John  observed  to  the  villager,  who  was  not  quite  so 
profoundly  learned  as  himself — "The  whole,  I  sup- 
pose, will  be  devil-oped  on  the  day  of  sale." 

His  next  tutor  was  the  Rev.  W.  Hodgson,  curate 
of  Garforth,  who  taught  a  school  at  Barwick.  This 
gentleman,  being  defective  in  Christian  conduct,  often 
neglected  his  pupils  ;  the  consequence  was,  that  young 
Dawson  was  next  sent  to  Mr.  Ephraim  Sanderson, 
of  Aberford,  who  kept  a  large  academy  in  that  place; 
and  who,  exclusive  of  day  scholars,  had  sometimes  as 
many  as  forty  boarders.  The  distance  was  three 
miles  from  Barnbow,  and  thither  our  tyro  proceeded 
daily.  There  he  made  the  greatest  progress  in  learning, 
and  finished  his  education ;  often,  at  a  subsequent  period, 
when  capable  of  forming  a  judgment,  complimenting 


12  MEMOIRS    OF 

his  master  for  his  conduct  and  abilities.  Zimmerman 
speaks  of  learned  men,  who  are  ignorant  of  nothing, 
saving  their  own  ignorance.  Mr.  Sanderson  was  not 
of  this  class,  and  it  is  a  happy  circumstance  that 
Dawson's  close  at  school  was  much  more  propitious 
than  its  beginning. 

Owing  to  the  religious  instruction  received  at  home, 
William  was  the  better  prepared  to  profit  under  the 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Dikes,  who  officiated  as 
curate  at  Barwick-in-Elmet,  for  a  period  of  two  years, 
prior  to  his  final  residence  in  Hull.     Under  that  gentle- 
man's ministry  he  received  his  first  deep  and  permanent 
awakenings,  subsequent  to  those  produced  under  do- 
mestic tutorage.     Not  only  was  he  favoured  with  his 
ministry  but  with  his  counsel  in  social  life,  as  well  as 
with  his  epistolary  correspondence ;  the  latter  of  which 
was  not  only  expressive  of  high  esteem,  but  a  deep 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Dikes  to  promote  his  best 
interests.     Among  other  helps   to   piety,    Mr.  Dikes 
put  "Doddridge's   Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in 
the  Soul,"  into  his  hand.     He  was  sitting  in  the  barn 
one  day,  when  John  Batty,  one  of  his  father's  servants, 
who  was  also  the  subject  of  serious  impressions,  found 
him  poring  over  its  pages.    On  going  into  the  house, 
he  was   asked  by  his   master  whether  he  had   seen 
William  anywhere;   to  which  he  replied  in  the  affir- 
mative.    He  was  next  asked  what  he  was  engaged  in, 
when  he  returned — "reading."     Having  seen  him  in 
deep   distress,   and  being  afraid  lest  it   should  be  a 
book  that  would  increase  it,  and  so,  in  the  language 
of  Festus,  set  him  "beside  himself,"  his  parents  were 
anxious   to   know  its   character,    and   also   to   secure 
possession  of  it,  without  exercising  force  or  severity. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  13 

When  John  returned  to  the  barn,  he  informed  William 
of  what  had  passed,  saying,  hy  way  of  apology,  "What 
could  I  do?  I  was  obliged  to  speak  the  truth!" 
William  replied,  "You  did  right."  This  book  he 
generally  concealed  on  what  was  called  the  wall-plate 
of  the  granary ;  and  to  the  granary,  or  some  other 
private  place  he  used  to  retire,  when  he  wished  to 
read  without  interruption.  He  appears  to  have  derived 
unusual  benefit  from  it;  for  on  Friday,  July  25th, 
1790,  he  wrote  an  extract  from  it,  embracing  nearly 
two  folio  pages,  and  headed, — "A  Solemn  Surrender 
to  Almighty  God ;  "  to  which  he  appended,  opposite 
the  date, — "solemnly  performed  this  day." 

His  solicitude  for  deliverance  from  spiritual  bondage 
increasing,  he  naturally  sought  for  relief  in  the  use 
of  the  ordinances  of  God ;  and  it  was  agreed,  that 
he  should  receive  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Dikes,  in  connexion  with  John 
Batty,  who,  by  this  time,  had  grown  up  into  a  kind  of 
band-mate  for  him.  The  minds  of  both  were  impressed 
with  sacred  awe, — vows,  promises,  arid  protestations 
were  made, — and  the  "Week's  Preparation"  was  not 
only  seriously  read,  but  its  directions  were  rigidly 
observed.  Though  the  day  of  liberty  was  still  in  hazy 
twilight,  his  ardour  for"  salvation  was  considerably  in- 
creased by  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  All  was 
anxiety  within ;  the  spirit  was  struggling  to  be  free ; 
and  the  very  solicitude  experienced,  was  so  strained 
and  overbent,  that  it  seemed  to  break  and  prove  a 
hinderance  to  itself;  like  a  body  of  water,  which,  in  con- 
sequence of  its  own  super-abundance  and  onward  force, 
is  prevented  from  finding  a  ready  issue  through  the 
straitened  sluice.  He  was  unable  to  give  full  expression 


14  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  his  feelings ;  and  hence,  sat  brooding  over  his  in- 
ward wretchedness. 

During  the  residence  of  Mr.  Dikes  at  Barwick,  a 
church  was  in  the  course  of  erection  for  him  at  Hull, 
to  which  place  he  finally  removed,  and  in  which  place 
he  was  living,  in  mellow  age,  and  crowned  with  honour, 
when  the  subject  of  these  pages  had  finished  his 
course.  Mr.  Dikes,  in  early  life,  was  particularly 
distinguished  for  his  zeal;  and  though  "William  Daw- 
son  did  not  enter  into  Christian  liberty  till  some  time 
after  he  left  for  Hull,  yet  he  "took,"  as  he  expressed 
himself  to  the  biographer,  "the  mould  of"  his  "reli- 
gious character  from  him,"  which  was  then  beginning 
to  unfold  itself  in  its  various  lineaments  and  features. 

Though  he  was  not  at  all  superstitious,  and  used 
to  state,  in  reference  to  dreams,  that  only  one  in  a 
hundred  might  possibly  be  improved;  yet,  there  was 
one  about  this  period,  the  effects  of  which  he  was 
never  able — nor  did  he  wish  to  shake  off.  He  dreamed 
one  night,  that  he  saw  two  roads,  the  one  broad  and 
the  other  narrow, — that  multitudes  were  crowding  the 
former,  where  they  were  dancing  along  in  tumultuous 
joy,  favoured  with  everything  capable  of  gratifying  the 
heart,  fascinating  the  eye,  enchanting  the  ear,  and 
regaling  the  taste, — and  that  the  other  was  nearly 
without  a  traveller.  Various  inducements  were  held 
out  to  him,  to  take  the  broad  way,  all  of  which  he 
declined;  and  turning  to  John  Batty,  whom  he  thought 
he  saw  standing  at  the  entrance  with  himself,  he  said, 
"We'll  take  the  narrow  path,  John;  it  will  do  for 
us ;  we  shall  be  less  incommoded  in  it. "  They 
pursued  the  line  some  distance,  in  agreeable  companion- 
ship with  each  other,  when  he  awoke.  Though  only 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  15 

a  vision  of  the  night,  it  haunted  him  like  a  spectre 
by  day ; — his  young  spiritual  feelings,  his  vivid  imagi- 
nation, his  pulpit  monitor,  his  training  at  home,  and, 
above  all,  his  Bible,  in  which  he  read  also  of  a  broad 
and  a  narrow  way,  enabled  him  to  decipher  the  whole; 
— it  induced  a  spirit  of  fear  and  of  caution,  lest  he 
should  incline,  even  in  purpose,  to  the  left,  in  which 
direction  the  broad  path  lay ; — and  meeting  his  early, 
and  then  old  friend,  a  short  time  before  his  dissolu- 
tion, who  was  thus  one  of  the  principal  personages 
in  this  midnight  drama,  he  exclaimed,  with  a  fine  flow 
of  feeling,  as  if  he  had  just  been  throwing  the  eye 
along  the  line  of  road  they  had  actually  travelled,  and 
seen  all  the  dangers  they  had  separately  escaped, — 
"Bless  God,  friend  Batty,  we  are  in  the  narrow  way 
yet!"  Can  any  one  doubt,  that  "God,  in  a  dream, 
in  a  vision  of  the  night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  upon 
men,  in  slumbering  upon  the  bed ; " — can  any  one 
doubt,  that  God  "then  openeth  the  ears  of  men, 
and  sealeth  their  instruction? " 

A  young  man,  of  the  name  of  Samuel  Settle,  servant 
of  Mr.  Miles  Jackson,  of  Hillam  Mill,  spoke  to  William 
on  the  subject  of  personal  religion,  and  told  him  for 
his  encouragement,  that  he  himself  enjoyed  an  assu- 
rance of  the  favour  of  God.  This  was  like  a  light 
unexpectedly  springing  up  in  a  dark  place ;  and  the 
subject  of  these  Memoirs  kept  his  eye  as  steadily  fixed 
upon  it,  till  he  was  led  to  the  Saviour,  as  did  the 
"wise  men"  on  the  portentous  "star,"  that  finally 
guided  their  steps  to  Bethlehem,  where  they  beheld 
the  same  object,  only  in  an  infant  form — "the  young 
child  with  Mary  his  mother,"  and  where  they  "fell 
down,  and  worshipped  him."  Samuel  was  William's 


16  MEMOIRS    OF 

guiding  star.  The  latter  had  read  of  Christian  assu- 
rance, and  had  heard,  what  he  deemed,  something 
like  it  urged  from  the  pulpit ;  but  he  had  been  led 
to  contemplate  it  as  the  privilege  only  of  a  highly 
favoured  few — of  saints  of  the  highest  order,  and  rather 
to  be  beheld  in  prospect — approaching  nearer  and  nearer 
to  it,  till  just  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  than  to  be 
enjoyed  at  present :  and  till  now,  he  had  never  con- 
versed with  any  who  experienced  the  blessing.  This 
anticipated  experience  is  but  too  common  with  many. 
If  death  were  the  journey,  instead  of  the  end  of  it, 
then  such  anticipations  might  be  cherished.  But  who 
would  feed  a  lamp  with  oil,  when  the  wick  has  reached 
its  end,  and  the  flame  is  about  to  expire !  The  blessing 
is  as  necessary  for  the  spirit's  sustenance  on  the  way 
to  heaven,  as  at  the  close  of  it ;  the  manna  was  even 
more  essential  to  the  Israelites  on  their  march  through 
the  wilderness,  than  when  in  sight  of  the  promised 
land,  at  the  latter  of  which  periods  it  ceased  to  descend. 
The  "sense  of  assurance,"  as  enjoyed  by  Samuel, 
dwelt  on  the  mind  of  young  Dawson,  like  the  pre- 
ceding dream,  by  night  and  by  day.  Samuel  was  looked 
upon  by  him  in  the  light  of  a  superhuman  being  ; 
and  he  was  in  the  habit  of  speaking  on  this — to  him 
mysterious  subject,  to  John  Batty,  while  at  the  plough, 
and  when  otherwise  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  farm 
— "wondering,  in  himself,"  like  Peter  in  another  case, 
"at  that  which  was  come  to  pass."  The  distress  of 
mind  which  he  had  for  some  time  experienced,  ren- 
dered relief  desirable,  and  for  this  he  sought ;  but  now 
he  knew  how  to  give  it  a  name, — saw  a  living  example 
of  it  in  humble  life,  in  one  about  his  own  age,  and  in 
one  respecting  whose  piety  and  character  he  entertained 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  17 

the  highest  opinion.  This  increased  his  earnestness  for 
the  blessing,  and  he  embraced  every  opportunity  that 
presented  itself  for  conversing  with  Samuel,  and  of 
corresponding  with  him,  on  the  all  absorbing  subject. 
On  leaving  church,  they  often  slipped  notes  into  the 
hands  of  each  other,  and  thus,  for  some  time,  enjoyed 
the  advantages  of  Christian  fellowship.  It  is  interesting 
to  look  at  the  outset  of  this  youthful  trio  ; — John 
Batty,  a  servant  in  the  house  of  one  of  his  companions ; 
— Samuel  Settle,  with  his  little  bed  in  a  part  of  the 
mill ; — and  William  Dawson,  looking  no  higher  than 
the  plough!  How  different  their  stations  and  effects 
upon  society,  through  life ! — John  Batty  becomes  a 
respectable  farmer,  quietly  and  unostentatiously  settling 
down  at  Throstle  Nest,  a  short  distance  from  Bar- 
wick,  where  he  was  acting,  as  he  had  long  done,  in 
the  capacity  of  a  class-leader,  on  the  death  of  William 
— shining  like  a  fixed  star,  and  where,  to  return  to 
the  former  allusion,  he  was  likely  to  end  his  days, 
saying  with  Job — "  I  shall  die  in  my  nest !"  Samuel 
Settle  is  sent  to  college,  chiefly  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  Rev.  John  Graham,  leaving  the  noise 
of  the  mill  for  the  calm  of  the  study,  and  exchanging 
his  powdered  costume  for  the  more  stately  and  sombre 
drapery  of  a  clergyman  of  the  Established  Church, 
in  one  of  whose  pulpits  he  was  officiating  at  Salisbury, 
at  the  same  period — modestly  pursuing  his  course,  in 
beauty  and  in  serenity,  like  the  moon  in  the  heavens  ! 
William  Dawson,  on  the  other  hand,  is  like  a  blazing 
sun,  but  with  comet-like  course,  astonishing,  entrancing, 
and  fixing  the  gaze  of  the  multitude  !  And  yet,  with- 
out the  grace  of  God,  not  one  of  these  young  men 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  known  beyond 


18  MEMOIRS    OF 

their  own  homestead,   or,  at  furthest,   beyond  their 
own  immediate  vicinity ! 

William  still  continued  to  "groan,  being  bur- 
thened"  with  a  sense  of  his  moral  wretchedness.  The 
Rev.  Thomas  Dikes,  adverting  to  this,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Rev.  William  Dawson,  nephew  of  the  subject  of 
these  Memoirs,  dated  "Hull,  July 30,  1841,  observes; 
"  When  I  entered  upon  my  ministry," — referring  to 
Barwick-in-Elmet, — "  William  Dawson  was  one  of  my 
parishioners,  and  regularly  attended  church.  Then  it 
was,  I  believe,  he  received  his  first  religious  impressions. 
He  was  wont  to  call  upon  me,  and  open  his  mind  very 
freely.  His  convictions  of  sin  were  deep  and  pungent. 
He  was  deeply  sensible  of  the  corruptions  of  his  own 
heart,  and  felt  how  unable  he  was  to  deliver  himself 
from  the  body  of  sin  and  death.  The  foundation  of 
his  religion  was  laid  in  deep  humility.  It  was  this  that 
led  him  to  diligent  prayer,  to  steadfast  faith  in  Christ, 
and  to  seek  for  that  influence  of  divine  grace  by  which 
he  might  serve  God  in  righteousness  and  true  holiness. 
His  attendance  on  religious  worship  was  regular,  his 
behaviour  devout ;  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  marked 
attention  he  paid  to  the  discourses  from  the  pulpit. 
His  walk  and  conversation  were  unblamable,  and  his 
whole  deportment  was  serious — yet,  softened  by  that 
cheerfulness  which,  I  believe,  rendered  him  through 
life  an  agreeable  companion  to  those  with  whom  he 
associated.  Soon  after  I  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Dawson,  I  left  my  curacy.  Mr.  Graham,  of  York, 
succeeded  me ;  and  his  ministry,  I  am  persuaded,  was 
made  a  great  blessing  to  Mr.  D."  This  is  an  inter- 
esting reminiscence  of  a  venerable  clergyman,  upwards 
of  eighty  years  of  age,  throwing  his  mind  back  upon 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  19 

a  period  of  half  a  century,  and  bringing  from  the 
recesses  of  that  mind  the  state  and  character  of  one 
of  his  parishioners ;  and  excellent  indeed  must  the 
character  have  been,  to  have  left  an  impression  so 
indelible  on  the  mind  of  the  pastor ;  nor  is  it  less  com- 
plimentary to  the  pastor  himself,  to  have  rendered 
himself  so  familiar  with  the  state,  not  only  of  the  sheep, 
but  of  the  lambs  of  his  flock.  Mr.  Dikes  adds ;  "  I 
am  sorry  I  cannot  contribute  my  quota  to  the  life  of 
one  who  did  so  much  to  promote  the  glory  of  God,  and 
to  benefit  his  fellow  men."  Here,  of  course,  he  refers 
to  his  removal  from  Barwick,  when  personal  intercourse 
ceased,  and  with  it,  personal  observation.  But  the 
reminiscence  itself,  so  far  as  early  character  goes,  is  an 
excellent  condensed  history. 

The  Rev.  John  Graham  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
the  parish,  as  curate,  some  time  in  the  year  1 790  ; 
under  whose  enlightened  ministry,  William — as  antici- 
pated by  Mr.  Dikes,  received  great  advantage.  But 
though  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs  considered  himself 
a  member  of  the  Established  Church,  to  which  he  was 
strongly  attached  both  from  principle  and  gratitude ; 
yet  he  had,  from  boyhood,  been  in  the  habit  of  attending 
the  prayer-meetings  among  the  Wesleyans,  and  of  hear- 
ing the  local  preachers  in  the  afternoon  of  the  Lord's 
day,  but  without  any  intention  or  disposition  to  unite 
himself  to  the  body.  During  the  successive  labours  of 
Messrs.  Dikes  and  Graham  at  Barwick,  his  attachment 
to  the  Establishment  was  still  more  strongly  marked  ; 
the  former  minister  influencing  his  heart  by  fervent 
zeal,  the  latter  maintaining  his  authority  over  his  in- 
tellect by  superior  talent.  The  two  combined,  not  only 
nailed  him  to  the  door-posts  of  God's  house,  but  exer- 


20  MEMOIRS    OF 

cised  a  beneficial  influence  on  his  character  in  after  life 
and  a  spirit  at  once  so  ardent,  and  a  genius  so  exuber- 
ant, required  the  more  sedate  training  of  the  clergy  of 
the  Established  Church,  to  moderate  the  strength  of  the 
one,  and  prune  the  luxuriant  shoots  of  the  other.  In 
having  two  such  guides,  just  at  the  turning  point  of  life, 
when  one  false  step  might  have  changed  the  whole  face 
of  his  character,  and  so  have  fixed  his  destiny  for  ever — 
he  may  be  considered  as  having  been  highly  favoured. 
Not  having  yet  received  a  sense  of  the  divine  favour, 
and  having  but  little  society  adjacent  to  his  own  home- 
stead, with  the  exception  of  the  family  and  John  Batty, 
William  was  often  the  subject  of  more  than  ordinary 
depression  of  spirit,  which  is  not  unfrequently  the  case 
with  persons  who  are  a  good  deal  thrown  upon  their 
own  resources.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  he  went 
into  the  fields — not  like  Isaac  at  eventide  to  meditate, 
but  more  in  the  spirit  of  Jeremiah,  to  pour  forth  his 
notes  of  sorrow.  The  sun,  it  would  seem  from  his  own 
account  to  the  biographer,  was  up  in  the  heavens,  the 
fields  were  gay  with  flowers  and  rich  in  verdure,  the 
birds  were  warbling  out  their  varied  strains,  every  thing 
around  him  instinct  with  life,  seemed  happy,  and,  in  his 
own  language,  "all  appeared  striving  to  contribute  to 
his  happiness."  But  no  consolation  could  be  derived 
from  either  the  reflections  of  his  mind,  or  the  objects — 
Animate  and  inanimate — around  him.  At  length  he 
went  behind  a  hedge,  and  while  sweeter  songsters  left 
him  unmoved,  one  of  the  less  beautiful  and  more 
diminutive  of  the  feathered  tribe  caught  his  eye,  as  it 
hopped  from  twig  to  twig,  uttering  its  monotonous  but 
cheerful  note  of — "chirup,  chirup."  This,  by  a  sud- 
den turn  of  thought,  was  instantly  transformed  by  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  21 

fertile  imagination  of  the  melancholy  wanderer  into — 
"  cheer-up, — cheer-up, — cheer-up,"  which,  even  in  its 
abbreviated  form,  presented  no  great  dissimilarity  to  the 
ear.  He  said  within  himself, — "  Here  is  a  little  bird 
happy,  and  I — and  I — possessed  of  an  immortal  spirit 
— born  for  heaven — cared  for  by  a  watchful  providence 
— fed,  sheltered,  protected,  redeemed — with  salvation 
within  reach — and  the  very  heaven  for  which  I  was 
born,  offered — am  yet  unhappy !"  This  circumstance, 
though  not  less  important  in  its  nature  than  the  case 
recorded  by  the  Hebrew  bard,  who  contrasted  his 
suspended  privileges  with  those  of  the  "  sparrow"  and 
the  "swallow,"  one  of  which  had  "found  an  house," 
and  the  other  "  a  nest,"  contiguous  to  the  spot  around 
which  the  good  man  ever  delights  to  hover — the  "altars 
of  the  Lord  of  Hosts," — led  to  a  train  of  serious  reflec- 
tion, which  issued  in  serenity  of  mind ;  and  he  could 
not  but  adore  the  goodness  of  God, — humbled  and 
prostrated  before  Him,  without  whose  permission  a 
sparrow  cannot  fall  to  the  ground, — in  thus  employing 
so  minute  and  unimportant  a  creature,  to  be  the  instru- 
ment of  such  a  reversed  state  of  feeling, — from  that 
of  deep  overshadowing  gloom,  to  the  tranquillity  and 
cheerfulness  of  a  summer  evening.*  This,  however, 
was  but  a  foretaste  of  what  was  in  reversion,  for  as  yet 

*  The  influence  of  external  objects  upon  the  mind,  ami  the  aspects  in  which 
they  are  viewed,  in  certain  moods  and  states,  is  strikingly  illustrated  by 
Carabo,  a  negro  in  one  of  the  Southern  States  of  America,  who  was  desired 
to  give  an  account  of  his  conversion,  and  who  proceeded  thus :  "  While  in 
my  own  country,  (Guinea,)  me  had  no  knowledge  of  the  being  of  a  God;  me 
thought  me  should  die  like  the  beasts.  After  me  was  brought  to  America, 
and  sold  as  a  slave,  as  me  and  another  servant  of  the  name  of  Bess  were 
working  in  the  field,  me  began  to  sing  one  of  my  old  country  songs,  '  It  is 
time  to  go  home  ;'  when  Bess  say  to  me,  '  Cambo,  why  you  sing  so  for  ?  Me 
say,  'Me  no  sick,  me  no  sorry;  why  me  no  sing?1  Bess  say,  'You  better 


22  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  had  not  experienced  the  assurance  to  which  his 
friend  Settle  had  attained.  It  encouraged  him,  in  the 
mean  time,  in  the  midst  of  further  despondings,  and 
inspired-  him  with  a  hope,  that  the  day  of  complete 
deliverance  was  not  remote. 

His  father  dying  when  he  was  only  between  eighteen 
and  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  succeeded  him  in  the 
stewardship  over  the  collieries  of  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne, 
and  became  in  his  turn,  and  at  this  early  period  of  life, 
the  father  of  the  family.  With  the  stewardship  was 
still  connected  the  farm,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  some  of  the  land  of  which,  as  already 
hinted,  was  exceedingly  poor.  To  this  his  brother  at- 
tended ;  and  on  its  produce  the  family  were  chiefly 
dependant.  Though  he  was  now,  in  a  certain  sense,  a 
master,  yet,  such  was  his  reverence  for  his  mother,  that 
she  bore  the  rule,  while  he  attended  to  the  provision  of  the 
family ;  thus  presenting  a  fine  example  of  filial  obedience. 

Mr.  Graham  had  not  been  long  at  Barwick,  before 
the  subject  of  these  Memoirs  was  enabled  to  lay  hold 
on  Christ  by  faith,  and  to  rejoice  in  a  sense  of  sin 
forgiven.  This  took  place  some  time  in  the  year  1/91, 
in  the  church  at  Barwick,  while  Mr.  Graham  was 
administering  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
just  as  he  was  uttering,  "  The  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  was  given  for  thee,  preserve  thy  soul 

pray  to  your  blessed  Lord  and  Massa,  to  have  mercy  on  your  sonl.'  Me  look 
round,  me  look  up,  me  see  no  one  to  pray  to;  but  the  words  sound  in  my 
ears,  '  Better  pray  to  your  Lord  and  Massa !'  Bye  and  bye  me  feel  bad — sun 
shine  sorry— birds  sing  sorry—land  look  sorry— but  Cambo  sorrier  than  them 
all.  Then  me  cry  out,  'Mercy,  mercy,  Lord.'  on  poor  Cambo!'— Bye  and 
bye,  water  come  in  my  eyes,  and  glad  come  in  my  heart.  Then  sun  look 
glad — woods  look  glad — birds  sing  glad — land  look  glad,  but  poor  Cambo 
gladder  than  them  all.  Me  love  my  Massa  some;  me  want  to  love  him 
more." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  23 

and  body  unto  everlasting  life.  Take  and  eat  this  in 
remembrance  that  Christ  died  for  thee,  and  feed  on 
him  in  thy  heart  by  faith  with  thanksgiving."  Than 
this,  scarcely  anything  could  have  been  more  appro- 
priate : — the  seeking  sinner  was  at  the  table  of  the 
Lord — in  immediate  contact  with  the  cross — the  bread 
was  shadowed  forth,  which  alone  could  impart  life  to 
the  soul,  and  satisfy  its  cravings — an  exhortation  was 
given  to  the  exercise  of  faith — the  sentence  of  death 
was  felt  within — the  death  of  the  Saviour  was  ex- 
hibited for  the  life  of  the  transgressor — and  all  this 
for  THEE — yes,  for  THEE  !  He  was  overwhelmed  with 
a  sense  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  and 
had  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  given  unto  him. 

It  was  not  long  before  his  new  situation  became  a 
source  of  temptation ;  it  afforded  him  but  few  mo- 
ments of  leisure,  and  his  tender  conscience  vibrated  in 
the  case  of  the  coal  measures  used  by  the  men,  between 
justice  to  his  master,  and  honesty  to  the  purchaser 
— being  unwilling  to  give  the  one  any  unfair  advantage 
over  the  other.  To  this  there  seems  to  be  a  reference 
in  the  following  letter  to  him  from  his  old  pastor, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Dikes,  dated  "Hull,  Nov.  21,  1791." 

"DEAR  SIR. — We  must  recollect,  that  we  are  not 
yet  in  heaven.  This  world  is  a  wilderness,  in  which 
we  must  not  expect  rest  and  peace.  Our  Saviour 
Christ  went  through  a  great  variety  of  afflictions,  when 
he  was  upon  earth :  if  the  Head  suffered  so  much, 
no  wonder  that  the  members  should  likewise  suffer. 
Prosperity  hardens  the  heart ;  adversity  softens  it.  The 
natural  impetuosity  of  our  temper  will  but  ill  brook 
subjection  to  God ;  we  must  not  be  surprised,  therefore, 


24  MEMOIRS    OF 

if  the  Almighty  put  us  into  the  furnace  of  affliction, 
that  he  may  bring  down  the  insolence  of  our  pride, 
and  make  us  submit  to  his  yoke.  'Whom  the  Lord 
loveth,  he  chasteneth.' 

"I  am  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  business 
in  which  you  are  engaged,  to  give  you  any  directions 
respecting  the  proper  discharge  of  it.  I  think  your 
father  was  careful  in  seeing  that  the  men  gave  full 
measure,  which  is  certainly  a  duty  you  owe  to  the 
public.  And  I  need  not  say,  that  you  never  can  be 
too  earnest  in  your  endeavours  to  support  your  mother 
and  family.  Think  no  pains,  no  labour  ill  bestowed, 
if  you  can  advance  their  interest.  Be  not  slothful  in 
business,  but  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  Idle- 
ness lays  us  open  to  Satan's  assaults.  When  he  finds 
us  unemployed,  he  will  usually  take  care,  that  we 
shall  not  be  long  without  employment.  But  in  the 
midst  of  your  worldly  business,  find  time  for  prayer 
and  meditation.  Dread  a  dull  uniformity  in  religion 
worse  than  death;  for  when  the  mind  falls  into  a 
dead,  stupid  frame,  and  is  excited  by  no  hopes,  nor, 
alarmed  by  any  fears,  then  a  total  falling  away  from 
God  is  much  to  be  feared.  Let  not  a  view  of  your 
sins  discourage  you  from  coming  to  Christ,  for  he  is 
willing  to  save  you,  and  is  the  author  of  eternal  life 
to  all  that  believe.  Make  him  the  beginning  and  end 
of  all  your  religion.  And  remember,  that  eternal  life 
will  be  the  reward,  through  grace,  of  all  who  shall 
continue  steadfast  to  the  end.  Be  thou  faithful  unto 
death,  and  thou  shalt  have  a  crown  of  life.  My  kind 
regards  to  Mr.  Graham.  Yours  sincerely, 

"In  great  haste, — THOMAS  DIKES.  "  * 

*Tliis  is  the  manner  in  which  the  name  is  spelt  in  the  letter ;  latterly  it  has 
been  spelt  Dykes. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  25 


CHAPTER  II. 


Commences  a  Diary. — Essays. — Letter  from  the  Rev.  T.  Dikes. — 
Select  religious  Meetings. — Labours  of  the  Rev.  J.  Graham. — 
Rev.  T.  Galland. —  W.  Darvson  begins  to  exhort, — Attends 
the  Religious  services  of  the  Wesleyans.  —  Hears  the  Rev. 
S.  Bradburn. — Monarchy. — Prays  in  public. — Early  Com- 
positions.— The  fall  of  man. — Siyourners. — The  Scriptures. 
— The  Apocalypse.  —  Reading.  —  Books. — Attempts  to  court 
the  Muse.  —  Rev.  R.  Hemington.  —  W.  Dan-son  becomes 
more  public  in  his  character. — "  Grime  Cabin." — Renewal  of 
Covenant. — The  Rev.  Joseph  Benson. — S.  Settle  sent  to  May. 
Col.  Comb. 


IN  the  spring  of  1792,  he  commenced  a  Diary, 
which,  though  occasionally  referring  to  graver  mat- 
ters, seems  to  have  been  chiefly  intended  for  secular 
purposes,  including  the  engagements  of  the  day,  the 
state  of  the  weather,  prices  of  grain,  &c.  A  few 
brief  extracts,  without  following  each  successive  day, 
as  distinctly  marked,  will  be  sufficient  to  show,  not 
only  its  design  and  character,  but  also,  that  if  there 
had  been  the  least  temptation  to  self-indulgence,  his 
native  energies  and  general  activity  would  never  have 
allowed  such  indulgence  a  moment's  quarter, — ever 
acting,  from  nature  and  from  habit,  on  the  advice  of 
Mr.  Dikes, — and  concluding  "no  pains,  no  labour  ill 
B 


26  MEMOIRS    OF 

bestowed,"  to  "advance  the  interest  of  the  family." 
"  Mond.  Ap.  14,  A.B.*  Sowing  in  the  morning. 
Forenoon  in  Broom  Close."  "Tuesd.  15.  At  Leeds. 
Sold  8  Ids.,  at  20s.  6d."  "Frid.  18.  Good-Friday. 
At  the  sacrament"  "Tuesd.  22.  With  Mr.  P. 
At  Garforth  in  the  evening."  "  Mond.  May  28.  Till 
ten  o'clock  at  the  Colliery.  Then  to  B.  C.  [home, 
Barnbow  Car.]  Went  to  the  Society"  "Tuesd.  29. 
At  Leeds,  with  Wheat.  At  14s.  3d."  "Wed.  30. 
At  Colliery."  "Thur.  31.  At  do."  "Frid.  June  1. 
At  Colliery.  Measured  by  Hole.  22  yds.  Mr.  Porter 
let  the  road  to  throw  out  at  7s.  p.  acre,  four  yds. 
wide."  "Mond.  4.  Forenoon  at  Colliery,  and  after- 
noon at  Roundhay  for  G.S."  "Tuesd.  5.  At  Colliery 
removing  the  gin  to  the  sinking  pit.  Mr.  Emerson's 
pasture  at  the  bottom  of  the  wood."  "Friday  8. 
Rainy  day.  No  work."  "Sat.  9.  At  the  Collier}-. 
Balanced  with  Lun  &c.,  for  sinking  the  pit  in  Mr. 
Cotton's  close."  "Thursd.  14.  Winnowing  in  the 
forenoon.  Afternoon  at  the  Colliery."  "Wed.  20. 
At  Colliery  in  the  forenoon.  Afternoon  at  Mrs.  Daw- 
son's  funeral."  "Thursd.  22.  At  Colliery  forenoon. 
Afternoon  at  Boroughbridge  fair."  "Sat.  23.  At 
Boroughbridge  till  nine  o'clock.  Bought  20  Wethers 
at  16s.  3d.,  and  7  Gimmers  at  13s.  6d.  At  Colliery 
in  the  afternoon."  "Tuesd.  26.  At  Leeds."  "Wed. 
27.  At  Colliery.  Then  washed  sheep."  "Mond. 
July  2.  At  Collier)'.  After,  clipping  sheep."  "Mond. 
16.  At  Colliery.  Begun  to  mow  at  Col.  Also 
clover  at  home."  "  Wed.  August  2.  At  Garforth 
moor  putting  up  a  beam."  "  Mond.  6.  At  Colliery 

*"  A.  B.,''  is  the  abbreviation  of — At  Barnbotv,  as  "  A.  C.,'1  in  the  Diary, 
sometimes  stands  for— At  the  Colliery. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  27 

in  the  Morning.  Stacking  hay  at  home.  Hay-making 
in  the  afternoon."  "  Frid.  10.  At  Colliery.  James 
Hunsworth  broke  his  leg  in  the  top  pit."  "Sat.  11. 
At  Colliery.  Mr.  P.  turned  .off  J.  Hunsworth,  G. 
Scholes,  and  J.  Dawson."  "Sep.  Wed.  5.  At  Colliery. 
Collins  began  to  shear  in  Quarry  close."  "  Mon.  10. 
At  Colliery  in  the  morning.  Afternoon,  making  a 
stack  upon  Little  Holme.  A  very  high  wind. " 
"Tuesd.  11.  Stacking  oats,  and  at  Col."  x"Thursd. 
13.  At  C.  forenoon.  Leading  corn  in  the  afternoon. 
A  strong  wind."  "  Sat.  26.  At  Col.  A  very  rainy 
week."  "  Tuesd.  25.  At  Leeds  with  corn  and  wool. 
S.  C.  at  19s.  wool  11s.  9d."  "Mond.  Oct.  1.  At 
Aberford  fair.  Sold  a  horse  for  twenty  guineas." 
"Mond.  8.  At  Colh'ery  till  nine  o'clock.  Begun  to 
sow."  "Tuesd.  15.  At  Leeds.  After,  at  Wm.  Waits' 
funeral."  "Mond.  29.  At  Col.  Coals  raised  6d. 
per  cwt."  "  Sat.  Novr.  3.  At  Col.  Settled  with  the 
Colliers  at  10^  per  dozen,  near  end  at  15d.  per  yd. 
Engine  end  lid.  per  doz.  Broad  at  18d.  per  yd." 
"Mond.  5.  At  Aberford  Statute  the  Colliers  stuck 
out."  "  Mond.  Deer.  3.  At  the  engine  taking  pumps 
out."  "Sund.  9.  At  Whitchurch  in  the  forenoon. 
Afternoon  at  Barwick."  "Mond.  17-  At  Garforth 
moor  sinking.  Begun  to  sink  a  deep  pit  at  the 
engine  end." 

In  this  Diary,  the  Sabbath  is  distinguished  with 
from  two  to  four  capital  letters,  in  red  ink,  one 
involved  within  another,  with  some  of  the  graceful 
curves  of  the  writer,  exceedingly  difficult  to  decipher  : 
mostly  B.  C.,  as  if  Barwick  Church  were  intended, 
and  sometimes  the  S.  dexterously  worked  into  them, 
as  if  the  Sacrament  were  included. 


28  MEMOIRS   OP 

Among  his  papers,  are  three  essays,  in  his  hand- 
writing, dated  1792;  one  on  "Christ's  Love,"  another 
entitled,  "A  Soliloquy,"  and  the  third  founded  on 
Mark  xiii.  37,  "What*I  say  unto  you,  I  say  unto  all, 
Watch."  The  last  of  these  was  hegun  in  "June," 
and  was  enlarged  "Deer.  1793."  The  first  is 
desultory  and  common-place,  —  displaying  more  of 
piety  than  ability.  The  second  exhibits  equal  piety, 
but  more  mind,  and  greater  condensation.  In  the 
third,  he  indulges  a  little  in  metaphor,  and  shews 
symptoms  of  the  future  man.  It  is  easily  to  perceive 
in  each,  that  JESUS  is  not  only  "the  brightness  of 
the  Father's  glory,"  but  the  object  of  the  writer's 
love,  and  the  subject  matter  of  his  musings. 

Mr.  Graham  had  now  been  settled  sometime  at 
Barwick  ;  but  though  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs 
had  excellent  help  in  him,  he  still  availed  himself  of 
the  privilege  of  corresponding  with  Mr.  Dikes,  in 
cases  of  depression,  when  placed  in  difficult  situations, 
or  disturbed  with  the  plague  of  his  heart.  He  re- 
ceived another  letter  from  that  gentleman,  bearing 
date,  "Hull,  Feb.  2,  1793;"  directed  for  "Mr.  Will. 
Dawson,  Barnbow  Carr,  near  Banvick,  to  be  left  at 
Mr.  Butterfield's,  Horse  and  Trumpet,  Cross  Parish, 
Leeds." 

"DEAR  SIR, — I  received  your  last  letter,  dated  the 
28th  January.  I  shall  be  glad  to  give  you  any  advice, 
that  might  tend  to  comfort  you,  or  to  render  your 
progress  more  easy  in  the  way  of  godliness.  I  feel 
a  regard  for  the  Barwick  people,  among  whom  I 
laboured  two  years,  though  not  with  the  success  I 
could  have  wished.  It  is  God,  however,  who  must 
give  the  increase.  But  I  need  not  be  large  in  my 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  29 

admonitions  to  you,  because  you  have  an  excellent 
minister,  whom  you  may  consult  as  occasion  requires  ; 
and  I  advise  you  often  to  speak  freely  to  him,  and 
to  lay  open  the  state  of  your  mind.  Such  conferences 
will  be  attended  with  unspeakable  benefit  to  yourself. 

"Respecting  your  temporal  circumstances,  I  shall 
not  say  much.  Read  the  xi  chapter  of  the  Epistle 
to  the  Hebrews.  Think  of  the  things  which  are 
eternal.  It  will  soon  be  of  little  consequence  whether 
you  were  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor.  The  proper 
way  to  get  rid  of  anxious  disquietude  is,  to  furnish 
the  mind  with  better  thoughts.  Think  much  of 
Christ  and  the  heavenly  kingdom,  to  which  you  are 
hastening;  and  you  will  find,  that  earthly  things 
will  seem  less  than  nothing  and  vanity. 

"  Respecting  spirituals. — You  grow,  I  trust,  in  a 
knowledge  of  the  evil  nature  that  dwells  within  you. 
The  more  you  know  of  indwelling  sin,  the  more  you 
will  love  Christ,  who  delivereth  us  both  from  •  its 
curse  and  power.  Hence,  you  will  likewise  grow  in 
humility  ;  and  he  who  groweth  in  humility,  groweth 
in  grace. 

"But  you  must  not  think,  that  you  are  destitute 
of  the  grace  of  God,  because  you  see  greater  iniquity 
in  your  heart  than  you  havfe  been  wont  to  see.  The 
same  evil,  yea  more  abundant  evil,  was  there  before, 
— only  your  mind  was  darkened  by  sin,  and  you  saw 
it  not.  The  depth  of  corruption,  which  is  in  the 
heart,  can  only  be  discovered  by  the  grace  of  God's 
Spirit.  I  trust  you  hate  and  loath  sin,  and  strive 
to  be  delivered  from  it.  This  is  a  good  evidence  in 
your  favour,  and  you  may  conclude,  that  he  who 
has  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will  carry  it  on  to 


30  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  day  of  the  Lord.  Believe,  therefore,  in  Christ, 
and  don't  think  you  must  stay  till  you  are  better, 
before  you  believe  in  him :  but  go  to  him,  just  as 
you  are.  Deliver  yourself  day  by  day  into  his  hands, 
to  be  saved,  sanctified,  and  governed.  Keep  up  an 
intercourse  with  him  in  your  soul,  and  seek  grace 
out  of  his  fulness  for  the  supply  of  your  daily 
necessities.  Thus,  in  time,  you  will  be  enabled  to 
adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  your  Saviour,  by  a  holy 
life  and  conversation.  Don't  be  always  poring  over 
your  own  heart,  but  look  more  at  Christ  the  Son  of 
God,  who  died  for  sinners.  Yours  sincerely, 

"THOMAS  DIKES." 

Mr.  Graham  preached  regularly  forenoon  and  after- 
noon on  the  Lord's  day ;  and  in  the  evening  of  that 
day,  expounded  in  the  school-room,  adjoining  the 
church,  generally  selecting  a  whole  chapter,  or  par- 
ticular sections,  as  the  ground- work  of  his  remarks. 
He  held  also  a  select  meeting  on  the  Thursday 
evening,  which  at  first  met  in  his  own  house,  and 
afterwards  in  a  private  dwelling.  Of  this  meeting, 
William  Dawson  was  a  member ;  and  here  the  devout 
feelings  of  the  heart  were  not  only  cherished,  but 
the  opening  powers  of  the  mind  were  brought  into 
fuller  exercise.  Of  Mr.  Graham,  he  always  spoke 
affectionately  and  respectfully,  and  often  with  deep 
feeling ;  stating,  that  of  all  the  lecturers  on  entire 
chapters  of  the  Bible,  he  was  the  most  lucid,  con- 
nected, comprehensive,  interesting,  and  impressive,  he 
ever  heard.*  In  this  meeting,  particularly  in  the 

*  When  naming  this  circumstance  to  the  biographer,  he  added, — "  Next  to 
Mr.  Graham,  I  am  partial  to  Mr.  G alland,  who  was  sometime  under  Mr. 
Graham's  tuition,  at  York,  and  who  probably — seeing  this  excellence  in  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  31 

absence  of  Mr.  Graham,  during  the  vacation  of  his 
school,  or  when  otherwise  called  from  home,  William 
read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  offered  a  passing 
remark  upon  it ;  or,  as  he  playfully  observed,  in 
the  language  of  an  illiterate  man,  whom  he  some- 
times quoted,  and  who  was  in  the  habit  of  ignorantly 
substituting  one  word  for  another  — "  expunged  a 
little."  Here  also,  he  often  prayed,  but  never  at 
this  early  period,  in  any  public  meeting,  without 
a  printed  form.  His  remarks  were  at  first  rather 
sententious,  and  shewed  great  ripeness  of  judgment, 
combined  with  occasional  flashes  of  genius. 

His  multifarious  engagements  had  no  influence 
upon  him,  in  diminishing  his  efforts  to  increase  in 
personal  piety,  or  in  damping  his  ardour  in  seeking 
the  salvation  of  his  neighbours.  He  continued  to  fill 
the  chair,  left  vacant  by  Mr.  Graham,  during  the  recess 
of  the  school — prayed — exhorted — and  occasionally 
mingled  with  the  members  of  the  "Wesleyan  Society, 
both  as  a  hearer  and  in  their  prayer-meetings.  Ad- 
verting to  the  devotional  meetings  of  the  latter,  when 
narrating,  in  friendly  conversation  with  the  biographer, 
the  history  of  early  days,  he  remarked, — "A  shy, 
dry,  reserved  old  class-leader,  turned  to  me  one  Sun- 
day afternoon,  on  being  disappointed  of  a  preacher, 
and  said,  'Willy,  go  to  prayer.'  I  refused,  and  felt 
indignant  at  the  request.  Though  I  could  listen  to 
others,  while  praying,  yet  I  could  not  think  of 

master,  ventured  upon  it  as  a  pupil.  His  expositions  are  superior  to  bis 
sermons.  In  the  former  he  excels.  On  having  a  vacant  forenoon,  or  on  my 
work  for  the  Sabbath  lying  in  that  direction,  I  have  gone  frequently  into 
Leeds  on  purpose  to  hear  him  expound  the  lessons  for  the  day.  To  me,  it  was 
always  a  high  treat,  when  he  was  in  the  Leeds  circuit.  I  know  no  man  equal 
to  him  as  a  lecturer  in  the  Connexion." 


32  MEMOIRS    OF 

engaging  officially  in  prayer  myself,  in  a  place  un- 
connected with  the  Established  Church.  After  this, 
I  went  to  church  as  usual,  but  felt  no  freedom  in  the 
service.  This  led  to  serious  self-examination ;  and  I 
asked  myself,  why  I  should  refuse  to  pray,  when 
requested  ?  It  occurred  to  me,  that  either  pride  or 
shame  must  have  been  the  cause,  and  that  neither  of 
these  were  fit  companions  for  a  professor  of  religion 
in  a  place  of  worship."  This  was  sound  reasoning, 
and  rendered  him  much  less  repulsive  at  a  subsequent 
period. 

Mingling  occasionally,  as  has  been  intimated,  with 
the  Wesleyans,  and  having  heard  of  the  fame  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn  as  an  orator,  who  was  an- 
nounced to  preach  in  the  chapel  in  which  the  Rev. 
Edward  Parsons  officiated,  he  decided  on  visiting  Leeds. 
This  was  during  the  Conference  of  1793.  His  pre- 
judices, he  remarked  to  the  writer,  were  exceedingly 
strong  at  this  time  in  favour  of  the  Established  Church ; 
and  up  to  this  period — with  the  exception  of  the 
Wesleyan  local  preachers,  he  could  scarcely  bear  to 
hear  a  person  preach  without  a  gown.  This  predilection 
I  in  favour  of  the  clerical  costume  was  met  on  the  present 
occasion,  in  consequence  of  the  preacher  being  habited 
in  the  vestment  usually  worn  by  Mr.  Parsons ;  and 
apart  from  his  oratorical  powers,  Mr.  Bradburn' s  noble, 
commanding  figure,  powdered  hair,  and  advanced  age, 
at  once  fixed  his  eye  and  captivated  his  heart.  His 
subject  was  the  Kingly  Office  of  Christ ;  and  being 
at  the  period  of  those  feverish  heats  occasioned  by 
Paine's  "Age  of  Reason"  and  "Rights  of  Man,"  when 
man  himself  was  running  riot,  and  preparing  his  way 
for  the  severest  denunciations  and  heaviest  penalties 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  33 

of  all  law,  civil  and  religious,  he  availed  himself  of 
the  spirit  and  opinions  of  the  times — a  work  for  which 
he  was  well  qualified,  for  the  purpose  of  shewing  the 
advantages  of  a  monarchical,  over  all  other  forms  of 
government, — never  losing  sight  of  the  subject  in  hand, 
but  directing  the  attention  of  his  auditory  to  the  king- 
dom of  Christ.  Though  the  British  government  is  un- 
questionably mixed,  and  therefore  properly  denominated 
by  some  writers,  a  limited  monarchy,  the  preacher 
could  at  once  shew  the  admirable  balance  of  power 
in  the  very  circumstance  of  its  being  formed  by  a 
combination  of  the  three  regular  species  of  government, 
— the  monarchy  residing  in  the  King,  the  aristocracy 
in  the  House  of  Peers,  and  the  republic,  as  represented 
by  the  House  of  Commons.  The  kingly  office  of 
Christ,  at  all  events,  was  grateful  to  one  who  had 
submitted  to  his  laws;  and  the  preacher's  denunciations 
against  scepticism  and  insubordination,  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  satisfactory  to  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  England.  / 

Mr.  Bradburn,  on  giving  out  the  last  hymn,  inclined 
his  person  over  the  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  looking 
to  the  precentor,  who  had  either  not  pleased  him,  or 
preferring  it  for  some  private  reason,  said,  "  I  will 
give  out  the  two  last  verses  myself;"  which  were, 

"  The  government  of  earth  and  seas 
Upon  his  shoulders  shall  be  laid ; 
His  wide  dominions  shall  increase, 
And  honours  to  his  name  he  paid. 

"  Jesus,  the  holy  child,  shall  sit, 
High  on  his  father  David's  throne  ; 
Shall  crush  bis  foes  beneath  bis  feet, 
And  reign  to  ages  yet  unknown.  "  * 

These  verses,   the  subject  of  these  pages  had  never 

•Watts  Hymns,  Book  I.  Hymn  13. 
B  2  — 


34  MEMOIRS    OF 

heard  before ;  and  yet,  from  the  bare  recital  of  them 
by  the  preacher,  he  recollected  them  ever  afterwards. 
His   memory  was   naturally  tenacious,   and  was   con- 
siderably improved  afterwards,  by  habit.   This  specimen 
of   simple,   free,   powerful,   and  impassioned  oratory, 
'  which  he  had  in  Mr.  Bradburn,   gave  him   a  more 
favourable  opinion  of  the  Wesleyan  preachers,  and  a 
!  more  kindly  bearing  towards  the  body :  and  certainly, 
|  if  in  oratory,  the  greatest  art  is  to  hide  art, — Artis 
I  est    celare    artem, — the    speaker    in    question,     with 
all    his    other    accomplishments,    had    this    in    per- 
fection. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  old  class-leader  among  the 
Wesleyans,  somewhat  oddly  portrayed  already,  "stuck 
the  hymn-book  in  his  face,"  to  employ  the  subject's 
own  words,  while  attending  a  prayer-meeting,  saying 
|  unceremoniously,  "Here,  give  out  a  hymn,  and  go 
to  prayer."  He  did  so;  and  after  this,  occasionally 
'  assisted  in  the  prayer-meetings.  He  was,  however, 
according  to  his  own  statement,  much  ashamed  of  him- 
self, saying,  that  he  "made  but  poorly  out."  The 
truth  is,  that  there  was  more  of  the  publican  in  the 
present  exercise,  as  there  was  more  of  the  pharisee 
in  his  former  refusal.  But  still,  it  was  the  pharisee 
in  momentary  practice,  rather  than  in  confirmed  sen- 
timent, and  had  no  baneful  influence  on  his  general 
feelings  and  character. 

He  continued  to  exhort  in  the  private  meetings,  and 
also  to  exercise  his  pen.  Some  of  his  compositions 
were  in  all  probability  the  ground-work  of  his  addresses. 
Though  he  did  not  formally  announce  a  text,  yet  select 
passages  of  Scripture  appear  to  have  been  very  often 
the  subject  of  previous  reflection,  and  to  these  he 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  35 

occasionally  adverted, — avoiding,  at  the  same  time,  the 
formality  of  a  sermon,  with  its  divisions  and  sub- 
divisions. A  few  of  these  pieces,  written  at  this  period, 
may  be  noticed,  as  it  is  interesting  to  trace  the  openings 
of  such  a  mind,  and  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
subjects  upon  which  it  was  employed.  The  first  is 
dated,  "Feb.  1794,"  and  is  founded  on  Rom.  iii.  23, 
24;  the  second,  "March,"  and  has  for  its  base  I.  Chron. 
xxix,  15 ;  the  third  "March  29,"  the  day  before  the 
twenty-first  anniversary  of  his  birth-day,  and  evidently 
intended  for  its  celebration;  the  fourth,  "May,"  in 
which  he  launches  forth  into  the  Apocalypse,  xix.  11 — 
13 ;  and  the  fifth,  "July  30,"  entitled  "A  Meditation 
on  the  glorious  Attributes  of  God."  The  mind,  in 
each  case,  appears  active,  and  becomes  more  and  more 
expanded.  He  manifests  considerable  native  vigour, 
and  puts  forth  a  bolder  pinion  for  flight  than  hereto- 
fore. The  facts  of  the  fall  and  restoration  of  man, 
in  the  first  paper,  are  assumed  rather  than  proved, 
— illustrated  rather  than  defended.  He  is,  in  thought, 
what  a  person  is  in  actual  vision,  who  is  introduced 
into  a  region  where  but  few  things  are  familiar,  and 
to  whom  most  are  new  and  interesting,  and  who  is  not 
disposed  to  discredit  the  testimony  of  his  senses.  With 
slender  biblical  helps,  he  seems  to  look  upon  Scripture 
as  the  best  interpreter  of  Scripture, — has  all  the  marks 
of  sincerity  in  his  pursuit  of  truth — and  is  zealous  in 
its  propagation.  Though  loose,  and  a  stranger  to  cor- 
rect composition,  yet  improvement  is  perceptible,  the 
essentials  of  religion  are  steadily  maintained,  and  his 
vocabulary  is  gradually  enlarging.  His  disposition  to 
indulge  in  contrast,  in  which  he  afterwards  often  ex- 
celled, is  apparent.  After  describing  the  first  pair  in 


36  MEMOIRS    OP 

paradise,  and  the  sudden  reverse  on  their  expulsion,  he 
observes, — "It  is  not  within  the  power  of  the  imagination 
to  depict  their  feelings  and  their  state  : — Yesterday, 
dwelling  in  the  sunshine  of  God's  smiling  countenance, 
— to-day,  terrified  beneath  the  dark  cloud  of  his  avenging 
wrath! — Yesterday,  the  place  in  which  they  resided, 
brought  forth  fruit  in  abundance, — to-day  they  are 
not  only  blighted  with  the  curse  of  God  themselves, 
but  the  very  earth  is  cursed  for  their  sake! — Yesterday, 
the  garden  brought  forth  fruit  of  itself, — to-day,  they 
are  doomed  to  labour  for  their  bread  by  the  sweat 
of  the  brow,  and  when  they  have  exerted  themselves 
to  the  utmost,  the  ground  yields  but  a  scanty  supply 
in  comparison  with  that  of  Eden !  "  Directing  his 
attention  to  the  scheme  of  human  redemption,  he 
remarks, — "Without  this,  we  must  have  been  inevitably 
lost, — lost  beyond  the  power  of  man  or  angel  to  re- 
cover us.  But  now,  the  way  is  plain  to  all  that 
believe.  There  is  a  gate,  which  stands  open,  though 
a  strait  one.  There  is  a  market,  with  an  abundant 
supply  of  provision,  in  which  we  may  buy  without 
money  and  without  price.  There  is  a  well  at  which 
we  may  constantly  drink  and  be  satisfied.  Yes,  though 
Adam  brought  death  upon  his  posterity,  and  though 
such  is  the  cohesive  quality  of  sin, — constantly  clogging 
and  retarding  the  soul  in  its  ascension  to  heaven  in 
prayer  and  holy  meditation, — yet  Jesus,  who  beheld 
the  weight  of  wrath  from  above  ready  to  fall  upon 
us,  and  the  depths,  the  unfathomable  depths  of  misery 
to  which  man  was  exposed,  has  come  to  his  rescue." 

His  second  paper  furnishes  a  good  deal  of  the 
picturesque.  Man  is  represented  as  passing  through 
a  wilderness,  and  a  parallel  is  run  between  the  journey- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  67 

ings  of  the  Israelites  from  Egypt  to  the  promised  land, 
and  the  Christian  on  his  route  to  heaven.  Thoughts 
appear  to  teem  upon  him,  and  words  are  frequently 
omitted  in  his  haste  to  transmit  them  to  paper.  An 
extract  will  shew  the  man.  "We  are  strangers  before 
thee,  and  sojourners,  as  were  all  our  fathers :  our 
days  on  earth  are  as  a  shadow,  and  there  is  none 
abiding.  We  are  only  tenants  of  this  earthly  taberna- 
cle, and  know  not  how  soon  we  may  be  served  with 
an  ejectment.  What  is  there  in  a  wilderness  to  divert 
a  traveller  whose  heart  is  set  upon  home?  What  can 
a  person  wish  to  have  in  such  a  dreary  situation  ? 
Can  he  wish  to  stay,  and  take  up  his  portion  here, 
without  thinking  of  going  to  his  resting  place  ?  Would 
he  prefer  to  dwell  among  dragons,  and  exposed  to 
dangers?  Does  he  conclude  he  has  not  a  home  to 
go  to?  that  there  is  no  city,  whose  maker  and  builder 
is  God?  ....  Travellers,  and  especially  those  on 
foot,  ought  to  carry  as  small  a  burthen  as  possible. 
They  should  do  the  work  their  situation  requires,  and 
return  to  their  destined  place  with  the  utmost  despatch. 
....  Think  not  that  almost  leaving  the  world  will 
do.  If  we  but  almost  leave  the  world,  we  cannot  be 

altogether  Christians Look  to  thyself,  O  my 

soul,  and  see  how  matters  stand  with  thee.  Is  this 
world  a  stranger  to  thee?  Are  thy  affections  set  on 
things  above?  Art  thou  looking  for,  and  hastening 
to  the  day  of  God?  Art  thou  running  the  race  set 
before  thee,  looking  unto  Jesus?  Dost  thou  keep  the 
glory  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  in  thine  eye?  Art 
thou,  eagle-like,  mounting  towards  the  meridian  splen- 
dour which  emanates  from  the  glory  of  his  countenance? 
Dost  thou,  like  Abraham,  take  thy  wife — thine  heart, 


38  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  forsake  thy  habitation,  and  travel  towards  that 
good  land  that  God  has  promised  to  every  believer 
in  Jesus  ?  Dost  thou  erect  an  altar  in  every  place 
on  the  road,  where  thou  art  likely  to  stop  a  little, 
and  offer  the  incense  of  the  merits  of  thy  faithful 
Intercessor  to  a  merciful  prayer-hearing  God?  Dost 
thou  constantly  apply  to  him  for  strength  to  enable 
thee  to  run  so  as  to  obtain  ?  Dost  thou  ascend  to 
the  top  of  Pisgah,  and,  with  the  perspective  glass  of 
faith,  look  into  the  land  to  which  thou  art  travelling?" 
In  this  way,  many  of  his  papers — though  they  com- 
mence with  others,  terminate  in  a  close  application 
to  himself;  thus  shewing  a  mind,  not  only  rigid  in 
its  scrutinies  upon  itself,  but  intent  in  its  pursuit  of 
the  "one  thing  needful." 

The  piece  dated,  "  March  29, "  comprises  some 
eulogistic  remarks  on  the  word  of  God,  and  an  ex- 
hortation to  himself  to  become  more  familiar  with 
its  contents.  He  thus  soliloquizes :  "  Consult  thou, 
O  my  soul,  the  word  that  will  make  thee  wise  to 
salvation.  It  will  not  deceive  thee,  if  thou  lookest 
properly  into  it.  There  thou  wilt  find  the  deformity 
of  man  in  its  proper  light ;  and  there  also,  thou  wilt 
perceive  the  blessedness  of  the  bleeding  Jesus  set  off, 
but  not  without  a  lustre.  Look,  I  say,  into  this 
mirror.  Some  females  spend  no  small  portion  of 
their  fleeting  time  in  gazing  upon  themselves  in  gilded 
mediums — mediums  washed  with  silver.  But  these 
only  represent  the  outward  form  and  features.  The 
Word  of  God  goes  into  greater  niceties :  it  goes  through 
the  walls  of  both  skin  and  bone,  and  gives  to  man  a 
true  section  of  himself;  it  exhibits  the  magazine  of 
sin;  it  throws  light  upon  the  cage  of  unclean  birds 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  39 

— screaming  like  owls,  and  unable  to  bear  the  lustre 
of  so  glorious  an  object.  O  my  soul,  do  not  thou 
forget  to  look  constantly  at  thyself  in  this  glass.  Thou 
art  in  a  world  where  dust  and  dirt,  where  moral  filth 
may  be  contracted,  and  if  thou  lookest  not  at  thyself 
here,  thou  wilt  have  many  spots  upon  thy  garments 
— so  many,  that  the  true  followers  of  the  Redeemer, 
will  conclude  thee  to  be  either  slovenly  or  indolent. 
Look,  then,  more  and  more  to  thyself.  Follow  not 
the  man  who  sits  in  the  seat  of  the  scorner.  Strain 
not  thine  eyes  in  looking  at  thy  neighbour — trying 
to  discover  some  flaw  in  his  conduct.  Do  not  be  too 
ready  to  observe  the  slips  or  stumblings  of  fellow- 
travellers,  unless  it  be  to  increase  thine  own  watchful- 
ness. On  perceiving  a  fault  in  another,  instantly  turn 
the  eye  inward,  and  thou  wilt  perhaps  find,  that  if 
thou  excellest  him  in  this,  he  has  other  qualifications 
superior  to  thine,  and  that,  in  other  matters,  thou 
art  far  inferior  to  him.  Yes,  my  soul,  look  to  thy- 
self. Time  is  passing,  posting,  flying — going  at  a  rate 
beyond  the  power  of  man  to  compute ;  and  ere  the 
morning  watch  shall  arrive,  the  angel  may  have  uttered 
the  irrevocable  decree,  '  Time  with  thee  shall  be  no 
longer.'  Twenty-one  years  will  then  have  elapsed, 
and  gone  to  give  in  their  accounts ;  and  thou  canst 
form  some  idea  of  what  is  placed  against  thee.  If 
God  were  to  give  the  bill  to  thee,  demanding  payment 
at  thine  own  hand, — threatening  to  cast  thee  into 
prison,  till  thou  shouldest  discharge  it,  what  would 
become  of  thee?  Couldst  thou  give  a  receipt  in  thine 
own  legal  righteousness,  and  would  it  be  deemed  good 
coin  for  cancelling  thy  contracted  debt  ?  Alas,  no ;  thy 
best  will  be  found  but  base  metal  when  tried  in  God's 


40  MEMOIRS    OF 

furnace.  Christ  alone  can  pay  all  demands.  He  has 
fulfilled  all  righteousness — has  magnified  the  law  and 
made  it  honourable.  Examine  thyself  closely,  O  my 
soul,  in  this  important  matter,  and  see,  whether  or 
not,  Jesus  is  thy  Friend  in  the  court  of  heaven.  Look 
to  him, — follow — cry — cling — live  to  him.  Read  his 
Word.  See  there,  what  is  offered  to  thee  in  that 
exchequer!  It  is  to  thee  an  inexhaustible  fund; — a 
land-mark  to  direct  thy  course,  and  to  prevent  thee 
from  splitting  on  the  rocks  of  open  sin ;  a  candle 
put  into  thy  hand,  to  save  thee  from  tumbling 
over  the  precipice  of  ignorance  and  error,  into  the 
pit  of  eternal  perdition!  He  that  despises  this  word, 
and  takes  it  not  as  his  guide,  is  intoxicated  with  the 
liquor  of  blind,  natural  reason's  brewing ;  and  unless 
he  is  roused  by  some  powerful  hand,  he  will  continue 
drunk,  till  seized  by  God's  bailiif,  and  cast  into  outer 
darkness. — O  thou  sovereign  Disposer  of  all  things, 
look  upon  me,  and  bless  me  yet  more  and  more,  in 
everything  calculated  to  promote  the  power  of  true 
religion^  in  my  breast !  Wean  me  from  everything 
opposed  £ o  thy  will !  Stablish  me  in  every  good  word 
and  work !  Fix  within  me  a  principle,  which  will 
never  be  reconciled  to  sin;  and  grant  that  I  may  be 
a  child  of  Jesus,  ever  walking  worthy  of  my  Christian 
profession!"  This  extract  is  the  longer,  as  it  exhibits 
the  inward  workings  of  the  soul. 

There  is  less  reference  to  his  religious  state  in  the 
article  on  the  Apocalypse,  xix.  11 — 13,  penned  in  the 
month  of  "May."  The  "white  horse"  here,  may 
not  improbably  have  ultimately  led  the  way  to  his 
famous  sermon,  entitled,  "Death  on  the  pale  Horse." 
There  is  great  wildness  in  this  piece ;  much  more  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  41 

fancy  than  of  judgment;  and  no  wonder — for  wiser 
men  than  he  have  often  betrayed  their  folly  in  at- 
tempting to  guess  out  the  meaning  of  the  more  abstruse 
parts  of  the  Apocalyptic  vision ;  and  certainly,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Song  of  Solomon,  there  is  not 
a  more  hazardous  book  to  descant  upon,  than  the 
one  in  question,  for  persons  susceptible  of  lively  im- 
pressions, of  a  vivid  imagination,  and  of  infantile 
religious  experience.  All  the  way  through,  our  juvenile 
expositor  seems  struggling  with  his  subject, — desirous 
of  mastering  it,  but  is  evidently  mastered  by  it. 

In  the  last  piece,  of  "July  30th,"  "On  the  Divine 
Perfections, "  his  reasoning  powers  begin  to  unfold 
themselves ;  and  in  one  part,  he  maintains  the  position, 
— "That  sin  would  not  be  sin,  if  God  were  not  holy ; 
— that  iniquity  would  not  meet  with  punishment,  if 
the  punisher  were  not  pure."  His  knowledge,  too, 
of  the  Sacred  Writings  becomes  more  extensive, — 
manifesting  a  readiness  in  bringing  forward  the  most  ap- 
propriate texts  to  establish  the  points  under  discussion. 

The  year  1795,  found  him  equally  diligent  in 
business,  and  fervent  in  spirit,  with  the  year  pre- 
ceding. Being  resolved  on  becoming  better  acquainted 
with  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  he  purchased  a  copy  of 
Dr.  Doddridge's  "Family  Expositor,"  March  24th. 
Here  a  new  vein  was  opened,  and  while  mining  for 
the  sake  of  enriching  his  own  mind,  he  was  pouring 
forth  on  paper,  such  of  his  meditations  as  he  hoped 
would  prove  beneficial  to  others,  in  his  oral  addresses. 
In  the  course  of  this  and  the  following  month,  .he 
wrote  some  papers  entitled,  "The  Law  and  the 
Gospel,"— the  "Vanity  of  the  World  and  Creature 
Comforts,"— "The  Love  of  God  in  the  Soul."  These 


42  MEMOIRS    OF 

are  longer,  more  laboured,  and  much  more  correct, 
than  his  preceding  compositions;  and,  as  usual,  are 
mixed  up  with  appeals  to  himself,  and  thus  rendered 
useful  as  topics  for  self-examination. 

That  he  might  not  be  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
world  in  which  he  lived — but  chiefly,  no  doubt,  for 
the  sake  of  agricultural  and  commercial  information, 
he  began  to  subscribe  for  a  newspaper.  This  kind 
of  reading,  however,  never  became  a  passion ;  nor 
was  it  ever  permitted  to  occupy  the  time  demanded 
by  other  duties. 

He  was  led   also   about   this   time,    to   read  more 
freely  the  publications  which  issued  from   the   press 
among    the    Wesleyans,     and    to    pick    up,    in    his 
perambulations,  when  at  Leeds,  selections  from  their 
poetry,  together  with  the  more  didactic  portions  of  their 
prose.     His   first   purchase  in  this  way,   he  jocosely 
;    observed  to  the  biogragher,  was  "  a  threepenny  Hymn- 
.    book. "       He    next    procured    Watts's    Psalms    and 
Hymns;   then  the  large  Hymn-book,  or    "Collection 
of  Hymns  for  the  use  of  the  people  called  Methodists;" 
and  succeeding  these,   a  copy  of  the  Olney  Hymns, 
which  he  highly  valued.     Having  hitherto  been  accus- 
tomed to  hear  and  read  only  such  of  the  Psalms  as 
were   "Done  into  Metre,"  by  Sternhold  and  Hopkins, 
by  Nahum  Tate  and  Nicholas  Brady,  these  productions 
opened  up  an  additional  source  of  delight;  and  such 
i   was   their  influence  upon  him,    that  he   himself  at- 
tempted  the   composition   of  some   hymns,    together 
with  other    poetic    pieces.      One   of  the   former,   he 
I  gave  out  at  a  prayer-meeting,  subsequent  to  this  period, 
I  when  Mr.  W.  E.  Miller  paid  a  visit  to  Leeds  and  its 
neighbourhood,  previously  to  his  becoming  an  itinerant 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  43 

preacher, — the  hymn  itself  terminating  with — "Ye 
must  be  born  again,"  which  speaks  more  for  the  piety 
than  the  ear  of  the  versifier.  As  he  was  disposed  to 
be  facetious  on  the  occasion  of  mentioning  the  cir- 
cumstance, he  was  reminded  by  the  writer,  of  the  Itev. 
S.  Wesley's  clerk,  who,  on  the  return  of  King  William 
to  London,  after  some  of  his  expeditions,  gave  out, 
in  Epworth  church,  "  Let  us  sing,  &c.,  a  hymn  of 
my  own  composing,"  and  was  recommended  to  adopt 
the  same  form  of  announcement,  should  he  be  tempted 
to  give  out  any  of  his  own  compositions  at  any  future 
period.  But  he  was  too  much  dissatisfied  with  himself 
on  the  occasion  to  which  reference  is  made,  to  attempt 
it  again;  and  with  few  exceptions,  after  this  period, 
presumed  to  court  the  Muse,  whose  steps  he  was  but 
indifferently  qualifiecPlo  follow.  His  versifications, 
apart  from  other  defects,  were  too  extemporaneous 
in  their  character  to  be  good ;  and  ought  to  be  judged, 
according  to  the  notion  of  Shenstone,  as  persons  judge 
of  a  horse  pushed  into  full  speed, — not  by  the  grace- 
fulness of  his  motion,  but  the  tune  he  requires  to 
finish  his  course.  The  measures  adopted  were  "Long," 
"Common,"  "Four-eights  and  two-sixes,"  "Tens  and 
Elevens;"  and  the  subjects  were,  "The  Christian's 
Conflict,"— "Love,"— "The  Fellowship  of  Saints,"— 
"An  Address  to  a  Young  Friend," — "Verses  on  the 
Death  of  S.  Simpson,"  &c. 

One  piece,  reserved  for  distinct  notice,  is  on  the 
"  Last  Judgment,"  in  blank  verse,  comprising  422 
lines,  20  pages,  4to.  It  is  entitled,  "A  literal  De- 
scription of  the  Judgment,  concluding  with  the  Folly 
of  Sinners,  and  the  Safety  of  Saints."  It  appears  to 
have  been  re-perused  by  him  at  a  subsequent  period, 


44  MEMOIRS    OF 

when  he  appended  to  it, — as  if  acting  on  the  advice 
of  Horace,  not  only  in  having  preserved  it,  hut  in 
severely  criticising  its  merits,  the  following  opinion ; 
— "  What  a  poor  semblance  of  poetry  is  here !  When 
young,  how  soon  are  we  hlinded  with  the  dazzle  of 
appearances, — blinded  when  there  is  hut  little  of  the 
real  or  the  substantial  to  support  claims  to  merit ! 
There  may  he  some  Gospel  sparks  shining  here  and 
there  ;  hut  in  poetry,  the  piece  is  defective  indeed. 
Mar.  20,  1806."  There  is  truth  in  this  decision,  as 
far  as  poetry  of  the  first  order  is  concerned, — more 
perhaps,  than  he  himself  was  aware  of;  but  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  the  "real,"  the  "substantial,"  and, 
it  may  be  added,  of  the  striking  and  the  powerful 
in  it,  both  in  thought  and  expression.  To  subject 
it  to  the  test  playfully  proposed  by  Dean  Swift,  would 
be  to  do  it  injustice.  He  advises  his  readers  to  "Try 
a  good  poem  as  they  would  sound  a  pipkin,"  assuring 
them,  that  "if  it  rings  well  upon  the  knuckles,  they 
may  be  certain  there  is  no  flaw  in  it ; "  further  re- 
marking, that  "verse  without  rhyme  is  a  body  without 
soul,  or  a  bell  without  a  clapper, — which,  in  strict- 
ness, is  no  bell,  as  being  neither  of  use  nor  delight." 
Another  critic  tells  us,  that  blank  verse  is  merely 
poetry  to  the  eye.  But  what  becomes  of  Milton,  if 
the  only  poetry  embodied  in  his  "Paradise  Lost,"  is 
to  be  tested  by  the  eye?  In  the  piece  in  question, 
it  is  but  justice  to  state,  that  the  subject  of  these 
Memoirs  far  exceeds  all  his  previous  efforts,  whether 
in  prose  or  verse ;  and  that  if  it  had  been  re-touched 
by  him  twenty  years  after  the  first  copy  was  written, 
it  would  have  done  him  no  discredit. 

He  remarks  in  his   Journal,   for   the    same  year, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  45 

June  22,  that  he  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  the 
Rev.  R.  Hemington,  at  Barwick;  and  this  is  noticed 
here  for  the  purpose  of  connecting  with  it  another 
fact.  This  excellent  clergyman  was  forty-five  years 
vicar  of  Thorpe- Arch,  and  died  Sep.  10,  1820,  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  at  this  time 
in  the  zenith  of  his  usefulness,  preaching  not  only  in 
the  several  churches,  but  hi  hams  and  private  dwell- 
ings. In  the  course  cf  one  of  his  outgoings,  William, 
who  by  this  time,  had  acquired  some  degree  of  notoriety 
as  an  exhorter,  and  by  taking  a  leading  part  in  meetings 
for  Christian  fellowship,  and  other  religious  exercises, 
was  requested  by  Mr.  Hemington,  at  the  close  of  his 
sermon,  to  engage  in  prayer,  with  which  request  he 
immediately  complied.  This  speaks  as  much  for  the 
established  Christian  character  of  the  one,  as  the  ardent 
zeal  and  condescension  of  the  other ;  at  all  events, 
it  is  a  circumstance  of  rare  occurrence  in  the  service 
of  the  Established  Church,  and  bears  the  Wesleyan 
aspect  of  a  preacher  requesting  one  of  the  members 
of  society  to  engage  in  prayer  after  preaching,  when 
a  good  influence  has  accompanied  the  sermon. 

Hitherto  the  colliery  accounts  had  been  kept  in  a 
place  which  subjected  him  to  some  inconvenience ;  but, 
Sep.  4th,  they  were  removed  to  "  Grime  Cabin."  In 
this  place,  often  called  "  a  shed,"  upwards  of  a  mile 
from  home,  and  which  has  since  been  converted 
into  a  stable,  he  not  only  attended  to  the  business  of 
the  colliery,  but  also  to  that  of  the  church.  It  was,  in 
fact,  both  his  study  and  his  place  of  worship.  Here 
he  composed  the  principal  part  of  his  sermons  ;  and 
here  also,  he  met  hi  band  with  John  Batty  every  Sab- 
bath day  morning,  at  seven  o'clock;  when  they  sung  a 


46  MEMOIRS    OF 

hymn,  prayed,  and  communed  with  each  other.  John 
by  this  tune  having  become  a  "Wesleyan,  and  William 
continuing  a  Churchman, — the  one,  on  quitting  the 
place,  proceeded  to  the  public  service  of  the  Establish- 
ment at  Barwick,  and  the  other  to  hear  a  Wesleyan 
preacher  at  Garforth.  Both  hearts  were  right  with 
God,  and  their  separate  creeds  were  correct  in  the 
essentials  of  Christianity ;  all  minor  differences,  there- 
fore, to  employ  the  language  of  the  author  of  "  The 
World  before  the  Flood,"  were  "  lost,  like  the  prismatic 
colours,  in  a  ray  of  pure  and  perfect  light." 

On  the  14th  of  this  month,  he  renewed  his  covenant 
with  God ;  in  which  covenant  he  expresses  his  wonder 
that  he  has  not  been  "  cut  down  with  the  axe  of  divine 
justice,"  and  that  God,  "  with  the  fan  of  his  holiness, 
had  not  blown  him,  like  chaff,  into  unquenchable  fire ;" 
and  such  were  the  views  he  entertained  of  his  impo- 
tency,  that,  without  divine  aid,  he  had  no  more  hope  of 
attending  to  the  "rules"  specified  in  the  covenant  en- 
gagement, than  he  could  expect  to  "remove  a  mountain 
with  a  bruised  reed."  The  "rules  "  penned,  and  which 
he  resolved  to  observe,  are  such  only  as  were  likely  to 
occur  to  a  person  strictly  conscientious,  highly  devotional 
in  his  spirit,  ardent  in  his  pursuit  of  entire  sanctifica- 
tion,  and  anxious  to  be  useful  to  his  fellow-creatures. 
He  charges  the  whole  upon  his  soul,  with  the  solemnity 
of  a  judge  exhorting  a  criminal  to  prepare  for  eternity, 
after  having  received  sentence  of  death  ;  closing  the 
document  with,  "  Lord,  help  me !  Lord,  help  me ! 

'  Help  I  every  moment  need.'" 

It  was  towards  the  close  of  1 795  too,  that  he,  for  the 
first  time,  heard  the  Rev.  Joseph' Benson,  who,  at  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  47 

Conference,  had  been  appointed  to  the  Leeds  circuit. 
Having  been  announced  to  preach  at  Seacroft,  William 
went  to  hear  him.  His  remarks  on  the  occasion,  to 
the  writer,  will  convey,  not  only  an  idea  of  the  preacher, 
but  of  his  own  feelings  under  the  sermon.  "His  word," 
said  he,  "was  irresistible.  I  knew  what  religion  was, 
and  had  the  evidence  of  it  in  my  heart.  But  there 
was  a  power  in  it  at  Seacroft,  to  which  I  had  not 
been  accustomed.  I  wept — wiped  off  the  tear — felt 
ashamed ; — wept,  and  wept  again — struggled  with  my 
feelings,  and  strove  to  repress  them :  at  length,  I 
said  to  myself,  'Let  it  come;'  so  saying,  I  laid  my 
head  on  the  front  of  the  gallery,  and  let  the  tears 
hail  their  way  to  the  bottom  of  the  chapel.  No  man  » 
ever  took  the  hold  of  me  that  Mr.  Benson  did;  and 
his  preaching  produced  the  same  overwhelming  effect, 
whenever  I  heard  him." 

Ere  this,  his  friend  and  companion,  Samuel  Settle, 
had  left  all  secular  employment,  and  gone  to  college, 
to  prepare  for  the  Christian  ministry.  As  the  letters 
which  had  passed  between  them,  up  to  this  period, 
were  given  up  to  each  other  by  mutual  consent,  the 
following  is  the  first  of  the  second  series,  from  the 
collegian : — 

"Magdn.  Col.,  Cam.,  Nov.  6,  1795. 

"DEAR  DAWSON, — Our  friendship  is  now  become 
firm  through  long  continuance,  and  I  should  be  sorry 
to  be  the  least  occasion  of  its  diminution.  Indeed, 
I  hope  we  have  been  acquainted  too  long  to  suspect 
each  other's  sincerity.  Besides,  it  would  be  exceedingly 
absurd,  after  having  agreed  so  long,  in  travelling  the 
same  road,  to  shew  any  marks  of  unkindness,  and 
so  give  up  friendship,  now  that  we  are  so  much 


48  MEMOIRS   OF 

nearer  our  journey's  end.  I  have  a  letter  by  me, 
which  I  should  have  sent  from  Hull ;  but  I  thought 
it  was  not  worth  postage.  I  got  to  Cambridge,  Oct. 
31st,  and  had  a  very  comfortable  journey.  All  the 
letters,  which  I  had  of  yours,  I  packed  up  before 
I  left  Cambridge  last  year,  and  directed  them  to  be 
forwarded  to  you.  Thus  much,  I  deemed  necessary, 
on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  our  continuance  in 
the  present  life,  and  owing  to  the  various  changes 
in  human  affairs  :  and  I  beg  it,  as  a  favour  from 
you,  that  my  letters  in  your  possession,  may  be  packed 
up  in  the  same  way,  and  directed  for  me.  I  hope 
you  will  have  no  objection  to  comply  with  my  request : 
for  it  appears  reasonable,  if  I  die  first,  that  you  should 
have  your  own  letters  returned ;  and  if  you  die  first, 
that  I  should  have  mine  returned.  One  reason  for 
this  is,  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to  make  a  better 
use  of  our  own,  than  other  persons,  into  whose  hands 
they  might  fall.  But,  perhaps,  we  may  both  die 
together,  and  die  at  the  same  time ;  and  then  it  will 
be  of  little  concern  to  us,  in  whose  possession  the 
said  epistles  may  be.  We  shall,  in  such  case,  be 
tuning  our  harps,  and  hymning  our  Redeemer's  praises 
above.  Till  that  period,  we  must  give  all  diligence  to 
make  our  calling  and  election  sure.  'Be  thou  faithful 
unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.' 

"I  wish  we  could  consider  our  privilege  more  fully 
— that  we  are  heirs  of  God — joint-heirs  with  Christ 
— and  that  mansions  are  prepared  for  us  in  heaven. 
I  cannot  conceive  greater  anguish,  than  to  see  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  entering  into  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  we  ourselves  shut  out.  Perhaps  we  know  a  little 
of  this,  when  we  see  persons  seemingly  begin  in  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  49 

spirit,  and  end  in  the  flesh.  It  is  an  awful  con- 
sideration, to  stand  knocking  at  the  gate  of  heaven, 
and  then  he  compelled  to  turn  our  backs  upon  it, 
before  the  porter  can  have  time  to  open  it.  Alas, 
we  have  often  done  this  ourselves.  After  much  prayer 
and  importunity,  we  have,  for  want  of  patience  and 
perseverance,  come  from  the  throne  of  grace  without 
a  blessing.  Real  religion  is  a  serious  matter ;  it  is 
no  trifling  work.  If  we  are  right,  and  in  earnest, 
we  shall  find  many  misgivings  and  stings  of  conscience, 
when  we  come  to  our  Beth-els.  I  cannot  say,  that 
I  remember  you  in  every  prayer  with  that  earnest- 
ness I  ought ;  but  on  occasions,  and  at  particular 
seasons,  I  do  remember  you  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  It  is  our  happiness,  our  duty,  our  privilege, 
to  love  one  another ;  it  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law ; 
it  is  our  greatest  worldly  comfort.  What  would  this 
life  be,  if  we  were  to  hate  one  another?  The  more 
we  love  one  another  for  Christ's  sake,  the  more  we 
resemble  God,  for  'God  is  love.'  He  that  dwells 
in  love,  dwells  in  God.  With  regard  to  ourselves, 
our  motives  to  love  one  another  are  stronger  than 
with  persons  who  are  strangers  to  each  other,  because 
we  began  to  seek  God  about  the  same  time,  and  now 
have  almost  become  surety  for  each  other.  I  could 
write  a  great  deal,  but  I  wish  to  advance  that  only, 
which  will  unite  us  in  heart.  Doctrines,  and  such 
like  things,  I  omit.  Our  letters  should  always  be 
the  pictures  of  our  hearts.  It  is  only  in  this  way 
we  can  really  become  acquainted  with  each  other. 

"Mr.  Graham's  meetings  will,  I  trust,  be  useful. 
Some  will  be  built  up  in  righteousness ;  and  should 
others  slacken  their  diligence,  let  it  be  our  great  end 


50  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  aim  to  improve  every  opportunity,  for,  in  due 
season,  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not.  Let  us  look 
more  and  more  into  the  cause  of  backsliding,  viz. — 
our  own  depravity ;  and  let  us  constantly  repair  to 
the  fountain  opened  for  sin  and  uncleanness.  It  is 
only  when  we  are  sensible  of  our  own  guilt  and  misery, 
that  the  salvation  of  Christ  becomes  desirable,  and  is 
accepted. 

"Give  the  enclosed  to  my  father,  when  you  see 
him.  Mr.  Dikes  enquired  after  you.  I  hope  he  will 
be  made  useful  to  many  souls  in  Hull.  The  harvest 
is  truly  great.  Let  us  pray  that  our  nets  may  be 
kept  whole,  that  we  may  not  lose  the  fish.  I  long 
to  hear  from  you.  Yours.  Respects  to  all  friends. 

"S.  SETTLE." 

Mr.  Settle,  in  stating  that  "our  letters  should 
always  be  the  pictures  of  our  hearts,"  appears  to  be 
of  the  opinion  of  Steele,  who  observes,  that  "there 
is  no  rule  in  the  world  to  be  made  for  writing  letters, 
but  that  of  being  as  near  what  you  speak  face  to 
face  as  you  can."  Sincerity  will  always  effect  this. 
Real  friendship  needs  no  disguise,  and  religion  will 
not  admit  of  it. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  51 


CHAPTER  III. 


Letter  from  Mr.  Settle. — Mr.  Kilham  and  his  party. — York 
Assizes. — A  religious  Diary. — Extracts  from  it. —  W.  Dawson 
formally  takes  a  text. — Besetment. —  William  Smith — Kindness 
to  the  Widow. — Reproof. — Pressed  to  enter  into  Holy  Orders. 
— The  Elland  Society. — The  Latin  Language. — Difficulties  and 
Cares  of  Business. — The  Rev.  J.  Graham's  testimony  in  favour 
of  Wm.  Dawson.  —  Slender  Remuneration. — Despondency. — 
Letter  from  Mr.  Settle. 


THE  salvation  of  the  soul  was  the  "great  concern"  of 
life  with  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs.  He  knew,  with 
one  of  his  favourite  authors — Baxter,  that  it  is  one 
thing  for  a  man  to  take  God  and  heaven  for  his 
portion  hi  the  heyday  of  life  and  health,  and  another 
thing  to  be  desirous  of  it,  as  a  kind  of  reserve,  when 
he  can  maintain  his  grasp  of  the  world  no  longer; — 
one  thing  to  submit  to  heaven  as  a  more  diminutive  evil 
than  perdition,  and  another  thing  to  be  anxiously 
solicitous  respecting  it  as  a  greater  good  than  earth  ; 
— one  thing  to  lay  up  treasures  and  hopes  in  heaven, 
and  to  seek  that  heaven  first,  and  another  thing  to 
be  content  to  accept  it  in  the  day  of  necessity — having 
first  sought  and  secured  the  world,  finally  resigning 
into  the  hands  of  God  that  only  which  the  lusts  of 
the  flesh  can  spare, — a  putrid  carcass,  a  depraved 


52  MEMOIRS    OF 

spirit,  the  last  sighs  of  an  expiring  life.  If  personal 
religion  consisted  only  in  "bodily  exercise,"  in  moving 
the  lips,  in  bending  the  knee,  it  would  be  as  common 
for  human  beings  to  step  into  heaven  as  to  enter 
an  adjoining  house  to  visit  a  friend.  But  to  separate 
the  thoughts  and  affections  from  the  world,  to  draw 
forth  to  open  day  the  graces  which  adorn  the  Chris- 
tian character,  to  fix  each  grace  on  its  proper  object, 
and  to  hold  the  respective  graces  to  the  work — waxing 
stronger  and  stronger,  till  every  enterprize,  every  labour 
of  love  prospers  in  the  hand,  is  a  work  of  no  ordinary 
difficulty,  and  will  always  distinguish  the  genuine 
Christian  from  the  hollow  and  superficial  professor. 
All  the  characteristics  of  a  sound,  healthy,  religious 
state  of  feeling,  were  exhibited  by  William  Dawson. 

His  friend,  Mr.  Settle,  continued  to  pursue  his 
studies  at  college,  and  the  friendship  between  them 
remained  unbroken.  The  former  writes, — 

Jan.  1,  1/96,  Mag.  College. 

"DEAR  DAWSON, — It  is  now,  at  least,  six  years 
since  we  began  to  seek  salvation  by  grace,  in  Christ 
Jesus.  I  cannot  say  that  my  mind  is  in  so  forlorn  a 
condition  at  present,  as  it  was  six  years  ago  ;  yet  I  feel 
the  depravity  of  the  heart,  and  that,  without  watchful- 
ness, it  would  bring  me  into  captivity.  But  God  has 
promised,  that  sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over  us. 
As  yet,  I  do  not  seem  sufficiently  to  have  considered 
the  nature  of  the  religion  of  Christ ;  I  mean,  I  have 
not  looked  upon  it  as  properly  consisting  of  two 
parts, — Justification  and  Sanctification.  The  former 
part  has,  in  general,  occupied  my  attention.  But, 
alas,  it  is  but  a  small  thing  for  us  to  be  justified, — 
that  is,  delivered  from  wrath.  We  want  something 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  53 

more ;  we  want  righteousness — purity — holy  affections 
— heavenly  tempers — a  fixed  and  sure  foundation  of 
holiness  wrought  in  our  souls  hy  the  Spirit  of  God; 
that  our  whole  man,  and  all  our  conversation  may 
be  seasoned  with  salt,  meet  to  minister  grace  to  those 
that  hear  us.  It  is  vain,  I  find,  to  be  continually 
forming  resolutions,  to  break  off  this,  and  the  other, 
bad  habit.  It  is  God  alone,  that  can  work  in  us  a 
hatred  of  all  sin,  and  a  desire  after  real  holiness. 
"When  I  consider  this,  my  wonder  ceases  at  the 
Methodists  dwelling  so  much  on  the  nature  of  holi- 
ness, and  purity  of  heart.  I  do  not  say,  that  they 
have  not  carried  their  notions  too  far  on  this  im- 
portant point  of  religion.  Of  this  at  least,  I  am 
certain,  that  Christ  promises  great  things  to  those 
who  earnestly  seek  him.  The  Gospels,  and  great 
part  of  the  Epistles,  abound  with  passages  to  this 
effect.  You  will  be  ready  to  ask,  '  Have  you  turned 
Methodist  ?'  My  dear  friend,  I  only  notice  these 
things,  because  I  suffer  much  uneasiness,  in  con- 
sequence of  not  being  washed  and  cleansed  from  sin, 
as  set  forth  in  the  Scriptures, — of  not  having  my 
habits,  tempers,  and  desires,  brought  into  subjection 
to  the  law  of  the  obedience  of  Christ.  Besides, 
when  I  name  the  Methodists,  I  mean  and  intend 
the  Old  Methodists.  I  scarcely  know  what  the  New 
Methodists,  so  called,  are.  You  will  best  understand 
my  meaning  by  an  example.  Here  is  a  person 
accustomed  to  acts  of  theft  and  injustice.  To-day, 
he  is  at  court  —  released  from  punishment — and 
receives  his  liberty :  but  he  carries  with  him  the 
same  principle,  the  same  disposition  to  acts  of  in- 
justice; and  therefore,  falls  into  his  former  practices-. 


54  MEMOIRS    OF 

I  have  mentioned  this  instance  to  illustrate  my  own 
case  in  minor  things.  It  is  God  alone,  that  can 
write  his  laws  on  our  corrupt  hearts,  engrave  them 
on  our  minds,  and  enable  us  sincerely  to  love  and 
delight  in  holiness,  in  heavenly  mindedness.  "What 
is  more  common,  than  continually  to  hear,  from  all 
religious  sects  and  denominations,  'That,  in  order  to 
enjoy  God,  we  must  have  something  in  us  of  his 
likeness  ?'  God  himself  asks,  '  How  can  two  walk 
together,  unless  they  be  agreed  ?'  And,  indeed,  it 
may  be  asked,  how — in  natural  things,  bodies  can 
be  compounded  or  blended,  which  are  totally  averse 
to  union?  Apply  this.  How  can  we,  with  all  our 
sinful  passions,  be  united  to  God,  and  enjoy  fellow- 
ship with  him — God  who  is  gloriously  holy, — pure 
beyond  all  conception  ?  It  is  said,  '  Grow  in  grace,' 
&c.  Certainly  this  is  a  very  different  thing  from  a 
mere  speculative  knowledge  of  the  doctrine  of  justifi- 
cation. The  one  sort  of  knowledge  seems  to  be 
finite,  the  other  infinite.  The  perfections  of  God 
are  infinite  ;  and  it  is  on  this  account,  as  I  conceive, 
that  our  growth  in  grace, — our  transformation  into 
his  image  and  likeness,  will  be  always  progressive, 
but  never  entirely  complete.  This  is  a  subject  on 
which,  I  pray  God,  that  both  you  and  I  may  be 
employed  in  contemplating  for  ever! 

"What  I  have  penned,  would  be  much  more  inter- 
esting in  conversation,  as  we  could  then,  enter  into 
many  particulars,  remove  doubts,  and  explain  the 
subject  more  fully  to  each  other.  We  live  in  times 
of  great  profaneness,  and  great  gospel  privileges.  I 
hope  I  can  heartily  join  with  you,  in  praying,  that 
God  may  not  visit  us  with  a  famine  of  the  word. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  55 

The  word  of  God  was  precious  in  the  days  of 
Samuel.  It  is  now  plentiful.  Because  iniquity 
abounds,  the  love  of  many  shall  wax  cold.  But  in 
such  times,  they  should  be  examples  of  greater 
diligence.  I  hope  God  will  be  with  you  in  your  meet- 
ings, and  stand  by  you  in  all  your  persecutions. 
All  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  shall  suffer 
persecution.  We  have  need  of  being  stirred  up. 
When  God  sees  us  waxing  cold,  and  growing  faint 
in  our  minds  in  religion,  he  shakes  us  with  tempests, 
and  causes  all  his  billows  to  pass  over  our  souls. 
The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  your 
spirit.  Amen! — S.  SETTLE." 

Mr.  Settle  refers,  no  doubt,  by  the  "New  Meth- 
odists," to  the  party  gathering  around  Mr.  Kilham; 
and  not  being  acquainted  with  the  points  in  dispute, 
might  see  proper  to  guard  his  remarks,  lest  any  of 
the  essentials  of  religion  should  be  involved  in  the 
general  question.  On  Mr.  Kilham's  expulsion  from 
the  body,  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs — though 
little  versed  in  Wesleyan  politics,  was  curious  enough 
to  step  into  one  of  the  chapels  in  Leeds,  when  he 
was  making  some  of  his  statements.  He  observed 
to  the  writer,  that  he  felt  little  interest  in  what  was 
said,  and  was  rather  disappointed  in  Mr.  Kilham's 
appearance, — especially  his  face,  which  he  considered 
as  not  at  all  indicative  of  intellect.  Towards  the 
close  of  the  year,  he  remarked,  a  person  put  Mr. 
Kilham's  "Defence"  into  his  hand.  On  reading  it,  he 
said  to  himself,  "I  am  incapable  of  judging  of  the 
points  at  issue  for  want  of  fuller  information ;  but 
with  this  man,  I  can  have  no  sympathy,  for  I  perceive 
his  spirit  is  bad."  There  is  propriety  in  this ;  for  a 


56  MEMOIRS    OF 

man  is  in  nothing  so  much  himself,  as  in  the  tem- 
per and  the  character  of  his  passions  and  affections. 
If  he  loses  what  is  Christian  and  worthy  in  these, 
he  is  as  much  lost  to  himself,  as  when  he  loses  his 
memory  and  his  understanding.  To  attempt  to  defend 
and  support  Christian  truth  in  companionship  with  a 
bad  spirit,  is  the  antinomianism  of  a  polemic;  and  is 
the  same,  as  it  regards  the  man  himself,  as  a  person 
professing  the  sanctification  of  the  spirit  in  connexion 
with  an  immoral  life.  Reason  and  free  enquiry  are 
the  only  effectual  antidotes  of  error.  Give  them 
full  scope,  and  they  will  uphold  the  truth,  by  bringing 
false  opinions,  and  all  the  spurious  offspring  of 
ignorance,  prejudice,  and  self-interest,  before  their 
terrible  tribunal,  and  subjecting  them  to  the  test  of 
close  investigation.  Error  alone  requires  artificial  sup- 
port, and  the  malignity  of  an  inquisitor  to  assert  its 
claims ;  truth  can  stand  alone,  and  no  more  requires 
a  bad  spirit  to  support  it,  than  a  Christian  requires 
the  presence  and  actual  aid  of  a  daemon  to  enforce 
his  commands.  These  observations — though  arising 
out  of  the  remark  in  reference  to  Mr.  Kilham,  are 
intended  to  apply  generally — not  to  the  man,  but  to 
the  spirit,  in  whomsoever  it  may  exist. 

He  attended  the  spring  assizes  at  York  this  year, 
but  on  what  occasion,  is  not  stated.  The  use,  how- 
ever, which  he  sometimes  made  of  judge,  jury,  criminal, 
and  witnesses,  in  arraigning  man  before  his  Maker, 
as  a  transgressor  of  the  divine  law,  is  a  proof  that  he 
permitted  few  impressive  scenes  to  pass  before  him 
without  improvement. 

Finding  that  his  secular  Diary  of  1792,  which  he 
continued  sometime  after  this  period,  was  scarcely 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  57 

adapted  to  religious  purposes,  j  and  that  he  required 
something  in  which  to  minute  the  workings  of  the  soul, 
as  well  as  the  toil  of  the  hands  and  the  feet,  he 
commenced  another — a  day-book  for  the  heart,  which 
he  continued  for  some  years,  the  first  entry  in  which 
is  dated  "April  28,  1796."  He  commences  with — 

"  Begun  this  Diary.  Rich  and  adorable  Saviour, 
in  whose  presence  is  life,  and  whose  absence  is  death, 
look  upon  this  attempt  of  thy  sinful  creature.  Bless 
it  with  thy  favour — own  it  with  thy  peculiar  benediction 
— and  make  me  faithful  in  recording  thy  dealings 
with  my  soul,  whether  prosperous  or  adverse ;  that 
I  may  derive  benefit  from  hence,  according  to  my 
oresent  state  and  situation,  and  that  seeing  thy  good- 
icss  in  times  past,  I  may  be  led  to  a  fresh  application 
io  thee  for  help,  and  so  by  renewed  and  lively 
thankfulness  for  past  mercies,  and  an  entire  surrender 
of  body,  soul,  and  spirit  into  thy  hands — thou  who 
hast  wonderfully  conducted  me  so  far — I  may  rejoice 
in  hope  of  thy  glory,  and  praise  thee  with  all  my 
powers.  And  thou,  O  my  soul,  may  the  present 
intention  be  useful  for  the  promotion  of  the  best  ends, 
in  reference  to  thee — the  furtherance  of  vital  godli- 
ness !  May  it  be  the  means  of  spurring  thee  forward 
to  greater  attainments, — of  quickening  thy  spiritual 
speed !  only  looking  at  the  things  behind,  with  a  view 
to  animate  thy  every  faculty,  and  rouse  thy  every 
affection, — pursuing  with  earnestness  and  steadiness 
the  prize  that  is  set  before  thee.  Above  all,  and 
before  all — for  he  is  all  and  in  all,  fix  thine  eye  upon 
Jesus — look  unto  Him  for  grace,  for  strength,  for 
instruction,  for  pardon,  and  to  Him  as  thine  exemplar, 
to  enable  thee — as  a  runner  ought  to  do,  to  lay 
c  2 


58  MEMOIRS    OF 

aside  every  weight,  and  run  with  patience  the  race 
set  before  thee,  that  thou  mayest  at  last  receive 
an  incorruptible  crown,  reserved  in  heaven  for  thee !" 

In  this  Diary  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Graham 
and  that  of  others,  is  repeatedly  and  emphatically  ad- 
verted to,  as  highly  instructive  and  religiously  impressive, 
and  outlines  of  several  of  the  sermons  are  recorded.  The 
Diary,  as  a  whole,  forms  a  kind  of  window,  and  the  differ- 
ent days  of  the  year,  are  so  many  squares  of  "many- 
coloured  glass,"  through  which  the  reader  is  permitted 
to  look  into  the  breast  of  the  penman,  as  into  the  interior 
of  a  building,  and  to  see  the  undisguised  operations  of 
the  "inner  man."  Without  following  him  through 
each  successive  day,  or  giving  the  whole  of  what  is 
penned  for  the  day,  a  few  brief  sentences  for  the 
month,  as  in  the  case  of  his  previous  Diary,  will  be 
sufficient  for  every  biographical  purpose,  and  will 
shew  the  running  interest  religion  had  in  his  mind. 
The  separate  sentences,  abstracted  from  those  with 
which  they  are  found  associated,  exhibit  every  variety 
of  feeling,  and  would — many  of  them  at  least,  form 
useful  topics  for  conversation  in  a  social  party.  It 
may  be  necessary  to  observe,  that  though  the  extracts 
are  grouped  together  for  the  month,  the  dash  is 
intended  to  separate  the  matter  belonging  to  each 
respective  day,  and  to  shew  by  the  break,  what  is 
to  be  appropriated  to  that  day  by  the  reader. 

APRIL.  "Wanderings  in  prayer. — Saw  Barmistone 
happy  in  his  Saviour. — A  sweet  hymn  sung  in  the 
school-room,  which  was  useful  to  me. — Anxious  for  a 
clearer  interest  in  Jesus. — Had  some  useful  conversation 
with  John  Warner. — Long  for  a  closer  union  with 
Christ. — The  corruption  of  the  heart  not  yet  dead. — 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  59 

Read  a  letter  of  Romaine's,  in  which  I  saw  a  glorious 
sufficiency  in  Christ,  which  I  pray  may  be  mine. — 
Have  to  complain  of  wandering  eyes. — Pevishness,  be 
still ! — Christ  is  all  and  in  all. — Wrote  a  letter,  and  was 
comforted  by  it. — A  sweet  refreshing  shower. — Oh! 
what  thanks  are  due  to  the  Saviour  for  temporal 
mercies ! 

MAY.  "  Cold  in  the  public  service  of  God. — At  a 
prayer-meeting  at  Barwick. — Heard  Mr.  Richardson; 
loud  responses ;  at  a  loss  to  know  how  far  they  are 
proper. — Much  of  the  world,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
world.- — Too  expensive  in  clothes  ;  many  are  starving ; 
part  of  the  money  ought  to  have  been  given  to  the  poor. 
— Admonished  while  reading  the  state  of  the  Laodi- 
ceans. — Convinced  of  the  need  of  candour  in  all  matters 
of  judgment,  and  hearing  both  sides  of  a  question  with 
humility. — Preserved  from  sin ;  thanks  be  to  God  for 
it! — Grievously  forgetful. — Murmur  not,  my  soul,  at 
God's  dispensations;  thank  him!  thank  him!  thank  him! 
— A  peculiar  discovery  of  the  deceitfulness  of  sin. — A 
happy  morning  with  Jesus,  in  private  prayer. — Pray, 
my  soul,  for  charity ! — Overcome  by  the  enemy,  but  not 
abandoned  of  God. — Lord,  purify  my  diabolical  heart ! 
— Consolation  under  the  ministry  of  the  word. — Still 
deeply  humbled.  Mark  the  foe ! — Hard  work  to  pray 
for  a  blessing  on  our  endeavours  to  do  good  to  others, 
without  mixing  up  our  own  honour  with  it. — Steady 
attention  in  family  prayer. — Profitable  conversation  with 
Wm.  Smith. — Some  have  left  their  religious  profession 
at  Barwick,  and  in  the  neighbourhood. — Need  of  wis- 
dom.— Too  apt  to  forget  God  and  myself. — Overtaken 
with  levity. — Heard  a  useful  discourse  on  industry  in 
temporal  things,  Prov.  vi.  6 ;  another  from  Mr.  Griffin, 


60  MEMOIRS    OP 

on  Amos  iii.  3. — Cause  of  self-condemnation. — Too 
much  formality. — Longing  after  closer  communion  with 
Jesus. — Meditated  and  spoke  on  the  descent  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  the  effect 
produced  on  ministers  and  people. — Meekness  and  can- 
dour felt  in  hearing  reports  concerning  others. — Happy 
in  having  God  to  go  to  as  a  director,  protector,  and 
,  comforter. — Again  overcome  with  levity ;  and  my  soul 
is  not  heartily  weaiy  of  it,  nor  in  earnest  for  its  destruc- 
tion.— The  work  of  the  glorious  and  mysterious  Trinity 
considered  in  the  salvation  of  sinners. — Want  to  live 
upon,  and  in  Jesus,  more  and  more. — Much  benefitted  by 
a  letter. — Abhor  equivocation. — Useful  conversation  with 
friend  Settle. — Praise  God  for  preservation  from  sin ; 
though  the  act  was  not  committed,  yet  the  will,  it  is  to 
be  feared,  -was  there. — Beheld  the  goodness  of  God  in 
the  midst  of  the  ravages  of  a  desolating  fire. — A  delight- 
ful time  with  Wm.  Smith. — Read  the  fifty-fifth  chapter 
of  Isaiah ;  a  delightful  chapter  to  a  hungry  soul ! — 
Spoke  upon  sin  in  believers ;  and  in  what  sense  they 
are  free  from  it. — Do  not  sufficiently  carry  a  savour  of 
religion  about  with  me. — Betrayed  into  lightness ;  an 
evident  sign  of  the  want  of  a  deeper  impression  respect- 
ing eternal  things. — Awful  news  from  Leeds ;  Mr. 
Thoresby  holding  a  love-feast,  the  floor  gave  way,  and 
report  states  twenty  killed,  and  nearly  one  hundred 
wounded. — Nothing  short  of  regeneration  will  save  a 
man. — Sometimes  fear  I  am  a  cheat,  a  hypocrite,  an 
Agrippa ! — Too  little  stirred  by  things  acknowledged  to 
be  momentous. — Let  my  words  be  few. — Disturbed 
with  irreligious  thoughts. 

JUNE.    "Still  haunted  with  improper  thoughts. — 
0  my  soul !  flee  and  pray !  fight  and  pray ! — Pardon 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  61 

the  iniquity  of  my  holy  things ! — Bless  God  for  a  Sab- 
bath!— A  most  beneficial  season  at  the  school-room, 
under  the  consideration  of  Mark  vi.  45  to  56 ;  and  a 
sweet  hymn  at  the  conclusion. — A  sharp  temptation. — 
Conversed  and  prayed  with  W.  Smith,  and  not  without 
benefit. — Lukewarmness  dreaded. — Coldness  in  family 
prayer. — See  the  necessity  of  habitual  seriousness. — 
Feel  the  risings  of  a  corrupt  heart. — Always  wish  to 
speak  to  the  glory  of  God. — Very  sorry  for  Peter 
Porter's  imprudence. — Still  tormented  with  P.  P.'s  folly. 
— Lord,  give  me  wisdom ! — Earnestly  united  in  suppli- 
cation with  the  minister  at  the  school-room,  on  the 
Sabbath  evening. — Wrote  P.P.  a  reproof. — Peevishness. 
— Ready  to  start  aside. — Lord,  quench  the  fire  of 
wrath ! — Conversation  with  Settle. — A  sweet  discourse 
on  Prov.  i.  7. — Cold  in  private  prayer  ;  not  sufficiently 
felt. — Mourn  over  the  folly  and  vanity  of  the  eye. — Too 
little  of  thy  presence,  blessed  Saviour !  and  yet  easy 
without  it. — Quickened  in  prayer  with  W.  S. — Lament 
the  sin  of  others. — Heard  Mr.  Postlewaite  in  the  school- 
room, on  Saul's  hypocrisy  and  Samuel's  honesty. — 
Prayed  for  a  revival. — A  serious  discourse  by  Mr.  Thorn, 
on  Col.  i.  28.— Friend  Settle  spoke  on  Matt.  v.  13-16. 
— Melted  while  meditating. 

JULY.  "  A  sweet  nearness  of  soul  to  Jesus  in  private 
prayer. — Carried  away  with  a  bad  spirit. — Why  should 
God  permit  such  a  wretch  to  speak  to  him  ? — Tasted 
that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  and  yet  rather  light.  How  is 
this? — Oh,  that  my  heart  was  saved  from  wandering! — 
Heard  Mr.  Thoresby. — Why  should  I  be  so  light,  when 
I  have  so  much  cause  to  be  serious  ? — Spoke  on  Psalms 
Iv.  6.  Well  may  a  Christian  wish  to  be  at  rest.  In  all 
I  do,  there  seems  to  be  something  of  pride  mixed  up 


62  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  it. — Read  Watts  on  the  '  Mind.' — Friday  set 
apart  for  prayer. — Heard  Mr.  Graham  on  the  deceitful- 
ness  of  sin ;  and  had  a  conversation  with  him  in  the 
evening. — Grieved  with  the  cold  state  of  the  society. — 
Attended  William  Smith's  funeral ;  peculiar  solemnity  ; 
Mr.  Graham's  subject  exceedingly  serious;  a  happy 
account  of  William's  death. — Wish  to  be  meek,  char- 
itable, humble. — Overcome  with  anger. 

AUGUST.  "  Tempted  to  disbelieve  the  providence  and 
omnipresence  of  God. — Tempted  to  draw  back. — Mr. 
Graham  treated  on  the  sacrament ;  also  on  self-examin- 
ation.— Carried  away  with  levity. — Did  not  stop  at 
sacrament. — Much  in  the  world ;  may  I  not  be  of  it ! — 
A  blessed  Sabbath  day. — Still  a  savour  of  yesterday's 
blessedness. — A  delightful  conversation  with  J.  Rhodes, 
and  a  time  of  refreshing  under  Mr.  Hemington. — Mor- 
tify the  eye  and  the  heart. — Read  'Alleine's  Alarm,' 
and 'Watts' s  Death  and  Heaven.' — Grieved  with  false 
shame. — At  Leeds.  Heard  Mr.  Atkinson  and  Mr. 
Thorn ;  useful  sermons ;  but  derive  most  profit  in 
attending  our  church  at  home. — Much  tried,  and  rather 
peevish. — Levity  is  the  daughter  of  forgetfulness  of 
God. — Thursday,  sweet  views  of  Jesus  and  heaven ; 
spoke  on  II.  Cor.  i.  3 — 6 ;  if  any  benefit,  God  be 
praised. — Feel  the  risings  of  pride. — Glory  be  to  God, 
for  a  blessed  Sabbath ;  a  sweet,  searching,  useful  dis- 
course on  Agrippa's  confession. — Set  a  watch,  O  Lord, 
before  my  mouth. — Was  advised,  with  others,  not  to 
frequent  Methodist  meetings. — A  sad  peevish  heart.  Mr. 
Graham  strongly  recommended  domestic  religion. — Sweet 
time  with  Settle  in  the  B.  Lord  answer  our  united  prayers! 
— Too  great  a  compliance  with  the  world. — The  murmur- 
ings  of  unbelief. — Dread,  and  pray  against  lukewarmness. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  63 

SEPTEMBER.  "A  fine  shower;  God  is  good  to 
his  inheritance. — Felt  nearness  to  God  in  public  prayer. 
— Heard  Mr.  Dean  on  St.  Paul's  carnal  man  ;  and 
Mr.  Graham  on  keeping  the  whole  Law,  and  offending 
in  one  point. — Dissatisfied  state  of  mind;  felt  joy  in 
meditating  in  the  evening. — Unbecoming  temper. — O, 
levity,  thou  art  one  of  my  sorest  plagues ! — Longing 
for  a  more  even  walk. — Delightful  communion  with 
God  in  prayer. — Much  tried ;  meekness,  gentleness, 
and  love,  not  sufficiently  conspicuous. — Nearness  in 
prayer. — Wanderings. — Delightful  discourse  from  Mr. 
Graham. — Want  more  of  the  salted  conversation  of 
the  Christian. — Yesterday's  discourse  still  upon  my 
heart  with  lively  force. — Sweet  time  with  H.  S. 

OCTOBER.  "  Read  Col.  Gardiner's  Life. — Steady 
Sabbath  in  the  service  of  my  God;  an  instructing, 
convincing,  and  constraining  sermon  from  Mr.  Graham, 
on  Rom.  xii.  1. — A  constant  sense  of  the  presence  of 
God  for  some  time ;  then  came  my  plague  again. — Oh, 
for  greater  earnestness! — Partly  overcome,  and  partly 
overcame.  May  I  render  to  God  the  calves  of  my 
lips. — Read  our  Lord's  charge  to  the  church  at 
Ephesus ;  and  also  the  account  to  be  given  of  every 
idle  word;  and  felt  condemned. — Steady  composure 
of  soul. — Ready  submission  to  the  dispensations  of 
Providence. — Some  discourses  by  Mr.  Dean  and  Mr. 
Graham  on  the  state  of  the  nation. — Poor  account 
of  this  day. — Wrote  a  hymn  for  a  society  of  religious 
persons. — Much  benefitted. — A  steady  frame  of  mind. 
— Sweet  time  at  the  Lord's  table  ;  and  useful  discourses 
from  Mr.  Graham. — Read  'Shower's  Time  and  Eter- 
nity.'— Abiding  serenity. — Much  troubled  with  tooth- 
ache. Oh,  how  intolerable,  if  eternity  were  written  upon 


64 


MEMOIRS    OF 


the  pain,  when  most  excruciating! — Disappointments,  but 
intended  for  good. — Haunted  with  improper  thoughts. 
Lord,  cleanse  my  soul,  and  pardon  all  inattention  at 
the  means  of  grace. — Recommended  the  opening  of  a 
little  monthly  subscription  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
a  few  practical  authors  for  the  use  of  the  Society. — 
Oh,  the  benefit  of  private  prayer! — Wrote  a  letter  to 
Mr.  C.  The  Lord  accompany  it  with  his  blessing! 
— Ministry  of  the  Word  irresistibly  impressed  upon 
my  soul.  Enable  me,  Lord,  to  follow  thy  will  in  all 
things. — Mr.  Graham  discoursed  on  the  profanation 
of  the  Sabbath,  and  cautioned  the  people  against  feasts 
on  that  day. — See  clearly  that  zeal  in  religion  is 
necessary. 

NOVEMBER.  "  Partook  too  much  of  the  spirit  of 
the  world. — Deeply  indebted  to  God  for  preserving 
me  from  sin. — Read  an  old  author  on  communion 
with  the  Spirit.  May  I  have  more  of  it ! — Heard 
Mr.  Graham  on  the  twenty-fifth  Psalm,  but  wandered 
much  in  the  service.  Fix,  fix  my  soul  on  thee,  O 
Lord! — Want  seriousness. — Distant  in  private  prayer. 
— Oh,  the  love  of  God! — Unsteady  in  soul. — Heard 
an  excellent  sermon  on  the  parable  of  the  Prodigal. 
— Not  inclined  to  the  vanities  of  the  world,  but  the 
contrary. — Fear  not  man,  my  soul,  but  God. — At 
Leeds  fair.  Keep  me,  O  Lord,  above  the  world. — 
Haunted  with  uncomfortable  imaginations. — Begin  with 
God  first  in  everything. — Condemned  for  light  con- 
versation.— Read  'Baxter's  Saint's  Rest.' — Sweet  are 
the  expectations  of  the  Christian.  May  I  live  up  to 
the  Christian's  privilege. — Oh,  may  the  Gospel  never 
be  scandalized  by  me! — Just  ready  for  my  besetment 
yesterday,  but  saved.  O  God,  I  thank  thee ! — Oh,  for 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  65 

more  real  godliness. — A  searching  sermon ;  found  com- 
fort under  some  parts  of  it,  and  condemnation  under 
others ;  but  praise  came  in  the  evening. — Distressed 
at  the  discovery  of  so  much  of  the  fear  of  man  in 
me.  What  is  man !  Jesus  is  a  great  Friend,  and  I 
am  a  great  rebel. — Read  Baxter  again. — Lamented 
over  the  much  to  be  lamented  evil  of  peevishness  in 
professors ;  and  saw  myself  in  a  poor  light. — Not 
meet  to  be  called  a  servant  of  the  Lamb. — Heard  of 
Mr.  Graham  being  likely  to  leave  Barwick.  How 
much,  O  my  soul,  shouldest  thou  be  engaged  in  prayer 
at  this  season! — Seem  to  be  a  compound  of  levity, 
pride,  self,  babbling,  and  sin.  Search  me,  O  Lord ! 
— Thursday.  Spoke  on  Gen.  xix.  15,  16.  Pressed 
upon  the  society  to  be  seriously  in  earnest.  Lord, 
grant  that  I  may  bind  no  burthens  upon  others  of 
which  I  am  not  willing  to  bear  my  share. — Thought- 
lessness, self-pleasing,  and  the  risings  of  pride. — A 
comfortable,  serious  frame  of  soul.  May  I  ever  be 
honest  with  myself,  sincere,  and  in  earnest ! — Let 
nothing  rob  thee,  O  my  soul,  of  God. — Wrote  B.  a  let- 
ter.— Partly  overcome. — Oh,  this  carelessness! — Heard 
Mr.  V.  The  Lord  help  him  to  deliver  truth  in  a 
style,  plain  and  easy  to  be  understood! — Read  the 
'Address  to  the  People  called  Methodists,'  by  Pawson 
and  Mather.  Brotherly  love  is  wanting  among  them. 
— Lightness  and  peevishness  again. — Want  always  to 
feel  what  I  say. — Read  Baxter. — Reproving  sin  not 
sufficiently  attended  to  by  me. — Thursday.  Enlarged 
on  the  necessity  of  love,  and  shewed  its  decays  by 
comparing  it  with  the  actings  of  our  first  love.  Lord, 
attend  the  word  spoken  with  thy  blessing! — Some 
outbreakings  of  light. — Comfortable  time  in  prayer 


66  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  H.  S. — Satan  is  not  idle. — A  wandering  heart. 
— Heard  a  person  in  the  afternoon,  I  suppose  from 
Bramham.  Oh,  the  astonishing  ignorance  of  that  man's 
soul !  Lord,  open  his  eyes. — Praise  the  Lord  for 
spiritual  mercies !  — Felt  unusual  liberty  in  family 
prayer. — Joy  laid  up  in  store  for  the  believer. 

DECEMBER  1.  "Thursday.  Heard  Mr.  Graham  on 
the  abuse  of  spiritual  privileges.  Had  a  conversation 
with  him  on  the  subject  of  entering  into  the  ministry. 
Lord  God  of  heaven,  direct  me  in  this  matter. — 
Friday  2.  Strong  inclination  to  enter  into  the  church. 
This  day  should  have  been  set  apart  for  prayer  on 
that  important  business,  but  forgetful,  and  overcome. 
— Saturday  3.  Asked  Mr.  Porter  whether  he  would 
take  my  brother  into  my  place,  if  I  left?  Consented. 
Lord  help  me  in  this  difficult  time  and  work. — Sun- 
day 4.  Informed  my  mother  of  my  intentions.  Thy 
will  be  done,  O  Lord!  Leave  me  not  under  the 
awful  curse  of  my  own  imaginings.  Much  harassed 
with  reasoning  on  the  subject.  Refreshed  in  prayer. 
— Monday,  5.  Many  reasonings  on  the  propriety  of 
entering  into  the  ministry.  Rather  haunted  with 
unbelief. — Tuesday  6.  Had  a  little  conversation  with 
Mr.  Atkinson,  of  Leeds,  on  the  longed  for  employ- 
ment. Could  not  but  admire  his  prudence  in  not 
giving  me  an  immediate  answer ;  still  my  pride  rose. 
— Wednesday  7.  Unbelief,  fear,  hope,  and  faith, 
alternately  rising  in  the  soul ;  sometimes  thinking  it 
the  greatest  folly  to  aspire  after  such  an  office,  and 
at  others,  cordially  embracing.  Jesus,  guide  me ! — 
Thursday  8.  Still  reasoning  on  entering  into  holy 
orders.  After  all,  praised  be  God,  I  can  say,  Thy 
will  be  done.  Mr.  Graham  dwelt  on  Jesus  sending 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  67 

his  disciples  to  sea,  and  Peter  walking  upon  it.  Lord, 
be  mine! — Saturday  10.  Private  prayer,  how  sweet! 
Anger  ready  to  rise. — Sunday  11.  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul,  for  this  day!  Heard  Mr.  Graham  in  the 
morning  on  Caleb's  spirit,  courage,  honesty,  singularity, 
faithfulness,  &c. ;  and  in  the  afternoon,  on  Mary's 
choice.  Received  benefit. — Monday  12.  Comfort  in 
meditating  on  the  heavenly  city. — Wednesday  14. 
Unbelief.  Met  with  Mr.  Graham,  when  going  to 
Aberford.  Delightful  conversation  with  him  on  enter- 
ing into  the  church.  Reason  to  bless  God  for  a  kind 
providence. — Thursday  15.  Private  prayer  the  best 
antidote  against  unbelief. — Friday  16.  Steadiness  of 
soul.  Much  lost  for  want  of  it. — Sunday  18.  Overcome 
by  my  sad  besetment,  levity.  Afterwards  found  near- 
ness to  God  in  prayer.  Oh,  the  mercy  of  God,  that 
he  should  favour  such  a  wretch! — Monday  19.  Liberty 
in  family  prayer. — Tuesday  20.  Received  a  letter  from 
friend  Settle.  The  Lord  attend  him  with  his  blessing! 
Reasoning  on  the  ministry.  Unbelief  stirs. — Wednes- 
day 21.  Still  reasoning.  Alarmed  at  the  badness  of 
a  case. — Thursday  22.  Spoke  on  brotherly  love. — 
Friday  23.  Peevishness  rising  in  the  soul. — Saturday 
24.  Fear  not,  for  henceforth  thou  shalt  catch  men. 
— Sunday  25.  Praise  the  Lord  for  his  grace!  Lord, 
I  am  thine ;  I  am  thine.  Heard  an  excellent  dis- 
course from  Mr.  Graham  on  the  Song  of  Simeon. — 
Monday  26.  Full  of  reasoning. — Tuesday  27.  De- 
sirous of  greater  earnestness. — Wednesday  28.  Doubt 
whether  my  brother  will  do  for  the  colliery.  Still 
reasoning.  Again  overcome.  God  be  merciful ! — 
Thursday  29.  O  my  soul,  cast  out  from  thee,  every- 
thing that  has  a  tendency  to  indispose  thee  for 


68  MEMOIRS    OF 

spiritual  things.  Heard  Mr.  Graham  on  'Hitherto hath 
the  Lord  helped  us.'  Viewed  the  general  mercies  of  the 
year;  and  laid  down  several  marks  of  a  growth  in  grace. 
— Friday  30.  More  earnestness. — Saturday  31.  O  my 
soul,  thou  art  come  to  the  close  of  the  year.  What  a 
scene  of  mercy  and  sin  hast  thou  presented  to  thy  view! 
Five  times  overcome  by  thy  besetment ;  and  often  over- 
come with  unsteadiness,  peevishness,  forgetfulness,  and 
ingratitude.  O  my  soul,  be  serious ;  do  be  serious.  Had 
it  not  been  for  thee,  my  Jesus,  I  should  have  been  cast 
down  long  ago,  cast  into  unquenchable  fire!  What 
is  due  to  thee,  dear  Lord?  What  can  I  give  thee? 
What  ought  I  to  do  for  thee?  What  must  I  do  for 
thee?  I  have  nothing  meritorious  in  me.  The  good 
I  have,  is  from  thee.  Thou  art  its  author,  and  must 
be  its  finisher.  Thou  art  my  only  plea,  my  only 
advocate,  my  only  sufficient  Saviour,  to  pardon  my 
oft-repeated  offences — offences  against  gospel  light,  and 
against  the  dictates  of  conscience.  Quicken  me  in 
the  ways  of  godliness ;  spare  me,  spare ;  cast  me 
not  down,  cast  me  not  off.  Plead  for  me  with  thy 
Father.  And  thou,  O  my  Father  in  Jesus,  deny  not 
the  supplications  of  thy  Son.  He  has  died  for  me 
satisfied  for  me,  risen  for  me,  and  now  intercedes 
for  me.  Send  thy  light  and  truth  into  my  heart. 
Pardon  my  sins,  and  seal,  seal  me  thine  to  the  day 
of  redemption.  Give  me  the  earnest  of  the  prepared 
rest  of  thy  people.  Go  with  me  through  the  next 
year.  Undertake  all  my  business ;  work  for  me,  and 
in  me;  direct  into  all  truth:  let  eternity  be  impressed 
upon  my  soul  in  all  its  awfulness  and  nearness.  Go 
before  me,  in  my  going  out  and  coming  in.  Be  my 
God  and  guide  unto  death.  Amen." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  69 

Here  we  have  in  operation  all  the  varied  feelings 
exhibited  in  the  Psalms  of  David, — hope,  fear,  joy, 
sorrow, — inward  relentings,  and  outward — though  not 
gross,  wanderings  ; — a  man  in  the  battle-field  with 
self  and  with  Satan  ; — now  struggling, — now  rising  ; 
ever  clinging  to  the  cross,  and  the  cross  pressing 
upon  him ; — with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  human 
nature, — a  correct  estimate  of  the  value  of  true 
religion, — humbled  under  a  sense  of  the  mercy  of 
God  in  Jesus  Christ, — and  desirous,  though  in  the 
midst  of  conscious  weakness  and  imperfection,  of  pro- 
moting the  holiness  and  happiness  of  his  fellow- 
creatures.  There  are  a  few  points,  however,  in  the 
Diary,  which  may  be  adverted  to,  as  they  have  revived 
in  the  recollection  of  the  biographer,  associate  circum- 
stances, not  recorded  by  the  pen,  but  communicated 
in  social  discourse. 

One  of  these  circumstances  refers  to  July  7th,  when 
the  subject  of  these  Memoirs  spoke  in  the  school-room, 
on  Psalm  Iv.  6,  "And  I  said,  Oh  that  I  had  wings, 
like  a  dove,  for  then  would  I  fly  away  and  be  at 
rest."  He  observed,  that  he  had  prepared  some 
remarks  on  the  text,  and  that  this  was  the  first  time 
he  had  dared  formally  to  announce  the  book,  chapter, 
and  verse,  and  read  the  passage  as  the  ground-work 
of  discourse.  On  the  Thursday  evening  following,  no 
Bible — to  his  surprise,  was  visible.  This  disconcerted 
him  a  little ;  but  was  sufficiently  intelligible,  as  to 
the  hint  conveyed  by  it ;  intimating  to  him,  that 
though,  as  a  layman,  he  had  been  permitted  to  occupy 
the  chair  of  a  regularly  ordained  minister,  he  had, 
in  this  instance,  overstepped  the  legal  and  accustomed 
bounds  of  his  calling — being  only  allowed,  as  hereto- 


70  MEMOIRS    OF 

fore,  to  pray,  and  give  a  word  of  exhortation.  The 
text  was  exceedingly  characteristic.  He  had  watched 
the  bird  in  its  flight  and  in  its  habits,  in  con- 
nection with  the  dovecot  at  Bambow ;  he  was  full 
of  tender  feeling — full  as  the  dove  itself,  with  its 
melting,  mournful  cooings,  and  which  is  stated  by 
Pliny  to  be  without  gall,  to  shew  the  kindness  of  its 
nature ;  while  the  metaphorical  language  employed, 
was  calculated  to  awaken  into  play  his  gradually  un- 
folding imaginative  powers.  Nor  was  it  less  indicative 
of  the  future  preacher,  who  generally  selected  such 
texts  as  a  person  only  would  select,  whose  heart  was 
teeming  with  the  sympathies  of  human  nature — with 
the  two  extremes  of  the  tender  and  the  terrific.  He  felt 
poignantly  on  the  occasion ;  but  like  the  bird  to  which 
he  referred,  which  will  clasp  its  wings  to  its  side,  and 
conceal  the  arrow  that  is  preying  on  its  vitals,  he 
hid  the  wound  he  had  received,  and  only  noticed  it 
among  other  incidents,  which  the  lapse  of  years  had 
deprived  of  their  interest. 

He  speaks  of  being  "  five  times  overcome,"  in  the 
course  of  the  year.  This  is  not  to  be  interpreted  into 
so  many  acts  of  immorality.  He  characterizes  levity  as 
his  besetment ;  but  he  also  designates  it  as  his  plague 
— and,  therefore,  hateful  to  him.  If  it  be  correct, 
according  to  Lavater,  that  volatility  of  words  is  care- 
lessness in  actions  ;  then  it  is  equally  true,  that  words 
are  the  wings  of  actions,  and  may  sometimes  bear  a 
man  into  regions  not  at  first  contemplated  by  him. 
But  such  was  the  tenderness  of  conscience  of  the  subject 
passing  in  review  before  the  reader,  that  what  his  can- 
dour would  have  interpreted  into  cheerfulness  in  others, 
his  self-scrutiny  was  ready  to  condemn  as  levity  in 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  71 

himself.  In  such  cases,  the  sentiment  of  Confucius, 
aided  by  a  little  Christian  light,  is  worthy  of  observation : 
— "Our  greatest  glory  is  not  in  never  falling,  but 
in  rising  every  time  we  fall."  At  no  period  of  life, 
however,  would  William  Dawson's  native  buoyancy  of 
spirit  have  allowed  him  to  conduct  a  conversation 
with  the  austere  gravity  of  a  funeral  oration. 

William  Smith,  whom  he  frequently  visited  during 
his  last  illness,  was  a  man  of  deep  piety ;  and  he 
was  not  forgetful  of  the  widow,  when  deprived  of  the 
presence  of  the  husband.  It  is  to  the  widow  of  this 
excellent  man,  that  he  refers  in  his  Diary,  Nov.  25, 
when  recording  the  happiness  he  experienced  in  prayer 
with  "H.  S.,"— Hannah  Smith.  She  resided-  at  Gar- 
forth ;  and  to  this  poor  old  woman,  unknown  to  his 
own  family,  he  took  his  own  dinner,  two  or  three  days  in 
the  week,  left  it  with  her,  and  thus  ministered  to  her 
wants,  while  he  himself  practised  the  duty  of  self-denial. 
For  a  healthy  man  like  himself,  with  an  appetite  often 
whetted  to  intensity  with  outdoor  exercise,  this  was 
no  ordinary  sacrifice ;  and  was  as  honourable  a  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  the  dead,  as  it  was  creditable  as 
an  act  of  charity  to  the  living.  She,  in  the  language 
of  the  apostle,  was  "a  widow  indeed,  and  desolate;" 
and  he,  in  visiting  and  relieving  her,  gave  full  proof 
that  he  was  possessed  of  "true  religion."  He  wrote 
a  short  memoir  of  her  departed  husband,  who  is  stated 
in  it  to  have  been  a  follower  of  Jesus  upwards  of 
forty  years — to  have  filled  up  his  station  in  life  humbly, 
actively,  and  usefully — to  have  diffused  a  steady  light 
by  his  example — to  have  been  a  great,  but  a  patient 
sufferer,  towards  the  close  of  life — and  to  have  died 
in  the  full  triumph  of  faith. 


72  MEMOIRS    OF 

For  the  "Letter  of  Reproof,"  administered  to  "Peter 
Porter,"  in  June,  the  subject  of  these  pages  was  well 
prepared.  He  had  written  an  excellent  paper  "On 
Reproving,"  in  the  month  of  April,  of  this  year, 
founded  on  Mat.  xviii.  15 ;  expatiating,  in  his  best 
and  most  consecutive  style,  on  the  manner  in  which 
reproof  ought  to  be  given — the  timing  of  it — how  it 
ought  to  be  received — and  the  advantages  resulting 
from  it:  and  if  this  article,  or  any  appropriate  portion 
of  it,  met  the  eye  of  Peter,  it  might,  under  God,  operate 
like  the  glance  of  the  Redeemer  on  his  apostolic 
namesake. 

As  to  the  subject  of  holy  orders,  it  may  be  observed, 
that  Mr.  Graham,  in  addition  to  the  specimens  afforded 
him  in  the  school,  as  to  public  speaking,  had  some 
of  William's  compositions  put  into  his  hand,  and 
perceiving  them  possessed  of  some  merit,  he  concluded 
that  God  had  higher  work  for  him  than  that  in  which 
he  was  daily  engaged.  Mr.  Graham,  therefore,  in 
William's  own  language  to  the  writer,  pleasantly — yet 
not  without  sincerity,  asked  him,  whether  he  was 
"disposed  to  exchange  the  drab  for  a  black  coat?" 
On  replying  in  the  affirmative,  the  Rev.  interlocutor 
told  him,  that  he  would  recommend  him  to  the 
"ELLAND  SOCIETY,"  of  which  the  Rev.  Miles  Atkin- 
son, of  Leeds,  was  a  member;  a  society  near  Halifax, 
composed  of  clergymen,  whose  object  was,  to  recommend 
young  men  of  character  and  talent,  and  to  funiish 
them  with  a  preparatory  education,  to  enable  them 
ultimately  to  discharge  the  duties  incumbent  on  a 
clergyman  of  the  Established  Church.  Mr.  Graham, 
with  a  view  to  pave  the  way  to  future  studies,  advised 
him  to  procure  a  Latin  Grammar ;  but  like  most 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  73 

persons,  who  permit  the  teens  to  pass  away  before 
they  enter  upon  the  study  of  the  foreign  classics,  he 
found  it  hard  work  to  fix  his  mind,  with  any  degree 
of  satisfaction,  on  his  task.  He  felt  as  if  the  mind, 
so  to  speak,  had  lost  all  its  waxy  properties,  and 
was  incapable  of  taking  up  the  necessary  impressions, 
and  as  if  the  memory  had  lost  all  its  tenacity.  One 
dark,  interminable  passage  seemed  to  lie  before  him, 
without  a  solitary  ray  to  gild  any  of  the  intermediate 
steps,  or  a  single  outlet  at  the  close ;  and  the  fact  of 
Mithridates  being  acquainted  with  twenty-two  different 
languages,  would  have  required — had  it  been  commu- 
nicated to  him,  a  stretch  of  faith  beyond  what  he 
was  capable  of  exercising.  The  consequence  was,  that 
after  a  short  lapse  of  time,  he  returned  to  Mr. 
Graham  in  a  fit  of  despondency,  observing,  that  he 
could  "make  nothing  of  it," — further  adding,  in  his 
still  more  characteristic  language,  that  he  was  afraid 
it  would  "crack  his  brain."  His  friend — for  such 
he  was,  and  such  he  confessed  himself  to  be  to  the 
close  of  life,  laboured  to  encourage  him ;  telling  him 
that  the  rudiments,  whether  in  art  or  science,  were 
always  the  most  difficult,  because  new  to  the  learner 
— but  that  the  language  would  become  more  easy  as 
he  advanced.  He  again  applied  himself  to  it,  and 
looked  forward  with  mingled  feelings  of  hope  and  fear 
towards  the  sacred  ministry. 

Mr.  Graham  was  directed  by  the  general  educational 
mode  pursued,  in  recommending  him  to  enter  upon 
the  study  of  the  Latin  rather  than  the  Greek  first : 
and  yet  it  is  not  improbable,  that  if  he  had  been 
advised  to  commence  with  the  latter,  which  is  the  less 
difficult  language  of  the  two,  and  of  which  the  Latin 


74  MEMOIRS    OF 

language  is  admitted  to  be  nothing  more  than  a  dialect, 
being  capable  only,  according  to  some  of  the  best 
critics,  of  being  thoroughly  understood  by  being  traced 
to  Greek  roots,  he  would  have  had  fewer  obstacles 
to  surmount ;  and  the  acquirement  of  the  one  would 
have  encouraged  him  in  the  acquisition  of  the  other. 
Quintilian,  who  was  of  this  opinion,  contended  that 
the  Roman  youth  should  be  taught  Greek  before  their 
native  tongue :  and  this  sentiment  seems  to  be  gaining 
ground,  as  appears  from  a  work,  entitled,  "Greek  with- 
out a  Master ;  or  a  practical,  theoretical,  analytical, 
and  synthetical  Course  of  the  Greek  Language ;  intended 
chiefly  for  the  use  of  Persons  who  are  studying  the 
Language  without  a  Master.  By  a  Graduate  of  the 
London  University." 

In  throwing  the  mind  back  upon  the  extracts  from 
his  "Diary"  for  the  year  1792 — and  these  are  only 
specimens  of  what  is  recorded  of  the  labour  of  the 
intervening  days,  omitted  by  the  biographer,  they  will 
exhibit  to  the  reader  a  life  of  varied  employment, 
both  at  home  and  abroad; — a  life,  not  only  amounting, 
in  many  instances,  to  hard  toil,  but  attended  with  the 
distracting  cares  of  business,  and  will  readily  account  for 
any  apparent  irksomeness  as  to  the  Latin  tongue, — 
the  subject  himself  being  much  more  disposed  to 
stretch  his  weary  limbs  on  the  couch,  than  to  take 
his  seat  at  the  bench  with  "Ruddiman's  Rudiments" 
before  him, — early  retirement  for  repose  being  as  much 
pressed  upon  him  by  the  calls  of  labour — having  to  start 
with  the  lark  at  day-break  each  succeeding  morning, 
as  urged  upon  him  by  the  still  more  imperious  demands 
of  nature. 

Mr.  Graham,   like  Mr.    Dikes,   crowned  with  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  75 

snow  of  years,  adverts  to  those  times,  in  a  letter  from 
York,  dated  July  31,  1841  ;  and  observes  of  the 
subject  of  these  pages, — "During  the  whole  of  my 
residence  of  five  years  and  a  half  at  Barwick  in  Elmet, 
as  curate,  which  terminated  with  the  year  1796,  I 
knew  him  intimately,  and  loved  and  valued  him  as 
a  brother.  His  natural  vigour  and  originality  of  mind 
— his  clear  and  comprehensive  views  of  Scripture  doc- 
trines and  duties — his  experimental  knowledge  of  Christ 
and  his  salvation,  and  his  solid  yet  fervent  piety, 
seemed  only  to  require  a  more  regular  and  extended 
education  to  make  him,  what  indeed  he  became  with- 
out it,  'a  burning  and  a  shining  light.'  Having 
occasionally,  in  my  absence  from  home,  conducted  for 
me  a  sort  of  cottage  lecture,  in  which  his  talents 
and  gifts  conspicuously  displayed  themselves,  I  often 
expressed  to  him  my  wish,  that  he  would  enter  upon 
a  course  of  preparation  for  the  ministry  in  the  Church, 
of  which  he  was  then  an  attached  member.  But  his 
zealous  love  for  Christ  and  for  souls  would  not  permit 
him  to  wait  three  years  in  silence  and  study.  My 
removal  to  York,  and  his  connection  with  another 
denomination  of  Christians,  while  they  subtracted 
nothing  from  our  mutual  affection  and  esteem,  naturally 
in  a  great  measure  suspended  our  intercourse ;  so  that 
during  the  interval  of  forty-four  years,  though  we  had 
occasional  interviews,  we  had  no  epistolary  correspon- 
dence. He  is  gone  to  his  rest  in  the  presence  of  his 
God  and  Saviour.  May  my  last  end  be  like  his ! " 

To  return  to  the  proper  period  of  the  subject's 
personal  history,  from  which  we  are  led  by  the  last 
sentences  of  the  above  extract;  between  the  colliery 
and  the  farm — the  latter  not  being  entirely  left  to 


76  MEMOIRS    OF 

his  brother,  the  head  and  the  hands  were  busily 
employed;  neither  of  them  affording  a  fair  remuneration 
for  the  labour  and  expense  bestowed.  The  former, 
indeed,  seems  to  have  been  a  mere  appendage  to  the 
latter,  which  was  neither  moderate  as  to  rent,  nor 
yet  excellent  as  to  soil.  On  finally  quitting  the  farm, 
he  observed  to  the  agent  in  the  transaction,  "I  think 
I  might  claim  some  attention,  when  I  add,  that  neither 
my  father  nor  myself  were  equally  remunerated  for 
our  time  and  pains,  as  agents  of  Sir  T.  Gascoigne. 
You  will  be  surprised  when  I  inform  you,  that  my 
father  never  had  more  than  12s.  per  week,  and 
coals  and  candles  allowed!  I  had  12s.  per  week,  until 
1793,  when  the  wages  of  the  colliers  were  raised,  and 
then  I  had  15s.  The  colliers  struck  again,  about  a 
year  or  two  after  this,  when  another  advance  took 
place,  and  mine  was  raised  to  18s.  per  week.  Thus, 
my  father  and  myself,  served  the  Goscoigne  family 
for  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years,  for  what  I  have 
just  stated ;  and  what  I  may  call — a  paltry  wage. — 
I  have  often  told  you,  that  for  twenty  years,  I  have 
thrown  £20.  a  year  of  my  own  money  into  the  farm ; 
and,  except  for  the  last  two  years,  I  have  not  saved 
a  penny  for  twenty  years. "  This,  though  partly 
anticipating  the  more  advanced  stage  of  these  Memoirs, 
shews  how  this  excellent  young  man  was  circumstanced 
in  some  of  his  early  straggles. 

Though  he  had  his  joys,  he  was,  as  will  have  been 
perceived,  often  the  subject  of  painful  feeling.  Such 
was  the  "hour  and  power  of  darkness,"  that  on  one 
occasion,  he  lost  all  evidence  of  his  acceptance.  As 
this  was  not  occasioned  by  any  sin  of  which  he  had  been 
guilty,  it  was  of  course  unaccompanied  with  remorse 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  77 

of  conscience.  It  seemed  partly  to  have  arisen  from 
the  want  of  some  old  experienced  guide  on  the  road 
to  heaven,  to  keep  pressing  it  upon  him  as  a  constant, 
common  Christian  privilege,  and  partly  from  false 
reasoning.  Such,  however,  was  the  effect  of  the  simple 
loss  of  it,  without  being  ahle  to  charge  himself  with 
any  known  sin  as  its  cause,  that  he  was  plunged  into 
the  deepest  distress  of  mind.  He  compared  himself 
to  Bunyan's  Pilgrim,  when  he  lost  his  "roll,"  and 
was  no  less  in  earnest  to  regain  his  lost  peace.  At 
one  period,  such  was  his  anguish  of  spirit,  that  he 
was  tempted  to  throw  himself  into  a  river,  as  he  was 
walking  along  its  banks.  A  world  was  valueless  in 
his  esteem,  compared  with  the  repossession  of  his 
"  roll."  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  regained 
the  desire  of  his  heart,  and  no  one  knew  better  than 
himself  how  to  solace  the  distressed,  or  entered  with 
a  deeper  interest  into  their  feelings  and  circumstances. 

In  his  dullest  moments,  he  continued  to  cherish, 
some  time  after  this,  a  hope  of  preaching  in  the 
pulpits  of  the  Established  Church.  This,  in  all  pro- 
bability was  preserved  alive  by  the  success  of  his 
friend  Settle,  one  of  whose  letters  is  referred  to  in 
the  Diary,  and  which  is  as  follows : — 

"Cambridge,  Dec.  17,  1796. 

"DEAR  DAWSON, — I  have  remained  a  longer  time 
silent  than  I  intended.  But  I  hope  you  will  not 
consider  my  silence  a  proof  of  any  diminution  of 
friendship.  I  still  profess  a  sincere  regard  for  you, 
and  reflect  with  much  pleasure  on  our  past  intercourse 
on  particular  evenings,  and  in  particular  places.  I 
have  been  busy  in  attending  lectures ;  but  the  term 
ended  yesterday,  and  now,  I  must  be  up  to  the  head 


78  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  ears,  in  reading  for  the  schools.  My  neglect  of 
reading  in  Summer  has  thrown  me  into  deep  confusion. 
However,  there  is  divine  reading  which  cannot,  or  at 
least  ought  not,  to ;  he  omitted.  But  alas,  we  are 
purblind;  present  objects  engage  our  view,  and  we 
lose  sight  of  that  which  is  invisible.  Custom  has  a 
powerful  influence  on  the  mind,  and  we  cannot  brook 
the  idea  of  being  exceeded  by  those  whose  abilities 
are  only  equal,  or  perhaps  inferior  to  our  own.  But 
this  is  a  weak  argument  when  placed  in  competition 
with  the  affairs  of  the  soul.  Inferiority  is  no  disgrace, 
provided  religion  be  kept  in  the  heart.  We  ought 
to  labour  for  an  immortal  crown ;  and  I  wish  it  were 
my  concern  in  a  far  greater  degree.  'Can  a  man 
walk  on  hot  coals,  and  not  he  burnt  ? '  Can  I  be 
among  those  who  are  deeply  engaged  in  study,  and 
who  profess  to  have  the  same  views  of  religion  as 
myself, — I  say,  can  I  be  among  them,  thus  cir- 
cumstanced, and  not  be  fired  with  a  spirit  of  emulation? 
You  see  of  what  spirit  I  am. 

"I  have  seen  in  the  public  papers,  Mr.  Graham's 
preferment.  Well,  how  do  you  feel  ?  It  appears  likely 
that  Mr.  Atkinson's  son  will  succeed  him.  I  have 
never  heard  him  preach.  He  is  inferior  to  Mr.  Graham 
in  intellect.  But  piety  is  what  is  chiefly  wanted  in 
a  minister,  and  where  we  see  that,  we  can  bear  with 
natural  weaknesses.  I  am  aware,  worldly  people  despise 
weak  ministers,  and  especially  when  piety  is  combined 
with  weakness.  But  this  is  a  topic  upon  which  we 
have  already  dwelt ;  and,  indeed,  there  are  few  sub- 
jects, whether  moral  or  religious,  on  which  we  have 
not  frequently  conversed. 

"Let  me  have  an  account  of  you  all.    Mr.  Graham 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  79 

named  to  me  a  subscription  for  books.  I  confess  to 
you,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  a  party  subscription. 
When  the  new  curate  arrives,  I  know  not  how  he 
will  go  on  with  you.  Pray,  do  your  sentiments 
respecting  your  present  situation  fluctuate  ?  Have  you 
made  your  choice  in  reference  to  the  part  you  intend 
to  act  in  life?  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you. 
Till,  then,  I  remain  sincerely  yours, — S.  SETTLE." 


80  MEMOIRS    OF 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Renenxd  Dedication. — Rev.  J.  Benson. — Mr.  W.  E.  Miller. — A 
noisy  Prayer-Meeting. — Letters  from  Mr.  Settle. — Progress  in 
Learning.  —  The  Rev.  J.  Atkinson. — Evening  Lectures. — 
Liberality.  —  Further  intimations  of  Holy  Orders. — Reading 
and  Studies. — Portrait  of  a  worldly-minded  Farmer. — Inward 
conflicts. — Messrs.  Myles,  Panson,  Mather,  Bradburn,  Griffith, 
and  Dr.  Coke. — Out-door  Preaching. — State  of  Sinners. — 
Extended  usefulness. — Early  Sermons — Extracts  from  them. — 
Preaches  more  generally  and  publicly. — Colton. — Service  by 
lanthern  light  in  the  open  air. — Mrs.  Dean. — Loud  preaching. 

ON  the  first  day  of  January,  1797,  he  started  in  the 
Christian  race,  as  though  he  had  for  the  first  time  en- 
tered the  course.  Part  of  his  language  is, — "  O,  Eter- 
nal King,  I  have  this  day  dedicated  myself  to  thy 
service ;  determined,  through  thy  strength,  to  walk 
henceforth  in  thy  ways  with  greater  stability  and  con- 
scientiousness— to  resist  every  sin — to  have  no  other 
lords  to  rule  over  me,  but  to  take  thee  as  my  portion, 
my  helper,  my  guide,  and  my  God.  Oh,  deny  not  thy 
helping  hand  ;  receive  me  into  thy  favour  and  protec- 
tion ;  and  enable  me  to  separate  every  idol  from  my 
heart — to  sacrifice,  not  an  hour,  not  a  talent,  not  a 
faculty  to  any  object,  but  to  live  in  perfect  conformity 
to  thy  revealed  will.  Impart  to  me  an  increase  of  thy 
love, — strengthen  me  by  thy  Spirit  in  the  inward  man, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  81 

— sanctify  my  body  and  soul,  my  taste,  wishes,  and 
desires, — and  let  this  year  manifest  in  my  soul,  and 
also  to  others,  that  I  consider  myself  a  sojourner  on 
earth  as  all  my  fathers  were.  Accept  me,  O  Lord,  in 
thy  Son ;  strengthen  these  resolutions ;  inspire  me 
with  Christian  humility  and  zeal,  that  neither  pride  nor 
cowardice  may  rule  in  my  soul.  Let  my  courage  be 
regulated  by  thy  restraining  and  assisting  grace,  and 
enable  me  to  adorn  my  Christian  profession,  in  the 
promotion  of  thy  glory,  and  my  own  everlasting 
salvation." 

The  succeeding  day  was  distinguished  by  the  divine 
blessing ;  hence  his  language  on  the  occasion, — "  In  a 
happy  frame  of  mind.  The  service  of  God  is  perfect 
freedom, — nay,  rich  enjoyment.  Praise  God  !  O  my 
soul,  thou  art  not  thine  own." 

Having  profited  so  much  under  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Benson  at  Seacroft,  he  went  to  hear  him  in  another 
place  on  New  Year's  day,  and  also  on  the  4th  of  the 
month  at  Scholes.  In  the  first  instance,  he  wrote,  on 
his  return  home,  a  full  outline  of  the  sermon,  founded 
on  Rom.  xii,  1 ;  commending  it  in  his  Diary,  as  both 
"sweet  and  searching."  That  at  Scholes  was  on 
Psalm  cxviii,  1 — 4  ;  and  the  occasion  was  rendered 
equally  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord.  These  visitations  drew  him  nearer  and  nearer, 
and,  by  almost  imperceptible  degrees,  towards  the 
Wesleyans. 

Mr.  W.  E.  Miller,  who  was  like  a  flame  of  fire, 
visited  Barwick  ;  and  his  name  having  gone  forth  as  a 
revivalist,  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs  was  induced  to 
hear  him  also.  The  scene  was  new ;  he  had  never 
been  in  a  meeting  of  such  apparent  tumult  before,  and 
D  2 


82  MEMOIRS    OF 

had  entertained  scruples  respecting  the  loud  responses 
which  accompanied  the  prayers  and  preaching  of  Mr. 
Richardson.  He  ,  sat  and  watched  every  movement 
with  critical  severity  ;  occasionally  darting  an  ardent, 
curious,  and  impassioned  glance  at  the  speaker,  some 
of  whose  sentences  and  images — rich,  though  occa- 
sionally extravagant,  had  a  magical  attraction,  and  were 
to  him,  as  has  been  said  of  another,  as  "  splendid  and 
graceful  as  a  diamond  concealed  under  the  leaves  of  a 
rose."  Still,  he  was  ill  at  ease  with  the  vehement 
bursts  of  passion,  incidental  to  the  outbreak  at  the 
close,  when  Mr.  Miller  went  from  seat  to  seat,  praying 
with,  and  speaking  to  the  people.  Coming  to  Dawson, 
he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  head,  and  said,  "  Thou  wilt 
do  a  great  deal  of  good  in  the  church,  when  thy  heart 
is  emptied  of  pride."  It  would  seem  from  William's 
account  to  the  biographer,  that  Mr.  Miller  had  im- 
puted his  apparent  inflexibility  to  pride ;  though  his 
not  joining  in  with  the  work,  like  a  well-disciplined 
Methodist,  was  more  owing  to  its  novelty,  than  to  any 
want  of  devotional  feeling. 

He  proceeded  with  his  Latin  exercises,  though 
somewhat  beclouded  in  his  prospects  of  entering  the 
Church.  Mr.  Atkinson  of  Leeds,  had  informed  him, 
that  the  state  of  the  funds  of  the  ELLAND  SOCIETY, 
had  brought  the  members  to  the  resolution  of  admitting 
no  more  candidates  on  the  books,  till  they  should  be 
warranted  to  do  it,  by  an  increase  of  subscriptions. 
To  this  there  is  a  reference  in  the  following  letter  from 
his  friend,  Mr.  Settle  : 

January  31,  1797. 

"DEAR  DAWSON. — I  heartily  thank  you  for  your 
last  letter.  I  knew  the  Society  had  as  many  candidates 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  83 

as  it  was  able  to  maintain.  But  you  know  some  of  us 
will  be  weaned  soon,  and  then,  I  doubt  not,  that  you 
will  be  taken  on.  I  am  glad  that  you  have  made  a 
beginning ;  it  is  probable  you  will  some  time  or  other 
come  to  an  end.  However,  if  you  never  should  be 
taken  on  to  the  books  of  the  Society,  a  little  grammar 
can  do  you  no  harm.  Nay,  I  dare  say,  that  dominus, 
domini,  &c.,  will  be  of  great  advantage.  There  is  one 
comfort,  if  God  want  workmen,  he  will  call  them  ;  and 
I  confess  I  feel  so  little  party-spirit,  that  I  care  not 
how  or  in  what  manner  we  are  employed,  if  so  be  that 
we  are  only  made  useful  to  the  conversion  of  souls. 
And  if  learning  be  required  in  a  minister  of  Christ  in 
one  party,  it  is  required  in  all.  You  need  not,  then, 
look  upon  fagging  at  the  Latin  Grammar,  as  improper. 
I  trust,  that  you  will  one  day,  stand  up  before  a  con- 
gregation ; — a  congregation  of  what  kind?  Nay,  I 
care  not  of  what  kind,  if  so  be  that  you  only  preach 
Christ  and  him  crucified. 

"Pray  have  you  seen  Mr.  Atkinson  yourself?  or  did 
you  make  application  by  Mr.  Graham  ?  Does  Mr. 
Graham  stand  your  friend,  and  does  he  give  you 
encouragement?  He,  I  suppose,  will  recommend  you 
to  the  Society,  as  he  is  well  acquainted  with  you,  and 
therefore,  knows  whether  you  are  a  proper  person  to  be 
admitted.  However,  do  not  render  yourself  uncom- 
fortable ;  for  God  can  work,  and  who  shall  let  it  ? 
After  you  have  got  the  verbs,  you  may  then  go  on  with 
any  easy  Latin  Work,  with  an  English  translation. 
Take  care  of  long  and  short  syllables — for  they  are 
very  much  regarded  in  Latin.  You  may  get  a  Dic- 
tionary of  my  father;  take  the  best, — for  there  are 
two.  Do  not  be  in  too  great  a  haste.  Get  well 


84  MEMOIRS    OF 

grounded  in  the  first  principles.  Turner's  Exercises 
will  be  of  use :  it  will  teach  you  to  decline  and  con- 
jugate, &c.  Supposing  you  should  not  be  very  perfect 
in  the  rules,  you  will  acquire  at  least  a  good  many 
Latin  words  and  phrases,  which  will  be  of  use  when 
under  a  master. 

"I  am  very  glad  of  the  information  you  give  me 
respecting  my  brother.  I  hope  you  will  make  it  your 
business  to  see  him  as  often  as  you  can  make  it  con- 
venient. God  will  take  it  as  done  to  himself.  But  I 
need  not  urge  you  to  this.  You  know  the  value  of  a 
soul.  Pray  write  soon,  and  let  me  know  how  you  go 
on.  I  am  obliged  to  leave  off.  Mr.  Atkinson  is 
waiting  for  this  letter.  Wishing  you  all  prosperity  in 
body  and  in  soul,  in  Christ  Jesus,  I  am, 

Yours  sincerely  and  affectionately, 

"  S.  SETTLE." 

Mr.  Settle  again  addressed  him  in  the  course  of  a 
couple  of  months,  under  considerable  anxiety  respecting 
his  brother,  whose  case  is  adverted  to  in  the  preceding 
letter. 

Cambridge,  April  5,  1/97. 

"DEAR  DAWSON. — I  received  a  letter  from  my 
brother  Thomas  about  a  fortnight  ago.  He  informs 
me,  that  William  is  very  weak,  and  appears  as  if  he 
could  not  be  long  in  this  world.  He  observes,  that 
you  have  visited  him  regularly  once  a  week,  some  time. 
I  acknowledge  myself  much  obliged  to  you  for  this 
kindness,  and  esteem  what  you  have  done  for  him,  as 
done  to  myself.  There  is  no  saying  how  God  may  be 
pleased  to  bless  your  conversation  to  his  soul.  I  shall 
be  exceedingly  glad  to  hear  of  his  being  brought  to  an 
acquaintance  with  himself  and  with  Jesus  Christ.  You 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  85 

will  do  me  a  favour,  if,  when  you  write,  you  will  give 
me  any  particulars  respecting  him  ;  for  you  know,  that 
both  my  father  and  my  brother  Thomas,  will  write  in 
general  terms.  I  suppose  he  is  still  living.  Alas,  I 
am  stung  with  painful  feeling,  that  I  did  not  speak 
more  freely  to  him,  when  I  had  the  opportunity.  But 
this  is  our  folly,  and  our  weakness.  We  lament  when 
it  is  too  late ;  and  what  is  worse,  our  past  neglect,  and 
loss  of  opportunities,  seldom  make  us  act  with  greater 
diligence  and  prudence  in  future.  I  should  like  to  see 
him ;  but  the  distance  is  too  great,  and  travelling  is 
very  expensive.  Besides,  what  can  I  do  for  him  ?  He 
may  continue  some  time  yet,  though  my  brother  writes 
as  if  near  death.  Please  to  write  in  a  day  or  two  ; 
and,  if  living,  let  me  know  how  he  is.  To  stand  at 
death's  door  is  an  awful  situation.  The  good  and  the 
bad,  the  prepared  and  unprepared,  start  back  when 
they  think  of  dying.  Serious  men  tell  us,  that  we 
must  often  revolve  in  our  minds,  the  thoughts  of  death 
and  judgment,  and  by  that  means  make  them  familiar 
and  common  to  us.  But  if  I  take  away  what  often 
moves  me  with  alarm,  I  throw  off  one  of  the  most 
powerful  restraints  against  sin ;  I  mean,  if  I  think  of 
death  and  another  world  in  such  a  careless  manner, 
they  will  at  length  become  so  familiar  to  me,  as  to 
make  no  impression  upon  the  mind. 

"  I  forwarded  my  brother  William  a  parcel  by  Mr. 
Atkinson,  and  sent  you  a  letter  at  the  same  time. 

"  I  assign  to  you  a  good  deal  of  work.  But  you  can 
write  to  me  a  letter  of  questions  and  answers.  How 
does  Mr.  Atkinson  go  on  in  preaching?  Are  your 
meetings  kept  up  ?  Does  he  explain  a  chapter  on  the 
Sunday  evenings  in  the  church  or  school  ?  Has  he 


86  MEMOIRS   OF 

taken  lodgings,  or  has  he  engaged  a  house,  at  Barwick  ? 
Have  you  seen  Mr.  Graham  since  he  left  you,  or  have 
you  heard  from  him  ?  Does  he  continue  to  take 
pupils,  or  has  he  given  them  up?  How,  if  in  pos- 
session of  two  or  three  churches,  are  they  supplied? 
Have  you  heard  anything  more  of  the  Ellanders  ?  Do 
you  read  Latin  ?  Does  young  Mr.  Atkinson  assist  you 
in  the  Latin  tongue  ? 

"  Lately,  I  have  heen  much  engaged  in  the  Schools ; 
and  am  surprised  that  wise  men  will  regard  such 
nonsense.  But,  the  fact  is,  I  am  tired  of  Cambridge 
studies  ;  and  I  am  persuaded,  I  shall  always  consider 
my  time  spent  in  Mathematics,  the  least  beneficial  of 
any  employed  in  the  whole  course  of  my  life.  Had  I 
been  engaged  in  searching  the  Scriptures,  in  composing 
sermons,  and  in  reading  the  history  of  mankind,  I 
should  then  have  possessed  some  useful  knowledge, 
on  going  forth  into  the  world.  Instead  of  that,  I 
shall  have  spent  three  or  four  years  in  grammar,  and 
three  or  four  more  in  again  forgetting  it.  Such  is  my 
tale. 

"This,  I  forward,  by  way  of  Wetherby,  that  it 
may  reach  you  the  sooner.  I  am  afraid  lest  it  should 
lie  at  Leeds  till  Tuesday.  Yours  sincerely, 

"S.  SETTLE." 

This  portrait  of  a  college  life,  at  the  close  of  the 
letter,  and  which  must  either  have  been  written  under 
momentary  depression,  or  under  the  longings  of  a 
man  to  be  at  the  work  of  converting  sinners,  was  but 
little  calculated  to  fascinate  the  ardent  spirit  of  a 
Dawson,  breathing  after  an  increase  of  personal  piety, 
and  more  extensive,  as  well  as  more  immediate  useful- 
ness, to  the  perishing  multitude.  An  answer  to  some 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  87 

of  the  questions  propounded — though  not  written  with 
that  view,  may  be  gleaned  from  William's  Diary  for 
the  year. 

As  to  Mr.  Atkinson,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Graham 
in  the  curacy  at  Barwick,  though  inferior  to  his  pre- 
decessor in  some  respects,  yet  his  labours  are  adverted 
to  with  respect,  and  several  outh'nes  of  his  sermons 
were  deemed  well  worth  recording.  Mr.  Dean,  the 
rector,  generally  occupied  the  pulpit  in  the  forenoon 
of  the  Lord's  day,  and  Mr.  Atkinson  in  the  afternoon. 
But  the  evening  lecture  on  that  day,  appears  to  have 
been  discontinued. 

The  Thursday  evening  meeting  was  preserved  alive 
on  the  departure  of  Mr.  Graham,  chiefly  through  the 
influence  and  exertions  of  his  helper  in  the  work — 
the  subject  of  these  pages, — who  preached  regularly 
the  first  eight  months,  without  any  apparent  aid,  till 
the  month  of  August,  when  Mr.  Atkinson  took  a 
part  in  the  services ;  after  which,  to  the  close  of  the 
year,  they  occasionally  took  the  work  alternately ;  and 
in  one  instance,  December  28,  they  gave  the  people 
in  the  same  service,  a  double  lecture, — Dawson  leading 
the  way  on  the  subjects  of  creation,  preservation,  and 
redemption ;  and  Mr.  Atkinson  following  on  the  former 
part  of  the  eighth  chapter  of  the  Gospel  according  to 
St.  Matthew.  This  is  a  fine  specimen  of  liberality 
both  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Atkinson,  and  his  excellent 
predecessor ;  and  may  serve  as  a  hint  for  maturing 
more  fully  the  Pastoral  Aid  Society,  in  the  Established 
Church,  in  the  more  liberal  use  of  laymen. 

The  texts  upon  which  our  clerical  helper  descanted 
were  the  following : — Psalm  Ixxxiv. — Psalm  Ixxiii.  22 — 
26;— II.  Cor.  iv.  17  ;— II.  Cor.  v.  5—11 ;— Heb.  xii. 


88  MEMOIRS    OF 

1,  2 ; — I.  Cor.  ix.  24  ; — Joshua  xxiv.  14 — 25  ; — Isaiah 
liii,  4,  5; — Psalm  xc; — Gal.  ii.  20; — Psalm  Ixiii,  3; 
— Psalm  xxx.  4,  5  ; — Rev.  part  of  xxi,  xxii ; — John 
xxi; — Psalm  xxvii.  39,  40; — John  xi.  25,  27; — Malachi 
iii.  16; — Rev.  xiv; — Psalm  ix; — Isaiah  Ixi.  1,  2,  3; 
—Rev.  i.  16—20; — Heb.  xi.  14,  15;— Gen.  xxii;— 
Isaiah  xxv.  6 — 9  ; — Luke  ix.  33  ; — Ephesians  iii.  14 — 
21  ; — Philippians  iii ; — I.  Cor.  xv.  55 — 57  ; — I.  John  i. 
If  an  opinion  of  the  matter  is  to  be  formed  from  the 
texts  selected,  it  may  be  presumed  to  have  been  such 
as  would  interest  both  the  heart  and  the  understanding ; 
and  if  the  devotional  character  of  most  of  the  texts 
is  to  be  taken  in  connexion  with  his  experience,  it 
would  be  candid  to  infer — without  even  an  appeal  to 
his  Diary,  which  supports  it,  that  William  Dawson 
was  deeply  and  personally  interested  in  the  "one  thing 
needful."  In  some  instances,  he  engaged  in  prayer 
after  Mr.  Atkinson  preached. 

The  Sabbath  evening  services  which  had  been  rendered 
so  useful  to  the  piety  and  instruction  of  the  more  devout 
part  of  the  parishioners,  under  Mr.  Graham,  were  ad- 
verted to  with  pleasure,  while  their  discontinuance  was 
imbittered  by  the  reflection.  In  consequence  of  Mr. 
Atkinson  having  taken  private  lodgings,  the  Thursday 
meeting  was  removed  from  its  accustomed  place,  which 
might  be  one  reason  why  he  did  not  close  in  with  its 
services  at  a  more  early  period.  It  was  held  in  the 
house  of  S.  Simpson  towards  the  latter  part  of  the 
year. 

Mr.  Graham  left  in  January,  having  informed  the 
society  on  Thursday,  the  12th  of  that  month,  that  it 
was  the  last  time  he  should  address  them  as  their 
curate.  He  visited  Barwick,  Thursday,  March  2, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  89 

when  he  preached  to  the  Society ;  and  also  Monday, 
July  10,  when  William  had  an  interview  with  him, 
and  conversed  freely  with  him  on  the  subject  of  the 
ministry.  The  day  previously  to  the  last  date,  he  had 
received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Dikes.  Thursday,  August  17, 
Mr.  J.  Atkinson  informed  him,  that  there  was  a  pro- 
bability of  his  entering  into  the  ELLAND  SOCIETY  ; 
but  the  scene  was  once  more  overshadowed  by  a  cloud ; 
and  the  latter  wrote  to  his  early  patron  and  friend,  Mr. 
Graham,  October  20,  when  the  subject  seemed  to  be 
further  set  at  rest. 

Whether  William  received  any  assistance  from  Mr. 
Atkinson,  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  Latin  lan- 
guage, is  not  stated;  but  as  he  frequently  notices 
conversations  with  him  in  his  Diary,  the  probability 
is,  that  he  might  receive  some  incidental,  if  not  formal 
and  systematic  aid,  not  only  from  him,  but  also  from 
Mr.  Settle,  with  whom  he  associated,  during  the  sus- 
pension of  his  studies  at  college :  and  that  he  pro- 
ceeded in  his  attempts  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the 
language,  is  evident  from  a  translation  of  the  Latin 
into  the  English,  in  his  Diary  of  January  the  15th. 

In  addition  to  his  arduous  secular  avocations, — his 
regular  perusal  of  the  Word  of  God, — a  new  sermon 
for  some  months  successively,  for  his  Thursday  auditory, 
— the  public  ordinances  at  Barwick, — visiting  the  sick, 
— attending  prayer-meetings  at  Scholes  and  elsewhere, 
— writing  letters  of  reproof,  advice,  and  encouragement, 
he  found  time  for  the  perusal  of  "Law's  Serious  Call," 
part  of  Fletcher's  Works,  of  Madely,  "Young's  Night 
Thoughts,"  the  "Arminian  Magazine,"  "D.  Brainard's 
Journal,"  &c.;  faithfully  recording  the  effects  of  the 
latter  upon  his  mind,  and  accompanying  each  letter 


90  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  an  ardent  prayer  to  God  to  bless  it  to  its  intended 
use.  He  was  deeply  imbued  in  a  Christian  sense,  with 
all  that  is  implied  in  the  celebrated  saying  of  Zeuxis, 
Pingo  eternitati — I  paint  for  eternity,  for  he  evidently 
lived  for  eternity. 

How  different  is  such  a  man  from  the  countryman 
portrayed  by  Bishop  Earle,  the  exuberance  of  whose 
wit  is  only  exceeded  by  the  truth  of  his  pencil! 
"A  plain  country  fellow,"  he  observes  with  a  quaint- 
ness  peculiar  to  the  times,  and  not  out  of  place  for 
rural  manners  and  scenes,  "is  one  that  manures  his 
ground  well,  but  lets  himself  lie  fallow  and  untilled. 
He  has  reason  enough  to  do  his  business,  and  not 
enough  to  be  idle  or  melancholy.  His  hand  guides 
the  plough,  and  the  plough  his  thoughts;  and  his 
ditch  and  landmark  are  the  very  mound  of  his  medita- 
tions. He  expostulates  with  his  oxen  very  understand- 
ingly,  and  speaks  gee,  and  ree,  better  than  English. 
His  mind  is  not  much  distracted  with  objects,  but 
if  a  good  fat  cow  come  in  his  way,  he  stands  dumb 
and  astonished;  and  though  his  haste  be  never  so 
great,  will  fix  here  half  an  hour's  contemplation.  His 
religion  is  a  part  of  his  copyhold,  which  he  takes 
from  his  landlord,  and  refers  it  wholly  to  his  discretion; 
yet  if  he  give  him  leave,  he  is  a  good  Christian  to 
his  power,  (that  is,)  comes  to  church  in  his  best 
clothes,  and  sits  there  with  his  neighbours,  where  he 
is  capable  of  only  two  prayers,  for  rain  and  fair 
weather.  He  apprehends  God's  blessing  only  in  a 
good  year,  or  a  fat  pasture ;  and  never  praises  him 
but  on  good  ground.  Sunday  he  esteems  a  day  to 
make  merry  in ;  and  thinks  music  as  essential  to  it, 
as  evening  prayer,  where  he  walks  very  solemnly  after* 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  91 

service,  with  his  hands  coupled  hehind  him,  and 
censures  the  mirth  of  his  parish.  He  thinks  nothing 
to  be  vices  but  pride  and  ill  husbandry,  from  which 
he  will  gravely  dissuade  the  youth,  and  have  some 
thrifty  hob-nail  proverbs  to  clout  his  discourse.  He 
is  a  niggard  all  the  week,  except  only  market-day ; 
where,  if  his  corn  sell  well,  he  thinks  he  may  get 
drunk  with  a  good  conscience.  He  is  sensible  of  no 
calamity  but  the  burning  a  stack  of  corn,  or  the 
overflowing  of  a  meadow ;  and  thinks  Noah's  flood 
the  greatest  plague  that  ever  was, — not  because  it 
drowned  the  world,  but  spoiled  the  grass.  For  death 
he  is  never  troubled;  and  if  he  get  in  but  his  har- 
vest before,  let  it  come  when  it  will,  he  cares  not." 
This  picture  drawn  by  a  Yorkshireman — for  the  worthy 
bishop  was  born  in  the  city  of  York,  1601 — and 
possibly  the  likeness  of  a  Yorkshire  farmer  taken 
from  life,  furnishes,  though  tolerably  charged,  a  fair 
description  of  a  sordid,  contracted  mind.  It  is  here 
given  for  the  sake  of  contrast :  for  there  is  not  a 
single  point  in  which  William  Dawson  was  not  at  the 
antipodes.  He  neither  permitted  his  farm,  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord,  nor  "  himself  to  lie  fallow  and 
untilled;"  but  laboured  in  each  department  as  though 
each  demanded  his  sole  attention  and  toil,  and  as  if 
afraid,  lest  any  part  of  life  should  be  allowed  to  stagnate. 
Added  to  the  abridgment  of  those  meals  which  he 
gave  to  widow  Smith,  he  set  apart  days  for  fasting 
and  prayer,  and  otherwise  practised  great  self-denial. 
He  assisted  in  the  course  of  the  year  too,  in  establishing 
a  society  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick.  So  attentive 
was  he  to  the  means  of  grace,  that  he  missed  Barwick 
only  twice  in  the  course  of  the  year.  Both  of  these 


92  MEMOIRS   OF 

times  were  in  the  depth  of  winter ;  and  one  of  them 
was  when  he  fell  and  lamed  himself  on  his  way  to 
the  place,  and  was  compelled  to  return  home.  Every 
opportunity  was  embraced  of  hearing  Mr.  Hemington, 
when  in  the  neighbourhood ;  and  he  notices  having  heard 
him  both  at  Barwick  and  Garforth.  Secret  and  family 
prayer  and  sacramental  occasions  are  often  adverted  to 
in  his  Diary,  as  productive  of  great  spiritual  good. 
There  was  hi  the  midst  of  all,  the  deepest  self-abhorrence 
and  self-abasement; — severe  inward  conflicts; — occa- 
sional outbreaks  of  levity,  his  constant  bane,  from 
which  he  would  instantly  revolt,  and  again  sink  into 
the  dust ; — a  resolute  cleaving  to  God ; — a  full  and 
grateful  sense  of  the  value  of  a  Saviour; — and  an 
almost  incessant  cry  for  the  cleansing  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit; — exclaiming  in  the  midst  of  all, — "Oh, 
how  hard,  in  the  midst  of  the  schemes  of  life,  to 
keep  the  eyes  fixed  on  God!  to  keep  them  fixed 
there,  while  up  to  the  ears  in  worldly  employment ! " 
He  often  felt  the  force  of  the  Gaelic  proverb,  in  his 
prostrations  of  spirit,  that  "If  the  best  man's  faults 
were  written  on  his  forehead,  it  would  make  him  pull 
his  hat  over  his  eyes."  But  conscious  integrity 
enabled  him  to  bear  up  under  all  his  discouragements. 

He  was  now  in  a  state,  that  while  he  still  had  no 
wish  to  unite  himself  to  the  Wesleyans,  he  was  unable 
to  resist  the  charm  which  attended  many  of  their 
religious  meetings.  He  heard  Messrs.  Myles,  Pawson, 
and  Mather,  and  was  much  pleased  with  them ;  often 
stealing  away  to  a  part  of  the  service  after  attending 
his  own  Thursday  evening  meeting.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  Mr.  Mather  exhorted  his  hearers  to  seek 
first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness, — 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  93 

encouraging  them  with  the  declaration,  that  all  other 
things  should  be  added  to  them, — stating,  in  language 
as  homely  as  that  of  Bishop  Earle,  and  which  was 
not  likely  to  he  lost  on  a  mind  constructed  like  that 
of  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  and  by  way  of 
shewing  the  insignificance  of  everything  short  of 
religion — that  the  world,  in  a  somewhat  tradesman- 
like  manner  of  proceeding,  would,  like  pack-thread, 
be  given  into  the  bargain.  The  Conference  being 
held  at  Leeds  in  the  course  of  the  year,  he  availed 
himself,  when  at  the  Tuesday  market,  of  slipping  into 
"Ebenezer  chapel,"  and  hearing  "an  old  man  on  the 
Prodigal's  return. "  He  revisited  the  centre  of  at- 
traction on  the  Sabbath  day,  August  6th,  where  he 
heard  four  sermons,  with  which  he  was  much  delighted. 
The  preachers  were  Messrs.  Pawson,  Bradburn,  Griffith, 
and  Dr.  Coke. 

A  fortnight  after  this, — having  heard  Mr.  Dean, 
the  rector,  in  the  morning,  and  Mr.  Atkinson,  the 
curate,  at  noon,  he  went  to  hear  a  stranger  preach 
out  of  doors.  The  site  chosen  appears  to  have  been 
an  artificial  mound,  adjoining  Barwick,  formerly  the 
seat  of  the  kings  of  Northumberland,  and  supposed 
to  have  been  thrown  up  by  Edwin,  one  of  its  brightest 
ornaments.  "The  great  extent  and  magnificence  of 
this  fortification,"  says  Dr.  Whitaker,  "which  is  four 
furlongs  in  circumference,  and  contains  an  area  of 
more  than  thirteen  acres,  sufficiently  prove  that  it 
has  been  a  royal  park."  The  mount,  called  Hall 
Tower  Hill,  was  formerly  encompassed  by  a  double 
trench ;  on  this  mount,  the  royal  mansion  in  all 
probability  stood,  and  is  the  only  part  that  remains. 
Here  the  preacher  stood,  and  here  Dawson,  with  the 


94  MEMOIRS    OF 

listening  crowd,  heard  the  Word  of  Life ;  himself 
declaring,  that  he  "was  in  a  measure  enabled  to  lay 
hold  of  the  promise."  The  subject  was  the  prophet's 
expostulation  with  Nineveh ;  and  Jonah  could  not 
have  had  a  fairer  view  of  that  ancient  city,  than 
the  preacher  had  of  Barwick  and  its  population,  over 
the  latter  of  whom  he  yearned  with  bowels  of  com- 
passion. After  this,  William, — as  though  he  had 
caught  the  spirit,  entered  upon  out-door  work  himself, 
and  gave  out  the  hymns  at  the  funeral  of  John 
Cawood,  as  the  mourners  passed  from  the  house  to 
the  church-yard. 

Though  he  did  not,  as  will  have  been  perceived, 
neglect  to  extend  his  knowledge  by  reading,  yet  he 
seems,  from  the  native  force  of  his  own  mind,  and 
the  fertility  of  his  imagination,  to  have  thought  more 
than  read,  and  to  have  employed  a  considerable  portion 
of  his  time  on  new  compositions.  "A  Word  to  the 
Persecuted,"  was  one  which  employed  his  pen ;  writ- 
ten probably  with  a  view  to  console  some  of  his 
religious  associates  under  domestic  opposition.  Another 
was  on  the  state  in  which  Jesus  Christ  found  man, 
when  he  entered  upon  his  divine  mission,  and  the 
blessings  resulting  from  his  obedience  and  death.  In 
one  of  his  addresses,  after  looking  at  man  as  described 
by  the  sceptic  and  the  moralist,  who  deny  the  doc- 
trine of  human  defection,  he  closed  with — "Here  is 
a  brief,  but  pleasing  picture  of  man ;  differing,  how- 
ever, from  the  ugly  original ;  and  in  this  state  the 
Redeemer  finds  us  all.  The  fallen  sons  of  Adam  are 
swimming  on  the  ocean  of  their  own  passions, — riding 
on  the  tumultuous  billows, — blown  onward  by  the 
storms  raised  up  by  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  95 

air; — going  full  sail  with  the  tide, — and,  for  anything 
they  know  to  the  contrary,  may — the  next  day,  nay, 
this  very  night,  have  shot  the  gulph  of  eternity. 
See  them!  there  they  are, — there  they  ride  unconcerned, 
with  their  backs  to  heaven,  and  their  faces  towards 
hell, — striving  against  conviction,  against  light,  till 
they  force  their  best  Friend  to  seize  them,  and  in 
that  friend,  feel  the  grasp  of  an  enemy,  whom  they 
have  compelled  to  become  such  by  their  carelessness 
and  their  transgressions."  Passages  like  these  delivered 
with  his  usual  force  and  fire,  would,  however  incorrect 
and  uncourteous  to  the  ear  of  the  fastidious  critic, 
fall  with  tremendous  power  on  the  heart  of  an  untutored 
sinner. 

He  now  let  himself  out  more  freely  in  establishing 
prayer-meetings,  and  in  attending  those  already  estab- 
lished, in  the  neighbouring  villages ;  occasionally  giving 
a  word  of  exhortation.  After  leaving  church  one  day, 
in  company  with  his  friend  John  Batty,  and  being 
desirous  of  becoming  more  extensively  useful,  he  pro- 
posed a  private  meeting  for  prayer,  that  both  might 
be  guided  to  the  fittest  scene  of  labour.  They  retired 
to  a  wood,  and  in  the  bosom  of  that  silvan  scene, 
poured  out  their  supplications  before  the  Lord,  when 
they  agreed — being  most  deeply  impressed  with  it, 
to  go  to  Scholes,  where  they  held  a  prayer-meeting 
with  the  villagers.  Samuel  Hick,  "The  Village  Black- 
smith," was  at  Scholes  on  one  of  these  occasions, 
and  requested  "William  to  go  to  prayer.  Not  aware 
that  he  had  exercised  in  this  way  before  among  the 
Wesleyans,  the  good  man  took  the  credit  of  introducing 
him  to  public  life,  and  was  sometimes  innocently 
egotistic  on  the  subject.  Samuel  passed  no  high 


96  MEMOIRS   OF 

encomium  on  the  prayer,  and  was  permitted,  un- 
disturbed, to  indulge  himself  in  the  persuasion,  that 
he  had  been  the  honoured  instrument  of  planting  him 
among  the  Wesleyans. 

Soon  after  this,  the  subject  of  these  pages  wrote  two 
Sermons,  one  of  which  was  founded  on  Prov.  xxix,  25 — 
and  the  other  on  Isaiah  iii,  10.  The  one  on  Proverbs, 
"  The  fear  of  man  bringeth  a  snare,"  was  probably 
occasioned  by  previous  embarrassment,  arising  from  the 
evil  referred  to.  And  this  is  the  more  probable,  from  the 
reference  there  is  to  pride,  cowardice,  and  courage,  in  his 
piece  on  the  dedication  of  himself  to  God  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year,  and  his  prayer  to  be  delivered  from 
the  evils  of  which  he  stood  so  much  in  awe.  The  good 
people  of  Scholes,  having  heard  of  his  exhortations  in 
the  school-room,  at  Barwick,  and  also  in  other  places, 
invited  him  to  give  them  the  benefit  of  his  public 
labours.  He  complied  with  their  request,  and  informed 
the  biographer,  that  he  took  the  above  subject,  and 
addressed  them  upon  it,  both  with  a  view  to  their 
benefit  and  his  own.  He  afterwards  wrote  in  pencil,  on 
the  MS.,  "This  was  the  first  text  which  I  ventured  to 
take  publicly."  The  school-room  addresses  were  not 
deemed  public  by  him,  but  delivered  to  a  select  party  of 
religious  friends  ;  and,  in  other  places,  the  separate 
texts  around  which  the  mind  was  permitted  to  revolve, 
had  never  been  formally  announced.  The  MS.,  com- 
prises eight  closely  written  foolscap,  4to  pages,  and  is 
in  his  usually  neat  and  small  hand.  It  is  headed  with, 
"The  causes,  character,  and  folly  of  the  fear  of 
man;"  and  was  subsequently  "delivered  at  Colton." 
The  latter  delivery  is  dated  "June  24,  1798."  The 
composition  is  distinguished  for  acuteness,  a  good 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  97 

knowledge  of  the  human  heart,  a  thorough  acquaintance 
with  the  trifling  yet  criminal  subterfuges  of  sinners,  when 
pressed  to  duty,  and  a  close  application  of  the  subject, 
with  a  special  appeal  to  the  young.  The  following 
sentiments  will  furnish  an  idea  of  his  style  and  manner : 
— "Consider,  that  the  season  of  affliction  is  fast 
hastening  to  your  door.  How  soon  it  will  be  said, 
'  There  is  a  sick  man  in  the  house,'  no  one  knows  ! 
Will  the  best  friend  you  have  in  the  world,  who  is 
himself  but  mortal,  be  able  to,  give  you  ease  in  pain  ? 
Can  he  prevent  the  disease  from  growing  worse,  or 
impart  comfort  under  it?  Can  he  assuage  the  still 
more  poignant  pangs  of  conscience — prevent  the  light- 
ning flashes  of  reflection, — or  settle  the  storm  of  misery 
blowing  over  the  soul,  and  say,  peace  be  still !  No ; 
perhaps  he  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the  whole. 
How  is  he,  then,  to  quench  the  flame  !  His  presence 
is  the  remembrance  of  your  faults.  You  think,  when 
you  see  him, — '  But  for  you,  I  might  have  been  in 
heaven!' — Oh  then,  sit  down  and  count  the  cost. 
Review  the  whole.  Weigh  things  fairly.  Set  Time 
against  Eternity, — Man,  whom  you  fear,  against  God  ; 
and  see  which  end  of  the  scale  will  fall,  which  will  rise  ! 
You  will  find,  that  TEKEL  will  then  be  written  upon 
both  the  character  and  end  of  man,  and  also  upon  the 
world.  Every  thing  short  of  religion  will  be  found 
wanting,  when  weighed  in  the  balance  of  equity. — To 
you  who  are  young,  I  especially  address  myself; — you 
who  are  actuated  by  the  fear  of  man.  Your  hearts  are 
yet  tender  ;  impressions  have  been  made  upon  them  ; 
and  persuasion  has  made  them  consent  to  the  reasons 
adduced.  You  have  been  under  conviction  from 
childhood.  The  Bible,  your  own  consciences,  and  the 

E 


98  MEMOIRS    OF 

secret  suggestions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  have  all  spoken 
in  favour  of  the  majesty,  goodness,  beauty,  and 
sufficiency  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  You  have  in 
some  degree  yielded  to  the  influence  of  gospel  truth, 
and  assented  to  the  importance  of  what  you  have  heard 
from  faithful  ministers,  when  reasoning  on  right- 
eousness, temperance,  and  a  judgment  to  come.  You 
have  heard  and  trembled,  resolved  and  feared.  When  the 
gospel  trumpet,  like  heavenly  music,  has  sent  its  echoes 
through  your  listening  soul,  you  have  been  almost 
persuaded  to  become  Christians ;  but  like  too  many, 
who  wish  they  were  in  heaven,  but  never  prepare  for  it, 
your  good  desires  have  died  in  the  place  where  they 
were  formed  ;  you  have  again  mingled  with  your  com- 
panions at  the  close  of  the  sermon — laughed  away  your 
feelings — and  forgotten  what  manner  of  persons  you 
were.  Think,  young  friends,  upon  your  state.  Do 
not  permit  the  fear  of  man  to  bring  you  into  a  snare, — 
the  snare  of  the  devil,  which,  like  a  net,  will  entangle 
you,  and  endanger  your  etenial  happiness.  Turn  your 
backs  upon  your  former  ways  and  companions.  The 
latter  may  laugh,  may  even  curse,  but  you  shall  bless. 
Give  no  ear  either  to  their  threatenings  or  their 
promises.  Jesus  loves  to  see  a  young  Timothy  bold 
and  valiant  in  his  cause." 

In  the  sermon  on  Isaiah  iii.  10,  he  has  the  merit 
of  more  immediately  keeping  in  view  the  unity  of 
his  subject;  and  the  convulsions  arising  out  of  the 
French  Revolution,  would  seem  to  have  influenced 
his  mind  in  its  composition, — fortifying  the  Christian 
against  the  perils  of  a  threatened  invasion.  There 
is  much  more  nerve  and  condensation  in  it,  than 
in  the  preceding  sermon ;  being  full  of  a  fine  mixture 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  99 

of  stirring,  awakening,  powerful,  consoling  thought, 
and  displaying  a  great  deal  of  intuitive  knowledge, 
considering  the  comparatively  limited  character  of 
his  reading.  He  never  attempts  to  speculate,  but 
goes  direct  to  the  work  of  conversion  and  edifi- 
cation,— pouring  forth  the  trumpet-clang  of  alarm 
upon  the  ear  of  the  sinner,  and  warbling  out  his 
notes  of  consolation  to  the  saint,  which  are  felt  in 
the  inmost  soul,  as  though  a  songster  of  the  grove 
had  taken  up  its  residence  in  the  breast.  Had  it 
not  borne  the  dates  of  1797 — 8,  in  his  own  hand- 
writing, it  would  have  been  mistaken  for  one  of  his 
more  matured  productions  in  after  life.  It  is  of  the 
same  size  as  the  preceding,  but  is  distinguished  for 
greater  fire  and  earnestness,  and  evidently  more  adapted 
to  the  character  of  his  genius,  and  the  state  of  his 
religious  feelings.  Without  attending  to  connection, 
and  merely  to  shew  the  strain  of  thought  indulged, 
two  or  three  extracts  may  be  made. 

"Say  ye"  This  he  applies  to  the  prophet,  and 
then  to  the  Christian  minister.  "  Souls,"  says  he, 
"are  at  stake!  and  shall  the  watchman  sleep?  Im- 
mortal spirits  are  perishing,  and  shall  the  shepherd 
not  sound  the  alarm,  and  call  for  assistance  ?  God 
speaks !  and  are  ministers  to  be  careless  ?  Christ 
commands !  and  shall  these  disregard  what  is  said  ? 
The  Holy  Ghost  strives !  and  shall  we  be  indolent  ? 
Time  flies !  and  are  not  the  stewards  of  the  gospel 
to  improve  it  ?  Eternity  is  at  hand !  and  shall  they 
loiter?  The  gates  of  heaven  and  hell  stand  open  to 
receive  the  ruined  or  the  saved!  and  shall  not  the 
minister  of  Christ  warn  men  to  escape  the  one,  and 
exhort  them  to  enter  into  the  other?  Yes,  men  in 


100  MEMOIRS    OF 

this  office,  with  their  eyes  open  to  see  the  value  of 
an  immortal  soul,  must,  in  obedience  to  the  dictates 
of  their  own  consciences,  and  in  conformity  to  the 
command  of  God,  speak  and  spare  not :  say  ye,  &c." 
Speaking  of  the  "  righteous,"  he  observes,  "  His 
estate  is  '  the  pearl  of  great  price ;'  and,  in  this,  he 
has  secured  to  himself  that  which  is  of  greater  value 
than  the  world,  were  its  mountains  silver,  and  its 
oceans  liquid  gold."  Glancing  at  the  future  state  of 
the  "righteous,"  he  remarks,  "They  shall  be  ac- 
quitted and  honoured  in  the  great  judgment  of  the 
world.  The  resurrection  will  deliver  their  bodies  out 
of  prison  ;  and  then,  they  will  lift  up  their  heads, 
for  their  redemption  draweth  nigh.  Suppose  we  had 
a  cause  in  any  court  of  judicature,  and  that  no  bill 
of  indictment  could  be  found, — that  no  witnesses  were 
to  appear, — and  that  the  judge  was  known  to  be  our 
sworn,  constant  friend!  Should  we  be  afraid,  under 
such  circumstances,  to  appear  in  court  ?  Should  we 
tremble  on  our  approach  to  the  bar?  Certainly  not. 
People  would  be  heard  to  say, — '  It  cannot  but  go 
well  with  them  ;  they  have  everything  in  their  favour, 
and  nothing  against  them.'  Such  will  be  the  case 
with  the  righteous.  Who  is  he  that  condemneth?  It 
is  God  that  justifieth — Christ  that  died — yea  rather, 
that  hath  risen  again.  Then  shall  they  eat  of  the 
fruit  of  their  doings.  That  which  was  sown  in  time 
shall  be  their  feast  in  eternity." 

Turning  to  the  more  appalling  side  of  the  subject, 
in  connection  with  the  other,  he  observes: — "The 
righteous  have  a  rich  inheritance  on  this  side  death, 
and  an  invaluable  treasury  in  the  book  of  God.  Not 
so  the  ungodly.  There  are  no  promises  to  a  hardened 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  101 

sinner ;  no  comforts  for  an  impenitent  rebel.  Every 
leaf,  which  drops  honey  on  the  lips  of  the  believer, 
is  a  drawn  sword  to  the  wicked — ready  to  cut  him 
down ;  every  command,  in  the  performance  of  which 
the  believer  rejoices,  stands  clothed  in  terrible  armour 
against  the  wicked — against  those,  who,  instead  of 
obeying  the  commandments  of  God,  glory  in  the 
breach  of  them.  The  threatenings  are  as  a  bow  bent 
with  fiery  darts,  and  ready  to  wing  their  way  through 
the  soul  of  the  sinner.  The  wicked  flee,  and  flee 
too,  when  no  man  pursues  them  ;  and  God,  in  their 
flight,  instead  of  assisting  them,  will  exert  the  arm 
of  his  majesty  to  hurl  them  into  eternal  perdition. — 
When  the  sword  is  commissioned  to  go  through  the 
land,  it  shall  make  them  tremble ;  it  will  affright 
them  to  see  garments  rolled  in  blood, — themselves 
expecting  the  next  deadly  blow.  And  oh,  from  whence 
are  they  to  have  peace  ?  Shall  they  sing  in  the  fires  ? 
Will  they  have  God  for  a  very  present  help  in  trouble 
— a  refuge  from  the  storm — a  shadow  from  the  heat 
— a  light  in  darkness — a  deliverer  out  of  their  distress  ? 
— To  the  righteous,  death  comes  on  the  kindest  errand ; 
he  comes  as  their  harbinger  to  glory, — comes  to  knock 
off  their  chains,  and  bring  them  to  the  liberty* of 
the  children  of  God.  Is  this  the  case  with  the 
wicked  ?  No ;  death  will  be  to  them  the  greatest  of 
misfortunes;  an  unwelcome  guest, — a  visitant  that 
will  bring  intelligence  to  their  ears,  far  worse  than  the 
tidings  brought  to  Eli  of  the  defeat  of  the  Israelites, 
the  death  of  his  sons,  and  the  loss  of  the  ark  !  Then 
may  they  say,  '  Hast  thou  found  me,  O  mine  enemy  ? 
Must  I  go  ?  Must  I  leave  all  that  I  love,  and  all  I 
once  enjoyed?'  Yes,  go — go — go  you  must.  The 


102  MEMOIRS    OF 

summons  is  from  God,  and  death  is  the  bailiff.  Oh, 
what  horrible  thoughts  rush  into  the  mind  at  this 
moment !  what  feelings  excruciate  the  heart !  How 
different  the  aspect  of  things !  The  mask  drops  from 
the  face  of  every  former  foolery  and  enchantment! 
Every  thing  appears  in  its  native  hideousness  and 
deformity.  The  devil,  who  once  lulled  them  asleep, 
now  grins  in  their  face,  and  enhances  their  misery  by 
his  diabolical  injections.  The  world  has  left  them  in 
darkness  and  despair  The  flesh  trembles  through 
fear,  and  swoons  at  the  dreadful  apprehensions  of 
approaching  woe.  They  now  open  their  eyes  upon  the 
truths  they  once  despised,  and  like  Esau,  with  heart- 
sinking  disappointment,  lift  up  their  voice  and  cry, 
with  a  great  and  exceeding  cry — 'Woe  unto  the 
wicked,  for  it  shall  be  ill  with  him  !' — WOE — WOE — 
WOE — WOE  must  be  his  portion,  for  God  has  said  it ; 
God  who  cannot  lie :  Christian  ministers  are  com- 
missioned to  say  so.  But  uncomfortable  as  the  pre- 
conceived notions  of  future  torment  may  be  in  the 
present  life,  they  are  but  an  earnest  of  what  is  laid  up 
in  store !  A  drop  from  the  boundless,  bottomless 
ocean  of  pain !  An  atom  of  the  prodigious  weight  of 
•WOE  that  awaits  them,  on  the  judgment  being  set ! — 
Not  a  friend  in  court !  Not  an  answer  to  the  ten 
thousand  charges  brought  against  them !  Infinite 
debtors,  and  not  a  farthing  paid  !  The  Law  lays  down 
its  heavy  charges,  and  appeals  to  the  holiness  and 
justice  of  Jehovah.  The  Gospel  adds  to  the  long 
series,  and  augments  their  condemnation.  Father, 
Son,  Holy  Ghost,  angels,  and  ministers  unite  to 
condemn  !  No  defence, — no  reply !  and  conscience 
seals  up  the  whole  !  Woe — woe — woe  unto  the  wicked." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  103 

These  snatches  from  the  discourse,  connected  with 
his  energy,  and  peculiar  manner  of  delivery,  would 
impress  the  congregation  with  the  fact,  that  they  had 
no  ordinary  man  before  them,  and  would  lead  the  pious 
part  of  his  hearers  to  cherish  anticipations  of  future 
greatness. 

Reference  having  been  made  to  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Dikes  to  him,  in  the  course  of  the  summer,  it  may 
here  be  introduced,  to  shew  the  intercourse  which  still 
subsisted  between  them. 

"Hull,  July  1-4,  1/97. 

"DEAR  SIR. — I  some  time  since  received  a  letter 
from  you,  which  I  ought  to  have  answered  before  this 
period;  but  I  take  the  advantage  of  Mr.  Atkinson's 
return,  to  say,  that  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear 
of  your  health  and  welfare. 

"You  enjoy  many  blessings.  You  have  indeed  lost 
one  excellent  minister ;  but  another  is  come  to  supply 
his  place.  You  experience  no  great  persecutions;  but 
can  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  your 
own  conscience.  These  are  great  blessings.  May  we 
make  a  good  use  of  them,  and  not  forfeit  them  by 
our  ingratitude  and  abuse  of  them ! 

"You  complain  very  much  of  the  evils  of  your  own 
heart.  These  evils,  I  apprehend,  you  will  feel  more 
or  less  to  the  end  of  your  days.  It  is  possible;  yea, 
I  may  say,  it  commonly  happens,  that  in  proportion 
as  a  person  grows  in  grace,  he  will  see  and  feel  more 
depravity  in  his  own  heart.  Not  that  there  really  is 
more  evil,  but  that  he  has  more  light  to  perceive  it. 
Various  temptations  will  occur  to  call  it  forth  to  view; 
and  he  will  have  his  eye  more  upon  his  own  ways. 
Besides,  when  we  see  the  holiness  of  God,  the  purity 


104  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  his  law,  and  the  true  nature  of  sin,  our  own  cor- 
ruption will  appear  great  and  aggravated.  Hence, 
some  persons  have  been  led  to  suspect,  they  were 
more  vile  than  they  were,  before  they  knew  anything 
of  religion.  The  truth  is,  all  these  evils  existed;  but 
they  were  not  known :  they  lay  dormant.  While  we 
are  eagerly  wandering  after  external  pleasures,  we 
remain  strangers " to  ourselves;  or,  if  we  do  see  any 
evils,  we  regard  them  as  venial  faults,  which  may  be 
very  well  passed  over. 

"You  must  endeavour  to  get  good  views  of  Christ. 
He  is  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world.  If  you  were  whole,  you  would  not 
have  need  of  the  physician.  But  amidst  all  the  evils 
of  which  you  complain,  you  can  have  recourse  to  him. 
You  will  find  him  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all 
them  that  come  to  God  by  him.  The  more  closely 
you  keep  to  him,  the  more  confidence  you  place  on 
his  atonement,  the  more  peace  you  will  enjoy  in  your 
own  conscience,  and  the  more  strength  and  power 
you  will  find  to  resist  all  sin. 

"I  doubt  not,  but  you  will  be  preserved  by  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  unto  salvation.  He  has 
certainly  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  and  he  will 
carry  it  on  to  the  day  of  the  Lord.  I  hope  your 
meetings  prosper,  and  that  all  things  succeed  well 
with  you.  Believe  me  to  remain, 

"Yours,  very  sincerely,-r-T.  DIKES." 

Waiving  the  slender  encouragement  given  to  pray 
for  purity  of  heart,  in  the  sentiment  —  that  its 
"evils  will  be  felt  more  or  less  to  the  end  of  life," 
but  which,  in  the  mind  of  the  excellent  writer,  might 
refer  rather  to  the  Christian's  conflict  with  evil,  than  to 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  105 

its  reign;  there  is  great  propriety  in  his  other  remarks, 
namely,  that  increasing  light  produces  greater  con- 
sciousness of  the  existence  of  evil,  while  at  the  same 
time,  it  is  no  proof  of  the  actual  increase  of  that  evil. 
Thus,  a  person  of  a  hale,  robust  constitution,  is  much 
more  conscious  of  an  acute  pain  just  on  the  tip  of 
the  finger,  than  he  is  of  the  health  possessed  by  the 
whole  body  at  the  same  moment.  Whence  is  this? 
It  is  not  because  there  is  more  pain  than  health. 
The  pain,  though  acute,  is  confined  to  a  very  small 
part  of  the  system.  So  it  is  in  the  divine  life.  In 
the  struggle  between  the  flesh  and  the  spirit,  the 
one  Imting  against  the  other,  in  the  phraseology  of 
Scripture,  the  pain  of  the  flesh  is  much  more  felt 
than  the  health  of  the  spirit.  Not,  be  it  observed, 
because  the  Christian,  to  preserve  the  phraseology, 
has  more  of  the  flesh  than  the  spirit ;  for  the  cor- 
ruption of  the  heart  is  neither  perceived  nor  felt  by 
corruption,  but  by  grace.  The  more  acute  the  pain, 
therefore,  the  greater  the  grace,  and  the  less  of  corrupt 
nature.  Death,  even  in  cases  when  not  violent,  is 
generally  painful ;  nature  will  not  die  without  a  strug- 
gle. But  these  pains  are  so  many  proofs  that  death 
is  approaching.  The  work  of  conquest  is  going  on ; 
victory  is  coming  to  a  point.  The  struggle  of  the 
believer,  who  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  pardon,  is  to 
get  the  monster — inbred  sin,  whose  power  is  already 
broken, — fully  and  finally  expelled  from  the  heart ;  and 
the  struggle  of  a  person  entirely  sanctified,  is — when 
the  door  is  closed,  vigilantly  to  guard  every  corner 
and  avenue  of  the  sacred  temple  against  its  return. 

Doors  of  usefulness  continued  to  open  in  different 
directions,   and  in  1798,  became  next  to  oppressively 

E2 


106  MEMOIRS    OF 

numerous.  His  zeal  induced  him  readily  to  yield  to 
the  promptings  of  friendship  at  home,  and  to  the  calls 
of  strangers  at  a  distance,  to  favour  the  villages  and 
hamlets,  till  then  unvisited  by  him,  with  a  word  of 
exhortation.  Persons  belonging  to  the  Establishment 
were  not  only  prepared  for  such  meetings,  by  such  men 
as  Mr.  Remington,  and  the  Wesleys,  but  also,  by  Mr. 
Ingham,  of  Aberford,  who  married  Lady  Margaret 
Hastings,  and  who  was  one  of  the  persons  that 
accompanied  Mr.  "Wesley  to  Georgia.  This  gentleman, 
together  with  his  coadjutors  and  successors,  established 
the  practice  of  preaching  in  private  houses  and  in  barns, 
through  the  whole  of  that  district ;  thus  rendering  it, 
long  after  his  demise,  not  only  easy,  but  in  many  cases 
acceptable,  and  even  respectable,  for  a  person  of  piety 
and  talent,  whether  in  or  out  of  the  Established  Church, 
to  instruct  the  people  from  behind  an  old  chair,  as  well 
as  from  the  curiously  carved  pulpit  in  places  more 
sacredly  devoted  to  the  worship  of  God. 

Colton  was  the  first  place  at  which  he  preached, 
and  formally  took  a  text  out  of  his  own  parish, — 
Scholes,  where  he  had  previously  taken  one,  being 
considered  in  it.  He  preached  in  the  house  of  Grace 

the  first  time.    The  next  time  he  took  his  stand 

on  the  stone  at  her  door ;  and  subsequently  preached 
on  the  common.  His  subject,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
second  visit,  was  the  general  judgment.  Having  made 
some  statements  in  the  course  of  his  address,  which 
bore  hard  on  sinners,  an  old  man  of  the  name  of 
Hardwick,  standing  in  the  skirt  of  the  congregation, 
sent  his  stentorian  voice  across  the  heads  of  the  crowd, 
demanding  of  the  preacher  a  proof  of  what  he  ad- 
vanced, asking — "How  do  you  know  that?"  Though 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  107 

possessed  of  the  obstinate  courage  of  the  man,  who, 
— Si  succiderit  de  genu  pugnat,  if  his  legs  fail  him, 
fights  upon  his  knees,  yet  not  having  been  rocked 
in  the  storm  of  out-door  preaching,  like  a  Whitfield 
or  a  Wesley,  his  recollection  was  less  at  command 
than  his  prowess,  and  his  presence  of  mind  failing 
him,  he  was  dumb  for  a  few  seconds  before  the  people. 
One  of  his  hearers  perceiving  it,  who  was  a  man  of 
some  weight  of  character,  immediately  encouraged  him, 
by  shouting  out  with  a  no  less  audible  voice,  "Go  on, 
goon;"  and  perceiving  he  had  the  congregation  with 
him,  he  again  rallied,  and  proceeded  with  freedom.  In 
this  scene  of  early  labour,  he  afterwards  had  the  happiness 
of  seeing  a  chapel  erected,  which  he  opened  in  1832. 

His  visit  to  Colton,  seems  to  have  led  the  way  to 
the  establishment  of  preaching  at  Whitkirk,  which 
is  in  its  vicinity.  He  here  preached  regularly  in  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Dean,  a  relative  of  Lady  Irvine,  who 
was  much  attached  to  him  as  a  preacher,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  designating  him,  "My  "Willy."  He 
preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  this  excellent  lady 
some  3rears  afterwards,  at  Whitkirk,  when  a  somewhat 
novel  scene  was  presented  to  view.  The  respectability 
of  the  deceased,  and  his  own  popularity,  drew  a  large 
concourse  of  people  to  the  place,  the  consequence  of 
which  was,  the  auditory  had  to  adjourn  from  the 
usual  place  of  preaching  to  the  open  air.  It  was  in 
the  evening,  and  exceedingly  dark ;  but  such  was  the 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  though  the  season  was 
far  advanced,  that  little  inconvenience  was  sustained. 
That  the  people  might  have  a  faint  gleam  of  his 
person,  as  well  as  hear  his  voice,  a  friend  suspended 
a  lantern  and  candle  on  the  bough  of  a  tree,  beneath 


108  MEMOIRS    OF 

which  he  stood ;  and  there,  in  its  dim  glow — lit 
up  for  a  different  purpose  than  the  lantern  employed 
by  Judas,  when  filled  with  the  execrable  purpose  of 
betraying  the  Saviour,  and  himself  bearing  a  message 
unlike  that  which  issued  from  the  lips  of  the  oak- 
prophets  of  druidical  times, — he  proclaimed,  like  the 
Baptist  in  the  wilderness,  the  doctrine  of  the  kingdom. 
He  expatiated  likewise  on  the  value  of  that  inward  king- 
dom to  the  deceased,  and  the  glories  of  the  heaven  which 
she  was  then  enjoying,  and  which  his  auditory,  on 
passing  through  the  shades  of  a  deeper  night  than  that 
which  enveloped  them,  might  also  enjoy.  The  whole 
scene  would  present  to  the  mind  of  the  hearer  a  just 
picture  of  the  Christian's  passage  "through  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death,"  with  hope  glowing  in  the  midst 
like  the  taper  over  the  head  of  the  preacher,  accompanied 
by  the  voice  of  the  "Great  Teacher,"  cheering  him 
onward,  and  saying, — "Fear  not, — for  I  am  with  thee." 
The  scene  was  admirably  adapted  to  his  genius,  and 
to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion ;  and  to  persons  just 
emerging  out  of  the  darkness  of  nature,  and  visited 
with  a  gleam  of  gospel  light,  the  whole  must  have 
been  exceedingly  touching.  The  preacher  could  avail 
himself  of  every  point  —  could  improve  *  every  cir- 
cumstance; would,  while  directing  the  finger  to  the 
shaded  candle,  which  rendered  himself  but  dimly  visible, 
encourage  the  desponding  penitent,  by  telling  him,  that — 

"  The  wretch,  condemn'd  with  life  to  part, 

Still,  still  on  hope  relies, 
And  every  pang  that  rends  the  heart 

Bids  expectation  rise : 

that— 

Hope,  like  the  glimmering  taper's  light, 

Adorns  and  cheers  his  way, 
And  still,  as  darker  grows  the  night, 

Emits  a  brighter  ray." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  109 

In  addition  to  the  places  already  noticed,  he  preached 
subsequently  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Robert  Moor,  of 
Swillington, — in  the  house  of  Mr.  Shillitoe,  of  Little 
Preston, — before  the  door  of  J.  Birkenshaw,  of  Gar- 
forth, — at  Horton, — and  in  the  house  of  John  Loriman, 
of  Aberford.  He  was  not  satisfied  with  one  service 
in  the  day,  as  will  afterwards  be  seen;  nor  did  he 
confine  himself  to  the  fittest  seasons  for  travelling. 
After  attending  public  worship  at  Barwick,  he  usually 
sallied  forth  to  the  villages  at  noon ;  and  when  not 
engaged  elsewhere,  would  have  returned  to  assist  at 
the  prayer-meeting  at  Barwick  in  the  evening. 

As  he  advanced  in  the  work,  his  zeal  became  more 
ardent,  and  his  manner  more  violent;  so  much  so, 
that  his  mother,  after  hearing  him  a  few  times, 
observed  to  him,  "I  can  do  with  anything  but  thy 
shouting;  it  quite  distracts  my  head."  Not  experiencing 
any  inconvenience  from  it  himself,  and  therefore,  the 
less  sensible  of  it,  he  remarked  to  her  on  returning 
from  preaching,  on  one  occasion, — "  Mother,  I  have 
not  shouted  much  to-night!"  "Shouted,"  she  replied, 
"why,  child,  I  never  heard  thee  shout  so  much  before." 


110  MEMOIRS    OF 


CHAPTER  V. 

Voluntary  and  involuntary  evil. — Letter  from  Mr.  Settle. — College 
trials. — Bias  towards  Methodism. — Miss  Barritt. — Lovefeasts. 
— Messrs.  Mather  and  Blagborne. — Pride. — Balancings. — 
Fear. — Enthusiasm. — Reading. — Lay  help  in  the  Establishment 
not  encouraged. — Samuel  Hick. — Severity.  —  Labours.  —  Ex- 
tracts from  the  Diary. —  Usefulness. — Public  Addresses. — Sin 
— Assurance. — Death. — Sinners  in  danger. — Sceptics. — Grow- 
ing Piety. — Painful  Exercises. — Local  Militias. — State  of  the 
Country. — Prudence. — Morning  Communings. — Scrupulosity  of 
Conscience. — Stands  Sponsor. — Thoughts  on  Marriage. — Feel- 
ing manifested  by  external  Signs. — Letters  from  Messrs.  Graham 
and  Settle. — Freedom  of  mind. — Trials  often  heighten  coming 
joys. —  Visit  to  the  Rev.  J.  Graham,  York. — Genius  of  Method- 
ism.— Further  References  to  the  Elland  Society. — Prayer. — 
The  turning  point. — Rev.  Miles  Atkinson. — Peculiar  situation 
of  W.  Damson. — Decides  against  Holy  Orders. — Rev.  J.  Gra- 
ham.— Rev.  S.  Settle. — Rev.  Joseph  Benson, — Rev.  T.  Dikes. — 
Religious  state  of  W.  Damson. 

His  evidence  of  his  personal  interest  in  the  atoning 
sacrifice  of  Christ,  which  had  often  been  overshadowed, 
became  brighter  and  more  constant  as  he  proceeded, 
and  as  he  associated  with  persons  who  were  them- 
selves in  possession  of  the  blessing.  He  grew  less 
and  less  disposed  also  to  charge  the  involuntary  stir- 
rings of  a  depraved  nature  upon  himself  with  all  the 
force  of  voluntary  transgression,  and  found  that  there 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  Ill 

was  a  wide  difference  between  the  pain  produced  by 
the  one,  and  the  guilt  arising  from  the  other ;  being 
able,  in  the  former  case,  to  approach  the  throne  of 
grace  with  less  of  downcast  look  and  feeling,  than 
in  the  latter.  He  became  less  disturbed  too,  on  the 
subject  of  satanic  suggestions ;  aware  that  the  most 
innocent  character — as  in  the  case  of  the  immaculate 
Jesus,  may  be  tempted,  and  yet  maintain  his  purity. 
But  such  was  the  severity  of  his  tests,  that  a  temptation 
to  sin  produced  the  same  abhorrence,  and  almost  the 
same  amount  of  painful  feeling,  as  sin  itself:  and 
though  he  rarely  relaxed  in  the  severity  of  his  judg- 
ment, yet  his  riper  experience  rendered  his  decisions  less 
harassing  and  painful  to  himself, — enabling  him  to  draw 
a  proper  line  of  distinction  between  the  temptations  of 
Satan,  and  the  corruptions  of  the  human  heart ;  between 
a  temptation  to  sin,  and  a  participation  in  its  guilt, 
by  surrendering  himself  to  its  power.  His  views 
and  feelings  became  better  adjusted  in  all  matters  of 
religious  experience.  He  saw  that  a  temptation  might 
be  presented  to  the  mind,  in  the  way  that  the  eye 
may  meet  an  uninvited  and  unexpected  object ;  and 
that  the  mind  may  as  quickly  and  as  innocently 
turn  from  the  one,  as  the  eye  from  the  other.  The 
impression  may  still  be  left ;  but  it  is  the  Christian's 
duty  to  ascertain  whether  the  impression  is  one 
of  pain  or  of  pleasure :  if  of  pain,  then  conquest  may 
be  fairly  anticipated.  The  mind,  in  its  wandering, 
and  less  watchful  moments,  may  stumble  upon  what 
is  not  altogether  profitable  or  convenient ;  but  even 
then — without  the  least  disposition  towards  that  which 
is  unlawful,  divine  grace  instantly  interposes  its  check ; 
and  the  conscience  is  left  as  free  from  guilt  as  the 


112  MEMOIRS   OF 

man  is  who  looks  upon  a  tree  loaded  with  fruit  in 
a  neighbour's  orchard,  but  without  the  least  disposition 
to  covet — to  look  till  he  loves — to  love  till  he  shall 
put  forth  the  hand  to  steal.  The  heart  of  a  Christian, 
like  the  mind  of  a  wise  man,  should  resemble  a  mirror, 
which  reflects  the  object  without  being  sullied  by  it. 

Though  never  otherwise  than  decided  from  the 
commencement,  in  his  adherence  to  Christian  prin- 
ciple and  practice,  yet  owing  to  more  constant  peace, 
and  a  stronger  assurance  of  the  divine  favour,  he  was 
enabled  to  enter  with  greater  freedom  into  the  minis- 
terial work ;  while  his  continued  correspondence  with 
his  friend,  Mr.  Settle,  seemed  to  localize  his  views  and 
feelings  to  his  own  neighbourhood,  by  rendering 
the  discipline  of  a  university  less  attractive,  and  holy 
orders,  in  the  same  ratio,  less  probable  and  desirable. 
Mr.  S.  thus  addresses  him  : — 

"Cambridge,  Jan.  23,  1798. 

"DEAR  DAWSON. — After  a  long  silence,  I  take  up 
my  pen  to  give  you  a  line.  I  have  just  taken  my 
degree;  but,  I  fear,  with  little  or  no  credit.  I  shah1 
never  make  a  shining  character.  Some  poor,  obscure 
village  will  be  suitable  enough  for  me.  The  manner 
in  which  the  public  examination  is  conducted,  were 
I  to  describe  it,  would  not  be  at  all  interesting  .to 
you.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  observe,  that  I  laboured 
under  several  disadvantages ;  one  of  the  principal  of 
which  was,  slowness  and  defective  writing ;  and  the 
other,  too  great  a  fulness  in  the  proofs  and  demon- 
stration of  any  particular  problem.  Besides  these, 
there  were  others,  which  I  forbear  to  mention.  A 
maudlin  man  stands  but  a  poor  chance  of  success  in 
the  senate  house.  The  world,  you  are  aware,  is 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  113 

not  fond  of  seeing  a  religious  man  honoured;  nor 
can  I  conceive  why  a  serious  man  should  hunt  after 
reputation  in  the  present  life.  But  as  Cambridge 
professes  solely  and  purely  to  regard  merit,  I  do  not 
see  that  it  is  wrong  to  complain  when  any  one  does 
not  meet  with  the  treatment  which  his  merits  deserve. 
Were  you  acquainted  with  the  proceedings  of  the 
University,  I  could  quickly  make  it  appear  to  you, 
that  a  great  deal  of  unfairness  and  unjust  conduct 
has  been  shewn  to  Magdalen  College.  Mr.  B — r — tt, 
whom  I  have  often  named  to  you,  has,  in  consequence- 
of  this,  taken  no  honour.  You  are  aware,  that  he 
was  to  have  been  among  the  three  or  four  first — the 
place  which  Mr.  Th — p — n  was  pleased  officiously  to 
assign  to  me;  but  I  have  lately  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  Mr.  T,  and  told  him  that  he  lavished  his 
praise  with  too  liberal  a  hand.  He  denied  the  charge; 
but  the  evidence  was  too  strong  to  be  evaded.  As  I 
am  on  this  subject,  I  may  observe,  that  persons  can- 
not be  too  cautious  in  what  they  say ;  for  without 
intention,  they  may  depress,  and  represent  a  man  as 
totally  insignificant,  or  elevate  him  to  a  rank  to  which 
he  is  not  entitled.  Mr.  T.  felt  the  force  of  what  I 
said,  and  acknowledged  it  to  be  wrong.  You  will  be 
ready  to  exclaim,  'You  are  full  of  complaints.  Why 
am  I  to  be  troubled  with  Cambridge  affairs?'  You 
are  sensible  of  this,  that  it  is  painful  to  be  classed 
among  the  first  in  mathematical  merit,  and  in  the 
end  to  run  the  hazard  of  losing  one's  degree. 

"I  expect,  should  the  Bishop  not  send  me  back, 
to  get  into  orders  in  March.  It  is  supposed,  that 
his  grace  will  have  a  private  ordination  in  London; 
and  this  is  the  reason  why  I  shall  not  visit  Yorkshire. 


114  MEMOIRS    OF 

"Receive  my  thanks  for  your  last.  The  death  of 
Mrs.  Jackson  affected  me  much ;  and  that  of  Mary 
Batty  was  sooner  than  I  expected.  I  have  not  heard 
anything  more  of  Mr.  Graham,  and  conclude  your 
information  incorrect.  As  to  Clifton,  I  can  give  you 
little  or  no  account.  Parish  tells  me,  that  the  people 
are  poor.  Let  me  hear  from  you  soon.  Give  my 
respects  to  Mr.  Atkinson,  when  you  see  him.  I  am 
yours  sincerely — and  have  done  with  mathematics. 

"S.  SETTLE." 

With  all  his  attachment  to  the  Established  Church, 
several  things  concurred,  like  so  many  small  driftings, 
to  bear  him  out  of  his  original  course,  and  to  ac- 
celerate the  force  of  the  feeling  by  which  he  was 
borne  along.  His  visits  to  Scholes,  Colton,  Garforth, 
Seacroft,  Swillington,  Little  Preston,  Aberford,  Whit- 
kirk,  &c.,  not  only  became  more  frequent,  but  new 
places,  such  as  Kippax,  Micklefield,  Starks,  Halton, 
Hanks,  Cross-Gates,  &c.,  were  included  in  his  circuit; 
making  forty-four  visits  in  ah1  in  the  course  of  the 
year,  for  public  addresses,  exclusive  of  prayer-meetings. 
Some  of  these  places  were  visited  in  church  hours ; 
and  the  church  service  was  omitted  by  him  in  con- 
sequence. Added  to  this,  he  was  more  frequent  in 
his  attendance  on  the  meetings  carried  on  among  the 
Wesleyans,  and  preached  much  less  on  a  Thursday 
evening  in  connection  with  Mr.  Atkinson — though 
generally  present  as  a  hearer,  and  sometimes  engaging 
in  prayer.  He  addressed  different  congregations,  in 
places  some  miles  apart  from  each  other,  on  the  Lord's 
day,  and  occasionally  preached  to  the  people  in  the 
same  places  in  the  course  of  the  week ;  taking  Little 
Preston  in  the  forenoon,  attending  church  service  at 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  115 

Kippax  in  the  afternoon,  and  preaching  at  Garforth 
in  the  evening. 

Having  heard  a  good  deal  respecting  Miss  Mary 
Barritt,  who,  as  a  public  speaker,  was  at  this  time 
unusually  popular,  he  was  induced  to  go  to  Sturton 
to  hear  her ;  and  availed  himself  of  other  opportunities 
of  hearing  her  in  the  course  of  the  year,  at  Whitkirk, 
Kippax,  Mr.  M.  Jackson's,  of  Hillam  Mill,  and  other 
places.  Her  subject  at  Sturton  was  "Balaam's  Wish;" 
and  he  appears  to  have  been  favourably  impressed 
with  the  address,  exclaiming, — "  I  thank  thee,  O  Lord, 
for  the  least  profit,  which  I  have  received.  Let  me 
experience  thy  full  salvation."  But  he  lost,  at  the 
close,  as  at  the  prayer-meeting  at  Barwick,  conducted 
by  Mr.  Miller,  what  he  had  gained  in  the  beginning; 
observing, — "a  confused  meeting  commenced  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  sermon,  which  rather  pained  my 
mind."  He  prayed,  however,  that  God  would  "lead 
him  right,  and  keep  him  right ; "  and  on  his  return 
home,  "  found  unusual  liberty  in  family  prayer. " 
Though  disposed  to  exercise  candour,  the  tumultuous 
meeting  at  the  close,  became  the  topic  of  conversa- 
tion the  next  day,  when  he  was  not  altogether  satisfied 
with  his  remarks  upon  it ;  stating,  that  he  "  was  hurt 
with  what  he  said ; "  adding,  in  his  Diary,  "  it  seems 
better,  Lord,  that  I  should  say  nothing."  He  was 
afraid  of  speaking  unadvisedly,  and  of  rooting  up  the 
wheat  with  the  tares ;  though  by  no  means  reconciled 
to  the  noise,  as  is  evident  from  subsequent  conversa- 
tions. The  last  time  he  heard  her  was  at  Barwick, 
on  a  Wednesday  evening,  on  which  occasion  his  joy 
appears  to  have  been  unmixed;  saying,  "Praise  the 
Lord!  found  some  sweetness  in  hearing."  On  this 


116  MEMOIRS    OF 

occasion,  too,  he  appears  either  to  have  courted,  or 
to  have  been  allured,  to  a  little  Wesleyan  fellowship,; 
enjoying  the  society  of  Mr.  Blagborne,  then  stationed 
on  the  Leeds  circuit,  on  his  return  home. 

A  further  advance  was  made,  by  stepping  from  the 
outer  to  the  inner  court  of  Wesleyan  Methodism ; 
having  attended  three  love-feasts,  one  at  Sturton,  July 
1st,  another  at  Seacroft,  October  7th,  and  a  third  at 
Kippax,  Nov.  25.  Mr.  Mather  preached  on  the  occa- 
sion at  Sturton,  and  dwelt  chiefly  on  the  love  of  God. 
"I  found,"  he  remarks,  in  noticing  the  circumstance, 
"a  near  approach  to  God.  Blessed  be  the  Lord! — 
Went  from  thence  to  Little  Preston,  full  of  hope  of 
a  gracious  time,  and  was  not  disappointed.  I  spoke 
on  the  concluding  clause  of  the  Apostle's  Creed. 
May  the  Lord  bless  the  word!  I  hope,  I  trust,  he 
will.  I  wish  to  leave  all  self,  and  simply  to  go  on 
with  the  glory  of  God  in  full  view.  Found  a  warm 
reception  on  my  return;  but  praised  be  the  Lord,  I 
found  a  perfect  calm  within,  and  submission  to  his 
will."  No  wonder  that  his  mother,  a  rigid  church- 
woman,  should  manifest  a  little  opposition,  on  seeing 
him  take  one  step  after  another — though  still  un- 
intentional on  his  part,  towards  a  separation  from  the 
Establishment.  Mr.  Blagborne  led  the  lovefeast  in 
the  latter  case ;  and  it  is  probable,  that  this  prepared 
the  way  for  the  intercourse  which  Dawson  had  with 
him,  as  noticed  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  Here, 
however,  he  was  not  quite  so  happy  as  at  Sturton. 
He  complains  of  "pride,"  and  inferior  things  occa- 
sionally occupying  the  mind,  though  he  laboured  to  repel 
them, — earnestly  praying  "for  more  heart  religion." 
Without  positively  affirming  it,  there  is  reason  to 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  117 

believe  that  he  spoke  on  the  occasion,  and  that  it 
became  a  source  of  temptation  to  him.  It  was  not 
the  "pride"  of  which  Chapman  speaks,  which  is 
blind, — making  us  "eagles  in  matters  that  belong  to 
other  men,"  and  "beetles  in  our  own:"  but  that 
to  which  Pope  refers, — "a  consciousness  of  having 
done  a  poor  thing,  and  a  shame  of  hearing  it."  These 
two  appear  to  have  entered  into  the  composition  of 
the  pride  of  the  occasion. 

Not  only  were  the  Wesleyan  preachers  followed 
through  the  week,  but  when  on  a  visit  to  Wetherby 
and  York,  he  found  his  way  to  the  religious  as- 
semblies of  the  Methodists,  assisting  the  friends  in 
the  former  of  these  places — though  a  perfect  stranger 
to  them,  to  carry  on  a  prayer-meeting.  Whether  the 
Thursday  evening  Lectures  were  regularly  continued, 
or  whether  he  found  his  various  engagements  interfere 
with  the  service,  by  making  so  many  demands  upon 
his  time,  is  not  ascertained ;  but  certain  it  is,"  that 
Barwick  was  omitted  five  times  on  that  evening  during 
the  twelve  months,  and  only  one  of  those  times  in 
consequence  of  rain.  The  fact  too,  of  being  occa- 
sionally under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  hearing 
his  old  schoolmaster,  Mr.  H.,  in  the  church  at  Bar- 
wick,  operated  painfully  on  his  mind;  observing,  that 
not  only  were  "his  notions  of  religion  incorrect,  but 
his  life  was  opposed  to  the  ministerial  character:" 
further  adding,  "what  a  sad  state  should  I  have 
been  in,  under  such  a  minister !  "  But  though  he  had 
lost  his  "mainstays"  in  Messrs.  Dikes  and  Graham, 
— both  of  whom  he  ever  remembered  with  respect  and 
affection, — and  a  weakening  process  was  going  on,  of 
which  he  was  not  altogether  sensible,  he  was  not 


118  MEMOIRS    OF 

without  his  fears  as  to  the  propriety  of  the  steps  he 
was  taking,  and  the  real  character  of  the  zeal  displayed 
by  the  Wesleyans.  Hence,  in  his  Diary,  he  writes, 
— "  I  found  my  mind  in  a  frame  of  thanksgiving  this 
morning:"  and  then,  as  if  afraid  lest  any  of  his 
plans  or  purposes  should  at  all  militate  against  the 
hallowed  feeling,  he  directs  the  heart  upward,  and 
pours  out  his  spirit  in  prayer,  requesting  the  Lord 
to  "Sanctify  every  faculty  of  the  soul;  not  to  allow 
him  to  misunderstand  any  feeling ;  to  save  him  from 
all  enthusiasm,  and  from  confounding  the  mere  effu- 
sions of  a  heated  fancy  with  the  comforts  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  to  give  him  a  discriminating  eye,  and 
to  enable  him  to  discern  Satan  as  deformed,  at  the 
very  moment  that  he  is  transformed  in  all  his  specious 
appearances."  This  fear — though  he  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  engage  in  prayer,  made  him  a  little 
shy,  now  and  then,  of  letting  himself  out  too  freely. 
Thus,  about  the  same  time,  being  alive  to  the  practice 
of  calling  upon  him  to  exercise,  the  following  entry 
meets  the  eye: — "Some  men  came  from  Leeds  to 
Barwick,  and  spoke  upon — 'This  man  receiveth  sin- 
ners.' I  had  some  reasonings  in  my  mind  respecting 
the  propriety  of  going  to  prayer,  if  called  upon." 
He  heard  Mr.  Atkinson,  the  curate,  in  the  church, 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  and  went  himself 
to  Garforth  in  the  evening,  and  preached  on  the 
"New  Birth."  His  views,  however,  respecting  Wesleyan 
doctrine,  worship,  and  discipline,  became  clearer  and 
more  enlarged  by  a  continued  perusal  of  the  Works 
of  Fletcher,  and  a  close  examination  of  Benson's 
Defence  of  the  Methodists  against  the  attacks  of 
Tatham,  Russel,  and  others.  In  the  latter  case,  he 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  119 

exclaims,  "  Oh,  how  hard  it  is  to  manage  controversy 
without  bitterness ! " 

His  sphere  of  labour,  which  was  still  gradually  en- 
larging, and  the  slender  encouragement  given  to  lay- 
interference  and  help  in  the  Established  Church,  may 
also  be  considered  as  contributing  no  small  share  to  .the 
change  which  was  now  drawing  to  a  point;  for  in  the 
same  proportion  as  he  wandered  from  the  general  rules 
and  usages  of  the  Church,  in  calling  sinners  to  repentance 
— as  was  the  case  with  the  venerable  Wesley,  belonging 
to  the  same  community,  in  the  same  proportion  he 
entered  further  and  further  into  the  heart  of  Methodism 
— a  system  resulting  from  the  same  erratic,  but  apostolic 
movements,  of  the  extraordinary  man  from  whom  it 
took  its  rise. 

It  is  not  surprising  to  find  him,  considering  his 
religious  associates  and  training,  a  little  at  variance 
both  with  Methodism  and  its  promoters.  Honest 
Samuel  Hick  was  one  of  those  persons,  whose  pecu- 
liarities he  was  at  first  unable  to  relish,  though  he 
could  afterwards  not  only  bear  with  his  weaknesses, 
but  duly  appreciate  his  numerous  excellences.  But 
though  he  objected  to  Samuel,  he  was  no  less  grieved 
with  himself  for  the  apparent  severity  of  his  criticisms 
upon  him ;  and  hence,  revolving  on  the  subject  of  a 
Sabbath  meeting  at  Garforth,  he  observed  on  the 
Thursday  following,  when  his  sentiments  had  wound 
their  way  back  to  him  from  an  unexpected  quarter, 
"I  was  hurt  at  some  unwary  expressions  which  were 
dropped  respecting  some  observations  made  by  Samuel 
Hick,  at  Garforth,  on  Sunday  afternoon."  He  had 
not  only  the  good  sense  to  know,  that  extreme  severity 
is  not  only  sure  to  arm  everything  against  it,  and  often 


120  MEMOIRS    OF 

relaxes  into  supine  neglect,  but  he  carried  about  with  him 
a  conscience  tender  of  the  faults  and  failings  of  others. 

Still,  though  he  lent  occasional,  and  now  more 
frequent  aid,  to  the  Wesleyans,  his  labours  were 
chiefly  directed  to  the  improvement  of  the  members 
of  the  Established  Church,  as  his  principal  friends 
were  yet  to  be  found  in  that  community.  He 
visited  its  sick  not  only  at  Barwick,  but  at  Swilling- 
ton  and  elsewhere, — was  invited  to  improve  its  funeral 
solemnities,  by  praying  and  addressing  the  people, 
prior  to  the  removal  of  the  corpse  to  the  place  of 
sepulture, — and  sought  to  advance  the  spiritual  interests 
of  the  people,  by  religious  discourse  in  social  life. 
With  the  same  view,  he  carried  his  religion  into  the 
"highways  and  hedges;"  and  on  one  occasion,  rejoiced 
in  having  to  record,  that  he  "  met  with  a  stranger  on 
the  road,  who  jcnew  something  of  the  divine  life," 
and  with  whom  he  had  taken  sweet  counsel.  The 
salvation  also  of  his  grandmother,  and  other  friends 
and  relatives,  to  whom  he  frequently  spoke,  and  with 
whom  he  frequently  prayed,  was  matter  of  great  solici- 
tude with  him.  Nor  were  his  labours  fruitless,  either 
in  public  or  in  private.  Adverting  to  the  influence 
of  some  of  his  public  addresses  on  different  occasions, 
both  upon  himself  and  others,  he  has  the  following 
brief  notices :  — 

"At  Hanks  in  the  evening.  Spoke  on  the  wisdom, 
power,  faithfulness,  and  love  of  Christ.  Bless  the 
Lord  for  a  good,  spiritual  season !  Oh,  may  I  ever 
be  moulded  to  his  will !  Only  let  me  be  thine,  O 
Lord! 

"  Spoke  on  watchfulness  at  Seacroft.  My  only  end 
is  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  precious  souls. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  121 

"In  the  evening  at  Garforth.  Dwelt  on  the  necessity 
of  the  Spirit's  influence  to  change  the  human  heart, 
and  the  equal  necessity  of  that  change,  in  order  to 
our  admission  into  heaven.  May  the  Lord  hless  the 
means  to  the  hearers!  Found  a  remarkable  nearness 
to  God  in  prayer  at  James  "Watson's.  Visited  John 
Clayton.  Oh,  may  I  ever  feel  the  value  of  souls  ! — 
God  is  my  Father, — Christ  is  my  Redeemer." 

"Found  God  present  in  the  public  ordinances. 
Gave  a  serious  exhortation  to  the  people  at  Scholes. 

"Thank  the  Lord  for  an  earnest  frame  of  mind  in 
the  means  of  grace !  Spoke  at  Whitkirk  in  the  evening 
on  Gal.  iv.  4 — 6.  It  was  a  remarkable  season  of 
refreshment.  Praise  the  Lord! 

"Received  information  respecting  some  good  done 
at  Colton  through  my  unworthy  instrumentality.  Praise 
the  Lord!  May  he  bless  the  person  upon  whom  the 
effects  were  produced,  and  render  the  work  permanent ! 

"Spoke  at  Garforth  on  the  advantages  of  early 
piety.  Heard,  in  the  course  of  the  week,  of  some 
good  effects  produced  on  some  minds.  Ah,  where 
is  the  person,  who  has  lived  thirty  years,  that  has 
not  had  a  transient  work  upon  the  affections  at  times! 
To  God  alone  I  look  for  a  blessing.  May  none  of 
my  services  rise  up  in  judgment  against  any  soul! 
— Satan,  perhaps,  desires  to  sift  me  as  wheat.  May 
Jesus  pray  for  me,  that  my  faith  fail  not ! " 

The  addresses  themselves  bore  strong  marks  of 
originality,  and  were  admirably  calculated  to  rouse 
and  to  fix  attention ;  nor  were  .  his  communings  with 
himself  less  calculated  to  preserve  and  augment  the 
life  of  God  in  his  own  soul.  The  latter,  as  is  the 
case  with  all  who  speak  from  the  heart,  were  mingled 

F 


122  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  his  discourses,  and  essentially  aided  him  in  all 
his  probings  and  searchings,  when  employed  with  the 
consciences  of  his  hearers.  Two  or  three  extracts 
will  shew  the  character  of  his  thoughts  at  the  time. 

SIN.  "Reflect  upon  the  momentous  concerns  of 
religion  in  health  and  strength.  Deny  thyself.  Abandon 
thy  favourite  sin.  Tear  it  from  the  heart,  though 
entwined  with  its  very  strings.  Carry  it  to  the  fire 
of  mortification,  as  the  primitive  sorcerers  carried 
their  books  to  the  fire  to  burn  them.  Sin  is  a  poi- 
son ;  there  is  something  of  sweetness  in  it  at  the 
moment  of  drinking;  but  oh,  when  swallowed,  what 
heart-twinges  does  it  produce, — what  crampings  within, 
— what  a  rending  of  the  vitals !  Terrible,  indeed,  will 
be  its  eifects,  if  not  expelled  from  the  mind.  Abhor 
it  in  thyself;  reprove  it  in  others." 

ASSURANCE.  "Can  we  be  otherwise  than  struck 
with  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  a  sense  of  forgive- 
ness, as  applied  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  comparison 
between  man  as  a  sinner,  and  a  debtor  in  a  gaol? 
We  can  no  more  suppose,  that  Jesus  Christ  would 
permit  a  pardoned  sinner  to  live  in  bondage,  than  a 
man  would  permit  a  friend  to  linger  out  a  life  in 
confinement,  after  he  had  discharged  his  debts.  Never, 
never  rest,  then,  without  a  clear  sense  of  the  mercy 
of  God;  and,  once  obtained,  continue  to  walk  in  the 
light  of  his  countenance." 

DEATH.  "Think  on  a  dying  hour!  Think  on  that 
moment,  when  physicians  and  friends  can  do  no  more 
for  the  body,  and  it  lies  gasping*  for  breath !  The 
quivering  lip  hangs  feebly  down,  and  the  muscles  are 
so  unstrung,  that  they  are  unable  to  raise  it  to  its 
former  position.  It  is  sprinkled  with  a  liquid  from 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  123 

a  feather ;  but  small  as  it  is,  it  is  as  refreshing  to 
the  body  as  a  slight  dew  to  the  earth,  during  the 
most  parching  drought, — though  as  quickly  exhaled. 
The  tongue  falters  in  its  delivery,  and  the  attendants 
are  obliged  to  lay  the  ear  close  to  the  opened  mouth 
to  collect  the  half  articulated  sentence.  When  this  is 
the  case,  what  will  be  the  thoughts  of  the  heart  ? 
What  would  be  our  language  to  our  friends,  waiting 
to  close  our  eyes,  and  to  stretch  the  lifeless  trunk 
on  a  plank,  if  able  only  in  broken  accents  to  utter 
the  feelings  of  that  heart?  Should  we  be  disposed 
to  say,  'Take  warning  of  us ;  we  have  done  too  much 
for  Jesus;  we  have  gone  further  than  his  commands 
required ;  we  have  spent  our  breath,  our  prime,  in 
his  service,  and  for  his  glory;  and  now  we  see  onr 
madness,  our  folly!  We  see  that  we  might  have 
taken  our  ease,  have  indulged  in  the  quiet  of  home, 
while  drudging  for  the  Son  of  God!'  Ah  no!  Realize 
the  approaching  moment ;  bring  it  to  the  eye  — set  it 
before  you — let  it  be  imprinted  in  lively  figures  upon 
the  imagination." 

So  graphic  were  his  various  descriptions,  that  lie 
seemed  to  give  reality  to  everything  he  touched. 
"Man,"  said  he,  when  preaching  at  Scholes, — "Man, 
as  a  sinner,  is  like  a  person  blindfold,  walking  upon 
a  bridge  without  battlements.  Instead  of  going  straight 
along,  he  has  got  a  turn,  and  is  on  his  way  to  the 
side.  Crowds  of  diseases  and  accidents  are  pressing 
upon  him,  and  may,  the  next  moment,  jostle  him 
over  into  eternity.  The  folly  of  delaying  repentance 
to  a  death-bed,  is  no  less  extravagant,  than  if  the  same 
person  were  to  place  one  foot  upon  the  edge  of  the 
bridge,  and  the  other  off,  beyond  the  chance  ot 


124  MEMOIRS    OF 

recovery."  After  proceeding  in  this  way  with  his 
picturings  and  appeals,  he  suddenly  ejaculated  at  the 
close,  just  as  the  sinner  appeared  balancing  in  the 
"mind's  eye"  of  the  auditor,  on  the  perilous  edge 
of  some  of  those  bridges  thrown  across  the  opening 
chasms  among  the  Alps, — "  Lord,  save,  or  he  perishes 
in  the  roaring,  bottomless  ruin  below ! " 

He  appears  to  have  met,  in  some  of  his  perambula- 
tions, about  this  period,  with  persons  of  sceptical 
principles;  and  one  objection  urged  was, — That  religion 
only  tends  to  nullify  the  natural  appetites  of  the  soul. 
To  this,  Dawson  replied  in  the  course  of  the  argument, 
"  Religion  certainly  changes  the  passions ;  but  that 
no  more  proves  that  the  Christian  has  no  enjoyments, 
than  it  proves  that  a  man  has  no  stomach,  because 
he  does  not  live  upon  the  same  food  as  an  ass."  He 
had  penetration  sufficient  to  perceive,  not  only  the 
different  aliments,  so  to  speak,  upon  which  saints  and 
sinners  subsisted,  but  the  difference  between  a  change 
effected  in  anything,  and  its  utter  destruction;  while 
his  simile,  by  the  keen  stroke  of  his  wit,  not  only 
affected  the  position  maintained,  but  obliquely  reduced 
his  opponents  themselves  to  a  somewhat  assenine 
condition. 

The  number  of  authors,  whose  works  were  read  at 
this  period,  does  not  only  appear  to  have  been  enlarged, 
but  he  seems  to  have  been  more  deeply  imbued  with  the 
self-denying  spirit  of  Brainard,  and  the  hallowed  tone 
of  piety  exhibited  by  Baxter.  In  reference  to  the 
former,  he  remarks,  "  He  was  a  serious  man ;  his 
life  leaves  a  serious  savour  on  my  mind."  And  in 
reference  to  the  latter,  he  gives  utterance  to  a  similar 
sentiment ;  "  A  savour  of  religion  remains  upon  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  125 

soul  on  every  perusal  of  his  writings."  This  had 
a  beneficial  influence  on  his  correspondence,  con- 
versation, and  public  addresses ;  and  references  to  use- 
fulness after  this  become  more  frequent.  The  means  of 
grace  were  evidently  wells  of  salvation  to  him,  and  such 
was  his  devotedness  of  spirit  to  God,  that  birth-days 
— usually  seasons  of  festivity,  were  converted  into 
fast-days.  He  speaks  of  "  nearness  "  in  private  prayer, 
— of  "freedom"  in  family  exercises, — of  divine  assist- 
ance in  preaching, — closing  with,  "Jesus  died  for  me." 
Numerous  as  were  his  blessings,  his  graces  were  not 
a  little  tried  with  the  "Holy  War"  carried  on  in  the 
"City  of  Man-soul,"  and  with  some  external  exercises 
he  was  destined  to  experience ;  so  that  while  he  found 
strength  sufficient  for  the  day,  he  was  sensible  that  it 
was  only  for  the  day — that  there  was  no  stock  on 
hand  for  any  succeeding  period.  Among  other  things, 
he  was  often  tried  with  his  own  "spirit,"  upon  which 
he  was  always  compelled  to  keep  a  tight  rein.  The 
counting-house  was  entered  by  thieves ;  and  although 
the  booty  was  but  slender,  he  found  the  circumstances 
painful  in  which  he  stood  between  the  depredators  and 
his  master.  Some  ruthles  villainss  shot  a  calf,  more  from 
malice  apparently  than  wantonness.  The  farm  was 
unproductive,  which  led  him  to  exclaim  with  deep 
feeling,  though  with  resignation,  "The  Lord  seems 
to  be  trying  us  in  our  temporal  circumstances." 
Various  nefarious  practices  were  committed  also  upon 
property  for  which  he  was  partly  responsible  to  his 
master;  and  not  being  able  to  obtain  the  least  clue 
to  the  persons  or  plans  of  the  agents  in  the  work, 
he  himself — and  happy  for  him  that  his  master  had 
implicit  confidence  in  him,  was  left  without  further 


126  MEMOIRS    OF 

means  of  freedom  from  blame  than  his  general  vigilance 
and  integrity  of  character.  These,  however,  were 
sufficient,  and  bore  him  through  in  triumph.  He 
was  not  only  disturbed  while  preaching  out  of  doors, 
as  already  noticed,  but  as  a  proof  that  Satan  found 
bis  interests  in  danger,  in  consequence  of  his  zealous 
efforts  to  spread  the  truth,  a  gentleman  of  the  name 
of  Eamerson,  who  had  considerable  influence  at  Colt  on 
and  Seacroft,  warned  his  dependants  away  from  hearing 
him,  and  accompanied  his  prohibitions  with  threat  en- 
ings  of  dismissal  on  a  repetition  of  the  offence.  In 
an  interview  with  the  gentleman  himself,  some  severe 
language  was  employed  by  him;  and  William,  who 
was  tender  of  his  own  Christian  character,  was  afraid 
lest  either  his  own  manner  or  matter  should  not  have 
reflected,  in  everything,  honour  on  the  cause  he 
espoused — though  without  the  least  design  to  be  un- 
courteous.  Hence  his  language  on  the  occasion : — 
"  Pardon,  O  Lord,  whatever  I  might  say  amiss. 
Bless  and  convert  his  soul.  Keep  his  malicious 
speeches  from  turning  to  our  hurt ! "  To  be  mild 
and  respectful  under  such  circumstances,  is  next  to 
impossible,  without  the  grace  of  God;  for  "there 
is  a  time "  with  individuals,  as  well  as  with  states, 
in  the  language  of  Burke,  "when  the  hoary  head 
of  inveterate  abuse  will  neither  draw  reverence  nor 
obtain  protection." 

A  considerable  portion  of  public  spirit  was  infused 
into  his  soul,  in  consequence  of  his  public  labours. 
He  mixed  with  society,  indulged  in  an  interchange 
of  sentiment  and  feeling,  and  acquired  information  on 
subjects  of  national  importance.  He  felt  acutely  at 
this  time  for  the  disturbed  state  of  Ireland,  and  no 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  127 

less  for  the  nation,  which  was  threatened  with  an 
invasion  from  the  opposite  shores.  Sir  Thomas  Gas- 
coigne,  in  consequence  of  the  menaced  state  of  the 
country,  compelled  each  of  his  tenants  to  find  "a 
man  and  horse  for  a  troop  of  cavalry,"  and  Mr. 
Porter,  the  head  steward,  "took  down  the  names  of 
all  the  colliers,  to  serve  as  foot  soldiers."  The  men, 
soon  after  this,  were  ordered  by  Sir  Thomas,  to 
proceed  to  Garforth,  when  William  accompanied  them. 
On  such  occasions,  and  especially  at  the  formation 
of  a  corps,  when  men  who  have  everything  to  learn, 
and  many  of  whose  vicious  habits  have  never  been 
subjected  to  the  severer  restraint  of  military  law,  there 
is  often  much  to  distress  a  conscientious  mind,  and 
still  more  of  which  he  finds  it  impossible  to  approve. 
Dawson  coupled  the  Christian  with  the  hero,  and  made 
as  firm  a  stand  for  his  God  as  his  king, — resolved  to 
fear  the  one,  while  he  honoured  the  other.  In  acting 
lawfully,  however,  in  things  lawful,  he  found  he  gave 
offence.  He  bore  his  honest  testimony  against  every 
religious  and  moral  impropriety.  This  brought  down 
upon  him  the  displeasure  of  his  superiors.  Referring 
to  this,  he  observes, — "I  have  just  been  informed 
of  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne's  disapprobation  of  my  con- 
duct at  Garforth.  What  I  did,  was,  I  believe,  agreeable 
to  the  will  of  the  Lord.  His  will  I  wish  to  know  in 
all  things ;  and  my  prayer  is,  that  he  would  assist 
me  in  everything  I  undertake."  The  probability  is, 
from  his  love  to  souls,  his  ardent  zeal,  and  from  the  last 
form  of  expression,  that,  as  Garforth  was  one  of  his 
"preaching  places,"  he  undertook  to  give  such  of 
the  men  as  might  be  disposed  to  listen  to  him,  like 
honest  John  Nelson  in  "  olden  times, "  a  little  whole- 


128  MEMOIRS    OF 

some  ethical  advice,  some  of  them  being  as  little 
versed  in  Christian  morals,  as  in  military  tactics. 
Whether  he  had  more  to  do  with  the  foot  soldiers, 
than  to  attend  to  different  arrangements,  is  doubtful, 
as  his  brother  Richard  supplied  the  demands  made 
upon  the  tenantry,  by  entering  into  the  cavalry.  Nor 
is  it  to  be  supposed,  that  he  acted  altogether  im- 
prudently in  the  thing  which  gave  offence ;  for,  as 
an  eminent  writer  observes,  "if  the  prudence  of  reserve 
and  decorum  dictates  silence  in  some  circumstances, 
in  others  prudence  of  a  higher  order  may  justify  us  in 
speaking  our  thoughts."  So  it  was  here.  If  "prudent 
men,"  according  to  another  writer, — Shenstone,  "lock 
up  their  motives, — letting  familiars  have  a  key  of  their 
heart,  as  to  their  garden,"  they  are  not  at  the  same 
time  to  place  a  padlock  upon  the  tongue,  when  the 
imperative  commands  of  God  are  upon  them,  urged  by  an 
enlightened  conscience.  Dawson's  heart  dictated  these 
further  sentiments  on  the  occasion : — "  Into  thy  hands, 
O  Lord,  I  commend  my  soul,  body,  property,  talents, 
influence,  and  everything,  to  be  at  thy  disposal.  Oh, 
give  me  such  a  measure  of  thy  love,  as  will  at  all 
times  enable  me  to  say,  in  sweet,  passive  resignation, 
'Thy  will  be  done.'" 

He  was  generally  fitted  for  the  exercises  of  the  day  by 
his  habits ;  for  when  he  arose  in  the  morning,  he  did 
not  only  direct  the  heart  to  God  in  prayer,  but  con- 
sulted him  also  in  his  Word ;  and  frequently  wrote 
in  his  Diary  the  passage,  or  the  sentiment,  by  which 
he  was  most  impressed, — thus  collecting  manna  in  the 
morning,  like  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  as  food 
for  the  soul  to  feed  upon  through  the  day.  Hence, 
he  writes:  "'Be  steadfast,  unmovable,  always  abounding 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  129 

in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  ye  know  that 
your  labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.'  This  was 
one  of  the  first  texts  that  my  eye  fixed  upon  this 
morning.  May  the  Lord  enable  me  to  take  it  into 
my  heart,  and  to  adopt  it  into  every  thought,  word, 
and  action!"  Again,  a  short  time  after;  "Rose  in 
a  frame  of  prayer.  Praise  God !  Read  God's  promise 
to  Moses, — 'My  Spirit  shall  go  with  thee/  &c. 
Experienced  a  divine  unction  proceeding  from  it.  O 
Lord,  I  rest  upon  it;  and  through  it,  rest  upon 
thee.  Let  me  never  do  anything  to  forfeit  such 
blessings !  "  It  is  an  old  proverb — "  After  the  master, 
is  manners."  God  is  the  Master  of  man,  the  soul 
is  the  master  of  the  body.  God  ought  to  be  served 
before  man,  the  soul  before  the  body.  This  truly 
Christian  man,  to  keep  up  the  allusion,  enabled  the 
soul  to  break  its  fast  at  the  throne  of  grace,  the 
first  thing  in  the  morning;  and  he  issued  from  his 
closet  like  a  giant  refreshed  with  new  wine.  The 
day  that  has  a  good  devotional  beginning,  has  gene- 
rally a  satisfactory  close.  When  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness gilds  the  spirit  in  the  morning,  the  moon  is  often 
found  walking  in  her  brightness  in  the  evening. 

There  was  a  scrupulosity  of  conscience,  however,  about 
him,  which,  though  not  at  all  interfering  with  the  reli- 
gious exercises  of  others,  was  often  distressing  to  himself. 
"Conscience,"  observes  old  Burton,  "is  a  great  ledger 
book,  in  which  all  our  offences  are  written  and  registered, 
and  which  time  reveals  to  the  sense  and  feeling  of  the 
offender."  No  man  ever  turned  over  the  leaves  of  this 
ledger  more  frequently  than  William  Dawson  ;  and  in  no 
such  ledger  were  more  minute  entries  ever  to  be 
found.  The  following  are  a  few  of  those  things  for 

F2 


l.SO  MEMOIRS    OF 

which  he  empaled  himself,  and  on  which  he  writhed 
in  agony:  viz. — Paying  away  "a  bad  shilling,"  though 
perfectly  unintentional ; — receiving  more  than  he  thought 
he  deserved  for  certain  sen-ices,  though  acknowledging  he 
would  have  "  allowed  others,  in  the  same  circumstances, 
to  have  done  the  same ; " — giving  an  opinion  on  men 
and  things,  which,  though  just,  might  in  some  instances 
detract  from  their  worth  in  the  esteem  of  persons  not 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  them — observing  that,  "  in 
free  conversation,  improper  things  are  apt  to  slip 
out;" — omitting  places,  which  his  zeal  prompted  him 
to  visit,  but  which  time,  strength,  and  opportunity, 
would  scarcely  allow; — not  practising  greater  abste- 
miousness and  self-denial,  when  further,  in  some 
instances,  might  have  unfitted  him  for  duty; — smiling 
in  a  place  of  worship,  when  the  oddity  of  the  expression, 
or  burlesqued  character  of  the  figure,  rendered  it  next  to 
impossible  to  repress  the  feeling; — employing  a  sharper 
tone  in  conversation,  than  what  he  might  suppose 
comported  with  Christian  meekness ;  —engaging  in  dis- 
course, which,  though  harmless,  was  no  more  than 
harmless — not  profitable — saying,  on  the  occasion, 
that  "such  things  should  not  have  been  introduced," 
and  that  "we  ought  rather  to  forbear  lawful  things, 
than  transgress  against  law ; " — inadvertently  substitu- 
ting the  word  fortunate  for  providential,  concluding 
from  the  perversion  of  the  term,  that  he  might  have 
given  occasion  for  a  lax  view  of  the  government  of  God 
in  the  world; — allowing  himself  to  lie  awake  in  bed  in  a 
morning,  as  though  feigning  sleep,  in  order  to  gain 
two  or  three  minutes  indulgence,  when  a  single  call 
would  have  instantly  summoned  him  to  the  chamber 
floor ; — a  fear  of  urging  upon  others  what  he  did  not 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  131 

experience  in  all  its  fulness  himself; — naming  any- 
thing, which,  though  not  strictly  confidential,  and 
from  the  best  of  motives,  might  hare  been  as  well 
withheld ; — accusing  himself  of  a  shame  of  the  cross, 
of  the  fear  of  man,  or  a  disposition  to  indulge,  in 
his  own  language,  "King  Self,"  in  the  discharge  of 
duty,  when  it  appeared  to  have  been  a  stratagem  of 
the  enemy  to  check  him  in  his  career  of  usefulness ; 
— unpleasant  reflections,  lest  he  should  have  become 
a  partaker  of  other  men's  sins,  because  of  his  not 
having  in  every  instance  reproved  them,  when  the 
time,  occasion,  society,  and  other  circumstances,  might, 
by  possibility,  have  aggravated  the  case ; — and  for 
indulging  in  cheerfulness,  instead  of  grave,  sober 
thought  and  discourse.  Still,  though  he  could  not 
always  stand  clear  with  a  scrupulous  conscience,  he 
carried  about  with  him  the  general  "testimony"  of 
a  "good"  one:  and  agreeably  to  South,  "A  palsy 
may  as  well  shake  an  oak,  or  a  fever  dry  up  a 
fountain,  as  either  of  them  shake,  dry  up,  or  impair 
the  delight  of  conscience.  For  it  lies  within,  it  centres 
in  the  heart,  it  grows  into  the  very  substance  of  the 
soul,  so  that  it  accompanies  a  man  to  his  grave;  he 
never  outlives  it,  and  that  for  this  cause  only,  because 
he  cannot  outlive  himself."  Here  was  William  Dawson's 
safety,  in  the  midst  of  his  distress. 

It  is  rather  singular,  with  so  much  scrupulosity, — 
and  his  attachment  to  the  formularies,  rites,  and  usages 
of  the  Established  Church  can  alone  account  for  it, 
that  he  should  ever  have  been  induced  to  stand  spon- 
sor for  a  child,  which  was  the  case,  in  the  parish 
church  of  Whitkirk,  May  27,  1798;  thus,  as  in  all 
such  sponsorships,  taking  upon  him  to  answer  for 


132  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  future  conduct  of  the  child,  solemnly  promising 
to  renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works,  to  follow 
a  life  of  piety  and  virtue;  and  by  this  act  to  lay 
himself  under  an  indispensable  obligation  to  instruct 
the  said  child,  and  to  watch  over  its  conduct.  This, 
when  associated  with  his  living  and  dying  a  bachelor, 
gives  rise  to  some  rather  amusing  thoughts.  And 
yet,  with  him,  it  was  at  this  time  a  serious  thing ; 
and  he  chides  himself  for  some  inward  shrinkings  on 
the  occasion,  saying,  "  O  Lord,  pardon  me !  I  am 
not  half  bold  enough  for  thee :  I  blush  at  my  shame- 
faced folly." 

It  may  be  stated,  however,  once  for  all,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  celibacy,  and  without  any  feeling  of  delicacy, 
that  he  was  not  a  stranger  to  the  charms  of  the  softer 
sex — and  it  would  have  been  a  shame  if  he  had ! 
There  are  intimations  of  an  occasional  leaning  to  the 
marriage  state,  in  his  own  hand-writing,  and  there 
are  facts  to  support  it.  But  that,  agreeably  to  his 
own  sentiments,  "  which  he  considered  perfectly  lawful 
in  itself,  he  concluded  to  be  imprudent  in  him,  because 
of  his  temporal  affairs,  and  more  especially  the  position 
in  which  he  stood  in  reference  to  his  mother  and 
the  younger  branches  of  the  family."  His  excellent 
mother,  for  whose  comfort  he  could  sacrifice  any- 
thing, lived  till  his  habits  of  "single  blessedness" 
became  fixed.  After  that,  with  a  prudence  only  equalled 
by  his  previous  self-denial,  he  resolved  to  proceed  to 
the  grave  unfettered  with  new  connexions  and  responsi- 
bilities ;  especially,  as  he  had  attained  a  period  of  life, 
when  he  was  less  able  to  make  provision  for  those 
whom — in  addition  to  his  brother  Thomas,  for  whom 
he  had  to  provide,  he  might  leave  behind.  No  man, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  133 

however,  could  support  a  little  pleasantry  on  the  sub- 
ject with  a  better  grace  than  himself — sometimes 
styling  himself,  when  others  were  talking  of  titles, 
"  Bachelor  of  Arts."  "What,"  said  a  friend  to  him 
jocosely  one  day,  "I  am  told  you  have  been  dis- 
appointed in  a  love  affair!"  He  instantly  returned, 
— looking  shrewdly,  but  good-naturedly  in  the  face  of 
the  gentleman,  who  had  passed  the  meridian  of  life,  and 
who  had  himself  obtained  no  higher  degree  than  bachelor, 
— "That,  according  to  report,  is  only  one ;  but  I  am 
informed,  your  disappointments  have  reached  the  teens" 
This  was  as  unexpected  as  the  other,  for  neither  of 
them  were  aware — though  nothing  is  more  common, 
that  reporters  had  been  taking  notes  of  their  respective 
cases. 

His  warmth  of  feeling,  which  led  to  certain  external 
manifestations,  and  which  would  have  been  less  con- 
spicuous hi  a  Methodist  chapel,  than  hi  a  parish 
church,  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  Atkinson,  the 
curate ;  but  as  it  was  involuntary  on  the  part  of 
William,  he  was  the  less  conscious  of  the  habit.  It 
would  have  been  as  difficult  to  stop  the  bubbling  up 
of  a  natural  spring  from  the  side  of  a  mountain,  as 
to  suppress  the  external  expressions  of  any  painful  or 
joyous  emotion  in  him,  whether  in  the  social  circle, 
or  hi  a  place  of  worship. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  month,  that  he  became 
a  godfather,  he  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Graham, 
in  answer  to  one  of  his  own ;  the  only  one  apparently 
received  from  that  gentleman,  not  having  any  regular 
"epistolary  correspondence,"  as  previously  stated,  but 
chiefly  personal  "interviews,"  which  rendered  it  the 
less  necessary. 


134  MEMOIRS   OF 

"York,  May  2,  1798. 

"Mv  VERY  DEAR  FRIEND. — Were  I  not  unwilling 
to  fill  my  letter  with  apology,  and  did  I  not  know 
that  I  have  scarcely  a  letter  to  write  to  a  friend 
that  does  not  need  one,  I  might  entreat  your  forgive- 
ness now  for  my  long  neglect  in  answering  your 
very  friendly  and  agreeable  letter.  Be  assured,  my 
affection  for  you  is  not  abated,  much  as  my  silence 
may  deserve  to  be  construed  into  neglect.  If  Barwick 
is  yet  dear  to  me,  it  is  not  the  soil,  or  the  solitude 
I  enjoyed  there,  that  makes  it  so;  but  the  few  of 
the  Lord's  people  that  live  in  it.  Among  them,  you, 
my  dear  friend,  who,  while  I  was  present  with  you, 
administered  most  to  my  comfort,  hold  the  first  place 
in  my  memory  and  aflFections  in  my  absence.  I 
received  your  letter  as  a  proof  and  pledge  of  your 
sincere  regard  for  me,  with  real  satisfaction — and  have 
resolved,  and  re-resolved,  to  gain  a  few  minutes  to  devote 
to  you,  till  at  last  shame,  which  made  me  give  it  up 
for  awhile,  has  compelled  me  to  realize  my  resolutions. 

"My  ministerial  responsibility,  as  well  as  my  private 
regard,  lead  me  to  enquire  how  the  Lord's  work 
goes  on  in  you,  and  around  you.  I  have  no  doubt, 
from  the  Lord's  dealings  with  you,  while  I  was  with 
you,  but  that  you  have  learned  more  and  more  of 
his  covenant  love,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  in  Christ 
Jesus.  I  hope,  that  as  the  foundation  was  laid 
deep,  and  attended  with  sharp  conflicts  with*  the 
pride  of  reason  and  the  powers  of  hell — the  fruit  of 
righteousness  is  sown  in  peace  to  you;  that  you 
stand  rooted  and  grounded  in  light  and  love ;  that 
you  find  it  easier  to  live  by  faith,  and  realize  the 
promises  of  an  unchanging  Jehovah. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  135 

"Oh,  my  friend,  we  trust  in  a  Saviour  in  whom 
all  fulness  dwells ;  we  serve  a  master,  who  can  richly 
repay  us ;  we  follow  not  cunningly  devised  fahles ; 
we  look  for  a  city  which  cannot  be  moved ;  we  have 
a  friend  with  God,  who  is  touched  with  the  feeling 
of  all  our  infirmities,  and  who  is  able  to  save  us  to 
the  very  uttermost.  Let  not  our  hands  hang  down; 
let  not  our  eye  of  faith  quit  its  mark;  let  not  our 
affections  languish ;  let  us  not  sleep  as  do  others, 
but  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  us,  &c. 

"How  stands  the  work  of  God  among  you?  Does 
the  party  meet  as  before?  Do  they  maintain  their 
former  state  in  numbers,  in  attention,  in  fervency  of 
devotion,  in  brotherly  love,  in  righteousness  of  con- 
versation? Do  they  grow  in  these  graces,  adorn  the 
doctrine  of  God  their  Saviour,  and  cause  the  light 
to  shine  on  those  who  sit  in  darkness  around  them? 
Are  you  Mr.  Atkinson's  deacon  and  helper,  as  you 
were  mine?  Give  my  best  love  to  them  all  at  your 
next  meeting ;  and  tell  them,  I  often  think  of  them ; 
that  it  would  give  me  pleasure  to  see  them  again, 
and  find  them  ripening  for  the  great  approaching 
harvest.  Request  them,  in  my  name,  and  in  the 
words  of  the  Apostle,  that  they  let  their  conversa- 
tion be  as  becometh  the  gospel  of  Christ — that  whether 
I  come  to  see  them,  or  else  be  absent,  I  may  hear  of 
their  affairs  ; — that  they  may  stand  fast  in  one  spirit, 
with  one  mind,  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel. 

"I  was  not  at  Elland  the  last  meeting,  nor  have 
I  heard  any  account  of  their  finances,  which  I  fear 
are  not  yet  extricated  from  embarrassment.  I  hope 
your  mind  is  at  ease,  in  full  resignation  to  the  divine 
will  on  this  point.  I  should  be  glad  if  you  could 


136  MEMOIRS   OF 

pay  me  a  visit  at  York;  and  give  me  as  much  time 
as  you  have  to  spare.  You  might  continue  over  the 
Sunday,  on  your  visit.  Do  come,  and  soon.  I  beg 
my  best  regards  to  your  mother,  sisters,  and  brothers, 
and  shall  be  glad  to  hear  that  they  have  all  seriously 
set  their  faces  Zion-wards.  My  respects  to  Mr. 
Atkinson,  and  believe  me  to  be,  with  sincere  regard, 

"Your  affectionate  servant, — J.  GRAHAM." 

William,  instead  of  simply  tendering  Mr.  Graham's 
Christian  regards  to  the  "party,"  namely,  the  little 
Christian  society  at  Barwick,  connected  with  the 
Established  Church,  read  the  whole  of  this  truly 
apostolical  epistle  to  them  on  the  first  occasion  of 
their  meeting  after  its  reception.  This  Society  lay 
near  the  heart  of  William,  of  Mr.  Graham,  and  Mr. 
Settle,  the  latter  of  whom  was  one  of  its  early  mem- 
bers, and  rarely  wrote  without  an  enquiry  after  its 
welfare.  An  allusion  to  it,  as  well  as  to  the  Elland 
case,  which  was  still  in  suspense,  will  be  found  in 
the  following  letter. 

"  South  Clifton,  near  Newark,  Notts. 
"May  12,  1798. 

"DEAR  DAWSON. — I  have  just  received  your  letter. 
The  box,  in  one  place  or  other,  had  been  seven  weeks 
on  the  road.  But  'better  late  than  never.'  You 
have  not  seen,  I  dare  say,  in  any  of  the  papers, — 
The  Rev.  S.  Settle,  proposes  opening,  &c., — for  so 
and  so,  upon  the  easiest,  &c., — for  young  gentlemen. 
The  situation,  &c. — You  understand  me. 

"Some  time  since,  you  named  a  report  respecting 

his  grace  haA-ing  taken  another  living  from  Mr.  

Is  the  report  correct?     Have  you  seen  Mr.  Graham 
lately,    or   heard    anything    from    him  ?      Pray,    how 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  137 

does  the  meeting  go  on  at  Barwick  ?  Does  it  increase, 
or  does  it  stand  still?  You  have  said  nothing  in 
reference  to  the  Ellanders  lately.  I  suppose  the  sub- 
ject is  set  aside.  Do  you  think  they  will  ever  call 
upon  you  to  undertake  hie,  fuse,  hoc  ?  Does  young 
Mr.  Atkinson  ever  propose  anything,  or  do  you  give 
him  any  hint  on  the  subject  of  Orders?  Have  you 
seen  the  rector,  Mr.  Dean,  lately;  and  does  he  ask 
you  any  questions  on  the  matter? — What  are  you 
reading — Euclid  or  Guthrie  ?  Perchance,  the  Methodist 
Magazine  now  and  then!  You  see  what  a  number 
of  questions  I  ask  you.  There  is  yet  another.  Have 
you  heard  any  talk  about  Mr.  Foster,  the  new  curate, 
at  St.  Paul's,  Leeds?  Does  he  please,  displease,  or 
neither  ? 

"Your  father,  I  hope,  was  a  true  prophet.  A 
preacher,  of  one  kind  or  other,  you  will  one  day  be, 
I  have  little  doubt.  I  have  never  given  you  much 
encouragement  in  offering  yourself  to  the  Ellanders. 
I  have  gone  the  road — long  and  dreary,  and  without 
a  flower  to  regale  the  senses ;  and  I  have  found  at 
the  end  of  it  poverty,  contempt,  and  almost  universal 
neglect.  However,  I  make  no  complaints  to  any  one 
besides  yourself.  The  first  step  to  usefulness  is  to 
be  placed  beyond  the  power  of  want.  How  Mr.  D. 
could  think  it  possible,  that  a  man,  a  clergyman, 
one  who,  though  he  does  not,  ought  to  appear  as 
a  gentleman,  should  be  able  to  live,  to  keep  body 
and  soul  together,  with  the  scanty  allowance  of  thirty, 
or  at  most,  forty  pounds  a  year,  argues  but  little 
for  a  knowledge  of  the  world.  This  is  poor  encourage- 
ment either  for  a  man,  like  yourself,  wishing  to  enter 
into  the  church,  or  for  one,  like  myself,  with  one 


138  MEMOIRS   OF 

foot  already  in,  and  a  desire  to  continue  within  its 
walls. — But  we  may  both  multiply  and  magnify  com- 
plaints to  infinity,  and  be  no  better.  As  I  expect 
little  favour  from  the  College,  I  wrote  the  other  day 
to  request  a  person  to  take  my  name  off  the  boards. 
Young  Mr.  A.  wrote  to  me,  and  put  the  letter  into 
the  box.  He  advised  me  to  look  out  for  cheaper 
lodgings.  But  there  is  not  another  place  where  I 
could  lodge  at  Clifton,  either  cheaper  or  dearer. 

"I  think,  I  have  given  you  some  pretty  broad 
hints  respecting  what  I  should  do,  were  I  in  your 
situation.  I  have  not  told  you,  to  go  and  get  into 
the  pulpit,  and  preach  among  the  Methodists;  but 
I  have  almost  told  you,  to  lay  aside  all  thoughts  of 
entering  into  the  Church.  But  somehow  or  other, 
you  have  never  given  me  your  sentiments  on  that 
head ;  and  if  I  were  not  satisfied  in  reference  to 
your  fidelity,  I  should  hesitate  to  write  to  you  in  so 
plain  and  frank  a  manner.  "Without  flattery,  I  know 
that  God  has  favoured  you  with  many  good  qualifications, 
and  I  think  it  is  a  pity  that  any  of  them  should 
remain  dormant.  One  part  of  my  letter,  you  state, 
that  you  like ;  and  there  is  one  part  of  yours  that 
I  like.  You  inform  me,  that  you  address  a  word 
now  and  then  to  the  Methodists.  Why  is  it  only 
'now  and  then?'  why  is  it  not  as  often  as  possible? 
You  write  much  about  souls  perishing,  time  flying, 
&c.  I  think,  I  may  retort,  and  say, — You  are  halting 
between  two  opinions;  you  are  ordered  to  Nineveh, 
but  you  seem  resolved  to  go  to  Joppa.  Apply  this. 

"Your  advice  respecting  increasing  the  duty  is 
good.  I  had  put  it  partially  into  practice  before 
you  wrote.  I  have  also  written  to  Mr.  Farish  on 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  139 

the  subject.  He  is.  willing  too,  that  it  should  be 
increased  occasionally.  Respecting  catechising,  I  pur- 
pose following  Mr.  Graham's  plan.  Would  I  could 
execute  it  only  half  as  well.  I  purpose,  in  the  course 
of  the  summer,  to  go  over  some  evening  in  the  week, 
to  Hanby,  (Shadwell  you  know,)  and  for  the  sake  of 
order,  read  the  evening  prayers,  and  then  explain  a 
little,  not  so  much  to  the  children,  as  to  the  people. 
The  same  is  intended  to  be  done  at  Clifton  on  Sunday 
evening. 

"Two  young  men  died  lately  of  consumption,  both 
of  whom  I  embraced  the  opportunity  of  visiting.  One 
lived  within  a  mile  of  this  place.  Him  I  generally 
saw  daily.  It  was  by  mere  accident,  that  I  heard 
of  him.  He  did  not  live  in  the  parish,  but  had 
a  farm  in  it.  Only  part  of  the  town  is  in  the 
parish.  I  went  to  him,  and  spoke  on  the  miseries 
of  human  life,  and  the  cause  of  them ; — all  generals, 
you  know.  I  enquired,  whether  the  clergyman  had 
been  to  see  him.  fO  yes,'  was  the  reply,  'and 
gave  him  the  sacrament.'  They  had  sent  for  him 
on  purpose.  To  my  no  small  surprise,  the  man,  as 
I  was  taking  my  leave  of  him,  asked  me  to  pray 
with  him.  I  returned,  'Yes,  by  all  means.'  One  of 
the  persons  in  the  house  enquired,  whether  I  wished 
to  have  a  book.  I  answered,  'No.'  After  this,  I 
preached  the  gospel  to  him,  conversed  freely  with 
him,  and  proposed  to  him  various  questions.  The 
man,  I  trust,  obtained  saving  knowledge.  He  was 
exceedingly  partial  to  my  society,  and  expressed  him- 
self with  a  good  deal  of  warmth.  The  other  was  at 
Harley,  and  had  a  good  sense  of  divine  things. 

"As  it  regards  myself,   I  stand  much  in  need  of 


140  MEMOIRS    OF 

divine  teaching.  I  want  more  real  life  in  my  soul. 
My  manner  of  speaking  to  the  people,  I  fear,  is 
dull,  and  wants  animation.  But  the  minds  of  my 
people  require  to  be  informed.  They  ought  to  under- 
stand the  Law  before  the  Gospel.  God  himself  first 
preached  the  Law  to  his  people,  and  then  the  Gospel. 

"You  perceive  I  have  said  nothing  about  certain 
particulars ;  and  yet  I  expect  many  from  you.  Please 
to  tell  my  father  that  everything  has  been  received 
in  safety.  Pray,  write  soon. 

"Yours,  most  sincerely, — S.  SETTLE." 

Of  Mr.  Foster,  William  seems  to  speak  favourably 
in  his  Diary,  having  heard  him  at  Barwick.  As  to  the 
Methodists,  it  will  have  been  perceived,  that  Mr.  Settle 
only  became  more  explicit  in  his  remarks,  after  his 
correspondent  had  stated  that  he  occasionally  ad- 
dressed them  in  public.  This  was  prudent,  and  shews, 
that  he  wished  his  friend  to  be  guided  by  the  con- 
victions of  his  own  mind ;  and  the  fact  of  .his  having 
laboured  among  the  Methodists,  long  before  he  had 
relinquished  all  thoughts  of  going  into  the  Church, 
and  his  friends  had  ceased  to  interest  themselves  in 
the  subject,  is  a  proof  that  everything  was  the  result 
— not  of  disappointment,  but  deep  conviction,  and 
sober,  careful  deliberation.  Nor  would  he,  had  he  not 
been  sincere  in  all  his  movements,  have  ever  attempted 
to  prejudice  his  case  with  the  clergy,  by  taking  a 
part  in  the  religious  assemblies  of  the  Methodists, — 
and  more  especially  when  advised  by  a  clergyman, 
some  years  prior  to  this,  not  even  to  associate  with 
them.  His  silence,  too,  on  the  subject  of  his  intentions, 
of  which  Mr.  Settle  complains,  shews  that  he  wished 
to  be  left  to  his  own  reflections,  as  if  afraid  of  any 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  141 

improper  bias  from  friendly  interference.  And  not 
anything  can  be  more  characteristic  of  his  ardent  zeal, 
than  the  fact — while  he  was  furnishing  the  example 
at  home,  of  his  urging  his  clerical  friend  to  enlarge 
the  sphere  of  his  usefulness. 

The  additional  shades  thrown  into  the  picture  pre- 
viously sketched  by  Mr.  Settle,  of  his  struggles  and 
disappointments,  are  perfectly  natural,  and  what  might 
have  been  anticipated.  He  had  been  engaged  in  secular 
employment  in  early  life,  and  had  to  enter  upon  his 
studies  on  attaining  the  age  of  manhood.  Early  habits 
had  to  be  uprooted,  and  new  ones  planted  in  their 
stead.  He  was  anxious,  like  all  persons  of  genuine 
piety,  to  overstep  that  part  of  the  path  which — though 
fitting  him  for  it,  nevertheless  kept  him  from  his 
grand  object — the  pulpit.  His  touching  description, 
"I  have  gone  the  road — long  and  dreary,  and  with- 
out a  flower  to  regale  the  senses,"  reminds  the  traveller 
of  the  "long  and  dreary"  road  across  the  moors 
from  Sheffield  to  Hathersage,  where  all  is  sterility 
for  a  distance  of  several  miles,  till  he  comes  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  leading  down  to  the  village,  when 
the  lovely  vale  of  Hope  suddenly  bursts  upon  the  eye, 
which,  in  the  language  of  Montgomery  to  the  writer, 
in  reference  to  the  same  scene,  "lies  like  a  paradise 
in  the  lap  of  desolation."  But  the  heath,  the  jolting 
road,  and  the  rocks,  which  are  all  in  stern  contrast 
with  the  scene,  only  add  to  the  enjoyment  of  it  at 
the  close ;  as  the  happiness  of  the  collegian  would 
be  heightened  when  once  within  the  sound  of  his 
own  "sweet  evening  bells,"  amidst  scenes  of  rural 
simplicity  and  beauty,  with  the  prospect  of  general  use- 
fulness among  his  approving  and  smiling  parishioners. 


142  MEMOIRS    OF 

So  Mr.  Settle  afterwards  realized  the  sweets  resulting 
from  his  mental  toil;  and  it  was  no  small  privilege, 
while  on  his  journey  to  the  better  land,  that  he 
had  such  an  ear  as  William  Dawson's  to  listen  to 
his  sorrows,  and  such  a  breast  to  sympathize  with 
him  under  them:  thus  requiting  him  for  his  song 
of  joy  in  earlier  times,  when  all  was  assurance  and 
peace  on  the  one  hand,  and  all  was  despondency  on 
the  other. 

It  was  not  till  the  27th  of  July,  that  the  subject 
of  these  Memoirs,  found  it  convenient  to  accept  of 
Mr.  Graham's  invitation  to  York.  He  speaks  of 
experiencing  great  "nearness  to  God,"  as  he  rode  to 
the  city  on  the  Saturday.  On  the  Sabbath,  he  appears 
to  have  been  "in  the  Spirit ;  "  and  what  is  not  a 
little  expressive  of  his  freedom  from  all  disguise,  as  to 
his  partialities  and  practice,  he  went  to  the  Methodist 
chapel  in  the  morning,  where  he  heard  a  sermon  on 
Matt.  v.  17 — 20,  under  which  his  heart  was  filled 
with  thanksgiving.  He  next  proceeded  to  hear  the 
Rev.  "W.  Richardson,  who  preached  on  Ephesians  v. 
13,  14,  and  whose  voice,  manner,  and  matter,  revived 
many  early  recollections.  The  public  services  of  the 
day  were  closed  by  attending  on  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Graham,  who  expounded  I.  Bangs  vii,  by  which  his 
visitant  was  greatly  edified.  In  his  private  devotions, 
he  states,  that  he  "felt  a  remarkable  unction  when 
reading  the  cxxxix  Psalm."  The  next  day  he  had 
a  conversation  with  Mr.  Graham,  on  what  he  terms, 
"the  Elland  business,"  which  seems  to  have  been 
the  prime  object  of  the  visit,  and  respecting  which, 
his  prayer  was,  "Direct  my  steps  in  thy  goings,  O 
Lord.  I  am  thine,  do  with  me  as  thou  wilt." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  143 

Some  excellent  remarks  were  penned  by  him  in  the 
course  of  the  month  on  the  duty  of  "  mortification," 
in  things  lawful,  and  evidently  applied  to  himself  in  a 
case  of  some  difficulty,  in  which  he  displayed  the 
Christian ;  ending  in  a  further  dedication  of  himself  to 
God. 

Additional  influences  and  circumstances,  appeared  to 
be  bringing  him  to  a  decision  between  Methodism 
and  the  pulpit  of  the  Established  Church.  He  found 
that  he  had  freer  scope  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents 
among  the  Wesleyans,  than  he  was  likely  to  have  in 
the  Church  in  which  he  had  been  nurtured;  and  as 
the  founder  of  Methodism  embodied  the  doctrines  of 
the  Church  of  England  in  his  writings,  and  defended 
them  against  the  attacks  of  several  of  the  clergy,  by 
an  appeal  to  the  Liturgy,  Articles,  and  Homilies, 
there  were  the  fewer  impediments  in  his  way,  so  far 
as  creed  was  concerned.  In  stating,  that  he  found 
fuller  scope  for  his  peculiar  genius  among  the  Wesleyans, 
than  in  the  community  to  which  he  belonged,  is  to 
advance  no  more  than  will  be  admitted  by  all  who  knew 
him ;  for  while  he  was  with  the  Church — violent  as  was 
his  manner  very  often,  and  loud  as  was  his  voice,  he 
nevertheless  laboured  to  sober  down  his  native  im- 
petuosity into  the  sedate,  systematized  manner  of  the 
clergy,  and  so  proceeded  under  partial,  and  sometimes 
embarrassing  restraint:  whereas,  on  being  let  loose 
among  a  few  warm,  simple-hearted  Methodists,  where 
every  man  clerked  and  responded  for  himself,  he  sang, 
he  talked,  he  prayed,  and  seemed  to  feel  the  same 
difference  that  is  experienced  by  the  bird  which  ex- 
changes the  confinement  of  the  cage  for  the  freedom, 
the  society,  and  the  music  of  the  grove;  and  that 


144  MEMOIRS   OF 

too,  as  in  other  cases  connected  with  himself,  with- 
out fully  ascertaining  the  cause — the  whole  system 
heing  peculiarly  adapted  to  his  nature  and  his  ge- 
nius. And  he  had  not  to  go  out  of  the  Establish- 
ment,— to  turn  his  back  upon  it,  and  to  enter  another 
community  to  feel  it ;  but  it  was  while  he  was  yet  in 
the  one,  and  before  he  enjoyed  the  full  fellowship  of 
the  other ;  and  therefore,  at  a  time  when  many  of  the 
peculiarities  and  privileges  of  both  were  duly  appreciated. 

Mr.  Atkinson  informed  him  at  the  close  of  the 
Thursday  evening  meeting,  Oct.  11,  that  his  father 
wished  to  see  him  at  Leeds,  to  speak  to  him  in 
reference  to  the  Eh1  and  Society.  Dawson's  language 
was,  "Lord,  let  thy  will  be  done  in  all  things."  He 
wrote  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Settle,  on  the  Friday.  On 
the  Saturday  morning,  he  went  to  Garforth,  and  there 
found  his  other  bosom  friend,  John  Batty,  with  whom 
he  communed;  and  afterwards  visited  widow  Smith,  with 
whom  he  prayed.  He  received  the  sacrament  at  Barwick, 
in  the  parish  church,  on  the  Sabbath,  after  the  forenoon 
service,  when  his  heart  was  filled  with  "praise,"  and 
when  he  states  it  to  have  been  "  a  time  in  which  God 
shewed  his  reconciled  face."  In  the  afternoon,  he 
heard  Mr.  Atkinson;  and  in  the  evening,  he  went  to 
Scholes,  where  he  addressed  the  people  on  the  "Hap- 
piness of  heaven,"  placing  it  in  contrast  with  the  highest 
happiness  to  be  enjoyed  on  earth. 

Monday,  Oct.  15th,  there  is  the  following  entry  in 
his  Diary  : — "Dedicated  to  prayer  ; — praying  that  the 
Lord  would  direct  my  goings  in  this  most  trying 
season.  Lord  answer.  Settle  came  down." 

Here  a  little  additional  information  may  be  supplied. 
Finding  his  sphere  of  usefulness  gradually  enlarging 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  145 

in  his  own  neighbourhood,  and  having  been  led,  as 
far  as  he  could  perceive,  step  by  step,  in  the  order 
of  Providence,  in  the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged 
— for  it  was  perfectly  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of 
proceeding  in  the  Establishment, — he  hesitated,  and 
hesitated  the  more  as  he  found  the  door  so  long  in 
opening  in  reference  to  the  Elland  Society,  to  decide 
whether  he  really  ought  to  leave  so  fair  a  field  of 
usefulness.  He  was  at  the  colliery  on  the  Tuesday 
morning,  and  so  also  was  John  Batty,  who  was  waiting 
his  "stem" — a  term  employed  in  the  neighbourhood, 
to  denote  a  person  waiting  his  turn  for  a  load  of 
coals.  The  time  of  waiting  happened  to  be  longer 
than  usual,  and  turning  to  Batty,  William  said,  "John, 
this  day  is  to  decide  whether  I  am  to  be  a  clergy- 
man, or  remain  as  I  am."  John,  who  was  anxious 
to  bind  him  to  the  spot,  and  win  him  over  to  the 
Wesleyans,  proposed  a  meeting  for  prayer,  when  they 
proceeded  to  "Grime  Cabin,"  where  the  colliery  ac- 
counts were  kept.  On  leisurely  going  to  the  place, 
William  observed, — "The  best  time  for  thinking  with 
me  is,  when  I  have  a  little  leisure,  from  eleven  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  to  two  in  the  afternoon,  which  is  the 
middle  of  the  clay.  These  are  my  best  hours ;  and  when 
these  are  lost,  the  best  part  of  the  day  is  lost  to  me. 
Now,"  continued  he,  "  if  it  were  to  be  decided  in  my 
favour,  that  I  should  go  to  college,  I  should  be  obliged 
to  remain  there  three  years  :  these  three  years  would  be 
taken  from  the  best  part  of  my  life;  and,  as  far  as 
actual  labour  in  the  Church  of  God  goes,  would  be 
a  mere  blank."  Whatever  complexion  this  mode  of 
reasoning  might  assume  to  persons  who  had  every- 
thing to  learn  in  religion, — who  had  not  yet  entered 

G 


146  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  field  of  ministerial  toil,  and  therefore  had  no  con- 
gregations to  leave,  but  only  one  to  look  to  in  the 
distance,  with  Mr.  Settle's  "long  and  dreary  way" 
between,  it  had  its  influence  upon  the  subject  of  these 
Memoirs ;  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  prepared  the  way 
for  what  followed.  Unwilling,  however,  to  lean  to  his 
own  understanding  on  the  occasion,  the  twin  spirits 
entered  the  counting-house,  to  plead  with  God  in 
fellowship,  as  William  had  often  sought  directions 
singly  on  the  subject  before.  The  service  was  com- 
menced by  singing  the  429  Hymn,  p.  403,  *  of  the 
Hymn  Book,  used  among  the  Methodists,  beginning 
with — 

"  Behold  the  servant  of  the  Lord ! 
I  wait  thy  guiding  eye  to  feel ;  &c." 

than  which,  scarcely  any  other  in  the  book  could  be 
found  more  appropriate :  and  their  voices  in  those 
days  were  not  only  powerful  and  harmonious,  but 
paired  admirably  with  each  other.  They  then  prayed 
alternately  several  times,  when  the  power  of  God  was 
felt  by  each,  and  the  glory  of  God  seemed  to  fill 
the  place.  It  was  to  them,  what  the  consecrated  spot 
at  Haran  was  to  Jacob — "the  house  of  God,"  and 
"the  gate  of  heaven;"  and  humble  as  was  the  shed, 
the  realities  experienced  there,  seemed — with  a  slight 
transposition  of  the  language  of  the  poet,  to 

"  Dissolve  them  into  ecstacies, 
And  bring  all  heaven  before  their  eyes." 

As  they  issued  from  this  little  sanctuary,  like  giants 
refreshed  with  new  wine,  or  more  appropriately,  like 

*  The  Hymn  was  composed  by  Charles  Wesley ;  and  originally  appeared  at 
the  close  of  Mr.  Wesley's  "  Farther  Appeal,"  where  it  is  headed  "An  act  of 
Devotion." 


WILLIAM    DAWSOX.  147 

the  priest  from  behind  the  veil,  where  the  divine  glory 
had  been  rendered  visible,  Dawson  exclaimed,  "  John, 
I  believe  I  shall  have  to  be  a  Methodist  preacher  yet." 
This  was  music  to  the  ear  of  Batty — sweet  as  the 
hymn  itself  which  had  just  been  sung  in  the,  "cabin," 
and  made  delightful  melody  in  his  heart  the  whole  of 
the  day. 

William,  soon  after  this,  mounted  his  horse  and 
rode  to  Leeds,  where  he  had  an  interview  with  the 
Rev.  Miles  Atkinson,  by  whom  he  was  informed,  that 
the  funds  of  the  Elland  Society  were  still  low.  This,  in 
connection  with  previous  reasonings,  and  the  impression 
produced  upon  the  mind  by  his  meeting  in  the  counting- 
house,  seemed  to  be  an  indication  that  the  providential 
cloud  was  moving  in  a  direction  towards  the  Wesley  an 
pulpit,  rather  than  that  of  the  Established  Church.  Mr. 
Atkinson,  however,  not  to  lose  his  hold  of  such  a 
valuable  man,  and  still  hoping  that  the  funds  would 
soon  be  replenished,  endeavoured,  with  a  view  to  wed 
him  to  the  people  among  whom  he  had  been  trained, 
"to  prove,"  according  to  the  language  of  William  in 
his  Diary,  "the  superiority  of  the  Church  Establish- 
ment "  over  other  communities.  This,  the  Rev.  gentle- 
man might  readily  do,  so  far  as  his  arguments  applied 
to  himself,  and  other  regularly  ordained  ministers  : 
but  what  applied  to  himself,  would  neither  satisfy  the 
conscience  or  the  reason  of  a  man,  who  was  unordained 
— pressed  in  spirit,  as  he  believed,  by  God  himself, 
to  preach  the  gospel,  with  a  "woe"  attached  to 
disobedience — who  stood  alone,  as  a  churchman,  in 
his  ministerial  character — who  could  not  legally  enter 
a  single  pulpit  in  the  church  to  which  he  belonged 
— who  had  congregations  in  different  places,  glad  to 


148  MEMOIRS    OF 

hear  him,  and  benefited  by  him — the  Wesleyans  throw- 
ing the  doors  of  their  private  dwellings  open  for  him 
— the  path  to  holy  orders,  through  the  medium  of 
the  Society  proposed  to  him,  intercepted  by  an  appa- 
rently insuperable  barrier — and  at  the  hazard  of  having 
his  energies  cramped  by  the  next  rector  that  might 
succeed  Mr.  Dean,  or  the  next  curate  that  might 
follow  Mr.  J.  Atkinson. 

On  leaving  Mr.  Atkinson,  of  Leeds,  he  continued, 
to  employ  his  own  words,  "earnest  in  prayer  with 
God  for  direction."  The  next  day  he  went  to  "Wood- 
house,  in  the  afternoon,"  and  was  there  "till  late;" 
and  in  the  Diary  for  the  same  day,  Wed.  Oct.  17, 
he  adds — "Gave  Mr.  Graham  a  denial  of  entering 
the  Church."  Here,  his  conversations  with  the  biog- 
rapher, will  again  supply  a  few  particulars.  Mrs. 
Graham's  sister  being  a  resident  in  Leeds,  Mr.  Graham 
was  at  this  time  on  a  visit  to  the  house  of  his  sister- 
in-law.  Having  heard  that  his  old  parishioner  had 
latterly  mingled  more  freely  than  usual  with  the 
Methodists,  and  might  ultimately  unite  himself  to 
the  body,  he  resolved,  if  possible,  as  one  of  his 
early  preceptors,  and  as  was  natural  for  him  as  a 
clergyman  strongly  attached  to  the  Established  Church, 
to  rescue  him  from  taking  a  step,  which,  in  his  esteem, 
was  so  unadvisable.  He  intimated,  that  the  Methodists, 
however  unintentionally,  were  increasing  the  number 
of  Dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England,  and  ad- 
verted to  the  dissensions  in  the  body,  occasioned  by 
Mr.  Kilham  and  others,  as  offering  but  indifferent 
inducements  to  persons  disposed  for  quiet,  to  change 
their  religious  connexions.  Recurring  to  this  interview, 
the  subject  in  question  observed  to  the  writer,  "I  felt 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  149 

I  had  gone  too  far  to  recede,  and  employed  a  strong 
expression,  which  not  only  startled  Mr.  Graham's 
sister-in-law,  but  at  which  I  afterwards  trembled  myself 
— I  will  risk  my  damnation  upon  it;"  an  expression, 
which,  by  the  way,  could  only  have  arisen  from  a 
conviction — clear  and  strong,  that  he  was  not  seeking 
his  own,  but  was  following  the  leadings  of  divine 
providence.  Reflecting  on  the  whole  the  next  day, 
he  entered  into  his  Diary, —  "What  have  I  done? 
O  Lord,  have  I  pleased  myself,  or  thee? — thou  only 
knowest.  Convince  and  pardon  me,  if  I  have  sinned; 
if  not,  strengthen  and  stablish  me.  Oh,  give  me  not 
over  to  mine  enemies."  He  went  to  the  Thursday 
evening  meeting  as  usual,  where  he  heard  Mr.  J. 
Atkinson  on  Matt.  xiii.  47 — 52 ;  in  which  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  compared  to  a  net  cast  into  the 
sea:  and  after  Mr.  A.  had  preached,  engaged  in  prayer. 

His  friend,  Mr.  Settle,  who  was  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, preached  twice  in  the  church  on  the  following 
Sabbath,  and  at  Kippax  in  the  course  of  the  week ; 
on  each  of  which  occasions,  William  attended  his 
ministry;  and  on  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath — as 
if  honoured  with  a  new  commission,  took  his  stand 
on  "Colton  Common,"  and  shewed  the  persons  who 
heard  him,  how  far  a  person  might  proceed,  and  yet 
only  have  "a  form  of  godliness" — what  the  power 
of  godliness  was — applying  the  subject  both  to  pro- 
fessor and  profane,  and  demanding  an  answer  to  the 
question, — "That  if  persons,  who  had  a  mere  form, 
could  not  gain  admission  into  heaven,  how  those  could  ex- 
pect to  inherit  it,  who  were  destitute  even  of  that  form!" 

Though  Mr.  Settle  knew  the  way  in  which  the  Lord 
had  led  his  friend,  and  had  given  him  an  intelligible  hint 


150  MEMOIRS   OF 

on  the  subject  of  Methodism,  yet  when  it  came  to  a 
decision,  he  seemed  dissatisfied  with  him  for  deciding  so 
peremptorily  against  holy  orders ;  living  in  hope,  like 
Mr.  Atkinson  and  others,  that  a  way  might  still  be 
opened  for  him  to  the  pulpits  of  the  Established  Church, 
where  he  might  be  extensively  useful.  Mr.  Wade  advised 
him  to  go  into  the  Church,  and  others  were  grieved 
with  the  result  of  his  interview  with  Messrs.  Atkinson 
and  Graham.  Still,  unwilling  to  do  anything  in  haste, 
and  ready  to  retrace  his  steps  if  he  had  done  wrong, 
he  resolved  to  acquire  the  best  light  on  the  subject 
he  could  obtain,  and  so  wrote  for  advice  to  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Benson.  He  had  heard  what  could  be  said 
•  on  one  side  of  the  case ;  he  now  wished  to  know 
what  could  be  advanced  on  the  other.  Mr.  Benson 
wrote  as  follows : — 

"York,  Oct.  30,  1/98. 

"DEAR  SIR. — Having  been  very  much  engaged  ever 
since  I  was  favoured  with  your  letter,  it  has  not  been  in 
my  power  to  pay  proper  attention  to  it  till  now.  And 
even  now,  having  only  half  an  hour  to  spare  here 
upon  a  journey  I  am  taking  into  the  North,  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  return  you  such  an  answer  as  you 
probably  will  expect.  But  if  I  can  suggest  any  hint 
which  may  be  a  means  of  casting  light  upon  your 
path,  I  shall  be  glad.  Let  me  observe  1st,  then,  it 
is  matter  of  very  great  thankfulness,  that  so  many 
pious  ministers  have  got  into  the  Church  hi  different 
parts  of  the  kingdom  of  late  years  ;  and  it  is  much 
to  be  desired  that  more  still  should  be  introduced 
into  it.  For,  as  you  justly  observe,  thousands  will 
hear  the  gospel  in  the  Church,  who  will  not  hear  it 
out  of  it.  Add  to  this,  we  are  at  no  loss  at  all  to 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  151 

procure  preachers  to  labour  in  our  Connexion;  we 
have  more  offering  every  year  than  we  can  take  in : 
but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  find  persons  proper  to  go  into 
the  Church,  or  to  get  such  as  are  proper,  so  educated 
as  that  they  can  be  admitted.  Nevertheless,  though 
I  speak  thus,  I  would  observe  2ndly,  it  is  not  in  me 
to  determine  how  far  it  will  be  your  duty  to  endeavour 
to  get  into  the  Church.  Divers  circumstances  should 
be  taken  into  consideration,  as  your  inclination  and 
ability  to  apply  yourself  to  the  study  of  the  classics : 
— how  far  you  can  be  spared  from  the  calls  of  your 
father's  family,  who  it  seems  are  partly  dependant 
upon  you  for  support.  The  loss  of  five  years,  which 
if  you  went  to  the  University,  would  be  absolutely 
necessary  to  qualify  you  for  orders,  is  a  serious  objec- 
tion which  I  could  not  get  over,  were  it  not  for  the 
prospect  of  greater  usefulness  afterwards  ;  and  yet  that 
is  doubtful,  should  it  please  God  to  spare  your  life. 
Upon  the  whole,  the  best  advice  I  can  give  you  is, 
to  remember  him  who  has  said,  Acknowledge  me  in 
all  thy  ways,  and  I  will  direct  thy  steps.  If  your 
eye  be  single  to  God's  glory,  and  you  sincerely, 
earnestly,  and  believingly  ask  his  direction,  you  cer- 
tainly shall  be  favoured  with  it,  and  not  suffered  to 
take  a  wrong  step.  Praying  that  the  Lord  may  make 
darkness  light  before  you  in  this  business,  and  guide 
you  continually,  I  remain  your  sincere  friend  and 
brother, — "  J.  BENSON." 

Had  Mr.  Benson  not  given  greater  satisfaction  as 
a  commentator,  hi  illuminating  what  otherwise  might 
appear  dark,  than  he  did  in  removing  the  difficulties 
which  pressed  upon  his  enquiring  friend,  he  would 
have  been  less  popular  than  he  is ;  for  in  the  language 


152  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  the  subject  of  these  pages  to  the  biographer, — 
"his  letter  just  left  me  where  I  was."  But  it  is 
probable,  from  the  known  character  of  Mr.  Benson, 
that  he  felt  a  delicacy  on  the  subject;  and  that  he 
wished  to  leave  his  enquirer  to  the  dictates  of  his 
own  conscience,  the  guidance  of  his  own  reason,  the 
counsel  of  his  friends,  and  the  openings  of  divine 
providence.  So  William  himself  concluded.  Hence, 
in  his  Diary,  it  is  remarked,  "  He  leaves  it  entirely 
to  God  and  myself:"  and  then  adds,  "once,  O  Lord, 
thou  madest  a  way  for  me,  in  a  case  like  the  present, 
when  assistance  was  not  to  be  found  in  any  other 
quarter.  Suffer  me  not  to  walk  in  darkness,  but  to 
follow  thee.  Attend  me  in  all  my  concerns ;  and 
assist  me  in  all  things  to  act  as  becometh  a  Christian." 

A  few  days  after  this,  he  received  the  following 
note  from  Mr.  Dikes  : — 

"Hull,  Nov.  5,  1798. 

"  DEAR  SIR. — I  lately  saw  a  letter  from  you  to  Mr. 
Benson.  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  giving  you  my 
advise  respecting  the  question  you  propose  to  him. 
If  your  family  do  not  require  your  attention, — if  your 
entering  upon  a  course  of  study  would  be  no  dis- 
advantage to  your  mother  and  sisters,  by  all  means 
accept  the  offer  of  the  Elland  Society.  Mr.  B.  tells 
me,  they — i.  e.  the  Methodists,  have  more  preachers 
than  they  want. — As  to  the  time.  Why  should  you 
be  in  such  haste?  Neither  our  Saviour  nor  John 
the  baptist  entered  upon  their  ministry  till  they  were 
thirty-one.  And  if  persons  were  not  so  young,  when 
they  entered  upon  so  important  an  office,  it  would  be 
better.  Only, — if  you  accept  the  offer  of  the  Elland 
Society,  you  must  comply  with  all  their  rules,  and  not 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  153 

preach  among  the  Methodists.     Believe  me,  to  remain 
yours  very  sincerely, — T.  DIKES. 

«  p.  g. — You  must  not  think  all  is  lost  time,  which 
is  spent  in  making  preparation  for  the  ministry.  I 
would  wish  you  to  pass  through  the  University  of 
Cambridge:  it  will  be  a  great  advantage  to  you  in 
after  life  for  the  work  in  which  you  are  about  to 
engage." 

Mr  Dikes  had  either  not  been  fully  acquainted  with 
the  result  of  William's  interview  with  Messrs.  Atkinson 
and  Graham,  or  some  sudden  and  unexpected  change 
must  have  taken  place,  in  the  improvement  of  the 
funds ;  otherwise,  he  would  not  have  urged  him  to 
"accept  the  offer  of  the  Elland  Society:"  unless  it 
be  supposed,  that  a  strong  hope  was  entertained  that 
he  would,  at  no  remote  period,  be  admitted  as  a 
candidate,  and  was  therefore  requested  to  wait  a  short 
time  longer.  At  all  events,  the  "  oifer"  affords  ad- 
ditional proof,  that  his  way  was  now  open  to  holy 
orders,  and  that  his  non-acceptance  was  the  result  of 
the  deliberate  convictions  of  his  own  mind. 

In  his  public  addresses,  and  theological  studies,  he 
often  felt  unspeakable  delight, — though  he  was  not 
without  his  moments  of  bondage  and  depression.  The 
one  laboured  against  the  other ;  and  while  he  was 
encouraged  on  the  one  hand,  he  was  preserved  in  a 
state  of  dependance  on  the  other.  Some  of  his  sub- 
jects towards  the  close  of  the  year,  appear  to  have 
originated  in  his  own  experience, — arising  from  his 
hopes  and  fears,  his  joys  and  his  sorrows ;  as  the 
comfort  afforded  to  such  as  seek  the  Lord,  Ezra  viii,  22, 
— the  preciousness  of  Christ  to  such  as  believe,  1  Pet. 
ii,  7, — the  benefits  enjoyed  by  those  who  are  "born 


154  MEMOIRS    OP 

again," — a  caution  to  the  lukewarm,  taken  from  the 
example  of  the  members  of  the  Laodicean  church, 
Rev.  iii.  16, — finally,  warbling  out  his  "Christmas 
carol"  at  Aberford,  Deer.  25,  on  Luke  ii.  10.  There 
were  several  other  texts  and  topics,  as  appears  from 
his  notabilia,  on  which  he  dwelt;  but  these  are  ex- 
pressive of  his  general  state, — making  it  his  constant 
business  to  seek  the  Lord  himself,  clinging  to  Jesus, 
reaping  the  blessings  arising  from  the  change  he  had 
experienced,  and  dreading  lukewarmness  as  he  dreaded 
moral  evil. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  155 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Wesley's  Life. — Reconciliation  necessary  for  a  Minister  of  the 
Gospel. — People  generally  moulded  by  the  ministry. — Increasing 
faith. — Little  faith. — Jeremy  Taylor. — Extracts  from  the  Diary. 
— Bohlers  advice  to  Wesley. — Faith  to  be  preached. — Faith  in 
its  simplicity — Examples  of  it. — Friendship. — Covenant. — 
Messrs.  Graham  and  Settle. — Advantage  of  different  Christian 
communities. — Authors  and  reading. — Sentiments  of  Dr.  John- 
son and  Sir  P.  Sidney  on  knowledge. — "  Visitation  of  the  Sick." 
— Industry. — Messrs.  Settle  and  Wade. — Mr.  Suter. — W.  Dam- 
son supplies  the  place  of  the  Vicar  of  Thorpe-Arch. — Personal 
piety  and  public  usefulness. — Self-abasement. — A  hoary-headed 
enquirer  after  truth. —  Watch-nights. — Tries  Class-Meeting. — 
Preaches  in  the  coal-mine. — Dress. —  Useless  and  unseasonable 
conversation. — Omissions  of  duty. — Death  of  the  Hector  of  the 
parish. — Public  business,  and  rules  to  be  observed  in  transacting 
it. — Hard  bargains,  and  love  of  our  neighbour. — Inferior  usage. 
— Contentment. — Presentiment. — Visit  of  an  uncle  to  Barnbow. — 
Sermon  to  young  people. — Providential  deliverance. — Aptitude 
for  improving  occasions  and  events. 

THE  Life  of  the  venerable  Wesley  having  been  put 
into  his  hand  towards  the  close  of  1/98,  he  began 
to  give  it  an  attentive  and  serious  perusal,  at  the 
commencement  of  1/99.  He  remarks  in  reference 
to  it,  Jan.  8,  "I  read  part  of  Mr.  Wesley's  Life; 
and  was  struck  with  an  observation, — that  'none 
are  proper  preachers,  who  have  not  the  witness  of 


156  MEMOIRS    OF 

pardon.'  This,  to  me,  appears  to  be  a  reason,  why  I 
should  forbear  my  present  mode  of  proceeding."  With 
this  may  be  coupled  another  passage  in  his  Diary, 
for  Feb.  1.  "I  was  deeply  impressed  with  2  Cor. 
v.  18, — 'All  things  are  of  God;  who  hath  reconciled 
us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  given  to  us 
the  ministry  of  reconciliation.'  From  hence,  it  seems, 
that  a  man  must  himself  be  reconciled  to  God  previously 
to  his  becoming  a  minister  of  the  Gospel." 

This  may  be  considered  as  a  new  era  in  his  Chris- 
tian experience.  The  past,  in  his  estimation,  seemed 
to  amount  to  nothing.  He  appeared  to  himself  to 
have  been  satisfying  his  soul  with  occasional  comforts 
and  flashes  of  joy,  which  were  confounded  by  him 
with  assurance,  or  conscious  pardon.  But  others,  who 
knew  him,  and  with  his  Diaiy  before  them — them- 
selves meanwhile  conversant  with  the  operations  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  heart,  would  not  be  in- 
clined thus  to  view  the  past.  His  experience  might 
be  deemed  imperfect ;  but  still,  the  work  was  genuine, 
as  far  as  it  went.  The  truth  is,  that  God  mostly 
accommodates  his  work  to  the  workmen,  and  the  work 
generally  partakes  of  the  character  of  the  ministry. 
When  people  sit  under  a  ministry  distinguished  for 
dry  morality,  little  else  but  a  decent  morality  is  wit- 
nessed. Where  a  God-fearing,  gradual  work  of  grace 
is  insisted  upon,  without  the  doctrine  of  assurance, 
the  people  very  often  live  beneath  their  privilege ; 
and,  instead  of  rejoicing  in  God,  hang  down  their 
heads  like  bulrushes,  as  if  the  religion  of  Jesus  only 
tended  to  generate  gloom  and  melancholy.  When,  on 
the  other  hand,  present  pardon — present  salvation — 
the  seal  and  witness  of  the  Spirit  are  pressed  home 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  157 

upon  the  soul,  persons  live  in  the  enjoyment  of  them. 
Let  people  hear  nothing,  expect  nothing,  pray  for 
nothing,  believe  in  nothing  in  this  way,  and  nothing 
of  the  kind  is  either  received  or  enjoyed.  As  far  as 
experience  is  concerned,  the  religion  professed  is  a 
mere  religion  of  emptiness.  The  faith  that  is  not 
encouraged,  is  rarely  brought  into  exercise.  These 
remarks  are  made  in  the  spirit  of  the  sentiment  to 
which  the  Apostle  gives  utterance,  in  his  first  Epistle 
to  the  Corinthians, — "Therefore,  whether  it  were  I 
or  they,  so  we  preach,  and  so  ye  believed. "  Nor 
are  they  less  in  harmony  with  the  language  of  the 
Son  of  God, — "According  to  your  faith  he  it  unto 
you."  This  apostolical  doctrine  is,  in  its  operation 
upon  the  mind,  one  of  the  distinguishing  features  of 
Methodism.  An  instantaneous  work  is  believed  and 
urged,  and  instantaneous  pardon  is  received,  accom- 
panied with  its  internal  evidence.  Christianity  is 
represented,  Rom.  vi.  1 7,  under  the  nature  of  a  mould 
or  die,  into  which  its  adherents  are  cast,  and  from 
which  they  take  the  impression  of  its  excellence ;  "ye 
have  obeyed  from  the  heart  that  form  of  doctrine 
which  was  delivered  you."  And  as  is  the  mould,  so 
will  be  the  figures  thrown  oif — perfect  or  imperfect, 
feeble  or  strong. 

The  case  seems  to  be  this, — the  subject  of  these 
pages,  now  saw  more  clearly  what,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  he  before  had  felt.  He  began  to  adopt  differ- 
ent terms,  and  to  affix  either  stronger  or  other  meanings 
to  terms  previously  employed.  He  became  more  in 
earnest  too,  for  the  direct  abiding  witness  of  the 
Spirit;  had  a  more  correct  perception  of  the  nature 
of  faith,  and  was  more  deeply  impressed  with  the 


158  MEMOIRS   OF 

necessity  of  living  by  it.  In  consequence  of  not  having 
lived  in  the  constant  exercise  of  faith  hitherto,  he 
was  often  complaining  of  the  "hidings"  of  God,  of 
"startings  of  anger,"  of  "earthly  desires,"  of  an 
inclination  to  "peevishness," — over  the  first  of  which 
he  silently  mourned,  and  against  the  latter  of  which 
he  proclaimed  incessant  war:  but  now,  it  was  faith 
— faith  in  the  beginning,  faith  in  the  middle,  faith 
at  the  close ;  the  faith  in  which  he  found  he  could 
alone  stand — by  which  he  found  he  could  alone  walk 
— through  which  he  could  alone  overcome  ; — that  faith, 
in  short,  by  which  he  only  could  live,  and  so  secure, 
in  the  smile  of  his  God  and  Saviour,  permanent  re- 
pose. A  want  of  the  constant  exercise  of  faith  will 
as  naturally  induce  doubt,  fear,  gloom,  and  consequent 
dejection,  as  moral  evil  will  entail  its  burden  of  guilt 
upon  the  conscience.  Hence,  the  momentous  import 
of  that  single  sentence,  uttered  by  the  prophet — "The 
just  shall  live  by  his  faith ; "  a  sentence,  iterated  and 
re-iterated  by  the  apostle; — entering  into  the  very 
spirit  of  every  dispensation  of  God  to  man ; — urged 
upon  the  ancient  Jews,  the  Romans,  the  Galatians, 
and  the  more  modern  Hebrews  ;  *  informing  the  latter, 
that  they  were  to  "  LIVE  "  as  their  fathers  had 
done,  "by  faith," — that  faith  was  as  essential  to 
spiritual,  as  food  to  natural  life, — and  that  a  man 
could,  with  as  little  safety  to  his  comfort  and  reli- 
gious being,  cease  to  believe,  as  he  could  hope  to 
support  existence  in  the  present  state  without  food. 
Weak  faith,  like  impoverishing  diet,  preserves  the 
soul  in  a  sickly,  languishing  state  ;  strong  faith  pre- 
serves it  in  vigour.  Faith,  when  weak,  endangers 

•Hab.ii.  4;  Rom.  i.  17;  Gal.  Hi.  11 ;  Heb.  x.  38. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  159 

the  life  of  an  apostle,  and  he  feels  himself  gradually 
sinking  through  the  yielding  waters,  in  proportion 
as  he  ceases  to  exercise  it ;  whereas  faith,  when  strong, 
gives  courage  to  the  heart,  and  vigour  to  the  arm  of 
the  patriarch,  who,  in  the  plenitude  of  its  power, 
goes  forth  to  the  sacrifice  of  an  only  son. 

It  was  from  his  own  experience,  that  he  drew  many 
of  his  subsequent  observations,  and  so  far — whatever 
might  be  the  cost  of  pain  to  himself,  his  exercises 
were  beneficial  to  others.  When  speaking  of  "little 
faith"  afterwards,  he  exhibited  it  under  the  imagery 
of  "A  little  lad,  sitting  in  a  corner,  with  a  blood- 
shot eye,  and  a  green  shade  over  it."  Persons  of 
fastidious  taste,  would  find  latitude  sufficient  here  to 
find  fault;  but  to  the  spiritually-minded,  the  right- 
hearted,  the  imagery,  with  the  truths  couched  under 
it,  would  afford  ground-work  for  half  a  dozen  dis- 
courses.— "LITTLE  FAITH,"  to  extend,  as  well  as 
familiarize  the  subject,  is  but  a  "little  lad" — being 
comparatively  feeble,  in  consequence  of  not  having 
reached  maturity; — is  found  "sitting,"  instead  of  being 
actively  engaged,  and  on  the  alert — our  best  divines 
invariably  representing  it  as  an  "  active  principle ; " — 
takes  its  position  in  a  "corner,"  instead  of  going 
abroad  to  benefit  the  public  by  its  example,  and  to 
be  "seen  and  read  of  all  men;" — with  a  "green 
shade,"  requiring,  instead  of  imparting  relief; — "a 
blood-shot  eye,"  and  so  obstructing  vision,  by  pre- 
venting the  free  and  full  use  of  the  faculty; — the 
whole  forming  a  complete  contrast  to  faith  hi  its 
strength,  or, — to  pursue  the  metaphor,  faith  in  its 
manhood,  whose  praise  is  thus  chaunted  by  the  bard 
of  Methodism — 


160  MEMOIRS   OP 

"  Faith  lends  ils  realizing  light, 

The  clouds  disperse,  the  shadows  fly ; 
Th'  Invisib'e  appears  in  sight, 

And  God  is  seen  by  mortal  eye." 

And  besides,  — as  already  hinted,  and  as  was  well 
attested  by  the  experience  of  the  subject  of  these 
Memoirs,  "little  faith"  is  more  or  less  in  pain — 
perplexed  with  doubts,  and  distracted  with  fears,  which 
was,  no  doubt,  another  idea  he  wished  to  convey. — 
Jeremy  Taylor,  in  illustrating  faith,  takes  the  case  of 
the  Israelites,  who  were  bitten  by  the  serpents;  and 
shews,  to  employ  his  own  language,  that  when  even 
a  "blear-eyed"  person  turned  towards  the  object, 
and  reached  it,  there  was  sufficient  virtue  in  the  look, 
in  connection  with  the  object  so  beheld,  to  save ; 
though  the  vision  of  such  a  person  might  be  but 
dim,  when  compared  with  the  clear,  steady,  penetra- 
ting glance  of  others.  Whatever  becomes  of  the 
language — and  the  same  apology  that  will  serve  the 
prelate,  may  be  deemed  sufficient  for  William  Dawson, 
— the  simile,  in  both  cases,  is  admirably  adapted  to 
illustrate  faith  in  its  varied  exercises  and  effects. 

Two  or  three  extracts  from  his  Diary,  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  of  different  dates,  will  shew  how  his  mind 
was  absorbed  on  the  subject  of  faith,  and  the  blessings 
consequent  on  its  exercise. 

"  Read  some  of  the  experience  of  Mrs.  Rogers.  Thy 
will,  O  Lord,  be  done  in  me  and  by  me.  Let  thy  mercy 
preserve  and  bless  my  soul.  Remove  unbelief.  Give 
me  faith.  Opened  on  Zech.  ix.  9 — 12,  which  was  made 
useful  to  me. 

"  Much  in  earnest  for  strength  to  believe.  Frequently 
opened  on  different  texts  in  the  Evangelists  ;  such  as — 
'Thy  faith  hath  saved  thee,'— 'Only  believe,'— ' If 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  161 

thou  canst  believe,  all  things  are  possible  to  him  that 
believeth,'  &c.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  I 
opened  on  Rom.  iii.  25, — '  Whom  God  hath  set  forth 
to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare 
his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God.'  Thus,  in  the  death 
of  Christ,  by  applying  faith,  God's  righteousness  is 
exemplified  in  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  and 
he  can  be  just,  and  yet  the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth 
in  Jesus. 

"  Engaged  with  the  Lord  all  the  day,  for  the  full 
application  of  the  sense  of  pardon  to  my  soul.  In  the 
evening,  when  at  private  prayer,  I  found  a  little  confi- 
dence in  the  merits  of  Jesus,  by  believing  in  him.  This 
promise  is  useful  to  me, — '  He  that  believeth  on  him  is 
not  condemned.'  Mr.  Fletcher's  letters  are  of  service 
to  me,  where  he  shews  that  believing,  and  the  seal  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  are  two  distinct  things.  But,  O  Lord, 
I  trust  I  shall  not  rest  hi  anything,  and  especially  with- 
out this  seal, — this  earnest  of  thine, — this  pledge  of 
heaven.  Never  till  now  did  I  see  so  much  as  is  implied 
in  this  promise, — 'Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father 
in  my  name,  he  will  give  it  you.'  Blessed  Jesus !  I 
hope  this  is  the  beginning  of  good  days.  The  same  day 
I  spoke  at  Garforth,  on — '  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.'  This  is  my  earnest 
wish, — a  more  powerful  application  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  my  heart." 

In  thus  preaching  faith,  while  deploring  his  want  of 
it,  and  assigning  that  want  as  a  reason  why  he  should 
desist  from  preaching,  a  person  acquainted  with  the  life 
of  Wesley,  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  will  be 
led  to  advert  to  the  following  passage,  where  the  latter 


162  MEMOIRS   OF 

remarks, — "Immediately  it  struck  my  mind,  'Leave 
off  preaching.  How  can  you  preach  to  others,  who  have 
not  faith  yourself?'  I  asked  Bohler  whether  he  thought 
I  should  leave  it  off  or  not.  He  answered,  'By  no 
means.'  I  asked,  '  But  what  can  I  preach  ? '  He  said, 
'  Preach  faith  till  you  have  it ;  and  then,  because  you 
have  it,  you  will  preach  it."'*  It  is  not  improbable 
that  Bohler' s  reply  to  "Wesley  was  the  means  of  not 
only  preserving  Dawson  in  his  work,  but  of  his  con- 
tinuing to  preach  on  the  subject  of  faith.  There  is  one 
distinction,  however,  to  be  preserved  in  remembrance, 
— That  while  Mr.  "Wesley  felt  the  total  absence  of  justi- 
fying faith,  William  Dawson  was  only  tempted  to  reason 
himself  out  of  what  he  had.  He  seemed  like  a  person 
not  altogether  satisfied  with  the  fruit  he  had  been  per- 
mitted to  taste,  and  was  desirous,  if  not  of  entirely 
rooting  up  the  whole  tree,  of  at  least  grafting  a  scion  of 
a  different  species  of  apple  on  the  old  stock.  But  he 
was  soon  taught  to  proceed  "from  faith  to  faith," — 
not  differing  in  kind,  but  in  degree,  "by  a  gradual 
series,"  as  Mr.  Wesley  renders  the  passage,  "  of  still 
clearer  and  clearer  promises."  As  the  giant  Anteus, 
when  wrestling  with  Hercules,  is  said  to  have  acquired 
strength  by  every  fall  to  the  ground ;  so  the  faith  of 
Dawson,  though  occasionally  foiled,  rose  again  and 
fought  more  valiantly, — each  succeeding  conflict  yield- 
ing greater  triumph. f 

By  repeated  conferences  with  Mr.  Thomas  Stoner, 

*  Wesley's  Works,  Vol.  I.  p.  86. 

+  Simplicity  in  all  matters  of  faith,  is  considered  the  best  guide ;  and  with 
this,  while  the  poor  are  instructed,  the  learned  are  never  offended.  A  peasant 
of  singular  piety,  being  upon  a  particular  occasion  admitted  to  the  presence  of 
the  King  of  Sweden,  was  asked  by  him,  "  What  he  considered  to  be  the  nature 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  163 

the  father  of  the  Rev.  David  Stoner,  then  resident  at 
Barwick,  and  Mr.  John  "Warner,  together  with  others, 
he  became  more  and  more  established.  Mr.  Warner 
was  at  that  time  in  all  the  strength  of  his  Christian 
character,  and  William  Dawson,  who  could  never  for- 
get a  kindness,  was  not  the  man  to  desert  him,  in 
a  reverse  of  circumstances.  A  false  friend  has  been 
very  properly  compared  to  the  shadow  on  the  dial, — 
appearing  in  clear  weather,  but  vanishing  as  soon  as 
it  becomes  cloudy.  The  subject  of  these  Memoirs, 
on  receiving  an  accession  of  spiritual  strength,  never 
failed  to  strengthen  the  brethren, — to  uphold  the  weak, 
and  to  reclaim  the  wanderer;  and  Mr.  Warner  was 
one  who  shared  in  his  kind  attentions. 

He  entered  into  solemn  covenant  with  God  on  the 
anniversary  of  his  birth-day,  adopting  the  same  form 

of  true  faith  ?"  The  peasant  entered  fully  into  the  subject,  and  much  to  the 
king's  comfort  and  satisfaction.  When  the  king  was  on  his  death-bed,  he  had 
a  return  of  his  fears  as  to  the  safety  of  his  soul,  and  still  the  same  question  was 
perpetually  put  to  those  around  him : — "  What  is  real  faith  p  "  The  archbishop 
of  Upsal,  who  had  been  sent  for  arrived,  and  entering  the  king's  bed-chamber, 
commenced  in  a  learned,  logical  manner,  a  scholastic  definition  of  faith,  which 
lasted  an  hour.  When  he  had  finished,  the  king  said,  with  much  energy — 
"  All  this  is  ingenious,  but  not  comfortable  ;  it  is  not  what  I  want.  Nothing 
but  the  farmer's  faith  will  do  for  me." 

A  minister,  in  America,  desirous  of  communicating  the  notion  of  faith  to  a 
little  boy,  took  a  chair,  and  placed  it  some  distance  from  him,  when  he  told 
the  boy  to  stand  upon  it — to  fall  forward — and  he  would  catch  him.  The  boy 
immediately  mounted  the  chair,  but  did  not  fall  forward  as  requested.  He 
wished  to  obey,  but  was  afraid  the  minister  would  fail  in  catching  him.  He 
however,  put  one  hand  on  the  mantle-piece,  thinking  to  save  himself,  if  not 
caught ;  but  the  minister  told  him,  that  would  not  do, — he  must  trust  to  him 
alone;  adding,  that  he  would  surely  catch  him,  provided  he  would  fall  for- 
ward. The  boy  immediately  summoned  all  his  courage  and  fell ;  when  he  was 
as  quickly  caught.  The  minister  then  told  him,  that  that  was  faith,  and  that 
he  wished  him  to  go  with  the  same  confidence  to  Jesus  Christ.  Any  child  may 
comprehend  this;  but  alas,  the  disposition  is  too  often  manifested,  to  lay  hold 
of  some  "  mantle-piece  " — something  in  which  self  is  interested,  rather  than 
go  direct  to  the  anus  of  the  Saviour. 


164  MEMOIRS    OF 

as  the  one  of  Friday,  July  25,  1790,  saying — "repeated, 
Saturday,  March  30,  1799." 

Mr.  Graham  visited  Barwick  in  the  spring,  and  Mr. 
Settle  in  the  summer;  but  no  estrangement  of  spirit 
was  perceptible  on  either  side.  William  notices  his 
interviews  with  both,  with  pleasurable  feeling;  and  with 
the  latter,  a  regular  correspondence  was  still  main- 
tained. They  were  satisfied  with  his  sincerity  in  the 
decision  of  the  preceding  year;  and  though  it  sun- 
dered them  in  the  field  of  operation,  they  knew  that 
the  great  moral  waste  could  only  be  cultivated  and 
reaped  by  the  different  religious  communities  occupying 
their  different  stations  and  plots,  and  working  their 
way  to  the  centre,  where — on  the  work  being  com- 
pleted, "Harvest  home"  would  be  shouted,  and  the 
grand  "Hallelujah  chorus "  sung  over  a  once  lost, 
but  finally  saved  world. 

He  became  increasingly  attached,  in  his  reading,  to 
the  Arminian  Magazine,  to  the  writings  of  Fletcher 
of  Madely,  Richard  Baxter,  Joseph  Alleine,  and  others ; 
and  added  to  them,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  those 
of  Rogers,  Bishop  Newton,'  Doddridge,  Bunyan,  Dr. 
Owen,  Ambrose,  &c.,  together  with  a  work  on  the 
Success  of  the  Gospel.  He  was  not,  as  has  been  stated 
of  another,  a  labourer  in  the  mines  of  learning ;  but 
more  properly  an  assayer  of  the  metal ;  one  who  could 
test  the  value  of  what  he  read,  and  then  give  it  cur- 
rency. His  reading  was  but  circumscribed;  still,  it 
was  good.  He  seemed  instinctively  led  to  some  of 
the  most  useful  works;  and  as  he  read  chiefly  for 
experimental  and  practical  purposes,  he  rarely  per- 
plexed himself  with  the  more  controversial  portions  of 
an  author's  writings.  The  end  which  he  proposed  to 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  165 

himself  in  reading,  preserved  him  from  the  error  against 
which  others  have  been  cautioned, — of  wheeling  rub- 
bish to  the  base  of  the  mountain,  without  adding  to 
its  height,  or  enlarging  its  prospect; — of  carrying 
stones  to  the  architectural  pile,  and  only  adding  to 
its  bulk,  without  increasing  its  strength  or  its  mag- 
nificence. The  time  occupied  in  reading,  was  taken 
in  snatches  from  secular  employments ;  and  as  this 
was  compressed  into  comparatively  small  compass,  he 
contrived  to  improve  it  to  the  best  advantage,  by  the 
value  of  the  works  that  came  under  his  notice.  He 
felt  in  all  its  force,  what  Dr.  Johnson  with  so  much 
judgment  has  expressed : — "  The  foundation  of  know- 
ledge must  be  laid  in  reading.  General  principles 
must  be  had  from  books,  which,  however,  must  be 
brought  to  the  test  of  real  life.  In  conversation  you 
never  get  a  system.  What  is  said  upon  a  subject  is 
to  be  gathered  from  a  hundred  people.  The  parts  of 
a  truth,  which  a  man  gets  thus,  are  at  such  a  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  that  he  never  attains  to  a  full 
view."  As  a  system  can  only  be  effectually  formed 
in  this  way,  so  that  system — when  good,  will  have 
its  corresponding  influence  on  human  action ;  for,  "it 
is  manifest,"  says  Sir.  P.  Sidney,  in  his  more  anti- 
quated style,  "that  all  government  of  action  is  to  be 
gotten  by  knowledge,  and  knowledge  best  by  gathering 
many  knowledges,  which  is  reading." 

In  obeying  the  apostolic  injunction,  "  give  attendance 
to  reading,"  he  was  careful  not  to  permit  his  attempts 
to  acquire  knowledge  to  trench  upon  other  duties.  He 
knew  the  liturgy  too  well  to  forget  "  the  visitation  of 
the  sick  ;"  and  the  grace  of  God  had  too  deep  a  hold  of 
his  heart,  to  allow  him  to  neglect  the  kindly  office.  A 


166  MEMOIRS    OF 

reference  has  been  already  made  to  his  diligence  and 
tenderness  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty ;  and  he  was 
not  without  encouragement.  "  I  visited,"  he  remarks, 
"  a  young  woman  at  Scholes.  May  she  know  the  whole 
truth!"  Two  days  after  he  adds,  in  reference  to  the 
same  person, — "I  am  much  comforted  in  the  relation 
of  her  triumphant  death." 

He  was  in  the  hahit,  at  this  time,  of  composing  a 
new  sermon  every  week ;  and  forty  of  these  have  turned 
up  among  his  papers,  dated  1799,  together  with  the 
places  at  which  they  were  preached.  Exclusive  of  short 
addresses,  seventy-five  distinct  preaching  sen-ices  are 
enumerated  in  the  course  of  the  year.  This  is  the  more 
remarkable,  as  he  stood  nearly  alone,  not  being  wholly 
either  with  the  Established  Church,  or  with  the  Wes- 
leyans,  though  loved  and  courted  by  both,  and  an 
attendant  on  the  ministry  of  each.  Among  the  clergy, 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Atkinson,  Hodgson,  Foster,  Marriott, 
Smalpage,  Hemington,  and  King,  are  noticed  this  year; 
Benson,  Pawson,  Blagborne,  and  others,  among  the 
Methodists. 

Few  were  the  instances  in  which  he  was  repulsed,  in 
the  course  of  public  instruction  which  he  was  pur- 
suing ;  and  two  of  these, — which  are  the  only  cases  that 
have  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  biographer,  were 
not  distinguished  by  anything  discreditable  to  either 
party.  Some  of  the  friends  applied  to  Mr.  Wade  of 
Sturton  Grange,  to  allow  him  to  preach  in  his  house. 
"  No,"  returned  Mr.  Wade,  with  energy  and  firmness, 
"  he  shall  not  preach  in  my  house,  till  he  is  united  to 
the  Methodists."  Mr.  Wade  was  ignorant  of  his  inward 
struggles,  and  of  the  difficulties  he  had  to  surmount, 
arising  from  early  prejudices  and  prepossessions.  On 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  167 

the  friends  at  Seacroft  requesting  Mr.  Suter,  who 
preached  in  the  forenoon,  to  publish  for  him  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  in  the  evening,  he  enquired  with  some  appa- 
rent sharpness, — "  Who  is  this  Mr.  Dawson  ?"  Further 
observing, — "  He  is  not  regularly  acknowledged  among 
us ;  we  know  nothing  of  him."  Not  being  an  accredited 
local-preacher,  and  the  old  gentleman  being  tenacious 
of  rule,  he  considered  himself  justified  in  declining  to 
make  the  announcement.  Yet  such  was  the  contrast, 
in  the  same  place,  and  about  the  same  time,  that  when 
the  Rev.  R.  Remington,  vicar  of  Thorpe-Arch,  noticed 
above,  was  announced  to  preach,  but  prevented  from 
attending,  the  congregation  assembled  on  the  occasion, 
finding  William  Dawson  present,  pressed  him  to  engage 
in  the  service,  which  he  readily  did,  and  went  through 
the  whole  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  hearers.  His  own 
remark  in  his  Diary,  in  reference  to  this  circumstance 
is  ; — "  I  was  at  Seacroft  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Heming- 
ton  was  expected,  but  did  not  come.  I  spoke  to  the 
people.  O  Lord,  let  thy  good  Spirit  be  found  in  me, 
to  enable  me  to  rejoice  before  thee  with  reverence,  and 
to  bear  an  experimental  testimony  of  thy  pardoning 
grace,  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ!"  He  also  occupied 
the  pulpit  at  Scholes,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Pawson. 
Adverting  to  the  extraordinary  manner  in  which  he  had 
been  led  by  the  providence  of  God,  in  early  life,  as 
well  as  his  consecration  to  the  Missionary  cause  at 
its  close,  he  observed  to  the  writer,  after  several  other 
remarks, — "  I  have  always  considered  myself  a  kind  of 
nondescript." 

While  the  two  or  three  rebuffs  just  noticed,  produced 
momentary  pain,  they  contributed  their  quota  towards 
hastening  another  decision,  consequent  on  that  of 


168  MEMOIRS    OF 

deciding  against  holy  orders,  namely,  his  becoming  an 
accredited  Wesleyan  local-preacher.  He  continued, 
meanwhile,  in  the  spirit  of  his  work,  as  the  following 
additional  entries  in  his  Diary  for  the  year  will  shew ; 
and  though  somewhat  similar  to  extracts  already  made, 
they  will  exhibit  his  progress  in  piety. 

"At  Barwick  in  the  evening.  Spoke  upon  Psalm 
ciii.  2.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  my  strength,  for  a  sweet 
confidential  nearness  to  him  in  prayer  ! 

"  Preached  at  Micklefield.  Praise  the  Lord !  I  found 
him  near  and  precious.  I  experienced,  as  I  was  going, 
a  sweetness  of  a  peculiar  kind,  in  thus  being  engaged 
for  God.  I  spoke  on,  '  He  hath  done  all  things  well.' 
It  is  still  my  prayer,  that  God  would  reveal  himself  in 
my  soul  more  fully — in  the  full  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit. 

"Had  a  powerful  application  of  that  text,  'How  much 
more  shah1  your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  them  that  ask  him  ? ' 

"  While  at  prayer,  after  dinner,  I  felt  an  uncommon 
influence  of  God  upon  the  soul ;  and  particularly  in 
reading  John,  xiv.  13 — 17.  In  the  evening,  I  spoke  at 
Whitkirk,  on  our  Lord's  appearing  to  Mary  Magdalene. 
Praise  the  Lord,  praise  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits ! 
those  especially  which  I  obtain  while  waiting  upon  him. 
He  is  good.  Oh,  may  he  attend  the  poor  hints  which 
have  been  dropped,  with  his  divine  blessing ! "  At  the 
same  place  again,  about  a  month  after,  he  observes, — 

"  I  was  at  Whitkirk  in  the  evening,  and  spoke  on 
Acts  xix.  20.  Bless  the  Lord,  I  think  I  never  remember 
receiving  so  much  good  in  my  life.  Bless  the  Lord ! 
He  is  mine, — he  is  mine.  A  woman  was  deeply  affected. 
Oh,  may  she  never  rest,  till  she  is  completely  changed 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  169 

into  the  divine  image !  Blessed  Lamb !  I  wish  to  be 
the  devil's  enemy.  O  enable  me  to  do  much  injury  to 
his  interests  in  thy  Name ! 

"Life  and  liberty  in  speaking  at  Colton,  on  Prov. 
xix.  23.  I  trust  my  visit  will  not  be  in  vain. 

"Spoke  on  Isaiah  Ixii.  6.  Solemnly  affected  in  the 
first  prayer.  A  poor,  simple-hearted  man,  stood  up 
in  the  meeting,  and  told  us  what  God  had  done  for 
his  soul. 

"At  Halton.  Spoke  on  Matt,  xviii.  3.  My  prayer 
is,  that  God  would  attend  my  labours  with  abundant 
success  to  precious  souls ;  and  for  this,  my  soul  is 
unusually  drawn  out. 

"In  a  sweet  frame  of  mind  this  morning.  I  hope 
it  will  be  the  opening  of  a  good  day.  So  it  pro- 
ved. At  Little  Preston  in  the  forenoon;  at  Robert 
Moor's  at  two  o'clock ;  and  at  Scholes  in  the  evening. 
Bless  the  Lord  for  a  finishing  blessing !  May  the 
Lord  hear  our  prayers  for  the  poor  creature  that  has 
recently  so  much  dishonoured  the  gospel,  and  raise 
up  many  in  his  place !  Praise  the  Lord  for  a  praying 
frame !  Waking  in  the  morning,  and  going  to  sleep 
in  the  evening  in  it ! 

"Blessed  be  the  Lord  for  a  gracious  season  at  Sea- 
croft  !  A  woman  was  set  at  liberty  from  the  bonds  of  sin. 

"Oh,  may  I  be  moulded,  blessed  Lord,  into  thy 
likeness,  so  that  as  thou  art  the  express  image  of 
thy  Father,  I  may  be  the  express  image  of  thee  my 
Redeemer ! " 

Notwithstanding  his  repeated  baptisms  of  the  Spirit, 
such   passages   as  the  following,   mingling   with    the 
preceding,  shew,  that  with  the  patches  of  light,  there 
were  also  some  deep  shades. 
H 


1/0  MEMOIRS    OF 

"Appear,  O  Lord,  in  my  heart  with  power!  I  see 
and  feel  my  natural  depravity.  The  character  of  Mary 
Magdalene  was  far  inferior  to  mine  in  sin.  Oh,  for 
Mary's  sensibility  and  success  !  "  The  succeeding 
month,  he  exclaims — 

"God  he  merciful  to  me  a  sinner!  Surely  the 
earth  never  bore  a  greater ;  yet,  how  little  I  am 
affected  with  it,  to  what  I  ought  to  be !  Lord,  give  me 
not  over  to  a  hard  heart,  and  a  reprobate  mind!"  Again, 

"Thou  knowest,  O  Lord,  that  I  would  rather  die 
than  live  in  sin.  Cleanse  me  fully!  Found  sweet 
relief  in,  'Where  sin  abounded,  grace  did  much  more 
abound.'  Praise  the  Lord!  Oh,  never,  never,  never 
may  I,  for  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  indulge  the  thought 
of  making  Christ  the  minister  of  sin ! "  Once  more  ; 

*•'  After  breakfast,  I  wrestled  with  the  Lord,  with 
some  short  intermissions,  till  noon,  for  a  manifesta- 
tion of  his  grace.  But  he  did  not  appear.  Surely 
it  is  pride,  self,  or  unbelief,  that  prevents  it.  Went 
to  Methley ;  found  some  faith  to  believe ;  and,  the 
Lord  was  present  to  seal  his  word.  In  the  evening 
I  experienced  a  calm  in  my  soul.  Indwelling  evil 
and  fear,  seemed  to  have  fled.  A  quiet  resting 
upon  the  Lord  seemed  to  be  my  state,  though  I 
cannot  say  a  lively  faith.  Oh,  that  it  may  be  the 
preceding  stillness  for  the  Lord  speaking  to  my  soul ! 
and  that  this  were  my  experience, 

'  Restless,  resigned,  for  this  I  wait' " 

When  thus  abased  before  God,  his  evidence  became 
bedimned;  and  he  would  have  implored  reconciling 
grace,  like  a  penitent  imploring  pardon  on  first  coming 
to  Christ,  with  an  oppressive  load  of  guilt  upon  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  171 

conscience.  Thus,  "O  Lord,  thy  promises,  thy  mani- 
festations, all  speak  thy  willingness  to  communicate 
thy  Spirit  to  any  soul  that  longs  for  it.  Do  I  ask 
amiss?  Lord,  pardon  me!  Do  I  not  ask  the  gifts 
of  thy  Spirit  with  this  one  object  in  view — thy  yloryl 
Thou  knowest  self  creeps  in.  Work  in  me  a  thorough 
change — an  entire,  a  new  creation :  and  I  protest,  in 
thy  presence,  and  by  thy  assisting  grace,  which  is 
ever  ready  to  help,  I  will  not  rest  without  the  seal 
of  the  Spirit,  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.  Thou, 
O  Lord,  and  thou  alone,  canst  bestow  the  power  to 
believe.  Thou  hast  given  me  a  will.  Let  me  enter 
into  the  liberty  of  a  lively  faith  in  Christ,  and  out 
of  the  bondage  of  all  slavish  fear.  Let  me  taste  the 
powers  of  the  world  to  come.  Let  the  Spirit  come 
in  thine  own  way,  and  in  thine  own  manner.  Thy 
will  be  done ;  only  hear  my  breathings  for  a  present 
salvation.  Bestow  a  holy  sense  of  thy  reconciliation, 
that  I  may  know,  that  thou,  O  Father,  for  Christ's 
sake,  hast  blotted  out  mine  iniquities,  and  I  am  ac- 
cepted in  the  beloved.  Lord,  help  helplessness; — a 
little  child,  that  can  only  defend  itself,  and  help  itself, 
by  weeping !  Lord,  help  me.  Let  me  gather  up  the 
crumbs  that  fall  from  thy  table.  Infinite  love !  let  one 
smile  be  afforded,  that  my  soul  may  cease  from  its  own 
works,  and  rest  in  the  full  and  eternal  satisfaction  of 
the  Redeemer  of  the  whole  world  ! "  Like  David,  he 
lifted  up  his  heart  to  the  Lord ;  but  he  found,  as  in 
the  weights  of  a  clock,  that  the  spirits  might  drop  sud- 
denly, and  with  ease,  when  it  required  steadiness, 
strength,  and  perseverance  to  wind  them  up. 

Then  again,  in  his  private  musings,  as  well  as  in  his 
public  exercises,  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  his 


1/2  MEMOIRS    OF 

soul  would  reveal  itself  in  smiles,  breaking  forth  like 
the  sun  from  behind  a  cloud  ;  giving  utterance  to  such 
sentences  as  these, — "  I  have  a  sweet  sense  of  the  un- 
searchable riches  of  Christ  in  my  soul.  Take,  oh  take, 
lovely  and  adorable  Lamb,  full  possession  of  my  breast !" 
Again, — "  Delightful  drawings  after  God.  Surely  this 
is  the  day-star,  the  dawning  of  a  happy  day,  when 
heavenly  zeal,  burning  love,  true  humility,  and  every 
grace  of  the  Spirit  shines  out  with  useful  splendour  on 
a  watching  world !  " 

But  whether  in  cloud  or  in  sunshine,  he  never  lost 
sight  of  his  own  spiritual  interests,  and  the  salvation  of 
those  around ;  and  the  Divine  Being  knowing  his  sin- 
cerity, affixed,  in  both  states,  his  seal  to  his  ministry. 
Dwelling,  on  one  occasion,  upon  "repentance  unto 
faith,"  and  shewing  that  the  one,  if  followed  up,  would 
lead  to  the  other,  an  old  man  was  deeply  impressed 
with  the  subject.  After  preaching,  the  man  of  hoary 
hairs  found  his  way  to  him,  and  told  him  that  he  had 
often  heard  of  repentance,  but  that  there  was  something 
in  this  "repentance  unto  faith,"  which  he  could  not 
understand;  observing, — "You  must  excuse  me  asking 
you  for  an  explanation ;  but  when  you  are  in  the  pulpit, 
you  sometimes  get  above  us,  and  at  other  times  go 
away  to  other  things,  when  we  want  a  bit  more  of  what 
we  have  just  had."  Dawson  entered  into  a  friendly 
conversation  on  the  subject,  which  only  gave  his  auditor 
a  relish  for  more.  Not  long  after  this,  he  was  going  to 
Leeds  market,  when  his  horse,  somewhat  quicker  in 
hearing  than  himself,  started,  and  seemed  disposed  to 
push  forward.  He  had  proceeded  but  a  few  paces, 
when  he  heard  a  distant  pattering  noise  in  the  rear, 
and  on  suddenly  turning  round,  saw  a  person  posting 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  1/3 

his  way  after  him  on  a  pony.  It  was  his  old  friend, 
who  had  watched  for  an  opportunity  of  joining  him  on 
his  way  to  the  market;  and  who,  on  coming  up  to 
him,  abruptly  and  unceremoniously  accosted  him  with, 
— "now  for  a  bit  more  of  this  '  repentance  unto  faith.' " 
Dawson  was  again  as  ready  to  communicate,  as  his 
companion  was  to  receive ;  and  unfolding  the  scriptures, 
he  "  preached  unto  him  Jesus,"  just  as  Philip  preached 
to  the  Ethiopian  treasurer,  "as  they  went  on  their 
way," — the  discourse  continuing  till  he  and  his  ven- 
erable pupil  reached  Leeds.  And  in  this  way,  and  for 
these  purposes,  his  society  was  frequently  sought. 

Watch-nights  were  held  once  a  quarter,  on  a  Saturday 
evening,  at  Garforth  ;  and  these  he  generally  attended, 
as  well  as  assisted  in  the  service ;  describing  one  as  a 
"  pentecostal  season,"  in  the  course  of  which  he  "  spir- 
itualized the  Jewish  Jubilee."  The  love-feasts  were 
also  attended  as  heretofore.  Thus,  every  door  was  now 
open  to  him,  and  into  most  he  had  entered.  He  had 
preached  in  several  of  the  pulpits,  exercised  in  the 
prayer-meetings,  assisted  at  watch-nights,  and  had 
spoken  in  the  love-feasts.  But  he  had  not  yet  passed 
the  Rubicon.  Class-meeting,  like  that  inconsiderable 
stream  separating  Italy  from  Cisalpine  Gaul,  was  a 
boundary  over  which  he  had  not  dared  to  step  ;  as  that 
would  have  been — if  not  to  have  placed  him  in  a  hostile 
attitude  to  the  Established  Church,  like  Caesar  against 
the  senate  and  against  Pompey, — at  least  to  have  recog- 
nized his  membership  in  the  Wesleyan  body.  Without 
any  intention,  however,  to  enter  as  a  stated  member, 
and  in  all  probability  through  the  force  of  persuasion, 
he  at  length  made  a  solitary  trial  of  class-meeting,  on 
Sunday,  June  9th,  in  the  present  year — 1799.  His 


1/4  MEMOIRS   OF 

own  account  of  the  occasion  is  exceedingly  brief: — 
"  Hear,  O  Lord,  and  answer  my  poor  petitions  !  Thou 
knowest  the  desires  of  my  soul  after  thee. — At  Scholes 
in  the  evening ;  spoke  on  Rev.  i.  5,  6.  Found  but  a 
slender  movement  of  the  affections  in  my  breast. — 

'  Jesus,  I  fain  would  find, 
Thy  zeal  for  God  in  me.' 

Stayed  at  the  class  in  the  evening.  Felt  rather  better 
in  my  approaches  to  God."  Whatever  might  have 
been  the  cause,  which  is  not  stated,  it  is  certain 
that  some  time  elapsed  before  he  again  ventured  to  a 
class-meeting.  About  the  same  time  he  has  this 
remark  ; — "  Heard  some  reports  respecting  persons 
professing  godliness,  committing  sin.  Saw  a  man  who 
had  been  a  preacher,  and  who,  it  was  said,  had  enlisted 
as  a  soldier.  Lord,  help  me  !"  These  things,  though 
not  occurring  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  might 
possibly  exercise  an  improper  influence  over  him,  in 
preventing  a  repetition  of  his  attendance.  With  the 
exception  of  class-meeting,  from  which  he  afterwards 
derived  much  benefit,  and  which  he  never  appears  to 
have  discouraged  in  others,  he  manifested  the  utmost 
anxiety  for  the  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  several  so- 
cieties, and  on  one  occasion, — the  circumstances  of  the 
case  demanding  it,  "  wrote  an  address  to  the  society  at 
H,"— probably  Halton. 

He  was  no  less  active  below,  than  above  ground. 
His  office,  as  steward,  sometimes  made  it  necessary  for 
him  to  descend  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  to  examine 
the  workings  of  the  coal  mines.  He  had  a  dress  for 
the  occasion  ;  and  after  finishing  his  survey,  he  was 
often  accosted  by  the  colliers  on  leaving,  with — "  Come, 
give  us  a  word  :  there  are  some  of  your  children  here, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  175 

and  they  want  a  bit  of  bread."  This  appeal  to  his 
ministerial  character,  made  by  those  whom  he  had 
"  begotten  through  the  Gospel,"  and  who  were  anxious 
for  the  bread  of  life,  was  rarely  made  in  vain, — never, 
indeed,  when  time  and  prudence  gave  their  suffrage. 
And  there — not  in  clerical  costume,  but  in  his  grotesque 
under-ground  habiliments,  he  addressed  the  sons  of  the 
pit,  like  so  many  "spirits  in  prison,"  as  they  squatted 
around  him,  with  the  hue  of  West  Indian  slaves, — two 
or  three  candles  in  the  midst  of  the  still  deeper  jet  of 
the  mine,  held  in  the  hand,  or  attached  by  their  own 
tallow  to  the  projecting  blocks  of  coal,  rendering  the 
white  ring  of  the  eye  visible,  as  it  gleamed  in  the 
equally  penetrating  yet  benignant  glance  of  the  preacher. 
The  biographer  can  easily  conceive  the  effect  of  such  a 
preacher,  such  a  place  of  worship,  and  such  an  auditory ; 
having  himself  embraced  the  opportunity  of  preaching 
to  a  company  of  miners,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  under 
ground,  in  a  spacious  apartment  in  one  of  the  mines 
of  Cumberland,  when  led  by  curiosity  into  it, — but  with 
this  difference- — it  was  less  murky, — the  whole  sparkling 
like  a  spacious  hall  studded  with  diamonds. 

Though  necessity  was  laid  upon  him  to  change  his 
attire,  when  he  descended  into  the  earth,  he  made 
little  or  no  difference,  at  this  time,  between  his  pulpit 
costume  and  his  ordinary  dress.  As  he  always  gloried 
in  the  character  of  an  English  yeoman,  who  was  quali- 
fied to  serve  on  juries,  to  vote  for  knights  of  the  shire, 
and  to  perform  any  other  act  where  the  law  requires  one 
that  is  probus  et  leyalis  homo,  so  he  was  partial  to  his 
dress,  which  is  thus  quaintly  described  by  Fuller: — 
"The  good  yeoman,"  he  observes,  "wears  russet 
clothes,  but  makes  golden  payment,  having  time  in  his 


1/6  MEMOIRS   OF 

buttons,  but  silver  in  his  pockets.  If  he  chance  to 
appear  in  clothes  above  his  rank,  it  is  to  grace  some 
great  man  with  his  service,  arid  then  he  blusheth  at  his 
own  bravery.  Otherwise,  he  is  the  sweet  landmark, 
whence  foreigners  may  take  aim  of  the  ancient  English 
customs  ;  the  gentry  more  floating  after  foreign  fash- 
ions." Notwithstanding  the  subject  of  these  pages 
avoided  "  floating  after  foreign  fashions,"  and  might 
be  considered  as  a  fair  and  safe  "landmark,"  always 
habiting  himself  in  a  way  suited  to  his  situation  in  life, 
yet  it  did  not  quite  comport  with  the  views  of  some  of 
his  inferiors  in  society,  and  with  their  notions  of  the 
ministerial  office,  though  lay  in  its  character.  An  old 
man,  somewhat  facetious  in  his  way,  met  him  in  an 
adjoining  wood  one  day,  and  touching  his  breast,  said 
— "  Put  it  in — put  it  in,  and  cover  it  up."  Dawson 
had  been  preaching  in  a  ruffled  shirt,  of  which  he  was 
perfectly  unconscious,  constituting  a  part  of  his  ordinary 
Sabbath  dress,  and  which  had  as  little  influence  upon 
his  spirit,  as  the  shoes  on  his  feet.  But  though  this 
soon  disappeared,  still  all  was  not  agreeable  to  those 
who  look  at  "outward  and  visible  signs."  While  walk- 
ing, on  another  occasion,  through  the  fields,  on  his  way 
to  Garforth,  in  company  with  John  Batty,  he  took  off" 
his  neckcloth,  and  disencumbered  it  of  its  "  stiffner." 
John,  in  a  state  of  surprise,  enquired, — "  What  are  you 
about?"  He  returned — "Nothing  particular;"  sub- 
joining rather  drily, — "I  am  only  becoming  weak  to 
the  weak ;  Mrs.  W.  has  sent  me  word  that  I  am  not  to 
appear  again  at  Garforth  with  a  stiffner  in  my  neck- 
cloth." In  this,  much  more  credit  was  due  to  the 
preacher,  than  to  the  tongue  of  the  fair  hearer. 

He  was  always  much  more  afraid  of  the  spirit,  than 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  177 

the  costume  of  the  world  ;  and  had  to  complain  of  per- 
sons, who,  on  leaving  the  house  of  God,  entered  upon 
topics  irrelevant  to  the  ordinance  and  the  word  preached, 
instead  of  improving  what  they  had  heard ;  and  up- 
braided himself  for  not,  in  every  instance,  hearing  his 
testimony  against  it,  as  well  as  for  not  fully  delivering 
his  mind  in  private,  on  matters  of  religion,  saying,  "  Oh 

that  I  could  have  said  more  to on  the  important 

concerns  of  the  soul !  "  The  least  omission  of  duty 
weighed  down  his  spirits.  "  I  heard  a  man,"  he  writes, 
"  boast  that  he  was  once  able  to  drink  a  certain  quantity 
of  liquor."  This  same  person  appears  to  have  become 
religious,  and  ought  to  have  been  ashamed  of  giving 
publicity  to  the  circumstance.  Dawson  let  it  pass. 
But  what  were  his  views  and  feelings  afterwards !  "0 
my  soul !  "  said  he,  when  soliloquizing  on  the  subject, 
"  why  didst  thou  not  give  some  reproof?  Thou  didst 
wrong  in  not  discharging  thy  duty.  Forgive  me,  O 
Lord !  I  am  a  sinner.  This  will  not  excuse  an  omission 
of  duty,  on  another  opportunity  presenting  itself." 
This  is  a  point  of  some  moment.  Persons  have  been 
known  to  dwell  on  their  past  sins,  when  connected  with 
cunning,  daring,  or  skill,  more  with  a  feeling  of  pride 
than  holy  shame  ;  forgetting  the  odiousness  of  the  act 
in  the  dexterity  displayed ;  when  they  ought  to  have 
wept  before  God,  and  blushed  before  man.  He  was 
careful,  however,  in  administering  reproof,  to  award 
only  what  was  necessary  for  the  occasion  ;  and  would 
have  rebuked  himself  for  any  defect  either  in  the  matter 
or  the  manner.  Hence  his  complaint, — "  This  afternoon 
I  spoke  in  sadly  too  strong  language.  Lord,  pity  me ! 
I  deserve  not  thy  mercy." 

On  the  demise  of  Mr.  Dean,  the  rector,  who  quitted 
H  2 


178  MEMOIRS    OF 

this  life  "Wednesday,  February  6th,  of  this  year,  the 
subject  of  these  Memoirs  felt  much  anxiety  respecting 
a  successor ;  saying, — "  O  my  God,  give  us  a  minister 
who  shall  preach  the  whole,  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus  !  " 
The  new  rector,  Mr.  Hodgson,  visited  Barwick,  on  the 
6th  of  March,  and  preached  on  the  10th.  But  "Wil- 
liam's attendance  at  the  church  became  less  and  less 
frequent,  in  consequence  of  his  almost  incessant  labour 
elsewhere.  He  attended  the  sale  of  Mr.  Dean's  house- 
hold effects,  but  was  out  of  his  element.  "  What 
advantage,"  says  he,  "  O  my  soul,  is  to  be  obtained 
on  such  public  occasions." 

His  talents,  however,  were  such  as  to  command  at- 
tention ;  and  he  found  it  impossible  to  escape  from  the 
more  chafing  parts  of  public  business, — being  called 
upon  to  engage  in  valuations,  parish  meetings,  &c. 
Nor  had  he  a  little  trouble  with  the  "  Income  Tax," 
concerning  which  he  speaks  of  having  received  his 
instructions  at  Leeds.  But  into  every  act  between  man 
and  man,  he  took  his  conscience.  Hence  some  of  his 
cautions  :  "  Beware  of  speaking  too  positively  in  bar- 
gaining." "  Guard  against  an  overcharge  of  liquor. 
The  least  degree  unfits  the  soul  for  communion  with 
God.  And  this  may  be  the  case,  when  its  effects 
cannot  be  perceived  by  man."  "  Avoid  sharpness  in 
conversation."  "  Never  speak  disrespectfully  of  any 
man."  "  Flee  all  self-seeking." 

These,  and  similar  maxims,  he  laboured  to  carry  into 
effect ;  and  if  a  bargain  seemed  hard  to  the  party  with 
whom  he  was  transacting  business,  though  their  own 
deliberate  act,  while  the  circumstances  in  which  he  was 
placed  would  admit  of  no  alteration,  he  nevertheless 
felt  acute  pain ;  and  instead  of  boasting  of  a  slight 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  179 

advantage,  as  is  the  case  with  many,  whose  trumpet  is 
the  loudest  in  transactions  the  most  unjust,  especially 
when  the  unsuspecting  and  inexperienced  are  the  prey, 
he  threw  his  sympathies  into  the  heart  of  the  buyer,  as 
well  as  poured  out  his  prayers  for  him, — that  the  pur- 
chase might  prove  beneficial,  and  exceed  expectation. 
An  example  occurs  in  his  Diary,  in  reference  to  a 
person  who  had  taken  a  lime-kiln,  and  which  he  was 
affraid  would  prove  a  hard  bargain.  The  circumstances 
had  all  been  stated  ;  but  the  man  ventured  upon  it ; 
and  though  there  was  no  complaint  on  his  part,  yet  it 
did  not  prevent  the  apprehensions  and  feelings  of  the 
subject  of  these  pages.  And  this  is  the  very  essence  of 
love  to  our  neighbour, — to  make  his  case  our  own! 
Just  and  liberal,  however,  as  he  was,  he  had  not  only 
small  wages,  as  before  noticed,  but  even  less  wages  and 
fewer  privileges  than  the  other  book-keepers,  in  the 
service  of  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne.  But  it  is  no  uncom- 
mon thing  to  find  the  children  of  this  world  better  paid 
than  the  children  of  light ;  nor  is  it  at  all  marvellous, 
that  a  person  of  superior  mind  should  be  found  to  sub- 
mit to  it,  who  considers  himself  in  the  order  of  God, 
and  who  has  been  taught  to  say  with  the  apostle  ; — "  I 
have  learned  in  whatsoever  state  I  am,  therewith  to  be 
content."  The  wheat,  too,  this  year,  was  "  much 
sprouted."  But  instead  of  complaining,  he  looked 
upon  it  as  a  punishment,  saying, — "Thy  just  judg- 
ments, O  Lord,  are  abroad  in  the  earth  ;  but  spare,  oh 
spare  thy  people  ! " 

A  reference  has  already  been  made  to  his  freedom 
from  superstition.  But,  like  many  others,  he  was  not 
a  stranger  to  presentiment.  "  I  am  struck  with  the 
idea,"  he  observes,  "  that  some  trial  is  hanging  over 


180  MEMOIRS    OF 

my  head.  If  it  be  not  a  trial  occasioned  by,  or  proceed- 
ing from,  any  fault  of  my  own,  the  Lord's  will  be 
done !  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  work  for  good."  The 
next  leaf  he  notices, — "  Richard  has  taken  himself  out 
of  the  Barkston-Ash  volunteers."  He  adds, — "  Let 
thy  special  providence,  O  Lord,  be  over  us  in  all 
things ! "  Though  Mr.  Richard  had  sufficient  reason 
for  the  step  he  took,  it  was  calculated  to  excite  the 
displeasure  of  those  in  command,  and  might  possibly 
have  worked  round  painfully  upon  the  family,  through 
the  medium  of  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne.*  It  is  not  un- 
reasonable to  suppose,  that  God  occasionally  permits 
these  secret  forebodings  and  anticipations  to  take  place, 
which,  like  clouds  settling  upon  the  brow  of  a  hill, 
overshadow  the  mind,  but  which,  in  thus  throwing 
their  dark  shadows  over  the  spirit,  prepare  and  fortify 
the  individual  against  the  event,  as  a  sudden  plunge 
into  the  ocean  of  sorrow  might  terminate  in  despair  ; 
and  this  may  be  admitted,  without  going  to  the  full 
length  of  the  Orientals  in  their  doctrine  of  "  Khismut." 
His  uncle  William  paid  a  visit  to  the  family  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  for  whose  salvation  he  had  often 
prayed ;  and  as  he  had  to  preach  at  Barwick  on  the 
evening  of  the  Sabbath  he  was  at  Barnbow,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  the  uncle  might  be  induced  to  hear  the 

*  While  one  of  our  squadrons  was  blockading  either  Brest  or  Toulon,  the 
flag-captain  had  occasion  to  send  for  one  of  the  warrant-officers,  a  veteran  who 
had  shewn  his  undaunted  face  in  some  of  our  severest  actions,  to  receive  some 
directions  on  the  quarter-deck.  As  the  ship  was  just  standing  off  the  .'bore, 
and  nearly  three  miles  from  it,  a  shot  was  fired  from  one  of  the  batteries.  On 
seeing  the  Hush,  the  old  seaman  clenched  his  hands  and  exclaimed, — "  That  is 
for  me !  I  know  it  is  for  me !  "  The  astonished  captain  had  scarcely  com- 
menced his  rebuke,  when  the  poor  fellow's  trunk  lay  bleeding  on  the  v'anks. 
Tiie  gun  must  have  had  an  elevation  of  twelve  degrees  or  more,  so  that  the 
chances  of  tbe  ball  touching  anything  but  the  sea  were  enormous ;  and  the 
person  destroyed  was  the  only  one  who  even  thought  about  an  effect. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  181 

nephew.  He  spoke  on  Christ,  in  all  things  having 
the  pre-eminence  ;  and  earnest  was  the  prayer  which 
went  from  the  lip,  that  "  the  Lord  would  change  the 
heart  of  his  uncle  by  his  grace."  What  a  mercy  to 
have  one  in  a  family, — if  there  were  no  more, — to  care 
for  the  salvation  of  the  remainder  ! 

From  his  earliest  religious  impressions,  he  had,  as 
occasion  has  been  taken  to  shew,  a  tender  solicitude  for 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  young  people.  And  towards 
the  close  of  the  year,  he  remarks, — "The  propriety  of 
preaching  a  sermon  to  young  people,  at  Whitkirk, 
occurred  to  me."  This  was  speedily  followed  up  by  a 
discourse  to  that  effect. 

In  returning  home  after  the  public  labours  of  the 
Sabbath,  over  moors,  and  along  deep  narrow  lanes,  he 
frequently  had  to  encounter  the  tempest,  driving  the 
rain,  the  snow,  and  the  sleet  full  in  the  face  ;  and 
in  some  instances,  found  it  difficult  to  pursue  his  way 
in  the  dark  ;  yet  generally  exclaiming  at  the  end  of  the 
journey, — "  The  Lord  has  been  my  preserver  and  con- 
ductor." On  one  of  these  occasions,  he  was  benighted 
on  a  moor;  and  being  unable  to  discern  the  proper 
track,  he  gave  himself  up  to  the  guidance  of  divine 
providence, — throwing  the  bridle  on  the  neck  of  the 
horse,  and  praying  for  direction.  The  thunder  pealed, 
— though  in  the  month  of  December, — and  the  light- 
ning only  rendered  the  darkness  still  more  "visible.  The 
next  flash  struck  the  stick  in  his  hand,  but  did  no 
further  injury.  Such  was  the  vividness  of  each  suc- 
ceeding flash,  that  the  face  of  the  surrounding  district 
was  suddenly  lit  up,  as  with  a  gleam  of  sunshine, 
enabling  him, — though  as  suddenly  ceasing, — to  guess 
his  way  out  of  the  labyrinth  in  which  he  was  involved. 


182  MEMOIRS    OF 

Having  to  preach  at  Barwick  the  same  evening,  he 
arrived  just  as  the  people  were  about  to  disperse.  He 
related  to  them  the  occasion  of  the  delay,  telling  them, 
with  some  little  improvement  of  the  circumstance,  that 
it  was  a  sermon  sufficient  of  itself  for  their  further 
meditation. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  improvement  was  a 
good  substitute  for  the  sermon ;  for  he  manifested  a 
considerable  aptitude  in  improving  passing  events,  as 
well  as  a  readiness  to  turn  public  occasions  to  good 
account.  Thus,  at  Garforth  feast,  he  took  for  his 
text,  Isaiah  Iv.  1,  2,  "Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth, 
come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money ; 
come  ye,  buy  and  eat ;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk, 
without  money  and  without  price."  At  the  same  place, 
on  the  occasion  of  a  watch-night,  he  improved  on  the 
"shipmaster's"  address  to  Jonah  i.  6, — "What  meanest 
thou,  O  sleeper?  arise,  call  upon  thy  God,  if  so  be 
that  God  will  think  upon  us,  that  we  perish  not." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  old  year. — Time. — The  eighteenth  century. — Opinions  of  John- 
son and  Clarendon. — Disinterested  toil. —  Usefulness. — Samuel 
flick. — Class-meeting. — Thomas  Stoner. — Blessedness  of  Chris- 
tian communion. — Social  literary  advantages. — Reading  and 
rtliyious  discourse. — Providential  choice  of  lot.  —  Wit,  true  and 
false. — Study. — Reproof. — HOME  religion. — Domestic  changes. 
— Escape  from  death. — Murder. — Local  preachers. — Pulpit 
preparation. — Over  exertion. — Progress  in  piety. — Sinners  dis- 
turbed in  their  pleasures  by  rousing  sermons. — Increasing  labour. 
— Pity  to  the  poor. — Becomes  an  accredited  Local  Preacher. — 
Wesley,  Whitfield,  and  Cennick's  sermons. — Richard  Burdsall. 
— Enlarged  sphere  of  labour. — Affliction  andits fruit. — Meets  the 
Local  Preachers,  and  attends  the  Quarter-Melting. — Preaches 
in  Ljeeds. — Rev.  S.  Bradburn. — Rev.  W.  BramwcU. — Sinkings 
and  swellings  of  heart. —  Watchfulness. 

WHILE  the  close  of  an  old  year  never  fails  to  pros- 
trate the  Christian  in  the  dust  before  God,  and  to 
fill  him  with  adoring  gratitude,  the  commencement  of 
a  new  one  is  rarely  without  its  holy  purposes  and 
protestations.  The  brief  parenthesis  between  the  close 
of  one  century,  and  the  opening  of  another,  is  still 
more  impressive.  So  it  was  experienced  by  William 
Dawson,  who  commenced  January  1st,  1800,  with  a 
solemn  dedication  of  himself  to  God,  imploring  "  spe- 
cial grace,"  to  enable  him  to  do  his  "perfect  and 


184  MEMOIRS    OF 

proper  will,"  entreating  at  the  same  time,  a  "revival 
of  religion  in  the  hearts  of  those  around."  Noiseless 
as  are  the  wings  of  time,  they  were  next  to  heard 
by  him  on  the  occasion,  and  roused  him  to  renewed 
exertion.  He  rested  his  hopes  not  on  the  past,  but 
on  the  future.  The  eighteenth  century  had  completed 
its  cycle ;  but  he  was  aware,  that  "  Time  never  turns 
the  glass  again,"  to  furnish  man  with  an  opportunity 
of  going  over  the  ground,  in  order  to  improve  it. 
"Time,"  was  to  him,  "the  wise  man's  treasure," — 
"the  nurse  and  breeder  of  all  good:"  but  he  knew, 
if  he  could  not  change  the  past,  by  renewed  purposes, 
he  could  nevertheless  make  improvements  upon  it ;  nor 
did  he  fail  in  this,  when  defects  were  detected,  though 
few  men  had  less  reason  to  complain  of  misspent 
moments.  "Money  and  time,"  it  is  remarked  by  Dr. 
Johnson,  "are  the  heaviest  burthens  of  life,  and  the 
unhappiest  of  all  mortals  are  those  who  have  more 
of  either  than  they  know  how  to  use.  To  set  him- 
self free  from  these  incumbrances, — one  makes  collec- 
tions of  shells,  and  another  searches  the  world  for 
tulips  and  carnations."  The  subject  of  these  Memoirs 
fixed  his  mind  on  things  the  most  momentous;  and 
finding  life  exceedingly  short,  he  contrived  to  press 
the  greatest  amount  of  labour  into  the  smallest  pos- 
sible compass  of  time ;  and  this  he  did  under  a  full 
conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  sentiments  of  Clarendon, 
— ''That  our  precious  time  is  not  lent  to  us  to  do 
nothing  with,  or  to  be  spent  upon  that  which  is  worse 
than  nothing ;  that  we  shall  not  be  more  confounded 
with  anything,  than  to  find  that  there  is  a  perfect 
register  kept  of  all  that  we  did  in  that  time ;  and 
that  when  we  have  scarce  remembered  the  morrow 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  185 

what  we  did  yesterday,  there  is  a  diary  in  which 
nothing  we  did  is  left  out,  and  as  much  notice  taken 
when  we  did  nothing  at  all."  Hence  his  frequent 
exclamations,  when  pressing  important  truths  upon 
himself  and  his  hearers,  "Let  us  look  at  everything 
in  the  light  of  eternity, — hring  everything  to  hear  on 
a  day  of  judgment." 

In  support  of  the  devout  resolutions  formed,  and 
as  a  proof  that  he  was  anxious  to  forward  the  pros- 
perity of  Zion,  his  sermons  in  the  course  of  the  year 
averaged  ahout  two  each  Sahhath, — preaching  on  some 
occasions,  when  a  Sabhath  had  been  omitted,  four 
sermons  on  one  day, — the  places  themselves  being 
some  miles  apart  from  each  other.  Several  new  places 
too,  were  added  to  those  which  had  been  regularly 
visited,  as  Bramham,  Mickletown,  Thorpe-Arch,  Sher- 
burn,  Shippin,  Lofthouse,  Rothwell,  Hemsworth,  and 
Ackworth.  For  all  this  toil,  the  only  reward  he  re- 
ceived, besides  that  of  the  approbation  of  his  own 
conscience,  was  an  occasional  social  meal  or  two  with 
the  friends  on  the  Sabbath ;  and  even  that  was  regu- 
lated by  his  distance  from  home.  He  found  his  own 
horse,  paid  his  own  tolls,  and  supported  the  whole 
of  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  road.  In  this,  he  had 
an  admirable  example  in  many  of  the  Local  Preachers 
among  the  Wesleyans;  but  not  being  familiar  alto- 
gether with  the  system,  and  being  without  an  example 
in  his  own  peculiar  situation, — moving  alone,  to  a 
certain  extent, — his  disinterestedness  appears  the  more 
conspicuous. 

His  usefulness  kept  pace  with  his  sincerity  and  zeal. 
Hence,  at  Kippax,  on  a  Saturday  evening,  he  observes, 
— "This  was  a  season  of  help,  while  speaking  for 


186  MEMOIRS    OF 

Christ.  A  woman  was  remarkably  affected.  Let  it, 
my  Lord,  bring  her  effectually  to  thee.  How  far  it 
was  right  in  concluding,  the  Lord  only  knows."  On 
another  occasion,  he  remarks, — "John  Head  has  in- 
formed me  of  a  person  receiving  good  under  my 
preaching.  Praised  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for 
this !  It  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth.  A  tongue  of 
flesh  alone  profiteth  nothing."  Again,  when  at  Sax- 
ton,  Barkston,  and  Sherburn,  he  observes,  "I  was 
pleased  with  the  happiness  of  a  young  person  brought 
into  the  liberty  of  the  children  of  God.  Keep  her, 
O  Lord,  under  thy  hand;  and  add  many  to  thy 
church,  who  shall  be  eternally  saved. "  Also  at  Whit- 
kirk: — "It  delighted  me  to  hear  the  intelligence  of 
J.  Harrison's  conversion.  Praise  the  Lord,  who 
abundantly  pardons  all  returning  sinners ! " 

The  doubt  entertained  respecting  "concluding"  at 
Kippax,  seems  to  have  arisen  from  the  fact  of  the 
person  not  having  entered  into  Christian  liberty,  and 
the  propriety  of  leaving  her  in  that  state,  without 
a  continued  exercise  of  faith  and  prayer  on  her  be- 
half. He  became  better  disciplined  in  this  work 
afterwards ;  but  the  doubt  itself  was  a  favourable 
symptom.  *  How  far,  in  the  other  case,  the  expression 
"under,"  rather  than  in  the  hand  of  God,  was  designed, 
is  not  certain;  yet  it  very  much  resembles  one  of 
those  happy  verbal  selections  peculiar  to  himself.  The 
person  was  young ;  and  if,  from  her  native  buoyancy, 

*  He  afterwards  amused  the  biographer  with  a  remark  of  the  "  Village 
Blacksmith  "  in  a  similar  case.  "  You  will  not  leave  the  person  in  distress," 
said  the  friends  to  Samuel,  as  he  was  quitting  a  meeting,  on  the  blessing  being 
pronounced.  "  Bless  you  barns,"  he  sharply  returned,  "  she  will  serve  as  a 
match  to  kindle  the  fire  with  to-morrow  night."  Dawson  had  no  such  design ; 
and  Samuel  himself  was  probably  either  lacking  in  faith,  or  failing  in  physical 
strength,  when  he  gave  the  reply. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  187 

she  did  not  require  the  hand  of  severity  to  subdue 
her  spirit,  and  so  "keep  her  under,"  she  required 
the  constant,  gentle  training  of  the  vine-dresser,  that 
"under"  his  "hand" — "under"  his  tender  care,  she 
might  bloom  in  the  paradise  below. 

Though  still  shy  of  class-meeting,  he  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  steer  clear  in  his  frequent  associations  with 
the  Wesleyans ;  and  accordingly,  when  preaching 
at  Little  Preston  in  the  evening  of  February  3rd,  he 
enters  into  his  Diary,  "  Stopped  at  the  class ; "  sub- 
joining, as  though  he  could  not  avoid  it,  and  was 
at  a  loss  to  know  how  far  he  had  acted  properly 
hitherto,  in  declining  it,  "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done!"  The  other  prudential  means  of  grace  in  the 
body,  such  as  love-feasts  and  watch-nights,  were  en- 
joyed as  usual,  remaining  in  the  latter  sometimes, 
when  at  a  distance  of  some  miles  from  home,  till 
twelve  o'clock  at  night.  Thomas  Stoner  had  a  meeting 
too,  at  Barwick,  but  whether  a  fellowship,  conversa- 
tional, or  prayer-meeting,  is  difficult  to  determine. 
That  it  was  not  a  class-meeting,  is  probable  from  the 
fact  of  William  first  uniting  himself  formally  to  the 
class  at  Scholes,  and  the  great  probability  of  his 
joining  the  one  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Stoner,  in 
consequence  of  his  attachment  to  him,  and  the  hallowed 
seasons  he  enjoyed  under  his  roof. 

Being  at  Seacroft,  Thursday,  June  20,  "assisting 
Mr.  Porter  with  his  hay,"  he  states,  that  he  attended 
"Stringer  and  England's  class;"  again  adding,  "let 
me  do  thy  will,  O  Lord ! "  Having  at  length  decided 
on  becoming  a  member,  he  united  himself  to  the 
Society  at  Scholes,  Thursday,  July  3rd;  on  which 
occasion,  he  remarks,  —  "  At  Scholes  class-meeting 


188  MEMOIRS   OF 

for  the  first  time.  It  is  under  thy  will  and  blessing, 
O  Lord,  I  trust,  that  I  should  attend  there.  Let 
it  be  for  thy  glory,  and  the  good  of  souls."  His 
previous  visits  were  accidental  rather  than  otherwise ; 
now  he  formally  entered  as  a  member,  and  considered 
it  the  "  first  time "  of  meeting  in  that  character. 
He  subsequently  notices  the  advantage  which  he  re- 
ceived from  such  Christian  fellowship,  in  the  following 
terms; — August  7-  "At  Scholes.  A  season  of  good 
from  God."  August  14.  "Great  nearness  to  God. 
Praise  his  holy  name!"  August  21.  "In  a  serious 
frame,  produced  by  considerations  on  the  shortness 
of  time."  September  16.  "A  partial  fast,  to  inter- 
cede with  God  for  his  blessing  upon  the  Society  at 
Scholes."  September  18.  "  Visited  Miss  Collingworth. 
The  mind  more  open.  The  Lord  appeared  rather 
distant  at  the  class  towards  the  commencement,  but 
nearer  towards  the  close."  September  25.  "A  precious 
season  at  Scholes !"  October  16.  "  A  most  profitable 
meeting.  Praise  the  Lord!"  November  6.  "Refreshed 
with  a  solemn  sense  of  God's  presence." 

Few  men  ever  entered  the  Wesleyan  Society  with 
greater  weight  of  character,  from  purer  motives,  with 
more  matured  judgment,  or  were  equally  qualified  for 
more  immediate  and  extensive  usefulness.  And  as 
he  had  no  quarrel  with  the  Established  Church — 
no  objection  to  her  creed — and  loved  her  pious  minis- 
ters, he  was  not  without  his  regrets.  He  even  venerated 
her  "studious  cloysters  pale,"  her  "high  embowered 
roof,"  her  "antique  pillars ; "  and  although  he  was 
going  to  another  "full-voiced  quire,"  and,  in  process 
of  time,  another  "pealing  organ,"  yet  he  was  leaving 
her 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  189 

"  Storied  windows  richly  dight, 
Casting  a  dim  religious  light.'' 

But  service,  ministers,  and  structures,  were  to  be 
practically  given  up,  and  the  face  and  feet  were  to 
be  directed  towards  the  ecclesiastical  piles  less  mag- 
nificent, and  a  people  comparatively  poor,  for  the 
sake  of  a  wider  field  of  operation. 

One  serious  disadvantage  under  which  he  laboured, 
was  the  want  of  a  few  friends,  who  combined  with 
religion  a  good  general  course  of  reading ;  for  what- 
ever may  be  a  man's  literary  taste,  yet,  if  he  be  left 
to  toil  in  the  mine  alone, — or  next  to  alone,  without 
the  sound  of  other  voices,  and  the  operation  of  other 
instruments,  to  cheer  him  on  in  his  way,  as  well  as 
superior  experience  to  guide  him  to  the  right  vein, 
he  will  rarely  make  the  progress  which  he  would 
otherwise  make  with  such  helps  at  hand.  As  to 
polished  society,  the  want  of  this  —  if  such  want 
existed,  was  amply  compensated  by  his  visits  of  mercy 
to  the  huts  and  homesteads  of  Hannah  Smith,  Alice 
Tillotson,  and  other  aged  persons,  ripe  in  religious 
experience ;  through  whose  conversation,  together  with 
that  of  others,  he  was  enabled  to  cherish  the  best 
feelings  of  his  heart ;  the  same  having  an  indirect 
influence,  in  the  mean  time,  both  upon  his  reading 
and  his  ministry,  by  leading  him  chiefly  to  such 
theological  works  as  tended  to  foster  genuine  piety 
both  in  himself  and  his  hearers.  These  are  admirable 
schools  of  instruction,  when  the  heart  is  right  with 
God,  and  often  make  up  for  other  disadvantages. 
There  is  great  truth  in  the  remark,  that  by  read- 
ing, we  enjoy  the  dead — by  conversation,  the  living 
— and  by  contemplation,  ourselves;  adding,  as  the 


190  MEMOIRS    OF 

result,  that  reading  enriches  the  memory,  conversa- 
tion polishes  the  wit,  and  contemplation  improves  the 
judgment.  Of  these,  however,  as  in  the  case  of  faith, 
hope,  and  charity,  reading  is  the  most  important, 
because  it  furnishes  both  the  others.  In  balancing 
the  advantages  and  disadvantages,  the  society  into 
which  William  Dawson  was  thrown,  and  which  he 
courted  for  the  sake  of  its  value  to  his  spiritual 
interests,  was,  perhaps,  the  best  adapted  to  his  genius. 
Had  he  associated  with  wits,  his  own  would  have 
flashed  with  the  brightest  of  them  ;  nor  would  he  have 
soon  become  bankrupt  for  want  of  stock  :  but  he  would 
have  been  placed  in  the  most  imminent  peril  of  losing 
his  religion.  His,  however,  was  not  the  false  wit 
which  consists  in  puns  and  quibbles,  in  anagrams, 
chronograms,  lipograms,  and  acrostics,  but  that  sin- 
gular and  unavoidable  manner  of  doing  or  saying 
anything  peculiar  and  natural  to  himself  only,  by 
which  his  speech  and  actions  were  distinguished  from 
those  of  other  men,  and  so  far  impressed  with  a  char- 
acter of  their  own ;  and  which  would  not  have  failed 
to  reach  all,  except  those  who  are  placed  beyond  its 
"boundaries,"  and  who  have  been  compared  to  bodies 
indissoluble  by  heat — setting  both  furnace  and  cru- 
cible at  defiance,  possessing  "minds  upon  which  the 
rays  of  fancy  may  be  pointed  without  effect,  and 
which  no  fire  of  sentiment  can  agitate  or  exalt. " 
What  he  lost  in  intelligence,  in  some  instances,  he 
gained  in  piety ;  and  applying  himself  to  his  books 
at  home,  as  he  found  leisure,  •  and  as  has  hitherto 
been  seen,  he  was  generally  on  the  advance  of  those 
around,  and  never  failed  to  enrich  himself  by  com- 
municating —  it  being  "  more  blessed  to  give  than 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  191 

receive."  Among  other  works  that  engaged  his  at- 
tention about  this  time,  those  of  Romaine,  Walsh, 
Luther,  Manton,  &c.,  may  be  noticed ;  and  still  further 
to  extend  his  knowledge,  he  entered  into  a  Subscrip- 
tion Library,  distinct  from  the  one  referred  to  in  the 
earlier  part  of  his  history.  Though  he  both  read  and 
studied  hard,  he  never  read  to  satiety,  nor  yet  studied 
so  "much"  as  to  make  it  a  "weariness  to  the  flesh." 
Each  continued  to  have  its  charm ;  and  hence  such 
language  as  this  in  his  Diary, —  "A  sweet  season, 
while  studying  on  'My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee!" 
The  same  spirit  which  was  breathed  into  it,  in  his 
closet,  was  wafted  from  it,  like  fragrance,  the  Sabbath 
following,  when  he  exclaims, — "The  Lord  sent  home 
with  sweet  power,  at  Seacroft,  'My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  thee.'"  His  reading  and  intelligence  added  to  the 
value  of  his  society,  and  so  held  him  in  increasing 
request. 

Being  frequently  thrown  into  irreligious  society  at 
Tadcaster,  Wetherby,  Eipon,  Knaresborough,  Leeds, 
and  elsewhere,  while  engaged  in  business,  both  on  his 
own  account  and  on  that  of  the  collier}",  he  was  often 
annoyed  with  the  profane  conversation  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  notices  two  cases,  two 
successive  days ;  in  the  one  of  which  he  administered 
reproof,  in  the  other,  for  some  reason  not  stated,  the 
sin  was  permitted  to  pass.  In  the  latter  case,  he 
condemned  himself,  so  that  the  ground  of  omission, 
must,  on  mature  deliberation,  have  been  deemed  in- 
sufficient. The  first  case  involves  a  nice  point,  which 
could  only  be  suggested  to  a  mind  deeply  imbued 
with  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  a  heart — despite  of  all 
his  upbraidings,  distinguished  for  its  tenderness.  What 


192  MEMOIRS   OF 

else  is  implied  in  the  following  expressions? — "Par- 
don, O  Lord,  the  sins  of  my  duties !  How  little, 
O  my  soul,  didst  thou  feel,  in  reproving  a  man  ? 
How  unlike  that  which  Jesus  felt,  when  he  wept  over 
the  city  of  Jerusalem.  I  say,  how  unlike — nay,  was 
it  not  the  very  reverse  ? "  There  is  a  great  deal  in 
timing  a  reproof,  as  well  as  in  the  manner  of  its 
administration.  It  should  never  be  done  when  the 
tempest  is  up,  but  when  the  soul  is  hushed  into  re- 
pose. Abigail  reproved  Nabal,  not  when  he  was  in 
a  state  of  inebriation,  but  when  the  morning  light 
had  dawned,  and  his  senses  had  returned.  It  is  vain 
to  press  the  seal  upon  the  wax,  while  it  is  hard ;  let 
it  melt,  and  instantly  the  impression  is  perceptible. 
There  is  a  manner,  as  well  as  a  time ;  an  oblique 
way  of  reproof,  which  frequently  takes  off  the  sharp- 
ness of  it.  Reproof  is  an  excellent  parent,  but  hatred 
often  constitutes  a  part  of  its  progeny.  To  prevent 
the  latter,  it  should  always  be  combined  with  counsel ; 
and  thus,  like  a  sword  anointed  with  balm,  should 
perform  at  the  same  moment,  the  twofold  operation 
of  wounding  and  healing.  But  even  this  scarcely 
entered  into  the  case  of  Dawson ;  he  wished  not  only 
to  weep  over  the  sinner,  but  to  feel  such  an  abhor- 
rence of  the  sin  as  the  sinner  ought  to  have  felt 
himself.  It  was  not  an  individual  case  only,  that  often 
occasioned  pain,  but  public  meetings,  when  he  found 
it  difficult  to  carry  out  all  his  desires  and  designs. 
Hence,  he  says,  "I  was  at  Barwick  settling  the  ac- 
counts for  the  highways.  Here  my  soul  was  hurt  at 
not  being  able  to  recommend  the  cause  of  my  Divine 
Master.  Pardon  me,  O  Lord!  Justly  do  I  deserve 
the  hidings  of  thy  face.  " 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  193 

Having  laboured  hard  in  every  department,  without 
ever  considering  it  a  toil,  any  uncomfortable  feeling 
which  might  be  experienced,  would,  by  another  than 
himself,  have  been  laid  at  the  door  of  anxiety  for  greater 
good,  rather  than  to  neglect  of  duty ;  for,  like  the  per- 
severing Roman,  he  deemed  nothing  done,  while  any 
thing  remained  undone.  In  the  same  way — though  the 
priest  of  the  family  for  several  years,  and  presenting 
before  it  an  example  of  piety  and  diligence,  he  seemed 
to  charge  every  defect  upon  himself,  and  feel  as  though 
the  non-conversion  of  a  member  was  owing  to  some 
negligence  of  his  own.  But  his  very  upbraidings,  here 
again,  were  met  by  the  prayers  he  offered  up  :  "  Lord, 
have  mercy  upon  me,  and  help  me  to  walk  before 
my  family  agreeably  to  thy  will !  Make  me  a  HOME 
CHRISTIAN  !" 

Several  changes  took  place  in  the  family  in  the  course 
of  the  year.  His  uncle  Ingle  died,  January  10th;  his 
sister  Mary  married,  November  1/th;  and  his  aunt 
Mary  died  December  llth.  On  the  demise  of  his 
uncle,  he  had  some  thought  of  entering  upon  his  farm. 
He  sought  the  advice  of  Mr.  H.  Gill  on  the  subject,  to 
whom  he  had  repaired  on  former  occasions,  and  in 
whom  he  could  safely  confide  as  a  man  of  experience, 
prudence,  judgment,  and  piety.  Mr.  Gill  saw  no  par- 
ticular objection  to  it  at  first,  but  it  was  otherwise  over- 
ruled by  divine  providence. 

Though  death  made  inroads  in  some  quarters,  the 
good  hand  of  God  prevented  its  ravages  in  others.  "A 
morning  of  mercy  and  judgment,"  he  exclaims;  "owing 
to  Mr.  Cullingworth's  horse  running  away  with  the 
cart,  while  sister  Bessey  and  brother  Tommy  were  in  it. 
Praise  the  Lord,  that  matters  wore  no  worse  !  Lord, 
i 


194  MEMOIRS    OF 

sanctify  it  to  us  all ! "  About  the  same  period, 
one  of  those  melancholy  deeds  was  perpetrated  in  the 
neighbourhood,  which  fill  the  mind  with  horror,  when- 
ever they  occur,  and  which  greatly  disconcerted  his 
feelings.  A  person  of  the  name  of  Medhurst  murdered 
his  wife  ;  on  which  occasion  Dawson  poured  forth  the 
meanings  of  his  heart  on  the  impotency  and  vileness  of 
man.  Of  such  foul  deeds,  few  have  spoken  more 
strongly  than  Webster : 

"  Other  sins  only  speak,  murder  shrieks  out. 

The  element  of  water  moistens  the  earth, 

But  blood  flies  upwards,  and  bedews  the  heavens." 

In  consequence  of  taking  a  wider  sweep  of  country 
than  heretofore,  he  was  thrown  more  frequently  in  the 
way  of  local-preachers,  who  were  not  only  anxious  to 
encourage  him,  but  also  occasionally  to  relieve  them- 
selves of  an  engagement.  Messrs.  J.  Woodcock,  T. 
Hall,  T.  Richardson,  and  others,  were  among  those 
who  opened  his  way  to  new  scenes  of  labour.  And 
among  those  at  a  distance,  he  became  acquainted  with 
the  venerable  Robert  Spence  of  York,  who  preached  at 
Seacroft,  and  held  a  love-feast. 

Though  he  frequently  made  considerable  preparation 
for  the  pulpit,  yet  he  never  trammelled  himself  with 
either  the  plan  or  the  filling  up  ;  or  even  with  the  sub- 
ject, when  anything  more  impressive  intervened.  Thus, 
he  observes, — "  I  was  at  Whitkirk  in  the  evening,  and 
spoke  on  '  Thy  kingdom  come,'  which  powerfully 
struck  my  mind,  when  Mr.  Atkinson  repeated  the 
sentence  in  the  church,  before  the  sermon  in  the 
forenoon." 

He  sometimes  suffered  from  overstrained  speaking, 
notwithstanding  his  physical  strength,  and  the  admoni- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  195 

tions  of  his  mother.  He  thus  bemoans  his  imprudence : 
"  Heard  Mr.  Hopkins,  at  Kippax.  In  the  evening,  I 
spoke.  Though  in  the  middle  of  the  discourse  I  lost 
sight  of  God,  for  which  I  implore  pardon,  yet  the  Lord 
was  precious  towards  the  close.  The  next  day  I  found 
some  slight  effects  upon  the  body.  O  my  soul,  let  not 
self-murder  be  charged  upon  thee.  Beware  of  suicide, 
which  may  be  committed  by  improper  exertions  even 
in  a  noble  and  proper  employment.  Lord,  teach 
me !  " 

In  looking  more  immediately  at  his  state  of  religious 
feeling  in  the  course  of  the  year,  though  partially  dipped 
into  already,  there  was  the  same  earnest  cry  for  an 
increase  of  faith  as  in  the  year  preceding,  and  often  the 
same  feeling  of  destitution ;  the  clouds  occasionally 
thickening  around  him,  and  again  breaking  out  into 
light  and  joy.  And  being  no  less  desirous  to  keep  the 
"  inner  "  than  the  "  outer  man  "  in  view, — the  secret 
springs  of  action,  than  the  actions  themselves, — a  few 
detached  extracts  may  be  given.  These,  as  may  be 
expected  on  such  a  subject,  are  more  remarkable  for 
depth  of  feeling  than  novelty  of  expression. 

JANUARY.  "  O  God,  with  reverence,  I  will  call  thee 
Father.  In  thee,  0  Christ,  through  grace,  I  will 
believe.  Pardon,  O  Lord,  my  unbelief, — that  poison 
to  the  life  of  comfort  and  love !  I  see,  I  must  believe  ; 
Lord,  I  will  believe.  Thou  art  the  propitiation  for 
sin.  '  I  hold  thee  with  a  trembling  hand,  but  will  not 
let  thee  go. '  Appear,  O  Lord,  to  sin's  confusion, 
and  my  salvation.  Amen. 

FEBRUARY.  "O  Lord,  refine  my  thoughts,  words, 
and  actions  ;  baptize  me  with  the  Holy  Spirit ;  sanc- 
tify me  wholly;  prevent  me  from  resting  upon  any 


196  MEMOIRS    OF 

thing  but  thee;  take  away  all  props  and  hindrances. 
Let  thy  glory  fill  my  views,  that  I  may  pursue  nothing 
else.  Give  me  a  more  tender  regard  for  souls.  Praise 
the  Lord  for  patience  in  a  particular  trial ! 

MARCH.  "Thou  art  my  Father  in  Christ.  But 
thou  wilt  shew  me  greater  things  than  these,  if  I  keep 
close  to  thee.  Yet,  Oh,  what  inward  struggles  to  pre- 
serve my  confidence, — to  keep  me  from  lukewarmness, 
• — to  prevent  me  from  resting  in  divine  favours ! 

"  A  temptation  presented  itself.  But,  praise  the 
Lord,  for  grace !  I  see  the  dispensations  of  Christ 
require  me  to  cry — 'Lord,  help  me.' — A  baptism  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  fire. — Wrote  a  few  pages  on 
Psalm  xxxiv. 

"My  mind  pained,  and  at  a  distance  from  God, 
through  unbelief.  Oh,  what  reasons  for  thankfulness, 
that  I  am  not  in  hell. 

APRIL.  "  This  week  much  shut  up  in  unbelief. — 
Delivered  from  fear  after  reading  Luther  on  the  Gala- 
tians,  especially  his  short  comment  on  the  'fruit  of 
the  Spirit. ' 

MAY.  "Bless  the  Lord,  for  a  slight  taste  of  mercy 
and  love !  Oh,  how  sweet — how  precious ! 

'  A  point  my  good,  a  drop  my  store, 
Eager  I  ask,  I  pant  for  more. ' 

JUNE.  "My  mind  much  distracted;  but  I  have 
obtained  some  comfort  in  reading  Dr.  Owen. 

JULY.  "  O  Lord,  let  me  not  be  given  over  to  mine 
enemies :  nor  suffer  me  to  be  '  sounding  brass,  or  a 
tinkling  cymbal.'  Indisposed  to  prayer.  Lord,  quicken 
me ! 

"  Read  part  of  the  Life  of  Walsh.  Oh,  what  com- 
munion with  God!  I  am  ashamed  of  myself.  This 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  197 

text  kept  running  through  my  mind,  '  Because  I  live, 
ye  shall  live  also.' 

"My  mind  under  the  happy  smile  of  God's  face  all 
day.  Oh,  appear  in  my  soul  more  fully,  thou  '  Hope 
of  glory?'  Still  happy  in  the  application  of  some 
promises,  which  I  read  yesterday. 

AUGUST.  "At  Mr.  Shillitoe's  rape-thrashing.  Praise 
God,  I  got  no  hurt !  So  much  for  preventing  grace. 
At  Aberford  in  the  evening.  Glory !  glory !  glory !  A 
precious  season !  Souls  were  deeply  awakened,  and  one 
was  enabled  to  praise  the  Lord. 

"O  my  Lord,  my  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  my  Father, 
keep  me  simple,  humble,  and  holy !  A  sweet  taste 
of  redeeming  love. 

"  Generally  above  the  world ;  and  the  mind  more 
solid  than  it  has  sometimes  been. 

"  Not  so  happy.  Oh,  for  simple  faith !  My  sins 
appear  numerous,  heinous,  and  black.  Oh,  what  a 
wretch  !  What  an  object  of  love  and  mercy !  What 
but  infinite  love  could  have  suffered  me  to  live  ? 

"A  sweet  afternoon  indeed  to  my  soul.  Oh,  may  I  ever 
possess  the  deepest  self-abasement,  and  the  divinest  love  ! 

SEPTEMBER.  "At  Seacroft  in  the  morning,  and 
found  the  Lord  present.  Heard  Mr.  Barber  at  noon 
on  the  same  text  I  had  in  the  morning.  At  Scholes 
in  the  evening,  and  found  it  profitable.  While  at  pri- 
vate prayer,  the  Lord  shewed  me  such  a  fulness  in 
Jesus  Christ  as  I  never  saw  before,  and  my  mind 
closed  in  with  it,  to  ask  of  him.  Praise  the  Lord, 
for  such  a  frame  produced  by  such  a  sight ! 

"Much  fervour  in  speaking ;  but,  I  fear,  a  great  deal 
of  it  animal.  Went  to  prayer  in  the  kitchen  at  Whit- 
kirk,  and  felt  better. 


198  MEMOIRS   OF 

"  Oh,  how  little  do  I  know !  How  ignorant  and 
weak !  'Weak  as  helpless  infancy ! '  Make  me,  my  Lord, 
more  weak,  that  I  may  fall  upon  thee  for  strength! 
At  Aberford.  Spent  a  little  time  with  Mr.  Hopkins. 
On  my  return  home,  I  felt  such  a  power  from  God, 
in  the  manifestation  of  himself  in  Jesus  Christ,  as  I 
never  before  experienced.  My  mind  seemed  swallowed 
up  in  his. 

OCTOBER.  "A  little  of  yesterday's  blessing  rested 
upon  my  soul. 

"Went  to  pray  in  a  wood.  My  mind  was  at  first 
hard,  wandering,  and  distant.  On  rising,  I  felt  nearer 
to  God. 

"At  Aberford  fair.  Afterwards  at  the  christening  of 
John  Batty's  child.  May  all  I  do  and  say  be  for  the 
glory  of  God ! 

"While  reading  Baxter's  Directory,  my  old  sins  rose 
in  view.  Lord,  I  see  that  nothing  can  remove  those 
painful  recollections,  but  the  clear  manifestation  of  thy 
pardoning  love  in  Christ. 

"  My  mind,  from  this  day  to  the  end  of  the  week, 
under  much  insensibility. 

"  This  morning  I  awoke  with  some  sense  of  my  past 
sins.  I  wrestled  with  the  Lord,  and  asked  him  to  shew 
me  some  promise  in  his  Book,  which  would  administer 
relief.  I  opened  the  Bible,  and  the  first  text  was, 
'Neither  do  I  condemn  thee;  go  and  sin  no  more.' 
The  next  was,  '  If  the  Son  shall  make  you  free;  ye  shall 
be  free  indeed.'  Bless  the  Lord,  I  claimed  the  pro- 
mises. Some  reasonings  crossed  my  mind  again,  while 
going  to  Saxton.  But  these  expressions  occurred, — 
'Believe, — Holdfast  your  shield — Who  shall  pluck  you 
from  his  hand  ?  '  I  heard  with  profit  Richard  Burdsall 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  199 

of  York,  at  Barkston,  in  the  evening.    Praise  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul ! 

"NOVEMBER.  "At  Seacroft  love-feast.  Received  a 
letter  from  Thomas  Richardson,  which  refreshed  my 
soul,  containing  good  news.  At  Colton  in  the  evening, 

but  much  pained  at  some  preparations  made  by  R k ; 

but  was  enabled  to  lay  the  case  at  the  feet  of  the  Lord. 

"  Pardon  my  useless  conversation  in  the  forenoon. 
Made  a  fresh  and  solemn  covenant  with  the  Lord.  May 
he  help  me  to  fulfil  it  to  his  glory ! 

"  Heard  Mr.  Pawson.  Felt  a  touch  of  divine  power, 
when  he  cited  that  text, — '  He  tasted  death  for  every 
man.' 

"  Praise  the  Lord  for  this  day !  I  had  a  glimpse 
of  God's  love  in  giving  Christ  to  be  the  the  propitiation 
for  sinners. 

"At  Barwick.  But  my  soul  out  of  frame.  My  mind 
still  dark.  Lord,  shine  upon  it! 

DECEMBER.  "The  soul  is  in  an  easy  frame.  At 
Barwick  till  twelve  o'clock.  I  hope  some  good  was 
done  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

The  last  quotation  refers  to  the  service  which  closed 
the  old  year. 

His  sermons  became  more  and  more  alarming  to 
the  sinner, — more  soothing  to  the  penitent, — more 
cheering  to  the  established  Christian, — and,  upon  the 
whole,  more  graphic ;  the  several  congregations  taking 
them  away  with  them,  and  dwelling  upon  them,  both 
in  the  mass,  and  in  detail.  To  sinners  especially, 
his  breathings  forth  were  like  so  many  streams  of 
pestilential  air  upon  their  artificial  enjoyments;  his 
thoughts  and  images,  like  so  many  swarms  of  locusts, 
to  devour  the  "fertility  and  fatness  of  their  laughing 


200  MEMOIRS    OF 

fields  of  pleasure," — making  their  past  delights  odious 
to  them,  and  each  returning  joy,  after  they  had  heard 
him,  just  about  as  effective  as  falling  snow  upon  a  sheet 
of  water, — 

"  The  snow  that  falls  upon  the  river, 
One  moment  white — then  gone  for  ever!" 

As  time  advanced,  his  labours  became  more  arduous; 
and  although  his  Diary  for  1801,  upon  which  the 
reader  now  enters,  presents  various  omissions,  par- 
ticularly towards  the  close  of  the  year,  yet  not  less 
than  one  hundred  sermons  may  be  enumerated,  as 
preached  in  different  places.  Some  of  these  were  of 
course  preached  on  the  week-day,  as  usual ;  and  in 
two  or  three  instances,  he  preached  four  times  on  the 
Sabbath, — taking  Saxton,  Linnerton,  Barkston,  and 
Shelburn  successively.  His  attendance  on  the  service 
of  the  Established  Church  became,  in  consequence, 
still  less  and  less  frequent,  and  when  there,  it  was 
mostly  on  sacramental  occasions ;  while  the  Thursday 
evening,  which  was  formerly  the  evening  appropriated 
to  the  delivery  of  his  "Cottage  Lectures,"  in -com- 
pany with  Messrs.  Graham  and  Atkinson,  was  devoted 
to  his  class  at  Scholes.  Barwick,  however,  was  not 
less  endeared  to  his  heart,  because  of  the  transfer ; 
for  though  the  parish  school-room  was  given  up,  and 
his  connexion  with  the  curate  had  ceased,  he  generally 
set  apart  the  Friday  evening  for  the  purpose  of  preach- 
ing to  the  inmates  of  the  workhouse,  and  to  such  of 
the  villagers  as  might  be  disposed  to  attend.  In  this 
labour  of  love,  he  was  often  more  than  ordinarily 
blessed,  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  what  a  time  of  power  from 
God  at  the  workhouse ! " 

The   kind   attention   which   he   thus    paid    to    the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  201 

spiritual  wants  of  the  poor,  some  of  whom  were  in  all 
probability  unable  to  reach  either  church  or  chapel, 
is  strongly  characteristic  of  his  benevolent  nature,  the 
impulses  of  pity  in  which  were  not  only  as  sudden 
as  the  sound  of  instruments  of  music,  which  obey 
the  touch,  but  as  strong  and  lasting  as  the  circum- 
stances which  called  them  forth. 

Though  he  had  entered  the  Society,  in  the  summer 
of  the  preceding  year,  it  was  not  till  the  month  of 
February  in  the  present  year — comprising  a  period  of 
eight  months,  that  he  was  received  as  an  accredited 
Wesleyan  Local  Preacher.  Messrs.  Pawson  and  Bar- 
ber were  on  the  Leeds  circuit  at  the  time.  "They  gave 
me  three  appointments,"  said  Dawson  to  the  biographer, 
"leaving  it  to  myself,  whether  to  supply  them  or 
not."  Why  this  apparent  indifference  was  manifested, 
is  difficult  to  determine;  unless  it  was  a  fear,  owing 
to  his  having  preached  so  long  in  connexion  with  the 
Established  Church,  that  he  was  more  inclined  to 
the  Church  than  the  Wesley ans.  Mr.  Pawson  had 
found  occasion,  in  one  of  his  pamphlets,  to  animad- 
vert on  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  clergy  towards 
the  Methodists ;  and  there  was,  at  this  time,  some 
sharp  shooting,  on  both  sides,  in  the  way  of  con- 
troversy. Admitting,  however,  the  spirit  of  the  times  to 
have  had  no  influence  on  his  case,  in  inducing  caution  or 
hesitancy,  there  could  be  still  less  ground  for  it  on 
the  score  of  talent  or  piety.  Had  there  been  any 
doubt  of  the  latter,  he  would  not  have  been  admitted 
upon  the  plan  at  ah1 ;  and  as  to  the  former — talent, 
they  were  so  fully  persuaded  of  this,  that  he  was 
never  once  requested  to  preach  what  is  ominously 
denominated  a  trial  sermon.  He  stood  No.  22  on 
i2 


202  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  plan,  and  fulfilled  the  appointments  assigned  him 
with  zeal,    affection,   and  integrity.     He  was   planned 
to  three  places  the  first  day — Ledstone,  Scholes,  and 
Kippax.      On   the  first   page   of  a   full  outline  of  a 
sermon  on, — "  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know 
them,    and  they  follow   me :    and   I   give   unto  them 
eternal  life ;  and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall 
any  man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand,"   John  x.  27, 
28,  is   written,    "  Ledstone    and    Scholes,    Feh.    22, 
1801.      This  was   my  first   sermon,    when    my  name 
was  on  the   plan ;    and  this  was   the  frst  Sabbath  I 
filled  my   place  as   a  regular  local   preacher — I  was 
never  before   on   the  plan.  "      It  may  be  taken  for 
granted,  that  the  same  sermon  was  delivered  at  both 
places.     On  another  sermon,  on  Romans  xii.  2,  "Be 
not  conformed   to   this   world,"    &c.,    written   out   in 
full,  he  entered,    "Kippax,   Feb.    22,    1801.    N.    B. 
This  was  the  first  Sabbath,  which  I  preached,    as  a 
regular  accredited  local  preacher."     In  his  Diary,  of 
the  same  date,  he  writes,  "At  Ledstone  in  the  morning, 
and  Kippax  at  noon.     Praise  the   Lord,   for  "a  very 
good  time  at  Kippax.      At   Scholes   in   the   evening. 
In  a  solemn  frame  of  mind." 

Up  to  this  period,  he  had  paid  but  little  attention,  in 
the  course  of  his  reading,  to  published  sermons ;  and 
this  was  one  thing,  which,  in  all  probability,  indepen- 
dent of  his  peculiar  genius,  gave  such  an  air  of 
originality  to  his  own  discourses.  He  now  read  those 
published  by  Wesley,  Whitfield,  and  Cennick  ;  and  was 
especially  benefitted  by  Mr.  Wesley's  sermon  on  "The 
Witness  of  the  Spirit," — impressed  "  with  the  want  of 
an  applied  Christ,  in  reading  Mr.  Whitfield' s  sermon 
on  healing  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  the  Lord's  people 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  203 

slightly," — and  "quickened  by  one  of  Mr.  Cennick's 
on  the  woman  at  Jacob's  well."  He  added  to  his  stock 
this  year,  the  writings  of  Dr.  Goodwin  and  Matthew 
Henry  ;  and  borrowed  the  works  of  others  belonging  to 
the  old  school.  Having  heard  Richard  Burdsall  of  York 
preach  a  short  time  before,  and  being  much  struck  with 
the  originality  both  of  his  matter  and  manner,  he  was 
curious  to  know  something  more  of  him,  and  so  pro- 
cured the  "  Memoirs  "  of  his  Life,  as  "written  by  him- 
self." He  was  enabled  to  perceive  in  the  life  of  this  "old 
veteran,"  a  fac  simile  of  some  of  the  leadings  of  provi- 
dence, and  many  of  the  sacred  drawings  of  God  respect- 
ing himself,  and  was  not  a  little  relieved  by  its  perusal. 

As  the  year  rolled  on,  his  ardour  for  more  extensive 
usefulness  became  more  intense  ; — he  was  found  nar- 
rating his  experience  in  different  love-feasts — preaching 
occasionally  for  the  travelling  preachers — and  occupy- 
ing the  pulpits  in  Leeds,  Holbeck,  and  Hunslet ; 
together  with  the  pulpits  and  stands  of  Fenton,  Tadcas- 
ter,  Towton,  Dunkeswick,  Harewood,  Woodside,  Ecup, 
Armley,  Wortley,  Forge,  Allerton,  Thorner,  Shadwell, 
Chapeltown,  &c.,  &c.  ;  not  omitting  Sturton,  which  he 
was  not  permitted  before  to  enter,  but  which  Mr.  Wade 
was  now  anxious  to  throw  open  to  him,  in  order  to 
secure  his  labours. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year,  God  was  pleased  to 
visit  the  family  with  affliction.  William  was  the  first 
upon  whom  the  rod  was  laid.  The  stroke  was  smart, 
but  short.  He  was  no  sooner  restored,  than  his  sister 
Sarah  was  reduced  very  low,  for  whose  salvation  he 
experienced  great  anxiety.  She  was  little  more  than 
recovered,  when  his  brother  Richard  was  "  taken  very 
ill ;"  himself  again,  in  his  own  language,  experiencing 


204  MEMOIRS    OF 

"  symptoms  of  fever  ;"  further  observing, — "  Let  the 
light  of  thy  countenance,  O  Lord,  shine  upon  me,  and 
then  lay  upon  me  what  thou  seest  good  for  thine  own 
glory!"  Persons  who  have  known  little  of  health, 
like  Watts,  Baxter,  and  others,  rarely  feel  its  absence 
so  as  to  make  them  unhappy.  It  is  from  the  remem- 
brance of  that  which  we  have  lost,  that  the  arrows  of 
affliction  are  pointed.  The  subject  of  these  Memoirs 
had  hitherto  enjoyed  an  even  flow  of  health  ;  and 
although  the  present  affliction  did  not  affect  the  consti- 
tution, he  felt  severely.  But  he  knew, — to  go  to  his 
own  occupation  for  a  simile,  that  "  As  thrashing  sepa- 
rates the  corn  from  the  chaff,  so  does  affliction  purify 
virtue."  A  sentimentalist,  sitting  in  his  study,  and 
philosophising  on  the  sufferings  of  humanity,  observes, 
"  Before  an  affliction  is  digested,  consolation  ever  comes 
too  soon ;  and  after  it  is  digested,  it  comes  too  late  : 
there  is  but  a  mark  between  these  two,  as  fine  almost 
as  a  hair,  for  a  comforter  to  take  aim  at."  This  is  very 
pretty  in  theory — somewhat  like  a  piece  of  frost-work, 
and  might  serve  the  purpose  of  an  irreligious  man,  just 
stepping  into  the  room  of  a  spendthrift,  stung  with 
remorse  at  his  folly,  and  putting  a  purse  of  gold  into 
his  hand ;  but  the  Christian  must  have  his  consolations 
both  before  and  after — aye,  and  in  the  furnace  too. 

His  indisposition  occasioned  but  a  partial  interruption 
of  his  labours  ;  and  the  spirit  which  he  breathed  after 
it,  is  worthy  of  notice. 

"  Praise  the  Lord !  my  mind  is  in  a  great  measure 
relieved  of  all  painful  reflections  on  my  past  imperfec- 
tions, by  the  contents  of — '  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an 
advocate  with  the  Father,'  &c.  I  was  free  from  dis- 
traction, while  at  church,  and  had  a  sweet  glimpse  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  205 

Christ  as  a  Mediator  and  Intercessor. — Was  at  Thomas 
Stoner's  at  noon.  Lord,  keep  those  whom  thou  hast 
called  by  thy  grace. — At  Bramham  in  the  evening. 
Praise  the  Lord  for  a  season  of  refreshing !  Oh,  what 
comfort  thrilled  through  my  soul,  while  singing  a  few 
verses  from — 'The  voice  of  free  grace,'  &c."  A  few 
days  after,  he  remarks, — 

"  This  text  is  impressed  upon  my  mind,  which 
serves  as  a  shield, — '  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved.' 
Bless  the  Lord  for  his  word! — A  precious  season  at 
B.  Johnson's." 

Every  blessing  is  suspended  as  by  a  fibre  of  the  finest 
silk.  So  he  felt  it ;  and  hence,  the  day  after,  he  thus 
pours  forth  his  lamentations  :  "  At  Leeds ;  but  lost  my 
shield  on  my  return  home.  Levity  broke  out ;  and 
what  aggravated  it  was,  I  fear  it  was  the  fruit  of  pride 
or  self-complacency.  I  heard  Mr.  Barber  in  the  even- 
ing at  Barwick,  and  was  properly  affected  with  the 
worship.  In  private  prayer,  I  smarted  for  my  lightness  ; 
for  the  Lord  appeared  not,  nor  visited  my  soul.  Lord, 
pardon  me ! 

"  Next  day  I  heard  Mr.  Barber  at  Scholes,  and  was 
struck,  on  receiving  my  society  ticket,  to  find  the  text 
upon  it,  which  had  been  such  a  blessing, — '  Look  unto 
me,  and  be  ye  saved.' — After  this,  I  had  a  few  precious 
moments  with  the  Lord  in  the  counting-house." 

He  now,  both  as  a  private  member,  and  as  a  local 
preacher,  took  an  interest  in  every  thing  that  concerned 
the  circuit  and  the  connexion.  The  local-preachers  had 
a  meeting  in  "  Wortley  Chapel,"  April  22nd ;  and  there, 
for  the  first  time,  he  mingled  with  them,  exclaiming  on 
the  occasion, — "Bless  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies!" 
June  29th,  he  attended,  for  the  first  time,  the  Quarter 


206  MEMOIRS    OF 

Meeting  at  Leeds.  Here,  he  observes, — "  I  was  rather 
hurt,  in  giving  my  vote  for  a  petition  for  Mr.  Bram- 
well;"  afraid,  apparently,  of  any  interference  with  the 
order  of  divine  providence ;  but  finally  leaving  the 
whole  with, —"Thy  will  be  done!  send,  Lord,  whom 
thou  wilt ;  only  come  with  them." 

His  first  appearance  as  a  preacher  in  Leeds,  was  July 
18th,  in  the  old  chapel,  on  a  Sunday  evening.  The 
Conference  commenced  the  week  following,  when  he 
attended  the  religious  services  connected  with  it ;  em- 
bracing the  opportunity  of  hearing  Messrs.  Bradburn, 
Coke,  Benson,  J.  Wood.  Averill,  Pipe,  &c.  Mr.  Brad- 
burn  preached,  as  on  former  occasions,  in  the  chapel 
occupied  by  the  Rev.  E.  Parsons.  "But  it  was  the 
last  time  he  appeared  there,"  said  Dawson,  when 
relating  the  circumstance  of  his  having  heard  him  on 
the  occasion,  to  the  biographer ;  and  no  wonder.  He 
had  preached  delightfully ;  but  on  coming  out  of  the 
vestry,  when  a  person  was  about  to  assist  him  off  with 
the  gown, — either  owing  to  a  contempt  of  such  habili- 
ments, or  from  some  recollection  of  having  been  incon- 
venienced by  it  in  his  action  in  the  pulpit,  he  assumed 
one  of  his  queer  looks — doubled  his  elbows  by  his  side — 
clenched  his  hands  before  his  breast,  having  taken  a  por- 
tion of  the  gown  in  each, — then  suddenly  sending  for- 
ward his  .elbows,  and  shooting  out  his  back  at  the  same 
moment,  rent  it  from  the  shoulders  downwards,  making 
an  opening  sufficient  for  him  to  escape  by,  without  the 
necessity  of  seeking  egress  in  the  ordinary  way.  The 
friends  felt  the  insult ;  and  as  to  himself,  after  the  mood 
was  over,  he  had  the  full  space  of  time  given  to  him  for 
repentance,  which  intervened  between  the  act  itself  and 
the  grave. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  207 

Towards  the  close  of  Conference,  the  subject  of  these 
pages  was  at  Aberford,  Tadcaster,  and  Towton.  A 
travelling  preacher  was  expected  at  Tadcaster ;  but  no 
one  arrived  in  time  for  the  service,  and  he  was  called 
upon  to  exercise.  Not  long  after,  two  preachers  entered 
the  chapel,  who  had  lingered  behind  on  purpose  to  hear. 
Neither  of  them,  of  course,  would  preach ;  they  were 
anxious  to  hear  him  ;  and  though  he  suffered  for  it, 
they  were  not  disappointed. 

Messrs.  Reece  and  Bramwell  were  appointed  to  the 
Leeds  circuit  at  Conference,  in  connexion  with  Mr. 
Barber,  who  had  laboured  in  it  the  year  preceding. 
The  preaching  of  Mr.  Bramwell  was  peculiarly  adapted 
to  Dawson's  genius,  and  was  made  a  special  blessing 
to  him,  owing,  no  doubt — like  his  own,  to  its  alternately 
rousing  and  soothing  effects  :  hence, 

"I  heard  Mr.  Bramwell.  I  thought  every  bar  of 
unbelief  would  give  way. 

"At  Seacroft  in  the  morning,  where  I  heard  Mr. 
Bramwell.  Saw  clearly  that  nothing  but  the  power  of 
God  can  make  a  preacher  useful.  At  Armley  at  noon, 
and  Wortley  at  night.  A  blessed  time  at  Wortley. 
Stopped  at  Armley  all  night.  The  quarterly  meeting 
being  on  the  Monday,  I  proceeded  to  Leeds.  Found 
my  mind  prepared  for  a  full  surrender  to  God.  A 
profitable  day.  Much  rejoicing  (Oct.  4.)  at  the  news 
of  Peace.  Oh,  that  our  minds  were  equally  affected 
with  the  view  of  peace  as  offered  in  Christ ! 

"  Still  happy  in  God  !  Glory  be  to  his  name  !  Heard 
Mr.  Bramwell." 

Speaking  of  one  of  Mr.  Bramwell' s  peculiarities  as  a 
preacher,  he  observes,  —  "I  thought  the  fire  of  his 
genius  never  blazed  so  brightly,  as  when  he  was 


208  MEMOIRS    OF 

addressing  the  sinner.  He  had  a  natural  talent  for 
poetry,  and  I  have  heard  him  speak,  extempore,  most 
striking  paragraphs,  in  a  sort  of  blank  verse,  for  twenty 
or  thirty  lines  together  ;  when  he  seemed  to  plunge  the 
sinner  into  the  midst  of  tormenting  flames,  and  we 
heard  him  raving  out  the  feelings  of  his  enraged 
passions  in  the  most  horrid  soliloquies.  I  once  heard 
him  preach  on  2  Thess.  i.  7 — 10,  when  he  displayed 
'  the  terrors  of  the  Lord '  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  make 
the  flesh  cringe  at  the  rehearsal."  This  is  a  just  des- 
cription of  the  more  terrible  character  of  Mr.  Bramwell's 
ministry.  At  other  times,  he  was  as  soft  as  twilight, 
and  as  tender  as  the  mother  singing  her  infant  to 
repose. 

Though  the  subject  of  these  pages  had  now  a  good 
experience  in  the  things  of  God,  as  will  have  been  per- 
ceived, and  was  tolerably  well  versed  in  the  stratagems 
of  Satan,  yet,  he  was  often,  as  in  the  year  preceding, 
depressed  in  spirit.  He  found,  that  there  was  no  hill  with- 
out its  vale :  and  we  have  some  of  his  sinkings-and  swell- 
ings of  heart  in  the  following  passage  from  his  Diary. 

"  I  feel  the  uncomfortable  approaches  of  that  frame, 
when  I  feel  nothing  but  my  want  of  feeling.  Quicken 
me,  O  thou  Resurrection  and  the  Life ! 

"  A  degree  of  shame  possessed  my  soul  after  speaking 
at  Kippax,  because  of  my  unprofitableness  and  unfitness 
for  the  work  in  which  I  was  engaged ;  though  I  felt  a 
sweet  taste  of  the  love  of  God  on  my  return  home. 

"This  week,  my  mind  has  been  much  pained  on 
account  of  a  want  of  real  vital  godliness. 

"  At  West  Gar  forth ;  but  overcome  with  a  fit  of 
lightness.  Lord,  help  me ! 

"  I  was  at  home  in  the  forenoon,  owing  to  the  great 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  209 

snow  (March  15)  that  fell  during  the  day  and  night 
before.  Bless  the  Lord  for  ever !  I,  in  some  measure, 
relieved  my  mind  to  the  family.  Lord,  help  me  to 
fulfil  my  duty  in  the  situation  in  which  I  am  placed ! 
At  Scholes  at  noon  and  Whitkirk  at  night. 

"Alas,  at  night,  I  felt,  in  consequence  of  some  un- 
toward things,  a  violent  start  of  angry  grief  which 
made  me  groan.  Oh,  what  must  I  do?  what  must 
I  do  ?  Lord,  help  me !  Lord,  help  me ! 

"My  spirit,  at  West  Garforth,  did  not  sufficiently 
feel  the  awful  truths  I  delivered  to  the  people. 

"  At  Seacroft  love-feast,  I  found  my  mind  dry,  partly 
owing,  I  helieve,  to  a  slight  prejudice  against  the 
Leader.  Oh,  how  careful  should  we  be,  not  to  pour 
that  sour  evil  into  the  breast  of  another  by  whispering ! 

"  Too  much  shame,  and  of  the  fear  of  man. 

"  A  somewhat  clamorous,  boasting  manner  of  talking 
this  morning. 

"  Not  properly  disposed  for  prayer  this  morning. 
Fruits  of  bitterness  rose  in  the  mind  in  the  forenoon.  In 
the  afternoon,  conversation  wanted  its  proper  savour ; 
and  now,  at  4  o'clock,  I  am  pained  with  just  heart-aches. 

"  Blamed  myself  for  allowing  a  slight  spirit  of  mur- 
muring to  rise  in  the  breast. 

"  Should  have  been  at  the  workhouse  ;  but  let  the 
rain  prevent  me.  My  soul  is  pained  on  this  account. 

"A  friend  came  over,  from  whom  I  received  no  good. 
I  feel  condemned  for  not  having  warned  him  more 
solemnly. 

"At  Holbeck.  A  season  of  temptation  at  noon ;  but 
a  blessed  time  at  night. 

"Blamed  myself  for  not  going  to  J.  Barmiston's 
funeral." 


210  MEMOIRS    OF 

In  this  way,  he  acted  the  part  of  a  "watchman" 
over  himself,  as  well  as  to  "the  house  of  Israel;" 
watching  the  temper  of  the  mind,  the  words  of  the 
lips,  and  the  general  carriage  to  those  around,  not 
only  at  every  point,  but  every  hour  of  the  day ; 
and  that  too,  with  the  vigilance,  rigour,  and  fidelity 
of  a  centinel,  whose  sole  business  it  is  to  watch  a 
garrison.  Cares,  it  is  admitted,  are  as  innumerable 
both  in  kind  and  degree,  as  the  sands  on  the  sea 
shore;  and  the  fable  so  pleasantly  constructed  by 
Hyginus  on  the  subject,  shews  that  man  is  their 
proper  and  almost  exclusive  prey.  But  what  is  applied 
in  another  case,  will  serve  here. — "Whenever  our 
neighbour's  house  is  on  fire,  it  cannot  be  amiss  for 
the  engines  to  play  a  little  on  our  own.  Better  to 
be  despised  for  too  anxious  apprehensions,  than  ruined 
by  too  confident  a  security. "  William  Dawson  saw 
the  miscarriages  of  others,  and  he  knew  the  inclina- 
tions, startings,  shiftings,  and  windings  of  the  human 
heart.  He  had  long  manifested  the  utmost  anxiety 
to  be  "put  right,"  and  he  was  now  equally  anxious 
to  keep  so. 

The  Divine  Being,  however,  did  not  leave  him  com- 
fortless ;  hence,  the  following  gleams  of  light,  and 
foretastes  of  heaven. 

"Bless  the  Lord  for  his  presence  at  Thomas  Stoner's 
in  the  afternoon  ! 

"  Experienced  some  of  the  droppings  of  his  love  into 
my  soul  at  Whitkirk  in  the  evening.  Pour  the  mighty 
flood! 

"A  precious  season  at  Linnerton  (on  Dike-Side.) 
Preserve  the  people,  O  Lord,  humble  and  simple  in 
thy  cause ! 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  211 

"  A  season  of  nearness  to  God,  while  hearing  preach- 
ing at  Garforth  in  the  morning.  At  Colton  and  Scholes 
afterwards.  In  a  solemn  frame  all  day. 

"  Between  sleeping  and  waking  in  bed  this  morning, 
these  words  strongly  impressed  my  mind, — 'See  all 
your  sins  on  Jesus  laid.'  Glory,  glory  be  to  God ! 

"Preached  at  Ledstone,  Kippax,  and  Scholes.  Praise 
the  Lord  for  a  good  time  at  the  two  latter  places ! 

"  Solemnly  affected  while  reading  John  v.  28,  29. 

"Bless  the  Lord  for  drawing  me  to  some  comfortable 
verses  while  at  private  prayer.  Found  power  and  liberty 
at  Sturton.  And  Oh,  how  sweet  at  Allerton  in  the 
evening,  while  singing  the  last  hymn ! 

"A  sense  of  God's  presence  in  private  prayer. 

"The  Lord  blessed  my  soul  on  opening  upon  these 
words, — 'Not  imputing  their  trespasses  unto  them.' 

"My  mind  was  much  blessed  in  reading  the  "Works 
of  Dr.  Goodwin,  as  published  in  the  'Christian  Library;' 
and  I  seldom,  or  ever,  was  more  enabled  to  surrender 
my  all  to  God. 

"Thank  the  Lord,  a  precious  afternoon!  Religion 
is  no  cunningly  devised  fable. 

"Heard  Mr.  Pawson  at  Leeds  in  the  morning.  Found 
much  of  the  power  of  God,  while  I  was  preaching  at 
Holbeck  in  the  forenoon.  At  Leeds  love- feast  in  the 
afternoon.  There,  blessed  be  God,  I  made  a  public 
surrender  of  myself  to  him  and  to  his  people. 

"Attended  Barwick  church  in  the  forenoon,  and  heard 
the  rector.  Heard  John  Holmes  at  Scholes  in  the  after- 
noon. Returned  home,  and  read  some  of  '  Baxter's 
Saints'  Rest '  to  the  family,  and  went  to  prayer.  Bless 
the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  Preached  at  Barwick  in  the 
evening. 


212  MEMOIRS    OF 

"At  Church,  Seacroft,  Scholes,  and  Little  Preston. 
A  sweet  time  at  Church !  Bless  the  Lord,  I  feel  the 
good  effects  of  yesterday." 

The  omissions  previously  noticed  in  his  Diary  for 
this  year,  seem  to  have  been  occasioned  by  discourage- 
ments,— some  painful  feelings  and  conflicts  often  pre- 
ceding them.  But  in  the  midst  of  all,  whether  in  joy 
or  in  sorrow,  the  following  sentiments  flowed  freely 
from  his  pen: — "To  thee,  O  Jesus,  I  willingly  yield 
myself,  my  all,  to  serve  thine  interest  when,  where, 
and  how  thou  pleasest.  Keep  me  from  evil,  support 
me  in  trial,  and  enable  me  to  glorify  thee  in  every- 
thing through  which  I  may  have  to  pass ;  and  iu 
whatsoever  I  may  be  engaged."  Adding,  in  the  way 
of  experience,  as  well  as  purpose  and  prayer, — "My 
soul  is  not  only  drawn  out  after  God,  but  I  feel  some 
drawings  from  him.  This  evening,  I  felt  in  lying 
down  a  sweetness,  a  melting  of  heart,  of  a  peculiar 
kind.  Glory  be  to  God ! 

'  Take  my  body,  spirit,  soul, 
Only  thou  possess  the  whole."' 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  213 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Activity. — Proposed  for  the  itinerant  work. — Enlarged  sphere  of 
action. — Cotton  Mather's  "Directions.'' — Desirous  of  a  chapel 
at  Barrrick. — Severe  mental  exercises. — Doubts. — Mr.  Barber. 
— A.  Mather's  Life. — Bunyan's  "  Grace  Abounding. '' — Indis- 
creet praise.  —Pride  and  humility. — Sensibility. — Perplexity. — 
Appointed  by  Conference  to  a  circuit. — Declines  travelling. — 
Dissimulation  and  sincerity  met  by  the  providence  of  God. — 
Mr.  Bramwell. —  Visitations  from  aboi:e. — Paradoxical  character 
of  Christian  experience  to  the  world. — Expense  in  dress. — Pros- 
perity of  the  work  of  God. —  W.  E.  Miller. — High  rents. — 
Feasts. — Secrets. —  Unpleasant  forebodings. — Natal  anniversary. 
— Death  of  William's  grandmother. — Ground  bought,  and  a 
chapel  in  the  course  of  erection. — Mr.  Bramwell  leaves  the  cir- 
cuit.— Reflections  upon  it. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  William  Dawson's  elevation  in 
the  sphere  in  which  he  moved,  he  ascended  by  degrees 
to  the  point  which  he  attained ;  and  with  the  exception 
of  his  non-admission  to  holy  orders — which  was  no 
discredit  either  to  himself  or  others,  the  ladder  never 
once  broke  beneath  him  to  throw  him  back,  and  so 
render  additional  ascent  laborious.  Besides  the  many 
rare  and  curious  pieces  of  "  mathematical  motion "  in 
the  soul,  common  to  all,  he  had  a  spring  of  ac- 
tion within  which  would  never  allow  him  to  stand 
still.  Piety  and  genius  were  constantly  sowing  their 


214  MEMOIRS    OF 

seeds,  and  he  was  as  invariably  indulged  with  the 
honour  which  springs  from  them.  Whatever  may  be 
the  truth  of  the  sentiment,  when  generally  applied, — 
that  every  man  has  a  portion  of  rust  about  him  at 
the  beginning,  and  that  in  England  it  accompanies  a 
man  to  the  grave — not  even  daring  to  pen  a  hie  jacet 
to  speak  out  for  him  after  his  death,  William  Dawson 
was  an  exception.  Of  his  spirit,  it  might  have  been 
said, 

"  Strong  as  necessity,  it  starts  away, 
Climbs  against  wrongs,  and  brightens  into  day. " 

The  ennui,  or  wearisomeness  of  inaction,  was  unknown 
to  him ;  and  he  was  so  generally  approved  for  piety, 
talent,  and  zeal,  that  Mr.  Barber  proposed  him  for 
the  itinerant  work,  March  29,  1802,  at  the  Leeds 
quarterly-meeting,  when  he  was  unanimously  approved 
by  his  brethren. 

His  matter,  manner,  and  Christian  spirit,  attracting 
general  attention  in  the  societies,  led  him  to  take  a  still 
more  extensive  range  of  country ;  and  not  only  did 
he  visit  places,  which  to  him  were  new,  but  greater 
demands  were  made  upon  his  labours  in  the  large 
chapels  in  Leeds  and  elsewhere.  There  was  no  diminu- 
tion of  attention,  with  this  additional  toil,  to  the 
wants  and  interests  of  his  own  immediate  neighbour- 
hood. He  was  ready  to  every  good  word  and  work 
throughout  the  week ;  preserving  the  same  anxious 
solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  the  sick — the  poor  inmates 
of  the  workhouse — and  the  life  of  God  in  the  classes  ; 
not  omitting  his  accustomed  fasts,  saying,  with  the 
apostle,  "I  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into 
subjection ;  lest  that  by  any  means,  when  I  have 
preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  215 

He  was  quickened  in  this  work,  and  at  the  same 
time  humbled,  by  reading  Cotton  Mather's  "Directions 
to  a  Candidate  for  the  Ministry." 

A  chapel  being  much  wanted  at  Barwick,  and  there 
being  no  immediate  prospect  of  obtaining  ground  and 
materials  for  one,  he  earnestly  addressed  himself  to 
God  on  the  subject ;  and  observes,  that  he  "dedicated 
part  of  a  day  in  prayer  on  account  of  a  preaching- 
house." 

While  thus  caring  for  the  churches,  it  was  one  of 
the  severest  years  for  mental  suffering  he  had  ex- 
perienced since  the  time  he  first  escaped  from  spiritual 
bondage.  Such  expressions  as  these  are  employed: — 
"The  devil  is  determined  to  ruin  my  peace,  my  happi- 
ness, my  soul." — "Heavy  in  heart  and  mind." — "My 
soul  feels  the  want  of  true  religion.  I  am  afraid  it 
is  too  much  in'  the  head ;  and  the  reason  is,  I  think, 
if  it  were  not,  there  would  be  greater  pleasure  and 
weight  in  private  prayer." — "My  spirits  are  depressed 
while  reflecting  on  my  past  life.  God  raise  me  up! 
I  would  not  sin  against  thee.  My  heart  seems  to 
say — though  I  may  not  wish  what  is  said, — I  would 
rather  be  in  hell  without  sin,  than  be  in  heaven  with 
it." — "Religion  has  not  been  felt  this  week  in  its 
power,  in  the  way  I  have  sometimes  experienced  it ; 
and  I  am  dispirited  in  consequence." — "At  private 
prayer,  I  am  much  resisted  by  the  flesh  and  Satan." — 
"  My  soul  lies  humbled  before  God.  Oh,  that  it  were 
more  so !  Let  me  die,  O  Lord,  rather  than  live  to 
grieve  thee,  or  bring  the  slightest  stain  upon  my  soul." 
— "  Lord,  am  I  given  up  by  thee  for  not  doing  thy 
will?" — "Afraid  lest  I  should  prove  a  castaway  after 
all." — "Nearly  in  despair." 


216  MEMOIRS    OF 

The  doubts  entertained  of  the  genuineness  of  his 
experience  in  seasons  of  depression,  are  not  at  all  re- 
markable. A  strong  prejudice  exists  in  the  minds  of 
some  people  against  that  state  of  the  understanding 
termed  doubt ;  but  a  little  reflection  will  soon  convince 
one,  that  on  a  subject  that  admits  of  strong  proba- 
bilities on  both  sides,  doubt  is  as  appropriate  a  state 
of  mind  as  belief  or  disbelief  on  others.  It  has  been 
properly  argued,  that  there  are  doctrines,  propositions, 
and  facts  supported  and  opposed  by  every  degree  of 
evidence,  the  proper  effect  of  which  is,  to  leave  the 
mind  in  an  equipoise  between  two  conclusions.  In 
these  cases,  either  to  believe  or  disbelieve  would  im- 
ply that  the  understanding  was  improperly  aifected. 
Doubt,  therefore,  is  the  appropriate  result  from  which 
there  can  be  no  reason  either  to  shrink,  or  over  which 
to  utter  the  loud  lament.  If  this  is  the  case,  in 
matters  purely  speculative,  it  is  still  more  difficult, 
without  the  direct  witness  of  the  -Spirit,  to  arrive  at 
correct  conclusions  in  things  experimental,  in  moments 
of  depression,  when  the  light  is  transmitted,  as  it 
were,  through  the  medium  of  stained  glass,  rather 
than  immediately  from  the  sun ;  for  the  soul,  on  such 
occasions,  enclosed  within  the  narrow  circle  of  its  own 
orbit,  feels  nothing  strongly  but  what  acts  within  that 
circle ;  and  the  present  disposition,  fear,  or  desire, 
throws  its  own  colouring  on  surrounding  objects. 

On  these  occasions — feeling  so  much  of  his  own 
imperfection,  he  could  scarcely  assume  sufficient  cou- 
rage to  reprove  sin — to  enter  into  the  pleasures  of 
social  life — or  proceed  in  the  free  and  full  discharge 
of  the  various  duties  connected  with  family  religion. 
Hence,  his  personal  upbraidings; — "Hurt  in  hearing 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  217 

a  man  swear,  and  not  reproving.  Oh,  may  I 
learn  wisdom  by  experience!"  "I  did  quite  wrong 
in  stopping  so  long  at  Sturton."  —  "My  mind  was 
remarkably  solemnized  in  reading  Baxter's  'Directory.' 
I  must, — I  must  speak  more  to  the  family.  Part  of 
the  day  has  been  devoted  to  private  prayer,  to  plead 
for  more  of  the  power  of  religion.  I  want  it  to  take 
full  possession  of  my  soul.  Oh,  where  is  the  melting 
heart?  Where  the  humility  and  brokenness  of  spirit 
that  ought  to  possess  me?  Give  it,  thou  Prince  of 
peace?"  He  had  his  siftings,  also,  as  on  a  previous 
occasion,  on  the  subject  of  faith ;  but  was  now  as 
much  afraid  of  the  Church  as  of  himself.  "I  read," 
he  observes,  "Mr.  Wesley's  first  Journal.  I  see  I 
want  that  faith  which  raises  me  still  higher  into  God. 
Often  have  I  prayed,  that  I  might  never  become  an  in- 
strument of  bringing  into  the  Church  of  Christ  any 
deadly  evil.  But,  unless  I  possess  this  living  faith,  I  shall 
either  bring  an  evil  into  the  Church,  or  myself,  or 
both.  Lord,  give  me  this  faith ! " — As  to  social  inter- 
course, he  was  aware,  agreeably  to  the  sentiment  of 
an  intelligent  writer,  that,  "Company  is  an  extreme 
provocative  to  fancy  ;  and,  like  a  hot-bed,  in  gardening, 
is  apt  to  make  our  imaginations  sprout  too  fast." 
One  of  his  prayers  was,  that  God  would  give  him 
"the  bridle  of  inward  love,  to  keep  in  check,  and  to 
sweeten,  conversation . ' ' 

In  the  course  of  the  same  month,  that  he  read  the 
last  work,  he  remarks,  "I  heard  Mr.  Barber.  Bless 
the  Lord,  for  an  increase  of  faith  in  the  truth  of  his 
word!  Lord,  increase  it  till  I  believe  myself  into  the 
possession  of  the  promised  blessings.  On  account  of 
my  offences,  I  look  for  God's  chastening  hand.  Any 
K 


218  MEMOIRS   OF 

thing,  rather  than  sin  against  him ! " — To  supply  any 
real  or  imaginary  defect  at  home,  as  well  as  to  be 
a  constant  monitor  to  himself,  he  commenced  preaching 
at  Barnbow,  where  he  seconded  his  private,  by  his 
public  appeals. 

.  He  omitted,  as  in  the  year  preceding,  several  entries 
in  his  journal ;  and  states,  that  they  were  occasioned 
by  his  depressed  state  of  feeling :  intimating,  at  the 
same  time,  that  it  was  for  wise  ends,  and  that  rem- 
iniscences of  the  more  painful  parts  of  a  man's  per- 
sonal history,  are  useful  to  those  in  a  public  capacity, 
by  way  of  enabling  them  to  succour  such  as  may  be 
placed  in  similar  circumstances.  He  obtained  con- 
siderable' relief  by  reading  the  Life  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Mather,  and  Bunyan's  "Grace  Abounding;"  respecting 
the  latter  of  which,  he  remarks,  "  I  perceive,  in  many 
instances,  a  very  great  similarity  between  the  experience 
embodied  in  these  pages,  and  my  own.  Dear  Jesus, 
I  trust  I  shall  yet  see  and  feel  thy  great  salvation." 

He  had  committed  himself  to  God;  and  that  God 
who  has  declared  that  he  will  never  "forsake,"  saw 
what  was  coming,  and  took  care  to  wrap  the  soul  up 
in  the  garb  of  humility  before  the  gale  of  popular 
applause  was  heard,  and  which  he  was  now  be- 
ginning to  feel.  "  I  have  been  much  haunted  with 
pride  and  self-complacency,"  says  he,  "through  the 
breath  of  indiscreet  praise,  wafting  like  a  breeze  across 
the  soul.  Oh,  to  be  nothing !  Oh,  to  be  nothing ! " 
Again.  "  I  preached  at  Hunslet.  My  soul  was  much 
drawn  out  after  God  in  prayer,  the  night  before.  But 
in  the  afternoon  and  evening,  I  was  much  tempted 
to  self-complacency.  '  Oh,  hide  this  self  from  me,  that 
I  no  more,  but  Christ  in  me  mav  live !  '  These 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  219 

temptations  were  but  momentary ;  but  his  honesty 
would  not  suffer  them  to  be  passed  unnoticed ;  and  it 
was  his  safety  to  find,  that  they  were  but  temptations. 
Had  pride  been  indigenous  to  the  soul,  he  would  have 
been  in  the  utmost  jeopardy,  with  flattery  so  near, 
to  hasten  its  growth.  But  "pride,"  which  is  said  to 
be  "as  loud  a  beggar  as  want,  and  a  great  deal  more 
saucy,"  had  no  cravings  in  him.  It  was  not  even 
permitted  to  take  root,  much  less  to  throw  out  its 
branches  to  court  the  sun  and  the  "breeze."  To  be 
noticed  with  esteem,  by  persons  of  sense,  is  often  a 
patent  for  esteem  with  those  around ;  then  comes 
flattery  at  its  heels ;  and  in  the  rear  of  that  again 
— pride,  "  the  trappings  of  which  men  rarely  put  off, 
till  they  who  are  about  them  put  on  their  winding- 
sheet."  He  knew,  that — 

"  Humble  valleys  thrive  with  their  bosoms  full 
Of  flowers,  when  hills  melt  with  lightning,  and 
The  rough  anger  of  the  clouds : 

that— 

"  Heaven's  gates  are  not  so  highly  arched 
As  princes'  palaces ;  they  that  enter  there 
Must  go  upon  their  knees  '' 

Though  not  at  all  parsimonious  in  praise  himself, 
when  called  for ;  and  ready  to  make  selections  from 
the  better  part  of  a  man's  character  and  performances, 
when  in  danger  of  being  undervalued ;  yet  he  was 
careful  never  to  administer  the  "flattering  unction"  in 
the  person's  presence;  and  if  led,  unguardedly,  to  haz- 
ard an  unfavourable  criticism,  he  was  certain  to  smart 
for  it  afterwards.  Thus, — "  My  mind  has  been  wan- 
dering this  forenoon.  I  noticed,  perhaps  unnecessarily, 
some  innocent  improprieties  in  a  preacher's  manner  of 
speaking.  At  all  events,  my  remarks  were  not  to 


220  MEMOIRS   OF 

edification.  Oh,  that  my  'speech'  may  'be  always 
with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt.' "  On  another  occasion  ; 
"  Gave  way  to  some  warmth  of  temper,  in  consequence 
of  which  some  hasty  words  were  spoken,  producing 
great  distance  of  soul  from  God.  Lord,  save  me!" 
In  all  cases  in  which  pain  seemed  to  be  unnecessarily 
inflicted  upon  another,  he  was  instantly  plunged  into 
the  person's  circumstances,  and  was  tremblingly  alive 
all  over :  for  robust  as  was  his  figure,  and  strong  as 
was  his  language,  he  was  possessed  of  exquisite  sen- 
sibility, and  was  capable  of  receiving  the  most  powerful 
impressions,  whether  pleasant  or  tmpleasant,  from  every 
subject  that  concerned  the  heart,  as  well  as  from  every 
object  that  addressed  the  senses. 

The  time  approached  for  his  acceptance  or  non- 
acceptance,  by  the  Conference,  as  an  itinerant  preacher. 
Many  obstacles  of  a  domestic  character  stood  in  the 
way  ;  and  the  exercise  which  he  had  experienced  in  the 
interval,  and  which  seemed  to  overshadow  his  Christian 
evidence,  was  the  circumstance  selected  by  the  disturber 
of  peace,  for  annoying  him  at  this  critical  moment. 
The  following  remarks  are  found  in  his  Diary. 

"Monday,  June  28th. — At  Leeds,  being  quarter- 
day.  Blessed  be  God,  I  found  my  mind  in  a  rising 
frame,  while  a  few  of  the  brethren  were  praying. 

"Tues.  29.  Much  perplexed  in  my  spirit  this  mor- 
ning, to  know  how  far  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should 
be  a  travelling  preacher.  Most  wise  and  gracious  God ! 
over-rule  the  darkness  of  my  understanding,  remove 
remaining  unbelief,  and  correct  self-will  in  my  will  and 
affections  !  Let  all  be  done  for  thy  glory  !  Make  thy 
way  plain  before  me,  and  direct  my  steps  ! 

"Thursday  evening,  July  1st.     Disposed  for  prayer. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  221 

One  grand  objection  which  appears  to  me  against  my 
going  out  to  travel  is,  that  I  have  not  at  this  moment 
the  clear  witness  of  the  Spirit.  The  apostles  were  to 
be  endued  with  power  from  on  high,  before  they  went 
to  preach. 

"Friday  2.  Set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer,  that 
direction  may  be  afforded,  and  a  blessing  given,  in  this 
important  business. 

"  Saturd.  3.  Purchased  Mr.  Beanland's  barn  for  a 
preaching-house.  Lord,  smile ! 

"Sund.  4.  Heard  Mr.  Reece  preach  at  Bramley  in 
the  forenoon.  A  precious  season.  I  took  the  pulpit 
in  the  afternoon.  Not  so  good  a  season. 

"Mond.  5.  Much  engaged  in  mind  about  travelling, 
preaching-house,  &c. 

"Tuesd.  6.  "Went  to  Leeds.  Gave  a  cool  consent 
to  travel.  But  my  mind  is  touched  in  a  tender  part, 
when  I  see  my  mother  so  much  elated  at  the 
thought  that  I  shall  continue  a  little  longer,  on  account 
of  the  preaching-house.  Ah,  Lord,  how  tender  a 
point  is  this !  Look  in  love  upon  me,  for  thy  name's 
sake! 

"Thursd.  8.  Backward  to  religious  duties.  God 
help  me ! 

"Friday  9.  Visited  G.  Haigh.  He  seems  on  the 
verge  of  eternity,  and  under  great  pressure  of  pain. 

"Sunday  11.  At  Halton  and  Colton.  Bless  the 
Lord  for  a  measure  of  liberty  at  both  places ! 

"Wed.  14.  Dismissed  my  reasonings  about  travel- 
ling, and  committed  the  whole  to  the  Lord.  Spent  the 
afternoon  with  Mr.  Reece,  and  was  at  Whitkirk  in  the 
evening.  Praise  the  Lord  for  a  refreshing  season ! 

"  Thursd.  15.    Waited  upon  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne, 


222  MEMOIRS   OF 

at  Parlington,  to  obtain  his  acceptance  of  my  brother 
Richard  in  my  place,  as  steward  of  the  Colliery." 

Though  his  mother  was  still  opposed  to  his  leaving 
home,  it  was  agreed,  at  length,  that  Richard  should 
take  his  office ;  and  here,  his  Diary,  as  to  further 
particulars,  leaves  the  whole  blank.  But  some  frag- 
mentary conversations,  which  he  had  with  the  biog- 
rapher, will  supply  the  omission.  He  was  accepted  by 
the  Conference ;  and  his  name,  in  connection  with 
that  of  Mr.  Filter,  stood  on  the  MS.  Stations  for 
Wetherby,  near  Leeds.  The  Conference  commenced 
at  Bristol,  Monday,  July  26th.  On  going  to  the 
head  steward,  on  the  Saturday  evening  before,  to  close 
his  accounts,  he  found — though  everything  had  assumed 
the  appearance  of  being  amicably  settled,  that  his  feel- 
ings and  expectations  had  been  sported  with ;  the 
steward  coldly  stating,  that  he  thought  they  could 
do  without  the  services  of  his  brother.  Finding  that 
plans  had  been  formed  to  prevent  his  brother  from 
entering  upon  the  proposed  situation,  in  order — as  it 
afterwards  turned  out,  to  secure  it  for  a  relative  of 
the  steward's  own,  Dawson's  eye  instantly  flashed  fire, 
and  he  said,  "Well,  then,  I'll  remain ;  and  you  may 
give  me  less  wages,  if  you  judge  proper :  this,"  con- 
tinued he,  "was  as  great  a  thunder-clap  to  the  steward, 
as  his  statement  was  to  me."  He  immediately  wrote 
to  Mr.  Barber,  stating  that,  for  the  sake  of  others, 
he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  relinquish  all  thoughts  of 
going  out  to  travel ;  entering  into  the  particulars  of 
the  case.  What  is  not  a  little  singular,  he  met  Mr. 
Bramwell  at  Chapeltown,  on  the  18th  of  the  month, 
who  said  to  him,  in  his  positive,  yet  familiar  way, 
— "  Billy,  I  think  you  ought  not  to  go  out  to  travel ; 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  223 

the  time  has  not  yet  come;  you  have  not  done  all 
your  work  at  home : "  assigning  no  reason,  but  leaving 
the  words  to  produce  their  own  impression.  It  may 
be  further  remarked,  that  though  the  steward  thwarted 
him  in  his  designs  of  itinerating,  the  steward  himself 
was  afterwards  disconcerted  in  his  plans ;  for  the  place 
which  he  had  in  view,  on  which  to  settle  his  relative, 
was  not  only  given  up,  but  30  acres  of  grass  land;  which, 
though  not  rich,  but  serviceable  to  the  farm,  was 
added  to  Barnbow  in  consequence  of  it;  Sir  Thomas 
observing,  to  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  "You 
shall  have  the  additional  land  at  a  rent  which  shall 
not  hurt  you."  So  much  for  integrity  and  dissimula- 
tion. Dawson,  through  whose  "breast  of  crystal," 
the  steward  was  enabled  to  read  every  purpose,  reaped 
the  reward  of  his  sincerity ;  and  the  steward,  whose 
"heart  and  face  were  so  far  asunder,  as  to  hold  no 
intelligence,"  was  disappointed  of  his  hopes.  The 
path  of  dissimulation  is  not  unaptly  described  by  Blair 
to  be  a  "perplexing  maze.  After  the  first  departure 
from  sincerity,  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  stop;  one 
artifice  unavoidably  leads  on  to  another;  till,  as  the 
intricacy  of  the  labyrinth  increases,  we  are  left  en- 
tangled in  our  own  snare."  Sir  Thomas  himself  might 
not  be  fully  aware  of  the  steward's  designs ;  and, 
therefore,  might  have  no  intention  to  counteract  them  ; 
but  Providence  employed  him  on  the  occasion  to  do 
its  own  work,  while  leaving  him  in  the  free  exercise 
of  the  will. 

William  Dawson  now  dismissed  all  anxiety  from  his 
mind,  respecting  any  removal  from  home ;  and  con- 
sidered himself  as  fixed  in  rural  life  to  the  end  of 
his  days. 


ZZ4  MEMOIRS    OP 

He  was  at  Chapeltown,  Oct.  24th,  and  observes  that, 
with  a  mixture  of  inferior  feelings,  he  felt  "a  strong 
desire  for  the  glory  of  God."  But  he  adds, — "  On  my 
return  home,  I  found  an  unusual  emptiness  of  soul." 
Two  days  after  he  remarks, — "  I  have  been  much  im- 
pressed with  an  account  of  the  sudden  death  of  one  of 
my  hearers  at  Chapeltown." 

Though  he  profited  greatly  by  the  preaching  and 
conversation  of  the  other  preachers,  the  return  of  Mr. 
Bramwell  to  Barwick  and  its  neighbourhood,  was  es- 
pecially hailed  with  joy.  In  November,  he  remarks, — 
"  Surely  the  Lord  will  bless  me  this  day.  Mr.  Bram- 
well is  expected  at  Barwick.  Make  bare  thine  arm,  O 
Lord,  in  this  place !  At  the  time  of  preaching,  my 
soul  was  particularly  drawn  out  after  God,  for  a  blessing 
upon  myself  and  upon  the  hearers. — "We  had  a  meeting 
at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning.  It  was  a  precious 
season.  Praise  the  Lord!  Through  the  remainder  of 
the  week,  I  experienced  unusual  power  to  draw  near 
to  God,  and  to  lay  myself  at  his  feet." 

On  other  occasions,  painful  as  the  exercises  of  the 
year  had  been,  he  could,  at  intervals,  give  utterance 
to  such  expressions  as  these: — "This  morning,  my 
prayers  have  had  wings. " — "  Uncommon  liberty  at 
Aberford.  It  is  thy  Spirit,  O  adorable  Lord,  that 
makes  the  preacher ! " — "  Inwardly  resting  upon  God. 
Oh,  how  sweet  a  spirit  is  passive  resignation,  grounded 
upon  the  promises !  but  how  much  sweeter  must 
answered  expectations  be ! " — "  The  Lord  is  in  our 
class-meetings!" — "A  time  of  power  at  Barwick." 
— "Made  a  fresh  surrender  of  myself  to  the  Lord, 
at  the  sacrament." — "Some  sweet  thrills  of  melting 
mercy!" — "With  gratitude,  humility,  self-abasement, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  225 

and  self-devotedness,  I  adore  God  for  his  manifested 
presence,  while  preaching  at  Barwick  and  Barnbow 
Hall." — "Oh,  how  easy  and  delightful  it  is  to  pray 
and  preach  with  divine  liberty  !  "  —  "A  particular 
manifestation  of  God.  Still,  I  claim  him  as  my  Father 
reconciled." — "Heard  of  good  being  done,  through 
my  unworthy  services,  at  Holbeck." 

By  connecting  some  of  these  triumphant  bursts  with 
the  heart -rendings  noticed  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
his  religion  will  appear  to  be  made  up  only  of  con- 
tradictions ;  or,  if  not  of  these,  one  part  of  his  ex- 
perience at  the  antipodal  point  from  the  other.  And 
yet,  they  are  the  contradictions,  or  opposites,  that 
are  found  in  fellowship  with  saints  of  the  highest  order. 
Such  sentiments,  as  the  following,  are  mere  paradoxes 
to  the  man  of  the  world: — "When  I  am  weak,  then 
am  I  strong;"  —  "as  deceivers,  and  yet  true, — as 
unknown,  and  yet  well  known, — as  dying,  and  behold, 
we  live, — as  sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing, — as  poor, 
yet  making  many  rich, — as  having  nothing,  yet  pos- 
sessing all  things."  Should  the  Christian  be  charged 
with  patronizing  paradoxes, — in  holding  forth  such 
expressions,  he  is  entitled  to  answer  with  Chrysippus, 
that  they  only  proceed  from  his  love  of  truth.  He 
can  neither  think  nor  feel  like  unenlightened  men. 
As  he  has  joys,  so  he  has  conflicts,  with  which  the 
wicked  have  no  power  to  intermeddle.  Music  may  be 
in  his  heart,  and  he  may  be  ready  to  burst  into  song,  at 
the  very  moment  a  wicked  man  is  passing  him  in  the 
street,  and  pitying  him  for  his  sombre  views  of  real  life. 

We  hear  the  subject  of  these  pages  again  relieving 
his  soul  in  imploring  accents : — "  Bless  me,  O  God, 
with  saving  grace  in  my  soul ;  and  make  me  useful 

K2 


226  MEMOIRS    OP 

in  thy  hands  in  saving  sinners !  Be  this  the  case,  and 
I  care  not  what  I  am  in  temporal  circumstances,  where  I 
am  in  life,  or  how  thou  art  pleased  to  deal  with  me ! " 

An  occasion  was  taken  to  notice  his  dress  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  chiefly  as  to  its  form ;  but  he  now 
penetrated  a  little  further.  As  he  became  more  dead 
to  the  world,  he  became  more  cautious  not  to  indulge 
in  any  needless  expense ;  that  he  might  have  the  more 
to  spare  for  necessary  purposes.  His  ruffles  had  been 
laid  aside,  for  which  he  innocently  stood  rebuked ; 
but  he  saw  that  persons  might  appear  plain,  and  yet 
be  costly  in  their  attire,  and  that  what  they  gained 
in  conscience  by  the  cut,  they  might  lose  by  extrava- 
gance in  the  quality.  In  one  instance,  he  complains, 
this  year,  as  he  had  done  in  earlier  life,  of  going  too 
high  in  price  for  a  part  of  his  costume ;  stating, 
that  the  Christian  should  be  "above  unnecessary  ex- 
penses." As  he  strove  to  steer  a  medium  course  in 
quality,  so  he  knew  there  was  a  medium  between 
the  fop  and  the  sloven — taking  not  only  the  yeoman, 
as  previously  noticed,  but  the  Christian,  into  all  his 
considerations.  He  had  no  objection  to  "the  ermine's 
skin,"  and  to  the  "silk-worm"  becoming  the  "spins- 
ter" of  the  female,  in  certain  ranks  in  life,  but  he 
had  a  serious  objection  to  men,  and  especially  persons 
connected  with  the  ministerial  office,  appearing  as 
"Madame  Superbia"  is  represented,  as  if  constantly 
"studying  the  lady's  library  —  The  looking-glass." 
While,  however,  he  loved  ease,  plainness,  and  modera- 
tion, he  shunned  coarseness  ;  persuaded,  "  that  if  Tully 
himself  had  pronounced  one  of  his  orations  with  a 
blanket  about  his  shoulders,  more  people  would  have 
laughed  at  his  dress,  than  would  have  admired  his 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  227 

eloquence."  It  is  a  shrewd  remark  of  a  German  writer, 
— that  "dress  is  a  table  of  our  contents." 

His  Diary  of  1803,  he  carried  forward  to  the  month 
of  October ;  omitting  the  two  following,  and  several 
dates  in  those  preceding.  He  began,  no  doubt,  to 
find  a  sameness  in  constantly  adverting  to  his  joys 
and  his  sorrows ;  and  having  the  same  battles  to  fight, 
and  the  same  grace  to  assist  him  in  his  struggles, 
a  record  of  them  seemed  less  necessary. 

On  the  7th  of  January,  he  "renewed  his  covenant 
with  God,  in  the  most  solemn  manner ; "  and  hoped 
that  it  would  be  a  "bond  never  to  be  broken."  In 
the  same  month,  he  was  much  profited  by  a  visit 
from  Mr.  W.  E.  Miller  to  Barwick ;  and  several  per- 
sons having  joined  the  Society  at  Scholes,  about  that 
time,  he  exulted  to  find  "most  of  the  lambs  "  enjoying 
the  full  benefit  of  Christian  fellowship  ;  and  also  to 
find,  that  "  Edward  Joley's  wife  had  entered  into 
liberty."  On  the  Sabbath  day  following,  he  proceeds, 
— "I  preached  at  Garforth  for  J.  Ible,  and  heard  J. 
Richards  at  Barwick.  I  was  at  Barwick  in  the  evening. 
My  soul  was  melted  with  the  Divine  presence  the 
whole  of  the  day.  P.  Smith  was  deeply  affected  on 
account  of  her  lost  state,  while  by  herself.  On  our 
return  from  the  meeting,  we  found  her  in  deep  distress. 
The  Lord  answered  prayer  on  her  behalf." 

He  had  been  gradually  prepared  for  the  more  stir- 
ring occasions,  which  often  attended  the  ministry  of 
Messrs.  Bramwell  and  Miller,  by  the  living  witnesses 
that  had  sprung  up  under  his  own  preaching,  the 
subjects,  sometimes,  being  unable  to  repress  their 
feelings  during  service. 

Some  additional  support  from  the  flourishing  state 


228  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  the  Societies,  seemed  necessary  at  this  time,  to 
enahle  him  to  meet,  with  sanctified  feeling,  an  exercise 
which  affected  the  family.  Feb.  1,  he  remarks,  "I 
was  at  Aberford  the  whole  of  the  day,  waiting  to 
take  the  farm  at  the  advanced  rent.  I  am  afraid  I 
talked  too  much. "  It  would  have  been  marvellous, 
had  he  been  mute  on  the  occasion,  seeing  that  the 
farm,  with  the  exception  of  the  grass  land  added  to 
it,  was  sufficiently  high  before.  But  during  the  war, 
many  of  the  landlords  injured  their  estates,  by  raising 
the  rents,  so  as  to  place  it  beyond  the  power  of  the 
tenant  to  enrich  the  land,  by  affording  it  proper  cul- 
ture. High  rents  are  only  calculated  to  exasperate 
the  restless,  and  dishearten  the  obedient :  they  leave 
men  helpless  and  hopeless,  and  accustom  them  to  look 
upon  their  best  securities  from  ruin — economy  and 
industry,  as  perverted  for  the  worst  of  purposes  by 
those  who  can  be,  and  who  ought  to  be,  the  best 
encouragers  of  their  social  interests.  Where  the  grace 
of  God  is  not  present  as  a  corrective,  they  compel 
men  to  exchange  love  for  hatred,  confidence  for  dis- 
trust, and  submission  for  resistance.  William  Dawson, 
however,  took  the  farm  again,  resolved,  by  patient 
industry,  to  plod  his  way  through  another  term ;  and 
for  this  he  was  tolerably  fitted  by  exuberant  vigour 
and  economical  habits. 

Two  days  after,  he  again  visited  Aberford,  being 
obliged  to  be  present  at  the  "Coal-feast."  But  he 
returned  from  the  feast  as  from  a  regular  meal ;  and 
not  as  many  do — unfit  for  either  mental  or  physical 
labour;  "like  lamps  choked  by  a  superabundance  of 
oil,  or  fires  extinguished  by  excessive  fuel."  On  his 
return,  he  observes,  "I  called  at  Thomas  Goodall's, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  229 

and  preached. "  He  was  not  one  of  those  men,  of 
whom  Seneca  speaks,  who  divide  their  lives  betwixt 
an  anxious  conscience  and  a  nauseated  stomach ;  and 
who  receive  the  reward  of  their  intemperance  in  the 
diseases  it  generates.  Rising  with  an  appetite,  he  was 
sure  to  secure  digestion ;  and  he  was  as  fit  for  the 
work  of  God  after,  as  before  the  feast.  This  is  a 
fine  example  to  the  "drunkard,"  who  is  quaintly, 
but  pithily  said,  "  to  drown  himself  in  his  cups  ;  "  and 
to  the  "glutton,"  who,  with  equal  force  of  expression, 
is  said,  "to  dig  his  own  grave  with  his  teeth." 

A  little  point  may  be  noticed  which  affected  him 
at  the  same  time,  and  which  may  be  adverted  to  for 
the  sake  of  others.  Though  he  was  prudent  and 
cautious,  he  was  not  close  and  suspicious.  Christian 
character  inspired  him  with  confidence.  But  he  had 
to  repent  of  misplaced  confidence.  "I  was  hurt," 
says  he,  "  on  hearing  that  J had  told  what  I  com- 
mitted to  him  as  a  secret."  The  thing  might  have 
been  trivial  in  itself,  and  calculated  to  harm  no  one. 
But  he  looked  at  the  breach  of  trust.  And  yet,  had 
he  only  reflected  for  a  moment,  on  the  frailty  of 
human  nature,  he  would  have  found,  that  there  is 
often  a  proneness  to  divulge  a  secret,  from  the  vanity 
of  being  entrusted  with  it.  It  has  been  stated,  with 
grave  humour,  but  with  some  mixture  of  truth,  that 
"  Secrets  are  so  seldom  kept,  that  it  may  be  with 
some  reason  doubted,  whether  the  quality  of  reten- 
tion be  so  generally  bestowed ;  and  whether  a  secret 
has  not  some  subtle  volatility  by  which  it  escapes, 
imperceptibly,  at  the  smallest  vent,  or  some  power 
of  fermentation,  by  which  it  expands  itself,  so  as  to 
burst  the  heart  that  will  not  give  it  way."  That  is  a 


230  MEMOIRS    OF 

fine  sentiment, — "What  is  mine,  even  to  my  life,  is 
her's  I  love ;  but  the  secret  of  my  friend  is  not  mine. " 

At  the  close  of  the  same  month,  on  which  the  farm 
was  raised  in  rent,  Mr.  Porter  informed  him,  that 
"  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne  intended  to  set  down  the 
colliery."  This,  of  course,  affected  his  stewardship, 
and  would  continue  to  do  so,  till  either  the  workings 
should  be  resumed,  or  another  pit  should  be  opened. 
"The  account,"  he  observes,  "was  sudden,  and  pro- 
duced various  thoughts  and  feelings."  He  adds,  "Lord, 
undertake  for  me  and  mine."  This  was  probably 
occasioned  by  the  "advance"  of  wages,  which  took 
place  at  the  time. 

His  labours  in  the  old  and  new  chapels,  in  Leeds, 
became  still  more  frequent,  and  were  not  only  highly  ac- 
ceptable, but  rendered  a  great  blessing  in  the  conversion 
of  souls  to  God.  Hearers  and  converts,  also,  continued 
to  multiply  in  his  own  neighbourhood ;  and  he  himself 
had  become  a  leader,  not  only  at  Scholes,  but  apparently 
at  Barwick.  "Mr.  Bramwell  was  at  Barwick, "  he 
remarks  in  March ;  and  proceeds, — "  Bless  the  Lord 
for  a  very  crowded  house, — for  drawing  so  many  to 
hear !  Oh,  that  he  would  appear  with  power  and  glory 
in  my  classes  !  There  is  the  appearance  of  an  opening 
work  in  the  neighbourhood.  May  nothing  retard  it ! 
May  it  be  deep,  clear,  and  effectual ! " 

In  the  same  month,  he  met  his  uncle  William  at 
Wakefield,  to  consult  him,  apparently,  respecting  the 
probable  result  of  his  situation,  should  the  colliery 
be  laid  aside.  Just  after  this,  on  going  to  Kippax 
to  preach,  he  observes,  "The  mare  fell  under  me, 
and  upon  me ;  but  I  was  not  much  worse,  except 
in  my  leg,  which  was  crushed.  Bless  the  Lord,  for 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  231 

his  hand  of  love,  which  was  over  me  for  good ! "  In 
the  evening,  his  knee  was  much  swelled  at  Little 
Preston  ;  and  he  was  compelled,  in  consequence  of 
it,  to  rest  some  time  from  labour. 

On  the  29th  of  the  month,  on  the  return  of  which 
he  was  more  than  usually  affected,  he  enters  into  his 
Diary, — "As  I  call  this  the  last  day  of  this  year, 
(being  the  day  before  the  anniversary  of  his  birth- 
day,) I  desire  to  be  deeply  humbled,  because  of  my 
past  imperfections  and  unprofitableness ;  and  I  wish 
the  feeling  to  be  so  strong,  as  to  produce  proper  and 
lasting  impressions."  The  next  day,  he  writes, — "In 
looking  back,  I  find  much,  very  much  cause  for  self- 
abasement.  Looking  inward,  I  feel  the  absence  of 
much  good,  and  the  presence  of  much  of  the  evil 
of  human  nature.  Directing  the  view  forward,  clouds 
and  darkness  appear  to  be  lying  on  the  face  of  the 
scene — not  knowing  what  to  do.  My  place  at  the 
colliery  is  likely  to  cease, — the  farm  is  advanced, — 
and  the  necessities  of  the  family  are  great!  "What 
the  end  will  be,  is  not  for  me  to  state.  The  entrance 
upon  this  year  of  my  life  is  important.  Surely  it 
ought  to  be  attended  with  prayer  and  self-dedication 
to  God."  So  it  was  distinguished :  and  he  could  not 
but  see  a  providence  in  his  remaining  at  home,  that 
the  family  might  have  the  aid  of  his  counsel,  and  be 
encouraged  by  his  example  and  his  prayers.  His 
constant  prayer,  while  passing  through  the  cloud,  was 
— "  Lord,  undertake  for  me !  " 

June  4th,  he  remarks, — "This  day  I  have  to  record 
an  affecting  providence.  My  grandmother  was  found 
dead  in  her  bed  this  morning.  Pardon,  O  Lord,  any 
omission  of  duty  in  reference  to  her !  I  praise  thy 


232  MEMOIRS    OF 

name  for  what  thou  didst  enable  me  to  do  and  to 
feel  for  her.  But  after  all,  forgive  omissions."  The 
tender  affections,  comprehending  all  the  different  modi- 
fications of  love,  appeared  in  him  in  various  forms, 
and  degrees,  from  the  transient  good-will  which  he 
felt  for  a  common  stranger,  in  matters  purely  civil, 
to  the  fondness  with  which  he  watched  over  the  spi- 
ritual interests  of  his  own  family ;  and  they  are  never 
so  engaging — as  was  the  case  with  him,  as  when 
they  improve  the  character.  This,  indeed,  is  maintained 
to  be  their  natural  tendency,  inasmuch  as  they  prevent 
our  attention  from  being  confined  to  ourselves,  and 
create  both  an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  others,  and 
also  an  anxiety  to  recommend  ourselves  to  their  esteem. 
When  the  grace  of  God  spiritualizes  the  whole,  then 
the  young  Christian  becomes  a  nursing  father  to  the 
patriarch  in  years. 

One  thing  which  greatly  engrossed  his  attention,  was 
a  new  chapel  at  Barwick.  He  had  prayed  for  one  ; 
and  as  events  were  hastening  the  fulfilment  of  his 
wishes, — and  one  would  scarcely  have  been  ventured 
on  without  him,  it  was  converted  into  another  reason 
in  providence  for  his  not  going  out  to  travel.  April 
18th,  he  states  that  he  went  to  Fleet  Mill,  to  see 
whether  Mr.  Evens  would  sell  a  piece  of  ground  for 
a  preaching-house,  but  did  not  meet  with  him,  at 
home.  Having  applied  to  him  in  the  interim,  Mr. 
E.  examined  the  ground,  June  18,  and  consented  to 
allow  him  to  take  as  much  ground  as  was  necessary 
for  the  purpose,  at  one  shilling  per  yard.  This  was 
matter  of  praise,  as  before,  the  business  had  been  the 
subject  of  prayer.  Wednesday  the  21st, — "The  cha- 
pel," he  observes,  "was  set  out,  and  a  part  of  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  233 

foundation  dug."  The  "first  stone  was  laid  August 
loth ; "  and  he  states  it  to  have  been  "reared  Oct.  27." 

In  the  midst  of  his  joys  and  anxieties  for  a  place 
of  worship,  he  had  his  fears  exercised,  and  manifested 
deep  sympathy  with  the  societies  in  the  case  of  a 
partial  revolt  from  the  body.  July  5,  he  remarks, — 
"Important  intelligence  from  Leeds.  Mr.  Bramwell 
has  departed  from  the  Methodists.  Great  and  un- 
comfortable, I  fear,  will  be  the  consequences,  if  the 
Lord  does  not,  in  mercy,  heal  the  breach.  Spare 
us,  good  Lord ;  and  do  not  permit  the  spirit  of 
division  to  rend  the  hearts  of  thy  people  from  each 
other !  Pardon  any  non-improvement  of  union  and 
peace;  and  if  it  be  possible,  let  us  not  see  a  house 
divided  against  itself,  'but  make  us  one  in  heart 
and  soul,  and  keep  us  one  in  thee.' '  Such  were 
his  musings  in  his  closet.  Fifteen  years  after,  when 
he  preached  a  funeral  sermon,  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  that  excellent  man,  to  thousands  of  persons 
in  the  open  air,  in  Leeds,  he  adverted  to  the  subject 
with  great  tenderness,  fidelity,  and  ingenuity — nicely 
balancing  between  the  Wesleyan  body  and  his  subject, 
and  desirous  of  giving  to  each  the  full  weight  of  their 
worth.  As  the  sermon  was  printed  and  published  on 
the  occasion,  an  extract  will  shew  the  delicacy  of 
some  of  his  touches,  in  handling  a  subject  which 
involved  a  difference  of  opinion. 

When  adverting  to  particular  traits  of  character,  he 
observes  of  his  subject,  that,  "As  he  was  zealous,  so 
he  was  jealous  for  the  honour  of  his  God.  His  love 
watched  with  jealous  eye,  lest  the  Lord  Jesus  should 
be  robbed  of  his  honour,  and  a  rival  admitted  into 
the  heart  of  his  church.  His  jealousy  suspected  that 


234  MEMOIRS    OF 

one  was  insinuating  itself  among  us  as  a  body,  and  that 
was  THE  WORLD;  that  a  criminal  love  was  openly 
manifesting  itself  in  a  growing  conformity  to  the  men, 
the  maxims,  and  the  spirit  of  the  world;  and,  as  a 
certain  consequence,  that  there  was  an  increasing  de- 
ficiency in  spirituality  of  mind,  and  entire  devotedness 
to  God.  Now,  it  is  well  known  that  jealousy,  which 
is  'cruel  as  the  grave,'  always  caricatures  and  mag- 
nifies the  object  of  its  suspicions  and  fears. 

"So  it  was  with  the  prophet  Elijah.  The  revolt 
of  Israel  from  their  allegiance  to  the  true  God,  and 
their  estrangement  from  his  worship,  were  viewed 
with  a  jealous  eye;  and  he  retired  from  the  hateful 
scene  into  a  place  where  his  heart  could  not  be  torn 
asunder,  by  being  a  witness  of  the  worship  of  Baal. 
When  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him,  and  said, 
'  What  doest  thou  here,  Elijah  ? '  he  answered,  '  I 
have  been  very  jealous  for  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts ; 
for  the  children  of  Israel  have  FORSAKEN  THY  COVE- 
NANT, thrown  down  thine  altars,  and  slain  thy  pro- 
phets with  the  sword;  and  I,  even  I,  only  am  left; 
and  they  seek  my  life,  to  take  it  away.'  But  the 
evil  was  distorted  and  magnified ;  and  the  Lord  cor- 
rected his  error,  by  informing  him,  that  he  had  yet 
left,  'seven  thousand  in  Israel,  all  the  knees  which 
had  not  bowed  unto  Baal,  and  every  mouth  which 
had  not  kissed  him.' 

"  So  it  was  with  Mr.  Bramwell.  At  a  certain 
period  of  his  pilgrimage,  he  suspected  that  the  love 
of  the  world  was  dividing  our  hearts  with  Christ; 
and  he  could  not  bear  the  thought.  His  imagination 
took  the  pencil,  to  draw  the  portrait  of  the  hated 
rival.  It  rose  to  a  monster  before  his  eyes.  It  alarmed 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  235 

his  fears ;  it  biassed  his  judgment ;  it  influenced  his 
will ;  and,  in  the  simplicity  and  sincerity  of  his  heart, 
he  retired  from  his  circuit.  It  was  at  this  important 
crisis,  that  some  of  his  brethren  met  with  him  and 
enquired, — 'What  doest  thou  here,  brother?'  He 
might  have  answered,  with  great  propriety,  'I  have 
been  very  jealous  for  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts.  I  fear 
a  criminal  love  of  the  world  is  rivalling  Jesus  Christ 
in  the  heart  of  his  Church ;  and,  therefore,  I  thought 
my  best  course  was  to  retire,  and  try  what  can  be 
done  by  me  in  any  other  way.'  But  when  his  breth- 
ren softened  dpwn  the  distorted  features  of  the 
detested  object,  which  his  trembling  hand,  at  the 
instigation  of  his  jealous  heart,  had  drawn, — when 
they  took  off  the  deep  shades  with  which  he  had 
overcharged  its  countenance, — when  they  drew  the  pic- 
ture of  the  monster  DIVISION, — when  they  proved 
that,  in  the  present  state  of  the  Methodist  body, 
the  evils  of  a  schism  and  division  would  be  much 
greater  than  the  evils  which  he  lamented  and  deplored, 
— he  then  saw,  in  some  measure,  as  they  did.  Con- 
viction, like  a  voice  behind  him,  cried  out,  'This  is 
the  way;  walk  ye  in  it.'  He  listened.  He  obeyed. 
He  retraced  his  steps.  He  returned  to  his  work  ; 
filled  his  station  with  credit  to  himself  and  profit  to 
the  Church ;  and  lived  and  died  in  union  with  his 
brethren." 


236  MEMOIRS    OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Opening  of  a  chapel  at  Barwick. — Collecting  Book. — The  Rev. 
Thomas  Taylor  and  John  Grant. — Occasional  sermons. — Visit 
to  Hull. — Rev.  Joseph  Bradford. — Character. — Characteristic 
distinctions. — Dr.  Bates's  Works. — Samuel  Popplewett,  Esq. — 
Afflictive  dispensation  of  Providence. — Friendship. — Rev.  Miles 
Atkinson,  as  a  preacher. — Increasing  popularity. — Biographer's 
first  interview  with  Mr.  Damson. — Rev.  Andrew  Fuller. — First 
public  Missionary  Meeting  among  the  Wesley ans  at  Leeds. — An 
extract  from  Mr.  Damson's  speech  on  the  occasion. — Compara- 
tive view  of  the  Wesleyan  Missions. — The  partial  and  indirect 
influence  of  Mr.  Dan-son's  occasional  play  of  fancy  upon  speakers 
and  hearers. 


WITH  the  exception  of  two  or  three  brief  notices,  his 
religious  Diary  appears  to  have  terminated  with  the 
year  1803.  "What  chiefly  followed  from  hence,  were 
minutes  of  the  places  he  \isited,  and  the  texts  on  which 
he  preached.  Had  he  indulged  in  the  particularity  of 
Ralph  Thoresby,  of  Leeds,  in  his  "  Diary,"  or  Samuel 
Pepys  in  his  "  Memoirs,"  he  might,  with  his  observing 
eye  and  warm  heart,  have  furnished  many  curious, 
instructive,  and  moving  incidents,  while  travelling,  as 
he  afterwards  did,  from  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to 
another. 

The  chapel  which  was  "  reared "  at  Barwick,  Octo- 
ber 27th,  the  year  preceding,  and  in  the  erection  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  237 

which  he  exulted  in  being  able  to  state,  that  "  not  an 
accident,  as  the  world  employs  the  term,  had  happened 
to  any  one,"  was  opened  by  Mr.  Thomas  Taylor,  April 
29th,  1804.  "This  day,"  he  observes,  "Mr.  Taylor 
opened  the  preaching-house,  in  the  presence  of  a  great 
company  of  people ;  and,  what  is  better,  under  the 
gracious  smile  of  God,  which  was  sensibly  felt  by  many 
of  his  children.  We  may  turn  our  eyes  upon  it,  and 
ask,  'What  hath  God  wrought?'  And  with  equal 
astonishment  may  we  look,  when  we  consider  by  whom 
he  has  wrought.  We  dare  not  impeach  the  wisdom  of 
the  Lord  in  the  choice  of  such  unworthy  instruments, 
but  adore  it  as  an  instance  of  his  unsearchable  proceed- 
ings, who,  in  this,  as  in  many  other  cases,  has  '  chosen 
the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise, — 
the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things 
that  are  mighty, — and  base  things, — and  things  which 
are  despised, — yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to  bring 
to  nought  the  things  that  are  ! '  May  the  Lord  answer 
prayer /or  it  and  in  it,  that  generations  yet  unborn  may 
find  in  it  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! "  He  further  ob- 
serves,— "  The  first  love-feast  was  held  at  Barwick  by 
Mr.  Grant,  July  8.  He  preached  excellently.  May 
the  Lord  follow  the  means  with  a  lasting  blessing  to 
souls ! " 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  trouble  connected  with 
the  erection  devolved  upon  himself,  as  to  purchases, 
looking  after  the  builders,  joiners,  glaziers,  painters, 
&c. ;  collecting  the  monies,  and  meeting  expenses. 
His  "  Collecting  Book,"  which  has  been  preserved,  is 
a  curiosity,  comprising  fine  specimens  of  penmanship, 
exactness,  and  piety.  It  is  preceded  with  notices  of 
laying  the  foundation,  rearing,  opening  the  chapel,  &c. 


238  MEMOIRS    OF 

Then  follows,  as  a  kind  of  title-page, — "June  1803. 
'  Prosper  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us.'  Psalm 
xc.  17' — 'They  shall  prosper  that  love  Zion.'  Psalm 
cxxii.  6.  June  1804.  *EBENEZER.'  1  Sam.  vii.  12. 
1  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.'  "  The  next  page 
is  headed  with,  "  An  Account  of  Monies  promised  and 
given,  hy  those  who  love  the  prosperity  of  Zion,  towards 
the  expense  of  a  preaching-house  at  Barwick."  Imme- 
diately after  this,  columns  are  ruled  for  double  entry, 
in  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence, — the  first  three  appro- 
priated to  monies  "  promised,"  the  second  to  monies 
"given."  The  "heading"  of  each  page  encloses  a 
text  of  Scripture,  in  the  Roman  character,  as  if  set  in 
type,  with  a  view,  apparently,  immediately  to  catch  the 
eye  of  the  persons  to  whom  he  presented  the  book  for 
donations.  The  texts  selected  are  ; — "  God  loveth  a 
cheerful  giver,"  2  Cor.  ix.  7. — "  Freely  give,"  Matt.  x. 
8. — "  Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  substance,"  Prov.  iii. 
9. — "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you,"  Luke  vi. 
38. — "  With  such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased,"  Heb. 
xiii.  16. — "He  which  soweth  bountifully,  shall  reap 
also  bountifully,"  2  Cor.  ix.  6 — "  He  which  soweth 
sparingly,  shall  reap  also  sparingly,"  2  Cor.  ix.  6 — "  I 
know  thy  works,  and  charity,  and  service,  and  faith," 
Rev.  ii.  19. — "There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  in- 
creaseth,"  Prov.  xi.  24. — "Give  to  every  man  that 
asketh  of  thee,"  Luke  vi.  30  ;  closing  with,  "Thou 
shalt  be  recompensed  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just," 
Luke  xiv.  14.  In  consequence  of  taking  with  him 
his — "  THUS  SAITH  THE  LORD,"  he  had  scarcely  a 
dozen  failures,  in  the  various  promises  made  to  him — 
some  of  which  might  possibly  arise  from  a  change  of 
circumstances  ;  and  in  comparatively  small  sums,  from 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  239 

"Benny  Swift's  "  shilling,  to  the  jive  pounds  subscrip- 
tions of  Mr.  Warner,  of  Garforth, — Mr.  Pawson,  jun., 
of  Thorner, — Thomas  Stoner,  of  Barwick, — and  Mr. 
Whitehead,  of  Leeds,  he  collected,  at  intervals,  from 
June  1803,  to  April  18,  1805,  the  sum  of  .£150.  7s.  9d. 

Mr.  Taylor,  who  opened  the  chapel,  had  neither  fine 
sense,  nor  exalted  sense,  so  called ;  but  he  had  what  is 
much  more  useful, — good,  strong,  common  sense  ;  that 
of  which  there  is  much  less  in  the  world  than  the  world 
is  aware.  He  had  no  glitter ;  he  despised  it ;  knowing, 
in  the  language  of  a  wit,  that  "he  who  will  carry 
nothing  about  him  but  gold,  will  be  every  day  at  a  loss 
for  want  of  readier  change."  His  sermons  profited  the 
mass,  being  within  the  comprehension  of  all,  and  in- 
tended to  improve  the  heart,  rather  than  gratify  the 
taste.  Mr.  Grant,  who  led  the  love-feast  in  the 
newly  erected  building,  was  of  a  different  class.  He 
was  an  engaging  preacher,  and  was  much  admired  by 
the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  for  ease,  perspicuity, 
occasional  elegance,  and  general  usefulness.  He  pos- 
sessed springs  of  rhetoric  which  were  rarely  dry ;  and 
his  eloquence,  which  never  failed  to  plead  in  companion- 
ship with  nature,  was  often  irresistible. 

This  year — 1804,  the  subject  of  these  pages  was 
invited  to  preach  in  the  Birstal  circuit ;  and  being  now 
occasionally  selected  for  special  work,  he  preached  a 
sermon  on  occasion  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Wade,  of 
Sturton  Grange,  towards  its  close.  The  text  selected 
was,  Isai.  Ivii.  1,  2  ;  and  being  in  the  masculine,  might 
be  deemed  a  little  out  of  place  ;  but  as  he  had  to  expa- 
tiate on  character  rather  than  sex,  and  it  was  the  text 
in  all  probability  which  most  deeply  affected  his  heart, 
it  became  the  object  of  his  choice. 


240  MEMOIRS    OF 

In  the  year  1 805,  he  stood  No.  4,  on  the  plan,  while 
older  men  were  below.  This,  without  making  any  in- 
vidious distinction  in  reference  to  talent  or  popularity, 
might  have  arisen  from  the  length  of  time  he  had  been 
employed  in  the  work, — having  been  engaged  in  preach- 
ing,— including  his  labours  in  the  Established  Church, 
— from  twelve  to  thirteen  years.  Towards  the  close  of 
the  year,  he  preached  at  Methley,  on  1.  Sam.  xii,  24, 
being  the  day  appointed  for  a  general  thanksgiving,  in 
consequence  of  Lord  Nelson's  victory  at  the  battle  of 
Trafalgar. 

From  1805  to  1809,  his  course,  though  laborious, 
was  not  strongly  marked  with  incident.  It  was  dis- 
tinguished, however,  for  increasing  piety  and  useful- 
ness. But  as  these  have  been  dwelt  upon,  particularly 
his  religious  experience,  by  way  of  shewing  the  solidity 
of  the  foundation  upon  which  the  rising  superstructure 
of  holiness  was  to  be  reared,  the  biographer  may  now, 
with  a  view  to  prevent  sameness,  be  more  sparing  in 
his  remarks  on  these  topics. 

His  friends  kept  dropping  into  the  grave  around 
him,  like  leaves  strewing  the  ground  in  autumn ;  and 
over  these,  as  over  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Wade,  he 
generally  had  to  pronounce  the  funeral  oration.  Among 
the  departed,  may  be  noticed,  Ann  Smith,  S.  Thomp- 
son, Gabriel  Tomlinson,  and  Mary  Clarkson,  of  Barwick, 
— Charles  Abbott, — Mr.  Barbey,  of  Swillington, — Mrs. 
Philips,  of  Weeton, — not  omitting  his  old  patroness, 
Mrs.  Dean,  of  Whitkirk,  Feb.  4,  1807,  whose  lantern- 
light  obsequies  have  already  been  the  subject  of  remark. 
Mary  Clarkson  selected  her  text  on  her  death-bed, 
Isaiah  Ixi.  10; — the  others  were  2  Tim.  iv.  7, — John 
ix.  4,— R«v.  xiv.  13,— Titus  iii.  4— 8,— Heb.  xi.  24— 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  241 

26, — Isaiah  xxv.  8 ;  and  that  selected  for  good  old 
Mrs.  Dean,  which  was  a  magnificent  one  for  the  out- 
door scene,  was  Rev.  v.  9 — 14. 

Having  had  occasion  to  go  down  to  Hull  on  the 
business  of  the  colliery,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Bradford 
being  stationed  there  at  the  time,  he  was  anxious  to 
see  and  hear  him; — "a  man,"  as  he  observed  to  the 
writer,  "who  had  been  on  such  terms  of  intimacy 
with  Mr.  Wesley."  But  he  was  disappointed; — dis- 
appointed, he  further  remarked,  both  in  reference  to 
"matter  and  expression."  This  led  him  to  state,  with 
respect  to  another, — "There  was  the  greatest  same- 
ness in  Mr.  P ,  as  a  preacher,  of  any  of  the  old 

preachers  I  ever  heard."  With  regard  to  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, he  must  either  have  heard  him  to  disadvantage, 
or  have  suffered  in  consequence  of  having  his  expecta- 
tions raised  too  high,  which  is  the  case  with  all  those 
who  forget  that  it  is  "  more  pleasing  to  see  the  smoke 
brightening  into  flame,  than  the  flame  sinking  into 
smoke."  However,  being  recognized  by  some  one,  he 
had  himself,  on  the  same  day,  to  officiate  in  the  same 
pulpit,  in  Scott-Street  Chapel,  which  Mr.  Bradford  had 
previously  occupied.  As  Mr.  John  Hill,  a  merchant 
in  Hull, — a  man  of  general  reading,  and  of  a  highly 
cultivated  mind,  sat  in  the  pulpit  behind  him,  it  is 
probable  that  Dawson  had  been  engaged  to  preach  in 
his  stead.  His  text  was  1  Pet.  ii.  1,  &c.  Joseph 
Agar,  Esq.,  of  York,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion, 
and  who  then  for  the  first  time  had  seen  him,  preserved 
a  vivid  recollection  of  him  as  a  preacher,  when  re- 
lating the  circumstance  to  the  writer,  between  thirty 
and  forty  years  after,  and  cherished  strong  hopes  of  his 
future  celebrity. 


242  MEMOIRS    OF 

He  had  by  this  time,  both  as  a  Christian  and  a 
preacher,  acquired  what  is  generally  comprehended  in 
the  term  character,  and  that  too,  in  some  of  its  more 
striking  peculiarities.  "We  are,"  says  Helvetius, 
"what  we  are  made  by  the  objects  that  surround  us." 
This,  though  not  without  truth,  will  serve  the  purpose 
equally  of  the  most  refined  sceptic,  and  the  brute 
system  of  Robert  Owen,  which,  like  a  common  sewer, 
with  his  doctrine  of  circumstances,  is  ready  to  receive 
the  vilest  filth  that  is  capable  of  being  poured  forth 
from  the  most  depraved  part  of  human  society.  Never- 
theless, properly  guarded,  and  in  connexion  with  a 
wholesome  religious  education,  it  is  a  fact,  as  stated 
in  the  "Ethical  Questions"  of  an  elegant  writer,  that 
the  young  pupil  is  in  the  habit  of  taking  lessons 
from  every  thing  around  him,  and  that  his  habits  and 
character  are  forming,  before  he  has  any  consciousness 
of  his  reasoning  powers.  But  whatever  character  per- 
sons may  receive  from  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
are  first  placed,  and  however  wise  and  benevolent  the 
superintendance  may  be,  which  a  proper  education 
exerts,  to  give  a  correct  bias  to  the  intellectual  and 
moral  character, — exercising  an  influence  on  the  im- 
provement and  happiness  of  the  mind  to  the  latest 
period  of  existence, — there  will  be  found  in  the  same 
school  among  boys,  and  in  the  same  neighbourhood 
among  adults,  under  the  same  circumstances  and  ad- 
vantages, one  who  will  stand  out  from  all  the  rest, 
distinct  in  character,  exclusive  of  all  other  attainments. 
Character,  in  a  moral  sense,  is  defined  as  that  habitual 
disposition  of  the  soul,  that  inclines  it  to  do  one  thing 
in  preference  to  another  of  a  contrary  nature.  Duclos, 
in  his  reflections  upon  manners,  very  judiciously 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  243 

remarks,  that  the  greatest  part  of  the  errors  and  follies 
in  the  conduct  of  mankind,  happen  because  they  have 
not  their  minds  in  an  equilibrium,  as  it  were,  with  their 
characters.  Thus  Cicero  was  a  great  genius,  but  a 
weak  soul ;  which  is  the  reason  of  his  being  elevated  to 
the  highest  pinnacle  of  fame  as  an  orator,  although  he 
could  never  rise  above  mediocrity  as  a  man.  Two 
things  seemed  to  possess  the  whole  soul  of  William 
Dawson, — his  own  salvation,  and  the  salvation  of  others. 
His  mind  was  intent  on  both  ;  and  the  disposition 
which  gave  rise  to  character,  was  vigorously  at  work  at 
all  times,  and  kept  him  constantly  before  the  public, 
in  all  his  native  vigour,  with — "  this  one  thing  I  do," 
imprinted  upon  every  passion  of  the  heart,  every  sermon 
from  the  lips,  and  every  movement  in  society.  He 
never  suffered  the  disposition  to  flag  which  contributed 
to  the  formation  of  character — never  allowed  himself  to 
undervalue  or  lose  sight  of  character  itself — and  pre- 
served a  constant  recollection  of  the  position  in  which 
he  stood  before  the  church  and  the  world.  These  con- 
siderations preserved  every  hallowed  feeling  in  full 
exercise,  and  gave  a  beautiful  uniformity  to  what  was 
at  the  same  time  bold,  elevated,  and  commanding, — 
attracting  attention,  like  a  mountainous  district,  after 
the  eye  has  for  some  time  reposed  upon  tamer  scenes. 
There  was  another  local  preacher  on  the  plan,  of  the 
same  name  ;  and  being  made  of  quieter  materials  than 
the  subject  of  these  Memoirs,  they  were  distinguished 
by  the  ruder  part  of  the  people,  when  an  enquiry  was 
made  as  to  which  of  the  two  should  occupy  the  pulpit, 
— not,  as  in  the  plan,  by  their  seniority  or  juniority, 
but  by  their  characteristic  manner  of  preaching — giving 
to  the  one  the  appellation  of  "sleepy,"  and  to  the 


244  MEMOIRS    OP 

other,  that  of  "shouting  Billy."  The  cognomen  of 
Billy,  which  could  only  arise  from  that  low  familiarity 
which  "breeds  contempt,"  and  which  was  too  common 
even  with  persons  whose  sense  and  education  ought  to 
have  taught  them  better,  was  never  relished  by  his 
mother;  who  said, — "he  was  never  called  Billy  at 
home,  and  I  cannot  conceive  why  he  should  be  so  dis- 
tinguished abroad.""  As  to  his  zeal,  which  gave  energy 
to  voice,  matter,  and  manner,  it  was  not  remarkable 
that  he  should  be  distinguished  for  loud  speaking,  as 
he  continued  in  the  same  strain  which  marked  his 
earlier  pulpit  history.  Names  have  great  weight,  both 
with  the  vulgar  and  the  learned ;  but  they  very  often 
have,  beyond  their  proper  signification  and  applicability 
to  the  persons  on  whom  they  are  imposed,  a  tincture  of 
the  character  of  those  who  bestow  them, — shewing  a 
disposition  to  degrade,  by  lowering  the  dignity  of  those 
to  whom  they  are  applied. 

,In  1810  and  1811,  his  circle  of  admirers  was  greatly 
enlarged ;  and  he  was  obliged  to  yield  to  pressing 
invitations  to  preach  occasional  sermons,  and  make 
collections,  on  behalf  of  Sunday  Schools,  chapels  in- 
volved in  debt,  at  the  opening  of  places  of  worship, 
&c. ;  from  friends  at  Batley,  Mirfield,  Dewsbury,  Wake- 
field,  Rotherham,  Halifax,  and  elsewhere.  He  preached 
also  at  Naburn,  in  the  kitchen  of  Mr.  Leaf,  and  in 
other  places  belonging  to  the  York  circuit. 

His  power  over  the  passions,  and  his  tact  for  improv- 
ing funeral  occasions, — specimens  of  which  he  had 
already  abundantly  afforded,  continued  to  augment  his 
engagements  in  this  way.  In  addition  to  those  of  his 
friends  noticed  in  a  preceding  paragraph,  he  was  called 
upon  to  improve  the  death  of  John  Stead,  of  Kippax, — 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  245 

Mrs.  Batty  of  Barwick,  on  Psalms  Ixxiii.  26, — and  of 
Mr.  Ragg  of  Wetherby,  on  Matt.  xxiv.  45,  46,  &c. 
Of  John  Stead  he  wrote  a  memoir,  which  was  published 
in  the  Methodist  Magazine  for  1810,  p.  321. 

He  was  much  pleased  and  profited,  at  this  time,  by 
reading  the  works  of  Dr.  Bates,  and  forwarded  some 
admirable  extracts,  to  the  editor  of  the  above  periodical, 
from  the  Doctor's  sermon  on  "The  Death  of  Dr. 
Jacomb,"  on  John  xii.  26,  for  the  special  benefit  of 
"PREACHERS"  of  the  gospel.  These  extracts  are 
inserted  in  the  same  volume  in  which  the  above  memoir 
is  found,  p.  379  ;  and  not  only  show  the  kind  of  mental 
aliment  hi  which  his  soul  delighted,  and  which  afforded 
greater  pleasure  to  his  intellectual  taste  than  the 
"  savoury  meat"  could  yield  to  the  palate  of  the  patri- 
arch ;  but  the  portrait  drawn  by  Dr.  Bates,  exhibiting 
what  a  minister  ought  to  be,  is  no  bad  likeness  of  what 
William  Dawson  himself  actually  was, — he  having  been 
led  to  frame  his  conduct,  as  a  preacher,  according  to 
similar  instructions,  suggested  by  the  word  of  God,  and 
the  impulses  of  a  regenerate  heart. 

About  the  same  time,  his  friend  Samuel  Popplewell, 
Esq.,  Steward  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Harewood,  was 
passing  through  deep  waters,  in  consequence  of  some 
commercial  liabilities  to  which  he  had  subjected  himself, 
with  a  view  to  benefit  a  part  of  his  family.  Mr.  Daw- 
son — for  thus  it  is  now  proper  to  designate  him,  from 
the  rank  he  held  in  society,  met  Mr.  Popplewell  in 
Leeds,  in  the  beginning  of  his  troubles  ;  and  it  was 
just  such  a  friend — a  man  destitute  of  the  sentimental 
flights  of  the  novelist,  and  the  sage  philosophy  of  the 
mere  moralist,  that  the  mental  sufferer  required ;  one 
capable  of  the  most  intimate  and  cordial  coalition  of 


246  MEMOIRS    OF 

friendship  from  the  mere  instincts  of  a  benevolent 
nature,  exclusive  of  religion,  and  of  yielding  the  respect 
and  tenderness  which  man  deserves  from  man.  It  is 
remarked  by  a  writer  of  celebrity,  that  "neither  the 
cold  nor  the  fervid,  but  characters  uniformly  warm,  are 
formed  for  friendship."  So  it  was  here ;  they  were 
not  "flush  heats"  from  whence  his  sympathies  sprung ; 
it  was  a  permanent  glow.  He  was  one  who  "  kept  his 
friendship  in  constant  repair."  Real  friendship  has 
been  represented  as  a  "  slow  grower,"  and  incapable  of 
"thriving,  unless  engrafted  upon  a  stock  of  known  and 
reciprocal  merit."  Whatever  may  have  been  the  time 
of  growth  in  this  instance,  it  was  genuine ;  not  that 
tormenting  and  taunting  kind  of  friendship,  which  tells 
a  person  what  he  might  have  been,  had  he  followed  the 
advice  given  ;  but  that  which  "  weeps  with  them  that 
weep."  After  the  usual  salutations,  Mr.  Popplewell 
returned  to  the  enquiries  made, — "  I  find  my  mind  as 
well  as  I  can  expect,  considering  my  situation."  Mr. 
Dawson  replied, — "  As  far  as  sympathy  can  share  your 
sorrows,  I  feel  deeply  concerned  for  you  ;"  observing, 
by  way  of  comment  afterwards,  that  "the  soothing 
voice  of  friendship  melted  his  honest  heart, — the  tear 
started  in  his  eye, — and,  among  other  things  which  he 
said,  he  emphatically  remarked, — 'though  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  am  worth  a  farthing,  yet  I  should  not 
so  much  heed  the  loss  of  my  property,  if  I  could  only 
see  a  satisfactory  end  of  the  business."'  In  the  space  of 
a  month  subsequent  to  this,  he  again  saw  him,  when  he 
again  poured  the  balm  of  consolation  into  his  wounded 
spirit.  This  was  work  for  which  he  was  always  in 
tune, — differing  widely  from  those  "  sweet  instruments 
hung  up  in  cases,  that  keep  their  sounds  to  themselves." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  247 

Within  the  space  of  about  eight  months  more,  he  was 
called  upon  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  this  excel- 
lent man,  of  whom  he  furnished  a  memoir  for  the 
Methodist  Magazine,  where  it  is  to  be  found,  Vol.  xxxv, 
p.  941.  In  that  memoir,  he  gives  a  characteristic 
notice  of  the  Rev.  Miles  Atkinson,  under  whose  min- 
istry Mr.  Popplewell  had  derived  much  good,  and  who 
had  manifested  great  interest  in  his  own  welfare. 
Having  first  heard  him,  when  he  was  unable  to  form  an 
opinion,  it  is  curious  to  know  Mr.  Dawson's  more 
matured  views.  "He  preached,"  he  observes,  "the 
plain  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  His  appearance  was 
venerable,  his  voice  peculiarly  commanding,  and  his 
whole  manner,  both  in  the  desk  and  the  pulpit,  was 
calculated  to  arrest  the  attention  of  his  hearers.  Such 
a  minister  in  the  Church  was  a  phenomenon  in  those 
days,  so  that  his  congregations  were  uncommonly 
large." 

Mr.  Dawson's  own  congregations  were  now  so  "  un- 
commonly large,"  that  he  was  compelled,  in  many 
instances,  to  preach  out  of  doors.  As  an  exception  to 
a  general  case, — "A  prophet  is  not  without  honour, 
save  in  his  own  country," — he  was  as  popular  at  Bar- 
wick,  and  apparently  as  new,  at  the  close  as  at  the 
commencement  of  his  ministerial  career — embracing,  in 
all,  a  period  of  about  forty  years.  Each  returning  visit 
to  the  pulpit,  was  as  welcome  as  the  return  of  an 
endeared  friend,  whose  absence  is  regretted,  and  whose 
presence  is  the  joy  of  the  circle  in  which  he  moves. 
The  faces  of  the  people  were  all  lit  up  with  smiles  on 
his  appearance,  disclosing  the  emotions  of  the  heart, 
like  flowers  in  May  unfolding  their  beauties  to  the  solar 
heat.  When  disappointed  of  a  preacher,  he  ascended 


248  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  pulpit, — would  stroke  his  hand  over  his  forehead, 
— then  partially  raising  it,  and  modestly  peeping  as 
from  heneath  a  veil,  would  say,  — "  It  is  the  old 
face  again,  friends ! "  The  simple  action  and  expression 
operated  like  a  charm, — preacher  and  people  were  in- 
stantly on  the  sweetest  terms  of  amity  with  each  other ; 
— no  one  besides  himself  was  wanted, — for  he  could 
impart,  in  his  peculiar  way,  what  no  one  else  could 
give.  His  presence  and  acceptability,  however,  were 
sometimes  rendered  available  by  the  timid  and  luke- 
warm, as  an  excuse  for  absence ;  and  thus,  occasionally, 
the  pulpit  labours  of  others  were  imposed  upon  him. 
Such  was  the  hold  he  maintained  on  the  public  mind, 
that  even  in  Leeds,  when  appointed  to  preach  there, 
some  of  the  most  eminent  travelling  preachers  in  the 
connexion,  both  on  ordinary  and  extraordinary  occasions, 
have  met  numbers  pouring  along  the  streets,  to  hear 
him,  belonging  to  the  several  chapels  in  which  they 
were  appointed  to  officiate.  The  chapels,  new  and  old, 
were  invariably  crowded  ;  and  the  anxiety  to  hear  him, 
was  only  equalled  by  the  intense  feeling  of  the  people 
under  his  effective  ministry. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1813,  when  the  biographer 
first  became  acquainted  with  him.  Their  first  interview 
was  in  the  vestry  of  Armley  chapel,  near  Leeds,  Mon- 
day, April  1 9th,  on  the  day  of  its  opening.  The  Rev. 
Richard  Watson  was  then  stationed  in  the  Wakefield 
circuit,  and  was  one  of  the  ministers  who  officiated  on 
the  occasion.  Mr.  Dawson  continued  the  opening  ser- 
vices the  Sabbath  following,  where  he  rejoiced  with  the 
people  in  the  erection, — having  often  had  to  preach  out 
of  doors  before,  for  want  of  more  ample  accommodation. 
His  text  was  Psal.  Ixxxvii.  5,  6  ; — "  And  of  Zion  it 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  249 

shall  be  said,  This  and  that  man  was  born  in  her ;  and 
the  Highest  himself  shall  establish  her.  The  Lord 
shall  count,  when  he  writeth  up  the  people,  that  this 
man  was  born  there."  The  writer  will  never  forget  the 
impression  his  first  personal  appearance  made  upon  the 
mind.  Mr.  Dawson  was  then  in  his  prime, — stout,  — 
firm, — compact ; — not  robust ; — and  his  fine  forehead 
was  unclouded  by  the  hanging  eaves  of  the  thatch-like 
roof  of  false  hair  which  afterwards  disfigured  it, — 
escaping,  however,  by  its  homeliness,  the  application  of 
the  censure  which  Milton  apph'es  to  the  ladies, — 


'  of  outward  form 


Elaborate,  of  inward,  less  exact.1' 

He  was  seated  on  a  bench,  with  his  body  inclined  for- 
ward,— one  elbow  on  the  knee,  and  the  face  directed 
towards  the  floor, — musing,  apparently,  on  some  sub- 
ject ;  while  the  sole  of  one  shoe  was  grinding  the  sand 
beneath  it,  to  the  sound  of  which  he  was  lending 
partial  attention.  Just  at  the  moment  he  was  pointed 
out  to  the  \vriter,  he  suddenly  raised  his  head,  and  shot 
a  glance  across  the  room,  from  whence  a  voice  issued, 
which  had  caught  his  ear  ;  and  it  was  this,  in  all  pro- 
bability, that  gave  additional  force  to  the  eye,  and  so 
deepened  the  impression  produced.  The  expression 
was  not  so  clear  as  pointed,  not  so  brilliant  as  quick ; 
equally  remote  from  the  diamond,  the  pellucid  stream, 
or  any  transparent  substance,  as  from  the  slow  languor 
that  contributes  to  its  beauty, — being  attractive  rather 
than  searching,  enlivening  rather  than  lovely.  It  seemed 
to  give  life  to  the  whole  form,  and  to  confirm  the  opinion 
of  those,  who  believe  that  the  story  of  Argus  implies  no 
more,  than  that  the  eye  is  in  every  part ;  that  is,  as 
such  persons  express  themselves,  every  other  part  would 

L2 


250  MEMOIRS    OF 

be  mutilated,  were  not  its  force  represented  more  by 
the  eye  than  even  by  itself.  This  "  outward  portal," 
this  "common  thoroughfare"  to  the  "house  within," 
j — to  the  mind  and  aifections,  was  a  fair  introduction 
to  what  might  be  opined  of  the  man;  and  in  no 
instance,  after  first  acquaintance,  did  he  blight  expec- 
tation. 

Great  exertions  were  making,  at  this  time,  by  the 
Baptists,  and  the  agents  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  on  the  behalf  of  the  heathen.  The  Rev. 
Andrew  Fuller, — a  man  of  masculine  mind,  and  origin- 
ality of  thought,  preached  in  the  chapel  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  E.  Parsons  of  Leeds,  and  made  a  collection  in 
aid  of  the  Baptist  Missions.  Mr.  Dawson  heard  him, 
and  was  much  delighted,  not  only  with  his  matter  and 
unassuming  manner,  but  with  the  sweet  racy  feeling 
that  accompanied  the  word  spoken.  After  Mr.  Fuller 
had  elucidated  his  subject,  and  expatiated  on  the  great 
good  that  had  been  effected  abroad  by  Dr.  Cary  and 
others,  he  asked,  in  his  energetic  way, — "  Where  will 
it  end  ? ''  "  In  heaven,"  responded  Mr.  Dawson,  in  a 
tone  sufficiently  loud  to  be  heard,  with  his  face  beaming 
with  pleasurable  emotions.  This  was  not  the  ebullition 
of  that  enthusiasm,  which,  in  religion,  operates  like 
alchymy  in  philosophy,  but  of  steady,  fervid  zeal, — 
answering  to  the  touch  of  the  preacher,  who  had  bound 
him,  as  by  a  spell,  to  the  all-absorbing  subject, — the 
conversion  of  a  WORLD.  Ardent  zeal  was  a  vein  which 
nature  herself  had  strongly  marked  on  the  temper  of 
his  mind ;  and  when  religion  came  to  its  aid,  he  pursued 
each  divine  object,  as  all  inamoratos  are  admitted  to  do, 
whether  in  art,  science,  or  what  else, — with  his  whole 
soul.  He  adverted  afterwards,  with  delighted  feeling, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  251 

to  the  biographer,  to  the  influence  which  the  subject 
had  upon  his  mind. 

This  was  an  excellent  preparation  for  the  first  public 
Missionary  Meeting  among  the  Wesleyans,  which  was 
held  soon  after,  in  the  Old  Chapel,  Leeds.  Mr.  Wesley 
had  furnished  the  example  in  modern  times,  of  weekly, 
monthly,  and  quarterly  contributions,  for  the  purpose 
of  extending  the  religion  of  Christ  in  the  world,  and 
supporting  Christian  ministers  in  the  work.  The  ex- 
cellence of  the  precedent  belongs  to  St.  Paul,  who  says, 
"  Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  let  every  one  of  you 
lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath  prospered  him." 
The  weekly  contributions  of  the  primitive  Church  had 
the  benefit  of  "  the  saints "  for  their  object ;  Mr. 
Wesley's  was  originally  intended  to  liquidate  the  general 
debt  at  Bristol.  The  measure  was  ridiculed  for  many 
years;  and  the  preachers  were  reviled  as  "roving men- 
dicants," as  "men  without  a  local  habitation  or  a 
name ;"  and  the  peculiar  mode  by  which  the  cause  of 
God  was  supported  among  the  Wesleyans,  was  insidi- 
ously styled,  "a  paltry  and  unlikely  scheme  for  pro- 
curing eleemosynary  subscriptions."  But  in  process  of 
time,  the  views  and  feelings  of  a  large  proportion  of  the 
community  were  changed ;  for  many  of  the  very  per- 
sons that  had  previously  treated  the  Wesleyans  with 
such  scurrility,  began  "to  perceive  such  utility  in  the 
labours  of  Itinerants,  as  to  induce  them  not  only  so  to 
employ  unordained  noviciates,  around  the  places  of 
their  education,  but  to  recommend,  as  opportunity 
might  serve,  such  a  practice  to  fixed  pastors."  The 
Wesleyan  method,  also,  of  raising  money,  so  much 
despised  before,  had,  by  this  period,  received  the  sanc- 
tion of  several  of  the  bishops  and  nobility  of  the  land, 


252  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  was  resorted  to  by  almost  every  denomination  of 
Christians, — a  decisive  proof  of  the  favourable  change 
of  public  opinion.     Bible,  Missionary,  and  Tract  Asso- 
ciations, had  brought,  by  such  means,  a  vast  accession 
of  pecuniary  strength  to  their  respective  parent  estab- 
lishments.    As  the  plan,  in  modern  times,  was  purely 
Wesleyan,  and  had  never  been  adopted  by  the  Societies 
as  a  source  of  supply  to  the  Missionary  fund, — as  other 
Christian  communities  were  acting  on  the  example,  and 
opportunities  for  evangelizing  the  heathen  were  on  the 
increase, — and  more  especially  as  the  Missionary  cause 
was  losing  the  personal  exertions  of  Dr.  Coke, — it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  convene  public  meetings,  and  form 
associations,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  monies  to  extend 
the  Missionary  work.     Mr.  Scarth  of  Leeds,  had  re- 
peatedly remarked  to  Mr.  Dawson,  before   Dr.  Coke 
took  his  departure  for  India, — "  The  Missionary  cause 
must  be  taken  out  of  the  Doctor's  hands  ;  it  must  be 
made  a  public — a  common  cause"     This,  in  Mr.  Daw- 
son's  view,  as  expressed  to  the  biographer,  was  the  germ 
of  the  whole.     The  Leeds  preachers,  on  taking  up  the 
subject,  visited  the  preachers  at  Bramley,  with  a  view 
to  consult  further  on  the  subject ;  and  all  agreed  in  the 
propriety,  necessity,  and  practicability  of  the  measure. 
The  fine  feelings  and  gigantic  powers  of  the  late  Rev. 
Richard  Watson,  were  instantly  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  subject,  on  being  applied  to  by  the  Leeds  brethren  ; 
and  having  enlisted  him  in  the  cause  for  which  he  was 
so  admirably  fitted,  and  which  brought  him  out  with 
redoubled  splendour  before  the  public,  success,  under 
God,  seemed  at  once  ensured.     Accordingly,  after  due 
deliberation  and  preparation,  with  other  lay  and  minis- 
terial accessions,  a  public  meeting  was  appointed  to  be 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  253 

held,  October  6th,  1813,  in  the  Methodist  Old  Chapel, 
Leeds,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.* 

The  occasion  was  deeply  interesting,  and  fraught 
with  the  most  important  results  to  mankind.  Thomas 
Thompson,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  after  singing  and  prayer,  was 
called  to  preside,  and  opened  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting.  After  a  speech  of  some  length,  distinguished 
for  good  sense,  and  a  general  attention  to  Missionary 
operations,  he  concluded  his  remarks  by  observing, — 
"  I  will  only  beg  leave,  before  any  other  proceeding  take 
place,  to  request  that  you  will  not  signify  your  appro- 
bation of  the  speeches  which  you  may  hear  from  my 
honoured  brethren,  by  modes  of  applauding,  like  those 
which  are  practised  in  theatres,  and  other  places  of 
public  amusement.  The  consideration  of  the  sacred 
purpose  for  which  we  are  assembled,  will  banish  from 
our  conduct  every  expression  of  our  feelings  which  bor- 
ders on  levity.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  practice 
of  other  Christians  on  similar  occasions,  let  it  be 
our  care  that  'all  things  are  done  decently  and  in 
order. ' " 

One  of  the  preachers,  in  social  mood,  said  to  Mr. 
Dawson,  previously  to  the  meeting,  "  You  must  take  a 
resolution."  All  was  new ;  it  was  like  going  an  appren- 
ticeship to  a  new  profession.  "Me  take  a  resolution!" 
he  returned ;  "I  know  not  what  to  do  with  it ;  I  shall 
be  blundering  over  it,  like  one  of  our  senators,  who  had 
to  take  the  sacrament  to  qualify  him  for  his  seat." 
This  reply,  as  it  was  in  the  freedom  of  conversation, 
excited  a  little  curiosity.  "  How  was  that  ?  "  It  was 

»  "A  Report  of  the  Principal  Speeches'1  delivered  on  the  occasion,  was 
published  by  James  Nichols;  and  the  Resolutions  moved,  were  published  in 
the  Methodist  Magazine  for  1813,  p.  950,  under  the  head  of  "  Religious  Intel- 
ligence." 


254  MEMOIRS    OF 

replied, — "He  was  an  irreligious  man;  and  being  as 
ignorant  of  religion,  as  he  was  personally  indifferent  to 
it,  he  went  to  church — supposing  his  appearance  within 
its  walls  sufficient — when  a  female  was  returning  thanks, 
and  was  thus  churched  with  her ;"  repeating,  "  I  shall 
be  sure  to  blunder."  The  disposition  to  something 
like  jocularity,  was  a  sufficient  intimation,  that  he  had 
no  grave  objection  to  engage  in  the  services  of  the 
occasion.  Accordingly,  the  seventh  resolution  was 
committed  to  his  care,  which  he  moved,  and  spoke 
with  great  eifect.  Having  caught  the  fire  from  the 
preceding  speakers,  he  commenced, — 

"  MR.  CHAIRMAN, — I  rise  with  pleasure  before  you 
and  this  congregation,  because  I  believe  that  the 
grand  object  of  our  meeting  is  under  the  distinguished 
smile  of  Jehovah.  You  know,  Sir,  that  the  intention 
of  our  assembling  here  to-day,  is,  to  propose,  adopt, 
and  prosecute  the  best  plans  of  spreading  'pure  and 
undefiled  religion'  to  the  utmost  extent  of  our  abilities. 
Noble  Designs ! — Methinks  the  happiness  of  sur- 
rounding angels  is  augmented,  when  they  behold 
these  projects,  and  the  spirit  with  which  we  enter 
into  them.  They  anticipate  the  season  when  these 
plans  will  be  executed,  when  they  will  have  new 
melodies  to  raise  over  penitent  sinners  returning  to 
God. — In  my  humble  opinion,  Sir,  in  what  we  are  now 
contemplating,  there  are  two  weighty  considerations, 
which  deserve  our  particular  .attention.  One  is, — 
That  a  Missionary  ministry  of  the  Gospel  is  under 
the  peculiar  approbation  of  God,  and  is,  in  his  hand, 
the  grand  mean  of  enlightening  a  benighted  world ; 
the  other — That  of  all  people,  the  Methodists  should 
be  the  first  to  encourage  Missionary  efforts."  These 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  255 

positions  he  established ;  took  a  glance  at  the  divine 
mission  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  world — the  commission 
he  gave  to  his  disciples,  and  the  energy  with  which 
they  acted  in  carrying  it  into  execution — the  spirit 
which  was  roused  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation — 
and  the  efforts  to  diffuse  evangelical  truth  at  sub- 
sequent periods. 

On  the  other  proposition,  viz. — "  That  of  all  others, 
the  Methodists  should  be  the  first  to  encourage  Mis- 
sionary efforts,"  he  remarked,  that,  "the  reasons  for 
it  appeared  in  the  DOCTRINES  which  they  believed, 
and  the  PRIVILEGES  which  they  enjoyed."  He  pro- 
ceeded, linking  himself  to  all  the  interests  of  the 
body, — 

"The  doctrines  which  we  believe,  bind  this  duty 
upon  us  in  an  especial  manner.  You  know,  Sir,  we 
believe  that  in  the  Gospel  is  provided  a  full,  free, 
and  present  salvation  from  all  the  moral  evils  con- 
sequent on  the  fall  of  Adam.  We  believe  that  this 
salvation  is  of  infinite  importance,  as  being  a  complete 
deliverance  from  infinite  evils,  and  a  personal  possession 
of  infinite  benefits.  We  believe  that  wherever  the 
Gospel  is  faithfully  preached,  this  salvation  is  within 
the  reach  of  all.  We  believe  that,  as  its  duties  are 
imposed  upon  all,  its  benefits  are  offered  to  all.  We 
believe  that  when  ministers  preach  the  Gospel  fully, 
they  preach  '  Christ  in  us,  the  hope  of  glory,  warning 
every  man,  and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wisdom, 
that  they  may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ 
Jesus.'  Now  these  are  some  of  the  doctrines  which 
we  believe ;  and  if  we  act  consistently  with  our  prin- 
ciples, we  shall  not  be  the  least  nor  the  hindmost  in 
Missionary  efforts.  How  highly  proper  it  is  that  our 


256  MEMOIRS    OF 

conduct  should  illustrate  and  harmonize  with  our  creed ; 
and  that  we  should  shew  our  faith  by  our  works ! 

"  But,  Sir,  the  privileges  which  we  enjoy  bring  on  us 
an  additional  and  powerful  obligation  why  we  should 
be  the  first  in  promoting  this  good  work.  Is  a 
Missionary  ministry  of  the  Gospel  under  the  peculiar 
approbation  of  God?  Our  regular  ministry  is  truly 
of  the  Missionary  kind. — Do  Missionaries  make  great 
sacrifices  ?  So  do  our  ministers. — Do  they  sacrifice 
the  pleasures  of  social  enjoyments?  Do  they  leave 
father,  and  mother,  and  brethren,  and  sisters,  to  pro- 
mote the  salvation  of  souls?  So  do  ours. — Do  they 
sacrifice  all  prospects  of  accumulating  wealth  ?  So  do 
ours. — Do  they  sacrifice  a  state  and  spirit  of  indepen- 
dence, and  enter  upon  a  humble  and  dependent  life  ? 
So  do  ours.  '  Foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of 
the  air  have  nests,'  to  which  they  claim  an  exclusive 
right,  but  our  ministers  have  not  a  place  of  their  own 
where  they  can  lay  their  heads.  "We  lend  them  houses  ; 
— we  lend  them  furniture ;  —and  we  lend  them  those 
things  only  for  two  years,  and  then  they  must  re- 
move again  to  another  station,  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  other  persons. — Do  Missionaries  many  times  sacrifice 
the  sweets  of  Christian  friendship  ?  So  do  ours.  When 
a  preacher  has  just  got  acquainted  with  some  kindred 
souls  in  his  circuit,  and  has  begun  to  repose  his 
confidence  in  them,  and  to  taste  the  delicious  gratifica- 
tions of  their  friendship,  his  two  years  are  expired, 
and  he  is  torn  away,  and  sent  to  some  distant  part 
of  the  country,  and  perhaps  never  sees  the  faces  of 
his  friends  again,  until  he  meets  them  in  heaven. — 
-Do  Missionaries  engage  in  arduous  duties?  So  do 
ours.  Almost  every  night  in  the  week,  and  generally 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  257 

three  times  on  Sundays,  are  they  engaged  in  the 
honourable,  but  arduous  duty  of  preaching  the  Gospel ; 
besides  their  additional  labour  in  the  quarterly  ex- 
amination of  the  societies. 

"  In  proceeding,  Sir,  upon  this  interesting  subject,  I 
may,    perhaps,   wound  the   generous   feelings   of  my 
honoured  fathers  and  beloved  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
who  are  now  before  me;  but  permit  me  at  this  time 
to  give  vent  to  my  own  pleasures,   though  it  be  at 
the  expense  of  theirs.     I  therefore  venture  to  ask, — 
Is  a  Missionary  ministry  under  the  peculiar  approba- 
tion of  God?     With  humble  gratitude  I  would  answer 
— So   is  ours.      The  best   of  all  is,    GOD   is   WITH 
THEM.     Stand  in   the   centre  of  Great  Britain,   and 
ask  concerning  our  ministers,    'Have  they  laboured, 
or  do  they  labour  in  vain?'     Thousands  upon  thou- 
sands would  immediately  answer,    No.      Fly  over  to 
the  West  Indies   and  ask,    'Have  they  laboured,  or 
do  they  labour  in  vain?'    And  15,000  voices  answer, 
No.     Stand  upon  the  vast  continent  of  America,  and 
ask   once   more,    'Have  they  laboured,    or   do   they 
labour  in  vain  ? '     Upwards  of  200,000  voices  answer, 
No.     But  let  us  concentrate  our  views  and  enquiries ; 
I  now  look  round  upon  this  congregation ;  and  though 
we  are  in  the  presence  of  so  many  of  our  dear  fathers 
and  brethren  in   the  ministry,  *    I   ask  you,    '  Have 
they  laboured,   or  do  they  labour  in  vain?'     (Here, 
hundreds  of  voices  interrupted  the  speaker,  and  spon- 
taneously  spared    him   the   trouble   of   repeating  his 
negation,  by  emphatically  answering, — 'No.') 

"I  thank  you,  my  friends. — Then,  Sir,  may  I  not 

*  A  considerable  number  of  preachers  sat  directly  before  Mr.  Dawson,  to 
whom  he  directed  the  eyes  of  the  congregation  while  he  was  asking  this  ques- 
tion. 


258  MEMOIRS    OF 

be  permitted  to  ask — Shall  we  monopolize  the  benefits 
of  such  a  ministry?  By  the  instrumentality  of  these 
men,  we  have  received  our  spiritual  eye-sight ;  and 
have  we  received  it  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  see 
our  poor  fellow-creatures  going  blindfolded  to  rum? 
Is  it  possible  that  we  can  behold  such  a  spectacle, 
without  attempting  to  relieve  them,  by  sending  them 
the  same  means  by  which  we  got  our  eyes  opened? 
Surely  not.  By  these  men  we  were  directed  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  salvation,  and  he  has  broken 
our  bonds,  and  snapped  our  fetters  in  sunder,  and 
we  walk  at  liberty.  And  shall  we  view  the  poor 
heathens  not  only  blindfolded,  but  'tied  and  bound 
with  the  chain  of  their  sins,'  and  the  grand  Deceiver 
leading  them  across  the  stage  of  h'fe  to  the  'lake 
burning  with  fire  and  brimstone, '  and  not  strain 
every  nerve  to  send  them  ministers  to  '  proclaim  liberty 
to  the  captives,'  and,  under  God,  to  '  turn  them  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God  ? '  It  cannot  be  that  we  can  look  upon  this 
heart-rending  and  melancholy  scene  unmoved ! 

"  Under  the  ministry  of  these  men,  we  enjoy  '  feasts 
of  fat  things,  of  wines  on  the  lees  well  refined ; ' 
and  shall  we  see  our  poor  heathen  brethren  famishing 
with  hunger,  and  not  send  them  one  dish  of  the 
dainties  of  the  Gospel  ?  It  cannot  be !  Especially, 
Sir,  when  we  consider  that  we  have  a  number  of 
young  men  truly  converted,  and  deeply  devoted  to 
God,  who  would  gladly  imitate  the  angel  in  the 
Revelation,  and  fly  through  the  earth,  and  'preach 
the  everlasting  Gospel  to  every  nation,  and  kindred, 
and  tongue,  and  people.'  But  they  want  wings? 
And  shall  we  deny  them  pinions,  when  it  is  in  our 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  259 

power  to  furnish  them  with  such  useful  appendages? 
Surely  not !  To-day  we  are  met  to  devise  the  mea- 
sures best  adapted  for  attaining  this  important  object ; 
and  I  trust  we  shah"  not  meet  in  vain.  If  we  possess 
any  proper  sympathy  for  our  fellow-creatures, — if  we 
feel  any  powerful  sense  of  our  superior  obligations 
to  God,  we  shall  neither  be  the  last  nor  the  least 
in  missionary  efforts." 

Including  thanks  to  the  chairman,  there  were  nine- 
teen resolutions  in  all,  each  with  its  mover  and 
seconder.  Of  the  travelling  preachers,  who  had 
resolutions  assigned  them,  to  move  or  second,  only 
eight  were  living  in  1841 ;  and  of  the  laymen,  about 
an  equal  number.  The  first  committee  too,  of  which 
Mr.  Dawson  was  a  member,  exhibited  the  same  af- 
fecting waste  by  the  ravages  of  death.  Out  of  twenty  - 
six  travelling  preachers,  whose  names  were  upon  it, 
belonging  to  the  Leeds  district,  only  eleven  were 
living ;  and  of  forty-eight  laymen,  only  about  fifteen. 
Eternity  alone  will  disclose  the  full  importance  of  that 
meeting  to  the  interests  of  religion  in  the  world. 
Independent  of  its  influence  on  other  sections  of  the 
Christian  church,  its  direct  influence  on  the  Wesleyan 
body  has  been  highly  beneficial,  in  extending  the 
knowledge  of  the  people,  in  opening  up  new  sources 
of  benevolence,  in  deepening,  elevating,  and  expanding 
the  piety  of  the  heart,  and  in  employing  a  number 
of  active  agents  in  the  general  work  of  well-doing, 
who  might  otherwise  have  lived  in  comparative  seclu- 
sion and  ease.  * 

*  In  1785,  the  Wesleyans  had  only  three  foreign  stations — Nova-Scotia,  New- 
foundland, and  Antigua, — 3  Missionaries, — and  1408 members  on  those  stations. 

In  1813 — embracing  a  period  of  28  years,  when  the  Missionary  Meetings 
commenced,  they  had  only  4  Districts  in  the  foreignfleld,  including  22  circuits, 


260  MEMOIRS    OF 

Than  on  this  occasion,  the  biographer  rarely  ever 
saw  Mr.  Dawson  to  greater  advantage;  not  so  much 
for  the  extraordinary  character  of  his  materials,  as 
for  the  deep  tone  of  piety  which  he  displayed,  the 
sunshine  he  threw  over  the  meeting, — the  spirit  which 
he  enkindled  in  the  breasts  of  those  around — the  tact 
which  he  displayed — and  the  ease  with  which  he  fell 
into,  what  afterwards  constituted  the  work  of  the  plat- 
form. A  missionary  spirit  was  soon  excited  through 
the  whole  Wesleyan  Connexion,  and  invitations  poured 
in  upon  him  thenceforward,  not  only  from  newly- 
instituted  societies,  but  societies  as  they  grew  old, 
some  of  whose  annual  meetings  he  attended  for  a 
succession  of  years.  From  this  period,  he  advanced 
in  popularity  and  usefulness,  beyond  all  precedent 
among  his  brethren.  It  was  not  that  kind  of  reputation 
which  depends  upon  mere  accident,  as  when  the  mass 
of  the  people  are  guided  by  the  opinions  of  their 

upon  which  were  22  Missionaries, comprising — exclusive  of  France,  Gibraltar, 
and  Ireland,  16,833  members.  Seven  additional  Missionaries  were  appointed 
at  the  Conference  of  1813,  for  Asia  and  South  Africa,  but  had  not  reached  their 
several  destinations.  The  principal  Mission  Stations  at  that  period  were 
Sierra-Leone,  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland,  and  the  West  Indies. 

In  1841 — a  second  period  of  28  years,  the  following  "  Recapitulation  "  of  a 
"  Summary  View,"  was  published  as  a  "  Postscript"  to  the  January  "  Mis- 
sionary Notices :  "  "  The  Society  occupies, 

Principal  Stations,  about  256 ; 

Missionaries,  about  380; 

Catechists  and  Salaried  Schoolmasters,  &c.,  322. 

Assistants  and  Teachers,  not  Salaried,  upwards  of  5,600; 

Printing  Establishments,  7 ; 

Members  or  Communicants,  78,504 ; 

Attendants  on  the  Ministry,  more  than  200,000 ; 

In  the  Schools,  Adults,  and  Children,  55,078  ; 

Upwards  of  20  languages  used  by  the  Missionaries;  into  several  of  which 
the  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  other  useful  and  instructive  books,  is 
in  progress. 

The  Annual  Income  of  the  Society  amounting  to  between  NINETY  and  ONK 
HUNDRED  THOUSAND  POUNDS.'  So  much  for  Missionary  Meetings .' .' 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  261 

superiors;  the  few,  in  such  cases,  being  the  keepers 
of  the  elevation  of  others,  upon  whom  the  trumpet 
of  applause  is  hound  to  attend,  and  give  forth  its 
notes,  on  a  solitary  display  of  talent,  or  an  extra 
act  of  benevolence :  it  was  that  which  arose  from  his 
native  genius  and  ardent  desire  to  promote  the  pub- 
lic good, — sacrificing  personal  ease,  profit,  and  all 
private  considerations,  to  promote  the  grand  object. 
'Without  this — the  public  good  as  a  motive,  a  man 
is  at  best  but  "an  inglorious  neuter  to  mankind." 

Notwithstanding  the  chairman's  caution  to  the  au- 
ditory, self-restraint  seemed  next  to  impossible.  Such 
assemblies  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  in  the  keeping 
of  the  speakers ;  and  to  the  speakers,  rather  than 
the  hearers,  such  cautions  should  be  administered. 
His  style  and  manner,  from  the  effects  produced  by 
them,  and  which  in  himself  were  generally  admissible, 
led  the  way  to  certain  imitations,  and  produced  a 
lighter  spirit  occasionally  than  what  comported  with 
the  object  of  the  meetings,  and  which,  so  far  as 
others  were  concerned,  it  was  found  necessary  to  tone 
down  and  to  check.  The  evil  became  the  greater, 
from  the  circumstance  of  the  imitators  being  destitute 
of  the  weight  which  he  otherwise  possessed,  and  which 
invariably  counter-balanced  the  flights  of  fancy  in 
which  he  was  sometimes  pleased  to  indulge. 

What  was  rather  extraordinary,  on  the  present  occa- 
sion, the  chairman  himself,  who  was  a  man  of  almost 
stern  gravity,  was,  if  not  carried  away  with  the  excite- 
ment, overpowered  by  the  deeper  feeling.  He  had 
seen  Mr.  Dawson  before,  and  remarked  to  a  friend 
afterwards,  that  he  was  frequently  drawn  to  observe 
him,  while  the  speakers  that  preceded  him  were 


262  MEMOIRS    OF 

addressing  the  meeting,  and  was  deeply  impressed  with 
his  appearance,  as  heing  something  more  than  an 
ordinary  character,  and  especially  with  the  expressions 
of  his  face,  which  every  now  and  then  manifested  the 
strongest  internal  emotions.  But  when  he  began  to 
speak,  the  chairman  was  apparently  under  as  strong 
emotions  as  himself,  and  towards  the  close,  wept  under 
the  affecting  appeals  which  were  made  to  himself  and 
to  the  assembly. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  263 


CHAPTER  X. 

Conscience, — a  singular  Incident. — Tenderness  in  Preaching. — 
The  Shepherd  personified. — Indirect  self-praise. — Revivalists. — 
Mistakes  in  Conversion  corrected. — Early  Gift  in  Prayer  among 
young  Converts. — Establishment  of  Missionary  Societies  at 
York  and  Wakefield. — Extracts  front  Speeches. — Mr.  Edn-ard 
Wade's  death. — Selby  Missionary  Meeting. — Timidity. — Char- 
acteristic Remarks. —  Conversational  Meetings  among  the  Local- 
Preachers. — A  spiritual  Ministry. — Deputation  from  a  distance. 
— Death  of  the  Princess  Charlotte. — Visit  to  the  North. — A 
Dream.  —  Quarrels  from  trifling  causes.  —  Fault-Jinders. — 
Prejudice.  —  Chester  and  Liverpool  Meetings.  —  Dr.  Adam 
Clarke. — Propriety  of  bringing  acquired  knowledge  to  bear  on 
the  cause  of  Truth. — Death  of  the  Rev.  William  Bramnell. — 
The  Backslider. — Tract  Distribution. — Addresses  to  Children. 
— Objections. — The  eternal  Sonship. — Authors. 

His  ministry,  if  possible,  became  more  energetic 
than  heretofore,  and  was  increasingly  effective  in  the 
conversion  of  sinners.  Among  many  other  extraor- 
dinary effects  produced,  as  to  the  conviction  it  carried 
to  the  conscience,  one  may  be  here  adduced.  He  was 
preaching  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Leeds,  on  Daniel  v. 
27, — "  Thou  art  weighed  in  the  balances,  and  art  found 
wanting."  A  person  who  travelled  the  country  in  the 
character  of  a  pedlar,  and  who  was  exceedingly  partial 
to  him  as  a  preacher,  was  one  of  Mr.  Dawson's  auditors. 


264  MEMOIRS   OF 

The  person  referred  to,  generally  carried  a  stick  with 
him,  which  answered  the  double  purpose  of  a  walking- 
stick  and  a  "yard-wand;"  and  having  been  employed 
pretty  freely  in  the  former  capacity,  it  was  worn  down 
beyond  the  point  of  justice,  and  procured  for  him  the 
appellation  of  "Short  Measure."  He  stood  before 
Mr.  Dawson,  and  being  rather  noisy  in  his  religious 
professions,  as  well  as  ready  with  his  responses,  he 
manifested  signs  of  approbation,  while  the  scales  were 
being  described  and  adjusted,  and  different  classes  of 
sinners  were  placed  in  them,  and  disposed  of  agreeably 
to  the  test  of  justice,  truth,  and  mercy, — uttering  in  a 
somewhat  subdued  tone,  yet  loud  euough  for  those 
around  to  hear,  at  the  close  of  each  particular, — "Light 
weight" — "short  again,"  &c.  After  taking  up  the 
separate  characters  of  the  flagrant  transgressors  of  the 
law  of  God,  the  hypocrite,  the  formalist,  &c.,  Mr.  Daw- 
son  at  length  came  to  such  persons  as  possessed  religious 
light,  but  little  hallowed  feeling,  and  the  semblance 
of  much  zeal,  but  who  employed  false  weights  and 
measures.  Here,  without  having  adverted  in  his  mind 
to  the  case  of  his  noisy  auditor,  he  perceived  the 
muscles  of  his  face  working,  when  the  report  of  "  short- 
measure  "  occurred  to  him.  Resolved,  however,  to 
soften  no  previous  expression,  and  to  proceed  with  an 
analysis  and  description  of  the  character  in  question, 
he  placed  the  delinquent,  in  his  singularly  striking 
way,  in  the  scale,  when  instead  of  the  usual  response 
— the  man,  stricken  before  him,  took  his  stick — the 
favourite  measure,  from  under  his  arm, — raised  one 
foot  from  the  floor, — doubled  his  knee, — and,  taking 
hold  of  the  offending  instrument  by  both  ends,  snap- 
ped it  into  two  halves,  exclaiming,  while  dashing  it 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  265 

to  the  ground,  "Thou  shalt  do  it  no  more."  So 
true  is  it, — to  employ  the  language  of  an  eminent 
minister, — that  "  no  man  ever  offended  his  own  con- 
science, but  first  or  last  it  was  revenged  upon  him 
for  it."  Conscience  is  an  equitable  and  ready  judge, 
when  permitted  to  speak  out,  and  tells  a  man  that  he 
cannot  injure  another,  without  receiving  the  counter- 
stroke, — that  he  must  necessarily  wound  himself  in 
wronging  another.  Let  conscience  be  waited  upon  in 
all  transactions  between  man  and  man,  and  like  the 
fingers  of  a  steady  time-piece,  it  will  generally  be  found 
to  point  to  the  golden  rule  of  equity ;  but  let  it  once  be 
tampered  with,  and  it  will  soon  become  "seared  as 
with  a  hot  iron," — robbed  of  the  integrity  in  which  it 
was  created,  and  neither  have  purity  sufficient  to  carry 
a  man  to  heaven,  nor  yet  light  enough  to  enable  him  to 
select  the  path. 

When  the  subject  led  to  it,  Mr.  Dawson,  as  has  been 
seen,  could  be  as  tender,  as  on  other  occasions,  he  was 
rousing  and  severe.  At  the  opening  of  Wortley  chapel, 
near  Leeds,  he  took  for  his  text,  Isai.  xl.  9 — 11.  He 
told  his  hearers,  that  the  text  was  like  a  well-toned 
organ — full,  varied,  powerful,  sweet ;  but  that  it  re- 
quired some  one  to  touch  the  keys  with  skill ;  and  yet, 
he  added, — "a  skilful  hand,  without  the  breath  of 
heaven,  will  avail  nothing."  However  he  himself,  he 
observed,  might  attempt  to  handle  the  instrument,  all 
would  be  in  vain,  unless  the  breath  of  God,  "  the  inspi- 
ration of  the  Almighty,"  filled  the  pipes.  He  believed, 
at  the  same  time,  that  a  person  like  himself,  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  of  pastoral  habits,  could 
enter  more  readily  into  the  meaning  of  some  parts  of 
the  text,  than  many  of  his  hearers,  who  had  to  attend 

M 


266  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  the  loom,  and  seldom  stirred  abroad.  He  then 
adverted  to  the  eleventh  verse, — "He  shall  feed  his 
flock  like  a  shepherd ;  he  shall  gather  the  lambs  with 
his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom  ;  "  and  depicted, 
in  fine  style,  from  personal  experience,  the  shepherd 
going  out  into  the  fields,  hours  after  the  day  had  closed, 
or  hours  before  day-break,  in  the  cold  month  of  Feb- 
ruary or  March,  to  visit  his  flock.  The  hearers  were 
then  transported  in  imagination  into  the  rural  districts  ; 
— the  heavens,  in  addition  to  the  darkness  of  the  hour, 
sometimes  overshadowed  with  clouds,  with  a  strong 
cold  vapour  floating  in  the  atmosphere, — and  at  other 
times,  the  stars  sparkling  in  the  midst  of  the  dark  blue 
overhead,  with  the  ground  either  covered  with  snow, 
hardened  by  the  frost,  or  slightly  crisped  under  the 
feet,  with  a  sharp  searching  wind.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, the  shepherd  was  beheld  by  the  "mind's 
eye,"  like  a  stalking  shadow  in  the  midst  of  the  gloom, 
— now  pausing, — now  listening, — pausing  and  listening 
again, — once  and  again  deceived  by  fancied  sounds, — 
then  hearing  the  palpitation  of  his  own  heart ;  proceed- 
ing, and  halting,  and  listening,  and  looking,  till  a  small 
white  speck  appeared  a  few  paces  before  him.  It  was 
readily  conjectured  to  be  a  lamb,  only  a  few  hours  old, 
and  nearly  frozen  to  death.  The  shepherd,  moved  with 
tenderness,  as  much  as  by  interest,  was  again  repre- 
sented as  stooping  down,  taking  it  up, — putting  it  in 
his  bosom,  beneath  his  upper  garment, — carrying  it 
home, — placing  it  before  the  fire,— looking  upon  it  with 
anxious  solicitude, — his  eye  glistening  with  joy  on  see- 
ing it  stir  its  limbs, — still  more  on  it  raising  its  head, 
— and  finally  transported  to  behold  it,  though  stagger- 
ing, upon  its  feet, — and  to  hear  it  bleat.  Just  at  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  267 

moment  the  bleating  of  the  lamb  seemed  to  die  upon 
the  ear  of  the  congregation,  the  poor  penitent  was 
exhibited,  as  followed  by  the  mercy  of  God, — Jesus, 
the  "  Great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,"  pursuing  him, — 
going  into  the  wilderness, — laying  hold  of  him  by  his 
Spirit, — bringing  him  to  the  fold, — fostering, — anima- 
ting him, — and  at  length  delighted  with  the  voice  of 
prayer, — "bleating  in  the  ear  of  heaven, — 'Mercy, — 
mercy, — mercy  ! '  " — feeble  at  first,  then  waxing  stron- 
ger and  stronger.  Here,  owing  to  the  manner  of 
working  up  the  subject — imitating,  as  far  as  was  com- 
patible with  the  sanctity  of  the  place,  the  first  feeble 
cries  of  the  returning  sinner,  which  were  instantly  asso- 
ciated with  the  first  bleatings  of  the  lamb,  the  subject 
was  overwhelming,  and  encouraging  beyond  expression, 
to  seekers  of  salvation.  The  Shepherd's  ear  was  repre- 
sented as  ever  open  to  their  cry,  and  his  heart  as 
beating  with  compassion  towards  them — having  a  deep 
interest,  at  the  same  time,  in  the  purchase  of  his  own 
blood. 

Though  numbers  received  a  sense  of  sin  forgiven 
under  his  ministry,  he  was  not  in  the  habit  of  trumpet- 
ing his  success  from  society  to  society,  and  from  one 
social  party  to  another,  in  order  to  keep  up  a  fever  of 
feeling  in  his  favour,  and  to  attract  attention  to  himself 
as  the  principal  actor, — saying,  in  effect, — "  Look  at  me, 
talk  of  me,  think  of  me,  follow  me."  Pride  is  always 
the  herald  of  its  own  fame ;  and  this  is  its  vice,  that  it 
paints  its  own  virtues  and  success,  and  counts  its  own 
numbers,  as  though  no  one  received  good  except  when 
the  trumpeter  himself  was  there.  He  was  no  monopolist, 
but  distributed  the  success  among  the  different  labourers 
in  the  vineyard,  and  shewed  that  men  might  have  popular 


268  MEMOIRS   OF 

tact,  without  much  talent.  Listening,  one  day,  to  two 
or  three  revivalists,  so  called, — men  of  warm  hearts, 
little  thought,  and  less  reading,  who  were  stating  that 
"  so  many  souls  were  born  of  God,  in  certain  meetings 
while  they  were  present,"  he  observed  with  considerable 
point  and  emphasis,  and  perhaps  a  slight  degree  of 
impatience  to  administer  correction, — "  You,  and  your 
friends,  talk  of  such  a  number  being  born  of  God  in 
your  meetings,  and  you  number  them  as  David  num- 
bered the  people.  No  such  thing  ;  they  were  begotten 
of  the  word,  to  employ  the  language  of  the  apostle,  by 
the  ministry  of  others, — were  convinced,  and  had  be- 
come penitents.  You  are  not  the  men, — your  ministry 
is  not  of  that  cast,  to  beget  souls  by  the  preaching  of 
the  Gospel :  I  can  compare  you  to  nothing  but  so  many 
old  midwives,  calculated  to  help  persons  already  born 
into  a  little  more  liberty.  Yours  is  a  very  humble 
department  indeed,  and  you  have  but  little  in  which  to 
glory.  Do  not  make  so  much  noise ;  and  never  boast  of 
souls  being  born  under  you,  that  wexe  prepared  by  others. 
You  only  entered  upon  other  men's  labours ;  and  they 
would  have  remained  unborn  for  you."  He  found  that 
the  case  admitted  of  strong  language ;  that  the  labours  of 
others  were  not  duly  appreciated ;  and  was  anxious  that 
the  work  of  God  should  speak  for  itself,  in  the  life  of 
each  reformed  character,  and  in  the  temper  of  each 
converted  heart ;  being  persuaded  that  less  mistake 
would  arise  from  the  realities  of  the  one,  than  the 
reports  of  the  other.  M 

In  conformity  with  these  sentiments,  a  case  may  be 
stated,  showing  his  settled  views  on  the  subject.  Two 
young  men  were  brought  to  God  in  his  own  neighbour- 
hood, who,  the  Sabbath  after  they  received  liberty, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  269 

attended  a  prayer-meeting  in  a  neighbouring  village, 
where  they  prayed  with  fluency  in  public.  This  was 
noised  abroad  as  a  wonder.  Just  about  the  same  period, 
Mr.  Dawson,  in  company  with  a  relative,  proceeded  to 
an  inn  in  the  vicinity,  to  meet  one  of  the  regular 
coaches.  On  entering  one  of  the  rooms,  to  wait  the 
arrival  of  the  coach,  they  found  some  persons  seated, 
with  whom  the  conversion  of  the  young  men  was  the 
subject  of  marvel,  and  had  been  the  topic  of  conversa- 
tion. Mr.  Dawson  listened ;  and  being  known  to  some 
of  the  party,  the  discourse  was  at  length  directed  to 
him,  with  a  view  to  elicit  an  opinion.  "  God,"  he 
observed,  "has  no  still-born  children."  "True,"  it 
was  replied,  by  some  one  who  knew  something  more  of 
religion  than  he  practised ;  "  but  you  must  admit  that 
conversion,  in  the  case  of  these  persons,  was  quick 
work."  Mr.  Dawson  returned ; — "  It  may  have  been 
quick  in  its  crisis,  but  slow  in  its  progress."  Then 
turning  upon  the  spokesman,  and -through  him  upon 
the  others,  of  whom  he  had  some  knowledge,  he  pro- 
ceeded,— "  Some  of  you  have  attended  religious  meet- 
ings for  years ;  you  have  had  convictions,  but  have 
refused  to  yield.  Here  we  find  the  work  begun.  You 
have  long  struggled  against  God,  and  I  hope  the  process 
of  conviction  will  go  on.  You  know  what  is  wrong, 
and  can  talk  about  what  is  right ;  the  work  may  be 
sudden  at  last,  and  I  care  not  how  soon.  But  how  do 
you  know  what  may  have  been  the  light,  the  thoughts, 
the  feelings  of  these  young  men  ?  It  may  be  that  God 
had  been  at  work  with  them  for  a  series  of  years,  and 
that  now  they  may  only  have  yielded  to  former  convic- 
tions." While  this  placed  the  subject  before  them  in 
a  new  light,  it  served  Mr.  Dawson' s  purpose  of  reaching 


2/0  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  conscience.  There  is  another  key  to  the  subject, 
besides  that  given  by  Mr.  Dawson.  "  I  will  pour  upon 
the  house  of  Israel,"  says  the  Lord,  "and  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace  and  suppli- 
cation." The  Holy  Spirit  not  only  animates  the  affec- 
tions in  prayer,  but  imparts  to  the  mind  something  of 
the  inventive,  both  as  to  thought  and  expression. 
"  Likewise  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities  ;  for 
we  know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought : 
but  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession  for  us  with 
groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered."  Here  is  both  the 
unutterable  groan,  and  the  fluent  speech — a  help  to 
infirmity  ;  and  that  aid  must  be  effectual,  as  it  is  divine 
in  its  character.  With  such  a  helper  as  the  HOLY 
GHOST,  we  scarcely  need  be  astonished  at  the  power, 
the  ease,  the  fluency,  and,  in  some  instances,  the  cor- 
rectness, with  which  some  new  converts,  together  with 
poor,  uneducated,  plain-minded  men,  pour  out  their 
souls  in  prayer  before  God.  Nor  can  the  gift,  in  many 
instances,  be  accounted  for  on  any  other  principle  than 
that  of  the  Spirit's  influence  upon  the  mind. 

Among  the  numerous  Missionary  Meetings  in  the 
establishment  of  which  he  assisted,  those  of  Wakefield 
and  York  may  be  named  ;  the  former,  Feb.  7th,  and 
the  latter,  Mar.  24th,  1814.  At  Wakefield  he  showed, 
in  a  speech  of  great  originality  and  vigour,  that  the 
tolerant  spirit  of  the  British  Government,  the  peace- 
able and  loyal  state  of  the  lower  classes  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  the  commanding  attitude  of  Britain  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  were  strong  reasons  for  at- 
tempting the  conversion  of  the  heathen.  He  humor- 
ously personified  the  Conventicle  Act,  as  a  monster  that 
had  made  dreadful  havoc  in  former  times  among  good 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  271 

men,  but  which  was  afterwards  chained  by  the  Toler- 
ation Act,  and  finally  put  to  death  by  a  recent  law  of 
the  legislature,  securing  the  religious  liberties  of  the 
country.  He  then  argued,  that  if  Christians  enjoyed 
so  much  quiet  at  home,  they  ought  to  do  much  to  pro- 
mote the  kingdom  of  Christ  abroad.  The  "Age  of 
Reason,"  too,  he  observed,  had  passed  away,  and  with 
it  infidelity,  blasphemy,  insubordination,  and  civil  in- 
quietude. This  called  for  gratitude ;  and  he  thought 
the  friends  could  not  shew  it  better,  than  by  spreading 
that  religion  to  whose  influence  they  owed  so  happy  a 
state  of  society.  That  great  man  Mr.  Pitt,  he  remarked, 
died  sighing,  "  O  my  country  I "  "We  too,  he  inti- 
mated, in  glancing  at  the  state  of  affairs,  might  say, 
"  O  my  country  !  "  but  it  was  with  the  transport  'of  a 
fond  mother,  who  clasps  her  child  in  her  arms,  just 
rescued  from  danger,  and  exclaims,  "  O  my  child ! " 
The  effect  produced  at  this  moment,  is  well  recollected 
by  the  biographer,  who  was  seated  near  him  at  the 
time.  He  proceeded, — "  If  God  has  done  so  much  for 
our  political  interests,  it  is  not  to  inflate  our  pride,  but 
that  he  may  employ  our  influence,  our  example,  and 
our  means,  in  diffusing  his  truth  through  the  world. 
Let  us,  then,  send  Bibles  and  Missionaries  in  every 
direction.  Our  ships  which  carry  them,  will  be  like 
the  lights  of  heaven  in  their  courses.  As  they  make 
their  revolutions  round  the  world,  they  will  reflect  the 
glory  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  upon  every  land  they 
approach." 

At  York  he  was  much  more  argumentative:  but 
without  attempting  to  follow  him  in  all  his  reasonings 
and  details,  he  observed,  that  the  subject  of  Christian 
Missions  would  bear  the  closest  examination,  and  that 


2/2  MEMOIRS    OF 

nothing  would  be  lost  by  the  investigation.  He  then 
adverted  to  the  state  of  the  heathen  world  in  point 
of  morals;  and  shewed  that,  circumstanced  as  they 
were,  they  had  no  means  of  improvement  among  them- 
selves. He  further  observed,  that  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  was  the  grand  instrument  to  be  employed 
in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world,  hut  regretted 
to  find  persons  disposed  to  rob  that  gospel  of  its 
vital  principles,  by  setting  up  mere  morality  as  a 
substitute.  "The  various  miseries  of  human  life," 
he  remarked,  "have  claims  upon  us,  but  they  are 
not  superior  to  those  of  Christian  Missions.  Hos- 
pitals, almshouses,  and  public  charities,  with  which 
York  abounds,  have  claims  upon  its  inhabitants,  but 
their  claims  are  not  superior  to  those  of  Missions. 
The  Bible  Society  has  claims,  great  claims  upon  us ; 
and  though  much  has  been  said  and  done  for  it,  yet 
there  has  not  been  enough  said  and  done ;  but  even 
these  claims  are  not  superior  to  those  of  Missions. 
The  Bereans  had  the  Scriptures ;  but  it  was  necessary, 
notwithstanding,  that  Paul  and  Silas  should  go  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  them.  In  the  Bible  Society, 
we  see  the  blushing  of  an  opening  dawn ;  in  the 
Missionary  Society,  we  see  the  brightening  beams  of 
a  glorious  sun,  portending  a  glorious  day."  He  con- 
cluded, by  stating,  that  York  stood  one  of  the  first 
on  the  list  of  the  Bible  Society,  and  he  hoped  it 
would  not  be  the  last  in  missionary  exertions. 

July  the  7th,  the  day  appointed  for  Thanksgiving 
for  Peace,  he  preached  in  Barwick  chapel  on  Psalm 
cxvii.  and  Ixviii.  5,  6,  7  ;  and  August  14th,  he 
preached  a  funeral  sermon  at  Huntington,  near  York, 
on  occasion  of  the  death  of  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Edward 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  2/3 

Wade,  formerly  of  Sturton  Grange,  on  Job  xix.  25 
— 27.  Mr.  Wade  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Gibson,  a  relative  of  the  Rev.  Walter  Sellon,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  of  the  celebrated  John  Wickliffe — 
"the  morning  star  of  the  Reformation."  Mrs.  Gib- 
son's son,  which  she  had  to  her  first  husband,  Walter 
Sellon  Gibson,  was  brought  to  God  under  the  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Dawson,  when  a  boy,  at  Sturton  Grange. 
After  preaching  the  funeral  sermon  in  a  field  near 
the  village,  Mr.  Dawson  returned  to  the  city,  and 
preached  in  New-Street  chapel  to  a  crowded  and  deeply 
affected  congregation. 

November  16,  the  biographer  had  the  pleasure  of 
another  interview  with  him,  at  the  formation  of  the  Selby 
Missionary  Meeting.  It  was  at  this  Meeting  the  "Village 
Blacksmith "  made  his  debut  on  the  platform.  The 
venerable  Walter  Griffith  was  in  the  chair;  and  for 
high  wrought  feeling,  the  writer  rarely  ever  witnessed 
anything  equal  to  it.  Materials  for  speeches  were 
then  scarce ;  and  a  preceding  speaker  having  occupied 
the  ground,  which  the  biographer  intended  taking, 
he  found  it  more  difficult  to  strike  out  a  new  track 

on  the  platform  than  in  the  pulpit.    "Friend  E ," 

said  Mr.  Wild,  of  Armley,  jocularly,  on  returning 
home,  "take  care,  when  you  go  to  a  Missionary 
Meeting  again,  to  provide  yourself  with  a  double- 
barrelled  gun ;  if  the  one  does  not  go  off,  the  other 
may."  Mr.  Dawson  amused  himself  with  this  after- 
wards, when  adverting  to  missionary  beginnings. 

He  himself,  however,  was  not  always  at  home.    A 

person  of  intellect,   having  heard  of  his  popularity, 

observed  one  day,   that  he  was   going  to   hear  him 

preach,  and  that  he  would  measure  the  extent  of  the 

M  2 


2/4  MEMOIRS    OF 

mind  of  his  hearers  by  the  sermon  he  preached.  Mr. 
Dawson  heard  of  this,  and  having  to  preach  a  mis- 
sionary sermon  at  D ,  was  not  a  little  embarrassed 

in  finding  the  same  gentleman  putting  on  a  stern 
front,  and  seated  in  a  conspicuous  part  of  the  chapel. 
"I  felt,"  said  he,  "on  seeing  him,  the  barometer 
of  my  feelings  going  fast  down  to  rain ;  but  still 
more  so,"  he  continued,  "when  I  saw  a  platform 
full  of  preachers,  and  a  chapel  full  of  emptiness : 
then,  the  barometer  was  fixed  for  rain."  There  were 
several  prejudices  to  surmount,  in  solitary  places, 
against  public  meetings.  On  other  than  missionary  occa- 
sions, however,  he  invariably  drew,  in  the  same  place, 
immense  congregations.  Since  then,  the  missionary 
cause  has  flourished  in  the  town  and  neighbourhood. 

In  his  own  remarks  on  ministers,  he  was  more 
characteristic  than  severe ;  and  he  generally  found  his 
way  to  the  leading  features  of  a  person's  manner. 
"Such  a  one,"  said  he,  "is  like  a  tailor's  goose, 
hot  and  heavy"  This  was  not  in  the  spirit  of  fault- 
finding; for  no  one  could  entertain  a  higher  opinion 
of  the  fine  expansive  mind  of  the  preacher,  the  delight- 
ful feeling  which  pervaded  his  discourses,  and  his 
genuine  piety,  than  himself.  The  remark  was  solely 
applied  to  manner.  Of  another,  he  observed,  "when 
I  first  heard  him  preach,  he  was  like  the  gentle  dew 
to  me ;  then  came  the  mizzling  rain, — next  a  little 
more  rapid ; — after  that,  a  heavy  shower  for  an  hour 
together; — at  the  close  of  this,  the  clouds  began  to 
collect  and  darken  ; — then  succeeded  the  lightning, 
when  the  thunder  rolled,  and  the  whole  assembly 
seemed  moved."  Speaking  of  the  late  Rev.  Richard 
Watson  one  day,  and  comparing  him  with  another 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  275 

eminent  minister,  he  observed,  Mr. always  re- 
minds me,  in  his  preaching,  of  a  person  who  writes 
a  beautiful  running  hand, — neat — easy — every  letter 
properly  formed,  with  its  elegant  body  and  hair  stroke 
— and  every  word  in  its  proper  place.  Mr.  Watson 
can  write  equally  as  good  a  hand  as  he  ;  but  then, 
(imitating  the  penman  by  the  motion  of  the  hand 
the  while),  he  throws  in  the  additional  flourishes, 
and  these,  gracefully  curving  and  sweeping  around 
the  letters,  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  penmanship, 
and  attract  greater  attention."  This  comparison  em- 
braced the  peculiarities  of  the  two  men, — Mr.  Watson, 
who  combined  beauty  and  genius  with  judgment ;  and 
the  other,  who  had  taste  and  judgment,  but  was  with- 
out imagination.  Addressing  another  minister — a  strong 
minded  man,  and  one  with  whom  he  was  on  familiar 
terms, — "You,"  said  he,  "are  one  of  the  best  taker's 
of  a  likeness  I  ever  met  with.  In  drawing  the  char- 
acter of  a  sinner,  you  do  it  to  the  life :  but  on  holding 
the  likeness  up  to  the  man,  you  invariably  get  him 
to  laugh  at  himself."  The  person  referred  to  has 
been  gathered  to  his  fathers  many  years ;  but  it  was 
one  of  those  defects  to  which  his  ministry  was  subject, 
though  otherwise  distinguished  for  numerous  excellences. 
"The  taste  of  the  public  for  reading,"  said  he,  "in 
the  present  day,  is  like  that  of  sheep  put  into  a  new 
pasture : — no  matter  how  rich  and  good  the  grass  may 
be ; — they  will  run  and  nibble  a  bit  here — a  second 
bit  there — a  third  elsewhere, — never  resting  till  they 
have  gone  round  the  whole — then,  at  last,  they  settle 
quietly  down  to  one  spot  and  feed."  To  a  person 
who  sustained  the  character  of  a  "snarling  critic," 
and  who  was  hazarding  some  remarks  in  Mr.  Dawson's 


276  MEMOIRS    OF 

presence,  the  latter  looked  at  him,  and  said,  "  I  passed 
some  geese  on  Friday  evening,  on  the  way  to  my 
class,  when  the  old  gander  stretched  out  his  neck 
and  hissed  at  me :  you  are  just  like  him,  for  you 
can  do  nothing  but  hiss."  "Daniel  Isaac,"  said  he, 
in  reference  to  his  severity  in  controversy,  "  could  bite 
through  a  nail."  "Three  things,"  he  observed  on 
another  occasion,  "  distinguished  the  character  of  John 
Wesley — openness  to  conviction — deadness  to  the  world 
— and  attention  to  the  openings  of  Providence." 

A  meeting  was  established  by  the  Local  Preachers 
of  the  Leeds  Circuit,  for  "Familiar  Conversation." 
Connected  with  this  was  a  sermon ;  and  Mr.  Dawson 
being  selected  to  preach  on  the  occasion,  delivered  a  dis- 
course, May  15th,  1815,  in  the  Old  Chapel,  to  a  crowded 
auditory  on — "  It  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth ;  the 
flesh  profiteth  nothing,"  John  vi.  63.  This  was  just 
the  subject,  and  the  occasion  for  which  he  was  pecu- 
liarly fitted.  No  man  was  more  anxious  to  preserve 
a  living  ministry  than  himself;  and  few  understood 
better  in  what  it  consisted.  There  is  the  same  differ- 
ence between  the  spirit  and  the  letter — a  living  and 
a  dead  ministry,  that  there  is  between  the.  execution 
of  a  drawn  sword  in  the  hand  of  a  person  skilled  in 
its  use,  and  one  thrown  off  on  canvass  by  the  hand 
of  an  artist, — the  latter  producing  as  little  effect  as 
the  sword  in  the  image  of  George  and  the  Dragon. 
The  word  preached,  without  the  Spirit,  is  like  the 
pool  of  Bethesda  without  the  angel, — the  water  pos- 
sessing no  virtue  till  troubled.  The  letter  killeth ; 
it  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth ;  by  which  letter,  is 
not  understood,  as  Origin  would  interpret  it,  the  literal 
meaning  of  the  sacred  text,  and  by  the  spirit,  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  277 

allegorical ;  nor  yet,  as  some  Antinomians  would  ex- 
pound it,  the  former  referring  to  the  Old  Testament, 
and  the  latter  to  the  New;  but  the  mighty  energy 
of  Almighty  God,  accompanying  the  word  preached, 
as  in  the  ministry  of  Peter,  when,  with  the  swiftness 
of  lightning,  its  unconquerable  edge  penetrated  the  hearts 
of  three  thousand  shiners,  under  one  sermon.  The  word, 
taken  alone,  may  tickle  the  ear,  and  please  the  fancy  ; 
but  without  the  Spirit,  it  is  like  a  shell  without  a 
kernel,  a  tree  without  fruit,  a  well  without  water,  a 
body  without  a  soul ;  and  will  lie  as  harmless  on  the 
shelf,  and  be  as  passive  in  the  hand  of  the  bookseller 
as  any  unheeded  volume  penned  by  the  Apostolical 
Fathers.  In  support  of  this,  on  casting  the  eye  around 
the  Christian  world,  congregations  and  ministers  may 
be  beheld,  who  have  been  fixtures  from  ten  to  twenty, 
thirty,  forty  years,  presenting  neither  diminution  nor  in- 
crease, except  by  natural  births  and  deaths — without 
the  conversion  of  a  single  soul  to  God,  or  the  exhibition 
of  a  solitary  reformed  rake, — the  blind  leading  the 
blind,  and  both  falling  into  the  ditch  together.  Than 
this — a  sapless  ministry,  and  a  heartless  congregation, 
there  cannot  be  a  heavier  curse  inflicted  upon  a  town 
or  neighbourhood, — both  resembling  an  old  decayed 
tree — hollow  at  the  heart, — without  even  the  leaf  of 
profession, — with  the  axe  of  the  woodman  laid  at 
the  root,  and  ready  to  cut  it  down  as  a  cum- 
berer  of  the  ground!  How  different  the  ministry  of 
the  prophets  and  apostles,  before  whom  even  kings 
turned  pale  and  trembled  !  How  different  the  ministry 
of  the  Reformers,  of  the  Wesleys,  Whitfield,  Romaine, 
Newton,  Venn,  Grimshaw,  Rowland  Hill,  and  others ! 
How  different  the  ministry  of  old  Mr.  Berridge,  with 


2/8  MEMOIRS    OF 

all  his  wit  and  eccentricities,  who  was  visited  by  a 
thousand  awakened  persons  in  the  course  of  one  year, 
and  under  whose  joint  ministry,  with  that  of  Mr. 
Hicks,  four  thousand  persons  were  converted  to  God 
in  the  course  of  the  same  given  period. 

These  remarks  are  made,  because  Mr.  Dawson  de- 
lighted to  advert  to  the  successful  labours  of  such  men, 
and  because  of  the  fruitfulness  of  his  own  ministry. 
The  word  of  God  in  his  mouth,  was  accompanied  by 
the  quickening  Spirit.  He  drew  from  the  Bible,  as 
from  a  grand  arsenal,  the  materials  that  formed  the 
thunder  which  he  wielded  over  unrepenting  sinners ; 
but  he  knew,  to  pursue  the  metaphor — and  there- 
fore making  it  a  subject  of  earnest  prayer,  that  it 
was  only  the  lightning  flash  of  the  Spirit  that  could 
wither,  blast,  and  destroy  the  "man  of  sin"  in  the 
human  soul.  He  rarely  preached  but  the  occasion 
was  adverted  to  either  in  social  converse,  in  the  classes, 
or  in  the  love-feasts,  as  beneficial  to  either  saint  or 
sinner,  or  both  :  an^l  what  ought  not  to  be  omitted 
in  his  case — shewing  the  kind  of  material  in  which 
he  dealt,  the  conviction  produced  by  his  ministry  was 
deep  and  lasting.  It  was  not  a  mere  flush  of  feeling 
— a  tear — a  noise — a  gathering — and  then  a  dearth 
for  others  to  bewail  after  he  was  gone.  The  per- 
manency of  the  work  shewed  that  GOD  was  in  it — 
not  man. 

Instead  of  his  labours  being  confined  to  his  own, 
and  the  neighbouring  circuits  and  districts,  his  calls 
for  special  service  now  extended  to  the  neighbouring 
counties.  The  friends  in  one  of  the  principal  towns 
in  the  kingdom,  being  about  this  time  disappointed 
of  some  of  their  leading  men  on  a  missionary  occa- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  2/9 

sion,  Mr.  Dawsou  was  proposed  by  a  member  of  the 
committee  to  supply  the  lack  in  the  emergency.  But 
though  fame  ran  high,  yet  as  he  had  never  visited 
the  place — as  only  one  or  two  of  the  less  influential 
members  had  heard  him — as  great  expectations  were 
raised,  and  they  were  not  to  be  realized  by  the  brethren 
who  had  been  solicited,  it  was  agreed,  instead  of  a 
letter — for  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  that  a  deputa- 
tion should  be  sent  forthwith  to  Leeds  and  Barnbow. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  gentlemen  at  Leeds,  they  tried 
what  additional  help  could  be  obtained  there ;  but  were 
unable  to  secure  any.  They  then  enquired,  with  some 
anxiety,  respecting  the  suitability  and  the  abode  of  Mr. 
Dawson.  "The  very  man  for  you!"  was  reiterated 
in  different  quarters.  Thus  encouraged,  they  took 
a  post-chaise,  and  drove  on  to  Barnbow.  On  their 
arrival,  they  enquired  of  Mrs.  Dawson,  to  whom  they 
were  introduced,  for  her  son.  A  chaise  in  the  cross 
road  to  Barnbow  was  rather  an  unusual  thing.  They 
soon  advertised  the  old  lady,  however,  of  the  object 
of  their  visit.  She  told  them,  that  her  son  was  in 
the  fields ;  but  having  no  boy  at  hand,  and  the  gentle- 
men being  wishful  to  go  in  quest  of  him  themselves, 
they  proceeded  in  the  line  directed.  The  visitants 
coming  up  to  a  person  in  crossing  the  fields,  who 
was  engaged  on  the  farm,  paid  their  respects  to  him, 
and  enquired,  "Are  you  Mr.  Dawson,  Sir?"  An 
answer  in  the  negative  was  humbly  and  respectfully 
returned ;  the  man  adding,  "  Master  is  in  a  close 
down  there,"  pointing  in  the  direction  which  he  wished 
them  to  go.  It  was  not  long  before  they  saw  a  person 
busily  engaged  in  hedging  and  ditching ;  and  being 
pretty  near  him  before  they  spoke,  the  humble  ditcher 


280  MEMOIRS    OF 

lifted  up  his  head,  with  the  spade  in  his  hand.  The 
query  was  again  proposed,  but  with  greater  certainty 
— "It  is  Mr.  Dawson,  we  presume?"  "Yes,  gentle- 
men, my  name  is  Dawson. "  "We  have  been  deputed 
to  wait  upon  you,"  naming  the  place  and  the  occasion, 
"  to  request  your  kindly  aid."  Mr.  Dawson  returned, 
"You  must  be  mistaken  of  your  man."  "No;  it 
is  no  mistake :  go,  and  help  you  must ;  we  cannot 
do  without  you."  Lifting  the  spade,  he  struck  it 
into  the  earth ;  and  quitting  the  handle,  he  said, — 
"If  it  must  be  so,  why  then,  it  shall  be  so."  Just 
at  that  moment,  he  put  his  first  and  third  finger 
into  his  mouth — doubling  the  second  and  fourth,  and, 
drawing  a  full  breath,  sent  forth  a  shrill  whistle, 
that  might  have  been  heard  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  place.  Instantly,  on  the  sound  striking  the 
ear,  a  man  popped  his  head  over  the  hedge,  a  little 
further  down  the  field,  ready  to  attend  the  signal ; 
thus,  bringing  to  the  recollection  of  the  reader,  the 
tales  of  gone-by  days,  when  the  men  of  some  ancient 
chief,  started  from  ambush  at  the  sound  of  the  horn, 
and  suddenly  appeared  by  the  side  of  their  master. 
Mr.  Dawson  waived  his  hand ;  and  the  man  appearing 
on  the  spot,  he  said — "  You  must  go  on  with  this 
job — cut  in  that  direction — so  low — and  it  will  be  a 
right  depth."  So  saying,  and  the  servant  replying, 
"  Very  well, "  Mr.  Dawson  threw  his  coat  over  his 
arm,  proceeded  homeward  with  the  gentlemen,  where 
there  was  a  cold  collation  provided  for  them.  Before 
Mr.  Dawson  himself  partook  of  it,  he  went  up  stairs 
— washed — shaved — and,  in  a  few  minutes,  appeared 
at  the  table,  attired  in  black,  with  all  the  respectability 
of  an  English  squire.  They  soon  entered  the  chaise ; 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  281 

and  being  in  fine  health  and  spirits,  Mr.  Dawson 
kept  them  alive  the  whole  of  the  way  to  Leeds  with 
wit  and  anecdote.  They  soon  found  they  were  in  the 
presence  of  a  man  who  would  lend  them  efficient 
help:  he  proceeded  with  them,  and  at  the  meeting 
— crowded,  and  in  one  of  the  largest  chapels  in  the 
Connexion,  the  whole  tide  of  popular  feeling  was  in 
his  favour.  With  the  paramount  claims  of  religion 
over  all  affairs  of  state,  and  the  surpassing  importance 
attached  to  the  conquest  of  a  world,  by  means  of 
Christian  Missions,  when  compared  with  a  single  con- 
flict between  two  armies,  it  can  be  no  degradation 
to  history,  to  name  William  Dawson  in  connection 
with  Cincinnatus;  the  former  brought  from  his  spade 
and  from  his  ditching,  into  a  large  Christian  assembly, 
whose  movements  were  intended  to  move  the  world  ; 
and  the  latter  informed,  while  ploughing  in  his  field, 
that  the  Roman  senate  had  chosen  him  to  fill  the 
office  of  Dictator.  The  ploughman  went  forth  at  the 
bidding  of  the  senate,  entered  the  field  that  was  to 
be  turned  up  by  the  ploughshare  of  war,  conquered 
the  Volsci  and  ^Equi,  who  had  besieged  his  country- 
men, and  returned,  in  the  space  of  sixteen  days  after 
his  appointment,  to  plough  his  favourite  grounds.  No 
such  laurels  were  won  by  William  Dawson ;  and  there 
is  no  disposition  to  institute  a  comparison  between 
the  two  men.  The  simple  act  of  calling  both  from 
the  field  to  posts  of  honour,  in  the  crowded  assembly, 
renders  the  one  as  fit  for  Christian,  as  the  other  for 
classic  story. 

Among  the  several  chapels  which  he  opened,  from 
1814  and  upward,  was  a  new  one  at  Selby,  November 
19th,  1817,  the  day  in  which  the  Princess  Charlotte 


282  MEMOIRS    OF 

was  interred.  His  reference  to  the  subject  was  exceed- 
ingly touching  ;  and  being  almost,  if  not  altogether — 
all  the  circumstances  considered,  without  a  parallel  in 
English  History,  it  was  calculated  to  awaken  all  the 
sensibilities  of  his  nature.  Montgomery,  in  his  "  ROY- 
AL, INFANT,"  strung  his  "  Harp  of  Sorrow "  on  the 
occasion,  with  fine  Christian  feeling : 

"  Yet  while  we  mourn  thy  flight  from  earth, 

Thine  was  a  destiny  sublime  ; 
Caught  up  to  Paradise  in  birth, 

Plack'd  by  Eternity  from  Time. 

"  The  Mother  knew  her  offspring  dead  : 

Oh !  was  it  grief,  or  was  it  lore 
That  broke  her  heart  ?   The  spirit  fled 

To  seek  her  nameless  child  above. 

"  Led  by  his  natal  star,  she  trod 

The  path  to  heaven  :  —the  meeting  there, 
And  how  they  stood  before  their  God, 

The  day  of  judgment  shall  declare.'1 

As  the  biographer  domiciled  under  the  same  roof  with 
Mr.  Dawson,  on  the  occasion,  and  had  the  same  couch 
assigned  to  him,  it  afforded  a  fine  opportunity,  during 
the  more  early  stage  of  their  acquaintance,  of  witnessing 
his  habits  and  enjoying  his  conversation. 

About  the  same  time,  after  repeated  and  pressing 
invitations,  he  visited  different  places  in  the  North,  in 
the  counties  of  Durham  and  Northumberland.  Mr. 
Reay  had  long  importuned  him  to  visit  Carville,  and 
added  to  letters  by  post,  one  journey  to  Darlington,  and 
another  to  Barnard  Castle,  to  give  him  the  meeting,  and 
to  request  him  to  pay  the  Colliers  a  visit  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Newcastle ;  but  his  lists  of  engage- 
ments were  complete  on  both  occasions.  Mr.  Reay  told 
him  the  next  journey  would  be  to  Barnbow,  unless  he 
prevented  it  by  promising  a  sermon  during  the  first 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  283 

vacancy.  They  slept  in  the  same  room  together,  at 
Darlington,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Dove,  afterwards  of 
Leeds.  Mr.  Dawson,  contrary  to  his  general  indiffer- 
ence to  dreams,  as  noticed  in  an  earlier  part  of  his 
history,  observed  to  his  companion  in  the  morning, 
that  he  had,  in  the  language  of  one  of  our  poets, 
"dreamt  a  dream" — that  he  saw  a  man  swaggering 
past  a  pit — that  he  was  on  the  point  of  falling  in — and 
that  he  caught  hold  of  him  and  brought  him  back 
again.  He  added,  "  I  do  not  like  it. "  Mr.  D., 
a  popular  local  preacher  from  another  circuit,  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  in  the  afternoon,  and  Mr.  Dawson 
himself  preached  in  the  evening,  when  he  came 
down  like  "a  rushing  mighty  wind,"  in  full  sweep, 
both  upon  saints  and  sinners.  Miners,  and  others,  had 
travelled  from  the  "  Dales"  to  hear  him,  some  of  them 
a  distance  of  twenty  miles  on  foot,  and  had  twenty  more 
to  measure  back  again  after  the  evening  service, 
having  to  commence  work  at  the  usual  hour  the  next 
morning.  On  retiring  to  their  room,  Mr.  Dawson  plea- 
santly remarked  to  his  companion,  "I  have  had  an 
interpretation  of  my  dream.  When  I  saw  Mr.  D.  in» 
the  pulpit,  I  said  to  myself,  on  observing  his  manner, 
'  This  person  will  come  down  either  like  a  man  or  a 
mouse.'  Alas !  he  was  in  trammels,  and  came  down 
like  the  latter.  Something  within  whispered,  'Thou 
canst  do  better  than  that/  The  feeling  accompanying 
the  sentiment  might  have  endangered  my  spirit ;  but  I 
instantly  threw  myself  on  God  ; — He  saved  me ; — he 
was  with  me, — and  so  I  escaped  the  pit  dug  for  me." 
This,  to  say  the  least,  jf  not  to  be  numbered  among 
pleasing  dreams,  and  as  the  French  would  say,  tant 
gagne,  so  much  added  to  the  pleasure  of  life,  was 


284  MEMOIRS    OF 

devotional  in  its  improvement,  and  while  it  added  to  the 
safety  of  his  religious  character,  shews  not  only  nice 
observation,  but  great  delicacy  of  Christian  feeling. 

No.  such  interest  had  been  excited  in  Newcastle, 
Sunderland,  and  other  places,  in  the  North,  by  any 
preacher,  except  himself,  since  the  days  of  Messrs. 
Benson  and  Bramwell :  and  the  sons  of  the  "  Coaly 
Tyne,"  as  Milton  designates  the  river,  were  enraptured 
while  listening  to  him,  on  this,  and  other  texts, — "  He 
brought  me  up  also  out  of  the  horrible  pit,  out  of  the 
miry  clay, "  &c. 

Deep  as  was  the  general  tone  of  religious  feeling  he 
preserved,  it  was  impossible  to  be  grave  in  listening  to 
some  of  his  descriptions  and  comparisons.  Two  fe- 
males happening  somewhere  to  imbibe  a  strong  preju- 
dice against  each  other,  in  consequence  of  the  one 
having  hazarded  a  remark  on  the  dress  of  the  other, 
and  the  thing  itself, — though  exceedingly  trivial,  affect- 
ing others  besides  themselves,  it  became  a  topic  of 
conversation,  and  was  introduced  into  a  party  where  he 
was,  when  from  home.  This  he  set  aside  in  a  fine 
•vein  of  satire,  mixed  up  with  the  ludicrous,  and  not 
only  shewed  the  unprofitableness  of  such  discourse,  but 
the  imprudence — not  to  say  wickedness,  of  persons  al- 
lowing trifles  to  disturb  their  peace — suffering,  perhaps, 
what  was  said  in  pleasantry,  to  influence  the  passions, 
and  so  stir  together  the  bad  feelings  of  a  whole  neigh- 
bourhood. The  Italian  proverb  may  be  appropriately 
applied  here — "  The  mother  of  mischief  is  not  bigger 
than  a  midge's  egg."  But  though  the  case  to  which 
reference  was  made  would  apply  to  every  small  matter 
that  kindles  a  great  fire,  "Satire  is  a  sort  of  glass, 
wherein  beholders  generally  discover  every  body's  face 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  285 

but  their  own ; — which  is  the  chief  reason  for  that  kind 
of  reception  it  meets  in  the  world,  and  that  so  very  few 
are  offended  with  it."  His  satire  might  touch  some  of 
the  party  ;  but  being  in  company,  it  was  kicked Jike  a 
ball  from  one  to  another,  though  it  would  in  all  proba- 
bility settle  somewhere  after  the  society  had  broken  up. 

In  a  similar  manner,  he  silenced  a  fault-finder,  whom 
he  met  in  Leeds,  the  day  after  he  had  occupied  one 
of  the  pulpits  in  that  town. 

Gentleman. — "I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  you 
preach  yesterday." 

Mr.  Dawson. — "  I  hope  you  not  only  heard,  but 
profited?" 

Gent. — "Yes,  I  did;  but  I  don't  like  those  prayer- 
meetings  at  the  close.  They  destroy  all  the  good 
previously  received. " 

Mr.  I). — "  You  should  have  united  with  the  people* 
in  them." 

Gent. — "  I  went  into  the  gallery,  where  I  hung  over 
the  front,  and  saw  the  whole ;  but  I  could  get  no  good; 
I  lost,  indeed,  all  the  benefit  I  had  received  under  the 
sermon." 

Mr.  D. — "It  is  easy  to  account  for  that." 

Gent.— "How  so?" 

Mr.  D. — "You  mounted  the  top  of  the  house;  and, 
on  looking  down  your  neighbour's  chimney  to  see  what 
kind  of  a  fire  he  kept,  you  got  your  eyes  filled  with 
smoke.  Had  you  'entered  by  the  door' — gone  into 
the  room — and  mingled  with  the  family  around  the 
household  hearth,  you  would  have  enjoyed  the  benefit 
of  the  fire  as  well  as  they.  Sir,  you  have  got  the 
smoke  in  your  eyes." 

Prejudice  is  an  equivocal  term ;   and  will  apply  to 


286  MEMOIRS    OF 

good  opinions  deeply  rooted  in  the  mind,  as  well  as 
those  that  are  false  and  grown  into  it :  but  persons 
not  properly  affected  towards  religion,  very  often  enter 
the  maze  of  error;  and  having  wandered  there  some 
time,  they  often  find  to  their  cost,  that  they  have 
wandered  too  long  to  find  their  way  out. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  in  Cheshire  and  Lancashire  in  the 
spring  of  1818,  and  attended  Missionary  Meetings  at 
Chester  and  Liverpool,  April  20,  21.  It  was  at  the 
former  of  these  places,  that  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  first 
met  with  him ;  Messrs.  R.  Newton,  Dawson,  and  the 
Doctor  being  the  preachers  on  the  occasion.  Mr.  Dawson 
represented  the  heathen  world  under  the  notion  of  a 
field ;  and  the  Baptists,  Moravians,  Calvinists,  &c., 
as  engaged  in  cultivating  the  great  moral  waste.  The 
Doctor  was  much  pleased  with  the  force  and  ingenuity 
displayed.  But  on  travelling  between  Chester  and 
Liverpool,  in  a  post-chaise,  in  company  with  a  friend, 
who  had  lost  a  limb,  and  who,  in  consequence  of  the 
vehicle  not  being  exactly  adapted  to  the  bulk  of  three 
such  personages,  aided  by  its  joltings,  permitted  on 
first  starting, — of  course  unintentionally,  the  unfeeling 
substitute  to  play  off  a  few  rubbers  against  the  Doctor's 
more  sensitive  shin, — there  was  less  disposition  for 
free  conversation  at  first,  than  the  social  arm-chair  would 
have  admitted.  However,  as  Mr.  Dawson  observed 
to  the  writer,  they  were  soon  indulged  with  some  fine 
gleams  of  sunshine  ;  and  the  Doctor  adverting  to  the 
cultivators  of  the  foreign  waste  in  his  speech,  play- 
fully remarked — shewing,  at  the  same  time,  his  strong 
general  redemption  principles, — "  If  I  found  a  Calvin- 
istic  field  in  heaven,  I  would  flee  from  it,  and  go  to 
some  other."  This  pleasantry  having  passed  off,  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  287 

Doctor,  in  allusion  to  Mr.  Dawson,  as  an  agriculturist, 
employing  his  knowledge  of  husbandry  in  the  service 
of  religion,  remarked, — "  Mr.  John  Mason,  with  whom 
I  was  well  acquainted,  had  an  extensive  knowledge  of 
botany,  and  Mr.  James  Kershaw  had  a  good  know- 
ledge of  medicine ;  and  yet,  though  plants  have  their 
healing  virtues,  and  sin  is  compared  to  a  disease,  I 
never  knew  either  of  these  men  bring  their  peculiar 
knowledge  to  bear  on  a  single  text,  or  illustrate 
by  it,  a  single  subject :  under  such  circumstances, 
all  was  lost.  As  to  myself,  I  have  brought  all  my 
knowledge  to  bear  on  the  illustration  of  truth.  I 
have  no  imagination,  that  I  am  aware  of.  My  peculiar 
forte  is  investigation.  Give  me  a  subject — for  I  cannot 
create ;  let  that  subject  be  proposed :  whatever  it  may 
be,  I  can  investigate  it — (smiling)  aye,  down  to  the 
black  art ;  yes,  and  I  can  elucidate  it  too, — bring  it 
out,  and  make  it  help  truth."  Whatever  credit  the 
Doctor  might  take  to  himself  in  part  of  this  statement, 
in  the  freedom  of  conversation — and  he  took  no  more 
than  what  would  be  readily  ceded  to  him  by  those 
who  knew  him,  he  underrated  himself  in  another,  for 
he  evidently  shewed  ingenuity  in  the  application,  as 
well  as  acuteness  in  the  process.  Adverting  to  the 
old  preachers  again,  he  observed, — "Talent  is  as  great 
now  as  it  ever  was,  but  it  is  more  monotonous — much 
less  varied." 

In  travelling  the  eighteen  miles,  the  Doctor  forgot  his 
shins  and  his  wedgings  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  way, 
being  so  much  enamoured  with  the  conversation  of 
his  companion :  and  the  next  morning  accosted  Mr. 
Newton,  who  gave  them  the  meeting,  thus : — "Your 
friend  Mr.  Dawson  and  myself  talked  all  the  way  to 


288  MEMOIRS    OF 

Liverpool  yesterday  evening,  and  what  an  astonishing 
mind  he  has  got !  He  assigned  reasons  all  the  way 
for  everything  he  had  done." 

Shortly  after  this,  Mr.  Dawson  again  met  with  him 
in  the  city  of  Bristol,  when  he  was  much  struck  with 
a  statement  made  by  Dr.  Clarke,  viz. — that  he  had  ex- 
amined the  religion  of  the  Hindoos,  the  Mahomedans, 
&c.,  &c.,  hut  in  all  the  different  religions  which  had 
passed  in  review  before  him,  CHRISTIANITY  was  the 
only  religion  that  staked  its  credit  for  pardon  on 
present  belief. 

Mr.  Bramwell,  the  friend  of  Mr.  Dawson,  died 
suddenly  in  Woodhouse-Lane,  Leeds,  August  13,  1818, 
as  he  was  leaving  the  house  of  a  friend.  The  latter 
improved  the  occasion  of  his  death  near  the  place  where 
he  fell,  September  14th,  taking  for  his  text,  Isaiah  Ivii. 
1,2.  It  was  calculated,  that  not  less  than  ten  thousand 
persons  were  present  on  the  occcasion.  In  addition 
to  a  sketch  of  his  character  in  the  sermon,  which 
was  published  at  the  time,  he  entered  more  largely 
into  it  in  a  separate  article,  comprising  twenty-six 
pages,  12mo.,  published  in  the  Life  of  that  extra- 
ordinary man.  Among  other  conversations  which  Mr. 
Dawson  had  with  the  biographer,  respecting  Mr.  B., 
he  observed, — "  Mr.  Bramwell  might  be  classed  among 
the  first  men  for  offering  Christ  to  saints  and  sinners. 
Persons,  owing  to  his  sincerity,  were  more  ready  to 
receive  Christ  from  him  than  from  others ;  being 
convinced  that  he  himself  had  made  the  experiment, 
and  was  in  possession  of  Him."  This  was  not  intended 
as  a  reflection  upon  other  Christian  ministers,  but 
simply  referred  to  the  peculiar  "gift  of  God"  possessed  by 
Mr.  Bramwell,  and  exercised  so  eminently  in  his  ministry. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  289 

With  his  more  public  engagements,  he  continued 
to  keep  up  his  "way-side"  duties,  knowing  the  blessed- 
ness of  those  who  "  sow  beside  all  waters."  He  often 
either  met  or  overtook  a  person  who  was  in  the  service 
of  a  miller,  on  his  way  to,  or  from  Leeds.  The 
man  had  been  soundly  converted  to  God,  and  lived  in 
the  enjoyment  of  religion  some  years  ;  but  unfortunately 
had  retraced  his  steps  into  the  world.  He  was  rarely 
permitted  to  pass  Mr.  Dawson  without  a  word.  "Well, 
John,  have  you  joined  the  regiment  again?"  "No, 
master,  not  yet, "  was  generally  the  reply.  After 
having  accosted  him  in  this  way  some  time,  mingling 
serious  remark  with  his  interrogatories,  Mr.  Dawson 
met  him  full  in  front  one  day,  and  with  great  emphasis 
— fixing  his  eyes  upon  him  like  daggers, — said,  "I 
tell  thee,  John,  thou  art  a  deserter  from  God  and 
truth ;  and  as  such,  thou  wilt  either  have  to  be  whipt 
or  shot, "  and  so  left  him.  This  fastened  upon  his 
mind ; — and  the  dread  of  some  heavy  personal  afflic- 
tion, together  with  that  of  final  misery,  haunted  him 
wherever  he  went ;  and  it  was  not  long  after,  that 
Mr.  Dawson  was  overjoyed  with  the  tidings  of  the 
poor  wanderer  being  reclaimed, 

He  was  in  the  habit,  also,  of  scattering  religious 
tracts  along  the  road,  when  there  was  a  probability 
of  them  falling  into  the  hands  of  passengers.  A  man 
seeing  him  drop  one,  on  one  of  these  occasions,  and 
perceiving,  by  the  keen  eye  of  the  distributor,  that 
it  was  intended  for  himself,  he  took  it  up :  but  being 
unable  to  read,  and  conscience  either  smiting  him  for 
seme  misdemeanour,  or  memory  helping  him  to  the 
recollection  of  some  undischarged  debt,  he  concluded 
it  to  be  a  "summons ;  "  and  running  after  Mr.  Dawson, 

N 


290  MEMOIRS    OF 

in  a  state  of  alarm,  he  enquired  into  the  reason  of 
his  conduct.  Mr.  D.  instantly  caught  the  idea  of  a 
summons,  and  improved  it  to  the  man's  benefit ;  and 
also  shewed,  in  other  cases,  the  advantages  arising 
from  a  knowledge  of  letters. 

He  had  a  peculiar  tact  for  addressing  children ;  and 
was  frequently  requested  to  speak  to  them,  when 
preaching  sermons  for  the  benefit  of  Sunday  Schools. 
After  attracting  their  attention  with  a  play  of  fancy, 
alternately  indulging  in  the  strange,  the  beautiful,  the 
great,  and  the  good,  he  would  then  have  wound  his 
way  to  their  little  tricks  and  sinful  propensities.  The 
writer  was  with  him  on  one  of  these  occasions,  and  was 
delighted  with  the  manner  in  which  he  accommodated 
himself  to  the  capacities  of  the  children — becoming 
a  child  in  simplicity  for  the  sake  of  children.  Having 
arrested  attention,  he  inclined  forward,  and  fixing  his 
eye  upon  some  of  the  children,  he  said,  in  a  half 
interrogatory  and  half  affirm  atory  tone,  with  an  ex- 
pression of  tenderness, — "You  don't  tell  lies,  do  you?" 
Several  of  the  little  creatures,  who  had  experienced 
searchings  of  heart  from  what  had  previously  been 
said,  and  who  were  anxious  to  acquit  themselves, 
spontaneously  responded,  "  No  ;  "  one  of  them  adding, 
in  a  subdued,  yet  conscious  tone  of  guilt — "  I  am  sure 
I  do  not  tell  lies. "  Other  questions  were  answered 
in  a  similar  way. 

Flexible  as  he  was,  in  accommodating  himself  to 
youth  and  age,  to  the  higher  and  the  lower  classes 
of  society,  he  would  never  sacrifice  truth  or  character, 
or  suffer  his  interest  in  Methodism  to  be  suspected. 
A  gentleman,  who  had  been  a  Methodist  in  early 
life,  asked  him  to  step  into  his  house,  and  take  a 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  291    * 

glass  of  wine.  He  no  sooner  sat  down,  than  the 
gentleman  erected  a  battery —  "I  do  not  like  the 
aristocracy  of  Methodism. "  Mr.  Dawson,  finding 
where  he  was,  replied, — "  That,  Sir,  is  a  subject  which 
I  never  studied : "  and,  after  several  remarks,  enquired, 
"Pray,  how  do  you  feel  as  to  personal  piety?"  The 
gentleman  returned,  "I  have  family  prayer."  "In 
that  reply,"  said  Mr.  Dawson  to  the  writer,  "I  at 
once  saw  the  nakedness  of  the  land.  Soon  after  this, 
out  came  Mark  Robinson's  pamphlet,  when  I  said  to 

a  friend, — 'Why,  these  are  the  views  of  Mr. ,  which 

I  have  already  had  to  combat  in  private."  An  appeal 
to  personal  piety,  was  a  weapon  which  he  often  wielded 
with  amazing  power,  when  argument  failed,  and  when 
he  suspected  the  disease  to  be  in  the  heart  rather 
than  in  the  system  opposed. 

Few  questions  agitated  either  the  body,  or  separate 
societies,  but  what  he  grounded  a  firm  opinion  upon, 
and  had  his  answer  at  hand,  when  thrown  into  cir- 
cumstances which  compelled  him  to  speak.  At  the 
time  Dr.  A.  Clarke's  view  of  the  Eternal  Sonship  of 
Christ  was  agitated,  he  acted  the  part  of  moderator;  and 
in  a  company  where  opposite  opinions  were  espoused, 
he  pleasantly  broke  off  the  debate,  by  observing — 
in  allusion  to  the  persons  of  each, — "Dr.  Clarke  is 
tall,  and  Mr.  Watson  is  still  taller;  but  if  the  one 
were  placed  on  the  shoulders  of  the  other,  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Sonship — such  is  its  profundity,  will  be 
found  deep  enough  to  drown  them  both."  Then, 
in  reference  to  the  friends  of  each,  he  smiled,  and 
said,  adopting  the  proverbial  expression — "'Every  dog 
has  its  day ; '  I  have  had  mine,  and  it  has  been  a 
very  good  one ;  many  have  patted  me  on  the  back, 


292  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  stroked  my  head :  in  the  midst  of  all  I  have 
said — and  that  is  my  language  now,  'I  ask  not  life, 
but  let  me  love."'  He  was  pleased  with  the  parallel 
between  the  Word  and  the  Son,  by  the  Rev.  Abraham 
Scott,  but  found  fault  with  another  writer,  for  adopting 
it  as  his  own  in  a  critique  on  the  subject,  without 
having  the  ingenuousness  to  acknowledge  the  source 
from  whence  it  was  borrowed. 

Conversation  moving  in  another  direction,  Mr.  Daw- 
son,  among  other  remarks,  observed,  "  Jeremy  Taylor 
is  a  charming  writer,  but  not  strictly  evangelical. 
— Robert  Hall  is  too  severe  upon  Dr.  Owen. — I  am 
less  partial  to  Howe  than  to  Dr.  Bates. — Herbert 
and  Quarles  are  stiff  and  quaint.  Herbert,  however, 
must  have  been  exceedingly  popular  in  his  day,  which 
may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  of  his  being  so  often 
quoted."  The  biographer  rejoined,  —  "good  sacred 
poetry  was  scarce  at  that  time,  which  is  another 
reason  that  may  be  assigned."  On  Mr.  D.  stating,  that 
he  was  much  more  partial  to  "  Flavel's  Husbandry. 
Spiritualized,  "  than  to  his  "  Navigation,  "  the  writer 
returned,  that  such  a  predilection  might  be  accounted 
for  on  the  ground  of  his  own  occupation.  "  Not 
altogether,"  said  he,  "for  in  the  one  instance,  the 
writer  is  improving  upon  nature,  in  the  other,  he 
has  to  do  with  art.  " 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  293 


CHAPTER  XL 

Staye  Coach  Dialogues. — Retort. — Incognito. — Lord  Milton. — 
Touching  Tale.  — Conversations.  — Matrimony.  —  Business.  — 
Misers.— Popery.  —  Socinianism. — People. — Ministers. — Poetry 
of  action.  —  Impotency.  —  Penitents.  —  The  Worldling.  —  The 
character  of  Mr.  Damson  as  a  Preacher. — Power  of  imagina- 
tion.— Terrific  Imagery. — Candour  in  hearing. — Selection  of 
Hymns,  and  Remarks  upon  them. — Indiscretion  in  singing 
pieces  after  sermon. — Death  on  the  pale  Horse. — The  secret  of 
succcessful  preaching. — Sermon  to  Sailors. — Death  of  Friends. 
— Rev.  David  Stoner. — Different  Pulpit  methods.— Mr.  Daw- 
ton's  Class. — False  wit. — Bible  Meeting  at  Hull. — Death  of 
Mr.  Damson's  Mother. 

IT  was  sometimes  amusing,  but  rarely  otherwise  than 
instructive,  to  listen  to  him  while  detailing  "Incidents 
of  Travel,"  when  associated  with  him  in  the  social 
circle.  He  was  seated  in  a  "Six  Inside"  coach 
during  one  of  his  peregrinations,  travelling  between 
Halifax  and  Leeds,  when  he  heard  the  following 
conversation  between  a  gentleman  and  a  lady,  who 
sat  opposite  each  other,  preceded  by  a  few  prefatory 
remarks : — 

Gentleman. — "  You  are  in  the  habit,  then,  of  hearing 
popular  ministers  ?  " 

Lady. — "At  Manchester,  I  am, — not  at  Halifax." 

Gent. — "You  have,  no  doubt,  heard  Mr. ?" 

Lady.— "I  have." 

Gent. — "What  is  your  opinion  of  him  ?  " 


294  MEMOIRS    OF 

Lady. — "  His  imagination  is  like  a  young  colt  turned 
into  a  field." 

Gent.—"  Have  you  heard  Mr. ?  " 

Lady. — "  Never." 

Gent. — "Mr. ,  you  will  of  course  have  often 

heard." 

Lady.— "Yes,  often." 

Gent. — "What  is  your  opinion  of  him  ?  " 

Lady. — "  I  never  got  a  new  thought  from  him  in  my 
life." 

Gent.—"  Have  you  heard  Dr. ?  " 

Lady. — "  Never. " 

Gent. — "  Have  you  heard  Mr. ?  " 

Lady.— "Yes." 

Gent. — "  He  is  an  excellent  preacher. " 

Lady. — "There  is  too  much  the  appearance  of  manu- 
facture ahout  his  sermons." 

Gent. — "  Have  you  ever  heard  Mr.  Watson  ?  " 

Lady. — "Yes.  He  never  exhausts  a  figure.  I  would 
go  ten  miles  to  hear  him  any  day." 

Gent. — "There  is  a  great  deal  of  noise  about  Mr. 
Irving.  Have  you  heard  him  ?  " 

Lady. — "  No ;  nor  would  I  go  to  hear  him.  He  is 
for  destroying  the  whole  language  of  preaching,  and  for 
creating  something  in  its  place." 

Mr.  Dawson  was  in  a  large  party  some  time  after 
this,  in  which  one  of  the  gentlemen  referred  to  was 
present,  who  sported  with  a  gentleman  of  wilder  imagi- 
nation than  his  own,  and  did  not  fail  to  direct  attention 
to  the  playful  fancy  of  Mr.  Dawson.  The  latter,  in 
the  way  of  pleasant  retort,  related  as  much  of  the 
above  dialogue  as  comported  with  the  occasion,  and 
was  more  than  usually  pointed,  when  he  turned  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  295 

lady's  "colt  loose  into  the  field."  This  prevented 
the  gentleman  from  ambling  at  the  rate  he  was  pro- 
ceeding. The  person,  who  was  partner  with  Mr. 
Dawson  in  the  pleasantry,  heing  seated  near  him, 
turned  round,  and  said, — "This  colt  has  trodden 
upon  both  of  us."  Mr.  Dawson  replied, — "He  has 
not  hurt  you,  I  hope?"  "No,"  responded  his  friend, 
"for  like  most  young  horses  turned  out  to  grass, 
he  is  without  shoes." 

An  incognita  may  be  noticed  in  connection  with 
another  journey.  He  was  on  one  of  the  Manchester 
coaches,  and  seated  beside  two  gentlemen.  Passing 
through  Huddersfield,  several  large  placards  were 
perceived  posted  on  the  walls,  with  his  name  upon 
them,  having  been  there  but  a  short  time  before, 
preaching  occasional  sermons. 

First  Gent. — "  I  have  often  seen  that  name  posted 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  have  heard  a 
great  deal  about  the  man :  pray,  do  you  know, " 
turning  to  the  person  next  him,  "  anything  about  him  ?  " 

Second  Gent. — "I  heard  him  preach  several  years 
ago,  and  can  recollect  the  text  too  ;  "  naming  it. 

First  Gent. — "  Is  he  a  regular  preacher  among  the 
Methodists  ?  " 

Second  Gent. — "  No ;  I  am  informed  he  is  a  farmer, 
and  lives  with  his  mother.  He  generally  goes  by 
the  name  of  the  'Yorkshire  Farmer.'  But  he  is  a 
very  extraordinary  man." 

First  Gent. — "He  will  not  have  such  polish,  of 
course,  as  such  men  as  Mr.  Newton;  still  he  will 
do  very  well,  I  should  think,  for  the  lower  orders 
of  society." 

Mr.   Dawson  was  not  a  little  amused  with  their 


296  MEMOIRS    OF 

remarks,  and  embedded  his  chin  more  deeply  in  his 
neckcloth,  the  more  effectually  to  conceal  his  features, 
while  the  broad  brim  of  his  hat  threw  its  shadow 
over  the  upper  part  of  the  face.  He  concluded 
himself  rather  favourably  dealt  with,  as  they  had 
assigned  him  a  post  of  usefulness  among  those  who 
most  required  help — the  poor.  The  first  gentleman 
finding  that  he  knew  something  of  Leeds,  turned  to 
him,  and  asked, —  ^»Y«.  ' 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  Leeds  and  its  neighbour- 
hood, Sir?" 

Mr.  Dawson. — "I  am,  Sir." 

Firxt  Gent. — "  Do  you  know  the  person  of  whom 
we  have  been  speaking  ?  " 

Mr.  D.— "I  do." 

First  Gent. — "Have  you  heard  him  preach? " 

Mr.  D. — "I  have." 

First  Gent. — "  Let  us  have  your  opinion  of  him." 

Mr.  D. — "  If  my  opinion  is  worth  anything,  I  think 
he  is  greatly  overrated  in  being  supposed  to  be  an 
'  extraordinary  man. ' ' 

Second  Gent. — "  He  is  by  no  means  a  learned  man  ; 
but  in  support  of  what  I  have  said,  I  adduce,  by  way  of 
proof,  the  popular  feeling  in  his  favour,  and  the  immense 
congregations  he  obtains." 

First  Gent. — "Had  he  not  extraordinary  natural 
powers,  and  were  he  not  a  good  speaker  in  addition,  I 
cannot  conceive  how  he,  as  an  illiterate  man,  could 
produce  such  amazing  effects  by  his  preaching." 

On  arriving  at  the  foot  of  Stanedge,  the  outside 
passengers  had  to  walk :  and  now,  Mr.  Dawson  began 
to  regret,  that  he  had  been  forced  into  any  part  of 
the  conversation,  and  still  more,  lest  he  should  be  joined 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  297 

by  his  companions,  and  cross-examined  in  walking  up 
the  hill.     One  of  them,  as  has  been  seen,  had  been 
favoured  with  a  half  length  view  of  his  figure  in  the 
pulpit,  some  years  before,  and  had  little  more  than  a  half 
length  view  of  him  on  the  coach.     But  he  knew  not 
how  far  a  closer  inspection  of  himself  on  the  ground, 
might   not   reveal   the   secret.      It   seemed,   however, 
that  his  travelling  dress,  his  half-muffled  visage,  and 
his  more  robust  form, — having  become  stouter,    pre- 
served his  hearer  of  by-gone  days  in  ignorance.    The 
only  point  of  delicacy  with  him  was,  lest,  by  a  dis- 
closure, the  two  gentlemen  should  feel  a  little  unpleasant 
on  recollecting  the  freedom  of  some  of  their  remarks 
on  the  station  they  had  assigned  him,  and  his  want 
of  learning.     He  heard  himself,  however,  freely  dis- 
cussed— for  the  above  is  only  a  specimen  of  the  whole. 
But  he  felt  most  on  arriving  at  Manchester,  lest  the 
same    eyes   should  recognize   him  in   the   pulpit   the 
next  day,    and  so  embarrass  both  parties,  when  the 
mind  should  be  engaged  on  more  important  subjects. 
In  addition  to  his  native  worth,  fire,  and  extraordinary 
powers,    the   conversation   of  the   gentlemen  shewed, 
that  two  or  three  adventitious  circumstances  contributed 
to  increase  public  impression  in  his  favour.     He  was 
in  the  world,  though  not  of  it ;  and  hence,  in  what- 
soever direction  the  current  flowed,    the   "Yorkshire 
Farmer"  was  always  floating  on  the  surface.     It  was 
next  to  marvellous,  with  the  irreligious  and  uneducated, 
that   a   man   of  business,    on   his   farm,    and   remote 
from  the  walks  of  public  life,   should  be  enabled   to 
bring   out   of  his    intellectual   treasury   such   an   in- 
exhaustible store  of  "things  new  and, old," — and  one 
too,    so   rural   often   in   his   appearance, — not   being 

N2 


298  MEMOIRS    OF 

always  in  black,  but  sometimes  in  coloured  small 
clothes — boots  with  tops,  and  otherwise  plain,  though 
becoming  his  station, — and,  above  all,  one  not  entirely 
devoted  to  books  and  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

The  present  Earl  Fitzwilliam,  then  Lord  Milton,  was 
an  inside  passenger  on  another  occasion.  His  Lordship, 
of  course,  knew  nothing  of  Mr.  Dawson,  though  Mr. 
Dawson  recognized  his  Lordship,  having  the  advantage 
of  a  hearer  over  a  minister — the  one  being  known, 
when  the  other  passes  unobserved  in  the  crowd.  Mr. 
Dawson  made  a  few  passing  remarks  to  draw  his 
Lordship  into  conversation;  but  he  might  with  the 
poet  have  said, — 

"  Lo !  Silence  himself  is  here. " 

Euripides  was  wont  to  say, — "  Silence  is  an  answer 
to  a  wise  man."  So  it  would  have  been  to  Mr. 
Dawson ;  but  there  were  two  or  three  points  on  which 
he  wished  to  know  the  opinion  of  the  statesman ;  and 
at  length,  hitting  on  one  particular  subject,  his  Lord- 
ship awoke  as  from  a  reverie,  kindled  into  life,  and 
proceeded  with  the  interest  he  might  be  supposed  to 
feel  in  a  debate  in  the  senate. 

A  touching  tale,  in  connection  with  another  journey, 
a  few  years  after,  ought  not  to  be  lost.  Seated  beside  him, 
on  a  coach,  was  a  young  man,  who  seemed  to  be  a 
sailor  by  his  dress.  He  was  full  of  mirth; — singing 
— amusing  the  passengers  with  anecdotes,  and  with 
one  piece  of  wit  and  drollery  after  another ;  and  yet 
so  delicate  were  his  strokes,  as  Mr.  Dawson  observed 
to  the  biographer,  that  the  most  refined  modesty 
could  not  have  been  offended  with  them.  On  a  gentle- 
man being  named,  he  stated  that  he  knew  him,  and 
had  been  a  student  with  him  at  college.  The  youth 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  299 

was  familiar  with  the  Hebrew,  and  quoted  Virgil,  in 
the  original,  with  great  readiness.  When  a  poor  person 
came  in  his  way,  he  invariably  dropped  something 
into  the  hand,  and  treated  such  of  the  passengers  as 
were  disposed  to  share  his  bounty.  Mr.  Dawson  spoke 
to  him  on  the  subject  of  religion,  directing  his  atten- 
tion, especially,  to  that  of  redemption.  He  instantly 
turned  it  off  with — "  There  is  no  Redeemer  mentioned 
in  the  Old  Testament."  Mr.  Dawson  reminded  him 
of  the  passage  in  Job, — "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth."  The  youth  immediately  quoted  the  Hebrew, 
and  said  it  signified  an  avenger  as  well  as  a  Redeemer ; 
adding,  "there  is  no  certainty  to  which  it  belongs." 
After  a  short  discussion,  to  which  he  was  evidently 
indisposed,  he  asked  the  passengers,  whether  they 
would  have  a  song  ?  and  elevating  his  voice,  he  sung 
a  tune  to  some  lines  composed  on  a  boat  disaster 
on  the  Ouse,  at  Naburn  Lock,  about  four  miles 
below  the  city  of  York.  Mr.  Dawson  found  afterwards, 
that  he  had  been  educated  under  Mr.  Wellbeloved, 
at  the  Socinian  Seminary  in  that  city,  had  been 
in  the  boat,  and  had  seen  his  companion  carried 
over  the  Lock  and  drowned.  On  coming  to  the 
part  of  the  lines  that  described  the  catastrophe, 
he  was  sensibly  affected,  and  could  proceed  no 
further.  Some  time  before  he  reached  the  end  of 
his  journey,  he  had  squandered  away  the  whole  of 
his  money,  and  had  not  wherewith  to  procure  a  dinner. 
A  gentleman,  who  had  been  amused  with  him,  pro- 
posed to  treat  him,  but  his  proud  spirit  spurned  the 
offer.  Mr.  Dawson  was  provided  with  a  little  refresh- 
ment in  his  pocket,  and  asked  him  delicately  to  partake 
with  him.  He  did;  and  Mr.  Dawson  was  happy  in 


300  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  opportunity  to  aid  him.     In  the  first  case,  there 
was  something  like  part  payment,  for  mirth  received ; 
in  the  second,    there  was  an  air  of  friendship  which 
wound    round   the   softer    feelings.      When    the    gay 
youth  arrived  a  short  way  on  the  other  side  of  Bir- 
mingham, he  became  pensive,  and  was  disposed  to  be 
silent.     Turning  to  Mr.  Dawson,   whom  he  took  for 
a  Wesleyan,  he  said, — "My  father's  house  is  within 
eight  miles   of  this   place; — and  this  night,   I  shall 
either  be  shut  in  or  shut  out :    if  shut  in" — looking 
at  his  poor  habiliments,    "  I   shall   then  have  as  fine 
a  coat  on  my  back  as  a  Methodist   parson."     Mr. 
Dawson  observed,    on  relating  the  circumstance,    "I 
thought  within  myself,    this  poor  youth  has  perhaps 
broken  a  mother's  heart,    and  has  either  been  sent, 
or  run,  from  home."      The  young  man  added,  just 
as  the  thought  crossed   Mr.  Dawson's   mind,    "This 
night  will  settle  all."     About  two  years  afterwards, 
Mr.    Dawson   was    preaching    at    Chapel-Town,   near 
Leeds,   when  he  related    part  of  the  anecdote,   and 
employed  the   expression,  —  "Shut   in  or  shut  out," 
applying  it  in  his  sermon  in  reference  to  heaven.   After 
preaching,  a  lady  stepped  up  to  him,  and  said, — "I 
am  not  at  liberty  to  mention  names ;  but  the  circum- 
stance,  character,   and  family  are  known  to  me;  and 
I   have  the   satisfaction  of  informing   you,    that   the 
young  man  was  that  night  shut  in" 

Mr.  Dawson  was  a  close  observer  of  anything  that 
came  in  his  way,  and,  if  capable  of  improvement,  was 
sure  to  make  it  tell  either  in  the  pulpit  or  in  social 
Ufe.  This  rendered  him  exceedingly  agreeable  as  a 
companion ;  and  when  he  chose  to  offer  remarks,  even 
in  the  way  of  criticism,  there  was  nothing  of  asperity 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  301 

mixed  up  with   them.      "The   preaching,"   said  he, 

"of  Mr. is  like  the  building  of  Solomon's  temple, 

— without  noise ;  not  so  much  as  the  sound  of  a 
hammer  is  heard."  But  he  intended  something  more 
here  than  the  want  of  animation ;  he  knew  there  was 
symmetry,  and  even  beauty.  Some  of  his  more  sportive 
sallies  might  border  upon  the  extravagant,  though  still 
allowable.  Stepping  into  a  barber's  shop  in  Leicester, 
when  without  his  razors,  he  accosted  the  man — "If 
you  please,  I  want  your  smoothing  iron  drawn  over 
my  face."  The  man  stared,  not  being  able  to  com- 
prehend his  meaning  at  first ;  but  on  seeing  the  growth 
of  his  beard,  he  perceived  what  he  meant,  and  soon 
found  his  customer  on  his  way  to  something  more 
tangible  and  profitable. 

It  was  impossible  to  be  with  him  any  length  of 
time,  without  being  forcibly  struck  with  some  points 
of  conversation.  He  was  rarely  consecutive,  except 
some  special  subject  was  proposed.  Seated  one  day 
with  a  few  friends,  the  two  subjects  of  matrimony 
and  business  were  introduced.  "  Matrimony,"  said  he, 
"has  two  ways  leading  to  it.  The  one  lies  straight- 
forward ;  the  lady  is  beautiful — possesses  property — the 
path  is  strewed  with  flowers — all  is  inviting.  The 
other  has  inscribed  upon  it, — 'Be  not  unequally  yoked 
with  unbelievers ; '  but  the  former  is  chosen,  and  the 
flowers  are  instantly  pointed  with  thoms.  Business 
has  also  two  ways  :  the  one  is, — be  rich — here  is  a 
good  opening — a  fine  speculation — probable  success. 
The  other  has  affixed  to  its  entrance,  '  I  have  learned, 
in  whatsoever  state  I  am,  therewith  to  be  content.' 
In  this  case,  too,  the  former  is  chosen — the  bait  is 
swallowed — the  way  promises  success — you  follow  on 


302  MEMOIRS    OF 

— speculate — go  over  the  precipice — and  are  lost.  " 
He  further  intimated,  that  a  good  man  had  no  occa- 
sion to  walk  in  darkness,  in  either  case ;  being  per- 
suaded that  the  providence  of  God  would  guide  all 
who  sincerely  sought  direction  at  his  hand.  A  person 
in  the  room,  who  was  high  in  his  profession,  and 
frequently  occupied  the  pulpit,  acceded  to  what  Mr. 
Dawson  said  in  reference  to  matrimony,  though  sus- 
picions had  been  entertained  of  the  purity  of  his 
motives  in  reference  to  marriage ;  but  on  business 
being  named,  he  was  silent,  and  seemed  uncomfortable 
in  his  feelings.  In  the  course  of  half  a  year,  he  made 
a  disgraceful  failure,  and  was  found  to  have  been 
acting  the  villain  at  the  time.  "No  legacy,"  says  a 
writer,  "is  so  rich  as  honesty  ; "  and  it  may  be  added, 
in  the  language  of  another,  by  way  of  caution,  that 
"he  who  prorogues  the  honesty  of  to-day  till  to- 
morrow, will  probably  prorogue  his  to-morrows  to 
eternity."  To  a  young  friend  who  commenced  the 
business  of  a  druggist,  in  Leeds,  with  a  fair  prospect, 
Mr.  Dawson  said,  on  first  entering  his  shop, — "  You 
have  got  a  good  shop  ;  I  wish  you  a  good  trade,  a  good 
wife,  a  good  life,  and  a  good  end." 

Without  furnishing  the  occasion  of  several  of  his 
remarks,  or  the  conversations  of  others  with  which 
they  were  often  interwoven,  a  few  more  may  be  intro- 
duced from  the  memoranda  of  the  biographer.  Of 
misers,  he  seemed  to  entertain  the  same  opinion  as 
Samuel  Hick,  and  gave  them  no  quarter.  "  Immedi- 
ately on  seeing  a  placard  for  a  religious  meeting  upon 
a  wall,"  he  observed,  "  the  miser  turns  away  his  skin 
and  bones,  and  says,  *  It  is  money  they  want.'  Ad- 
mitting it, — what  becomes  of  his  own  ?  He  is  heaping 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  303 

it  up,  like  manure  on  a  dunghill.  And  what  is  it  worth 
in  his  hand  ?  Even  a  midden  will  do  no  good  till  it  is 
spread ;  so  with  money.  He  hoards  it  up ;  and  his 
midden  of  gold  will  heat  and  rot,  and  will  breed  vipers 
and  cockatrice  eggs  ;  and  these  vipers  will  sting — will 
coil  round  his  heart,  and  enwrap  his  whole  form  for 
ever."  Popery,  as  a  system,  shared  the  same  fate  ; — 
"  It  is  a  mere  carcass  decorated  with  the  flowers  of 
religious  ceremonies,  having  the  form  without  the  power. 
Socinianism  is  much  worse ;  for  it  is  a  body  without 
blood  and  spirit ;  neither  possessing  the  ATONEMENT, 
nor  the  influence  of  the  HOLY  GHOST."  Turning  to 
a  medical  gentleman  seated  beside  him,  he  enquired 
with  quiet  sarcasm,  what  he  could  do  in  the  way  of 
giving  life  in  such  a  case, — obliquely  glancing  at  the 
hopeless  efforts  of  Socinian  ministers  to  produce  any 
thing  like  religious  life,  when  the  blood  was  drained  off 
from  the  system,  and  the  spirit  had  fled.  Changing 
the  metaphor,  in  reference  to  ministers  attempting  to 
resuscitate  a  lifeless  form,  he  observed  in  the  presence 
of  some  colliers, — "  The  private  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  are  all  '  live  coals  /  some  of  them,  it  is 
true,  are  small,  but  heaped  together  they  make  a  blaze. 
Ministers,  and  especially  great  and  good  men,  are  mov- 
ing 'pillars  of  fire,'  going  before  the  people."  Here, 
with  grace  and  majesty,  he  raised  his  noble  well  rounded 
form,  and  advanced  a  few  paces,  turning  slowly  round 
— as  if  every  part  admitted  of  the  closest  inspection, 
and  was  intended  for  use, — suiting  the  action  to  what 
might  be  conceived  of  the  movements  of  "  the  pillar  of 
cloud  by  day,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,"  thus 
presenting  the  moving  column  before  the  camp.  The 
whole  was  so  modulated  by  his  spirit  and  manner,  that 


304  MEMOIRS    OF 

it  operated  on  the  soul  like  electricity  on  matter.  It 
was  the  poetry  of  action ;  and  to  deny  the  presence  and 
the  power  of  poetry  in  deeds  arid  in  visible  things,  is  to 
deny  its  existence  altogether.  It  is  the  silent  poetry  of 
Nature,  which,  with  its  scenes  of  awe,  sublimity,  and 
beauty,  steals  out  the  soul  with  magnetic  influence  in 
sympathetic  rapture,  and  bids  the  poet  give  it  a  tongue. 
A  person  complaining  of  his  feeble  efforts,  and  his 
poverty,  was  met  in  the  following  manner  by  him  ; — 
"  You  say  you  are  poor,  and  can  do  nothing.  If  you 
have  the  grace  of  God  in  your  heart,  you  can  do  some- 
thing. You  shall  have  the  credit  of  being  a  farthing 
candle.  Well,  a  farthing  candle  can  give  light.  Take 
it  into  a  dark  room,  and  the  inmates  will  be  thankful 
for  it.  What,  a  farthing  candle,  and  can  do  nothing ! 
Yes,  you  can  give  light  to  a  beggar.  A  farthing  candle, 
and  can  do  nothing !  Yes,  you  can  set  a  town  on  fire. 
Can  do  nothing!  Yes,  you  can  set  a  world  on  fire. 
Some  of  the  first  public  speakers  were  probably  lighted 
by  the  feeblest  taper."  He  was  no  less  encouraging  to 
the  poor  in  spirit,  than  ingenious  in  meeting  objections 
of  listlessness.  "Christ,"  said  he  to  a  person  seeking 
for  mercy,  "  shall  make  his  enemies  lu's  footstool.  Not 
so,  the  penitent.  Thou,  poor  distressed  soul — thou  art 
to  come  to  his  footstool.  He  will  place  thee  at  his 
feet,  and  thou,  in  humility,  wilt  place  thyself  there. 
His  enemies  he  will  place  under  his  feet,  he  will  tread 
them  down."  With  a  view  to  find  his  way  to  the  better 
sense  of  a  worldling,  by  shewing  him  the  absurdity  of 
his  conduct,  he  represented  the  floor  as  strewed  with 
new  coined  sovereigns  and  old  farthings.  "A  man," 
said  he,  "  enters  the  apartment,  and  is  seen  anxiously 
picking  up  the  old  copper  coins,  without  either  image 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  305 

or  superscription ;  while  those  of  gold,  with  both  image 
and  superscription,  lie  neglected.  This,"  continued  he, 
in  this  burlesque  way,  "is  a  picture  of  the  worldling, 
who  is  spending  the  whole  of  his  time  in  picking  up 
trifles,  while  he  is  neglecting  the  '  pearl  of  great  price,' 
'  gold  tried  in  the  fire*;'  forgetting  at  the  time,  that  if 
he  were  to  pick  up  the  sovereigns,  he  would  have  the 
farthings  in  the  sovereigns."  This  imagery  was  gravely 
sealed  with — "  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
his  righteousness ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added 
unto  you ;"  and  fastened  more  powerfully  than  Mr. 
Mather's  "  pack-thread,"  in  connexion  with  the  same 
text.  "Let  the  backslider,"  said  he  significantly, 
"who  is  unable  to  stand  on  his  feet,  get  upon  his 
knees." 

From  1821  to  1 824,  he  was  frequently  engaged  in 
the  Metropolis,  Bristol,  and  the  large  towns  in  Corn- 
wall, in  the  southern,  western,  and  northern  counties  ; 
and- there  were  few  places  of  magnitude,  with  innumer- 
able places  of  minor  note,  from  which  he  had  not  letters 
of  invitation.  On  one  of  those  occasions,  when  attend- 
ing a  Missionary  Meeting  at  Birmingham,  an  eminent 
dissenting  minister,  to  whose  opinion  further  reference 
will  be  made,  went  to  hear  him.  Mr.  Dawson's  text  was 
— "  Be  it  known  unto  you,  therefore,  men  and  breth- 
ren, that  through  this  man  is  preached  unto  you  the 
forgiveness  of  sins;  and  by  him  all  that  believe  are 
justified  from  all  things,  from  which  ye  could  not  be 
justified  by  the  law  of  Moses."  Service  being  over, 
the  minister,  after  a  striking  exclamation,  observed, 
that  he  had  heard  some  of  the  boldest  and  most  original 
conceptions  that  he  had  ever  heard  uttered,  and  clothed 
in  language  equally  remarkable  and  powerful.  The 


306  MEMOIRS    OF 

gentleman  to  whom  the  observation  was  made,  acceding 
to  the  justice  of  the  remark,  enquired, — "What  would 
he  have  been,  had  he  been  favoured  with  an  academical 
education  in  early  life?  "  "He  would  have  been  spoiled," 
retumed  the  minister. 

The  effect  of  Mr.  D's.  ministry  might  have  been  em- 
bodied in  a  sentiment  of  his  own; — "If  Methodism  does 
not  make  men  into  parsons,  it  certainly  converts  them 
into  clerks  ;  for  they  are  responding  '  Amen ' — '  glory 
be  to  God,' — wherever  we  go."  This  was  the  case  with 
his  own  pulpit  exercises,  much  more  than  with  that  of 
most  others.  He  was  irresistible.  Preaching  on  the 
returning  Prodigal,  he  paused,  looked  at  the  door,  and 
shouted  out, — after  he  had  depicted  him  in  his  wretch- 
edness,— "Yonder  he  comes,  slip-shod!  make  way — 
make  way — make  way  there  !  "  Such  was  the  approach 
to  reality,  that  a  considerable  part  of  the  congregation 
turned  to  the  door,  some  rising  on  their  feet,  under  the 
momentary  impression  that  some  one  was  entering  the 
chapel  in  the  state  described.  In  the  same  sermon, 
paraphrasing  the  father's  reply  to  the  son  that  was 
angry  and  would  not  go  in,  he  said, — "  Be  not  offended ; 
surely  a  calf  may  do  for  &  prodigal, — shoes  for  &  prodigal, 
— a  ring  and  a  robe  for  a  prodigal ;  but  ALL  I  have  is 
THINE."  As  to  the  more  striking  part,  when  pointing 
to  the  door,  similar  effects  were  produced,  when  refer- 
ring to  the  Witch  of  Endor.  His  picturings  took  such 
hold  of  the  imagination,  that,  on  exclaiming — "  Stand 
by — stand  by — there  she  is,"  some  of  the  poor  people 
inadvertently  directed  the  eye  downward,  where  his  own 
eye  was  fixed,  and  the  spot  to  which  he  was  pointing, 
as  if  she  were  about  to  rise  from  beneath  their  feet,  and 
become  visible  to  the  congregation.  It  was  by  the  force 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  307 

of  his  own  imagination,  that  he  created  corresponding 
images  in  the  minds  of  his  hearers  ;  and  many  of  them 
seemed  abandoned,  for  the  time  being,  to  its  power, 
and  to  dwell  upon,  the  visionary  scenes  presented, — 
their  feelings  varying  with  the  shifting  images  flitting 
before  them, — either  sparkling  with  beauty,  or  hideous 
as  spectres. 

On  one  of  his  visits  to  the  North,  when  among  the 
colliers,  he  represented  to  the  imagination  of  the  sinner 
a  pit, — a  chain  thrown  over  a  windlass, — a  weight  at 
one  end  of  the  chain ; — the  other  end  coiled  round  the 
body  of  a  man  on  his  way  to  the  pit ; — the  windlass 
whirling  round, —  the  weight  increasing  in  velocity  on 
its  way  downward, — the  man  drawing  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  mouth  of  the  pit, — the  weight  still  more  and 
more  rapid  in  its  motion ; — then  shouting  out  amain,  at 
the  moment  the  head  seemed  to  be  whirling  with  the 
machinery — "He  is  going,  he  is  going, — there  is  no 
stopping  him  ; — he  is  nearer  and  nearer, — the  final  step 
is  taken, — he  dashes  over, — disappears, — and  the  splash 
startles  the  very  devils."  Here  a  thrill  of  horror 
seemed  to  seize  the  whole  assembly.  To  give  effect  to 
his  imagery,  the  weight  was  the  collective  sins  of  the 
sinner, — the  chain,  the  Divine  Perfections,  all  harmon- 
izing even  in  the  destruction  of  the  finally  impenitent, 
— the  windlass,  the  constant  whirl  of  time,  to  which 
"  stop"  might  be  cried  in  vain.  Through  the  fertility 
of  his  imagination,  the  whole  was  represented  as  revolv- 
ing the  reverse  way,  in  the  case  of  the  righteous, — good 
works,  arising  from  saving  faith  in  Christ,  drawing  the 
Christian  more  and  more  from  earth,  and  nearer  and 
nearer  heaven. 

Another  piece  of  imagery,  equally  effective  and  terrific 


308  MEMOIRS    OF 

in  its  close,  though  less  rapid  in  its  progress,  was 
worked  up  to  rouse  the  conscience  of  a  drunkard,  into 
whose  shop  he  entered  the  day  after  the  man  had  been 
indulging  hi  intoxication.  "  Suppose  yourself  to  be  a 
servant,"  said  he,  "and  your  master  were  to  come  in 
the  morning  and  order  you  to  make  a  strong  chain  ;  on 
the  following  morning  he  came  again,  and  urged  you  to 
get  on  with  it ;  and  thus,  day  by  day,  you  were  ordered 
by  your  master  to  the  same  job.  Suppose  again,  that 
while  you  were  working,  a  person  came  in  and  asked 
you  if  you  knew  what  the  chain  was  for ;  and  that  you 
answered  in  the  negative,  adding,  that  you  did  not  care 
so  long  as  you  got  your  wages.  But  this  person  tells 
you,  that  he  knows  it  to  be  a  fact,  that  it  is  your  mas- 
ter's intention  to  bind  you  with  it  in  perpetual  bondage  : 
would  you,  I  ask,  add  another  link  to  it  ?  "  The  man 
answered — "No;  and  all  the  money  in  the  world  would 
not  hire  me  to  it."  Mr.  Dawson  then  asked  him, 
whether  he  was  not  aware  that  drunkenness  was  the 
devil's  chain,  in  which  he  kept  poor  sinners  in  perpetual 
bondage,  and  that  when  they  had  added  the  last  link, 
he  would  chain  them  in  hell  for  ever.  He  further 
observed, — "  Whether  you  know  it  or  not,  every  drun- 
ken frolic  is  a  link  added  to  the  chain,  and  Satan  will 
wrap  it  round  you  red  hot"  This  continued  to  operate 
upon  the 'conscience  of  the  man  for  some  time, — the 
thought  constantly  crossing  his  mind, — "  I  am  making 
another  link  for  my  chain ! "  till  he  relinquished  his 
wicked  course  of  life,  when  he  published  his  personal 
history,  in  "The  Tale  of  the  Reformed  Drunkard." 

Being  asked  one  day,  what  he  thought  of  the  sermon 
of  a  preacher  from  whom  little  could  be  brought  away 
either  for  fireside  converse  or  closet  thought,  he  felt  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  309 

position  in  which  he  was  placed,  and  instantly  returned, 
— "  I  eat  what  I  can,  but  pocket  nothing ;"  thus 
dexterously  guarding  against  any  reflection  upon  the 
preacher,  as  well  as  escaping  himself  from  the  charge  of 
being  a  forgetful  hearer.  Yet  he  was  sometimes  amused 
with  the  remarks  of  persons  upon  himself.  "What," 
said  a  poor  man,  when  disappointed  of  another  preacher, 
"  is  it  you  ?  "  "  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Dawson,  "  it  is  I." 
"Well,"  returned  the  man,  intending  it  for  a  welcome 
in  his  way,  "  you  are  better  than  nobody."  Mr.  Daw- 
son  pleasantly  observed, — "I  know  my  place — I  am 
next  to  nobody" 

His  introductory  remarks  on  the  hymns  which  he 
selected,  as  well  as  his  observations  on  particular  lines 
and  verses,  were  not  only  often  very  striking,  but  just 
and  valuable,  and  shewed  that  they  had  been  chosen 
for  his  subjects  with  unusual  care.  Two  or  three  cases 
may  be  noticed  from  the  many  that  came  under  the 
observation  of  the  biographer.  On  giving  out  the  672nd 
hymn,  he  paused  when  he  came  to  the  first  and  second 
lines  of  the  second  verse, — 

"  True,  'tis  a  strait  and  thorny  road, 
And  mortal  spirits  tire  and  faint;" 

and  enquired,  "  Why  do  they  tire  ?  Is  it  because  it  is 
'  strait  and  thorny  ? '  No — 

'  But  they  forget  the  mighty  God, 
That  feeds  the  strength  of  every  saint ; '  '* 

thus  gliding  into  the  succeeding  lines  without  suffering 
the  congregation  to  feel  any  interruption  by  the  break, 
while  he  furnished  them  with  a  subject  for  reflection — 
shewing  them  that  they  should  "  sing  with  the  under- 
standing." 

On  another  public  occasion,  he  announced  the  204th 


310  MEMOIRS    OF 

hymn,  on  the  200th  page  of  the  large  Hymn  Book.  A 
number  of  musical  instruments  being  in  use  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  each  performer  evidently  bent  on  attracting 
attention,  he  turned  suddenly  round  to  the  orchestra, 
on  coming  to  the  fifth  verse,  and  with  a  mixture  of  holy 
jealousy  for  his  God,  and  fear  on  account  of  the  persons 
engaged,  exhorted  them  with  a  rebuking  eye,  to  guard 
against  the  evils  to  which  they  were  exposed; — and 
then,  slowly  and  gracefully  turning  to  the  assembly,  he 
said,  in  an  earnest  plaintive  tone,  and  with  an  expres- 
sion of  pity  in  his  countenance, — "  O  friends !  pray  for 
them — pray  fot  them — for  they  are  in  danger ! "  pro- 
ceeding with  the  verse, — 

"  Still  let  us  on  our  guard  be  fuund, 
And  watch  against  the  power  of  sound, 

With  sacred  jealousy ; 
Lest,  haply,  sense  should  damp  our  zeal, 
And  music's  charms  bewitch  and  steal 
Our  hearts  away  from  thee. " 

In  this  way,  he  shewed  the  depth  of  his  piety, — being 
anxious  to  preserve  the  spirit  of  public  worship  in 
all  its  simplicity,  purity,  and  power.  There  was 
nothing  indifferent  to  him  in  the  worship  of  God  ; 
his  eye  was  fixed  on  every  part,  and  his  heart  run  out 
after  it  in  its  performance,  both  as  to  spirit  and  manner. 
Anything  light  and  airy  at  the  close  of  the  service, 
which  is  too  often  the  case  on  special  occasions,  when 
the  singers  wish  to  shew  off,  and  the  organist  is  dis- 
posed to  give  a  specimen  of  his  execution,  met  with 
his  decided  disapprobation.  He  observed,  that  "  such 
displays  often  spoiled  the  effect  of  a  whole  sermon." 
Indiscretion  of  this  kind  is  much  more  hurtful  than 
direct  opposition.  In  the  latter  case,  a  man  only 
attacks  his  enemies,  and  those  to  whom  he  wishes 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  311 

harm ;  in  the  former,  he  injures  indifferently  both 
friends  and  foes. 

Again,  in  selecting  the  190th  hymn,  page  186, — 
"Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness,"  &c.,  on  coming 
to  the  last,  or  10th  verse,  he  broke  off  somewhat 
abruptly ;  and  with  a  view  to  combine  prayer  with 
song,  of  which  the  lines  are  susceptible,  he  remarked, 
in  addressing  the  auditory, — "  I  have  often  been  deeply 
impressed  with  the  language  of  the  minister  to  the 
people  in  the  Communion  service ;  the  priest  proceeds, 
saying,  '  Lift  up  your  hearts ; '  the  people  answer, 
'We  lift  them  up  unto  the  Lord.'  The  priest  again 
strikes  in,  '  Let  us  give  thanks  unto  our  Lord  God ; ' 
the  people  respond, — '  It  is  meet  and  right  so  to  do ; ' 
when  the  priest  closes  with, — '  It  is  very  meet,  right, 
and  our  bounden  duty,  that  we  should  at  all  times, 
and  in  all  places,  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O  Lord, 
holy  Father,  almighty  and  everlasting  God.'"  Then 
glancing  round  the  audience,  he  elevated  his  voice, 
and  with  amazing  energy  said, — "  'Lift  up  your  hearts ' 
— yes,  and  let  the  whole  congregation  repeat, — 'We 
lift  them  up  unto  the  Lord '  " — instantly  announcing, — 

"  Thou  God  of  power,  thou  God  of  love, 
Let  the  whole  world  thy  mercy  prove .' 
Now  let  thy  word  o'er  all  prevail ; 
Now  take  the  spoils  of  death  and  hell. " 

The  power  of  sound  seemed  increased  at  least  two- 
fold by  the  additional  number  of  voices,  that  had 
previously  been  silent;  and  twofold  in  the  strength 
of  those  that  had  taken  an  interest  in  the  singing. 
He  had  perceived  that  there  was  not  the  power  em- 
ployed, that  the  multitude  warranted ;  and  in  thus 
testing  it,  he  produced  one  of  the  finest  bursts  of 


312  MEMOIRS    OF 

congregational  singing  the  biographer  ever  heard.  Every 
soul  seemed  suddenly  elevated  by  the  power  of  sacred 
song;   and  dropping  on  his   knees,    the  feeling  was 
carried  through  the  whole  of  the  prayer — the  people 
responding  to  the  various  petitions  presented  to  God, 
with  all  the  sweet  eifect  produced  on  a  devout  auditory 
by  the  emphatic  responses  at  the  close  of  the  Litany. 
The  whole   of  the   Church  service  being  familiar  to 
him,  he  occasionally  employed  different  parts  of  it  with 
great  advantage,  both  as  to  argument  and  acts  of  devotion. 
The  8th  verse   of  the   1st  hymn, — "See   all  your 
sins    on    Jesus   laid,"    produced   a   similar  beneficial 
effect   on  the   side   of  piety.     Before  announcing  it, 
he  suddenly  turned  to  the  Bible,  and  scanned  a  few  of 
the  first  verses  of  the  sixth  chapter  of  the  Apocalypse, 
where  the  expression,  "  Come,  and__see, "  is  repeated 
on  the  appearance  of  the  different  horses ;  closing  by 
saying, — "I   do   not   ask  you   to   come   and  see  the 
preacher,    or   to   hear  the   voice   of  thunder,   but   to 
come  and  see  yourselves,  your  sins,  and  your  SAVIOUR." 
Then,  with  increased  energy,  and  with  a  fine  extem- 
poraneous intonation  of  voice, — his  eyes  sparkling  with 
pleasure,  he  proceeded, — "  I  ask  you  to  come  and  see 
— what  ? 

"  SEE  all  your  sins  on  Jesus  laid : 
The  Lamb  of  God  was  slain  : 
His  soul  was  once  an  offering  made 
For  every  soul  of  man." 

His  quick  mind  had  just  caught  the  catch-word, — 
"  See  ;  "  and  by  a  certain  association  of  ideas,  at  once 
turned  to  a  favourite  subject,  and  by  one  of  his  sudden 
transitions  or  sallies,  gave  relief  to  the  length  of  the 
hymn,  and  produced  singular  and  striking  effects.  In 
many  cases,  this  was  purely  accidental ;  but  in  no 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  313 

instance  did  there  appear  anything  like  an  impertinent 
obtrusiveness  in  his  remarks,  by  permitting  one  idea, 
or  one  class  of  ideas,  to  appear  to  the  exclusion  of 
others.  He  always  connected  his  outbreaks  with  the 
subject  in  hand,  and  found  his  way  back  with  the 
same  ease,  as  if  the  subject  introduced  had  constituted 
"part  and  parcel "  of  the  hymn.  Locke  would  designate 
such  interruption  a  weakness ;  and  in  the  midst  of 
less  grave  subjects,  would  humorously  describe  it  "as 
a  childishness  of  the  understanding,  wherein,  during 
the  fit,  it  plays  with  and  dandles  some  insignificant 
puppet,  without  any  end  in  view."  But  such  wanderings 
never  excluded  Mr.  Dawson's  subject : — the  thoughts 
were  not  of  the  "  puppet "  kind, — and  he  invariably 
kept  the  most  important  "end  in  view." 

That  he  should  advert  to  the  Apocalypse  in  the  last 
instance,  is  the  less  remarkable,  as  it  constituted  part 
of  a  text  on  which  he  had  preached,  and  part  of  which 
he  worked  up  in  a  similar  way.  The  text  was  the  one 
alluded  to,  Rev.  vi.  7,  8. — "And  when  he  had  opened 
the  fourth  seal,  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  fourth  beast 
say,  Come  and  see.  And  I  looked,  and  behold  a  pale 
horse ;  and  his  name  that  sat  on  him  was  Death,  and 
Hell  followed  with  him." 

"  In  the  middle  of  the  Apocalypse,"  observed  Mr. 
Dawson,  "there  are  hieroglyphics,  and  characters  of 
prophecy,  which  we  do  not  fully  understand ;  and,  in 
many  instances,  those  hieroglyphical  representations 
which  are  brought  before  us,  are  only  what  ceremonial 
observances  were  to  the  Jews ;  they  are  the  shadows  of 
realities  which  we  do  not  see  at  present ;  and  we  shall 
only  know  the  import  of  the  shadows,  when  we  see  the 
whole  width  and  breadth  of  the  reality.  There  are 
o 


314  MEMOIRS    OF 

some  persons  who  have  a  natural  talent  for  explaining 
these  things.  They  never  seem  to  be  at  home,  but  when 
they  are  breaking  seals,  and  pouring  vials,  and  blowing 
trumpets.  It  is  neither  my  taste  nor  my  talent.  A 
pious  clergyman  once  asked, — '  Mr.  Dawson,  what  do 
you  think  about  the  figures  in  the  Revelations  ? '  I 
answered,  I  do  not  think  much  about  them,  Sir ;  nor 
do  I  care  much  about  figures  ;  I  shall  not  break  seals, 
pour  vials,  or  blow  trumpets — I  blow  no  trumpet  but 
that  of  salvation  to  every  penitent  believer.'* 

With  this  summary  dismissal  of  the  mystic  language 
of  the  Apocalypse,  and  the  diffuse  commentaries  of 
learned  divines  on  the  subject,  he  proceeded  in  his  own 
original  way,  to  discuss  the  text ;  and  though  some 
hearers  might  disrelish  his  mode  of  treating  the  signs 
and  symbols  of  prophecy,  they  could  not  but  admire 
the  ingenuity  displayed  in  giving  the  words  a  literal 
interpretation.  The  following  extract  forms  part  of 
the  peroration,  and  will,  perhaps,  serve  to  illustrate 
what  was  considered  by  some  persons,  his  "power" 
in  preaching. 

"  'Come,  and  see,'  then,  the  awful  condition  of  an 
unsaved  sinner.  Open  your  eyes,  sinner,  and  see  it 
yourself.  There  he  is  in  the  broad  road  of  ruin ; 
every  step  he  takes  is  deeper  in  sin  ;  every  breath 
he  draws  feeds  his  corruption ;  every  moment  takes 
him  farther  from  heaven  and  nearer  hell ;  he  is  going, 
and  death  and  hell  are  after  him.  The  horse  and 
the  rider  are  increasing  in  speed  ;  they  are  coming 
quickly  on ;  they  are  getting  nearer ;  they  are  over- 
taking him.  Can  you  bear  the  sight?  'Come,  and 
see.'  If  the  rider  overtakes  that  poor  sinner,  un- 
pardoned  and  unsaved,  and  strikes  his  blow,  down  he 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  315 

falls,  and  backward  he  drops : — hell  behind  him,  and 
as  he  falls  backward,  he  looks  upward,  and  shrieks, 
— *  Lost !  lost !  lost !  Time  lost ;  Sabbaths  lost ;  means 
lost;  soul  lost;  heaven  lost!'  Backward  he  drops; 
all  his  sins  seem  to  hang  round  his  neck  like  so 
many  millstones,  as  he  plunges  into  the  burning  abyss. 
'  Come  and  see.'  Lord,  save  him !  O  my  God,  save 
him  !  '  Come  and  see.'  Blessed  be  God  !  the  rider 
has  not  overtaken  him  yet ;  there  is  time  and  space  yet 
for  that  poor  sinner ;  he  may  be  saved  yet, — he  has  not 
dropped  into  hell.  'Come  and  see.'  The  horse  and 
the  rider  have  not  overtaken  you  yet ;  there  is,  there- 
fore an  'accepted  time,'  there  is  a  'day  of  salvation.' 
'  Come  and  see.'  There  is  God  the  Father  inviting 
you ;  God  the  Father  commanding  you ;  God  the 
Father  swearing  he  has  no  pleasure  in  your  death. 
'Come  and  see.'  Christ  has  come  to  seek  you.  He 
says,  '  Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.'  '  He 
that  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die.' " 

Death  on  the  pale  horse,  when  Mr.  Dawson  had 
freedom,  was  with  him,  in  speaking,  what  the  same  sub- 
ject was  to  West  with  his  pencil, — the  one  being  the 
poetry  of  painting,  and  the  other  the  poetry  of  preach- 
ing. This  peroration  is  a  specimen,  too,  of  his  more 
Tarsic  manner  of  treating  a  subject, — sudden — abrupt 
— and  apparently  unpremeditated.  * 

He  was  often  peculiarly  happy  in  arresting  attention 
in  the  outset,  in  this  way.  A  minister  who  had  heard 
much  of  him,  came  some  distance  to  hear  him  preach, 
when  he  was  in  the  North ;  and  not  being  introduced 

•  The  subject  was  taken  up  by  old  Samuel  Ward  of  Ipswich,  in  1635 ;  and 
has  more  recently  engaged  the  attention  in  a  separate  treatise,  12mo.,  pp.  209, 
by  the  Rev.  J.  Bruce  of  Liverpool ;  but  both  differ  widely  from  Mr.  Dawson. 


316  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  him  through  some  mishap,  he  entered  into  conver- 
sation with  a  gentleman  sitting  next  to  him,  on  the 
properties  of  Sir  Humphry  Davy's  safety  lamp.  Mr. 
Dawson  listened  to  him  ;  and  concluded  from  his  dress, 
manners,  and  conversation,  that  he  was  some  colliery 
agent  residing  in  the  neighbourhood.  He  was  not  a 
little  surprized,  after  the  service,  to  he  complimented 
by  this  gentleman  for  his  sermon,  when  he  heard  him 
add, — "  I  wish  I  could  produce  the  same  effect  in  the 
pulpit  when  I  am  there."  "Ah,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Reay, 
the  lady  of  the  house,  "  you  must  move  the  hand  of 
Him  that  moves  the  world,  before  you  witness  these 
effects."  Here  lay  the  "power"  of  Mr.  Dawson,  and 
not  barely,  or  even  chiefly,  in  his  manner  of  handling  a 
subject.  Though  his  remarks  were  often  either  awfully 
solemn,  eccentrically  original,  or  movingly  natural  and 
pathetic,  the  great  secret  of  his  success  lay  in  the 
power  which  God  alone  can  supply. 

The  occasion  of  his  first  visit  to  Sunderland,  was 
to  preach  to  the  sailors.  He  was  met  by  Mr.  B. 
Dowell,  at  Durham,  at  whose  house  he  was  to  reside 
on  reaching  his  destination  ;  and  the  next  day  was 
taken  by  him  to  see  the  life-boat,  &c.  Having  to  preach 
in  the  evening,  the  objects  that  engaged  attention 
through  the  day  were  not  lost  upon  him.  Some  of  the 
imagery  which  he  employed  to  rouse  the  torpid  con^ 
science  of  the  sinner  was  terrific.  To  accomplish  his 
purpose,  he  depicted  a  shipwreck, — the  storm  raging, 
— the  billows  tumultuously  roaring, — the  wind  heaving 
up  its  ocean-mountains,  and  scooping  out  its  vallies, — the 
vessel  on  a  lee-shore, — the  rocks  at  hand, — the  mariners 
at  their  "wits  end," — some  crying  for  mercy, — all  dis- 
posed to  aid  each  other,  and  to  exert  themselves  to  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  317 

utmost ;  — wives,  children,  and  friends  on  the  shore, 
but  unable  to  render  them  the  least  assistance ; — one 
crying  amain,  "  My  brother  is  lost,"  another  exclaim- 
ing, "  My  father  is  there ;"  the  vessel  at  length  striking, 
— flying  in  pieces, — the  survivors  clinging  to  the  wreck, 
— and  the  whole  on  the  point  of  disappearing.  At  the 
moment,  when  all  seemed  crashing,  reeling,  roaring, 
separating  into  still  smaller  fragments,  and  sinking,  he 
shouted, — "  What  is  to  be  done  now  ? — all  is  going — 
going  for  ever !  "  "  What  is  to  be  done  !  "  bawled  out 
a  tar  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation,  "why  launch 
the  life-boat."  This,  with  the  vivid,  bold  imagery  of  the 
preacher,  produced  an  extraordinary  sensation  in  the 
congregation  ;  and  on  the  feeling  partially  subsiding, 
Mr.  Dawson  being  in  all  the  majesty  of  his  freedom  and 
power,  turned  his  eye  of  terror  upon  the  sinner,  and 
rolling  forth  a  volume  of  voice  in  some  of  its  boldest, 
wildest,  loudest,  and — when  suited  to  the  sentiment 
and  action — tenderest  tones,  rushed  down  upon  the 
previously  prepared  and  awakened  feelings,  representing 
man  as  lost  hi  the  general  shipwreck  of  human  nature, 
— plunging,  on  rejecting  the  only  means  of  salvation 
and  safety,  into  the  gulf  of  hell,  where  every  thing  was 
aggravated  by  circumstances  ;  the  sufferers,  in  the  one 
case,  being  friendly  to  each  other, — every  man  meeting 
a  friend  in  the  vessel,  with  the  additional  hope  of  again 
meeting  and  hailing  each  other  in  a  future  state  ;  while 
in  the  other  case,  every  lost  spirit  in  perdition  would 
meet  an  enemy, — pious  friends,  father,  mother,  brother, 
and  sister  seen  no  more, — the  lost  soul  tossed  on  a 
liquid  sea  of  fire — scudding  on,  and  on,  and  on — the 
breath  of  the  Almighty,  like  an  everlasting  hurricane, 
sweeping  across  the  sea,  and  blowing  up  the  flames ! 


318  MEMOIRS    OF 

After  employing  this  imagery,  he  took  the  Bible  in  his 
hand,  and  in  reference  to  the  exclamation  of  the  sailor, 
said, — "  Blessed  be  God !  though  there  is  no  life-boat 
in  hell,  we  have  one  here  !  "  He  then  adverted  to  the 
Word  of  Life,  which  pointed  out  CHRIST,  the  author 
and  the  way  of  life.  This  was  denominated  by  the 
sailors,  "The  Life-Boat  Sermon,"  and  was  talked  of 
years  afterwards. 

In  1823,  the  society  at  Barwick  sustained  the  loss  of 
two  excellent  members  by  death, — the  mother  of  the 
Rev.  David  Stoner,  and  Mrs.  Newby  ;  the  former  Aug. 
10th,  and  the  latter  Sep.  9th.  Brief  memoirs  of  both 
were  forwarded  by  Mr.  Dawson  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Wesleyan  Magazine,  where  they  appeared  in  1824,  pp. 
140,  209.  He  wrote  also  an  account  of  Mrs.  Broad- 
belt  of  Killinghall,  for  his  friend  Mr.  Thompson. 
There  were  only  eleven  members  in  his  class  at  Barn- 
bow  at  this  time,  including  himself.  The  Barwick 
class  met  a  long  time  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Batty. 

There  were  four  out  of  five  children,  left  by  Mrs. 
Stoner,  who  were  found  in  the  ways  of  righteousness. 
David  was  the  oldest,  who  was  much  esteemed  by  Mr. 
Dawson,  and  the  more  so,  as  he  was  brought  to  God 
under  his  ministry.  There  was  another  young  man  of 
promising  talents,  who  began  to  preach  about  the  same 
time  with  David.  Mr.  Dawson  speaking  of  them  one 

day,  observed,  "  J cooks  a  good  dinner,  and  sets  it 

in  order  before  his  guests  :  but  they  may  either  take  it 
or  not :  if  they  do  not,  they  may  let  it  alone ;  but  in 
such  a  case;  the  infant,  as  well  as  others,  may  starve. 
David,  on  the  other  hand,  says,  '  I'll  make  you  take 
it :'  he  takes  the  spoon  in  one  hand,  and  the  child  by 
the  nose  with  the  other,  and  pours  the  contents  down 


•WILLIAM    DAWSON.  319 

the  throat.     J exhibits,   David  preaches."     The 

eloquence  of  David  Stoner  was  that  which  may  be 
compared  to  a  stream  that  is  fed  by  an  abundant 
spring,  and  not  that,  as  a  writer  observes,  "which 
spouts  forth  a  little  frothy  water  on  some  gaudy  day, 
and  remains  dry  the  rest  of  the  year. "  And  yet, 
though  few  men  equalled  him  for  the  uninterrupted 
tide  of  eloquence  he  poured  forth  in  the  pulpit,  he 
was  exceedingly  reserved  in  social  life.  Indulging  one 
day  his  taciturn  mood,  Mr.  Dawson — full  of  spirit, 
rallied  him  on  the  subject.  David,  a  little  tried  with 
it,  took  up  the  old  proverb,- — "Empty  casks  sound 
most ;  "  and  threw  it  at  Mr.  Dawson.  "What  are 
full  ones  good  for,"  returned  the  latter,  "till  they 
are  tapt  ?  " 

The  slender  number  of  members  in  Mr.  Dawson' s 
class,  as  just  adverted  to,  was  a  source  of  grief.  Mr. 
Russom,  of  Tarperly,  Cheshire,  referring  to  this  period, 
observes  in  a  letter  to  the  biographer, — "  Sixteen  years 
have  passed  away  since  myself  and  two  others  went 
to  his  class  at  Barwick.  '  I  had  last  night,'  said  Mr. 
Dawson,  '  an  impression  upon  my  mind,  that  God  was 
about  doing  something  for  us,  and  now,' — pointing  to 
us,  'see,  here  it  is — three  souls — three  souls. — Bless 
the  Lord !  Bless  the  Lord !  After  enquiring  into  the 
state  of  my  mind,  and  directing  me  to  the  'Lamb 
of  God,'  he  solemnly  put  his  hands  upon  my  head, 
and  prayed,  while  raising  his  eyes  to  heaven, — 'Lord, 
bless  this  lad,  and  make  him  a  blessing ! '  Sub- 
sequently, I  was  often  impressed  with  his  deep  humility 
at  class,  and  once  observed  to  a  member,  — '  Mr. 
Dawson  seems  wholly  unconscious  of  his  worth  to 
the  church. ' " 


320  MEMOIRS    OF 

A  person  meeting  with  a  few  religious  friends,  while 
Mr.  Dawson  was  present,  began  to  sport  his  wit,  and 
to  state,  that  when  he  became  serious,  he  advertised 
a  sale  of  his  effects — referring  to  sin,  and  resolved 
upon  selling  all  off.  Mr.  Dawson,  to  put  a  stop  to 
what  might  lead  to  a  trifling  mode  of  conversation, 
on  a  subject  so  awfully  serious  as  sin,  returned, — 
"A  buyer  would  be  wanting  for  the  stuff;  the  devil 
would  not  give  a  price,  for  it  was  his  already ; — God 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  for  he  hates  it ; — 
and  man  needed  it  not ;  for  he  would  find  he  had 
enough  of  his  own  without  it."  He  could  relish  wit ; 
but  not  when  "reason  put  in  her  claim  for  the  one 
half  of  it,  and  extravagance  for  the  other." 

Being  down  at  Hull/ preaching  occasional  sermons, 
the  friends  of  the  Bible  Society  availed  themselves  of 
his  aid,  at  one  of  their  meetings.  His  speech  excited 
great  interest,  especially  when  he  turned  to  Mr.  Dikes, 
and  acknowledged  him  as  his  spiritual  father.  This 
revelation  to  the  meeting  was  the  more  grateful,  be- 
cause of  the  esteem  in  which  Mr.  Dikes  was  held, 
and  the  members  of  the  Established  Church  began 
to  look  with  more  respect  upon  the  son  in  the  gospel, 
for  the  venerable  pastor's  sake;  and  it  drew  many 
to  a  Methodist  chapel,  who  had  not  been  in  the 
habit  of  entering  one  before. 

His  excellent  mother  died  July  9th,  1824,  in  the 
76th  year  of  her  age,  and  was  sincerely  lamented  by 
the  family ;  but  by  no  one  was  the  stroke  so  severely 
felt  as  by  himself,  having  been  at  home  with  her 
from  childhood,  and  now,  comparatively  alone  in  the 
house ! 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  321 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Increasing  labour. —  Conversion  of  a  Sceptic. — Opening  of  Bruns- 
wick Chapel,  Leeds. — Contrast  betneen  the  Pulpit  and  the  Farm. 
— Silver  taken  at  the  foot  of  the  gallery  stairs. —  Difference 
between  popularity  and  usefulness. — Revivals. — Industry. — The 
grave  and  the  ludicrous. — Daniel  in  the  Lions'  den. — John 
Richardson. — Biography. — Death  of  the  Rev.  David  Stotier. — 
His  character. — The  fallen  trumpet. — Difference  bettveen  Nature 
and  Art. — Mr.  Samuel  Entwistle.—Mr.  Hugh  Gill. — Dr.  Me 
Allum's  character  and  death.  —  Leeds  Organ  Question. — Mr. 
Baines  and  the  Leeds  Mercury. — Disputes. — Journies. — A  mis- 
hap.— Platform  Readings. — Prayer-Meetings,  and  their  good 
fjf'ects. — Divine  Influence. — Restitution. — Contentment. — Solici- 
tation of  Subscriptions. — Melancholy  effects  of  false  alarm  at 
Heckmondnnke. — The  Rev.  Gideon  Ouseley. — Popish  Controvert- 
ists. — Death  of  "  The  Village  Blacksmith." — Farm  unsuccessful. 
—  Curiosity  in  check. —  Visits. — Obituaries. 

THE  anxiety  to  obtain  the  services  of  Mr.  Dawson, 
in  places  which  had  not  been  favoured  with  them, 
became  more  and  more  intense  from  1825  to  1830, 
which  embraces  that  portion  of  his  history  to  which 
the  reader  is  now  directed:  and  yet  the  spirit  which 
he  kindled  in  the  societies  that  had  been  so  favoured, 
rendered  it  extremely  difficult  for  him  to  extend  his 
acquaintance,  owing  to  the  friends  pressing  him  to 
repeat  his  visits.  This  induced  many  to  apply  to 
o2 


322  MEMOIRS    OF 

him  twelve  months  before  his  services  were  required. 
He  had  public  engagements  now,  in  a  general  way, 
from  January  to  July,  as  far  as  his  regular  work 
would  allow,  and  also  towards  the  close  of  the  year. 
"The  latter  part  of  July,"  said  he  to  the  writer, 
"as  well  as  August  and  October,  I  reserve  to  myself; 
the  first,  because  of  the  hay,  the  second  being  the 
time  for  cutting  the  corn,  and  the  third  for  sowing 
the  seed.''  The  way  in  which  he  accomplished  his 
Herculean  toil,  may  be  accounted  for  partly  on  the 
principle  laid  down  in  the  remarks  of  a  writer  of 
close  observation  : — "  It  is  an  undoubted  truth,"  says 
he,  "that  the  less  one  has  to  do,  the  less  time  one 
has  to  do  it  in.  One  yawns,  one  procrastinates,  one 
can  do  it  when  one  will,  and,  therefore,  one  seldom 
does  it  at  all :  whereas,  those  who  have  a  great  deal 
of  business,  must  (to  use  a  vulgar  expression),  buckle 
to  it ;  and  they  always  find  time  enough  to  do  it  in." 
"With  Mr.  Dawson,  it  was  not  barely  a  "must"  be, 
— though  he  was  sensible  of  a  "woe  be  to  me,"  if 
I  do  it  not :  but  his  duty  was  his  delight.  He  could 
adopt  the  language  of  Ezekiel, —  "The  Spirit  lifted 
me  up."  This  gave  ardour  to  his  love,  strength  to 
his  faith,  and  animation  to  his  hope ; — removing  from 
the  soul  the  various  weights  that  clogged  it,  and 
adding  to  it  the  pinions  by  which  it  was  borne  on- 
ward in  its  flight  to  heaven; — being  ready,  ever  and 
anon,  to  exclaim,  through  the  fine  flow  of  feeling 
of  which  he  was  the  subject,  in  what  might  possibly 
have  been  proverbial  language, — "Or  ever  I  was  aware, 
my  soul  made  me  like  the  chariots  of  Ammi-nadib." 

In  one  of  his  excursions  to  the  north  at  this  time, 
he  preached  at  Carville,  near  Newcastle.    Two  persons 


WILLIAM    DAWSON. 

were  passing  the  chapel,  one  of  them, — a  professed 
deist,  said  to  the  other, — "  Let  us  hear  what  this 
fellow  is  bawling  about."  They  went  near  the  door- 
way, which,  as  usual,  was  crowded — the  chapel  being 
unequal  to  the  accommodation  of  the  people.  After 
stopping  two  or  three  minutes,  the  other  said, — "Come, 
let  us  go."  "  Nay,"  returned  his  companion,  "  I  will 
hear  him  out."  He  did  "hear  him  out,"  and  heard 
to  profit ;  for  on  the  outside  of  the  chapel — the  win- 
dows and  doors  being  open,  the  word  of  God  fastened 
on  his  conscience ;  the  "  strong  man  armed "  was 
slain;  and  within  a  fortnight, — having  given  every 
evidence  of  a  divine  change,  a  stone  fell  from  the 
top  of  the  pit  where  he  was  working,  and  killed  him 
on  the  spot !  Whether  the  man  was  a  reader,  and 
entitled  to  the  character  of  a  thinker,  or  whether  his 
infidel  principles  arose  from  the  natural  enmity  of 
the  human  heart  to  God  and  truth,  is  of  little  im- 
portance. His  principles,  or  his  feelings,  or  both, 
preserved  him  in  hostile  array  against  everything  sacred : 
and  whether  scepticism  attempts  to  rear  its  own  system, 
or  employs  its  efforts  to  undermine  a  better,  it  is  equally 
fatal  to  the  individual,  though  not  equally  easy  and 
pleasant.  Hence  the  truth  of  the  remark,  that  we 
may  find  a  thousand  engineers,  who  can  sap,  under- 
mine, and  blow  up,  with  admirable  dexterity,  for  one 
who  can  build  a  fort  or  lay  the  platform  of  a  citadel. 
The  point  of  interest  to  contemplate  is — that  there 
was  hope  in  the  man's  death,  adding  another  testimony 
to  the  fact,  that — 

"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strain'd: 

It  dropped),  as  the  gentle  rain  from  Leaven, 

Upon  the  place  beneath. " 


324  MEMOIRS    OF 

Few  chapels  were  now  opened,  including  a  con- 
siderable extent  of  country  around,  to  the  sen-ices 
of  which  he  was  not  either  pressingly  invited,  or  in 
a  part  of  which  he  did  not  actually  engage.  It  was 
common  on  such  occasions,  to  find  his  name  associated 
in  the  same  advertisements,  in  newspapers,  and  in 
the  posters  on  the  walls,  with  those  of  Dr.  Clarke, 
Messrs.  R.  Watson,  R.  Newton,  and  other  popular 
ministers.  Among  the  chapels  opened  in  1825, 
Mytholmroy,  in  the  Todmorden  circuit,  Cullingworth, 
Osset,  Eastbrook, — Bradford  and  Brunswick — Leeds, 
may  be  noticed. 

The  last,  which  was  considered  the  largest  chapel 
in  the  Wesley  an  Connexion  at  that  time, — being  96 
feet  in  length  and  72  in  width,  was  opened  Friday, 
September  9th.  The  services  were  resumed  Sunday, 
September  llth.  Its  cost  was  estimated  to  be  about 
£7900  ;  the  collections  at  the  opening,  amounted  to 
.£853,  which  were  augmented  by  a  few  spirited  indi- 
viduals to  .361000, — exclusive  of  previous  subscriptions, 
amounting' to  nearly  ^£2000.  The  chapel  was  calculated 
to  accommodate  3000  persons ;  and  in  the  genuine 
spirit  of  that  text  of  mercy, — "  The  poor  have  the 
gospel  preached  to  them,"  one  thousand  free  sittings 
were  appropriated  to  such  as  were  unable  to  pay  for 
them :  since  then,  however,  it  is  to  be  regretted,  the 
free  seats  have  been  considerably  circumscribed. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  visited  by  a  friend  on  the  10th, 
the  Saturday  intervening  the  services,  when  he  was 
found  busily  engaged  in  marking  sheep  on  his  farm. 
Adverting  to  his  employment,  he  slyly  turned  up  his 
eye — his  meaning  eye,  to  his  friend,  who  was  ap- 
proaching him,  and  said, — "I  hope  to  mark  some 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  325 

other  sheep  to-morrow. "  He  did  so ;  for  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  Sabbath — during  the  adjourned  ser- 
vices, it  was  found  that  he  had  indeed  marked  some 
of  the  Lord's  stray  sheep  in  Brunswick  chapel.  The 
honour  thus  put  upon  Mr.  Dawson,  in  opening  the 
largest  chapel  in  the  Connexion — in  his  own  circuit 
— he  himself  a  local  preacher — and  in  a  town  in  which 
he  had  preached  upwards  of  twenty  years,  reminds 
the  biblical  student  of  the  honour  which  God  con- 
ferred upon  David,  of  whom  it  is  said,  "he  keepeth 
the  sheep,"  and  who  was  translated  from  the  sheep-cot 
to  the  court  of  Saul; — of  Elisha,  "who  was  ploughing 
with  twelve  yoke  of  oxen,  and  upon  whom  Elijah,  as 
he  "passed  by  him,  cast  his  mantle;" — and  "of 
Amos,  who,"  when  the  spirit  of  prophecy  descended 
upon  him,  "was  among  the  herdmen  of  Tekoa." 

One  thing  annoyed  Mr.  Dawson  here,  as  in  many 
other  places.  At  the  close  of  the  circular  announcing 
the  services,  it  was  added, — "The  trustees,  wishing 
to  accommodate  the  respectable  friends  who  may  attend 
on  the  occasion,  purpose  to  reserve  the  entire  gallery 
of  the  Brunswick  Chapel  for  their  use.  To  facilitate 
this,  silver  will  be  taken  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs." 
This  was  always  repulsive  to  his  feelings,  and  the 
collectors  employed  were  characterised  by  him  as  pre- 
senting so  many  "  silver  daggers  "  at  the  people  on 
their  way  to  the  gallery.  He  associated  with  the  case, 
the  resemblance  it  bore  to  persons  paying  on  entering 
a  place  of  amusement — its  apparent  opposition  to  a 
free  gospel  —  and  the  painful  manner  in  which  it 
operated  upon  the  poor.  But  such  were  the  crowds 
to  hear  him,  especially  in  Manchester  and  other  popu- 
lous places,  that  the  chapel  doors  were  beset  with 


326  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  people  long  before  they  were  opened  for  service, 
the  best  seats  were  often  occupied  by  non-contributers, 
while  the  most  liberal  givers  were  left  without.  In 
many  instances,  the  police  were  obliged  to  parade 
before  the  places  of  worship,  to  prevent  disturbance 
among  the  multitudes  who  were  anxious  to  hear  him, 
— the  baser  sort  availing  themselves  of  the  occasion 
for  the  worst  of  purposes. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  not  merely  popular ;  nor  was  the 
feeling  which  accompanied  his  public  labours  evan- 
escent. There  may  be  popularity  without  either  solid 
or  permanent  good,  — excitement  without  a  genuine 
work  of  God.  Popularity  is  often  the  mere  crea- 
ture of  circumstance,  and  owes  its  existence  as  well 
as  its  continuance,  to  some  external  attraction,  in- 
dependent of  either  extraordinary  mental  endowments, 
or  exalted  piety.  Mere  excitement  is  generally  confined 
to  the  man ; — it  circumscribes  itself  within  his  own 
sphere  of  operation,  —  moves,  like  his  shadow,  by 
his  side, — never  puts  up  its  appearance,  except  when 
he  is  there, — and  leaves  all  around,  save  that  one 
spot,  blank  or  dreary.  A  genuine  revival  of  the  work 
of  God,  in  a  town  or  neighbourhood,  is  not  seen 
following  in  the  wake  of  only  one  person  ;  every  chapel 
is  benefited ; — every  minister  of  God  receives  his  quota 
of  hearers; — the  week-day  services  are  more  numerously 
attended,  as  well  as  those  appointed  for  the  Sabbath ; 
— the  forenoon  services  are  as  respectable  for  number 
as  those  in  an  evening,  that  have  the  charm  of  a 
prayer-meeting  appended  to  them; — and  people  are 
as  partial  to  the  word  of  GOD,  as  to  the  prayers  of 
MAN.  Newly-awakened  souls — persons  hungering  and 
thirsting  after  righteousness,  will  not  refuse  the  food 


WILLIAM    DAW8ON.  327 

because  of  the  less  distinguished  platter  upon  which 
it  is  served;  they  will  he  thankful  for  the  bread  of 
life  from  any  minister  of  Christ.  The  ministry  that 
renders  people  fastidious, — that  enamours  them  merely 
with  the  man,  to  the  neglect  or  contempt  of  others, 
is  defective  in  its  essentialities.  The  subtle  poison  of 
the  Corinthian  church  is  in  it.  The  design  of  the 
Christian  ministry  is  to  endear  God,  his  house,  and 
his  word,  to  man,  and  not  man  to  a  solitary  individual. 
This  was  the  genuine  effect  of  Mr.  Dawson's  ministry. 
Though  he  was  loved  and  respected,  the  word  of  God 
was  loved  the  better  for  his  services ;  he  did  not 
take  the  work  away  with  him  to  the  next  place ;  but 
he  left  a  savour  of  hallowed  feeling  behind  him,  by 
which  ministers  and  people  were  benefited  after  he 
had  quitted  the  spot.  Though  he  took  the  torch 
with  him,  a  number  of  lamps  were  left  burning  at 
the  place,  which  had  been  kindled  at  his  flame ;  and 
he  found  them  more  bright  on  his  return.  This  was 
the  case  at  Grimsby  and  other  places,  where  a  genuine 
revival  of  the  work  of  God  broke  out,  through  which 
whole  societies  shared  in  the  benefit.  The  moving 
of  the  waters  did  not  subside  immediately  on  his 
departure,  as  in  the  departure  of  the  angel  from  the 
pool  of  Bethesda,  and  remain  a  dead  calm  till  his 
return.  The  people  were  left  with  a  relish  for  the 
ministry  of  others,  as  well  as  his  own.  They  did 
not  take  their  ideas  of  a  minister  from  himself  barely, 
— cherishing  the  notion  that  they  could  receive  good 
from  no  other ; — all  others  sinking  in  their  esteem 
in  proportion  as  he  himself  advanced.  He  drew  them 
to  God,  not  to  himself;  and  yet,  in  drawing  them 
to  God,  he  was  honoured  both  of  God  and  man. 


328  MEMOIRS    OF 

Here  is  the  difference  between  sheer  popularity  and 
usefulness  ;  the  former  follows  the  man  wherever  he 
goes,  and  moves  only  in  his  train ;  the  latter  is  sta- 
tioned at  the  different  places :  the  one  has  a  rambling, 
gipsy  kind  of  existence ;  and  the  other  has  its  fixed 
settlement,  and  erects,  if  not  towns,  its  congregations 
and  its  temples — found  years  after,  as  so  many  monu- 
ments of  ministerial  toil. 

He  very  often  had  to  turn  out  of  the  different  places 
of  worship,  and  preach  in  the  open  air,  to  accommodate 
persons  who  could  not  gain  access  to  the  chapels  ; 
and  the  chapels  themselves  could  only  be  endured, 
from  the  intense  interest  the  people  felt  to  hear  him. 
A  person  came  up  to  him  at  Cullingworth,  nearly 
breathless,  wiping  the  perspiration  off  his  face,  and 
saying,  by  way  of  shewing  his  hardships,  and  exciting 
pity, — "I  have  had  to  stand  all  the  time ! "  "  So  have 
I,"  returned  Mr.  Dawson,  when  silence  was  instantly 
imposed ; — the  person  perceiving  that  Mr.  D.  had  the 
fatigue  of  the  pulpit  added  to  it. 

In  the  course  of  1826,  he  assisted  at  the  opening 
of  chapels  at  Brotherton,  Rochdale,  Otley,  Long- 
holme,  Thome,  York,  Mebmerly,  Colton,  Monkwear- 
mouth,  Spitalfield — Leeds,  Minsten,  Shuckerstone,  &c. ; 
and  visited  Nottingham,  Newark,  Sheffield,  Doncaster, 
Newcastle,  Shields,  Sunderland,  Darlington,  Halifax, 
and  different  places  in  Lancashire  and  elsewhere :  and 
it  was  not  uncommon  for  him  to  be  sowing  seed, 
stacking  corn,  clipping  sheep,  &c.,  on  the  same  day 
that  he  was  opening  chapels  and  attending  missionary 
meetings, — working  "  double  tides,"  to  employ  a  nau- 
tical phrase,  that  one  thing  might  not  interfere  with 
another,  and  so  bringing  "forth  his  fruit  in  his  season." 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  329 

While  preaching  in  Albion-street  chapel,  in  one  of 
his  visits  to  York,  he  took  for  his  text,  Ezekiel  iii. 
17 — 19.  Towards  the  close  of  the  sermon,  he  pro- 
posed the  question  with  solemnity  and  deep  feeling, 
— "Why  will  you  die?"  stating,  that  he  would  sit 
down,  and  give  them  time  for  deliberating  upon  an 
answer, — taking  his  seat  at  the  same  time  in  the 
pulpit,  in  the  midst  of  death-like  silence.  The  effect 
would  have  been  ludicrous,  had  the  people  not  been 
awed  into  stillness  and  sober  thought  by  his  previous 
reasonings  and  appeals  to  the  conscience.  After  a 
short  pause,  he  turned  his  scrutinizing  eye  to  one 
side  of  the  gallery,  and  asked, — "  Why  will  you  die  ?  " 
then  to  the  other, — shifting  the  emphasis  on  different 
words, — "Why  will  you  die?"  next  to  the  front, — 
"Why  will  you  die?"  and  lastly  below, — "Why  will 
you  die  ?  "  With  the  sound  of  death  still  vibrating 
on  the  ear,  he  rose,  and  in  a  modulated  tone,  said, 
— "What,  not  an  answer!  not  one  capable  of  assigning 
a  reason  for  his  conduct !  Is  silence  your  only  reply  ? 
Speechless  here,  and  speechless  hereafter!  At  that 
moment — for  it  had  not  occurred  to  him  to  employ 
it  before,  the  fact  of  one  of  the  judges  having  sen- 
tenced a  poor  wretch  to  be  hung  in  the  city  two  days 
before,  flashed  into  his  mind ;  and  with  the  same 
solemn  feeling,  he  imitated  the  judge  while  putting 
on  the  "black  cap," — one  of  his  customary  actions 
coming  to  his  aid  at  the  instant,  of  stroking  down 
his  wig  on  each  side  with  both  hands, — pronouncing 
with  firmness  and  vehemence,  that  part  of  the  text, 
"  Thou  shalt  surely  die."  The  whole  was  easy,  natural, 
and,  contrary  to  what  any  one  can  be  supposed  to  con- 
ceive, except  those  who  witnessed  it, — deeply  impressive. 


330  MEMOIRS    OF 

Though,  his  manner  occasionally  approached  the  con- 
fines of  the  ludicrous,  and  his  expressions  were  some- 
times overstrained,  there  was  so  much  pure  nature 
in  the  one,  and  so  much  meaning  in  the  other,  that 
he  generally  found  an  apologist  at  hand  among  his 
auditors.  When  preaching  on  Daniel  in  the  lions' 
den,  he  drew  largely  on  the  pencillings  of  his  imagina- 
tion, and  after  depicting  the  place  in  all  its  gloom 
and  horror — the  animals  in  all  their  power,  hunger, 
and  ferocity,  he  contrasted  the  whole  with  the  ecstatic 
frame  of  mind  in  which  Daniel  might  be  supposed 
to  have  heen  wrapt  in  the  presence  of  the  "angel" 
of  the  Lord,  while  in  deep  communion  with  heaven, 
— finally,  representing  him  as  bursting  forth  into  song, 
till — tamed  and  charmed  by  his  strains,  the  lions, 
under  a  more  powerful  spell  than  the  harp  of  Orpheus, 
united  in  the  concert,  and  "growled  bass"  to  the 
tenor  of  his  finer  and  more  elevated  Hebrew  warblings, 
which  were  poured  into  the  ear  of  his  angelic  com- 
panion. 

February  29,  1826,  his  friend  John  Richardson  of 
Barwick,  died,  with  whom  he  had  often  taken  "sweet 
counsel."  John  was  a  rare  man,  and  made  a  blessed 
exit.  But  it  could  not  be  said  of  him  as  of  many, 
who  may  say  of  themselves,  in  the  affecting  language 
of  Sir  "Walter  Raleigh,  the  night  before  he  died, — 

"  The  dark  and  silent  grave 
*       •       •       *       • 

Shuts  up  the  story  of  our  days  ; " 

for  Mr.  Dawson  wrote  a  memoir  of  him,  which  was 
published  in  the  Wesleyan  Magazine  for  1827,  p.  721, 
and  which  enables  him  to  speak,  though  dead — a 
sense  in  which  Sir  Walter's  own  "story"  still  lives, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  331 

though  the  "  days  "  of  his  life  have  long  been  num- 
bered, or  "shut  up." 

Biography  had  a  particular  charm  in  it  to  Mr. 
Dawson.  Speaking  of  the  Lives  of  eminent  men,  he 
observed, — "The  Life  of  Mr.  Benson  came  into  my 
hand  about  the  same  time  that  I  received  the  Life 
of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Scott.  With  the  latter,  I  was 
much  pleased.  I  said  to  myself,  'There  is  substance 
here.'  A  man  is  best  seen  in  his  unstudied  letters 
to  his  friends.  Diaries  are  of  little  worth,  except 
for  personal  use  in  private,  and  will  only  admit  of 
brief  extracts  for  publication.  The  sum  of  the  whole 
is," — continued  he  laughingly,  "he  got  up  in  the 
morning — took  his  breakfast — sat  down  to  dinner — 
drank  his  tea — took  his  supper — and  went  to  bed. 
The  next  day  is  a  fac-simile  of  its  predecessor. " 
There  is  much  truth  in  this,  so  far  as  diaries  of 
mere  experience  and  domestic  life  are  concerned ;  and 
it  shews  the  change  that  had  passed  over  him,  in 
reference  to  his  own.  But  the  Lives  of  eminent  men 
were  differently  viewed,  and  that  for  very  substantial 
reasons ;  for  "  Biography,"  as  Burgh  observes,  "  sets 
before  us  the  whole  character  of  a  person,  who  has 
made  himself  eminent  either  by  his  virtues  or  his 
vices — shews  us  how  he  came  at  first  to  take  a  right 
or  a  wrong  turn — the  prospects  which  invited  him  to 
aspire  to  higher  degrees  of  glory,  or  the  delusions 
which  led  him  from  his  virtue  and  his  peace  ;  the 
circumstances  which  raised  him  to  true  greatness,  or 
the  rocks  on  which  he  split,  and  sunk  to  infamy. 
And  how  can  we  more  effectually,  or  in  a  more  enter- 
taining manner,  learn  the  important  lesson,  what  we 
ought  to  pursue,  and  what  to  avoid  ?  " 


332  MEMOIRS    OF 

A  death  with  which  Mr.  Dawson  was  more  sensibly 
touched,  followed  in  the  course  of  the  same  year — 
that  of  the  Rev.  David  Stoner,  who  died  at  Liver- 
pool, after  a  short  illness,  Monday  October  23rd.  The 
mournful  intelligence  was  communicated  to  Mr.  Dawson 
on  the  25th;  and  he  felt  like  a  father.  Mr.  Stoner 
was  born  near  Barwick-in-Elmet,  in  April,  1/94.  His 
parents,  who  were  the  intimate  friends  of  Mr.  Daw- 
son,  taught  him  what  is  the  good  and  the  right  way; 
and  the  Divine  Spirit  seconded  the  prayerful  instruction 
communicated,  with  many  drawings  from  the  Father. 
In  the  spring  of  1806,  much  fatal  sickness,  and 
many  sudden  deaths,  occurred  in  Barwick ;  and,  as 
might  be  supposed,  great  alarm  prevailed.  Among 
others,  who  were  taken  away  upon  this  occasion,  was 
the  father  of  a  large  family,  and  Mr.  Dawson  was 
called  upon  to  improve  the  event  in  a  funeral  sermon. 
His  text  was  Deuteronomy  xxxii.  29, — "  Oh.  that  they 
were  wise,  that  they  understood  this,  that  they  would 
consider  their  latter  end ! "  Young  Stoner  was  present ; 
the  word  entered  his  heart ;  and  he  was  convinced 
of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment :  and  at 
the  prayer-meeting  which  followed  the  sermon,  "he 
offered  up  prayers  and  supplications,  with  strong  crying 
and  tears,  unto  him  that  was  able  to  save  him  from 
death ;  and  was  heard  in  that  he  feared."  It  was  a 
night  much  to  be  remembered  by  him ;  for  he  obtained 
the  blessing  of  conscious  acceptance  with  God.  He 
was  then  only  twelve  years  of  age;  and  yet  he  held 
fast  this  early  beginning  of  his  confidence  steadfast 
unto  the  end  of  his  life.  He  was  received  upon  the 
plan  as  a  Local  Preacher,  when  teacher  in  an  academy 
at  Leeds;  and  during  the  period  of  the  first  plan, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  333 

it  being  necessary  to  call  out  another  preacher  for 
the  regular  duties  of  the  Leeds  circuit,  he — though 
a  native,  and  resident  in  it,  was  fixed  upon  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  He  commenced  the  itinerant  work  in  1814, 
and  thus  finished  in  1826. 

The  eloquence  of  David  Stoner  was,  what  all  true 
eloquence  is  described  to  be — good  sense,  delivered  in 
a  natural  and  unaffected  way,  without  the  artificial 
ornament  of  tropes  and  figures.  Our  common  eloquence, 
is,  with  equal  propriety,  described  by  Baker,  as  usually 
a  cheat  upon  the  understanding, — deceiving  us  with 
appearances,  instead  of  things,  and  making  us  think 
without  reason,  while  it  is  only  tickling  our  sense. 
David  Stoner  was  a  modern  Apollos, — "An  eloquent 
man,  and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures ;  " — overwhelming 
in  the  application  of  divine  truth  to  the  understanding 
and  the  conscience.  A  good  characteristic  memoir  of 
him  was  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Me  Allum — a  man,  who, 
like  David  himself,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  the 
glory  of  his  ministerial  character,  dropped  into  the 
tomb  the  year  following.  This  brief  sketch  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  for  1827, 
p.  289.  A  separate,  and  more  extended  memorial  of 
him  was  published  the  year  subsequent  to  his  death, 
12mo.,  pp.  287,  price  4s.;  combining  with  character, 
"  Copious  Extracts  from  his  Diary  and  Epistolary 
Correspondence."  To  the  preface  are  affixed  the  sig- 
natures of  Mr.  Dawson  and  Mr.  Hannah.  As  a  joint 
production — though  highly  creditable,  it  would  have 
probably  added  to  the  popularity  of  the  work,  if,  to 
Mr.  Hannah's  good  taste,  further  distinct  traces  of 
the  sprightly  and  vigorous  mind  of  Mr.  Dawson  had 
been  perceptible,  to  relieve  the  graver  character  of 


334  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  work.  It  is,  however,  a  volume,  which  young 
preachers  would  do  well  to  peruse,  and  merits,  for  the 
sake  of  its  pulpit  model,  a  more  extensive  circulation. 

Mr.  Dawson,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  friends 
in  several  of  the  circuits  in  which  Mr.  Stoner  had 
travelled,  and  in  places  where  he  was  personally  known, 
preached  funeral  sermons  on  the  occasion  of  his  death  ; 
as  at  Leeds,  Huddersfield,  Bradford,  Birstal,  Tadcaster, 
Barwick,  &c.  At  Bradford,  where  Mr.  Stoner  had 
been  extensively  useful  to  the  church  of  God,  and 
where  he  successfully  battled,  discomfitted,  and  drove 
the  comedians  out  of  the  town,  Mr.  Dawson  was 
unusually  moving.  In  highly  impassioned  mood,  when 
referring  to  the  ministry  of  the  deceased,  he  said, — 

"When  he  blew  the  trumpet  of  war,  hundreds 
rallied  round  the  banner  of  the  cross,  and  were  ready 
for  the  charge  of  the  enemy.  Nor  was  he  less  successful 
when  he  blew  the  trump  of  Jubilee, — hundreds  going 
forth  at  the  sound,  were  crowned  with  joy  and  glad- 
ness! But  look  at  him  now; — look  at  the  coffin  and 
the  corpse  ;  —  look,  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  ! 
There  he  lies.  The  trumpet  has  fallen  from  his  hand. 
Speak  to  him ; — say,  '  Blow — blow — blow  the  trumpet 
in  Zion ; — sound  an  alarm ! '  but  he  heeds  not.  Let 
those  of  us,  then,  who  are  in  the  work,  give  the 
sacred  blast.  No  trumpet  ever  gave  a  more  certain 
sound,  than  did  that  of  the  deceased.  How  many 
will  have  cause  to  bless  the  day  they  ever  heard  the 
joyful  sound  from  his  lips  !  You,  who  were  in  church 
fellowship,  when  he  occupied  this  pulpit,  look  upon 
his  coffin  and  his  corpse !  He  confirmed  your  faith, 
— warned  you  of  danger, — prayed  for  you, — rejoiced 
over  you.  Many  of  you  were  his  joy ; — now  you  are 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  335 

his  crown!  You  were  delighted  when  you  saw  him, 
and  still  more  when  you  heard  him ;  you  went  forth 
at  his  bidding,  with  your  loins  girt,  in  the  gladness 
of  your  hearts.  He  placed  before  you  the  Saviour, 
by  whom  he  himself  was  saved,  and  whose  example 
he  imitated.  And  thou,  poor  backslider, — roused  from 
thy  lethargy  by  his  voice,  but  again  prostrate  in  the 
encounter,  what  shall  I  say  to  thee  ?  I  would  take 
up  his  fallen  trumpet,  and  sound  an  alarm  in  thine 
ear — an  alarm  both  loud  and  long, — What  meanest 
thou,  O  sleeper  ?  Start  at  once  upon  thy  feet ; — 
awake  to  righteousness  and  sin  not ;  otherwise  the 
measure  of  thy  punishment  will  be  great.  What  do 
I  read  in  his  Journal?  'If  ever  a  sigh  is  recorded, 
it  is  when  the  classes  are  deserted ! '  And  why,  I 
ask,  did  you  plant  a  thorn  for  his  pillow,  and  make 
him  sigh  in  secret,  instead  of  sing  a  song  of  praise? 
Oh,  let  his  death  be  your  life  ; — rise — and  return  to 
your  first  love  ; — let  his  happy  spirit  hear  to-night 
in  heaven,  that  the  prodigal,  who  has  left  his  Father's 
house,  is  returning  to  it !  And  you,  O  my  young 
friends,  I  invite  you  also  to  look  at  his  coffin !  Thirty- 
two  years  are  set  upon  the  lid,  twenty  of  which  were 
spent  in  the  service  of  God.  Did  he,  at  the  close 
of  life,  lament  that  he  commenced  his  religious  course 
so  soon  ?  Ah,  no.  His  day  was  short,  but  well  filled 
up.  His  work  is  done.  The  trumpet  has  dropped 
from  his  hand." — Then,  looking  round  upon  the  con- 
gregation,— doubling  at  the  same  time  his  hand,  and 
placing  it  to  his  mouth,  when  he  quoted,  with  a  full 
swell  of  voice,  an  appropriate  passage  of  Scripture, 
embodying  in  it  the  tidings  of  salvation  to  a  lost 
world,  he  seemed  to  place  his  favourite  son  in  the 


336  MEMOIRS    OF 

gospel,  on  the  summit  of  Mount  Zion,  whence  he 
sent  his  voice,  with  the  clang  of  a  trumpet,  across 
the  "holy  city,"  to  rouse  its  slumbering  inhabitants 
from  their  sins ;  asking,  while  the  blast  appeared 
echoing  among  the  "hills  round  about  Jerusalem," 
and  dying  in  the  distance, — "  Is  there  no  young  man 
in  this  congregation,  willing  to  take  up  the  fallen 
trumpet,  and  to  occupy  the  station  of  the  deceased 
in  the  Church  ? "  accompanying  the  question  with 
some  other  pointed  interrogatories  and  remarks, — 
shewing  the  need  of  labourers,  to  supply  the  lack 
of  service  occasioned  by  the  death  of  such  men  as 
Mr.  Stoner. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  divest  the  mind  of  an 
impression  of  the  ludicrous  being  mixed  up  with  the 
solemn  occasion,  when  assuming  the  tone  and  character 
of  a  person  blowing  a  trumpet;  as  in  his  imitation 
of  the  judge  passing  sentence.  Yet  here,  as  there, 
a  sacred  something  was  connected  with  it,  which  re- 
pressed every  light  feeling,  and  which  produced, — 
not  omitting  the  sanctity  and  solemnity  of  the  occasion, 
the  same  effect  noticed  by  Goldsmith,  between  natural 
and  unnatural  speaking,  when  he  observes,  that  "natu- 
ral speaking,  like  sweet  wine,  runs  glibly  over  the 
palate,  and  scarce  leaves  any  taste  behind  it ;  but  being 
high  in  a  part  resembles  vinegar,  which  grates  upon 
the  taste,  and  one  feels  it  while  he  is  drinking."  This 
was  the  critical  moment  with  Mr.  Dawson,  and  between 
these  two  points  he  was  sometimes  placed  in  the  utmost 
peril  of  miscarrying — and  did  actually  occasionally  mis- 
carry in  the  esteem  of  others  than  persons  of  refined 
taste;  but  it  operated  prejudicially  only  on  a  few  minds, 
and  to  these  it  was  onlv  like  a  discordant  tone  in 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  337 

music,  preparatory  to  the  richest  harmony, — a  passing 
cloud,  shading  for  the  moment  the  disk  of  the  sun, 
without  excluding  the  surrounding  day.  Nature,  like 
music,  is  felt  or  known  by  all,  and  works  strangely 
upon  both  mind  and  matter,  raising  joy  or  grief,  plea- 
sure or  pain — giving  motion  to  the  blood  as  well  as 
the  spirits — tranquillizing  the  disturbed  thoughts — and 
even  heightening  the  spirit  of  devotion  itself.  But 
the  query  is,  what  part  of  nature  is  to  be  admitted 
into  the  pulpit,  and  what  part  is  to  be  kept  out ; 
as  well  as  what  particular  parts  harmonize,  most  with 
each  other. 

On  this  occasion,  the  simple  question, — "Is  there 
no  young  man  in  this  congregation  willing  to  take 
up  the  fallen  trumpet?  "  was  like  a  voice  from  heaven, 
entering  the  inmost  soul  of  one  lovely  youth — Samuel 
Entwisle,  who  had  been  impressed  some  time  with  it 
being  his  duty  to  give  himself  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  but  had  resisted  the  call,  till  he  brought 
himself  into  the  deepest  distress  of  mind.  At  that 
moment,  he  resolved  to  yield — took  up  the  trumpet, 
to  pursue  the  metaphor — began  to  preach — entered 
the  itinerant  work — but  soon,  like  David  Stoner,  to 
whom  he  would  have  been  an  admirable  successor, 
sickened, — laid  aside  the  clarion, — and  died  the  death 
of  the  righteous.  He  was  the  son  of  the  late  Rev. 
Joseph  Entwisle,  "the  beloved  disciple"  of  modern 
times. 

Some  of  the  chapels  opened  by  Mr.  Dawson  in  1827, 
were  those  of  Leuthley,  Farsley,  Henley,  Ulleskelf, 
Kirk  Deighton,  West  Auckland,  Farnley,  and  one  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Croft ;  and  among  the  numerous 
places  in  which  he  preached  other  occasional  sermons, 


338  MEMOIRS    OF 

Stockport,  Manchester,  Salford,  Middleton,  Ratcliffe 
Close,  Longholme,  Keighley,  Sheffield,  York,  Bir- 
mingham, Bristol,  Bingley,  Skipton,  Halifax,  Wake- 
field,  Bradford,  Dewsbury,  Pontefract,  Snaith,  Otley, 
Stokesley,  Darlington,  Barnard  Castle,  Newcastle-on- 
Tyne,  Wall's  End,  Thirsk,  Bawtry,  and  Ashton-under- 
Lyne,  may  be  named. 

His  long  tried  and  excellent  friend,  Mr.  Hugh  Gill, 
died  April  27th,  this  year,  aged  74, — forty-eight  years 
of  whose  life  had  been  consecrated  to  the  service  of 
God.  Mr.  Dawson  wrote  a  memoir  of  him,  which 
was  inserted  in  the  Wesleyan  Magazine  for  1828,  p. 
651.  He  was  one  of  those  men,  who  never  forfeited 
the  reputation  of  his  integrity,  and  out  of  whose 
commercial  transactions,  the  Christian  was  constantly 
coming  before  the  eye,  like  stars,  unobtrusively  stealing 
into  sight  as  the  evening  approaches,  and  attracting 
attention,  not  so  much  by  their  sparkling  appearance, 
as  by  their  shining.  Mr.  Dawson  not  only  penned 
a  memoir  of  Mr.  Gill,  but  preached  his  funeral  sermon ; 
as  also  the  funeral  sermons  of  Mrs.  Baggott,  Betty 
Scholes,  and  Dr.  Me  Allum. 

The  last  was  preached  at  York,  July  28 ;  and  Mr. 
Dawson  was  probably  selected,  not  so  much  from  any 
long  established  friendship  between  himself  and  the  Dr., 
as  from  the  intimacy  which  subsisted  between  the  latter 
and  Mr.  Stoner.  The  biographer  knew  the  Doctor  from 
boyhood,  and  was  stationed  with  his  excellent  father 
in  the  Shields  circuit,  in  1807,  when  he  came  from 
Kingswood  School,  on  finishing  his  education  in  that 
seminary.  He  even  then,  manifested  unusual  powers 
of  mind; — quick,  yet  not  volatile, — adventurous,  yet 
possessed  of  sufficient  firmness  to  be  relied  upon  ; 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  339 

and  could  pursue  an  argument  with  care,  acuteness, 
and  foresight,  without — as  is  too  often  the  case  with 
persons  of  more  matured  intellectual  abilities,  suddenly 
striking  off,  like  the  tangent  of  a  circle,  and  incapable 
of  being  brought  back  into  his  orbit  by  attraction  or 
gravity.  He  was  usually  recollected  and  guarded.  The 
same  rare  combination  of  sprightliness  and  solidity 
advanced  with  age;  and  had  his  life  been  prolonged, 
he  would  have  ranked  still  more  eminently  among 
those  men  described  by  Lord  Brougham — whom,  by 
the  way,  he  could  imitate  to  a  nicety  as  a  public 
speaker,  who,  by  diffusing  useful  information,  by  fur- 
thering intellectual  refinement,  and  by  promoting  moral 
improvement,  "  hasten  the  coming  of  that  bright  day, 
when  the  dawn  of  general  knowledge  shah1  chase  away 
the  lazy,  lingering  mists,  even  from  the  base  of  the 
great  social  pyramid ; "  superadded  to  which,  was  the 
Christian,  as  well  as  the  philosopher  and  the  scholar, 
in  which  exalted  character  he  shone  still  more  bril- 
liantly— even  as  one  of  the  "stars"  hi  the  "right 
hand"  of  Jesus  Christ.  His  "Remains,"  preceded 
by  a  Memoir  from  the  classical  pen  of  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Crowther,  deserve  a  wider  circulation  than 
they  appear  to  have  had. 

The  close  of  the  year  was  distinguished  for  great 
excitement  among  the  Wesley ans  in  Leeds.  The  main 
point  of  dispute  was  the  introduction  of  an  organ  into 
Brunswick  chapel ;  a  number  of  pamphlets,  comprising 
—  when  bound  together,  two  thick  octavo  volumes, 
were  published  on  the  occasion.  The  agitated  state 
of  the  Society  had  been  a  source  of  pain  to  Mr.  Daw- 
son  for  several  months;  it  was  brought,  however,  to 
a  crisis,  and  "  A  special  District  Meeting  of  Wesleyau 


340  MEMOIRS    OF 

ministers"  was  "held  at  Leeds"  on  the  case,  "on 
Tuesday,  the  4th  of  December,  1827,  and  continued 
by  successive  adjournments."  Mr.  Dawson,  in  a  memo- 
randum made  by  himself,  notices  that  he  was  present 
at  the  "  meeting "  on  the  4th,  5th,  6th,  and  7th ; 
and  appends  to  the  latter  date,  "  The  case  of  Messrs. 
Sigston  and  Mallinson  examined,  and  both  were  ex- 
pelled." 

Several  of  the  ministers  and  principal  friends  were 
assembled  in  the  house  of  one  of  the  preachers  prior 
to  the  meeting,  when  some  strong  remarks  were  made. 
Mr.  Dawson  observed, — "  Hitherto,  I  have  taken  part 
with  neither  side ;  and  although  I  cannot  justify  the 
dissentients,  yet  there  are  some  palliations  to  be  offered 

on  their  behalf.     I  put  it  to  you,  Mr. ,  and,  in 

so  doing,   I  may  bear  hard  upon  Mr. ,  whether, 

after  the  organ  question  was  put  in  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  and  there  was  an  overwhelming  majority 
against  it,  it  was  judicious — in  such  a  state  of  things, 
to  grant  permission  to  the  trustees  to  put  one  up?" 
To  this,  Mr.  Dawson  remarked  to  the  biographer, — 

"Mr. was  silent."     "And  now,"  continued  Mr. 

D.,  "  I  turn  to  Mr. ,  and  I  may  bear  hard  upon 

him:   but  would  it  not  have  been  better  if  Mr. 

had  avoided  the   suspension  of ?     I  am  aware 

he  acted  on  the  rule  of  1797 ;  but  that  rule  had  been 
slumbering  for  a  period  of  thirty  years  ;  and  that 
being  the  case,  would  it  not,  taken  in  connection  with 
what  preceded,  have  shewn  a  disposition  to  conciliate 
matters?  I  repeat  it,  I  do  not  justify  the  men;  but 
these  circumstances  may  be  stated  as  palliatives  in 
the  present  stage  of  the  business."  Mr.  D.  further 
observed  to  the  writer, — "Not  a  word  was  said  in 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  341 

reply."  After  a  brief  pause,  Mr. said,  "Well, 

but  what  is  to  be  done  ?  The  case  is  before  us,  and 
we  must  deal  with  it."  "Do  with  it,"  returned  Mr. 
Dawson :  "  the  dissentients  have  arrived  at  that  point/ 
that  must  now  compel  you  to  put  them  down:  there 
is  no  peace  to  be  maintained  with  them;  and  strong 
measures  are  necessary  to  preserve  the  healthy  part 
of  Society,  by  separating  it  from  the  infected."  So  far 
he  closed  in  with  ulterior  measures, — not  as  desirable 
in  every  instance,  but  as  necessary. 

During  this  struggle,  Mr.  Baines  of  Leeds,  mani- 
fested anything  but  candour  and  fairness  towards  the 
Wesley  an  Methodists, — throwing  open  the  columns  of 
the  Mercury  to  the  dissentients,  and  narrowing  the 
door,  as  far  as  possible,  as  to  the  admission  of  papers 
in  defence  of  the  opposite  party.  Mr.  Dawson  felt 
this,  not  only  on  the  ground  of  justice,  but  on  the 
score  of  friendship,  Mrs.  Baines — when  Miss  Talbot, 
having  been  a  frequent  visitor  at  Barnbow,  and  Mr. 
Baines  himself  having  received  personal  kindnesses  from 
members  of  the  Methodist  body.  He  addressed,  there- 
fore, a  letter  to  him,  through  the  medium  of  the 
Leeds  Intelligencer,  of  December  18,  1828,  signed  "A 
METHODIST,"  in  which  the  reader  will  find  a  repe- 
tition of  the  comparison  of  a  "  snarling  critic  "  to  a 
gander,  and  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : — 

"SiR. — In  the  last  fifteen  months,  the  disposition 
of  deep-rooted  enmity  which  you  have  evinced  against 
the  Methodist  system,  and  the  Methodist  ministers, 
has  given  me  considerable  pain.  This,  in  my  appre- 
hension, has  been  as  obvious  as  the  light  of  day.  It 
has  always  appeared  to  afford  you  real  pleasure  to 
insert  any  paragraph  sent  from  any  person,  or  collected 


342  MEMOIRS    OF 

from  any  quarter,  which  had  a  tendency  to  lessen 
the  system  of  Methodism  in  the  public  estimation. 
When  the  unhappy  disputes  began  about  the  Brunswick 
chapel  organ,  paragraph  after  .paragraph  appeared  in 
the  most  interesting  column  of  your  paper,  the  direct 
tendency  of  which  was,  to  embitter  and  inflame  the 
spirit  of  your  readers,  and  those  paragraphs  inserted 
'  without  money  and  without  price.' — But,  as  I  have 
been  informed,  when  Mr.  Grindrod  sent  his  commu- 
nication, then  it  must  be  paid  for  as  an  advertisement ! 
And  pray,  Sir,  in  what  particulars  have  the  Methodists 
injured  you  ?  Look  over  the  list  of  the  subscribers 
to  your  paper,  and  will  you  not  find  scores  of  per- 
sons who  honour  that  list  with  their  names,  who  are 
Methodists?  But,  Mr.  B.,  review  the  past; — and 
'look  to  the  rock  from  whence  ye  were  hewn,  and 
the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  ye  were  digged ; '  and  I 
ask,  who  was  the  gentleman  that  lent  you  a  hundred 
pounds,  to  begin  that  business  with,  in  which  you 
have  succeeded  so  well?  Was  he  not  a  Methodist? 
And,  after  all  this,  though  at  times  you  appear  covered 
with  a  cloak  of  candour,  yet,  under  it,  you  hide  a 
dagger,  with  which,  at  every  convenient  opportunity, 
you  aim  a  deadly  blow  under  the  fifth  rib.  Ungenerous 
— ungrateful  man!  Do  the  Methodists  deserve  this 
at  your  hands?  Let  any  man  of  sober  reason  look 
at  your  last  week's  paper,  and  see  the  way  you  have 
treated  the  Rev.  T.  Galland;  and  can  any  one  con- 
clude that  this  is  the  conduct  of  &  friend  ?  Impossible ! 
Whatever  may  be  the  merits  or  demerits  of  his  speech, 
I  shall  not  now  decide.  But  he  spoke  like  an  honest 
man,  faithful  to  his  convictions.  Has  he  been  answered 
like  a  man?  If  his  arguments  are  weak,  they  are 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  343 

the  more  easily  refuted.  If  they  are  strong,  do  you 
suppose  that  low  banter  and  ridicule  will  make  them 
fly  like  chaff  before  the  wind  ?  Pray,  Sir,  what  have 
your  doggerel  rhymes  and  lines  upon  Mr.  G.,  to  do 
with  his  cool  reasonings  upon  the  Catholic  Question? 
Surely,  nothing.  Answer  his  reasonings  like  a  man 
of  reason,  and  not  like  a  goose ;  who,  when  a  gentle- 
man walks  steadily  on,  runs  and  hisses  at  him,  and 
returns  to  her  flock,  and  informs  them  what  a  victory 
she  has  got,  and  flutters  and  cackles  most  triumph- 
antly! I  would  advise  you,  Sir,  not  to  indulge  and 
manifest  such  perverseness  to  the  Methodist  system 
and  the  Methodist  ministers ;  as  I  think  they  do 
not  merit  it  from  you:  and,  therefore,  how  far  it  is 
proper  in  our  friends  to  support  such  a  paper,  I  will 
not  determine.  Indeed,  it  must  be  said,  to  the  praise 
of  every  Methodist  subscriber,  that  he  fulfils  that 
apostolic  injunction, — '  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed 
him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink,  for  in  so  doing, 
thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.' — That 
the  fire  may  melt  every  particle  of  the  dross  of  ma- 
levolence, and  fully  imbue  your  heart  with  Christian 
charity,  is  the  worst  wish  for  you,  in  the  heart  of 

Yours,  &c., — A  METHODIST." 

Some  time  after  this — though  anticipating  the  period 
of  his  personal  history,  Mr.  Dawson  observed  to  the 

biographer, — "You  have  been  suspending  Mr. ,  I 

understand,  for  attending  public  meetings  of  a  political 
character."  "Such,"  it  was  replied,  "has  been  the 
decision  of  the  District  Committee."  Mr.  Dawson 
returned, — "There  is  great  sympathy  excited  for  him 
in  the  country."  "That  may  be,"  it  was  answered; 


314  MEMOIRS    OF 

"in  all  cases  of  suspension,  the  greater  the  offender, 
the  greater  the  sympathy.  Witness  the  still  more 
serious  suspension  of  Fonntleroy!"  "Honest  men," 
he  subjoined,  "are  not  treated  in  that  way."  Then, 
whirling  round  his  finger,  like  a  person  suspended 
from  the  fatal  tree,  he  said, — "It  is  sure  to  affect 

the  crowd.     When  we  suspended  Mr. at  Leeds, 

about  seventy  Local  Preachers  espoused  his  cause, 
and  went  off  with  him.  A  gentleman  came  to  me, 
and  asked, — '  What  is  the  matter  with  you  at  Leeds  ?  ' 
I  replied, — We  have  had  a  riot, — have  laid  hold  of 
the  ringleader — and  suspended  him ;  and  having  ex- 
ercised discipline  upon  him,  there  are  about  seventy 
others  of  the  Local  Brethren,  who  are  determined 
to  hang — or,  if  you  please,  suspend  themselves,  in 
consequence  of  it." 

Subsequent  to  this  again,  he  observed  to  the  writer 
somewhat  playfully,  when  speaking  of  the  Protestant 
Methodists,  as  they  were  denominated, — "Every  man 
has  his  own  interpretation  of  St.  Paul's  thorn  in  the 
flesh.  I  have  mine.  It  appears  to  me,  that  it  was 
some  restless  person  who  wished  to  rule  in  the  Corin- 
thian church  ;  and  who,  by  his  conduct,  pierced  like 
a  thorn — acting,  at  the  same  time,  the  character  of 
a  messenger  of  Satan,  being  sent  with  a  view  to  buffet. 

At  Leeds,  Mr. seems  to  be  Paul's  thorn  in   the 

flesh."  After  a  formal  separation  took  place,  he  rarely 
made  any  enquiry  respecting  the  dissentients,  and  only 
noticed  the  subject  when  casually  drawn  into  it  in  the 
course  of  conversation.  War  was  not  his  element ; 
and  besides  this,  he  possessed  a  portion  of  the  wisdom 
embodied  in  a  sentiment  of  Plutarch,  when  he  observes, 
— "It  is  of  use  to  a  man  to  understand  not  only 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  345 

how  to  overcome,  but  also,  how  to  give  ground  when 
to  conquer  would  rather  turn  to  his  disadvantage  : 
for  there  is  such  a  thing  sometimes  as  a  Cadmean 
victory ;  to  which  the  wise  Euripides  attesteth,  when 
he  saith ; — 

'  Where  two  discourse,  if  the  one's  anger  rise, 
The  man  who  lets  the  contest  fall  is  wise.' " 

He  knew,  too,  in  the  language  of  a  wit,  that — "It 
is  in  disputes,  as  in  armies;  where  the  weaker  side 
sets  up  false  lights,  and  makes  a  great  noise,  to  make 
the  enemy  believe  them  more  numerous  and  strong 
than  they  really  are."  In  all  disputes,  it  would  be  well 
to  observe  the  moderation  recommended  by  Hierocles  ; 
— "When  we  are  in  a  condition  to  overthrow  false- 
hood and  error,  we  ought  not  to  do  it  with  vehemence, 
nor  insultingly  and  with  an  air  of  contempt;  but  to 
lay  open  the  truth,  and  with  answers  full  of  mildness, 
to  refute  the  falsehood."  Still,  as  much  depends  upon 
the  temper  of  the  sword  in  the  scabbard  on  the  one 
side,  as  on  the  other,  whether  the  case  does  not  warrant 
the  exercise  of  the  apostolic  injunction, — "rebuke  them 
sharply." 

The  organ  in  Brunswick  chapel,  respecting  which 
there  had  been  so  much  angry  feeling,  was  opened 
September  12th,  1828;  on  which  occasion,  Mr.  Daw- 
son  was  present.  He  preached  sermons  on  special 
occasions,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  at  Stokesley, 
Manchester,  Salford,  Rothwell,  Burslem,  Knaresbro', 
Bacup,  Derby,  Ashley,  Burton- on-Trent,  Belper,  Shef- 
field, Norton,  Yarm,  Appleton,  Bedale,  Gatonby,  Pick- 
ering, Hull,  Beverley,  Newport,  Briestfield,  Hapton, 
Barnsley,  Skipton,  Pateley-Bridge,  Gloucester,  Bir- 
mingham, Birstal,  Nottingham,  Burrow  Ash,  Macclesfield; 


346  MEMOIRS    OF 

Harrogate,  Pontefract,  Ashbourne,  Masham,  Middle- 
ham,  Bradford,  Great  Horton,  Retford,  Newcastle- 
on-Tyne,  Carville,  Sunderland,  Rochdale,  Longholme, 
York,  Acaster,  Staley  Bridge,  Ashton-under-Lyne,  New- 
castle-under-Lyne,  Bingley,  &c.  To  some  of  these 
places,  as  Manchester  and  Burslem,  his  visits  were 
repeated  in  the  course  of  the  twelve  months.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  extra  toil,  he  assisted  at  the  opening  of 
chapels  at  Wakefield,  High  Town,  Wighill,  Gomersal, 
Stamford  Bridge,  Tadcaster,  Ryther,  Wesley  chapel, 
Leeds,  and  Langton-Street,  Bristol.  The  latter  was 
opened  June  19th  ;  the  Revds.  Richard  Watson  and 
Robert  Wood,  were  also  engaged  on  the  occasion. 
Some  of  these  journies,  when  one  engagement  was  in 
the  train  of  another,  occupied  a  week.  These  taxes 
upon  his  time,  imposed  heavy  agricultural  toil  upon 
him,  when  he  reached  home.  But  still,  he  was  never 
behind  with  his  work ;  taking  care  to  say  to  his  ser- 
vants, "come,"  instead  of  "go;"  —  the  difference 
between  which  two  words,  according  to  a  well-known 
anecdote,  occasioned  the  transfer  of  an  estate  from  a 
master  to  his  steward.  He  not  only  inspected,  but 
put  his  hand  to  the  work.  Sixty  places  may  be 
enumerated,  as  above.  Several  of  the  journies  would 
require  three  or  more  days  to  accomplish  them,  and 
most  of  them  two;  and  if  we  include  his  Sabbaths 
at  home,  we  may  consider  this  excellent  man — with 
no  other  temporal  reward  than  his  travelling  expenses, 
— and  not  always  these, — as  devoting  upwards  of  the 
one-half  of  his  time  to  the  public  service  of  God. 

In  one  of  his  excursions,  a  lady  of  great  gravity 
was  desirous  of  being  introduced  to  his  society.  Supper 
was  on  the  table  ;  and  the  lady  sat  opposite  him, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  347 

conning  him  with  an  apparently  curious  eye,  and  lending 
deep  attention  to  every  remark  he  made.  He  was 
served  with  fowl,  &c.  The  plate  by  some  mishap, 
got  to  the  edge  of  the  table,  and  lost  its  balance, 
when  the  contents  fell  upon  his  drapery.  The  lady 
was  now  doubly  attentive  to  see  how  he  felt  in  this 
predicament ;  and  it  is  with  a  view  to  shew  the  man, 
that  the  somewhat  ludicrous  and  trivial  circumstance 
is  introduced.  The  misfortune  was  not  generally  per- 
ceived; but  a  lady, — a  friend  of  the  biographer,  con- 
cluding from  the  expression  of  two  or  three  fair  faces, 
that  something  had  occurred  to  provoke  a  smile,  and 
not  being  able  to  ascertain  the  occasion  by  the  dim 
candle-light,  glided  from  her  seat,  and  asked  in  an 
under  tone, — "  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  Mr.  Dawsoii 
coolly  replied,  while  scooping  up  the  contents  with 
his  hand,  till  a  towel  was  brought, — "Only  a  small 
mishap."  No  difference  was  perceptible  in  his  spirit 
or  manner,  though  his  clothes  were  spoiled  by  the 
accident ;  and  he  pleasently  remarked  to  the  lady  who 
made  the  enquiry, — "Do  not  look  at  my  clothes  on 
the  platform  to-morrow ;  attend  to  what  is  said,  not 
to  what  is  seen."  But  it  was  too  visible  to  an  eye 
acquainted  with  the  fact,  not  to  be  seen  when  he 
presented  himself  in  front  of  the  platform.  Very 
unlike  the  "bashful  man,"  it  seemed  to  be  no  con- 
cern of  his;  and  the  lady  of  demure  look  was  as 
much  delighted  with  his  philosophy  as  his  Christianity. 
The  tables  were  generally  crowded  at  the  houses  of 
the  friends  where  he  was  entertained, — the  parties 
knowing  the  general  anxiety  which  existed  to  enjoy 
his  society.  Being  seated  at  the  corner  of  a  well- 
crowded  table  one  day,  he  pleasantly  observed, — "  I 


348  MEMOIRS    OF 

love  the  corner;  for  here  I  have  elbow-room."  And 
this  position  he  generally  had  hy  common  consent ;  so 
that  the  honour  conferred  upon  him,  by  being  placed  on 
the  right  or  the  left  of  the  heads  of  the  house,  came 
to  the  relief  of  his  more  masculine  form,  which  would 
otherwise  often  have  been  inconveniently  crowded. 

One  of  the  speakers,  when  out  on  a  Missionary 
occasion,  appearing  on  the  platform  with  a  bundle 
of  papers  hi  his  hand,  Mr.  Dawson,  suspicious  of  an 
attempt  to  inflict  punishment  on  the  patience  of  the 
people,  enquired — "What  are  you  going  to  do  with 
all  them  papers?"  "To  read  them,  to  be  sure," 
was  the  reply.  "  What,  the  whole  of  them  ?  "  he 
repeated.  "  Yes,"  returned  the  intended  reader ;  sub- 
joining, "such  documents  constitute  the  life-blood  of 
a  speech."  "Let  me  tell  you,  then,"  said  Mr. 
Dawson,  who  looked  upon  reading  on  a  platform  as 
producing  the  same  effect  upon  a  congregation,  that 
the  damper  produces  when  put  into  the  oven  ;  and 
who  knew  well  the  difference  between  the  exercise 
of  the  intellect  upon  written  documents,  and  matter 
bubbling  up  from  the  heart,  — "  Let  me  tell  you, 
that  your  speech  will  die  of  apoplexy,  for  the  blood 
has  all  gone  up  to  the  head." 

His  aversion  to  everything  that  tended  to  produce 
weariness  in  a  congregation,  rendered  him  solicitous 
to  keep  the  affections  on  the  move  with  the  mind. 
Though  strictly  a  revivalist,  he  employed  great  dis- 
cretion in  timing  the  meetings ;  watched  with  narrow- 
ness the  influence  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  mind,  and 
rejoiced  over  the  smallest  indications  of  good.  In  a 
prayer-meeting,  in  Oldham-Street,  Manchester,  after 
a  very  impressive  sermon,  a  person  came  up  to  him, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  349 

while  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Crowther  was  standing  by 
his  side.  Turning  to  Mr.  Crowther  "  This  is  Moses," 
said  Mr.  Dawson.  Mr.  Crowther  not  having  either 
seen  or  heard  of  the  person  before,  was  rather  amused 
with  his  introduction  to  him  under  the  simple  name 
of  the  Jewish  Lawgiver.  Mr.  Dawson  added, — "He 
met  in  my  class,  but  fell  away :  "  then,  suddenly 
wheeling  round  to  the  man,  he  said, — "  Moses,  pray 
— and  begin  afresh."  The  man,  as  quickly  dropped 
upon  his  knees.  Impressed  with  the  loss  he  had 
sustained  in  his  spirit,  while  early  days  rushed  upon 
his  mind  with  all  their  hallowed  associations,  he 
seemed  to  pray  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  "Aye,"  said 
Mr.  Dawson, — "hear  him;  he  knows  the  way;  he 
has  not  forgotten  it."  After  a  brief  space,  while  he 
was  yet  on  his  knees,  Mr.  Dawson  again,  at  inter- 
vals, continued  to  encourage  his  wrestlings,  with — 
"There,  Moses,  pray  on; — bless  the  Lord! — Hear 
him,  O  God."  Poor  Moses  at  length  rose  from  his 
knees,  professing  to  have  found  peace. 

The  morning  following  one  of  .those  meetings,  a 
young  person  came  to  him,  and  stated  with  great 
simplicity,  the  good  feeling  that  continued  in  the 
prayer-meeting,  after  he,  (Mr.  D.),  had  retired.  "There 
was  one  man,"  said  the  informant,  naming  him,  "who 
was  under  a  concern  for  his  soul  the  night  before. 
But  he  did  not  obtain  the  blessing ;  and  I  was  cer- 
tain he  would  never  obtain  it,  till  he  acted  differently." 
Mr.  Dawson  enquired,  "  How  so  ?  "  "  Why,"  it  was 
replied  with  great  artlessness,  but  with  a  good  know- 
ledge of  outward  signs,  "he  was  down  only  o'  ya 
knee.  But  last  night,"  it  was  continued,  "he  was 
down  o'  both  knees ;  and  then,  I  said  to  mysen, 


350  MEMOIRS   OF 

when  I  saw  this,  he  will  get  the  blessing.  Yes, 
and  he  did  get  it  tu  !  "  This  was  appended  in  a  tone 
of  triumph.  Mr.  Dawson  sometimes  employed  this 
little  circumstance  with  good  effect,  when  shewing, 
that  prostration  of  person  generally  accompanies  pros- 
tration of  spirit.  The  best  of  men  know,  that  they 
are  but  recipients,  and  that  to  be  indebted  to  another, 
and  yet  to  be  too  high  to  show  it,  by  a  becoming 
carriage  to  the  donor,  "is  but  the  old  solecism  of 
pride  and  beggary,  which,  though  they  often  meet, 
yet  ever  make  but  an  absurd  society. " 

Being  at  Brunswick  chapel,  Leeds,  two  or  three 
friends  followed  him  into  the  small  vestry,  where  he 
stood  by  the  fire  a  few  seconds,  while  others  were 
carrying  on  a  prayer-meeting  in  another  part,  after 
public  service.  Looking  at  the  Rev.  R.  A.,  he  plea- 
santly, yet  significantly  remarked,  while  pulling  down 
his  wig  on  either  side, — under  a  deep  sense  of  the 
Divine  presence, — "  I  may  as  well  go  home ;  there 
is  nothing  for  me  to  do  here,  or  indeed,  for  any  of 
us ;  God  seems  to  have  taken  the  whole  into  his 
own  hand."  And  yet,  on  other  occasions,  under  a 
similar  overpowering  influence  of  God  upon  the  mind, 
he  both  spoke  and  acted  in  a  reverse  way.  Preaching 
at  Ancoats,  Manchester,  on  Judges  viii.  4, — "Faint, 
yet  pursuing,"  every  eye  seemed  at  one  time  suffused 
with  tears ;  and  when  people  and  preacher  were  craned 
up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  feeling,  a  momentary  pause 
ensued,  during  which  the  clock  struck  twelve,  and 
broke  the  stillness  that  reigned,  like  the  hammer  on 
the  bell  at  a  watch-night,  on  the  departure  of  the 
old  year.  In  an  instant,  he  darted  his  eye  to  the 
front  of  the  gallery,  and  personifying  the  time-piece, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  351 

said, — "You  may  speak — clock,  but  I  am  not  done 
yet."  Though  no  apparent  expectation  existed  on  the 
part  of  the  auditory,  that  he  would  close  his  dis- 
course with  the  hour,  yet  it  had  all  the  effect  of 
reviving  disappointed  hope,  and  threw  a  gleam  of 
sunshine  into  every  countenance. 

When  preaching  in  Irwell-Street  chapel,  Salford,  he 
adverted  to  the  subject  of  restitution  in  his  sermon, 
and  drew  the  harrow  across  the  consciences  of  some 
of  his  hearers.  Such  were  his  appeals,  that  a  per- 
son sent  him  a  letter  after  the  service,  enclosing  a  sum 
of  money ;  stating,  that  he  had  been  abroad, — that 
with  others,  he  had  committed  a  theft,  —  that  the 
persons,  if  not  dead,  were  out  of  reach,  to  whom  res- 
titution should  be  made, — and  that  as  he  had  no 
likely  way  of  ever  restoring  to  them  the  value  of 
the  plunder,  he  enclosed  the  amount,  requesting  him  to 
dispose  of  it,  as  he  might  judge  proper  for  the  further- 
ance of  the  cause  of  God.  It  was  not  only  Christian, 
to  permit  conscience  to  speak  out,  but  highly  honour- 
able; much  more  so  than  those  who  retain  the  property 
of  others  till  the  near  approach  of  death,  when  they 
secretly  endeavour — after  a1!  the  advantage  derived 
from  its  use,  and  all  tho  injury  sustained  by  its  rightful 
owner,  in  consequence  of  being  deprived  of  it,  to  make 
amends  by  their  will,  subsequent  to  their  decease. 
But  such  persons,  in  the  esteem  of  a  popular  Essayist, 
"had  as  well  do  nothing,  as  delude  themselves  both 
in  taking  so  much  time  in  so  pressing  an  affair, 
and  also  in  going  about  to  repair  an  injury  with  so 
little  demonstration  of  resentment  and  concern.  They 
owe  over  and  above  something  of  their  own,  and  by 
how  much  their  payment  is  more  strict  and  incom- 


352  MEMOIRS    OF 

modious  to  themselves,  by  so  much  is  their  restitution 
more  perfect,  just,  and  meritorious ;  for  penitency  re- 
quires penance." 

It  may  be  readily  supposed,  that  Mr.  Dawson  ex- 
perienced great  variety  in  his  travels,  as  to  accommoda- 
tion, both  in  the  way  of  lodging  and  conveyance. 
He  was  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  in  a  part  of  his 
own  county,  where  he  was  put  into  a  bed  which  was 
the  worse  for  wear,  and  which  was  used  occasionally 
by  a  gentleman  of  more  slender  make  than  himself. 
On  lying  down,  away  went  the  sacking,  when  he  was 
immediately  placed  heels  up.  His  invention  was  never 
at  fault;  and  turning  the  pillows  to  the  foot  of  the 
bed,  he  lay,  as  on  an  inclined  sofa,  till  morning.  Even 
this,  amusing  as  it  may  seem,  shews  the  character  of 
the  man.  Some  persons  would  not  only  have  been 
disturbed  themselves,  but  would,  perhaps,  have  dis- 
turbed the  family,  already  retired  to  rest ;  and  would 
have  either  hazarded  an  exchange  of  beds  to  the  in- 
convenience of  some  of  the  members  of  the  family, 
or  rendered  them  uncomfortable  by  a  knowledge  of 
the  peculiar  situation  of  their  guests.  There  is  a 
moral  here.  The  fountain  of  content  springs  up  in 
the  mind ;  and  the  trouble  it  would  have  given  to 
the  family,  would  have  disturbed  Mr.  Dawson' s  repose 
much  more  than  any  inconvenience  experienced  by 
himself. 

Glancing  over  his  outgoings  for  1829,  he  appears 
to  have  lent  himself  out  as  freely,  and  to  have  gone 
as  far  from  home,  as  in  the  year  preceding.  He  opened 
new  chapels  at  Farnsfield  and  Batch  worth.  As  many  of 
his  engagements  were  on  the  week-day,  it  must  still  be 
borne  in  remembrance,  that  he  regularly  fulfilled  his 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  353 

Sabbath  appointments,  according  to  the  plan,  when  at 
home. 

His  time  was  trenched  upon  also,  in  various  valua- 
tions, and  in  having  to  attend  to  the  executorship 
of  the  wills  of  some  of  his  friends.  Aware  of  his 
influence  with  the  people,  he  had  often  to  engage 
too  in  the  "drudgery  of  begging;"  into  the  work 
of  which  he  was  drawn  by  others.  His  friend,  Mr. 
Sumner  of  Cowick,  having  been  deputed  to  solicit 
subscriptions  for  a  chapel  at  Goole,  concluded  if  he 
could  obtain  the  aid  of  Mr.  Dawson,  he  would  be 
able  to  assist  his  object  in  the  town  of  Leeds.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  set  off  for  Barnbow,  where  he  found 
Mr.  Dawson  ready  for_  every  "  good  work ;  "  and,  in 
company  with  him,  proceeded  the  next  day  to  Leeds, 
in  the  cold  month  of  February,  at  the  expense  of 
several  other  engagements  demanding  his  attention. 
Mr.  Dawson  was  generally  the  spokesman ;  and  ac- 
costing the  first  friend  they  visited,  he  jocosely  observed, 
—  "I  have  often  appeared  before  you  in  my  own 
person,  in  the  character  of  a  beggar ;  but  to-day, 
I  am  begging  for  a  beggar :  "  next  stating  the  case. 
In  the  space  of  about  two  hours,  he  obtained  the 
sum  of  2620  for  his  friend.  There  was  a  cheer- 
fulness in  his  manner,  which  would  have  disarmed 
the  churl ;  a  cheerfulness,  however,  which  bore  no 
affinity  to  mirth ;  —  the  latter,  to  a  prudent  man, 
being  merely  accidental,  and  never — to  be  effective, 
premeditated.  Cheerfulness  with  him,  was  in  the 
temper  of  the  mind;  and  it  is  a  fact,  that  "The 
most  manifest  sign  of  wisdom  is  continued  cheer- 
fulness :  her  estate  is  like  that  of  things  in  the  regions 
above  the  moon,  always  clear  and  serene."  Besides 


354  MEMOIRS    OF 

its  being  natural,  it  was  improved  by  grace;  and, 
with  a  heart  brimmed  with  love,  he  was  the  better 
equipped  for  errands  of  charity.  Importunity,  in  his 
case,  was  unnecessary.  His  own  warm  sun  thawed 
the  ice  wherever  it  was  found.  There  was  no  occa- 
sion for  a  man  to  purchase  his  own  quiet,  and  so  to 
relieve  himself,  by  getting  rid  of  rude,  eager  impor- 
tunity and  vexatious  noise ;  the  subject  of  these  pages 
had  too  much  delicacy  to  push  any  case  beyond  a 
certain  point,  and  was  too  much  beloved,  not  to 
excite  a  readiness  and  pleasure  in  the  donor,  to 
impart  of  his  abundance. 

A  painful  occurrence  took  place  in  one  of  his  "beg- 
ging excursions."  He  was  invited  to  preach  occasional 
sermons,  and  make  collections  at  Heckmondwike,  Sun- 
day, April  12.  Some  person,  during  the  service,  either 
inadvertently  rested  upon  a  stove-pipe,  which  did  not 
fit  exactly,  or  was  pressed  against  it  in  consequence 
of  the  crowded  state  of  the  place,  when  it  suddenly 
gave  way,  and  raised  an  alarm.  Persons  who  were 
not  aware  of  the  cause,  rushed  to  the  door,  under 
the  impression  that  some  part  of  the  chapel  was 
giving  way.  The  shrieks  and  tumult  cannot  be  de- 
scribed ;  and  the  effects  were  fatal.  In  a  memorandum, 
left  by  Mr.  Dawson,  he  has  penned,  within  a  broad 
black  border,  somewhat  in  the  shape  of  a  coffin, — 
"  Heckmondwike  :  a  panic  in  the  chapel ;  five  persons 
killed ;  one  died  next  day. "  Besides  these,  many 
were  seriously  hurt.  It  left  such  a  painful  impression 
on  Mr.  Dawson' s  mind,  that,  though  much  importuned, 
he  could  not  be  induced  to  revisit  the  place  till  Oct. 
3rd,  1837. 

In  the   course   of  the   spring,   he   met  with   Mr. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  355 

Gideon  Ousely,  and  heard  him  preach.  He  was  much 
pleased  with  the  old  veteran,  who,  as  a  protestant, 
had  been  so  often  in  the  field  against  popery  in  Ire- 
land. Gideon  was  not  one  of  those  "theological  knight- 
errants  "  who  converted  controversy  into  a  species  of 
quixotism ;  nor  was  he  one  of  those  testy  and  quarrel- 
some persons,  who  have  been  contemplated  in  the  light 
of  a  loaded  gun,  which  may  by  accident  go  off  and 
kill  the  by-stander.  He  seemed  to  have  looked  upon 
the  ignorance  and  superstition  of  the  people,  and  the 
"illiterate  presumption"  of  the  priests,  like  Milton  in 
another  case,  as  the  disease  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
peasantry, — a  disease  that  had  entered  into  the  very 
constitution,  and  proved  "  the  hectic  evil "  of  Ireland. 
He  was,  in  general,  of  the  opinion  of  Sir  W.  Temple, 
that  it  "  is  best  to  take  words  as  they  are  most  com- 
monly spoken  and  meant,  like  coin,  as  it  most  cur- 
rently passes,  without  raising  scruples  upon  the  weight 
of  the  alloy:"  but  then,  he  took  the  advantage  of 
Sir  William's  exception,  which  renders  it  more  than 
admissible  in  a  man, — even  praiseworthy,  to  test  the 
metal,  when  the  "cheat  or  defect  is  gross  and  evident." 
The  conflict  between  Popery  and  Protestantism,  is  a 
conflict  between  darkness  and  light,  truth  and  error, 
gold  and  dross.  Gideon,  though  far  from  elegant, 
was  generally  convincing.  He  tested  every  doctrine 
by  the  word  of  God,  and  every  absurdity  in  argu- 
ment by  the  light  of  reason.  Not  so  the  papists. 
With  them,  remarks  Addison,  "  The  most  notable  way 
of  managing  a  controversy,  is  that  which  we  may  call 
arguing  by  torture.  These  disputants  convince  their 
adversaries  with  a  sorites,  commonly  called  a  pile  of 
faggots.  The  rack  is  also  a  kind  of  syllogism  which 


356  MEMOIRS    OF 

has  been  used  with  good  effect,  and  has  made  mul- 
titudes of  converts.  Men  were  formerly  disputed  out 
of  their  doubts,  reconciled  to  truth  by  force  of  reason, 
and  won  over  to  opinions  by  the  candour,  sense,  and 
ingenuity  of  those  who  had  the  right  on  their  side ; 
but  this  method  of  conviction  operated  too  slowly. 
Pain  was  found  to  be  much  more  enlightening  than 
reason.  Every  scruple  was  looked  upon  as  obstinacy, 
and  not  to  be  removed  but  by  several  engines  invented 
for  that  purpose.  In  a  word,  the  application  of  whips, 
racks,  gibbets,  gallies,  dungeons,  fire  and  faggot,  in  a 
dispute,  may  be  looked  upon  as  popish  refinements 
upon  the  old  heathen  logic."  This  is  a  fine  piece 
of  irony,  and  not  out  of  place,  it  is  hoped,  in  the 
present  connection.  Mr.  Dawson  was  not  more  de- 
lighted with  Mr.  Ousely,  than  Mr.  Ousely  was  delighted 
with  the  flashes  of  Mr.  Dawson' s  genius,  elicited  by  the 
introduction  of  the  corruptions  of  the  Romish  Church. 
Towards  the  close  of  July,  Mr.  Dawson  had  an 
attack  of  rheumatism,  which  prevented  him  from  ful- 
filling an  engagement  at  Otley.  Though  sharp,  it 
was  short  in  its  stay,  and  he  was  soon  in  the  work 
again.  In  September,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Martha  Tarboton  of  Thorner, 
the  wife  of  a  nephew  of  the  venerable  John  Pawson, 
and  sent  an  account  of  her  to  the  Editor  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  which  was  published 
in  the  obituary  of  1829,  p.  568.  But  another  case, 
touched  him  still  more  tenderly.  Samuel  Hick,  "The 
Village  Blacksmith, "  was  in  his  last  sickness  ;  and 
in  the  month  of  November,  Mr.  Dawson  visited  him, 
settled  his  temporal  concerns,  and  attended  his  remains 
to  the  grave.  He  preached  two  funeral  sermons  on 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  357 

the  occasion,  one  at  Aberford,  in  the  open  air,  with 
snow  on  the  ground,  and  another  at  Rothwell.  *  A 
Memoir  of  Samuel  appeared  from  Mr.  Dawson's  pen 
in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  for  1831,  p. 
217,  which  he  wrote  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Dawson's  farm  was  at  this  time  a  losing  con- 
cern. He  lost,  also,  through  distemper,  three  horses 
at  once,  and  found  it  difficult  to  replace  them.  His 
friend,  Mr.  Reay,  of  Carville,  who  had  bought  a  farm 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Newcastle,  knowing  his  cir- 
cumstances, offered  it  to  him, — generously  proposing 
to  take  any  rent  Mr.  Dawson  might  judge  proper  to 
give.  But  there  was  equal  nobility  on  the  side  of 
Mr.  Dawson,  not  to  take  advantage  of  the  kindness 
of  a  friend,  while  there  remained  the  slightest  hope 
of  improvement;  and  besides,  he  knew  not  how  far 
he  might  be  in  the  way  of  providence,  in  removing 
from  the  neighbourhood  in  which  he  had  so  long 
resided. 

Having  been  at  Stokesly,  he  crossed  the  country 
in  the  gig  of  a  friend,  and  proceeded  within  a  few 

*  There  are  rare  things  respecting  honest  Samuel  yet  untold.  Calling  upon 
his  sister  one  day,  at  Tadcaster,  he  said,  "  Thou  hast  a  poor  fire.''  She  re- 
turned,— "  We  are  not  so  near  the  pit  as  you."  He  made  no  reply, — went 
borne, — rose  early  next  morning, — proceeded  to  the  pit, — loaded  his  cart, — and, 
before  eight  o'clock,  poured  the  coals  down  before  her  door, — and  returned 
home  without  looking  into  the  house, — being  a  distance  of  about  20  miles  there 
and  back.  The  neighbours,  as  the  coals  lay  undisturbed,  said  to  her,— "Why 
do  you  not  get  the  coals  in  ?  "  She  looked  surprised,  and  could  not  be  per- 
suaded that  she  had  any  claim  to  them,  till  she  was  informed  her  brother  had 
placed  them  there. 

A  grave  man  on  a  Missionary  platform,  knowing  that  Samuel  had  to  speak, 
whispered  to  him,—"  Let  us  have  no  levity  to-day,  Sammy."  When  he  arose, 
he  observed, — "Mr.  I.,  sitting  there," — pointing  to  him,  "says,  'let  us  have 
no  levity  to-day.'  Why,  bit- ss  him,  as  to  himself,  he  can  nother  mak  folk  laugh 
nor  cry."  To  another  gentleman,  who  said, — "Be  short,  Sammy,"  as  he 
ascended  the  platform  steps,  be  smartly  returned, — "  Stop  a  bit,  I  have  not 
begun  yet  " 


358  MEMOIRS    OF 

miles  of  Stockton,  where  he  had  to  wait  an  hour  at 
the  station,  to  catch  the  train  for  Darlington.  The 
good  woman  belonging  to  the  station,  had  to  go  to 
Stockton,  for  which  purpose  she  borrowed  the  gig, 
hoping  to  arrive  at  her  own  residence  before  the  train 
arrived.  She  left  Mr.  Dawson  in  charge  of  the  house, 
and  gave  directions  as  to  matters  of  business.  During 
her  absence,  he  felt  the  smell  of  something  burning 
in  the  oven ;  but  as  he  had  received  no  commands 
respecting  the  cooking  department,  —  the  oven  not 
being  specified  among  the  items  to  which  he  had  to 
attend,  he  left  it,  together  with  its  contents,  to  itself. 
On  her  return,  she  found  a  spice-cake  reduced  to  a 
cinder ;  leaving,  however,  her  guest  much  more  inno- 
cent than  Alfred,  who  permitted  the  peasant's  cakes 
to  burn  while  stringing  his  bow, — a  subject  admirably 
portrayed  by  Sir  David  Wilkie.  Had  his  curiosity 
been  strong,  he  might  have  saved  the  cake;  but  he 
acted  in  the  absence  of  persons,  as  in  their  presence, 
— erring  on  the  side  of  too  little,  rather  than  too 
great  a  curiosity ;  with  a  conviction,  in  all  probability, 
of  the  general  truth  of  the  remark,  that  the  "person 
who  is  too  nice  an  observer  of  the  business  of  others, 
like  one  who  is  too  curious  in  observing  the  labour 
of  the  bees,  will  often  be  stung  for  his  curiosity." 

The  year  1830  brought  much  more  foreign  labour 
than  the  year  preceding.  In  addition  to  the  opening 
of  Cawood,  Summerseat,  Budsworth,  and  Bradmore 
chapels,  he  visited,  on  special  occasions,  Barton,  Hut- 
ton  Rudby,  Stokesley,  Malton,  Marston,  Sheffield, 
Belper,  "Wirksworth,  Wensley,  Salford,  Selby,  Bolton, 
Market  "Weighton,  Beverley,  York,  Sowerby  Bridge, 
Ripponden,  Tadcaster,  Rochdale,  Littleborough,  Halifax, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  359 

Wakefield,  Otley,  Derby,  Elland,  Bradford,  Chesterfield, 
Wimeswould,  Loughborough,  Leicester,  Darlington, 
Barnard  Castle,  Bishop  Auckland,  Howden,  Stillington, 
Helmsley  Black  Moor,  Doncaster,  Lincoln,  Sleaford, 
Billingbro',  Grantham,  Brierley,  Wragley,  Yarm,  Danby 
Dale,  Seamour,  Harrogate,  Birstal,  Longholme,  Stock- 
port,  Bullock  Smithy,  Manchester,  Osset,  High  Town, 
Great  Horton,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  Wall's  End,  Shi- 
ney  Row,  Monkwearmouth,  Snaith,  Tockwith,  Rothwell, 
Nottingham,  Barrowford,  Colne,  Steeton,  Bradford. 
Some  of  these  places  having  been  visited  twice  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  his  journies  out  of  his  own  cir- 
cuit could  be  little  short  of  a  hundred. 

A  short  account  of  Alice  Manchester  of  Thorner, 
proceeded  from  his  pen,  and  was  published  in  the 
Wesley  an  Methodist  Magazine  for  the  year,  p.  716. 
These  Memoirs  are  noticed  the  more  readily  in  their 
succession,  to  shew  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held, 
as  proofs  of  his  industry,  and  because  of  the  vein  of 
piety  which  runs  through  them, — all  shewing  the  high 
value  he  set  upon  the  "excellent  of  the  earth,"  and 
his  readiness  to  perpetuate  the  remembrance  of  them 
in  the  Christian  church. 


360  MEMOIRS    OF 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Christian  friendship.— Rev.  J.  Starry.— Martha  Hick.— Excessive 
labour. — Sensibility. — Extempore  speaking. — Common  sense. — 
Young' s  Night  Thoughts. — Mercy. — Critics. — Living  Epistlet. 
— Shadow  of  death. — Attitudes.  —  Conversation. — Backslider 
restored. — A  School  Address. — Hymns. — The  wig. — The"  Fac- 
tory Question. " — Affability. — Visits. — London. — Collections. — 
Hard  toil— Titles  of  Public  Addresses.— The  Reform  Bill.— 
War. — Tfte  cholera. — The  tax-cart. — Invitations. — Travelling 
conducive  to  health. — Dr.  Clarke  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Watson. 
— Successful  begging. — Manner. — Stripes  of  Transgressors. — 
Power  over  an  auditory. — Providence. — Mr.  Reinhardt. — Mrs. 
Turton. —  Willingness  to  labour. —  The  Auctioneer's  stand. — 
Piety  maintained. — Rev.  Robert  Aitkin. —  Sociability. — Good 
done  at  Barwick. — A  travelling  fete.  — Contentment. — The  north. 
— The  Theological  Institution. — Additional  labour. 

IT  is  disputed  by  some  writers,  whether  a  vigorous 
friendship  can  strike  root  in  a  bosom  chilled  by  years. 
Though  this  sentiment  comprehends  a  general  truth, 
and  the  most  lasting  friendships  are  usually  the  pro- 
duce of  early  life,  when  persons  are  susceptible  of 
warm  and  affectionate  impressions,  there  are  exceptions, 
— and  Mr.  Dawson  was  one.  The  fire  of  nature  never 
ceased  to  burn ; — he  had  a  deep  and  ready  insight 
into  real  worth,  and  never  failed  to  affix  his  own 
approving  stamp  upon  what  he  valued.  There  is  a 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  361 

great  deal  of  difference  too,  in  the  character  of  real 
friendship,  when  Divine  grace  enters  into  companion- 
ship with  the  finer  feelings  of  the  heart.  Friendship 
is  not  a  thing  that  a  person  can  "regularly  undertake 
to  cultivate,"  hut  seems  to  be  born  with  some  persons, 
as  they  may  be  born  poets.  Two  men  may  meet, 
as  Goldsmith  observes,  and  may  imperceptibly  find 
their  hearts  filled  with  good  nature  for  each  other, 
when  they  were  at  first  only  in  pursuit  of  pleasure 
or  relaxation:  then  the  current  of  tendemess  widens 
as  it  proceeds.  Mere  speculators  in  friendship  expect 
too  much ;  and  by  drawing  the  bands  too  closely, 
they  at  length  break  them,  and  so  dissolve  the  con- 
nection. Catharine  Phillips  seems  to  have  had  a  just, 
and  therefore,  an  exalted  notion  of  friendship.  It  is — 
to  reduce  her  verse  into  prose,  an  abstract  of  the  truly 
noble  flame  of  love — love,  purified  from  all  its  dross 
— love  refined — next  to  angelic  for  its  strength, — that 
which  antedates  the  joys  of  eternity — and  is  an  epitome 
of  heaven :  or,  to  return  to  her  poetry ; — 

"  Thick  waters  shew  no  images  of  things ; 

Friends  are  each  other's  mirrors,  and  should  be 
Clearer  than  crystal,  or  the  mountain  springs, 
And  free  from  cloud,  design,  or  flattery.1' 

Such  was  Mr.  Dawson,  as  a  friend ;  and  such  was 
the  friendship  he  enjoyed  with  the  Rev.  John  Storry 
while  he  travelled  in  the  Leeds  circuit,  and  to  which 
friendship  he  refers  in  a  note,  dated  1831 — the  year 
before  the  demise  of  that  excellent  man,  and  useful 
minister  of  God.  Wesleyan  ministers  did  not  occupy 
an  ordinary  place  in  his  esteem ;  and  it  was  his  delight 
when  he  could  avail  himself  of  an  opportunity,  on 
visiting  Leeds,  of  returning  into  the  country  with  them, 
Q 


362  MEMOIRS    OF 

when  their  labour  lay  at  Barwick,  or  the  neighbour- 
hood for  the  evening:  nor  was  it  less  an  enjoyment 
on  their  part  to  be  in  his  society.  He  refers  to 
the  Rev.  R.  Treffry,  sen.,  and  others,  in  this  way. 

In  the  month  of  February,  of  this  year, — 1831,  Mr. 
Uawson  paid  a  visit  to  the  widow  of  Samuel  Hick, 
and  presented  her  with  a  copy  of  the  Memoir  of  her 
husband.  Though  like  her  careful  namesake — Martha, 
her  true  nobility  of  soul  never  forsook  her.  On  Mr. 
Dawson  presenting  her  with  the  first-fruits  of  the 
profits  of  the  first  edition,  she  observed, — "I  cannot 

think  of  taking  anything,  till  I  know  that  Mr. 

shall  suffer  no  loss  by  it ; "  and  it  was  not  till  she 
was  satisfied  on  this  point,  that  she  could  be  induced 
to  accept  the  offering.  With  all  the  prudence  and 
care  which  characterized  her  proceedings,  proper  occa- 
sions were  all  that  was  necessary  to  draw  out  the 
fine  independant  spirit  which  she  possessed,  and  of 
the  credit  of  which  she  had — though  not  intentionally, 
been  partly  deprived  from  the  heedless  exuberance  of 
her  husband's  givings.  Her  faculties  were  now  some- 
Avhat  impaired ;  and  the  year  following,  she  left  the 
world,  if  not  with  Samuel's  triumph,  in  Christian  peace. 

Though  this  year,  like  its  predecessors,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  little  short  of  a  hundred  journies,  exclu- 
sive of  his  regular  work,  and  some  of  them  long,  there 
were  two  or  three  months  in  the  spring  which  exceeded 
anything  he  had  before  accomplished  in  travelling,  and 
which  could  only  have  been  performed  by  another 
minister  besides  himself  in  the  Wesleyan  Connexion 
— the  Rev.  Robert  Newton,  whose  Herculean  minis- 
terial labours  are  unequalled,  perhaps,  in  ancient  or 
modern  history.  In  the  months  of  April  and  May, 


WILLIAM    DAWSOK.  363 

including  a  few  days  in-  June,  he  either  occupied  the  pul- 
pits, or  was  on  the  platforms,  engaged  often  in  double,  and 
sometimes  treble  services,  of  Tadcaster,  Huddersfield, 
Old  Chapel — Leeds,  Liverpool,  Chester,  Micklefield, 
Aberford,  Armley,  Weeton,  Barnsley,  Doncaster,  Ep- 
worth,  Leicester,  Long  Eaton,  Nottingham,  Alfreton, 
Mansfield,  Brunswick — Leeds,  Pudsey,  Farnley,  York, 
Newark,  Boston,  Sibsy,  Wainfleet,  Spilsby,  Raithby, 
Horncastle,  Lincoln,  Seacroft,  Chapel  Town,  Barwick, 
Albion-Street — Leeds,  Stamford  Bridge,  Dewsbury,  Dar- 
lington, Wakefield,  Barnard  Castle,  Bramham,  Burnley, 
Todmordon,  Sowerby,  London,  &c.  And  yet,  mixed 
up  with  these,  as  heretofore,  we  find  during  the  inter- 
vals, when  at  home  a  day,  or  a  few  hours,  the  following 
items  in  his  memorandum  book, — "  Oat-stack  got  in." 
— "Finished  sowing  at  Ashole." — "Sowed  barley  on 
the  Car."— "Sowed  Well  Close."— "Finished  a  survey." 
— "Winnowed  oats  in  top  granary.'' — "Settled  accounts 
in  different  places." — "At  Barwick  Court." — "Made 
a  duck-pond." — "At  Leeds  market."— "At  Collieries." 
— "Measuring  malt." — "Cutting  potatoes  to  set." — 
"Thatched  the  holm."  — "Set  potatoes."— "  Sowing 
Sweed  turnip  seed  in  Quarry  Close." — "Clipping  sheep, 
&c." — "Winnowing  wheat,"  &c.  These  things  were  not 
barely  superintended  by  him,  but,  as  has  been  intimated 
elsewhere,  it  was  work  in  which  he  often  took  a  share. 
Idleness  would  have  been  a  heavy  affliction  to  him, 
as  it  must  be  to  all  who  are  subject  to  it ;  for  man 
must  be  always  either  doing  or  suffering.  Well  he  knew, 
with  Franklin,  that  "Sloth  makes  all  things  difficult,  but 
industry  all  easy ;  and  he  that  rises  late  must  trot  all 
day,  and  shall  scarce  overtake  his  business  at  night; 
while  laziness  travels  so  slow,  that  poverty  soon  over- 


364  MEMOIRS    OF 

takes  him."  He  was  a  living  comment  on  that  text, 
as  his  biography  hitherto  attests, — "Not  slothful  in 
business;  fervent  in  spirit;  serving  the  Lord." 

The  chapels  opened  or  re-opened  by  him  in  the 
course  of  the  year,  were  those  of  Long  Eaton,  Hensal, 
Colton,  Gateshead  Fell,  Oakham,  and  the  Park  — 
Sheffield.  He  observed  to  the  biographer,  in  reference 
to  the  Oakham  chapel,  that  he  was  obliged  to  take 
the  mail  coach,  in  consequence  of  the  line  of  road 
he  had  to  travel,  and  to  engage  a  seat  in  the  inside, 
because  of  the  night  and  the  state  of  the  weather, 
and  that  when  his  expenses  were  deducted  from  the 
collections,  he  felt  exquisite  pain.  In  this  way,  it 
may  be  remarked,  he  was  often  rewarded  by  his  sen- 
sibilities for  the  toil,  risk,  inconvenience,  wear  and 
tear  of  travelling — in  the  midst  of  dust  and  mud, 
the  heats  of  summer  and  the  colds  of  winter,  storms 
and  calms,  sunshine  and  rain.  "While  he  was  honest 
to  a  fraction  to  others,  he  exacted  with  severity  upon 
himself. 

In  the  midst  of  his  exertions,  he  rarely  ever  lost  his 
elasticity  of  mind ;  and  when  even  slightly  chafed, 
he  had  the  good  sense  to  conceal  it,  and  not  disturb 
the  minds  of  others  with  it.  Follow  him  whither- 
soever we  might,  there  was  always  something  inter- 
esting connected  with  his  society.  Speaking  of  a 
clergyman  in  his  own  neighbourhood,  who  read  a 
sermon  in  the  forenoon,  and  attempted  extempore 
preaching  in  the  afternoon,  but  who  found  less  freedom 
in  the  latter  case  than  is  witnessed  among  some  other 
Christian  communities,  it  was  remarked  by  a  person 
in  the  company, — "He  should  have  commenced  his 
work  bv  meeting;  in  class.  That  is  the  foundation 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  365 

of  extempore  speaking  among  the  Wesleyans.  People 
give  expression  to  two  or  three  sentiments, — these 
accumulate, — they  grow  up  to  exhorters, — and  then 
into  preachers."  With  this  Mr.  Dawson  coincided, 
as  the  secret  of  successful  extempore  preaching,  in 
connection  with  the  love  of  God  in  the  heart,  and 
then  gave  his  own  enlightened  views  of  the  subject. 

A  person  being  named,  one  day,  possessed  of  learning 
and  sense,  but  who  was  often  blundering  in  practical 
matters,  and  therefore  without  the  art  of  using  the 
knowledge  he  had  acquired,  Mr.  Dawson  observed, — 
"  Common  sense  is  a  very  good  thing  when  it  is  used ; 
but  it  is  like  a  five-hundred  pound  bill, — it  is  good  for 
nothing  till  it  is  cashed."  This  remark  will  pair 
admirably  with  a  couplet  of  Young, — 

"  Of  plain  sound  sense  life's  current  coin  is  made ; 
With  that  we  drive  the  most  substantial  trade. » 

Conversation  turning  upon  criticism, — "A  critic,"  said 
he,  "sitting  in  judgment  on  a  sermon,  is  like  a  fly, 
which  selects  the  sore  part  of  a  horse's  back  to  revel 
on,  to  the  neglect  of  the  sound,  unbroken  flesh. " 
Adverting  to  a  passage  in  Young's  Night  Thoughts, 
where  the  poet  exclaims, — "Bound  every  heart,  and 
every  bosom  burn,"  and  where  he  represents  Mercy, 
or  Love's  "  lowest  round,  high  planted  in  the  skies," 
he  said,  "I  beg  leave  to  differ  from  the  poet.  If 
its  '  lowest  round '  were  in  heaven,  we  should  be  unable 
to  reach  it.  Thank  God !  its  '  lowest  round '  is  on 
earth,  and  encircles  the  globe." — Passing  from  the  sub- 
ject of  criticism  to  the  Christian,  and  seizing  on  the 
expression  of  the  apostle, — "epistles  seen  and  read 
all  men,"  he  observed, — "  Some  EPISTLES  are  neither 
fit  to  be  seen  nor  read ;  they  are  blotted  and  blurred 


366  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  sin;  the  sight  is  grievous.  But  the  finger  of 
God  has  written  the  Epistles  which  are  created  anew 
in  Christ  Jesus ;  they  are  seen  and  read  of  all  men, 
— worthy  of  being  posted  at  the  corner  of  every  street, 
—  may  he  read  in  time,  and  to  all  eternity!"  — 
"Shadow  of  death!"  he  exclaimed  on  another  occa- 
sion, when  encouraging  the  timid  at  the  approach 
of  death, — "what  Christian's  bones  didst  thou  ever 
break  ?  A  shadow  cannot  break  bones  !  " 

When  in  conversation,  he  sometimes  rolled  his  body 
in  a  kind  of  circle — next  inclining  it  forward — and 
then,  in  that  position,  would  turn  up  his  face  and 
his  eye,  sidelingly,  to  see  the  effect  of  an  anecdote 
upon  the  person  he  was  immediately  addressing, — 
and  when  wishful  to  impress  the  mind  with  it, — would 
again  raise  his  person,  twitch  up  his  nose,  and  rub  his 
face  with  both  hands,  unable  to  restrain  the  motion  of 
the  more  risible  faculties,  particularly  when  the  subject 
closed  with  anything  of  a  stirring  character,  a  keen  stroke 
of  wit,  or  a  little  humour.  He  was  sometimes  play- 
ful, but  never  imbecile ;  and  therefore,  an  exception 
to  the  reflection  couched  in  a  remark  of  Addison, 
when  he  affirms,  that  "in  private  conversation  between 
intimate  friends,  the  wisest  men  very  often  talk  like 
the  weakest ;  for  the  talking  with  a  friend  is  nothing 
else  but  thinking  aloud."  It  is  by  no  means  inti- 
mated, that  he  was  either  a  sage,  or  that  he  delivered 
oracles :  no  more  is  intended  by  it,  than  that  his 
good  sense  never  forsook  him.  Some  of  his  loud 
thinkings,  however,  even  when  softened  with  a  little 
playfulness,  told  with  unusual  power.  A  person  of 
penurious  habits,  possessed  of  property,  but  of  whom 
he  stood  in  doubt,  said  to  him  one  day, — either  from 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  367 

an  aversion  to  be  examined  too  closely,  or  a  wish  to 
leave  an  impression  on  the  mind  that  he  was  one 
of  those  persons  who  prevented  the  right  hand  from 
knowing  what  the  left  did. — "What  I  gives  is  nought 
to  ony  body. "  Mr.  Dawson  quickly  and  pointedly 
returned,  —  though  not  the  version  wished  by  the 
speaker, — "You  are  right  there,  friend,  for  I  believe 
you  give  nothing  to  any  body." 

As  he  never  lost  the  spirit  of  his  work,  God  never 
ceased  to  use  him  in  the  conversion  of  sinners.  A 
person  writing  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Isaac,  requesting 
him  to  use  his  influence  with  Mr.  Dawson  to  induce 
him  to  pay  a  visit  to  Malton,  observed  in  a  letter, 
— "He  (Mr.  Dawson),  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
a  very  respectable  man  here,  when  he  comes,  who 
was — till  he  heard  him  when  last  at  this  place,  a 
poor  degraded,  drunken  backslider,  and  had  been  for 
years.  He  confesses  that  Mr.  Dawson  was  the  instru- 
ment in  the  Lord's  hand  of  his  conversion. "  This 
was  by  no  means  a  solitary  case.  He  combined,  in 
his  addresses  to  backsliders,  the  tender  and  the  severe, 
and  was  more  than  ordinarily  successful  in  his  appeals 
to  their  consciences. 

He  was  at  a  public  breakfast,  and  attended  a  public 
meeting  of  "The  Teachers  and  Friends  of  Sunday- 
Schools,  assembled  in  the  Music-Hail,  Leeds,  to  celebrate 
the  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  JUBILEE,  and  to  commemorate 
the  CORONATION  of  His  Majesty  King  WILLIAM  IV., 
September  8th."  A  speech  which  he  delivered  on  the 
occasion,  was  "Published  by  request,"  and  had  an 
extensive  circulation  in  Leeds  and  its  vicinity.  The 
day  following,  he  attended  the  funeral  of  an  old  friend, 
Mr.  Thomas  Pawson  of  Farnley,  and  afterwards  preached 


368  MEMOIRS    OF 

his  funeral  sermon.  There  is  a  Memoir  of  this  Chris- 
tian man,  (whose  son  is  now,  1842,  mayor  of  Leeds), 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Scarth,  published  in  the  Wesley  an 
Methodist  Magazine,  1834,  p.  489. 

Some  notice  has  heen  taken  of  the  use  Mr.  Daw- 
son  made  of  the  hymns,  when  giving  them  out  during 
divine  sendee ;  and  he  was  equally  striking  when  he 
referred  to  them,  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  in 
the  course  of  his  sermons.  Adverting  to  the  4th 
verse  of  Hymn  599,  p.  553  of  the  "Supplement,"  he 
observed,  that  a  boy,  weak  in  mind,  was  asked,  while 
rubbing  a  brass  plate  on  a  door,  what  he  was  doing  ? 
when  he  replied,  "I  am  rubbing  out  the  name." 
"Little,"  said  Mr.  Dawson,  "was  the  poor  boy  aware, 
that  the  more  he  rubbed  the  brighter  it  shone.  So 
it  is  with  Satan,  who  wishes  to  obliterate  the  word 
of  God  from  the  memory,  as  well  as  every  impression 
of  its  internal  evidence  from  the  understanding  and 
from  the  heart.  But," — continued  he,  in  holy  triumph, — 

"  '  Engraved  as  in  eternal  brass, 

The  mighty  promise  shines; 
Nor  can  the  powers  of  darkness  rase 
Those  everlasting  lines: '" 

then  shouting  amain,  as  if  the  chief  fiend  of  hell  were 
as  idiotish  as  the  poor  boy,  and  engaged  in  the  same 
useful  employment, — "Rub,  devil  —  rub!  but  all  is 
vain ;  the  evidence  only  brightens  by  the  attempt ; 
for  the  Lord, — yes,  of  the  Lord  it  may  be  said, — 

'  His  hand  hatli  writ  the  sacred  word 
With  an  immortal  pen. '" 

Citing  another  verse,  on  another  occasion,  which  had 
the  Bible  for  its  theme,  he  took  the  sacred  volume 
in  his  hand,  and  held  it  up  to  the  congregation, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  369 

turning  to  the  right  and  the  left,  above  and  below, 
as  if  exhibiting  an  article  which  he  could  safely  re- 
commend for  sale  ;  closing  the  exhibition  with  some 
striking  sentiments  on  the  value  of  the  sacred  writings, 
and  the  deep  interest  man  has  in  acquiring  a  know- 
ledge of  their  contents.  At  one  place,  the  gravity  of 
the  people,  as  well  as  his  own,  was  in  danger  of 
being  disturbed,  while  announcing, — 

"  Oh  that  it  now  from  heaven  might  fall.'" 

some  plaster  falling  from  the  ceiling  at  the  moment. 
The  singularity  of  the  coincidence  was  felt  the  more, 
as  no  harm  ensued  to  soften  the  lighter  feelings.  But 
the  solemn  subject  'invoked,  soon  returned  upon  the 
soul  with  all  its  impressive  weight. 

Some  of  his  actions  and  attitudes,  however,  placed 
certain  parts  of  his  adornments  in  jeopardy.  His  head 
was  singularly  formed,  being  rather  long  from  back 
to  front, — the  forehead  high, — abrupt, — and  almost 
inclined  to  jut.  This  rendered  it  as  difficult  to  fit 
him  with  a  head-dress,  as  it  was  impossible  to  keep 
it  always  properly  adjusted,  when  highly  impassioned. 
Being  on  the  platform  at  Scarbro'  once, — and  for- 
tunately it  was  the  platform  instead  of  the  pulpit,  he 
slipped  his  hands,  in  the  height  of  his  zeal,  beneath 
his  wig,  and  unintentionally  placed  the  sides  where 
the  back  and  front  should  have  been.  Though  not 
particularly  unseemly,  from  the  peculiarity  of  its  con- 
struction, it  occasioned  a  momentary  smile,  till  it  was 
adjusted,  which  was  instantly  done.  A  friend  or  two 
in  Manchester,  confounding  the  peculiarity  of  its  form 
with  what  they  deemed  a  state  of  decay,  sent  a  new 
wig  for  him  to  the  biographer  in  the  month  of  January, 


3/0  MEMOIRS    OP 

1832,  with  a  respectful  message,  that  it  should  be 
delivered  to  him,  as  from  those  who  valued  him  as 
a  man  and  a  Christian  minister.  Mr.  Dawson,  aware 
of  the  trouble  he  had  experienced  in  such  matters 
before,  enquired,  when  it  was  presented  to  him, — 
"Who  has  taken  the  measure?  For  a  wig,  without 
first  gauging  the  head  for  it,  is  one  of  the  worst 
things  in  the  world  to  guess  at ;  and  my  head,  among 
all  heads,  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  hit,  and 
therefore  to  please.  There  are  heads  of  all  sizes  and 
shapes;  and  mine,"  proceeded  he,  smiling,  "which 
belongs  to  the  second  class,  is  the  largest  that  is 
made  of  the  kind  :  " — thus  humorously  giving  the 
notion  of  a  number  of  human  heads  turned  off  by 
some  mechanical  process,  and  fitted  on  the  trunk  by 
the  artist. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  the  staunch  friend  of  the  poor ; 
and  the  "  FACTORY  QUESTION,  "  so  called,  being 
agitated  at  this  time, — a  question  which  had  for  its 
object,  the  "  shortening  of  the  hours  of  labour  in 
factories,"  he  addressed  a  letter  to  his  friend  M.  T. 
Sadler,  Esq.,  M.P.,  who,  with  himself,  felt  deeply 
interested  on  the  subject;  stating  his  readiness  "to 
throw  into  the  scale  the  weight  of  his  humble  influ- 
ence, to  cast  the  beam  on  the  side  of  justice  and 
mercy."  The  letter  was  dated  from  "Barnbow,  Jan. 
27,  1832,"  and  was  published,  not  only  in  the  Leeds 
and  other  papers,  but  in  a  separate  form.  He  was 
invited  by  the  Secretary  of  the  operatives  to  attend 
a  public  meeting,  and  being  prevented  from  acceding 
to  the  request,  in  consequence  of  public  engagements 
in  another  part  of  the  county,  he  addressed  a  letter 
also  "To  the  Chairman  of  the  Meeting  assembled  at 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  371 

Halifax,  to  petition  Parliament  for  restricting  the  hours 
of  labour  in  various  Factories  through  the  United 
Kingdom,  appointed  to  be  held  March  6,  1832,"  in 
which  he  apologized  for  his  unavoidable  absence,  ex- 
pressed how  cordially  he  sympathized  with  the  chair- 
man and  others  in  the  object  proposed ;  and  laid 
before  them  more  fully  his  general  views  of  the  subject. 
Messrs.  Wood  and  Walker  of  Bradford,  Mr.  G.  B. 
Chappell  of  Manchester,  and  other  gentlemen  belonging 
to  the  manufacturing  interests,  have  felt  deeply  on 
this  subject,  and  laboured  hard  in  what  may  be  de- 
nominated the  cause  of  humanity.  The  Athenians, 
who  were  the  politest  and  best  natured  people  of  their 
day,  were  the  kindest  to  their  slaves.  What  would 
be  their  opinion  of  the  hearts  of  some  of  the  "Millo- 
crats"  of  the  present  day?  The  "long  hour"  system 
is  admirably  adapted  to  a  race  of  beings  without 
souls, — children  who  have  no  mind  to  cultivate, — 
families  regardless  of  domestic  comfort.  No  wonder 
it  should  rouse  the  indignation  of  Mr.  Dawson — not 
a  man,  be  it  observed,  who  ever  either  sympathized 
with  idleness  in  others,  or  shrank  from  labour  him- 
self, but  a  man  who  had  a  head  and  a  heart,  and 
permitted  reason,  justice,  humanity,  and  religion,  to 
speak  for  the  servant  as  well  as  the  master. 

Between  the  first  arid  second  of  these  letters,  he 
had  a  correspondence  with  some  persons  in  Canada, 
which  was  resumed  in  June,  highly  honourable  to  him- 
self, but  respecting  the  complimentary  part  of  which 
his  modesty  maintained  a  general  reserve.  Amidst 
all  his  popularity,  such  was  his  approachableness, 
and  such  his  fine  temper  of  mind,  that  those  who 
knew  him,  felt  they  could  make  free  with  him  without 


3/2  MEMOIRS    OF 

giving  offence.  "We  have  been  looking  for  a  preacher," 
said  a  friend  at  Holbeck  to  him,  "  to  preach  our  charity 
sermons;  but  we  have  met  with  so  many  disappoint- 
ments, that  I  believe  we  shall  be  driven  to  come  to 
you  at  last."  "We  want  not,"  observed  another,  in 
a  letter  to  him,  "  men  of  the  first  order  for  our 
sermons ;  we  shall  be  quite  content  with  the  Dawson's 
of  the  day."  They  knew  well,  that  they  could  not 
only  secure  larger  congregations,  but  larger  collections 
through  him,  than  almost  any  other  man. 

His  friend,  E.  Brookes,  Esq.,  paid  him  a  visit  in 
the  month  of  March,  and  they  both  proceeded  to 
York  and  Malton,  where  they  engaged  in  different 
religious  services,  to  the  edification  of  the  people. 
In  addition  to  his  regular  appointments,  parish  meet- 
ings, and  the  cares  of  the  society  and  chapel  at  Bar- 
wick,  such  as  attending  to  the  seat-rents,  &c.,  he  had  an 
unusual  press  of  business  this  year  connected  with  his 
colliery  agency,  both  at  home  and  abroad  :  and  yet  he 
contrived  to  open,  and  re-open  chapels  at  Hoby,  Head- 
ingley,  Garforth,  Beeston  in  Bedfordshire,  and  Bedford, 
and  to  take  scores  of  other  separate  journies,  east, 
west,  north,  and  south,  for  the  purpose  of  attending 
Missionary  meetings  and  preaching  occasional  ser- 
mons. 

He  was  twice  in  London  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
once  in  April,  and  another  time  in  December.  During 
his  first  visit,  he  examined,  in  connection  with  other 
places  of  public  interest,  the  West  India  Docks.  He 
preached  in  the  Wesleyan  chapels  at  Kensington,  Lam- 
beth, Walworth,  and  South wark.  The  morning  sermon, 
founded  on  Mark  v.  36,  "  Be  not  afraid,  only  believe," 
was  taken  down  by  a  short-hand  writer,  and  published 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  3/3 

in  "The  Wesleyan  Preacher,"  Vol.  II.,  part  3,  p. 
52.  The  object  of  his  services  at  Lambeth,  was  to 
make  a  collection  towards  the  reduction  of  a  debt 
incurred  by  exertions  to  maintain  and  spread  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  in  various  villages  and  ham- 
lets of  that  populous  district.  The  monies  collected 
on  the  occasion  amounted  to  £140.  The  object  of 
his  second  visit, — to  connect  them  by  way  of  dismissing 
the  subject,  was  to  diminish  the  debt  of  the  circuit 
belonging  to  Queen-Street,  hi  which  chapel  and  on 
which  occasion,  the  collections  amounted  to  ^690.  Here, 
for  the  first  time,  he  was  apprehensive  of  diabetes, 
and  had  symptoms  of  it  till  the  March  following. 
The  Rev.  George  Marsden,  adverting  to  his  extra 
work,  enquired  of  him,  by  what  name  he  was  to  be 
designated,  when  he  replied,  in  Hibernian  mood, — 
"  A  TRAVELLING  local  Preacher.  "  And  certainly, 
some  of  his  fetes,  were  rarely  equalled,  previously  to 
the  introduction  of  rail-roads.  During  six  days  in 
the  course  of  summer,  aided  only  by  the  regular 
heavy  coaches,  it  appears  from  a  note  in  his  own 
hand-writing,  that  "  from  the  27th  of  June,  till  the 
3rd  of  July,"  he  "travelled  340  miles — preached  10 
sermons, — was  only  three  nights  in  bed, — and  during 
the  whole  of  those  three  nights,  the  time  allowed  for  re- 
pose, occupied  only  a  space  of  1 0  hours, — not  averaging 
quite  three  hours  and  a  half. 

Some  of  his  popular  speeches  at  this  time,  on  the 
Missionary  platform,  were  denominated  by  his  hearers, 
owing  to  the  parallelisms,  metaphors,  and  allegories 
employed,— " The  Telescope,"— "The  Rail-Road,"— 
"The  Musical  Clock,  "—"The  Enclosure  Act,"  — 
"The  Reform  Bill,"— "The  Transportation  of  Reli- 


374  MEMOIRS    OF 

gion,"— "The  Silent  Man,"— "The  British  Lion,"— 
"The  Slave  Speech."— " The  Openings  of  Providence." 
— "The  Cause  of  Christ  our  own." — "Arguments  in 
favour  of  Christian  Missions. "  &c. 

He  attended  a  Missionary  meeting  at  Bristol  during 
the  interregnum  of  Earl  Grey's  ministry,  when  the 
nation  was  anxious  for  reform,  and  popular  feeling  ran 
strong  against  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  It  was  a 
time  of  peril.  James  Montgomery,  Esq.,  the  bard 
of  Christianity,  was  in  the  chair ;  who,  adverting  to 
the  spirit  that  was  abroad,  observed  to  the  biographer, 
when  giving  an  account  of  the  meeting,  that,  in  poli- 
tics, the  nation  seemed  to  be  placed  as  on  a  mine- 
ready  to  spring  at  any  moment ;  and  that,  at  such 
a  time, — in  such  a  city, — a  city  that  had  witnessed 
its  populace  in  a  state  of  riot,  and  its  buildings  in 
flames,  it  was  hazardous  to  introduce  the  subject  of 
politics  in  any  shape.  He  called  one  speaker  to  order, 
in  the  morning,  and  cautioned  others  against  even 
political  allusions.  Mr.  Dawson  had  to  come  on  at 
night,  and  Mr.  Montgomery,  who  well  knew  the  daring 
character  of  his  genius,  was  afraid  lest  anything  should 
escape  from  his  lips,  capable  of  a  political  construc- 
tion. What  should  his  speech  be,  but  the  "REFORM 
BILL,"  that  had  just  been  thrown  out! — the  Bill, — 
the  whole  Bill,— and  nothing  but  the  Bill !  Well, 
observed  Mr.  Montgomery, — "I  concluded  to  say  no- 
thing, but  let  him — as  he  appeared  to  have  come 
primed  and  loaded,  have  his  full  sweep.  It  was  a 
piece  with  twelve  barrels,  and  every  barrel  had  its 
contents."  The  bard's  continued  description  of  the 
speaker,  and  of  the  speech,  was  truly  characteristic. 
He  represented  him  as  proceeding  to  the  front  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  375 

the  platform — bowing  with  respect  to  himself  and  the 
audience, — and  then  placing  his  broad  shoulders  before 
the  chair,  after  which  he  was  never  once  able  to 
see  even  the  tip  of  his  nose,  as  if  half  afraid  of  meeting 
a  rebuking  eye,  because  of  the  line  of  remark  adopted. 
He  run  a  parallel  in  the  allegorical  way  for  which 
he  was  so  remarkable,  and  went,  according  to  Mr. 
Montgomery's  account,  over  the  whole  Bill — taking 
up  clause  after  clause, — frequently  running  as  along 
the  verge  of  a  precipice,  yet  never — though  often  in 
danger  of  it,  falling  over — nicely  cautious — often  wild 
but  with  a  great  deal  of  that  which  was  excellent, 
and  of  which  he  was  never  any  length  of  time  without 
exemplifying.  The  whole  was  so  dexterously  managed, 
that  the  auditory  would  have  found  it  difficult  to 
determine  at  the  close,  whether,  in  politics,  the  speaker 
was  Whig  or  Tory. 

August  24,  the  cholera  first  made  its  appearance 
at  Barwick,  and  a  person  of  the  name  of  Eliza  Bean 
died  of  it  in  the  evening.  For  several  successive  days, 
its  victims  were  carried  to  the  tomb,  and  the  class 
was  removed  from  a  private  dwelling  to  the  chapel 
in  consequence.  Mr.  Dawson  preached  a  sermon  on 
Wednesday  the  29th,  to  improve  the  awful  visitation, 
taking  for  his  text,  Ecclesiastes  vii.  2.  In  addition 
to  this,  the  weather  was  such,  as  to  lead  him  to 
exclaim, — "  A  dark  appearance  for  harvest !  "  Yet, 
in  the  midst  of  all  exposures,  he  acted  the  part  of 
a  guardian  angel  to  those  who  escaped  the  contagion, 
as  well  as  an  angel  of  mercy  to  the  poor  families 
that  suffered,  by  collecting  money  for  their  relief.  At 
the  commencement,  there  were  seven  deaths  out  of 
nine  cases,  and  afterwards,  fifteen  out  of  twenty. 


376  MEMOIRS    OF 

War  with  Holland  being  the  subject  of  conversa- 
tion, towards  the  close  of  autumn,  a  person  in  a 
half  jocose  and  half  serious  mood,  observed, — "  It  is 
now  seventeen  years  since  we  had  a  war ;  many  of 
the  sons  of  the  nobility  who  were  then  young,  have 
grown  up  to  manhood  in  the  interim, — these  are  in 
want  of  employment ;  there  are  others  among  the 
poor,  who  are  lazy  and  profligate ;  in  both  cases, 
they  constitute  the  surplus  stock  of  society,  and  are 
often  taken  off  by  war."  Another  gentleman  remarked, 
that  Lord  Hill  had  a  great  number  on  his  list,  soli- 
citing commissions,  some  of  whom  had  waited  for 
years,  and  were  in  want  of  that  kind  of  employ- 
ment. Mr.  Dawson,  without  entering  into  the  subject, 
observed,  when  connecting  with  it  the  wickedness  of 
man  and  the  providence  of  God, — "It  is  an  awful 
way  of  skimming  the  pot."  So  thought  an  old  author, 
when  he  said, — "For  a  king  to  engage  his  people  in 
war,  to  carry  off  every  little  humour  of  state,  is  like 
a  physician's  ordering  his  patient  a  flux  for  every 
pimple. "  Equally  correct  was  another  writer  about 
the  same  period,  when  he  remarked,  that  in  all  cases 
of  war,  "Very  much  of  the  man  must  be  put  off, 
that  there  may  be  enough  of  the  beast." 

When  in  some  of  the  southern  counties,  in  the 
months  of  October  and  November,  he  rode  in  com- 
pany with  two  friends  in  a  gig,  on  one  of  the  cross- 
roads which  was  not  quite  in  Macadamised  order. 
A  good  man  and  his  wife  passed  them  on  the  road, 
in  a  tax-cart,  drawn  by  an  active  pony,  the  shaking, 
setting,  and  jolting  of  which,  made  them  forget  their 
own  tossings,  and  excited  the  smile.  Their  gig,  how- 
ever, was  soon  disabled  by  an  accident,  and  Mr. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  377 

Dawson  was  obliged  to  leave  his  more  respectable 
conveyance  for  the  tax-cart,  which  was  so  well  packed, 
that  the  owner,  who  acted  as  charioteer,  was  obliged 
to  stand.  He  took  his  position  in  the  front,  which 
not  only  shaded  the  view  from  the  company,  but  the 
jolting  of  the  vehicle  threw  him  occasionally  against 
them,  giving  an  extra  double  to  the  hat  and  the 
bonnet.  Mr.  Dawson,  for  the  two-fold  purpose  of 
relieving  both  the  driver  and  his  companions,  got 
the  latter  to  compress  themselves  into  as  small  a 
space  as  possible,  requesting  the  good  man  at  the 
same  time  to  sit  down  on  the  part  they  contrived 
to  make  vacant  for  him.  He,  on  the  other  hand, 
disposed  to  be  polite,  and  to  give  the  party  the 
full  benefit  of  the  seats,  told  Mr.  Dawson  to  be  per- 
fectly at  rest  in  his  mind,  repeating, — "Don't  mind 
me,  don't  mind  me ;  "  appending  to  it,  for  further 
satisfaction,  and  by  way  of  at  once  settling  the  business, 
— "this  is  the  way,  I  always  stands  when  I  drives 
calves."  Such  a  remark  was  too  much  for  Mr.  Daw- 
son's  gravity;  but  the  worthy  man,  unconscious  at 
the  moment  of  the  bearing  of  it  upon  the  stock  he 
was  driving,  again  touched  the  flank  of  the  pony, 
and  stood  to  his  work  to  the  end  of  his  journey. 
Time  being  short,  expedition  was  required.  Against 
this,  however,  the  rough  road  was  in  constant  opera- 
tion; and  when  Mr.  Dawson  narrated  the  journey  to 
the  writer,  combining  with  it  the  action  of  the  driver, 
— the  crack  of  the  whip, — the  laugh  of  the  persons 
they  passed  on  the  road, — now  rolling  from  side  to 
side,  occasioned  by  the  cart  roots, — then  bouncing 
from  their  seats  in  consequence  of  the  loose  stones, 
it  was  as  much  for  the  writer  to  sustain  with  any- 


3/8  MEMOIRS    OF 

thing  like  sober  feeling,  as  was  the  driver's  reply 
respecting  the  calves  to  Mr.  Dawson. 

Till  Mr.  Dawson  was  forty  years  of  age,  he  had 
never,  except  when  he  went  to  Hull,  been  forty  miles 
from  home.  It  was  well  for  the  Christian  church, 
that  travelling  was  conducive  to  health.  He  observed 
to  the  writer,  that  he  was  of  opinion,  if  he  were 
to  retire,  and  indulge  in  a  sedentary  life,  he  would 
soon  die.  Numerous,  however,  as  the  invitations  were 
to  which  he  acceded,  he  could  by  no  means  meet 
the  one-third  of  the  demands  made  upon  him.  This 
year  he  had  one  for  nearly  every  day  included  in 
it — no  less  than  three  hundred  and  ten  for  occasional 
sermons  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

The  calls  of  the  year  1833,  were  no  less  numerous 
than  those  of  the  year  preceding,  embracing — exclu- 
sive of  his  own  county,  and  without  enumerating  the 
distinct  places,  journies  into  the  counties  of  Northum- 
berland, Durham,  Cheshire,  Lancashire,  Derbyshire, 
Staffordshire,  Leicestershire,  Nottinghamshire,  Lincoln- 
shire, Warwickshire,  Cambridgeshire,  Gloucestershire, 
Bedfordshire,  Northamptonshire,  Norfolk,  &c.  He 
visited  Sheffield  twice  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
Nottingham  twice,  and  Manchester  four  times;  and 
in  the  course  of  some  of  his  journies  opened  new  chapels 
at  Howden,  Bishop thorpe,  Peterborough,  and  Bristol. 

Mr.  Dawson,  who  venerated  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  and 
sincerely  lamented  his  death  the  year  preceding,  had 
now  to  sympathize  with  the  friends  of  Christian 
Missions  and  of  humanity,  in  the  demise  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Watson  ;  both  great  men,  but  differing  from 
each  other,  as  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in 
glory.  "  The  worth  of  some  men,"  it  has  been  stated, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  379 

"  lies  in  their  mighty  names  ;  upon  a  closer  inspection, 
what  we  took  for  merit  disappears.  It  was  only  the 
distance  which  imposed  upon  us  before."  Not  so 
here  :  the  men  could  bear  inspection  while  living,  and 
their  works  speak  for  them  now  that  they  are  dead. 
Even  in  their  last  hour,  like  all  great  men,  they  "  bore 
a  countenance  more  princely  lhan  they  were  wont." 
And  why  ?  "  It  is  the  temper  of  the  highest  hearts, 
like  the  palm  tree,  to  strive  most  upwards,  when  it  is 
most  burthened."  Can  anything  be  more  simple  and 
touching  to  a  truly  devout  mind,  than  the  remark  of 
Mr.  Hobbs  to  Dr.  Clarke,  and  the  Doctor's  mono- 
syllabic reply  to  it, — so  characteristic  of  his  trustful, 
unadorned,  simple,  yet  truly  Christian  mind,, — "  My 
dear  Doctor,  you  must  put  your  soul  into  the  hands  of 
your  God,  and  your  trust  in  the  merits  of  your  Saviour." 
— "  I  do,  I  do."  After  this  declaration  of  the  work  of 
faith  being  perfected,  then  follows  Richard  Watson  with 
his  dying  testimony, — the  testimony  itself  being  not 
only  Christian,  but  bearing  the  stamp  of  real  genius, — 
"  When  I  come  before  God,  I  feel  myself  like  a  worm 
that  has  crawled  out  of  its  hole  in  the  earth,  and  meets 
the  glory  of  the  meridian  sun.  It  behoves  me  to  lie 
low  in  the  dust  before  him."  There  is  no  glorying 
here, — none  in  either  case.  How  true  it  is,  that  "  He 
only  is  great  who  has  the  habits  of  greatness ;  who 
after  performing  what  none  in  ten  thousand  could 
accomplish,  passes  on  like  Sampson,  and  '  tells  neither 
father  nor  mother  of  it.'  " 

Actively  engaged  as  Mr.  Dawson  had  hitherto  been, 
the  extinction  of  these  two  great  "revolving  lights" 
rendered  it  still  more  imperious  in  him  to  replenish  his 
lamp  with  fresh  oil,  and  to  hold  himself,  if  possible,  in 


380  MEMOIRS    OF 

still  greater  readiness  to  obey  additional  calls  to  hold 
forth  the  word  of  life  in  places  yet  personally  un visited. 
And  what  was  not  a  little  extraordinary — and  in  this  he 
was  on  a  par  with  Dr.  Clarke,  if  not  in  the  amount,  at 
least  in  the  principle, — the  collections  of  one  year 
almost  invariably  exceeded  those  of  the  year  preceding. 
He  obtained  about  £90  for  Wesley  Chapel,  Manchester, 
this  year  ;  and  the  sum  of  ^681.  8s.  2fd.  at  Oldham, 
for  the  Sunday  Schools, — the  largest  amount  that  had 
ever  been  collected  on  the  occasion. 

The  writer  having  had  repeated  opportunities  of  hear- 
ing him  in  the  course  of  this  year,  availed  himself  of 
them  ;  as  well  as  enjoyed  much  of  his  private  society. 
Meeting  him  at  the  coach  on  one  of  these  occasions,  he 
was  accosted  by  a  friend,  who  was  unperceived,  till  his 
hand  was  felt  upon  the  shoulder,  and  the  words  were 
uttered — "  You  are  my  prisoner."  Mr.  Dawson  turned 
round  and  smiled.  But  he  was  scarcely  seated  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Braik,  before  he  was  beset  by  suppliants 
from  different  places,  soliciting  the  benefit  of  his  services. 
This  was  no  unusual  thing.  He  observed  to  the  friends 
— not  ostentatiously,  but  to  shew  the  impossibility  of 
complying  in  every  case  with  their  wishes — "  Out  of 
twenty-six  Sundays  in  the  last  plan,  I  have  been  only 
six  at  home,  exclusive  of  week-day  services;  the  re- 
mainder having  been  devoted  to  extra  work.  I  only 
reached  home  last  night  at  twelve  o'clock,  having  been 
at  a  missionary  meeting  in  York,  and  had  to  start  for 
Manchester  this  morning." 

Speaking  in  the  morning  on — "We  would  see  Jesus," 
in  Oldham-Street  chapel,  he  observed, — "  He  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  Bible  ;"  then  suiting  the  action  to  the 
expression,  he  placed  the  Bible  on  its  edge,  which 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  381 

was  unfolded  about  the  middle,  and,  turning  it  to 
each  part  of  the  congregation,  with  his  head  inclined 
towards  it,  and  his  eye  fixed  upon  its  page,  he  pointed 
his  finger  to  its  sacred  contents,  as  to  a  mirror,  into 
which  every  one  might  look,  and  perceive  the  image 
of  the  divine  personage  referred  to, — repeating  "You 
may  see  him  here ;  '  see '  him  in  the  Old  Testament, 
in  prophesies,  types,  and  figures; — 'see'  him  in  the 
New,  in  his  life,  miracles,  doctrines,  promises,  pre- 
cepts, death,  resurrection,  and  ascension ; — 'see'  him 
in  the  beginning,  middle,  and  end : — yes,  seen  here 
— not  at  the  dance,  not  at  the  card  table,  not  at  the 
theatre,  not  at  the  horse-race ; — to  such  as  attend  these, 
if  seen  at  all,  it  is  in  the  distance ; — and  the  more 
such  amusements  are  indulged,  and  such  places  are 
frequented,  the  further  he  recedes  from  view — further 
— and  further — and  further,  till  he  becomes  invisible." 
Having  thus  fixed  attention,  he  then  unfolded  and 
applied  his  subject.  Without  adverting  to  his  plan, 
a  reminiscence  or  two  forces  itself  upon  the  mind, 
which  may  be  preserved,  as  many  of  his  fillings  up 
were  never  committed  to  paper.  The  backslider,  whom 
he  depicted  as  having  lost  sight  of  Jesus,  after  having 
seen  him  by  faith,  and  enjoyed  him  in  fellowship  of 
spirit,  was  further  portrayed  as  conquered,  and  laid 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  while  Satan,  in  the  character 
of  a  victor,  was  brandishing  his  sword  over  him,  and 
shouting  in  triumph,  with  his  foot  upon  his  neck, 
— "Ah,  so  would  we  have  it ;  so  would  we  have  it !  " 
suiting  the  intonations  of  the  voice  to  the  subject, 
and  producing  a  living  image  on  the  imagination. 

In  the  evening,  while  dwelling  on  Luke  xii.  41 — 
48,    he  was   somewhat   trite   in  the   former   part   of 


382  MEMOIRS    OF 

his  discourse.  He  shewed  that  all  were  the  servants 
of  God  by  creation,  preservation,  and  redemption, 
whether  slothful,  disobedient,  or  faithful ;  and  that  the 
congregation  especially,  knew  his  will  and  owed  him 
obedience.  Passing  over  the  intermediate  parts  of  the 
sermon,  when  he  came  to  apportion  to  each  offender 
his  "few"  or  his  "many  stripes,"  according  to  the 
nature  and  magnitude  of  the  offences  committed,  the 
sinewy,  athletic  body  of  his  thoughts  seemed  to  burst 
their  scanty  apparel:  he  was  like  a  person  who  had 
just  had  a  vision  of  the  misery  of  lapsed  intelligences, 
but  unable  to  tell  the  whole  of  what  he  had  seen 
and  heard.  He  illustrated  the  enormity  of  sin,  by 
shewing  its  several  degrees  of  aggravation  in  offences 
against  civil  authority, — passing  from  the  private  subject 
to  the  constable,  from  the  constable  to  the  magistrate, 
and  from  the  magistrate  to  the  monarch,  when  it 
reached  the  climax  in  treason.  Sin,  he  observed,  was 
an  offence  against  the  Majesty  of  heaven, — in  sight 
of  the  atonement  of  Christ, — against  a  positive  law, 
— and  in  defiance  of  the  strivings  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
"Such,"  said  he, — and  this  is  only  a  faint  image  of 
his  terrific  power,  "shall  be  beaten  with  'many  stripes.' 
The  sinner,  in  this  country,  in  this  day,  in  this  con- 
gregation, has  not  the  plea  of  the  Jews,  who  cru- 
cified Christ  ignorantly ;  nor  yet  of  Saul  of  Tarsus, 
who  'did  it  ignorantly."  He  has  no  plea  to  offer. 
Bring  him  forth,  and  let  him  see  himself,  as  a  lost 
spirit,  tied,  like  a  soldier,  to  the  halberts — receiving 
his  'stripes.''  The  devil  comes  forward,  and  commences 
with  his  '  stripes  ; '  and  every  stroke  makes  him  cringe, 
while  his  misery  is  enhanced,  by  hearing  his  tormentor 
say, — '  We  had  no  Bible,  no  Saviour,  no  remedy, — 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  383 

but  you  had. '  Next  comes  the  Law,  issuing,  as  of 
old,  from  Mount  Sinai,  enveloped  in  fire  and  smoke, 
and  gives  its  round  of  lashes.  After  that,  comes 
Conscience,  which  applies  the  lash,  with  its  internal 
upbraidings.  Then  comes  Jesus,  with  the  aggravation 
of  rejection.  In  the  rear  of  Jesus  comes  Justice, 
whose  every  stroke  is  like  the  cut  of  a  whip  upon 
a  sheet  of  water,  which  instantly  closes  on  the  lash 
being  taken  out,  and  is  ready  for  another  gash; — an 
eternity  of  healing  and  wounding  ! "  He  next  changed 
the  imagery,  and  represented  each  lost  spirit  under 
the  notion  of  a  flame  of  fire,  lighted  up,  and  pre- 
served burning  by  the  wrath  of  God, — the  separate 
flames  differing  from  each  other  in  force,  width,  and 
fierceness ; — and  each  flame  with  its  own  distinct  lamp 
or  vehicle, — the  congregated  mass  being  'vessels  of 
wrath, '  —  some  large,  some  small, — yet  all  full  of 
misery.  To  follow  him, — except  hi  short-hand,  in 
his  lightning  flashes  and  thunder  peals,  is  next  to 
impossible.  On  applying  the  subject  to  backsliders, 
to  the  children  of  praying  parents,  and  to  formal 
professors,  he  was  equally  tremendous;  especially  hi 
reference  to  the  second  class.  "The  prayers  of  thy 
father,"  said  he,  "will  be  like  breath  to  fan  up  the 
flames  of  hell ;  and  the  tears  of  thy  praying  mother, 
which  had  been  deposited  in  the  Lord's  bottle  for 
thee,  will  be  constantly  dropping,  like  oil,  on  the  fire 
of  hell,  to  feed  it."  The  sinner  was  depicted  hi  all 
his  odiousness, — "  enough  to  startle  the  devil  him- 
self;" and  as  met  in  the  "regions  of  woe,"  by  com- 
panions "whose  eyes  shot  lightning  at  him," — piercing 
the  inmost  soul  with  the  very  essence  of  mental 
agony.  Several  persons  were  convinced  of  sin  under 


384  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  sermon,  and  some  obtained  a  sense  of  mercy  in 
the  prayer-meeting  at  the  close  of  the  service. 

Anything  like  sober,  sedate  feeling,  through  the 
whole  of  even  a  solemn  discourse,  was  very  often 
out  of  the  question ;  and  in  his  more  tempestuous 
moods,  he  was  dangerous  as  a  model,  and  never  to 
be  imitated.  He  stood  alone,  and  ought  to  remain 
alone ;  but  in  that  individual  form,  as  in  all  unique 
cases,  he  was  rather  to  be  prized  than  diminished  in 
value.  He  paid  a  visit  to  Sheffield  about  the  same 
time,  as  above,  and  preached  in  Carver-Street  chapel. 
The  congregation  was  large,  and  the  feeling  was  in- 
tense. He  exhorted  his  hearers,  in  the  course  of  his 
sermon,  to  give  their  hearts  to  the  Lord,  and  added, 
— laying  his  hand  upon  his  own,  with  a  fine  gush  of 
feeling,  and  his  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven, — "  Here's 
mine!"  when  a  voice  from  the  gallery  cried  out, — • 
"  Here's  mine  too,  Billy ! "  Nor  was  this  the  only 
audible  token  of  the  effect  of  his  preaching ;  such 
exclamations  as, — "That's  right," — "True," — "Glory 
be  to  God,"  &c.,  being  frequently  repeated  during 
the  service. 

Having  had  occasion  to  advert  to  Providence,  he 
remarked,  that  its  inequalities  argued  the  necessity 
of  a  general  judgment ;  while  providence  itself  was 
illustrated,  in  connection  with  the  assertion, — "The 
ways  of  the  Lord  are  not  equal,"  by  a  straight  stick 
put  into  a  vessel  of  water,  which,  in  consequence  of 
the  medium  through  which  it  was  viewed,  appeared 
crooked ;  and  by  the  wheels  of  a  piece  of  mechanism, 
moving  in  opposite  directions,  yet  guiding  the  fingers 
aright,  and  directing  them  to  the  proper  hour. 

His  friend,  Mr.  Reinhardt  of  Leeds,  died  early  in 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  385 

the  spring,  whose  funeral  sermon  he  preached  March 
1  st,  and  to  whose  will  he  administered  April  9th.  Mr. 
Reinhardt  had  been  a  memher  of  the  Wesleyan  Society 
thirty  years,  and  had  filled,  for  several  years,  the 
offices  of  Class-Leader,  Steward,  and  Trustee. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he  was  called  to 
improve  the  death  of  Mrs.  Turton,  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Isaac  Turton,  who  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
her  guilt  and  danger  as  a  sinner,  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  her  age,  under  a  sermon  which  he  preached 
in  her  native  place,  the  village  of  Harewood,  near 
Leeds,  in  1809.  Mournful  as  it  is,  yet  it  is  satis- 
factory for  a  Christian  minister  to  see  the  fruit  of 
his  labour  safely  housed; — not  only  first  to  place  the 
sapling  in  the  nursery,  but  to  see  it  finally  trans- 
planted to  another  soil,  where  it  is  to  bloom  for 
ever ;  and  of  all  the  fruit  of  Mr.  Dawson's  ministerial 
toil,  he  never  saw  a  more  lovely  Christian  in  person 
and  character  grow  up, — flourish, — bend, — and  fall 
before  him  than  Mrs.  T. ;  closing  life  with, — "All  is 
well."  A  few  weeks  after  this,  he  observes, — "I  called 
upon  William  Thompson  of  Barnber,  and,  to  my  great 
surprise  and  grief,  found  him  dead."  A  funeral  tribute 
was  paid  to  the  memory  of  this  person  also. 

His  labours  were  not  always  confined  to  the  places 
he  visited,  according  to  previous  arrangement ;  but 
he  was  sometimes  drawn  into  work  of  which  he  had 
no  anticipation  when  he  set  out  on  his  journey. 
Thus,  the  friends  at  Rudham,  in  Norfolk,  finding 
that  he  was  to  be  at  Lynn,  waited  upon  him,  to 
ask  him  to  give  them  an  extra  sermon  in  aid  of 
their  chapel.  Never  backward  to  labour,  when  a  door 
was  thrown  open,  and  time  and  physical  strength  would 


386  MEMOIRS    OF 

allow,  he  preached  twice  at  Lynn  on  the  Sabbath, — 
proceeded  to  Rudham,  and  preached  there  at  1 1  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon, — returned  to  Lynn,  where  he  preached 
in  the  evening, — and  went  forward  the  next  day  to 
preach  at  Wisbeach.  Being  the  first  time  of  his  ap- 
pearance at  Rudham,  &c.,  some  dissenting  ministers 
were  drawn  to  hear  him,  who  intimated  that  it  was 
a  style  of  preaching  they  had  never  heard  before,  and 
could  not  fail  to  awaken  the  attention  of  the  people 
to  sacred  subjects.  In  consequence  of  his  pulpit 
labours,  and  conversation  with  the  friends  at  Wis- 
beach, the  latter  were  led  to  commence  a  plan  for 
the  enlargement  of  their  chapel,  which  he  afterwards 
re-opened,  and  the  anniversaries  of  which  he  sub- 
sequently attended. 

Having  succeeded  so  well  in  stealing  a  march  upon 
his  time  and  toil  for  Rudham,  the  good  friends  at 
Fakenham,  in  the  Walsingham  circuit,  were  equally 
successful  on  the  occasion  of  a  subsequent  visit  to 
the  county  of  Norfolk,  in  securing  a  few  of  his  "Spare 
Minutes."  The  chapel,  though  large  enough  for  or- 
dinary occasions,  was  too  small  for  the  congregation ; 
in  the  evening,  therefore, — being  in  the  height  of 
summer,  he  proposed  to  conduct  the  service  in  a 
field  adjoining  the  place.  An  auctioneer  obligingly 
furnished  him  with  his  "stand"  as  a  substitute  for 
the  pulpit; — a  fine  incident  in  connection  with  the 
peculiarities  of  his  playful  fancy.  Behind  this,  with 
a  very  different  company  before  him  to  that  with  which 
the  knight  of  the  hammer  was  generally  indulged — 
a  company  in  whom  were  in  operation  widely  different 
vieivs,  feelings,  and  expectations, — and  with  an  article, 
which  he  could  not  only  conscientiously  recommend, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  387 

but  in  the  praise  of  which  he  could  not  be  too  high, 
he  could  safely  say  to  each,  to  all, — "Buy  the  truth." 
But  as  this  was  not  his  text,  the  elevation — in  open 
air,  furnished  him  with  an  equally  favourable  oppor- 
tunity of  enquiring  with  Moses,  who,  while  he  "stood  in 
the  gate  of  the  camp,"  asked, — "Who  is  on  the  Lord's 
side?"  a  question,  involving  a  subject,  which  he  pressed 
in  no  ordinary  way  upon  the  conscience.  The  good 
effect  of  this  sermon  is  noticed  in  the  "Cottager's 
Friend"  for  1840,  p.  35,  in  a  Memoir  of  Abraham  Jacob. 
In  the  month  of  November,  he  acceded  to  a  pressing 
invitation  to  the  Metropolis,  when  he  preached  in  Great 
Queen-Street  chapel,  at  Islington,  Southwark,  and  City 
Road.  From  thence  he  proceeded  to  Bristol,  where 
he  opened  the  chapel  noticed  in  a  preceding  page.  At 
the  close  of  this  journey,  he  exclaimed,  on  entering 
his  own  house,  under  a  deep  sense  of  his  obligations 
to  Divine  goodness, — "Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
and  all  that  is  within  me  praise  his  holy  Name  ! " 
Travelling,  which  is  but  too  often  the  case,  never  seemed 
to  dissipate  his  mind.  He  returned  home, — not  poorer 
in  spirit, — but  more  enriched  in  grace ;  he  resembled 
the  bee  loaded  with  honey.  The  mind  was  rarely 
so  intensely  employed  on  particular  subjects  as  to  lose 
its  vigour  in  the  exercise ;  and  when  it  did  flag,  being 
impatient  of  ease,  it  soon  recovered  itself  again,  not 
by  continuing  inactive,  but  by  varying  its  applica- 
tions. He  was  thrown  only  into  such  society  as  kept 
up  the  flame  of  devotion  in  himself;  while  his  habits 
of  piety,  and  his  love  to  souls,  led  him  to  augment 
the  flame  in  others.  His  happiness  was  derived  from 
God,  and  therefore,  beyond  the  power  of  circumstances 
to  change.  This  world  was  beheld  only  as  a  kind 


388  MEMOIRS   OF 

of  stepping-stone  to  a  better.  While  such  a  state  of 
mind,  —  simply  referring  to  its  bias  respecting  the 
future,  adds  a  double  relish  to  every  enjoyment,  it 
blunts  also,  in  the  language  of  Dugald  Stewart,  the 
edge  of  every  suffering.  Even  in  cases  where  human 
life  presents  to  a  man  no  object  upon  which  his  hopes 
can  rest,  religion  invites  the  imagination  beyond  the 
dark  and  troubled  horizon  which  terminates  every 
earthly  prospect,  to  wander  unconfined  in  the  regions 
of  futurity.  While  memory  soothed  the  mind  of  Mr. 
Dawson,  by  storing  it  with  the  repollection  of  past 
mercies,  hope  overjoyed  it  with  "pleasant  pictures" 
of  the  future. 

1834 — an  eventful  year  in  the  history  of  Methodism, 
brought  still  heavier  labour  to  Mr.  Dawson  than  that 
to  which  he  had  been  accustomed,  and  which  the 
reader  will  perceive  has  been  gradually  growing  upon 
him. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Aitkin,  a  clergyman  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  had  preached  some  time  in  the  Wesleyan 
chapels,  in  different  places,  and  had  been  extensively 
useful  in  the  awakening  of  sinners ;  and  persons,  like 
him,  with  more  than  ordinary  zeal,  were  sure"  to  find 
their  way  to  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs.  Mr.  Aitkin 
paid  him  a  visit  at  Barnbow  ;  Mr.  Dawson  heard  him 
preach  in  the  month  of  January, — some  letters  passed 
between  them,  —  and  they  met  on  different  public 
occasions.  His  friend,  Mr.  Brookes,  also  paid  him  a 
visit  in  the  course  of  the  same  month,  and  preached 
in  the  neighbourhood.  Bachelor  as  Mr.  Dawson  was, 
he  was  a  social  being ; — he  loved  society,  and  was 
loved  by  society:  not  because  of  the  fineness  or  in- 
tensity of  his  feelings,  or  the  display  of  a  little 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  389 

amiable  sensibility, — which  only  requires  a  little  acting, 
but  because  of  his  experience,  his  talents,  the  value 
of  his  character,  and  his  ability  and  willingness  to 
benefit  the  church  and  the  world. 

In  the  month  of  February  he  rejoiced  in  symptoms 
of  public  good  at  Barwick,  while  the  Rev.  Robert 
Bond  was  preaching,  saying, — "Praise  the  Lord!  His 
presence  was  with  us ;  souls  were  enquiring  their  way 
to  Zion,  and  some  found  the  road."  The  Rev.  Francis 
West  was  noticed  by  him  also,  as  succeeding  Mr. 
Bond,  and  whose  ministry  was  useful  to  the  society. 
In  consequence  of  this  spring  of  feeling  given  to 
the  people,  the  Missionary  Meeting  produced  £  16 
15s.  4d.  While  God  was  enlarging  his  boundaries 
in  the  country,  he  was  also  extending  his  work  in 
the  town.  Hence,  says  Mr.  Dawson, — "I  was  at 
Leeds,  Wednesday,  Feb.  19,  at  the  laying  of  the  first 
stone  on  the  premises  adjoining  the  Old  Chapel.  On 
my  return  home  in  the  evening,  I  preached  at  Bar- 
wick." 

Lady  Hertford,  under  whom  he  had  an  agency, 
died  in  the  month  of  April;  but  her  demise  eifected 
no  immediate  change  with  him ;  and  he  seems,  about 
this  time,  in  addition  to  his  farm  and  executorships, 
to  have  had  the  business  of  two  or  three  collieries 
in  charge.  But  in  the  midst  of  his  secular  engage- 
ments, which  his  business  qualities  would  never  suffer 
him  to  mistime  or  neglect,  he  was  found  within  the 
space  of  four  brief  days,  proceeding  with  his  relative, 
Mr.  Edward  Phillips,  to  Colne  and  Cornshaw,  in  Lan- 
cashire, and  instantly  on  his  return,  attending  the 
Leeds  market,  from  thence  to  Aberford,  and,  without 
returning  home,  proceeding,  as  by  express,  with  his 


390  MEMOIRS    OF 

friend,  Mr.  J.  Peart,  to  Pocklington,  to  engage  in 
the  work  of  the  sanctuary  there.  And  yet  this  was  but 
trifling  compared  with  one  of  his  feats  in  the  month 
of  June,  when,  in  different  kinds  of  conveyances, 
in  one  route,  he  embraced,  —  including  intermediate 
places,  Newark,  Wisbeach,  Downham,  Wireton,  Swaff- 
ham,  Northampton,  Thetford,  Kilbro  Mills,  Falkenham, 
Norwich,  Marsh,  and  Peterboro',  closing  his  account, 
after  giving  the  milage  from  place  to  place,  with — 
"Returned  home.  Travelled,  by  cross-roads,  in  nine 
days,  upwards  of  two  hundred  miles,  and  exercised 
sixteen  times.  As  was  my  day,  so  was  my  strength. 
Halleluia,  praise  the  Lord  !  " 

In  all  his  journies,  he  avoided  giving  the  respective 
families  with  whom  he  domiciled,  any  unnecessary 
trouble,  and  took  such  fare  as  was  placed  before 
him  with  cheerfulness.  Even  at  an  inn,  where  the 
traveller  may  assume  the  airs  of  a  gentleman,  and 
issue  his  commands  to  the  master  and  mistress  of 
the  house,  as  to  his  own  servants,  Mr.  Dawson  was 
as  unobtrusive  and  untroublesome,  as  in  a  gentle- 
man's family.  He  reached  Market  Harborough  at 
twelve  o'clock  one  evening,  towards  the  latter  part  of 
September,  when  the  weather  was  setting  in  cold. 
There  was  no  time  for  bed  between  the  leaving  of 
one  coach,  and  the  arrival  of  another  by  which  he 
hoped  to  be  fowarded;  and  yet  such  was  his  feeling 
for  the  servants,  whom  he  considered  as  having  had 
fatigue  enough  with  the  toil  of  the  day,  and  little 
enough  time  allowed  for  refreshing  repose,  that  he 
allowed  them  to  close  the  doors,  and  retire  to  rest, 
under  the  impression  that  he  was  going  to  take  up 
his  residence  somewhere  in  the  town,  while,  in  fact, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  391 

he  stepped  quietly  into  one  of  the  stables  in  the 
yard,  where  he  remained  with  the  horses  as  his  com- 
panions, till  half-past  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  he  left  for  home.  He  might,  while  there,  have 
trilled  one  of  the  Madrigals  from  Wilbye,  of  1598: — 

"  There  is  a  jewel  which  no  Indian  mine  can  buy, 
No  chemic  art  can  counterfeit; 
It  makes  men  rich  in  greatest  poverty, 
Makes  water  wine,  turns  wooden  cups  to  gold, 
The  homely  whistle  to  sweet  music's  strain ; 
Seldom  it  comes,  to  few  from  heaven  sent, 
That  much  in  little— all  in  nought,— Content." 

In  the  course  of  four  days  after  this,  he  was  in 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  with  the  Rev.  Robert  Aitkin. 
The  visit  was  well-timed,  there  being  a  division  just 
then  in  the  Gateshead  Society.  Both  preached,  and 
both  attended  the  quarterly  love-feast  in  Brunswick 
chapel.  Poor  Crister,  the  "Wall's  End  Miner,"  was 
present,  and  spoke  with  great  interest.  Mr.  Aitkin 
also  gave  a  narrative  of  the  dealings  of  God  with  his 
soul, — clear, — striking, — artless, — and  attended  with 
a  divine  unction.  Whatever  might  be  his  subsequent 
doctrinal  or  merely  notional  wanderings,  it  would  be 
as  difficult  to  get  rid  of  the  genuineness  of  such  expe- 
rience, as  it  would  have  been  for  Robinson  of  Cambridge, 
in  later  life,  to  answer  his  own  arguments  in  favour  of  the 
Divinity  of  Christ,  as  embodied  in  his  "  Plea."  Several 
souls  were  saved  in  the  course  of  the  Sabbath.  The  writer 
was  present  on  the  occasion,  and  was  in  the  chapel  from 
half-past  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  till  five  in  the  after- 
noon. One  young  man,  may  be  noticed,  of  the  name 
of  Robert  Combey,  who  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  his 
moral  wretchedness,  and  who,  in  the  space  of  nine 
months,  was  swept  into  eternity,  with  upwards  of  a 


392  MEMOIRS    OF 

hundred  more,  men  and  boys,  by  a  blast  in  one  of 
the  pits. 

Shortly  after  this,  Mr.  Dawson  was  at  Hull,  preaching 
occasional  sermons,  and  addressing  the  seamen, — shew- 
ing the  latter,  "  the  difference  between  a  pious  and 
an  ungodly  sailor."  The  next  forenoon  he  was  in 
Leeds  market,  by  half-past  eleven  o'clock.  So  mild 
was  the  weather,  that,  on  the  second  of  November, 
the  larks,  to  the  joy  of  his  soul,  —  for  he  was  a 
close  observer  and  lover  of  nature,  were  singing  their 
morning  carols ;  and  in  the  same  month,  he  sent  up 
his  own  carols  to  heaven,  on  his  return  from  a 
journey  of  hazard,  saying,  "I  came  by  railway  to 
Lazencroft.  Adored  be  Divine  providence,  for  returning 
me  without  the  slightest  injury,  and  finding  all  right 
and  well  at  home !  " 

The  dissension  occasioned  by  the  establishment  of 
the  "Theological  Institution,"  had  arrived  at  a  con- 
siderable height  by  the  close  of  the  year.  Scores  of 
pamphlets  and  letters  were  published,  pro  and  con, 
comprising,  when  bound  together,  four  thick  octavo 
volumes,  exclusive  of  the  "Illuminator,"  &c.  Mr. 
Dawson  was  at  first  a  dissentient ;  and  so  also  was 
the  biographer, — the  latter  strongly  so.  Some  of 
their  reasonings  and  objections  paired  with  each  other, 
— though  neither  were  averse  to^the  abstract  question 
of  ministerial  improvement.  When,  however,  they 
found  men  passing  over  from  the  Theological  Institu- 
tion to  the  Wesleyan  Constitution,  and  trying  to  sap 
its  foundation,  they  perceived  it  was  high  time  to 
sacrifice  mere  opinion  for  the  sake  of  essentials, — to 
give  up  an  outwork  or  two  for  the  sake  of  the  citadel. 
Hence,  Mr.  Dawson,  addressed  a  letter,  December 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  393 

16th,  to  Dr.  Warren,  entitled, — "More  Work  for  Dr. 
Warren;"  and  his  name  stands  in  the  Subscription 
List  of  the  first  "  Report  of  the  Wesleyan  Theological 
Institution,"  as  a  subscriber  of  £5.  Is.  As  his  pri- 
mary opposition  had  more  the  character  of  a  fear 
of  consequences,  than  actual  hostility,  so  his  subscrip- 
tion was  given  in  hope,  rather  than  confidence — and 
not  without  prayer. 

Without  entering  into  the  merits  of  the  question, 
which  may  now  be  considered  as  settled,  one  great 
good  resulting  from  the  whole,  in  the  trial  which 
ensued,  and  the  decision  of  the  Lord  Chancellor  Lynd- 
hurst  on  the  case,  is,  the  act  of  legalizing  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  Wesleyan  Conference  in  reference  to 
the  preachers,  during  the  intervals  of  its  sittings, 
and,  to  a  certain  extent,  making  the  Wesleyan  Con- 
stitution a  part  and  parcel  of  the  law  of  the  land. 
The  removal  of  a  few  factious  spirits  from  the  body, 
who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  system,  was  merely 
temporary;  but  this  boon  will  go  down  to  the  latest 
posterity  with  British  Law ;  and  in  this  invaluable 
boon  Mr.  Dawson  rejoiced, — nor  less  the  biographer. 
During  the  conflict,  the  language  of  Sir  T.  Brown 
could  not  but  impress  the  minds  of  those  persons 
who  were  familiar  with  it; — "Scholars  are  men  of 
peace ;  they  bear  no  arms,  but  their  tongues  are 
sharper  than  Actius'  razor;  their  pens  carry  further, 
and  give  a  louder  report  than  thunder.  I  had  rather 
stand  in  the  shock  of  a  basilisk,  than  in  the  fury 
of  a  merciless  pen."  Though  the  times  cannot  be 
contemplated  without  painful  feeling,  the  subject  is  now 
capable  of  a  much  more  dispassionate  consideration. 
Selden  was  not  far  wrong,  when  he  said, — "In  troubled 

R2 


394  MEMOIRS    OF 

water  you  can  scarce  see  your  face ;  so  in  troubled 
times  you  can  see  little  of  truth.  "When  they  are 
settled  and  quiet  then  truth  appears." 

The  year  1834  has  been  stated  to  have  been  a 
laborious  one  for  Mr.  Dawson ;  and  as  another  little 
memento  for  the  friends  in  the  respective  places  he 
visited,  as  well  as  a  memorial  of  Christian  zeal,  it 
may  be  remarked,  that  he  either  attended  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  public  meetings,  or  preached  occasional 
sermons,  or  both,  at  Clayton  Heights,  Grantham, 
Wansford,  Yeadon,  Ripon,  Sheffield,  Stokesley,  Guis- 
bro',  Whitby,  Robin  Hood's  Bay,  Manchester,  Salford, 
Almondsbury,  Wansley,  Kendal,  Addingham,  Acaster, 
Tadcaster,  Stockport,  "Wakefield,  Dewsbury,  Hudders- 
field,  Birmingham,  Bradwell,  Colne,  Cornshaw,  York, 
Pocklington,  Nottingham,  Borrow  Ash,  Draycolt,  Derby, 
Sandiacre,  New  Basford,  Skipton,  Keighley,  Doncaster, 
Lincoln,  Sleaford,  Gainsbro',  Chesterfield,  Macclesfield, 
Bacup,  Cheadle,  New  Mills,  Stamford,  "Wrotton,  Top- 
ham,  Downham,  Swaffham,  Thetford,  Kilbro'  Mill, 
Fakenham,  Norwich,  Marsh,  Peterboro',  Doncaster, 
Malton,  High  Town,  Wetherby,  Otley,  Minsten,  Leek, 
Barton,  Ashby  de  la  Zouch,  Cromford,  Wensley,  Belper, 
Brotherton,  Addingham,  Bradford,  Higham  Ferrars, 
Bedford,  Rowell  near  Kettering,  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
Carville,  Shields,  Blyth,  Retford,  Hull,  Gildersome, 
Loughbro',  Bramcote,  Beeston,  Granby,  Broomsgrove, 
Tockwith,  London,  Luton,  "Wednesbury,  Stoke-upon- 
Trent,  Rochdale,  Congleton,  Middlewich,  Stokesley, 
Selby,  Darlington,  and  Gainford.  To  half  a  dozen  of 
these  places,  he  paid  two  visits  in  the  course  of  the 
twelve  months ;  besides  opening  chapels  at  Biggies- 
wade,  Granby,  Hull,  and  also  St.  Peter's,  Leeds. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  395 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Love,  a  great  moving  principle. — Rev.  S.  Settle. — The  old  ship, 
— John  Patrick. — Rev.  R.  Aitkin. —  Visit  to  the  Theological 
Institution. — Hint  to  chapel-keepers. — Scattered  fears. — A 
Rent-day  homily. — Religion  requires  constant  application. — 
Continuance  of  excessive  labour. — Liberality. — A  platform  di- 
lemma.— Failures. — Tea  Party. — Presentations. — Humility. — 
The  Damsonian  Fund,  and  its  object. — Symptoms  of  physical 
decay. — Outgoings. — Mr.  R.  M.  Beverley's  "  Travelling  Revi- 
valist. " —  Perseverance.  —  Correspondence.  —  The  Hoppings. — 
Second  case  of  liberality. —  The  Holy  Spirit. — Menders  of 
Systems. — The  Christian  race. — Penitents. — ' '  Teetotallism.'' — 
Politics  prejudicial  to  religion. — Adaptation  of  the  Gospel  to 
Man. — Monies  subscribed  towards  the  Dawsonian  Fund  pre- 
sented to  the  Missionary  Committee,  and  accepted.  —  Mr. 
Damson's  views  on  the  subject. — Extraordinary  Collections  at 
Huddersjield. — Conversions. 

SPECIAL  attention  having  been  paid  to  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  mind  of  Mr. 
Dawson  in  the  early  part  of  these  pages,  and  sub- 
sequently to  his  excessive  labours,  it  may  be  proper 
to  observe,  that  while  those  labours  rose  out  of  a 
continued  growth  in  grace,  his  advancement  hi  the 
divine  life  was,  in  the  way  of  re-action,  augmented 
by  his  labours.  God  alone  was  permitted  to  occupy 
the  chief  place  in  his  heart.  He  knew,  and  he  felt, 


396  MEMOIRS    OF 

that  to  put  him  in  a  second  place,  was  to  treat  him 
opprobiously ;  that  even  to  equal  another  object  with 
him,  was   to  insult  him.     With  him,   it  was  a  fixed 
principle,  that  wherever  God  is,  he  must  possess  the 
throne ;   and   that,    if  a  holy  heart   is   an   image   of 
heaven, — as  in  effect  it  is,  he  must  reign  there,  and 
everything  must  submit  to  his  authority.     The  love 
of  God  in  his  soul  was  an  immense  fire ;   and  like 
the  fire   of  the  vestal  virgins   at   Rome,   which  was 
lit  up  by  no   common   flame,   and  never   suffered  to 
go  out;  or  more  sacredly,  like  the  fire  in  the  temple 
at  Jerusalem,   which  the  priests  were  bound  to  pre- 
serve alive  on  the  altar,  he  continued  to  fan  the  flame 
with  earnest,    constant,   faithful  prayer.     While   God 
was  loved,   not  barely   supremely,  —  a  slight    degree 
above  other  things,  but  with  all  the  heart,  he  found 
that  such  love  would  admit  of  love  to  man :  but  then,  to 
man — with  his  good  alone  for  its  object,  it  was  only 
like  the  emission  of  a  few  sparks,  or  faint  emotions, 
compared  with  the  body  of  flame  that  mounted  up- 
ward; just  as  a  king  is  said  to  collect  in  his  own 
person  all  the  honours  of  his  kingdom,   and  commu- 
nicates  some  lucid  titles  to  inferior   objects.     Hence, 
with  even  the  love   of  God   brimming   the  soul,    the 
parent   loves   his    child,   the   husband  his   wife,   and 
man  his  fellow.      But   then,    agreeably   to   what  has 
been   stated,    divine  love   will  neither   admit   of   any 
other  love  contrary  to  itself,  nor  yet  any  other  object, 
except  God  himself,  to  occupy  the  chief  seat  in  the 
soul.     It  is  in  the  heart,  amidst  all  the  other  affec- 
tions,  what   a   prince   is   among   the   officers   of  his 
army  ;  or  in  still  stronger  language,  what  God  himself 
is   among  all  the   creatures   of  the  universe — giving 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  397 

to  all  life,  and  motion,  and  power,  and  efficiency. 
This  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Dawson.  His  love  to 
God  was  without  measure,  as  well  as  without  sub- 
ordination,— without  bounds,  as  well  as  without  par- 
tition. The  reason  of  this  will  be  found  in  the  object, 
which  it  resembles,  and  which  is  infinite.  It  is  true, 
in  one  view  of  the  subject,  it  is  impossible  for  finite 
creatures  to  perform  infinite  acts.  But  still  they  are 
in  a  manner  infinite ;  and  this  comparative  infinity 
has  been  argued  as  consisting  in  two  things:  first, 
the  good  man's  emotions  go  to  the  utmost  extent 
of  his  power  without  coolness  or  caution ;  and  secondly, 
when  he  has  stretched  his  soul  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power,  he  is  never  content  with  himself,  but  acknow- 
ledges his  duty  goes  infinitely  beyond  his  emotions 
and  actions.  Thus  it  was,  that  the  soul  of  Mr.  Daw- 
son  was  continually  running  out  after  God  in  all  the 
ardour  of  divine  love;  and  to  promote  his  glory,  in 
the  salvation  of  man,  in  connection  with  all  the  ener- 
gies of  both  body  and  mind,  he  devoted  every  hour 
he  could  spare  from  his  farm. 

In  the  commencement  of  1835,  he  was  engaged  at 
"Thorp  Hall  in  surveying  the  boundaries  of  Lady 
Gordon's  property,  in  order  to  the  opening  of  a  new 
Winning ; "  and  was  much  employed  in  other  secular 
affairs.  His  correspondence  was  also  becoming  more 
and  more  heavy;  and  was  such  as,  in  other  cases, 
would  have  justified  a  secretary  or  an  amanuensis. 
To  one  of  his  early  correspondents, — the  Rev.  Samuel 
Settle,  he  wrote  on  the  30th  of  January;  to  whom 
a  special  reference  is  here  made,  with  a  view  to 
revive  early  associations,  and  to  shew  the  endeared 
friendship  still  subsisting  between  them. 


398  MEMOIRS   OF 

The  uneasiness  manifested  in  different  societies, 
towards  the  close  of  1834,  was  carried  into  1835. 
Serious  as  was  the  subject,  a  somewhat  amusing  con- 
versation took  place  upon  it  between  Mr.  Dawson  and 
John  Patrick, — the  latter,  an  excellent  man,  who  met 
a  class  near  Kirkstal  Abbey. 

Mr.  Dawson. — "  "Well  John,  how  is  your  class  suc- 
ceeding ?  " 

John  Patrick. — In  a  pensive  mood. — "  We  are  doing 
very  well ;  but  the  disturbance  existing  in  some  of 
the  societies  affects  me  a  good  deal." 

Mr.  D. — "Nothing  has  occurred  recently  I  hope?  " 

J.  P. — "Why,  perhaps  not.  But  I  was  with  a 
person  the  other  day,  who  asked  me,  whether  I  was 
not  going  to  leave  the  Old  Connexion  ?  " 

Mr.  D. — "What  reply  did  you  make?  " 

J.  P. — "I  said, — no;  I  am  resolved  to  abide  by 
the  old  ship." 

Mr.  D.—" What  then?" 

J.  P. — "  He  said,  '  She  is  not  sea-worthy.' " 

Mr.  D. — Amused  with  the  simile,  though  familiar 
to  him,  and  desirous  of  hearing  the  result, — "  How 
did  you  meet  that  ?  " 

J.  P. — "I  considered  the  Wesleyans  as  forming  a 
part  of  the  Church  of  God ;  and  in  reference  to  that 
Church,  I  said, — She  carried  all  the  Old  Testament 
saints  to  heaven ;  and  when  he,  who,  by  way  of  deri- 
sion, was  called  the  carpenter's  son,  appeared  upon 
earth,  she  was  new  bottomed,  and  I  think  she  will 
now  carry  the  New  Testament  saints  into  the  same 
port." 

Mr.  D. — "  What  was  his  answer  ?  " 

J.  P.— "He  asked,  'Why  all  the  mischief  at  Man- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  399 

Chester,  Leeds,  and  elsewhere,  if  the  vessel  were  not 
in  a  sinking  condition  ?  ' : 

Mr.  D. — Pleasantly, — "  How  did  you  surmount  that 
difficulty  ?  " 

J.  P. — "I  said, — Oh,  the  vessel  is  as  good  and 
safe  as  it  ever  was :  a  few  of  the  crew  are  only 
striving  for  the  mastery. " 

Mr.  Dawson  relished  this  not  a  little ;  and  the  last 
stroke  the  most,  as  he  was  aware  that  John  knew 
the  character  of  the  person  he  was  addressing. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Aitkin,  who  was  impressed  with 
it  being  his  duty  to  leave  the  Established  Church, 
wrote  to  Mr.  Dawson  on  the  subject.  Not  long  after, 
he  published  a  pamphlet  on  the  existing  dissensions, 
which  shewed,  —  however  well  meant,  that  he  was 
unacquainted  with  the  system  of  Methodism.  Mr. 
Dawson  being  asked  his  opinion  of  the  pamphlet, 
returned, — "Mr.  A.  was  never  designed  for  a  legis- 
lator ;  at  most,  he  is  only  intended  for  a  bellows  to 
blow  the  dust  from  the  embers,  and  then  to  kindle 
the  embers  into  a  flame." 

Being  in  the  metropolis  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
preaching  occasional  sermons  at  Great  Queen-Street, 
and  at  Chelsea,  he  visited  the  "Theological  Institu- 
tion." He  informed  the  biographer,  that  the  students 
expressed  a  wish  to  receive  an  address  from  him, 
and  that  the  Rev.  Samuel  Jones,  the  classical  tutor, 
urged  him  to  write  his  address  and  read  it  to  them. 
To  the  latter  he  objected,  while  he  acceded  to  the 
wishes  of  the  former ;  and  as  in  early  days,  at  Bar- 
wick,  when  he  occupied  the  Chair  in  the  place  of 
the  Rev.  John  Graham,  so  now,  he  occupied  the 
office  of  a  Professor  of  Theology,  telling  the  students, 


400  MEMOIRS   OF 

in  playful  terms,  that  they  were  about  to  be  addressed 
by  "Bishop  Dawson."  Among  other  observations, 
he  told  them, — that  it  was  their  duty,  in  the  out- 
set, to  convince  the  people  that  they  wished  to  do 
them  good, — that  he  at  first,  with  some  others,  had 
his  fears  and  prejudices  respecting  the  "Institution," 
— and  that  it  remained  with  them,  by  improving  their 
talents,  and  turning  out  well,  to  shew  the  groundless- 
ness of  such  fears.  The  several  topics  to  which  he 
adverted,  and  the  force  and  point  which  accompanied 
several  of  his  remarks,  diverted  attention  from  his 
rural  appearance,  and  a  few  of  his  provincialisms, 
and  rendered  them  much  less  singular, — the  home- 
training  of  some  of  the  students  being  taken  into 
account,  than  they  would  have  been  at  either  our 
English  or  Scotch  universities :  and  besides,  there 
was  a  soul  in  all  he  said.  On  his  return  home  from 
this  journey,  he  exclaimed, — "Praise  the  Lord!  all 
is  well  in  body,  soul,  and  circumstances." 

It  was  not  always  that  he  could  exclaim,  "  all  is 
well  in  circumstances ! "  For,  on  one  occasion,  he 
found  himself  minus  a  top-coat,  after  preaching  in 
Brunswick  chapel,  Newcastle-on-Tyne ;  some  miscreant 
having  gone  into  the  vestry  during  divine  service, 
and  stolen  it.  Though  soon  re-placed  with  another 
by  the  friends,  it  is  a  hint  to  chapel-keepers, — and 
it  is  for  this  purpose  that  the  subject  is  introduced, 
to  prevent  access  to  the  vestry  by  strangers,  in  time 
of  service. 

But  even  under  untoward  circumstances  of  import- 
ance, and  not  those  of  a  trivial  character  like  the 
preceding,  his  argumentative  resources  for  gratitude, 
patience,  and  contentment,  in  the  midst  of  them, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  401 

were  endless  ;  nor  less  so,  when  consoling  and  encou- 
raging others.  His  introductions,  however,  to  some 
of  his  pathetic  addresses,  were  sometimes  characterized 
with  a  buoyancy  and  eccentricity,  which,  while  they 
yielded  no  immediate  promise,  were  nevertheless  sure  to 
find  their  way  to  the  heart,  and  were  rendered  the  more 
welcome  the  moment  they  were  recognized  as  the 
means  leading  to  that  end.  He  was  at  Colne,  during 
a  period  of  great  commercial  distress,  when  the  spirits 
of  the  people  were  depressed,  and  hut  slender  hopes 
were  entertained  respecting  the  collections  for  the  day. 
On  commencing  the  service,  by  opening  the  Hymn- 
book,  he  said, — "When  I  am  engaged  in  preaching 
occasional  sermons,  I  am  often  presented  with  a  number 
of  notes  containing  different  announcements.  After 
reading  them,  I  put  them  into  my  pocket,  where 
they  sometimes  inconveniently  accumulate,  till  I  reach 
home.  Going  into  the  fields,  I  sometimes  take  them 
out,  and  look  at  them,  to  see  whether  any  of  them  are 
worth  preserving.  I  read  one, — not  being  worth  any- 
thing, I  tear  it  into  fragments ; — up  comes  a  breeze, — 
and  away  the  shreds  fly ; — I  look  at  a  second,  a  third,  a 
fourth,  and  a  fifth, — tear  them, — and  scatter  them  in 
the  same  way. "  While  he  was  narrating  this  little 
incident,  imitating  himself,  by  putting  his  hand  into 
his  waistcoat  pocket, — as  if  reading, — tearing, — and  scat- 
tering, the  congregation  meanwhile  on  their  feet  waiting 
for  the  hymn, — and  wondering  what  the  relation  might 
mean, — with  the  shreds  of  paper  drifting  like  flakes 
of  snow  in  the  imagination  across  the  field,  he  sud- 
denly adverted  to  the  depressed  state  of  the  trade  of 
the  place, — directed  his  hearers  to  an  overruling  pro- 
vidence,— exhorted  them  to  exercise  confidence  in  God, 


402  MEMOIRS    OF 

— gliding  into  the  hymn  in  his  peculiar  way,  as  noticed 
in  other  cases,  announcing,  with  the  number  of  the 
hymn  and  page, — 

"  Give  to  the  winds  thy  fears  j 
Hope,  and  be  undismay'd  : 
God  hears  thy  sighs,  and  counts  thy  tears ; 
God  shall  lift  up  thy  head. 

"  Through  waves,  and  clouds,  and  storms, 

He  gently  clears  thy  way  : 
Wait  thou  his  time,  so  shall  this  night 
Soon  end  in  joyous  day."  &c. 

The  effect  was  overpowering  ;  and  the  sermon  being 
of  an  encouraging  character,  the  whole  had  a  per- 
manently soothing  influence  on  the  minds  of  devout 
persons,  who  were  exhorted — as  he  had  done  the  flying 
shreds,  to  "give  to  the  winds  their  fears." 

He  was  present  at  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  "first 
stone  "  for  a  new  chapel  in  the  Leeds  West  circuit. 
Wednesday,  Feb.  4th  ;  and  on  Wednesday,  April  8th, 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  laying  the  foundation-stone  of 
a  new  Sabbath-School,  at  Barwick,  where  he  had 
laboured  so  long  and  so  effectually,  and  relative  to 
which  erection,  he  devoutly  prayed,  that  it  might  "be 
a  blessing  to  the  village  and  the  neighbourhood."  In 
the  midst  of  his  various  other  engagements,  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  occasionally  at  Barwick  on  the  week- 
day. Here  we  have  an  association  not  often  to  be 
met  with  ; — "  Bent-day, — and  preached  in  the  evening 
on — 'One  thing  is  needful.' '  Nor  was  this  a  solitary 
case.  It  was  the  same  the  year  succeeding.  Any  of 
the  other  tenants,  who  might  be  disposed  to  linger 
behind,  to  hear  the  sermon,  would  find  that  their 
own  vineyard  required  cultivation,  as  well  as  the  ground 
they  rented  of  their  landlord;  that,  in  the  language 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  403 

of  Young, — "  No  man  is  blest  by  accident ;  "  but, 
in  order  to  be  holy  and  happy,  he  must  "Redeem 
the  time, ''  and,  to  his  "  funds  and  acres,  join  his 
sense."  A  sentiment  of  Cowley  may  be  worked  out 
with  considerable  effect,  in  its  bearing  upon  the  im- 
mortal interests  of  man ; — "  The  first  minister  of  state 
has  not  so  much  business  in  public,  as  a  wise  man 
has  in  private  ;  if  the  one  have  little  leisure  to  be 
alone,  the  other  has  little  leisure  to  be  in  company ; 
the  one  has  but  part  of  the  affairs  of  one  nation, 
the  other  all  the  works  of  God  and  nature  under 
his  consideration."  What  is  the  cultivation  of  even 
some  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  when  compared  with 
the  cultivation  of  the  mind  and  the  improvement  of 
the  heart?  The  "One  thing  needful,"  combines  with 
it — "This  one  thing  I  do." 

The  Connexion  at  home  being  still  in  a  perplexed 
state,  and  the  annual  Conference  being  about  to  com- 
mence its  sittings,  Mr.  Dawson  wrote  to  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Taylor,  the  President,  July  21,  and  still  lived 
in  anticipation  of  peace  and  prosperity.  No  state  of 
things,  however,  caused  him  for  a  moment  to  relax  his 
exertions  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-creatures. 
He  felt  the  labour  hard,  but  never  complained. 
Between  the  close  of  September  and  the  beginning  of 
October,  he  exclaimed,  on  reaching  home, — "A  laborious 
week !  but,  praise  the  Lord !  my  strength  has  been  equal 
to  my  work."  No  wonder  that  he  should  feel.  He 
had  been  engaged  the  whole  of  the  Friday  in  "  leading 
oats  out  of  the  Marlpit  Field,"  after  which  he  went  to 
Leeds,  where  he  took  the  mail  at  nine  o'clock  the  same 
evening,  and  did  not  arrive  at  Bedford  till  one  o'clock 
the  next  day.  On  the  Sunday,  he  preached  three 


404  MEMOIRS    OF 

sermons  in  Bedford; — three  more  at  Ridgemount  on 
the  Monday ; — one  at  St.  Ives  on  the  Tuesday,  and 
attended  a  missionary  meeting ; — delivered  two  more 
at  Littleport  on  the  "Wednesday; — the  same  number 
at  Up  well,  in  Norfolk,  on  the  Thursday  ;  — thence 
to  Wisbeach ;  —  from  "Wisbeach  to  Newark  on  the 
Friday ; — from  the  last  of  which  places,  he  set  off  at 
half-past  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  reached  home  on 
the  Saturday.  The  next  day,  he  was  again  in  the 
pulpit,  preaching  twice  in  his  regular  appointment. 
Though  the  repetition  of  these  extraordinary  exer- 
tions may  be  in  danger  of  palling  in  some  instances, 
yet  it  is  in  their  continuity  that  we  see  the  man  ;  and 
in  that  continued  toil,  the  marvel  is,  how  human  nature 
bore  up  under  it  so  long ;  for,  in  his  ardour  of  spirit, 
and  through  his  vehemence,  he  put  as  much  physical 
strength  into  the  delivery  of  one  of  his  sermons,  as  the 
ordinary  run  of  preachers  put  into  half  a  dozen.  It  was 
not  here,  as  stated  by  Tillotson,  in  other  cases, — "  What 
men  want  of  reason  for  their  opinions,  they  usually 
supply  and  make  up  in  rage."  He  never  substituted 
sound  for  sense, — mere  noisy  declamation  and  rant 
for  argument:  nor  was  he  ever  vehement,  but  when 
most  burthened  with  strength  of  thought.  In  the 
esteem  of  some  persons,  "  Great  turns  are  not  always 
given  by  strong  hands,  but  by  lucky  adaptation  and 
at  proper  seasons;"  and  with  these,  "it  is  of  no 
import  where  the  fire  was  kindled,  if  the  vapour  has 
once  got  up  into  the  brain."  But  there  was  no 
"  vapour  "  here  ;  nor  was  it  unimportant  either,  where 
"  the  fire  was  kindled  " — to  accommodate  the  simile  to 
the  present  case  ;  for  fire,  like  the  lights  on  a  stage, 
may  be  lit  up  from  beneath ;  and  it  was  of  prime 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  405 

"  import"  with  Mr.  Dawson,  that  his  fire  should  proceed 
from  the  heart,  and  that  the  altar  there  should  receive  its 
warmth  from  above.  And  others  than  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odists, had  no  objection  to  warm  themselves  at  such 
fires.  Hence,  at  Wisbeach,  Nov.  5th,  after  preaching 
in  the  Wesleyan  chapel,  he  remarks,  that  in  the  evening 
he  "  preached  in  the  Calvinistic  chapel,  on  '  Wherefore 
the  rather,  brethren,  give  diligence  to  make  your  calling 
and  election  sure,'"  &c.,  2  Pet.  i.  10;  a  perilous  text 
for  an  Arminian  to  take  in  a  Calvinistic  pulpit !  But 
Mr.  Dawson  had  the  good  sense  to  waive  all  minor 
matters  on  debateable  ground,  and  to  deal  out  the 
essentials  of  religion  in  which  all  agreed. 

It  is  not  to  be  omitted,  however,  that,  on  another 
occasion,  he  was  on  the  point  of  a  breach  of  religious 
courtesy,  in  a  chapel  belonging  to  the  particular  Bap- 
tists, when  assisting  at  a  missionary  meeting.  He 
took  up  the  subject  of  the  "Sower,"  scattering  his  seed 
— quoting  appropriate  passages  of  Scripture  for  his  pur- 
pose— and  imitating  the  sower  in  his  action.  On  coming 
to  that  text — "  He  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and 
not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of " — he  sud- 
denly turned  round  to  the  Baptist  minister,  who  sat 
behind  him,  and  repeated,  hesitatingly,  but  with  an 
expressive,  cheerful  look, — "of — of —of — of;"  then 
wheeling  again  to  the  congregation,  who  perceived  where 
he  was,  and  smiled  at  his  manner,  he  added,  with 
another  evolution  of  the  body,  while  bending  his  eye 
once  more  on  the  worthy  pastor, — "of  the  whole  world;" 
further  observing,  "It  is  there  ;  I  cannot  help  it ;  do  with 
it  what  you  like."  Being  asked  the  reason  of  his  conduct 
in  the  evening,  he  replied,  that  he  felt  completely 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  his  subject,  and  being 


406  MEMOIRS    OF 

accustomed  to  congregations  of  his  own  people,  in  chapels 
of  all  forms  and  sizes,  he  forgot  every  thing  but  his 
work,  and  just  at  the  moment  he  had  proceeded  half 
way  with  the  passage  in  question,  he  recollected  where 
he  was,  and  immediately  drew  up — hesitated — but 
found  he  had  gone  too  far  to  recede  without  being  per- 
ceived, and  of  either  laying  himself  open  to  the  charge  of 
cowardice,  of  defending  his  creed,  or  of  incurring  the 
displeasure  of  the  good  people,  who  might  construe  it 
into  a  designed  insult ;  and  therefore  it  was,  that  he 
had  recourse  in  his  haste  to  the  expedient,  which  he 
was  happy  to  find,  from  the  expression  of  the  meeting, 
produced  pleasure  rather  than  pain.  Though  he  escaped 
censure,  there  is  great  truth  in  the  remark  of  an 
elegant  writer,  that  "  the  greatest  parts,  without  dis- 
cretion," may  be  fatal  to  their  owners  ;  a  Polyphemus, 
deprived  of  his  eye,  was  only  the  more  exposed  on 
account  of  his  enormous  strength  and  stature. 

As  he  often  manifested  great  dexterity  in  extricating 
himself  out  of  a  difficulty,  he  was  no  less  adroit  in 
taking  the  edge  from  off  a  disappointment ;  though  no 
man  had  less  occasion  to  do  it  than  himself,  in  the  case 
to  be  introduced,  owing  to  his  popularity.  Having  to 
supply  the  place  of  the  Rev.  R.  N.  at  Lofthouse,  near 
Guisborough,  he  opened  his  sermon  with — :"  In  looking 
over  the  Bankrupt  Gazette,  we  find  that  failures  are 
very  common  now-a-days.  If  people  pay  ten  shillings 
in  the  pound,  it  is  considered  very  fair ;  fifteen  is 
deemed  handsome.  You  expected  Mr.  N. ;  he,  though 
altogether  unavoidable  on  his  part,  has  failed  you. 
Never  mind ;  let  us  look  up  to  heaven  for  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  and  we  shall  have  twenty  shillings  in  the 
pound,  notwithstanding."  This  not  only  gave  him 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  407 

ready  access  to  the  good  feelings  of  his  hearers,  gene- 
rally, but  at  once  arrested  attention,  and  furnished  him 
with  a  fine  opportunity  of  enforcing  the  advice  of  Sir 
Matthew  Hale  ;  "  Run  not  into  debt,  either  for  wares 
sold  or  money  borrowed  ;  be  content  to  want  things 
that  are  not  of  absolute  necessity,  rather  than  to  run  up 
the  score  :  such  a  man  pays  at  the  latter  end  a  third 
part  more  than  the  principal  comes  to,  and  is  in  per- 
petual servitude  to  his  creditors ;  lives  uncomfortably ; 
is  necessitated  to  increase  his  debts,  to  stop  his  creditors' 
mouths  ;  and  many  times  falls  into  desperate  courses." 

Exclusive  of  opening  Dringholm,  West  Bromwich, 
Kirkstall,  Ruddington,  Hemmingbrough,  Yeadon,  and 
Guisely  chapels,  together  with  that  of  Oxford-place, 
Leeds,  he  preached  occasional  sermons  in  far  on 
to  one  hundred  other  places,  including  Whitby, 
Beverley,  Broomsgrove,  Shrewsbury,  Kidderminster, 
Birmingham,  Leicester,  Darlington,  Macclesfield,  Hud- 
dersfield,  Lincoln,  Halifax,  Birstal,  Doncaster,  Leek, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,  Grantham,  Leighton  Buzzard,  Cam- 
bridge, Woolwich,  Burslem,  &c.,  &c.,  repeating  his 
visits  to  Nottingham,  Manchester,  and  London,  in  the 
course  of  the  year.  At  the  close  of  his  last  Metropo- 
litan journey,  in  connection  with  which  were  several 
other  places,  requiring  a  succession  of  hard  labour,  his 
heart  was  filled  with  "  melody  to  the  Lord,"  saying, 
"  Praise  the  Lord  !  he  hath  done  all  things  well." 

On  Christmas  Eve,  which  was  two  days  after  his 
return,  an  interesting  Tea  Meeting  was  held,  in  the 
vestry  of  Brunswick  Chapel,  Leeds,  of  the  Committees 
and  friends  of  the  Juvenile  Missionary  Society  for  the 
Leeds  East  Circuit.  The  room  was  tastefully  decorated 
with  evergreens,  and  the  tables  were  amply  furnished 


408  MEMOIRS    OF 

with  provisions  suited  for  the  season.  Tea  being 
finished,  the  Rev.  Robert  Newton  was  called  to  the 
chair,  who  introduced  the  business  of  the  evening 
in  a  very  appropriate  speech,  distinguished  for  its 
manly  eloquence.  He  stated  that  the  object  of  the 
meeting  was  to  present  Mr.  Dawson  with  a  copy  of 
Dr.  Adam  Clarke's  Commentary,  as  a  testimony  of 
their  regard  for  his  exertions  in  the  Missionary  cause. 
He  alluded  to  Mr.  Dawson's  unremitted  exertions  in  the 
service  of  the  Leeds  Juvenile  Missionary  Society,  and 
stated  that,  with  one  exception,  he  had  every  year 
attended  its  anniversary  since  its  establishment  in 
1816.  Mr.  Newton  concluded  by  calling  upon  Mr. 
Alfred  Brigg,  the  Treasurer,  who,  after  a  few  short 
but  appropriate  remarks,  formally  presented  Mr.  Daw- 
son  with  the  Commentary,  on  behalf  of  the  Committees. 
Mr.  Dawson  then  rose,  and  in  a  very  suitable  manner 
acknowledged  the  reception  of  the  gift.  He  adverted 
at  considerable  length,  to  the  advantages  resulting 
from  an  early  cultivation  of  religion — and  strongly 
deprecated  the  conduct  of  those  who  slighted  the 
ordinances,  and  were  ashamed  of  the  practice  of  the 
religion  of  their  parents.  The  Rev.  W.  Vevers, 
R.  Young,  and  W.  Barton,  together  with  Messrs.  T. 
Denham,  J.  H.  Gibson,  M.  H.  Davis,  and  D.  C. 
Roadhouse,  severally  addressed  the  meeting.  Thanks 
were  given  to  Mr.  Newton,  the  chairman,  and  after 
singing  the  doxology,  Mr.  Dawson  concluded  the 
meeting  with  prayer.  In  order  to  avoid  crowd  and 
confusion  at  the  meeting,  the  number  of  tickets  issued 
was  limited  to  250,  but  so  great  was  the  interest 
excited,  that  double  the  number  could  have  been  dis- 
posed of.  Several  friends  actually  offered  five  times 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  409 

their  price,  but  were  unable  to  be  accommodated. 
The  Commentary  was  the  last  edition,  published  by 
Tegg  and  Son,  in  six  volumes  4to.  It  was  handsomely 
bound  in  Russia  leather,  gilt  lettered,  and  with  gilt 
edges.  Within  the  back  of  the  first  volume  was  the 
following  inscription,  in  gilt  letters  ;  — "  Presented  to 
Mr.  William  Dawson,  of  Barnbow,  by  the  Committees 
of  the  Juvenile  Missionary  Society,  Leeds  East  Circuit, 
as  a  testimony  of  their  regard  for  his  indefatigable, 
disinterested,  and  successful  exertions  in  the  cause  of 
Missions.  Deer.  24th,  1835." 

Having  attended  the  Bradford  Juvenile  Missionary 
Society  for  a  series  of  years,  he  was  presented  by  the 
Committee  of  that  Society  with  the  Works  of  Arminius, 
as  a  similar  token  of  respect  for  character,  and  a  grate- 
ful remembrance  of  his  services.  His  friend,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Galland,  A.M.,  sent  him  the  Rev.  Richard 
Watson's  Exposition,  as  far  as  the  revered  author 
had  proceeded  with  it.  His  language  on  the  first  of 
these  occasions,  in  a  private  memorandum,  is, — "  O, 
my  Lord,  thou  knowest,  I  am  an  unprofitable  servant. 
I  would  render  all  back  to  thee."  These  humbling 
views  of  his  services  were  evident  indications  of  his 
increasing  piety,  and  are  the  more  to  be  relied  upon 
for  their  sincerity,  from  the  circumstance  of  their 
not  having  been  addressed  to  the  ear  of  any  one, — 
and  so  exposed  to  the  charge  of  "voluntary  humility," 
or  penned  for  the  sake  of  inspection,  but  uttered 
in  his  communings  with  God,  and  not  expected  to 
proceed  beyond  his  own  notice ;  and  thus  illustra- 
tive of  the  fact,  that  — "  The  best  way  to  prove 
the  clearness  of  our  mind,  is  by  shewing  its  faults ; 
as  when  a  stream  discovers  the  dirt  at  the  bottom, 
s 


410  MEMOIRS    OF 

it    convinces   us   of   the   transparency   and  purity   of 
the  water." 

Two  days  after  the  presentation  of  Dr.  Clarke's 
Commentary,  he  called  upon  Mr.  Scarth,  who  com- 
municated to  him  an  "  outline "  of  what  himself 
denominated, — "  the  Sheffield  scheme  ;  "  a  plan  for 
rendering  his  labours  still  more  generally  available 
to  the  missionary  cause,  by  raising  a  fund  for  the 
purpose  of  enabling  him  to  devote  himself  exclusively 
to  the  interests  of  the  Wesleyan  Connexion,  and  in 
reference  to  which  his  prayer  to  God  was, — "Thy 
will  be  done. "  A  Meeting  of  several  of  the  friends 
was  held  in  Leeds,  Feb.  5,  1836 ;  and  a  circular, 
containing  a  list  of  subscribers  of  one  guinea  each, 
was  issued  Feb.  20,  embracing  a  view  of  the  object, 
together  with  certain  Resolutions  to  forward  it,  and 
so  constituting  a  new  era  in  his  personal  history.*  The 
circular  was  afterwards  inserted  in  the  Wesleyan  Meth. 
Mag.,  1836,  pp.  296,  311. 

"  Leeds,  February  20th,  1836. 

*  "  DEAR  SIR. — I  beg  to  submit  to  your  kind  consideration  the  subjoined 
Statement  and  Resolutions ;  and  most  respectfully  suggest,  that,  if  you  approve 
of  our  object,  you  will  kindly  aid  us  in  its  accomplishment. 

I  am,  Dear  Sir,  (on  behalf  of  the  Committee) 

Tour's  very  respectfully, 

W.  G.  SCARTH. 

"  At  the  suggestion  of  many  Preachrrs  and  Gentlemen  of  various  Circuits, 
(particularly  of  the  two  Sheffield  Circuits,)  who  have  long  thought  it  desirable 
that  such  arrangements  should  be  made  in  reference  to  Mr.  WILLIAM  DAW- 
SON,  of  Barnbow,  as  would  enable  him  to  spend  the  evening  of  his  life 
unencumbered  with  temporal  anxiety,  and  entirely  at  liberty  for  those  occa- 
sional religious  services,  to  which  he  is  so  frequently  called, — in  which  he  so 
much  delights, — and  which,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  have  been  rendered  so 
efficient  in  the  support  of  the  WESLEYAN  METHODIST  CHAPELS,  SABBATH 
SCHOOLS,  and  FOREIGN  MISSIONS; — services  which  have  been  long  con- 
tinued,— at  great  personal  sacrifice  and  inconvenience — and  for  which,  any 
thing  that  can  be  done  to  promote  his  comfort,  will  form  but  a  very  inadequate 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  411 

Adverting  to  the  subject,  in  a  conversation  with  the 
biographer,  he  observed, — "  I  am  as  comfortable  at 
present  on  my  farm  as  I  need  to  be.  Home  has 

remuneration : — A  Meeting  of  a  few  friends  of  the  two  Leeds  Circuits  was  held 
in  the  vestry  of  Brunswick  Chapel,  in  the  Leeds  East  Circuit,  February  5th, 
1836:— 

ALDERMAN  SCARTH  IN  THE  CHAIR. 

"  IT  WAS  UNANIMOUSLY  RESOLVED. — 1st.  That  to  promote  the  object  con- 
templated by  the  friends  of  Mr.  Dawson,  it  would  be  highly  creditable  to  the 
Wesleyan  Connexion,  to  raise  by  voluntary  subscriptions  not  less  than  the 
Sum  of  Four  Thousand  Guineas,  to  be  invested  with  the  General  Treasurers 
of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  on  condition  that  they  allow  to  Mr.  Daw- 
son,  an  annuity  of  Two  Hundred  Pounds,  during  the  term  of  his  natural  life  ; 
and  at  his  decease,  an  annuity  of  Fifty  Pounds  to  his  brother,  Thomas  Daw- 
son,  should  he  be  the  survivor,  (who  is  fifty  years  of  age,  and  from  peculiar 
circumstances  dependant  on  his  brother),  during  the  term  of  his  natural  life . 
— The  said  sum  of  Four  Thousand  Guineas  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  saiJ 
Treasurers  for  the  time  being,  for  the  purchase  or  erection  of  suitable  premises 
for  a  Mission  House,  Offices,  &c.,  for  the  transaction  of  the  general  business 
of  the  Society,  in  London;  or  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  Wesleyan 
Missionary  Society,  as  the  Committee  may  deem  expedient. 

"  2nd.  That  in  order  to  allow  the  numerous  friends  of  Mr.  Dawson  to  unite 
in  this  testimony  of  affection  for  him,  and  express  their  estimation  of  his 
valuable  services,  no  single  subscription  is  expected  to  exceed  One  Guinea, 
but  any  smaller  sum  will  be  thankfully  received. 

"  3rd.  That  these  Resolutions  be  addressed  (by  circular)  to  every  Super- 
intendent Preacher  in  England ;  and  that  he  be  requested  to  adopt  such 
measures  in  his  Circuit,  as  he  judges  most  likely  to  promote  the  object 
proposed. 

"4th.  That  William  Gilyard  Scarth,  Esq.,  be  appointed  General  Treasurer. 
It  is  desirable  that  such  Subscriptions  should  be  forwarded  by  the  1st  of 
June,  1836,  at  the  latest. 

"  5th.  That  the  following  persons  form  a  Committee  (with  power  to  add  to 
their  number)  to  carry  these  Resolutions  into  effect,  viz : — all  the  Itinerant 
Preachers  in  the  two  Leeds  Circuits,  with  W.  G.  Scarth,  Esq.,  F.  Marris, 
Esq.,  J.  Hargrave,  Esq.,  John  Burton,  Esq.,  Joshua  Burton,  Esq.,  3.  Sykes, 
Esq.,  W.  Smith,  Esq.,  J.  Ogle,  Esq.,  Messrs.  C.  Turkington,  B.  Stocks,  C. 
Smith,  T.  Bell,  M.  Outhwaite,  S.  Tarbotton,  B.  R.  Vickers,  T.  Mawson, 
R.  Scartb,  B.  Stocks,  jun.,  W.  D.  Bootbman,  D.  Underwood,  and  T.  Simpson, 
»f  the  Leeds  East  Circuit :  and  J.  Musgrave,  Esq.,  B.  Beverley,  Esq.,  Messrs. 
J.  Howard,  C.  Dove,  W.  Dove,  C.  Watson,  J.  Ramsden,  J.  Patrick,  E.  Joy, 
S.  Watson,  H.  Spink,  J.  Raynar,  G.  Reinhardt,  J.  N.  Brigg,  J.  Walton,  T. 
Holt,  J.  Thackrah,  C.  Bowes,  W.  Haley,  J.  Richardson,  S.  Holmes,  B. 
Dewsbury,  J.Johnson,  R.  Ripley,  S.  Whalley,  and  E.  Heaton,  of  the  Leeds 
West  Circuit. -W.  G.  SCARTH,  CHAIRMAN." 


412  MEMOIRS    OF 

many  endearments.  The  house  was  built  by  my 
father;  the  family  have  lived  in  it  for  a  period  of 
sixty  years;  and  I  shall  have  to  give  up  my  classes, 
to  the  members  of  which  I  feel  strongly  attached. 
With  me,  it  is  a  hard  struggle.  I  only  wish  to  know 
the  will  of  God; — that  once  known,  I  can  make  any 
sacrifice.  The  question  has  come  to  this, — In  which 
of  the  two  situations  shall  I  be  able  most  to  honour 
God,  and  unreservedly  consecrate  myself  to  his  ser- 
vice ?  But  the  scheme  begun  at  Sheffield,  seems 
likely  to  be  spoiled  at  Leeds,  by  confining  the  sub- 
scription within  a  guinea,  and  so  depriving  the  mis- 
sionary cause  of  the  advantage  of  higher  sums." 

One  of  his  friends  informed  him,  that  the  fund 
proceeded  but  slowly  in  his  neighbourhood,  and  plea- 
santly added, — "If  you  cannot  obtain  .£200  per  annum, 
you  must  be  content  to  sit  down,  like  a  supernumerary, 
with  .£100."  Mr.  Dawson,  who  did  not  altogether 
relish  the  jocularity,  returned — as  he  stated  to  the 
writer, — "There  is  a  difference  between  my  case  and 
that  of  a  supernumerary.  The  latter  receives  .£200  for 
sitting  down;  whereas  I  am  to  receive  aGlOO  for 
rising  up.  At  present,  I  am  in  a  state  of  inde- 
pendence ;  then,  I  shall  be  at  the  call  of  every  one. 
Besides,  I  may  now  be  considered  in  the  decline  of 
life,  and  shall  soon  work  myself  out."  For  a  con- 
siderable time,  he  was  in  great  suspense  respecting 
the  propriety  of  giving  up  his  farm,  as  proper  notice 
was  requisite,  and  some  time  would  have  to  elapse 
before  he  could  sell  his  stock,  &c. ; — such  a  measure 
being  exceedingly  impolitic,  should  the  "  scheme " 
not  succeed;  and  yet  much  time  would  be  lost  in 
the  event  of  its  success,  on  leaving  the  whole  till  then. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  413 

After  some  time  elapsed,  another  circular  was  issued, 
to  awaken  the  attention  of  the  friends  to  the  suhject ;  * 
but  this  second  appeal  was  still  not  equal,  in  effect, 
to  what  might  have  been  anticipated,  especially  when 
it  is  considered,  that  it  was  made  to  a  people  imbued 
with  a  missionary  spirit,  and  that  the  prime  object 
of  the  measure  was  to  promote  the  interest  of  the 
missionary  cause. 

In  observing  to  his  friend,  as  in  a  preceding  para- 
graph, that  he  was  "now  in  the  decline  of  life," 

*DEAR  SIR. — I  beg  to  submit  to  your  kind  consideration  our  renewed 
appeal,  with  the  subjoined  statement  and  Resolutions,  respecting  the  Daw- 
sonian  Fund ;  and  as  this  measure  has  received  the  sanction  of  the  Conference, 
we  hope  that  you  will  make  such  arrangements  in  your  Circuit,  as  you  may 
deem  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  our  object. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  (on  behalf  of  the  Committee), 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

W.  G.  SCABTH,  TREASURER. 
Leeds,  Nov.  1st,  1836. 

DAWSONIAN  FUND. — "  The  Committee  for  securing  an  Annuity  for  Mr. 
DAWSON,  deem  it  expedient  to  renew  their  application  to  their  friends,  with  a 
view  to  the  immediate  accomplishment  of  their  object.  They  gladly  embrace 
this  opportunity  to  present  their  thanks  to  those  Preachers  and  friends  who 
have  kindly  co-operated  with  them  ;  and  are  happy  to  state  that  the  Subscrip- 
tions already  received  by  their  Treasurer  amount  to  the  sum  of  £1,500. 

"  While  the  Committee  have  pleasure  in  stating  this  fact — they  regret  to  find 
that  the  ultimate  appropriation  of  the  total  amount  of  the  Subscriptions,  '  for 
the  purchase  or  erection  of  suitable  premises  for  a  MISSION  HOUSE,  OFFICES, 
&c. ;  or  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  as  the 
Committee  may  deem  expedient,''  as  stated  in  their  original  Resolutions,  a  copy 
of  which  they  subjoin,  has  been  in  some  cases  overlooked  :  they  must  there- 
fore remind  their  friends,  that  though  their  first  object  is  to  secure  for  Mr. 
Dawson  such  a  provision  as  they  deem  desirable,  and  thus  to  secure  to  the 
Methodist  Connexion  the  entire  services  of  one  who  has  already  rendered  such 
efficient  aid,  by  his  labours  in  the  pulpit  and  on  the  platform,  to  Sabbath 
Schools,  embarrassed  Chapels,  and  Wesleyan  Missions  ;  yet  their  ultimate 
object  is  to  secure  to  the  WESLEYAN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  the  entire  amount 
of  the  sum  to  be  raised.  This  part  of  the  Plan  they  find  it  necessary  to  bring 
in  the  most  prominent  manner  before  the  attention  of  their  friends. 

"  The  Committe  have  also  reason  to  believe  that  some  friends  have  not 
contributed  to  this  Fund,  from  an  apprehension  that  to  institute  a  subscription 
of  a  connexional  character,  without  previously  obtaining  the  approbation  of 


414  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  was  reminded  of  this,  by  certain  symptoms  of 
physical  decay.  He  had  lost  some  of  his  front  teeth, 
which  slightly  affected  his  articulation,  particularly  in 
moments  of  rapidity,  and  when  highly  impassioned. 
His  sight  also  was  now  such  as  to  compel  him  to 
resort  to  the  occasional  use  of  glasses.  Looking  across 
the  table  at  the  writer  one  day,  during  dinner,  he 
smiled,  and  said,  in  reference  to  the  first  defect, — 
"My  grindstones  do  not  fit  each  other."  And  in 

the  Conference,  was  establishing  a  precedent  which  might  be  very  objection- 
able :  they  are,  however,  happy  to  state,  that  the  subject  was  considered  at  the 
last  Conference  .-—and  they  now  renew  their  appeal  with  the  sanction  of  that 
Body :  and  without  any  wish  to  institute  any  invidious  comparison  between 
Mr.  Dawson  and  any  other  member  of  the  Methodist  Connexion,  they  hesitate 
not  to  avow  it  as  their  deliberate  conviction,  that  Mr.  Dawson,  during  the 
last  twenty  years,  has  served  the  interests  of  the  whole  Wesleyan  Connexion, 
by  his  labours  for  SCHOOLS,  CHAPELS,  and  MISSIONS,  at  an  expense  of  time, 
personal  convenience,  and  even  of  pecuniary  sacrifice,  to  which  no  other  lay 
gentleman  can  make  the  slightest  pretensions.  But  while  the  Committee 
unequivocally  express  their  opinion,  that  Mr.  Dawson  is  legitimately  entitled 
to  consideration  for  his  past  services,  yet  they  ground  their  present  appeal, 
chiefly  upon  the  increased  facilities  of  usefulness  which  will  be  given  to  their 
esteemed  friend,  by  relieving  him  from  the  care  and  attention  connected  with 
the  management  of  his  farm, — and  enabling  him  to  devote  the  residue  of  his 
days  to  the  bests  interests  of  humanity,  and  the  welfare  of  the  Methodist  Con- 
nexion. 

"The  Committee  in  their  first  appeal,  thought  it  expedient  to  limit  the 
Subscription  to  One  Guinea,  anticipating  that  many  of  their  friends  would 
subscribe  for  the  members  of  their  families,  which  in  many  instances  has  been 
the  case ;  but  they  now  withdraw  that  limitation,  and  will  be  happy  to  receive 
Subscriptions  to  any  amount,  which  the  services  of  Mr.  Dawson,  and  the 
ultimate  application  of  the  money  to  Missionary  purposes,  may  induce  them 
to  contribute. 

"  In  again  submitting  this  subject  to  the  consideration  of  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Dawson  and  of  Wesleyan  Missions,  the  Committee  are  only  influenced  by  a 
desire  to  extend  his  usefulness  :  and  place  at  the  disposal  of  the  Missionary 
Committee,  the  sum  of  Four  Thousand  Guineas,  for  the  general  objects  of  the 
Wesleyan  Missionary  Society. 

"As  it  is  the  intention  of  the  Committee  to  print  an  entire  List  of  Subscrip- 
tions with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  they  respectfully  request,  that  any  money 
received  tor  this  Fund,  may  he  forwarded  to  the  Treasurer,  W.  G.  SCARTH, 
Esq.,  Leeds,  by  December  21st.,  at  the  latest ;  by  whom,  and  also  by  the 
Itinerant  Preachers,  in  their  respective  circuits,  Subscriptions  will  be  received. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  415 

reference  to  the  last,  he  said, — "  The  first  time  I 
detected  a  failure  in  my  sight,  was  when  I  was  at- 
tempting to  mend  a  pen." 

Yet  no  symptom  of  decay,  whatever  might  be  its 
nature,  was  ever  rendered  available  as  an  excuse  for 
him  to  abridge  his  labours :   and  hence — for  it  is  a 
matter  of  curiosity,   as  well  as   personal  history,   to 
recur  to  such  things,  we  find  him  in  the  course  of 
the    year    at   Darlington,    Stokesley,    Sheffield,    New 
Basford,    Nottingham,   Congleton,    Heywood,    Salford, 
Ripon,  Belper,  Derby,  Clifford,  Malton,  High  Town, 
Almonbury,    Colne,    Conningby,    Middleton,    Oldham, 
Dudley  Hill,  Tadcaster,  Coventry,  Wellington,  Walsal, 
Broomsgrove,  Birmingham,  Barnsley,  Gainsbro,  Caw- 
thorne,   Skipton,   Towcester,  Northampton,  Leicester, 
Sandiacre,  Yarm,  Middleham,  Newton,  Bolton,  Burnley, 
Tanfield,  Northallerton,  Woodhouse  Grove,  Rawcliffe, 
Macclesfield,  Manchester,  Norfolk,  Downham,  Thelford, 
Little  Port,  Spalding,  Boston,  Ashley,  Draycott,  Key- 
worth,    Greetland,    Rothwell,    Killinghall,    Brompton, 
Whitby,  Swinefleet,  Birstal,  Thome,  Doncaster,  Leek, 
Yeadon,  Cheadle,  "Wensley,  Otley,  Wetherby,  Gotham, 
Bedford,  Dunstable,  St.  Ives,  Daventry,  Banbury,  New- 
castle-on-Tyne,   Blakely,    Carville,   Carlisle,  Tockwith, 
Glass  Houghton,   Louth,  North  Sumercote,  Grimsby, 
Loughbro,'  Markfield,  Biggleswade,  London,  Brentford, 
Colchester,   Lambeth,   Stoke,   Pontefract,   Longholme, 
Rochdale,  Burslem,  Newcastle-under-Lyne,  and  Brad- 
ford :  and  at  some  of  these  places,  two  or  three  times, 
as   usual.     In   the   course   of  one   of  these  journies, 
which  occupied  seven  of  the  hottest  days  of  the  year, 
he  was  engaged  in  ten  public  services,  in  five  different 
places,  wide  apart  from  each  other,  and  travelled  242 


416  MEMOIRS    OF 

miles.  And  yet,  this  is  not  equal  to  another  journey, 
in  autumn,  when,  in  eight  days,  in  six  places  still 
more  remote  from  each  other,  he  engaged  in  thirteen 
sen-ices,  and  travelled  432  miles,  and  nearly  the  whole 
by  the  regular  coaches.  But,  in  a  general  way,  how- 
ever arduous  his  duties,  he  returned  home  more  like 
a  person  who  had  been  indulging  himself  with  the 
recreation  of  a  morning  walk,  than  one  who  had  been 
engaged  in  Herculean  toil;  giving  utterance  to  such 
sentiments  as  these ; — "  Travelling  is  meat  and  drink 
to  me." — "Left  Carlisle  a  quarter  before  eight  o'clock, 
(Oct.  12),  by  the  Glasgow  mail;  on  the  outside;  a 
tremendous  wet  night ;  but  blessed  be  God,  I  took 
no  harm.  Hallelujah." — "Returned  home;  all  well, 
and  in  health.  Praise  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits!" 
Here  was  spirit  in  its  most  buoyant  state ;  not  in  the 
perverted  sense  in  which  the  term  is  employed  in  the 
fashionable  world,  when  it  is  said,  that  a  man  acts 
with  spirit,  when  acting  rashly  and  indiscreetly ;  but 
the  man  who  shews  his  spirit  by  words  of  love,  and 
resolute  actions, — who  burns  without  consuming,  and 
knows  nothing  of  timidity  while  there  is  work  to 
perform,  and  strength  to  accomplish  it. 

An  extract  from  Mr.  R.  M.  Beverley's  "Letters 
on  the  present  state  of  the  visible  Church  of  Christ," 
— referring  to  an  "  itinerant  revivalist "  having  at  this 
time  been  so  arranged  in  juxta-position  with  editorial 
remarks,  in  the  columns  of  one  of  the  public  jour- 
nals, as  to  lead  to  a  supposition  that  it  "referred 
to  Mr.  Dawson,  the  well  known  preacher  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodists ; "  Mr.  Beverley,  to  prevent  such 
a  mistake,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Editor,  in  which 
he  observed, — "  I  beg  to  state,  that  my  remarks  in 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  417 

that  extract  have  no  reference  to  Mr.  Dawson,  whose 
character  I  much  esteem,  and  whose  talents  as  a 
preacher,  both  In  natural  eloquence,  powers  of  pathos, 
and  originality  of  thought,  do,  in  my  judgment,  entitle 
him  to  a  high  station  among  pulpit  orators." 

He  assisted  in  the  services  of  opening  a  chapel  at 

,  Wellington,  at  Glass-Houghton,  and  a  new  School-Room 

at  Garforth,  with  a  few  extra  journies, — one  of  them 

to  Hull  and   Lincolnshire   with  his   endeared  friend, 

the  Rev.  Thomas  Galland,  which  closed  the  year. 

Like  the  good  man,  who  is  not  only  devising  liberal 
things,  but  doing  them,  Mr.  Dawson  started  the  year 
1837,  by  going  "to  Parlington,  to  solicit  Mr.  Gas- 
coigne  to  give  a  little  ground  for  a  chapel  at  Saxton." 
But  not  finding  him  at  home,  he  wrote  a  letter  to 
him  on  the  subject  the  next  day, — not  omitting  to 
pray, — "Lord,  give  success."  The  application  was 
successful ;  for  soon  after,  he  had  to  remark,  on  a 
second  visit, — "  I  went  to  Parlington  respecting  ground 
for  Saxton  chapel,  when  Mr.  Gascoigne,  in  the  most 
gentlemanly  manner,  gave  leave  for  ground  to  be 
selected  for  the  purpose.  Hallelujah. "  His  notes, 
however,  were  on  a  less  elevated  key  the  day  fol- 
lowing ;  observing, — "  I  went  by  Parlington  to  Saxton, 
with  Mr.  Fox,  when  he  made  such  propositions,  and 
started  such  objections,  as  sunk  our  hopes.  Lord, 
help ! "  By  the  resistless  force  of  perseverance,  he 
at  length  completed  his  object. 

Returning  from  a  journey  to  Derby,  West  Brom- 
wich,  Coventry,  and  Tipton  Green,  in  the  month  of 
February,  he  had  immediately  to  set  to  work,  and  with 
"the  hand  of  a  ready  writer,"  to  answer  nineteen  letters 
with  which  he  was  greeted  on  entering  the  house. 
s2 


418  MEMOIRS    OF 

Between  two  and  three  weeks  after  this,  he  went 
to  Haslingdon,  in  connection  with  some  other  places, 
and  was  there  during  the  "  Hoppings. "  *  But  taking 
the  "  Horrible  pit "  for  one  of  his  subjects,  and 
"Escape  for  thy  life,"  for  another,  he  spoiled  the 
hoppings  of  some  who  had  repaired  to  the  place  for 
amusement.  May  3rd,  he  preached  two  sermons  in 
the  Independant  chapel,  at  St.  Albans,  and  made 
collections  for  the  benefit  of  the  Wesleyan  Trust  in 
that  place ; — another  instance  of  liberality  to  be  added 
to  those  which  have  preceded.  On  the  14th  of  the 
same  month,  he  opened  a  new  chapel  at  Mirfield,  near 
Dewsbury. 

During  the  summer  months  of  this  year,  he  preached 
more  frequently  out  of  doors  than  usual,  owing  to 
the  crowded  state  of  the  chapels,  particularly  in  Nor- 
folk, Suffolk,  &c.  Five  of  these  open  air  services 
occurred  in  the  month  of  June.  In  the  same  month 
he  preached  in  the  Calvinist  chapel  at  Wellingboro', 
in  Northamptonshire.  We  are  reminded  here,  in  con- 
nection with  the  case  at  St.  Albans,  of  a  saying 
of  Tillotson :  —  "A  good  word  is  an  easy  obliga- 
tion ;  but  not  to  speak  ill,  requires  only  our  silence, 
which  costs  us  nothing. "  These  interchanges  go 
further ;  they  require  the  sacrifice  of  party  .feeling  ; 
and  when  such  kindly  interchanges  take  place  in  a  town, 
they  are  not  only  creditable  to  the  spirit  that  dictates 

*  This  term  is  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  hoppan,  which  signifies  to  leap 
or  dance  Hence,  dancings  in  the  country,  are  called  hops.  The  word,  in  its 
original  meaning,  is  preserved  in  grass-hopper.  Both  were  indulged  in  by  the 
Grecian  youth.  One  was  called  akinetinda,  which  was  a  struggle  between  the 
i-ompetitors,  who  should  stand  longest  motionless  on  the  sole  of  his  foot.  The 
other,  denominated  ascoliasmos,  was  dancing  or  hopping  upon  one  foot ;  the 
i  onqueror  being  he  who  could  hop  the  most  frequently,  and  continue  the  per- 
formance longer  than  any  of  his  comrades. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  419 

them,  but  they  invariably  benefit  the  individuals  con- 
cerned, by  promoting  the  growth  of  Christian  charity. 
Mr.  Dawson  himself  found  his  soul  much  enriched 
by  the  journey,  chanting  his  usual  notes,  on  his 
return  home, — "Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and 
forget  not  all  his  benefits ! " 

The  biographer  having  had  different  interviews  with 
him  in  the  course  of  the  year,  was,  as  usual,  much 
delighted  with  his  society.  The  following  are  a  few 
miscellaneous  remarks,  made  on  different  occasions, 
and  drawn  forth  either  by  particular  circumstances, 
or  the  introduction  of  certain  topics  by  others.  Fic- 
titious feeling  being  the  subject ; — "  It  is  easy  to  detect 
it,"  said  he.  "The  Spirit  of  God  can  no  more  be 
mimicked,  than  the  sun  in  the  firmament.  The  works 
of  God's  fingers,  too,  are  always  to  be  distinguished 
from  the  works  of  man's  hands.  So,  in  the  soul : 
— the  finger  of  God  leaves  a  shine, — the  finger  of 
man  a  soil."  Speaking  of  the  dissensions  of  1834, 
he  remarked, — "  We  never  had  a  doctor  but  once  ; 
and  what  was  the  result?  The  first  year  we  had 
a  storm, — the  second  a  dead  calm, — and  now,  the 
third  year,  a  few  breezes  are  springing  up  here  and 
there. "  He  here  made  a  distinction  between  warding 
off  what-  might  be  deemed  by  some  of  the  best  men, 
as  well  as  by  himself  at  the  first,  the  introduction 
of  either  a  real  or  an  imaginary  evil  into  the  body, 
and  that  of  tampering  with  the  system,  and  so  en- 
dangering the  general  health,  by  an  actual  prostration 
of  strength.  To  ward  off  is  one  thing ;  to  preserve 
what  we  have  is  another.  There  is  no  occasion  for 
a  man  to  destroy  a  valuable  and  extensive  estate, 
because  of  an  attempt  to  add  an  odd  patch  of  land 


420  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  it,  of  which  he  may  not  exactly  approve,  in  con- 
sequence of  it  requiring  a  different  mode  of  cultivation 
from  that  of  which  he  is  already  in  possession,  and 
which  he  may  still  enjoy, — secured  to  him  by  law, 
and  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  of  social  and  public- 
life. 

.  The  race  of  eternal  life  being  adverted  to,  he  said, 
— "Abraham,  Moses,  Peter,  Paul,  and  John,  were  all 
found  in  the  course.  And  for  what  did  they  run  ? 
Abraham  was  running  out  of  the  obscurity  in  which 
he  was  shrouded,  to  see  the  '  day '  of  Christ,  and 
was  glad  to  have  a  glimpse  of  it  in  the  distance ; 
— Moses  run  for  a  '  recompense  of  reward  ; ' — Peter 
for  an  'inheritance,  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away ; ' — Paul  for  an  '  eternal  weight  of 
glory;' — and  John,  that  he  might  be  'like'  Jesus. 
In  an  earthly  race,  people  tire ;  but  here,  they  renew 
their  strength.  The  man  noticed  in  the  seventh  chapter 
of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  was  unable  to  run 
with  '  the  law  of  sin  '  in  his  '  members,'  and  a  '  body 
of  death '  at  his  heels.  But  as  the  first  verse  of  the 
eighth  chapter  necessarily  connects  itself  with  the 
last  of  the  seventh,  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to 
step  across,  and  then  he  was  ready  for  the  race." 
Directing  attention  to  the  "  bruised  reed  "  and  "  smo- 
king flax,"  he  observed,  by  way  of  encouraging  the 
drooping  spirit ; — "  There  is  some  fire,  because  there 
is  smoke.  The  fire  cannot  be  seen;  but  the  smoke 
has  got  into  the  eyes, — the  eyes  begin  to  smart, — 
and  the  penitent  thus  sheds  tears  of  sorrow  before 
the  Lord.  Fear  not.  He  who  has  lit  up  the  spark, 
will  kindle  the  flame." 

" Teetotallism  "  being   introduced,   he   observed: — 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  421 

"Some  of  the  friends  have  ahused  me,  for  not  con- 
fining myself  to  water ;  though  when  I  take  anything 
stronger,  I  take  it  medicinally.  They  insist  upon 
sober  persons  setting  the  example  of  total  abstinence 
to  others.  But  this  is  absurd: — here  are  some  men, 
who  will  not  behave  themselves, — who  will  not  keep 
their  hands  from  picking  and  stealing ;  the  consequence 
is,  that  they  are  handcuffed,  to  prevent  further  depreda- 
tions :  but  here  are  others,  who  not  only  know  how 
to  behave  well,  but,  having  no  temptation  or  inclination 
to  behave  ill,  conduct  themselves  with  propriety.  For 
the  sake  of  example,  however,  and  to  deter  others, 
they  must  wear  handcuffs  too.  Is  there,  I  ask,  any 
reason  why  I  should  become  a  teetotaller,  because 
another  man  gets  drunk  ?  "  An  enquiry  having  been 
made  respecting  the  work  of  God  at  Leeds,  he  replied, 
— "  Our  numbers  do  not  increase  in  the  way  we  had 
a  right  to  expect,  after  the  erection  of  our  new  chapels. 
Some  persons  attribute  this  to  one  cause,  and  some 
to  another.  My  opinion  is,  that  we  have  the  '  Reform 
Bill '  chiefly  to  blame  for  it.  It  introduced  several 
of  our  friends  into  office ;  they  next  began  to  dabble 
in  politics ;  attention  was  soon  divided ;  and  muni- 
cipal business  put  in  its  claim  for  the  time  and  care 
they  formerly  gave  to  the  Church."  Here  is,  at  least, 
an  opinion ;  but  if  it  should  be  founded  on  fact,  then 
a  retreat  becomes  necessary.  At  all  events,  it  is  worth 
an  enquiry  with  such  as  may  feel  interested  in  it  as 
a  question.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  pay  undue 
attention  to  minor  matters,  without  doing  positive 
injury  to  things  of  greater  moment :  and  all  that 
know  anything  of  politics,  are  aware,  according  to 
the  definition  of  an  eminent  statesman,  that — "Political 


422  MEMOIRS    OF 

reason  is  a  computing  principle;  adding,  subtracting, 
multiplying,  and  dividing,  morally,  and  not  meta- 
physically or  mathematically,  true  moral  denomina- 
tions,"— furnishing  the  mind,  when  improperly  indulged, 
with  everlasting  employment  and  vexation. 

Though  Mr.  Dawson  did  not  permit  politics  to 
engross  his  attention,  he  is  not  to  be  considered  as 
totally  indifferent  to  public  affairs,  or  to  his  privileges 
as  a  subject.  No;  Aug.  3rd,  he  is  heard  stating, — 
"I  went  to  Leeds  to  vote  for  Mr.  Wortley."  How- 
ever difficult  it  might  be  to  discover  his  political  bias 
at  Bristol,  when  Mr.  Montgomery  was  in  the  chair, 
it  is  easy  to  perceive  his  creed  in  this  instance.  But 
religion  was  the  atmosphere  in  which  he  loved  to 
breathe :  and  he  expressed  himself  with  greater  plea- 
sure, when,  the  day  before,  he  said, — "I  went  into 
Leeds  in  the  evening  to  witness  the  ordination  of 
the  young  men."  About  the  same  time,  he  preached 
in  the  same  place,  a  funeral  sermon  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Bywater. 

The  criminal  in  the  condemned  cell,  was  a  favourite 
simile  with  him  when  addressing  the  penitent.  But 
he  varied  it,  as  will  be  perceived  in  the  following 
instance ;  and  this  was  the  case  when  he  was  the 
most  impassioned,  as  it  was  then  he  was  most  in 
the  habit  of  extemporizing.  Thus  combining  the  pic- 
torial with  the  pathetic,  in  brief,  broken  sentences, 
to  animate  the  hopes  of  "the  contrite,"  he  exclaimed, 
while  addressing  such, — "The  gospel  is  just  adapted 
to  the  state  of  a  sinner.  The  penitent  says  he  is 
unworthy, — that  it  would  be  presumption  in  him  to 
look  for  pardon.  What!  presumption  to  do  what 
God  commands, — to  take  what  he  offers !  In  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  423 

suitableness  of  the  gospel  to  thy  state, — for  I  address 
myself  to  thee,  poor  penitent,  thou  hast  only  to  advert 
to  the  case  of  the  criminal  in  his  cell,  for  an  illustra- 
tion. The  criminal  is  visited, — he  is  told  that  a  person 
has  left  him  a  thousand  pounds  ; — he  feels  the  kind- 
ness, but  it  avails  him  nothing, — 'to  be  hanged  to- 
morrow ! '  It  is  added,  he  has  become  heir  to  an 
estate, — is  shewn  the  title  deeds, — but  no  comfort, — 
'  to  be  hanged  to-morrow  !  '  The  king's  coronation 
robe  is  thrown  around  him, — but  this  is  only  solemn 
mockery, — '  to  be  hanged  to-morrow  I '  At  length  his 
Majesty's  pardon  arrives; — but  'it  is  too  good  news 
to  be  true  ! '  When  once  persuaded  of  the  fact, — 
then,  '  Oh,  what  a  sovereign  !  Oh,  what  a  sovereign ! 
I  will  bless  him  all  the  days  of  my  life ! '  Yes, 
penitent  spirit,  though  guilty,  the  gospel  offers  thee 
pardon  through  a  Saviour. "  In  this  way,  by  some 
sudden  turn  of  thought,  he  often  depicted  the  de- 
spondings  and  the  rejoicings  of  man  in  separate  states, 
and  in  peculiar  moods. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  SPECIAL  MISSIONARY  COM- 
MITTEE, during  the  Conference,  "W.  G.  Scarth,  Esq., 
who  was  a  member  of  that  Committee,  adverted  to  the 
arrangement  which  had  been  proposed,  in  order  to 
secure  the  entire  services  of  Mr.  Dawson,  both  to  the 
missionary  cause  and  to  the  connexion  generally.  He 
observed,  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  say 
anything  in  reference  to  the  excellent  character  of  Mr. 
Dawson,  which  would  make  a  deeper  impression  than 
had  been  already  made  on  the  minds  of  the  committee. 
"His  past  life,"  said  he,  "especially  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  had  been  devoted — most  disinterestedly 
devoted — to  the  service  of  the  Missionary  Society : 


424  MEMOIRS   OP 

however,  it  had  been  thought  by  many  of  his  personal 
friends,  and  the  friends  of  Missions,  that  if  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  could  be  separated  from  all  secular  cares 
and  concerns,  he  would  be  still  more  able  to  continue 
those  services  which  had  been  so  acceptable  to  the 
connexion  at  large,  and  so  owned  and  blessed  of  God, 
in  raising  the  supplies  which  the  missionary  cause 
required."  Mr.  S.  then  detailed  the  measure  which 
had  been  adopted  by  the  committee  of  the  Dawsonian 
Fund  in  Leeds.  It  appeared  that  the  sum  originally 
proposed  had  not  been  realized,  and  that  not  more  than 
£2,OOQ  had  been  raised,  though  a  few  hundreds  more 
might  probably  be  received,  in  consequence  of  the 
appeal  made  to  the  connexion.  As  it  was  somewhat 
below  the  amount  anticipated,  he  thought  it  reasonable, 
in  placing  it  at  the  disposal  of  the  general  committee, 
to  suggest  that  a  smaller  annuity  than  was  originally 
proposed,  should  be  secured,  both  to  Mr.  Dawson  and 
his  brother,  in  case  the  latter  should  be  the  survivor. 
With  the  amount  named,  Mr.  Dawson  was  perfectly 
satisfied.  He  (Mr.  S.)  thought  it  right  to  state,  that 
this  matter  had  not  been  taken  up  under  the  idea  of 
remunerating  Mr.  Dawson  for  his  past  services.  Mr. 
Dawson  was  not  the  man  to  urge  the  slightest  claim  in 
reference  to  those  services ;  he  himself  would  say,  the 
society  was  welcome  to  them  ;  he  had  his  reward  in  the 
testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  the  approbation  of  God, 
and  the  success  with  which  his  endeavours  had  been 
blessed.  Neither  was  Mr.  Dawson  under  any  circum- 
stances of  necessity  whatever  to  require  any  aid  of  the 
kind  at  the  hands  of  the  society  ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
considered  himself  in  the  hands  of  Providence,  comfort- 
ably circumstanced,  as  to  all  things  needful  for  this 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  425 

life.  The  great  object  of  the  committee  was  to  benefit 
the  missionary  cause,  both  in  reference  to  the  sum  to 
be  raised,  and  the  future  services  of  Mr.  Dawson.  He 
did  not  mean  to  say,  that  the  committee  wished  Mr. 
Dawson' s  labours  to  be  devoted  exclusively  to  mission- 
ary objects,  but  they  did  wish  them  mainly  and 
principally  to  be  employed  for  that  cause;  while  he 
occasionally,  as  at  present,  served  trustees  by  preaching 
at  chapel  anniversaries,  or  pleaded  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion. In  conclusion,  Mr.  S.  stated,  that  as  treasurer, 
he  offered  them  the  money,  upon  the  condition  he  had 
specified.  It  was  remarked  by  other  members,  that 
independent  of  Mr.  Dawson' s  valuable  services,  the  pro- 
position, merely  as  a  matter  of  finance,  ought  to  be 
accepted.  The  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  special 
committee,  and  was  forwarded  for  the  sanction  of  the 
general  committee. 

Mr.  Dawson  wrote  to  the  missionary  committee, 
August  14th,  and  the  following  is  a  copy  of  a  rough 
draught  of  the  letter,  found  among  his  papers : 

"  To  the  Missionary  Committee. — Dear  Brethren. — 
Last  Saturday  the  "Watchman*  fell  into  my  hands, 
when  I  received  the  first  information  of  the  Conference 
discussion  respecting  the  Dawsouian  fund,  so  called  ; 
and  though  I  cannot  give  expression  to  my  gratitude 
for  the  unmerited  and  liberal  intention  of  my  friends, 
yet  one  subject  gives  me  some  little  pain,  and  that  is, 
that  the  sum  of  ,£3,000  has  not  been  raised  to  meet 
the  offer  of  .36 150  towards  my  living  and  expenses.  It 
is  on  this  subject  that  I  feel  the  most  sensible  regret, 
because  it  was  the  benefit  of  the  missionary  cause  that 
conquered  my  will,  and  obtained  my  consent  to  leave  a 

*  The  account  was  published  in  the  number  for  Wednesday,  August  2nd. 


426  MEMOIRS    OF 

comfortable  home — though  with  its  cares,  labours,  and 
forbearances,  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in  the  earth : 
and  my  views  and  feelings  oblige  me  to  confess,  that  I 
shall  reluctantly  embark  in  the  plans  of  the  Conference, 
until  at  least  some  attempt  is  made  to  raise  the  sum  to 
563,000.  I  feel  the  greatest  objection  to  have  the 
deficiency  made  up  from  the  missionary  collections. 
To  make  it  up  from  these,  would  open  the  mouths  of 
our  enemies,  and  would  grieve  the  hearts  of  some  of 
our  best  friends.  If  some  of  our  respectable  friends 
were  apprised  of  my  views  on  this  point,  they  would,  I 
am  inclined  to  think,  be  ready  to  remove  my  scruples 
respecting  it.  This  point  once  settled,  I  should  think 
it  my  duty  to  obey  the  call  of  the  church ;  and,  yield- 
ing to  the  generosity  of  God's  people,  should  put  body 
and  soul  into  the  work,  so  long  as  health  and  strength 
might  be  afforded.  I  am  not  unreasonable,  I  hope,  in 
my  wishes,  that  this  sum  should  be  raised,  as  I  have 
no  present  interest  in  it,  and  the  annuity  would  be 
given — at  least  so  I  suppose,  whether  the  amount  were 
raised  or  not.  Do,  my  brethren,  endeavour  to  meet  my 
request,  by  some  sort  of  appeal  or  statement,  such  as 
may  be  judged  best  by  yourselves.  This  alone  will 
relieve  my  feelings,  and  make  my  way  more  plain  to 
acquiesce  in  the  wishes  of  the  friends. 

"I  was  surprised  when  I  read  Mr.  R.  W.'s  sug- 
gestion, which  went  to  confine  my  labours  to  the 
missionary  work.  Had  a  resolution  been  grounded  on 
it,  and  that  resolution  been  carried,  it  would  have 
effectually  barred  me  out  from  engaging  in  the  enter- 
prize  at  all,  as  I  could  never  have  suffered  my  liberty 
to  be  so  palpably  infringed  upon  by  such  a  measure.  I 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  427 

consider  myself  the  servant  of  the  Connexion,  and  not 
of  any  committee  for  any  distinct  and  separate  fund ; 
and  therefore,  to  have  excluded  me  from  serving  the 
Chapels,  Sunday  Schools,  &c.,  according  to  my  ability, 
would  never  have  met  with  my  consent.  I  think  even 
the  modification  of  my  friend  Scarth  goes  full  far 
enough,  which  states  that  my  labours  shall  be  '  mainly 
and  principally '  directed  to  the  missionary  interest.  I 
perfectly  agree  that  the  missionary  cause  should  have 
the  preference,  both  as  to  time  and  place ;  but  I  should 
be  sorry  to  be  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  assisting  the 
Trustees  of  Chapels,  and  the  friends  of  Sunday  Schools, 
through  my  time  being  taken  up  by  the  missionary 
cause,  for  which  I  sensibly  feel  I  am  but  ill  qualified. 
It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  go  with  deputation 
after  deputation  on  this  important  business.  For  such 
employment  I  have  neither  mental  variety,  nor  yet 
physical  energy  ;  and  should,  therefore,  shrink  from 
the  task.  But  I  know  the  members  of  the  missionary 
committee  are  '  Men  and  Brethren,'  and  would  not 
think  of  laying  more  upon  me  than  I  am  able  to  bear. 
I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  open  my  heart  to  you,  and 
leave  you  to  take  those  steps  which  you  think  will  best 
meet  the  wishes  of  the  heart  of — Dear  Brethren, 

"Yours,  &c.,  W.  DAWSON. 

"  P.  S.  The  suspense  in  which  I  have  long  been 
kept,  must  painfully  continue,  as  you  are  aware,  until 
something  definite  is  settled.  I  can  neither  properly 
manage  my  farm,  nor  yet  give  legal  notice  to  quit ;  and 
I  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  I  shall  be  able 
to  say  '  Yea '  or  '  Nay '  to  my  landlord." 

On  the  arrangements  being  brought  to  a  termina- 
tion, which  were  to  fix  Mr.  Dawson  for  life  as  the 


428  MEMOIRS    OF 

servant  of  the  public,  he  received  the  following  com- 
munication from  the  Missionary  Committee,  through 
the  medium  of  one  of  the  Secretaries : — 

"London,  28th  Sep.,  1837. 

"My  DEAR  MR.  DAWSON. — The  Committee  of  the 
Wesleyan  Missionary  Society  have  desired  me  to  convey 
to  you  their  decision  on  your  letter  of  the  14th  of 
August,  which  was  laid  before  them  yesterday,  together 
with  one  on  the  same  subject,  from  Mr.  Scarth  of 
Leeds. 

"  The  committee  rightly  appreciate  your  motives 
for  wishing  that  means  should  be  taken  to  increase 
the  sum  which  has  been  raised  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  your  valuable  services  to  the  cause  of  Christ, 
without  interruption  or  embarrassment  from  secular 
engagements :  but  on  the  fullest  consideration,  they 
are  of  opinion,  they  cannot  with  propriety,  for  various 
reasons,  take  any  step,  or  make  any  appeal  for  that 
purpose.  There  are,  at  present,  two  special  objects 
before  the  friends  of  the  Society,  —  the  Stockholm 
Chapel,  and  the  Negro  Schools, — and  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  another  may  be  presented  before  long. 
At  the  same  time,  I  am  directed  to  assure  you,  that 
the  committee  most  cheerfully  adopt  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Conference  committee  of  review.  They 
will  take  the  amount  which  has  been  collected,  and 
secure  to  you  an  annuity  of  £1 50 ;  and  ^630  annually 
to  your  brother,  in  case  he  should  survive  you.  The 
committee  are  also  anxious  that  such  arrangements 
should  be  made  with  you  as  would  leave  you,  as 
much  as  possible,  consistent  with  the  claims  of  the 
Society,  at  liberty  to  follow  your  own  judgment  and 
inclinations.  They  have,  therefore,  resolved  to  propose 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  429 

to  you,  that  for  six  months  in  the  year,  not  continuous, 
but  to  be  specified  by  mutual  agreement,  as  the  interests 
of  the  Society  may  appear  to  require,  you  shall  be 
considered  under  the  direction  of  the  Society,  to  attend 
such  anniversaries  as  they  may  think  best :  and  that 
for  the  remaining  months  you  shall  be  at  liberty  to 
gratify  your  friends  and  your  own  kind  heart,  by 
attending  such  other  missionary,  chapel,  and  school 
anniversaries,  &c.,  as  you  may  please.  And  they 
hope  the  arrangement  will  meet  your  wishes.  If  agree- 
able to  you,  you  may,  therefore,  consider  yourself  an 
annuitant  of  the  Society  from  the  29th  of  September, 
1837 ;  and  you  will  please  to  signify  to  us  your 
acceptance  of  this  plan ;  or  if  any  practicable  modifica- 
tion occurs  to  you,  you  will  suggest  it. 

"I  am  desired  to  say,  that  your  valuable  services 
have  been  promised  to  the  Cornwall  District.  Their 
anniversaries  are  held  in  the  end  of  March  and  be- 
ginning of  April, — but  you  shall  hear  farther,  when 
we  receive  your  approval  of  the  plan." 

On  receiving  this  letter  from  the  Missionary  Com- 
mittee, which  came  to  hand  just  as  he  was  setting 
out  on  a  tour  to  the  north,  he  exclaimed, — "Father, 
thy  will  be  done  !  "  And  on  Monday,  Oct.  23,  he 
observes, — "I  went  to  Parlington,  and  finally  settled 
to  give  up  the  farm  ; "  to  which  he  again  appended, 
— "  Lord,  thy  will  be  done  !  " 

His  extra  journies  this  year  amounted  to  nearly 
one  hundred;  and  the  chapels  which  he  assisted  in 
opening,  were  those  of  Wath,  Shaw  Green,  Mickle- 
field,  and  Buxton  Road,  Huddersfield.  The  collections 
at  the  village  of  Wath,  amounted  to  56110.  In  the 
opening  of  Huddersfield  chapel,  which  is  capable  of 


430  MEMOIRS    OF 

accommodating  2000  people,  he  was  associated  with 
the  Rev.  R.  Newton,  G.  B.  Me  Donald,  Dr.  Beau- 
mont, &c.,  among  the  Wesleyans,  and  the  Rev.  James 
Parsons  of  York,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Harris,  the  cele- 
brated author  of  "Mammon,"  the  "Great  Teacher," 
&c.,  among  the  Dissenters.  The  sermons  were  stated 
by  the  public  journals  to  be  of  the  highest  order 
of  excellence,  the  attendance  uncommonly  numerous, 
and  the  collections  munificent ;  the  latter  assertion  being 
borne  out  by  the  fact,  that  they  amounted  to  ^61578. 
18s.  3£d. 

Instances  of  usefulness  were  constantly  stealing  into 
public  notice,  as  effected  under  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Dawson.  Mr.  Edward  Jennings  Olley  was  noticed 
among  the  "Recent  Deaths"  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Magazine  for  the  year,  as  one  who  had  been  both 
convinced  of  sin,  and  received  a  sense  of  pardon, 
while  the  subject  of  these  Memoirs  was  officiating. 
An  interesting  account,  too,  is  given  in  the  same 
periodical  of  Mr.  W.  J.  Brown,  who  was  convinced 
of  sin  some  time  prior  to  this.  He  was  in  the 
establishment  of  Mr.  Wilton  of  Doncaster,  where  he 
had  been  about  six  months,  and  from  which  Mr. 
Wilton  was  about  to  dismiss  him,  in  consequence  of 
his  infidel  principles.  In  his  own  account  of  himself, 
he  observes,  that  when  Mr.  Wilton  was  on  the  point 
of  sending  him  home,  "at  Mrs.  Wilton's  solicitation, 
he  consented  to  try  me  a  little  longer,  that  I  might 
have  an  opportunity  of  hearing  a  celebrated  Local 
Preacher,  of  the  name  of  Dawson  ;  who,  it  was  said, 
had  been  instrumental  in  awakening  some  of  the  most 
desperate  sinners  in  the  land.  He  was  going  to  open 
a  new  chapel  at  Thorne ;  and,  though  I  knew  it  not, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  431 

the  religious  members  of  the  family  agreed  to  make 
it  matter  of  earnest  prayer,  that  God  would  bless 
the  opening  services  to  my  conversion.  The  day 
arrived,  and  I  was  easily  persuaded  to  make  one  of 
a  large  party  who  went  from  Doncaster.  Mr.  Daw- 
son's  text  in  the  morning  was  Matt.  xiv.  31.  The 
subject  was  much  more  applicable  to  timid  Christians, 
than  to  hardened  sinners ;  and  as  I  had  gone  merely 
to  have  a  little  fun,  I  was  not  greatly  affected;  but 
though  my  affections  were  not  much  moved,  my  under- 
standing was  enlightened.  In  the  evening,  his  text 
was  Heb.  iii.  15,  —  'To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice, 
harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the  provocation.'  The 
sermon  was  expressly  to  the  ungodly  and  unawakened. 
His  language  was  powerful  and  glowing ;  and  there 
was  an  overwhelming  influence  with  it,  which  seemed 
to  carry  every  sentence  into  the  inmost  recesses  of 
my  soul.  I  left  the  chapel  with  views  and  feelings 
of  the  most  distressing  kind,  arising  from  a  piercing 
sense  of  my  awful  state  and  condition  as  a  sinner 
before  God.  I  felt  a  burden  on  my  conscience  which 
I  could  neither  bear  nor  remove.  My  sins  had  been 
great;  consequently  my  convictions  were  deep."  Mr. 
Dawson  had  spoiled  the  "fun"  of  many  a  sinner  in 
the  way. 


432  MEMOIRS    OF 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Notice  of  Mr.  Damson's  engagements. — Residence  in  Leeds. — 
Unmitigated  toil. — CENTENARY  OF  WESLEYAN  METHODISM. 
— Speech. — Moral  and  religious  Advantages  of  the  Centenary. 
— List  of  Appointments. — Out-door  preaching. — Narration  of 
Cottage  Stories. — Eccentricities. — The  Holy  Spirit. — Spurious 
Christianity. — Plainness  in  Preaching. — Leeds  Parliamentary 
Revision. — Courtesy  of  the  Mayor  of  Leeds. —  Windsor  Castle, 
Busts,  and  Paintings. — Nature  and  Art. — Leadership. —  Charac- 
ter.— Kindness  and  Friendship. — Ireland  and  the  Irish. — Mr. 
Thomas  Stoner. — Sermons. — The  Gown. — Duke  of  Devonshire's 
grand  Conservatory. — Habit  of  Industry. — Disinterestedness. 
— Sheffield. — Indisposition. — A  second  case  of  Restitution. — 
Presentiment. — The  London  "  Times." — Mr.  Thomas  Lumb. — 
Isle  of  Wight. — Sickness. 


MR.  DAWSON  being  now  in  a  position  in  which  he 
had  not  been  placed  before,  and  the  people,  in  various 
places,  taking  it  for  granted  that  he  was  more  at  liberty 
than  he  really  was,  petitions  poured  into  the  Mission 
House  from  different  quarters,  requesting  a  share  of 
his  public  service.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  fol- 
lowing x  advertisement  appeared  on  the  cover  of  the 
"Missionary  Notice"  for  January,  1838  : — "In  answer 
to  the  numerous  applications  to  the  general  Secretaries 
of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  for  the  attendance 
of  Mr.  Dawson  at  missionary  anniversaries,  &c.  ;  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  433 

Secretaries  beg  to  state,  that,  for  several  months,  Mr. 
Dawson's  engagements  with  the  Society  will  not  come 
under  their  cognizance.  When  Mr.  Dawson's  engage- 
ments with  the  Society  commence,  a  plan  will  be 
made,  with  Mr.  Dawson's  concurrence,  embracing  that 
portion  of  his  time,  during  certain  specified  months 
in  the  year,  which  may  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Missionary  Society ;  and  the  places  included  in  that 
plan  will  have  due  notice  at  what  time  they  may 
expect  Mr.  Dawson's  valuable  services." 

He  continued  to  proceed  in  his  usual  way  till  he 
quitted  his  farm,  and  entered  upon  his  engagements 
with  the  Missionary  Society ;  after  which  he  went  to 
reside  at  Xo.  G,  Springfield  Terrace,  Burmantofts,  Leeds, 
where  his  niece,  Miss  M.  Dawson,  kept  his  house, — his 
brother  Thomas  residing  with  them.  In  his  niece,  he 
had  everything  he  could  wish  in  reference  to  domestic 
happiness ;  —  prudence,  piety,  good  sense,  industry, 
order,  and  affection.  He  himself  was  a  man  of  order, 
especially  in  the  arrangement  of  his  papers,  and  any- 
thing which  belonged  exclusively  to  his  own  depart- 
ment. It  was  his  custom  also,  to  write  out  a  list 
of  his  engagements  during  a  given  period,  and  give  it 
to  Miss  Dawson,  that  she  might  know  in  what  part  of 
the  kingdom  he  W7as,  and  how  to  answer  enquiries.  He 
opened  a  new  chapel  at  Tingley,  March  1 1,  and  another 
at  Batley  Car,  April  24 ;  both  in  the  Dewsbury  circuit. 

His  work  now  became  sometimes  excessive.  The 
good  friends,  in  different  places,  attended  chie^y  to 
their  own  wants  and  wishes,  without  considering  the 
claims  of  others ;  and  to  have  complied  with  the 
wishes  of  all,  would  have  required  the  compression 
of  two  years  into  one.  "Uncle,"  said  Miss  Dawson, 
T 


434  MEMOIRS    OF 

"your  labour  is  too  oppressive;  you  should  contrive, 
in  your  arrangements,  to  secure  two  or  three  days 
to  yourself  occasionally,  for  rest."  "Mary,"  he  re- 
turned, "  I  shall  rest  in  my  grave.  I  must  work  while 
it  is  day;  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work." 
At  the  Conference  held  in  Bristol,  July  and  August, 
several  resolutions  were  entered  into  on  a  proposition 
of  the  preceding  Conference  respecting  the  celebration 
of  the  "CENTENARY  OF  WESLEYAN  METHODISM." 
Minutes,  pp.  115 — 119.  On  the  morning  of  Nov. 
7th,  1838,  pursuant  to  these  resolutions  and  directions 
of  the  Conference,  a  meeting  of  ministers  and  gentle- 
men, convened  by  the  President  from  different  parts 
of  the  United  Kingdom,  was  held  in  Oldham-Street 
chapel,  Manchester,  in  order  to  devise  a  proper  plan 
for  its  celebration  the  ensuing  year.  This  meeting 
the  biographer  had  the  pleasure  of  attending ;  at 
which  were  present  the  President  and  Secretary  of 
the  Conference,  seven  Ex-Presidents,  and  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  other  ministers  and  gentlemen  con- 
nected with  the  Wesleyan-Methodist  Societies  and  con- 
gregations in  London,  Manchester,  Salford,  Liverpool, 
Leeds,  Bramley,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Sheffield,  Bolton, 
Stockport,  Halifax,  Bradford,  Wolverhampton,  West 
Bromwich,  Macclesfield,  Bury,  "Wakefield,  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne,  Sunderland,  Chester,  Rochdale,  Oldham, 
Huddersfield,  Sowerby-Bridge,  Birstal,  Hull,  Whitby, 
York,  Louth,  Haslingdon,  Dublin,  Bandon,  and  else- 
where. The  resolutions  and  speeches  delivered  at  the 
meeting,  were  published  in  a  "  Supplement  to  the 
Watchman"  of  Nov.  21st,  and  also  in  the  Wesley  an 
Methodist  Magazine  for  December,  pp.  932 — 944.  On 
this  occasion,  and  at  subsequent  meetings,  the  members 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  435 

of  the  Methodist  Society,  and  the  friends  of  Methodism, 
poured  into  the  Centenary  Fund,  for  various  connexional 
purposes,  upwards  of  .£220,000. 

At  the  adjourned  Meeting  of  the  Centenary  Com- 
mittee held  in  Brunswick  chapel,  Leeds,  in  the  month 
of  December,  Mr.  Dawson  took  a  share  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. He  observed  on  the  occasion,  that  he  was 
a  stranger  at  home ',  and  that  having  been  so  much 
engaged  elsewhere,  and  with  other  matters,  he  had 
had  no  time  to  direct  his  attention  to  the.  subject  of 
the  Centenary.  He  expressed  the  pleasure  he  expe- 
rienced in  seeing  his  brethren  dwelling  together  in 
unity  ;  and  he  was  sure  the  feeling  connected  with 
the  meeting  would  not  disturb  a  dying  hour.  He 
remembered  meetings  in  the  circuit  of  a  very  different 
description,  —  meetings  that  occasioned  pain,  —  that 
occasioned  the  separation  of  brethren, — a  separation 
of  hearts  and  minds.  He  even  then  felt  for  some, 
and  wished  them  present  to  behold  their  joy.  He 
stated,  that  he  once  made  a  speech  at  a  meeting, — 
referring  to  the  division,  when  forty  of  them  left  their 
brethren.  But  after  they  left,  God  was  evidently  with 
both  himself  and  his  brethren  ;  and  now,  they  seemed 
to  be  tied  together  with  a  band,  like  a  sheaf, — not 
only  united,  but  full  of  good  fruit.  As  to  himself, 
he  further  observed,  he  had  always  been  a  non- 
descript, and  he  remained  so  up  to  that  period, — 
an  itinerant  Local  Preacher, — or,  according  to  others,  a 
middle  link  between  the  travelling  and  Local  Preachers ; 
something  like  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  between  the 
Gospels  and  the  Epistles,  which  united  the  two.  Taking 
hold  of  the  latter  comparison,  he  said, — "  If  I  could, 
I  would  take  hold  of  the  Travelling  Preachers  with 


436  MEMOIHS  OF 

the  one  hand,  and  of  the  Local  Preachers  with  the 
other,  and  would  draw  them  still  closer  to  the  body. 
A  friend  of  mine  once  observed  to  me,  that  when 
Matthew  Henry  died,  he  was  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apos- 
tles. That,  I  replied,  is  where  I  should  like  to  be 
when  I  die, — in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  I  exercised 
a  sort  of  preachment  some  years  before  I  became  a 
decided  Methodist ;  but  I  found  it  would  not  do  to 
be  halting  between  the  Established  Church  and  the 
Methodists,  and  gave  myself  to  the  latter, — soul  and 
body, — head,  heart,  and  hand.  On  Mr.  Pawson  sending 
me  a  class-paper  and  a  plan,  I  entered  at  once  upon  the 
work."  After  giving  a  sketch  of  the  characteristic  pecu- 
liarities of  Methodism  and  its  Founder,  he  then  adverted 
the  Theological  Institution,  and  expressed  a  hope,  that 
"  the  lads  would  come  out  like  naming  torches. " 
There  were  two  meetings  in  Leeds  on  the  same  day ; 
and  the  "day's  receipts"  were  announced  in  the 
evening  to  amount  to  £  10, 5 90,  which,  added  to  .366,130, 
previously  received,  amounted  to  .3616,720  for  the 
Leeds  Centenary  District,  exclusive  of  what  was  after- 
wards contributed. 

Exclusive  of  finance,  there  were  several  other  im- 
portant beneficial  results  arising  out  of  the  celebration 
of  the  Centenary  of  Wesleyan  Methodism.  It  brought 
both  preachers  and  people  back  to  first  principles. 
Upon  these,  the  whole  Wesleyan  body  seemed  to  fall, 
and  found  in  them  both  footing  and  repose.  Methodism 
was  ascertained  to  be  the  very  same  then,  in  all  the 
essentials  of  religion,  that  it  was  when  it  first  came 
out  of  the  hand  of  its  Founder :  and  although,  like 
Christianity  itself,  it  had  passed  through  various  gloomy 
and  turbulent  periods,  it  always  came  out  of  the  cloud 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  437 

and  out  of  the  storm,  the  same  in  substance  as  it 
entered.  The  waves  had  sometimes  been  heard  to 
roar,  but  when  they  reached  a  certain  point,  a  voice 
had  been  heard, — "  Hitherto  shalt  thou  go,  but  no 
further. "  The  sun  had  been  occasionally  overcast, 
but  never  totally  eclipsed.  The  Wesleyans  had  wit- 
nessed a  few  volcanic  eruptions,  but  their  Pompeii  still 
stood, — their  Herculaneum  had  not  been  permitted 
to  disappear  beneath  a  superincumbent  mass  of  ashes 
and  burning  lava.  The  members  of  the  body  could 
still  say, — "Beautiful  for  situation  is  Mount  Zion;" 
and  although  they  could  not  affirm  her  -  to  be  the 
"joy  of  the  whole  earth;"  yet  they  could  invite 
the  gaze  of  the  crowd,  and  say, — "Walk  about  Zion, 
go  round  about  her;  tell  the  towers  thereof;  mark 
well  her  bulwarks,  consider  her  palaces,  and  tell  it  to 
the  generation  following ; " — tell  them  that  Methodism 
was,  at  the  close  of  the  century, — as  to  the  essentials 
of  Christianity,  what  it  was  in  the  beginning. — A 
second  result  was,  that  it  brought  together  a  number 
of  facts  and  incidents,  as  well  as  a  great  deal  of 
Methodistical  lore  to  h'ght,  which  otherwise,  in  all 
probability,  would  have  sunk  into  oblivion.  These, 
together  with  local  histories,  were  calculated  to  form 
the  ground-work  of  a  general  ecclesiastical  history  of 
the  Wesley  an  body,  which  is  still  a  desideratum  in 
Methodism. — It  produced,  as  a  third  result,  a  stronger 
bond  of  union  among  the  members  of  Society.  There 
had  not  been  an  era  in  Methodism,  in  which  the 
people  were  more  united ;  nor  was  there  a  circum- 
stance in  the  history  of  Methodism,  that  had  imparted 
equal  pleasure ; — never  a  measure  that  had  been  better 
supported.  Rich  and  poor,  young  and  old,  seemed 


138  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  vie  with  each  other  in  paying  a  tribute  of  respect 
to  a  system,  which,  under  God,  had  placed  them 
among  the  princes  of  his  people.  In  addition  to 
others,  it  was  the  means,  as  a  fourth  result,  of  re- 
claiming several  wanderers,  if  not  in  life,  at  least 
\\\  feeling,  sentiment,  and  expression.  Children,  grand- 
children, great  grand-children,  nephews,  nieces,  distant 
relatives,  and  friends,  who  seemed  to  have  forgotten 
for  a  season,  that  such  a  thing  as  Methodism  ex- 
isted, and  that  even  they  themselves  owed  their 
wealth  and  respectability  to  the  habits  induced  by 
it  in  those  that  had  gone  befere,  threw  the  mind 
back  upon  early  days,  and  brought  the  past  to  bear 
upon  what  was  then  passing  in  review  before  them. 
Hence,  in  the  list  of  Centenary  contributions,  were 
tributes  of  respect  for  a  revered  grandfathar, — a  beloved 
father  or  mother, — friend  or  relative,  of  the  first, 
second,  or  third  generation  of  Wesleyan  Methodists. 
These  things  afforded  proofs,  that  if  they  were  not 
with  the  body,  they  were  in  the  way  of  being  of 
it ; — that  a  latent ,  spark  of  affection  still  existed  in 
the  soul,  which  might  burst  forth,  and  not  only  become 
a  burning,  but  a  shining  light. 

During  part  of  the  winter,  and  the  whole  of  the 
spring  of  1 839,  Mr.  Dawson  was  employed  in  fulfilling 
such  engagements  as  he  had  entered  into  prior  to  those 
which  were  immediately  connected  with  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  Missionary  Committee ;  which  engage- 
ments were  not  completed  till  the  month  of  July. 
A  list  of  the  places,  commencing  with  July  25,  1839, 
and  ending  January  23,  1840,  as  constituting  the 
labours  of  the  half  year  claimed  by  the  Missionary 
Committee — being,  during  that  time,  obliged  to  preach 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  439 

twice  a  day  very  often,  and  to  attend  Missionary 
Meetings, — at  a  period  of  life  when  he  was  fast  verging 
towards  seventy  years  of  age, — somewhat  stiff  and 
unwieldy  in  bulk,  will  abundantly  shew,  while  it  ex- 
hibits a  constitution  of  brass,  and  the  most  ardent 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  that  the  office  upon 
which4ie  thus  entered,  after  leaving  all  secular  employ- 
ment, was  no  sinecure.  *  On  one  occasion,  in  addition 

•  The  plan  given  to  him,  and  which  he  fulfilled  to  the  letter,  is  as  follows  : 
1839. 

July  25 Beal  Sep.  4 Armley,  near  Leeds 

26 Snaith  5 Middleton 

28  (Sund.)  Doncaster  6 Horsley,  Woodhouse 

29 Misterton  8  (Sund.)  Burton-on-Trent 

30 Goole  9 .Tamworth,  near  Bir- 

31 Ancoats  mingham 

Aug.    1 Kelfield  10 Ticknale,  nr.  Ashby 

2 Acaster  11 Heanor,  near  Derby 

4  (Sund.)  Leeds  12 Ilkestone,  near  Not- 

5 Worksop  tingham 

6 Grundle  on  the  Hill  13 Breedon,  near  Ashby 

8 Ferry  15  (Sund.)  Lougborough 

8 Proceed  to  Nottingham          16 Thurmanstoue 

9. Kadcliffe,  near  Do.  17 Anisty 

11  (Sund.)  Leicester  18 Ecton,nr.Northampton 

12 Through  Coventry  to  19 Finedon,        ditto. 

St.  Albans  20 Higham  Ferrers 

13 St.  Albans  22  (Sund.)  Bedford 

14 Thrussington,  near       Sep.  23 Perhaps  Newport- 
Leicester  pagnell 

15 Broughton        ditto.  24 Aylsbury 

18 Scarborough  25 Oakham 

19 Ditto.  26 Grimsby,  Lincolnshire 

20 Ditto.  27 Ditto,  ditto. 

23 Chickingly,  near  28 Caister,        ditto. 

Dewsbury  29 Scumthorp,  ditto. 

25  (Sund.)  Cross  Mills,nr.Skipton          30 Minterton,   ditto. 

26 Otley  Several  engagements  are  omitted  here. 

27  Manchester  Oct.    31 Set  off  for  Birmingham 

28 Swanlow  Lane,  near    Nov.    1 Newport-Pagnell 

Nantwich  2 Gate,  St.  Albans 

29 Etruria,  Potteries  3  (Sund.)  St.  Albans  and  Watford 

Sep.    1  (Sund.)  Biddings,  nr.  Belper  4 St.  Albans 

2 Critch,  Derbyshire  5 Watford 


440  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  the  instances  of  excessive  labour,  already  mentioned, 
he  preached  twenty-five  sermons,  delivered  fifteen  ad- 
dresses at  Missionary  Meetings,  and  travelled  88(5 
miles,  in  less  than  a  month. 

Some  of  his  outdoor  scenes  were  exceedingly  pictur- 
esque.    When  on  a  visit  to  Wheatley,  near  Retford,  in 

Nov.   6 A  wish  for  me  to  preach  Dec.  17 Water 

in  the  neighbourhood  18 Acaster 

7 City   Kuail,  Missionary          19 Foggrethorpe     anil 

Meeting  Holme 

8 In  London  20  • Home 

J> Go  to  Ipswich  21 Set  off  for  Congleton 

10  (Sund.)              ditto.  22  (Sund.)  Preach  at  ditto 

Nov.  11 Ipswich  Miss.  Meet.  23 Middlewich,  Cheshire 

12 Woodbridge  24 Return  to  Bradford 

13 ".Manningtree  25 Bradford    Juvenile 

14, 15 Unengaged  Miss.  Meeting 

10 Travel  to  Brighton  26 Preach  near  Bradford 

17  (Sund.)  Preach       ditto  27 Home 

18 ••..  ditto          ditto  28 Go  to  Oldham 

19 ...  .Lewis  29  (Sund.)  Preach  at  Oldham 

20-  • Worthing  30 GotoWinsford,Cheshire 

21 ....  Wahvorth  1840. 31 Burslem 

22  In  London  Jan.    4 Go  to  Stokesley, 

23 Travel  to  Windsor  Cleveland 

24  (Sund.)  Preach  at  ditto  5 Stokesley 

25 Meeting  ditto  6 Return 

26-   •  • Maidenhead  This  week  is  not  yet  filled  up 

27 Stanhope-street  12  (Sund.)  Ripon 

28 Chelsea  15 Sheffield 

29,  30 Unengaged  16 Ecclesfield 

Dec.    1  (Sund.)  City  Road  &  Lambeth  19  (Sund.)  Bilston 

2 Spital  Fields  20 Kidderminster 

'  3....- -..Westminster  21 Uttoxeter 

4-. Southwark  26  (Sund.)  Rochdale 

5,  6. .....  Unengaged  This  week  not  yet  filled  up. 

7 Go  to  Brentford  Feb.    2  (Sund.)  Hnll 

8  (Sund.)  Brentford  4 Driffield 

9 Hinde-street  5 Crowle 

10 Go  to  Stainford  9  (Sund.)  Derby 

12 1  hope  to  see  home  10 Belper  Potteries 

13 Home  11 Buxton 

14 Set  off  for  York  16  (Sund.)  Nantwich 

15  (Sund.)  Preach  at  York  This  week  not  yet  filled  up 

16-  • Missionary  Meeting  V3 Near  Manchester. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  441 

Nottinghamshire,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  chapel, 
in  consequence  of  the  multitude  of  persons  anxious  to 
hear  him,  but  unable  to  gain  admission.  He  took  his 
stand  near  a  stack-yard ;  and  soon,  boys,  girls,  men  and 
women,  were  perched  on  walls,  carts,  stacks  of  stubble, 
and  any  little  eminence  that  would  admit  of  a  sight  of 
the  preacher,  apart  from  the  dense  mass  of  human 
beings  before  him,  collected  from  the  neighbouring 
places.  A  few  smiled  at  first,  at  the  novelty  of  the 
scene  ;  but  every  eye  was  speedily  fixed,  and  a  death- 
like silence  prevailed,  except  in  cases  where  persons 
were  wrought  upon  by  the  force  of  truth.  The  rustic 
simplicity  of  the  major  part  of  his  hearers,  and  the  rural 
objects  around,  furnished  a  fine  picture  of  primitive 
times, — not  of  those  when  "  Paul  stood  in  the  midst  of 
Mars-hill,"  with  the  splendid  temples  of  Greece,  and 
the  polished  and  philosophical  orators  of  Athens  before 
him,  but  when  he  "  went  out  of  the  city  by  a  river 
side,  and  sat  down  and  spake  unto  the  women  that 
resorted  thither."  It  is  no  wonder  that  Dr.  Southey, 
with  his  fine  genius,  should  have  fastened  on  such  scenes 
as  these,  in  his  Life  of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  have  expatiated 
— abstracted  from  religion,  on  their  poetic  effect  on  the 
human  mind.  But  visible  things  had  fewer  attractions 
than  the  voice  of  truth  ;  and  not  a  few  were  impressed 
with  the  subject,  which  was  selected  from  that  portion 
of  scripture  which  relates  to  the  worth  of  the  soul. 

His  sermons  were  always  of  a  character  that  might 
be  understood  ;  and  being  occasionally  interwoven  with 
"  COTTAGE  STORIES"  and  "COTTAGE  SCENES,"  par- 
ticularly in  the  rural  districts,  they  never  failed  to  rivet 
attention,  and  affect  the  heart.  The  author  of  "  The 
Wanderer  of  Switzerland."  has  been  heard  to  express 

T2 


442  MEMOIRS    OF 

his  admiration  of  Mr.  Dawson's  tact  for  relating 
"  Cottage  Stories,"  being  distinguished  for  so  much 
simplicity,  ease,  character,  and  pure  nature  ;  combined 
with  point,  and  good  moral  and  religious  improvements  ; 
and  often  so  beautifully  illustrative  withal,  either  of  the 
general  subject,  or  some  particular  point  arising  out  of 
it,  as  well  as  admirably  adapted  to  the  occasion. 

On  the  platform,  when  in  a  state  of  high-wrought 
feeling,  he  sometimes  proceeded  to   extreme  lengths. 

This  was  the  case  at  S .     He  had  been  rolling  on 

in  all  his  strength  for  some  time,  and,  in  the  esteem  of 
most,  even  seemed  to  surpass  himself  for  freedom  of 
expression,  power  of  thought,  and  splendour  of  imagery; 
when,  all  on  a  sudden,  some  freak  of  fancy  shot  across 
the  mind,  and  he  took  his  seat.  He  had  borne  the 
people  onward  with  himself,  who  seemed  like  persons 
transported  into  a  strange  country,  when  their  leader 
suddenly  disappeared,  and  they  were  left  in  silent 
astonishment.  After  a  short  pause,  he  sprang  from  his 
seat  again,  with  the  elasticity  of  youth,  and  directing 
his  eye  to  the  chairman,  said, — "  with  your  permission, 
Sir,  I  should  like  to  sing  a  little ;"  and  immediately 
pitched  a  tune  to — 

"  We  are  soldiers  fighting  for  our  God, 
Let  trembling  cowards  fly,"  &c., 

assuming,  at  the  same  time,  a  martial  air,  as  he  crossed 
the  platform, — bidding  defiance  to  all  the  powers  of 
earth  and  hell,  and  representing  the  missionary  cause 
as  towering  abov^  all  opposition.  The  effects  of  this 
eccentric  movement  were  various,  but  such  as  would 
scarcely  warrant  a  repetition  ;  nor  could  the  thing  itself 
apparently  have  been  premeditated,  as  under  such  cir- 
cumstances it  must  have  been  an  evident  failure. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  443 

At  the  same  place,  on  another  occasion,  he  was  inter- 
rupted in  his  speech  by  an  unusual  commotion,  in  which 
every  eye  was  directed  towards  the  door,  accompanied 
with  loud  peals  of  approbation ;  on  which  he  coolly  and 
mildly  turned  to  the  chairman,  saying, — "I'll  stop  a 
little,  Sir  ;"  adding,  with  a  sudden  turn  of  pleasurable 
feeling — "  There  he  is — there  he  comes — all  are  glad  to 
see  him, — fresh  as  a  roe  from  the  mountains  of  Israel, 
and  leaping  with  all  the  agility  of  a  Luck  over  his 
neighbour's  fences."  This  only  heightened  the  feeling 
of  gladness,  as  the  Rev.  George  Roebuck,  who  had 
travelled  in  the  circuit,  and  just  then  unexpectedly 
appeared,  making  his  way  over  the  backs  of  the  seats 
to  the  platform,  being  unable  to  gain  access  to  it  by 
any  other  mode,  owing  to  the  crowded  state  of  the 
aisles.  In  this  way,  he  often  laid  hold  of  little  inci- 
dents, to  relieve  attention, — incidents  which  would 
prove  the  death  of  mere  rehearsals,  but  which  were  life 
to  him,  as  they  were  the  occasion  of  life  in  others. 

Several  remarks  escaped  from  him  in  different  social 
parties,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  when  the  biographer 
was  present,  some  of  which,  though  separate  from  their 
connection,  may  be  useful  to  others,  and  also  serve  as 
a  key  to  the  character  of  his  mind.  "Without  the 
SPIRIT,  the  promises  of  God  are  ineffectual.  You  may 
lay  promise  upon  promise,  like  plaster  upon  plaster,  to 
staunch  the  bleeding  wounds  of  the  soul ;  but  all  is 
vain,  till  the  Holy  Ghost  presses  his  hand  upon  them. 
With  the  letter  we  must  have  the  Spirit.  Look  at 
Adam ;  one  of  the  fairest  creatures  of  God  ;  perfect  in 
all  his  limbs  and  features.  God  breathes  into  him  a 
living  soul,  and  he  instantly  starts  on  his  feet.  So 
much  for  forms  without  the  Spirit.  There  is  yet  a 


444  MEMOIRS    OF 

little  wreck  of  divinity  in   man ;    but  he  must  be  in 
Christ  before  he  can  live  ;  and  thus,  in  Christ,  divinity 
meets  divinity."     He  met  in  his  travels,  one  of  the  des- 
cendants of  Oliver  Hey  wood ;  and  referring  to  this,  he 
observed, — "  I  regret  to  find,  that  most  of  the  descen- 
dants  of  that  excellent  man  are  Socinians."      Then 
glancing  at  the  history  of  the  Church,  he  said, — "  Mo- 
hammedanism arose  at  an  early  period,  and  the  Arab 
thief  from  hell   tried  to  rob  Christ   of  his   honours. 
Popery,  though  long  working,  came  next  in  its  grosser 
form ;    and   required   paintings,  vestments,  and  other 
adornings,   to  hide  its  hideous  features.     But  we,   as 
Methodists,  preach  Christ  the  MEDIATOR,  and  have 
no  need  to  go  to  the  virgin  Mary  to  mediate  for  us. 
We  preach  forgiveness,  through  faith  in  his  blood,  and 
have  no  need  to  go  to  the  priest  for  absolution ;  we 
receive  it  from  our  Great  High  Priest.     We  preach  the 
sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  and  have  no  need  to  go  to 
purgatory  to  be  purified; — no,  we  shall  glide  past  it 
without  feeling  its  heat.     After  the  Reformation,  the 
Church  again  relapsed.     The  Nonconformists, — some 
of  whom  were  among  the  best  men  that  ever  lived,  were  ex- 
pelled from  the  English  Church:  then  came  Socinianism, 
into  which  most  of  the  Presbyterians  fell ;  and  chapels, 
erected  by  orthodox  men,  were  consecrated  to  error." 
"  The  Letters  of  Joseph  Alleine/'  said  he,  "are  equal 
to  those  of  Fletcher  for  piety  ;  but  he  cannot  stoop 
like  the  latter."     Directing  attention  to  preaching,  he 
observed, — "  Ministers  cannot  be  too  plain  and  striking, 
provided  they  are  not  vulgar  and  absurd.     Let  Mr.  E. 
read  a  page  out  of  Bishop  Butler's  Analogy  of  Religion, 
Natural  and  Revealed,  to  a  Christian  congregation,  and 
another  out  of  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  it  will 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  445 

soon  be  seen  which  will  strike  the  most,  and  with  which 
they  will  feel  most  interested." 

At  the  Leeds  borough  parliamentary  revision,  before 
Mr.  Kaye,  Mr.  Dawson  was  objected  to  by  the  liberals, 
when  some  rather  amusing  questions  were  propased, 
arising  from  the  station  he  occupied  in  the  Wesleyan 
body  ;  but  the  "  objection  was  dissallowed."* 

*  The  following  account  appeared  in  the  Leeds  "  Mercury,'1  among  other 
cases. 

Mr.  William  Damson,  house,  Springfield  Terrace,  Burmantofts.— Objected 
to  by  the  Liberals. 

Mr.  BOND  called  a  person  named  Hargreave,  who  proved  the  occupancy 
of  the  house  in  question  by  Mr.  Dawson,  the  sufficiency  of  value  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conferring  a  vote,  and  also  the  period  of  possession  by  the  voter. 

Mr.  PREST. — What  is  Mr.  Dawson? 

Witness. — He's  a  Methodist  preacher. 

Mr.  PREST. — Don't  you  know  he  occupies  the  house  under  trustees  ? 

Witness. — He  is  not  a  travelling  preacher,  unless  he  has  become  so  very 
lately. 

Mr.  PREST. — Why,  you  anticipate  the  question. 

Mr.  BOND. — I  believe  Mr.  Dawson  is  not  called  'Reverend.' 

Mr.  MORGAN". — He  is  as  much  ordained  as  any  other  Methodist  preacher. 

Mr.  PREST.— Dont  you  know  that  gentlemen  of  Mr.  Dawson's  calling  are 
removeable  at  pleasure? 

Witness.—  I  believe  he  is  considered  a  local  preacher,  and  not  a  regular 
minister. 

Mr.  Thomas  Simpson,  painter,  said,  that  he  had  a  notion — 

Mr.  PREST. — We  dont  want  any  of  your  notions  here  unless  you  can  swear 
to  them. 

Mr.  Simpson. — I  bare  known  Mr.  Dawson  for  thirty  years. 

Mr.  KAYE.— Then  what  is  he? 

Mr.  Simpson. — He  is  a  local  preacher,  and  nothing  more.  He  takes  the 
house  himself,  pays  the  rent,  and  no  one  has  any  control  over  him.  I  am  a 
local  preacher,  same  as  he  is. 

Mr.  PHEST. — How  do  you  know  that? 

Mr.  Simpson. — I  know  it  as  well  as  I  know  my  own  brother's  affairs. 

Mr.  PREST.— Can  you  give  us  the  definition  of  a  local  preacher' 

Mr.  Simpson. — If  the  Barrister  wishes  it  I  will  give  him  one,  but  I  don't  see 
that  it  is  requisite. 

Mr.  KAYE.— Does  Mr.  Dawson  occupy  this  house  under  trustees? 

Mr.  Simpson. — No ;  he  has  nothing  to  do  with  trustees. 
Mr.  KAYE. — Does  he  preach  in  any  particular  chapel. 

Mr.  Simpson. — No  ;  he  travels  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  uuotlu  r,  and 
preaches  to  any  congregation  who  may  send  for  him. 


446  MEMOIRS   OF 

At  the  time  the  liberals  were  disputing  his  civil 
rights,  he  received  marked  attention  from  the  Mayor ; 
to  whose  polite  note  he  returned  the  following  answer  : 

"  The  right  worshipful  the  Mayor  of  the  borough  of 
Leeds. 

"  Honoured  Sir, — Your  kind  invitation  to  dine  with 
you  on  "Wednesday  the  1 6th  instant,  came  to  my  house 
in  due  season.  But  not  being  at  home  at  the  time,  I 
was  unable  to  do  myself  the  honour  and  the  pleasure  of 
complying  with  your  wishes :  the  honour,  so  far  as 
being  under  your  roof  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  the 
borough  of  Leeds  goes  ;  and  the  pleasure  of  being  in 
your  presence,  as  a  friend, — not  omitting,  a  friend  and 
relative  of  old  and  dear  friends.  To  have  been  with 
you,  would  have  afforded  a  gratification,  which  few,  if 
any,  of  your  respectable  company  would  equally  have 
felt.  So  speaks  the  heart  of — Honoured  Sir, 

"Yours,  most  respectfully, — W.  DAWSON." 

Mr.  KAYE — Then  he  takes  the  house,  and  the  furniture  is  his  own? 

Mr.  Simpson. — Yes. 

Mr.  BOND. — Is  he  removeable  by  Conference  ? 

Mr.  Simpson. — No. 

Mr.  KAYE. — If  you  show  me  that  this  house  belongs  to  certain  trustees,  then 
the  occupation  is  a  permissive  one,  and  there  is  an  end  of  the  case :  but  if,  to 
use  a  familiar  expression,  he  takes  it  in  his  own  private  right,  why  then  he 
stands  unconnected  with  the  trustees. 

Mr.  PREST. — He  mayjje  removed. 

Mr.  KAYE.— Show  me  the  difference  between  an  officer  in  the  army  or  navy, 
sent  on  foreign  service,  and  the  case  of  Mr.  Dawson.  You  don't  mean  to 
contend  that  an  officer  sent  abroad  is  not  entitled  to  have  a  vote.  I  think 
there  is  nothing  in  the  objection. 

Mr.  PREST.— My  objection  is,  that  Mr.  Dawson  may  be  removed  at  any 
time  from  this  house  by  the  Conference,  and  sent  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
country. 

Mr.  KATE. — Exactly:  he  may  be  sent  from  Leeds  to  attend  a  congregation 
in  some  other  part ;  but  can  you,  as  I  said  before,  distinguish  him  in  any  way 
from  an  officer  in  her  Majesty's  service.  You  might  as  well  say  that  I  have 
no  vote  in  London,  because  her  Majesty's  Judge  of  Assize  sends  me  here  for  so 
many  days  in  a  year.  I  think  there  is  no  validity  in  your  objection.  Otgeclion 
disallowed. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  447 

Being  in  the  house  of  a  friend  about  the  same  time, 
and  looking  at  a  bust,  he  said  to  the  biographer, — "  I 
never  like  to  see  a  bust.  There  is  no  soul  in  the  eye  ; 
it  always  appears  ghastly,  and  reminds  me  of  death  in 
a  coffin."  Painting  had  rather  more  charms  than 
sculpture  ;  but  here  too — more  perhaps  from  a  want  of 
knowledge  than  a  want  of  taste,  he  felt  comparatively 
little  interest.  "If  I  have  any  taste,"  said  he,  "it 
belongs  more  immediately  to  the  ear  than  the  eye. 
When  I  visited  Windsor  Castle,  I  was  struck  with  the 
antiquity,  the  grandeur,  and  the  majesty  of  the  place. 
In  passing  from  room  to  room,  I  saw  paintings,  which, 
I  take  for  granted,  were  by  the  first  masters  ;  but  they 
were  all  lost  upon  me.  I  was  pleased  with  the  group- 
ing, colouring,  &c.,  but  could  not  tell  why.  I  was 
grieved  at  myself,  and  said  inwardly,  '  I  wish  I  had  my 

friend  Mr. here  ;  he  would  be  able  to  point  out 

the  peculiarities  and  excellences  of  each.'  This  itself 
was  a  drawback  upon  my  pleasure."  The  truth  is,  in 
all  art  there  is  more  or  less  deception ;  and  hence,  the 
artist  is  advised  to  "  put  a  generous  deceit  on  the 
spectators,  and  effect  the  noblest  designs  by  easy 
methods."  Another  authority — Sir  Joshua  Reynolds, 
tells  us,  "  What  has  pleased,  and  continues  to  please, 
is  likely  to  please  again  ;  from  whence  are  derived  the 
rules  of  art."  The  more  perfect  the  deception,  there- 
fore, the  more  likely  it  is  to  please.  Mr.  Dawson  was 
a  pure  child  of  nature,  and  hence  it  was,  that  nature 
had  always  more  charms  than  art.  In  the  mean  time, 
"  it  must  be  a  great  mortification  to  the  vanity  of  man, 
that  his  utmost  art  and  industry  can  never  equal  the 
meanest  of  nature's  productions,  either  for  beauty  or 
value.  Art  is  only  the  under-workman,  and  is  employed 


448  MEMOIRS    OF 

to  give  a  few  strokes  of  embellishment  to  those  pieces 
which  come  from  the  hand  of  the  master.  Some  of 
which  may  be  of  his  drawing,  but  he  is  not  allowed  to 
touch  the  principal  figure.  Art  may  make  a  man  a  suit 
of  clothes,  but  nature  must  produce  a  man."  The 
"  Mountain  Daisy,"  or  the  cowslip  possessed  more 
attractions  for  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Dawson,  than  the 
chef-d1  -ceuvre  of  the  most  eminent  master  of  either  the 
chisel  or  the  pencil. 

When  speaking  of  the  tour,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  visited  Windsor,  he  observed  to  the  biographer, — 
"  My  heart  was  wrung  with  grief  during  the  six  weeks. 
With  only  one  reluctant  exception,  the  speakers  Avert- 
never  cheered  when  Popery  was  referred  to  with  disap- 
probation. The  people  seemed  absolutely  afraid  of 
giving  the  smallest  countenance  to  any  discussion  on 
the  subject.  So  much  for  popish  influence  in  the 
cabinet  and  elsewhere." 

In  the  course  of  this  journey  also,  he  met  with  his  ven- 
erable friend,  the  Rev.  H.  Moor.  Speaking  of  the  leader 
of  a  certain  party,  and  the  dissension  occasioned  by 
him  ;  "Yes,"  said  Mr.  M.,  "the  devil  took  it  into  his 
head  once  to  set  up  for  himself;  but  he  soon  found, 
he  had  better  have  been  quiet."  Mr.  Dawson  himself 
made  a  good  remark,  when  speaking  of  two  persons 
who  were  often  striving  for  the  mastery, — "  The  English 
[language]  will  never  admit  of  two  great  I  Is  together." 
Referring  to  Mr.  M's  attack  of  paralysis,  he  related  the 
following  characteristic  anecdote  : — "  When  he  began 
to  rally  in  mind,  he  expressed  a  wish  to  be  taken  down 
stairs.  There  were  none  but  females  in  the  house  at 
the  time.  He  was  impatient  to  be  removed,  unable  to 
assist  himself,  and  the  females  were  unequal  to  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  449 

effort.  One  of  them  going  out  for  aid,  saw  a  gentle- 
man passing,  and  requested  his  assistance.  When 
they  got  him  down  stairs,  and  matters  adjusted,  Mr. 
M.  thanked  the  gentleman,  who,  as  he  was  about  to 
retire,  politely  put  his  card  into  his  hand.  Mr.  M. 
looking  at  it,  and  seeing  'UNDERTAKER'  upon  it, 
returned  it,  and  coolly  observed,  'Thank  you,  Sir, 
for  your  kind  attentions  ;  but  it  has  not  come  to  that 
yet.' "  With  the  exception  of  physical  debility,  Mr. 
Dawson  thought  the  mind  of  Mr.  M.  very  little 
impaired. 

Mr.  Dawson  having  been  advised,  in  a  certain  trans- 
action in  which  an  equivalent  was  not  given  for  value 
received,  and  which  would  admit  of  certain  claims  of 
justice  and  mercy,  in  the  event  of  success,  called  upon 

the  biographer,   and  said, — "  I   was  at ,  in  the 

course  of  my  journey,   and  recollecting  your  hint,    I 

called  on  Mr. ,  who  handed  me  ten  pounds,  as 

part  profit  on ;  I  therefore  made  iip  my  mind,  the 

first  time  I  should  meet  with  you,  to  thank  you  for  ten 
pounds.  This  I  shall  devote  to  the  two  orphan  chil- 
dren." These  were  the  children  of  a  friend.  Friend- 
ship, with  Mr.  Dawson,  was  not  merely,  as  La  Roche- 
foucauld defines  it, — an  exchange  of  good  offices,  a 
reciprocal  management  of  faults  and  virtues, — a  com- 
merce in  which  self-love  finds  something  to  gain.  To 
lower  thus  the  principle  of  human  actions,  may  serve 
the  cause  of  infidelity,  but  not  that  of  disinterested 
Christianity  ;  and  the  worst  of  consequences  may  be 
deduced  from  such  theories.  These  orphans  would 
have  lost  ten  pounds  on  reducing  such  principles  to 
practice  :  and  say — What  would  be  the  loss  to  the  poor 
in  particular,  and  to  the  world  at  large ! 


450  MEMOIRS    OF 

He  was  at  Swanlow  Lane,  in  Cheshire,  about  the 
same  time.  His  friend  Mr.  Russom  drove  him  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Stones,  where  he  was  to  lodge.  Having 
perspired  profusely  while  preaching,  and  forgotten  his 
top-coat,  he  felt  chilled  by  the  evening  air.  While  his 
friend  was  urging  on  the  horse,  he  said,  "  Friend  R., 
a  prudent  man  foreseeth  the  evil  and  hideth  himself, 
but  the  simple  pass  on  and  are  punished."  He  was 
providentially  preserved,  however,  from  receiving  any 
material  injury. 

After  much  hard  labour  in  the  course  of  the  winter, 
and  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  succeeding,  he  left 
Leeds,  March  30th,  1840,  for  Liverpool,  and  set  sail 
for  Ireland,  April  1st,  the  day  on  which  the  Rev.  R. 
Newton  embarked  for  America.  He  had  not  been  in 
Ireland  before.  While  there,  he  travelled  from  place  to 
place,  preaching,  and  attending  missionary  meetings. 
His  fire  and  his  genius  were  admirably  adapted  to  gain 
the  attention  and  the  hearts  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Emerald  Isle  ;  and  his  conversations,  on  his  return, 
afforded  no  small  proof  of  close  observation,  and  shewed, 
that  if  he  had  been  so  disposed,  and  had  had  sufficient 
time  at  command  to  have  gone  forth  for  the  purpose, 
he  might  have  produced  a  good  article, — not  in  an 
offensive  sense,  on  the  "  Lights  and  Shadows  of  Irish 
Life ;"  omitting,  of  course,  the  farce  of  brogue  and 
humour,  the  gusto  and  buoyancy,  and  the  finish  of 
touch  displayed  by  some  authors  that  might  be  named. 
The  productions  of  his  pen  would  have  been  more 
adapted  to  the  closet  than  the  drawing-room  table, — 
his  "  Lights "  arising  from  the  wholesome  effects  of 
Protestant  instruction  and  piety,  and  his  "  Shadows " 
from  Popish  ignorance  and  superstition.  Some  him- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  451 

dreds  of  volumes  and  pamphlets  have  been  published 
on  the  evils  of  Ireland,  and  the  remedies  for  those 
evils ;  but  it  has  been  affirmed,  and  affirmed  with  truth 
too,  that  scarcely  any  three  of  the  doctors  are  agreed 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  disease  ;  and  there  is  still  a 
greater  discrepancy  as  to  the  mode  of  cure.  Two  or 
three  valuable  aphorisms,  however,  may  be  selected 
from  some  of  these  brochures.  "The  evils  of  Ireland," 
says  a  sound  thinker,  "are  high  rents  and  low  wages  ;" 
and  he  is  perfectly  correct.  "The  evils  of  Ireland," 
says  another,  "  are  its  book-makers  and  its  speech- 
makers  ;"  and  he  is  not  very  far  wrong ;  especially  if 
the  latter  be  coupled  with  Daniel  O'Connel,  who,  by 
the  way,  has  made  as  much  in  hard  cash  by  his 
speeches,  as  some  of  the  greatest  landed  proprietors  in 
Ireland  have  made  by  their  estates.  Here  comes  a 
third :  "  Give  me,"  said  the  celebrated  Mr.  Stephens 
— and  the  saying  contains  volumes — "  Give  me,"  said 
he,  when  the  government  was  about  to  send  an  armed 
force  into  Ireland, — "  Give  me  an  army  of  school- 
masters, and  I  will  conquer  Ireland."  Aye,  there  it  is, 
— WHOLESOME  INSTRUCTION  !  The  evils  of  Ireland 
must  be  traced,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  important 
fact,  which,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Taylor  in  his 
"  Civil  Wars  of  Ireland,"  both  Protestant  and  Catholic 
writers  have  been  careful  to  suppress, — the  fatal  gift 
of  the  island  by  the  Pope  to  Henry  II.  To  this 
atrocious  act  may  be  attributed  most  of  the  misery 
of  Ireland.  It  armed  the  conquerors  with  a  right 
divine,  and  it  unnerved  many  of  the  wisest  Irish 
chieftains,  who  imagined  that  opposing  the  will  of 
one,  whom  other  nations  regarded  as  the  infallible 
head  of  the  Church,  was  at  once  fruitless  and  impious. 


452  MEMOIRS    OF 

Popery  is  at  the  root  of  all :  its  crimes  and  follies 
have  disorganized  Irish  society,  rendered  the  fertility 
of  the  Irish  soil  a  curse,  and  derived  misery  from 
the  very  bounties  of  heaven. 

Few  men,  with  the  exception  of  the  author  of 
"Traits  and  Stories  of  the  Irish  Peasantry," — who 
has  been  justly  denominated  a  Crabbe  in  prose,  would 
have  been  better  able  to  depict  the  state  of  the  pea- 
santry, than  Mr.  Dawson.  Like  the  author  in  question, 
he  would  have  delineated  with  sternness,  but  with 
fidelity ;  with  inexorable  severity  when  a  vicious  system 
was  to  be  portrayed,  yet  ready  to  shed  the  tear  of 
sympathy  over  those  whom  that  system  had  made 
its  miserable  victims.  He  possessed  the  power  of 
giving  reality  to  humble  life,  and  the  consistency  of 
his  narratives  never  failed  to  convince  those  who  at- 
tended to  them,  of  his  fidelity ;  constantly  reminding 
a  person  acquainted  with  them,  of  some  of  the  Dutch 
painters ;  possessing  like  them,  minute  fidelity,  even 
in  the  circumstances  which  are  apparently  the  most 
trifling,  and  depicting  matters  often  slurred  over  by 
mere  narrators  of  fiction. 

Mr.  Dawson  saw  enough  of  the  Irish  character,  dur- 
ing his  brief  stay,  to  produce  a  love  of  it;  every 
peasant  with  whom  he  met — and  this  is  the  general 
feeling  pervading  society,  considering  his  visit  more  as 
a  compliment  paid  to  himself,  than  a  general  love  to 
the  cause  of  Missions,  and  deemed  it  a  direct  duty  to 
pay  him  every  possible  respect. 

Not  long  after  his  return  from  the  green  isle,  he  re- 
opened a  chapel  in  Gloucester,  and  improved  the  death  of 
his  beloved  friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Stoner,  the  father  of  the 
Rev.  David  Stoner,  with  whom  he  had  been  intimately 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  453 

acquainted,  for  a  period  of  forty  years.  He  died, 
Friday,  May  22nd,  1 840,  aged  75  years.  Mr.  Stoner, 
as  well  as  himself,  was  brought  to  God  under  the 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Dikes ;  and  afterwards, 
he  received  the  sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  Friday, 
April  12th,  1806,  under  Mr.  Dawson' s  own  ministry. 
He  was  a  man  of  slow  speech,  of  great  tender- 
ness, timidity,  and  modesty  ;  uniform  in  his  Christian 
character,  powerful  in  prayer,  faithful  and  persevering 
in  the  discharge  of  religious  duty.  When  he  joined 
society,  the  "Wesleyans  in  Barwick  had  only  one  sermon 
in  the  month  from  the  local  preachers  011  the  Sabbath 
afternoon  :  but  the  few  members  who  were  competent 
to  exercise  in  prayer, — and  in  this  Mr.  Dawson  joined, 
"  went  two  and  two,  on  a  Sabbath  evening,  to  hold 
prayer  meetings  in  the  neighbouring  places."  On  the 
alternate  Sabbath,  he  threw  open  the  best  room  in  his 
house,  for  a  "fellowship  meeting;"  and  it  was  here 
that  Mr.  Dawson  received  so  many  baptisms  of  the 
Spirit.  Mr.  Dawson,  in  a  MS.  account  of  this  good 
man,  observes,  in  reference  to  this  room  ;  "This  was 
the  birth-place  of  many  souls.  This  room  was,  for 
years  the  study  of  the  preachers.  They  felt,  when 
within  its  walls,  that  it  was  like  the  '  holy  of  holies,' 
in  which  the  glory  shone  from  between  the  cherubim 
upon  the  High  Priest,  while  worshipping  within  the 
veil.  If  the  figure  may  be  allowed,  it  was  always  kept 
well  warmed,  well  aired,  and  well  perfumed  with  the 
'  odour  of  sweet  smell,' — emanating  from  the  presence 
of  God,  who  appeared  to  take  up  his  abode  within  its 
sacred  walls." — Mr.  Stoner  established  a  class  of  young 
boys  and  girls,  and  was  eminently  useful  in  the  Sunday 
School.  Before  he  died,  instead  of  a  room,  preaching 


454  MEMOIRS    OF 

once  a  month,  and  only  one  class,  he  lived  to  see  a 
chapel,  preaching  twice  every  Sabbath  and  once  on 
the  week  day,  and  four  classes.  Though  called  to  pass 
through  deep  waters  in  the  course  of  a  few  of  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  "  the  bitters  of  his  cup,"  observes 
Mr.  Dawson,  "were  softened  and  sweetened  by  the  ex- 
emplary, and  truly  praiseworthy  affection  of  his  beloved 
daughter,  and  her  no  less  worthy  husband ;  added  to 
which  was  the  love  and  care  of  his  youngest  son,  who 
was  to  him  a  JOSEPH."  He  left  Tadcaster  on  the  7th 
of  May,  to  visit  his  son,  resident  at  Barwick.  There 
he  took  ill  and  finished  his  earthly,  where  he  com- 
menced his  Christian  course.  During  his  last  illness, 
the  family  wished  to  know  what  message  he  had  to 
deliver  to  his  daughter,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  George 
Croft,  a  Missionary  in  the  West  Indies,  when  he  said — 
"Heaven!  Heaven!"  Some  of  his  last  words  were, 
"  I  am  ready !  I  am  ready  ! 

'  For  me  my  elder  brethren  stay, 
And  angels  beckon  me  away, 
And  Jesus  bids  me  come.' " 

Mr.  Dawson  preached  the  same  sermon  on  the  occa- 
sion, both  at  Tadcaster  and  Barwick.  His  friend  John 
Batty  heard  him  at  both  places ;  and  named  the  cir- 
cumstance. "  I  had  forgotten  yon  were  there,"  said 
Mr.  Dawson  ;  "  and  it  is  as  well  I  did,  or  it  would  have 
been  a  snare  to  me."  John  replied,  "  I  liked  it  better 
the  second  time  than  the  first."  This  was  not  a  solitary 
case;  for  as  he  often  extemporized,  and  always  left 
room  for  the  inspirations  of  the  Spirit  in  the  pulpit,  his 
sermons,  by  the  occasional  introduction  of  episodical 
matter, — though  substantially  unaltered,  carried  a  fresh- 
ness with  them,  resembling  the  breath  of  spring  and 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  455 

the  balm  of  summer.  Hence,  when  his  .sermons  were 
published  by  short-hand  writers,  he  met  occasionally 
with  passages  which  he  had  forgotten,  being  struck  off 
at  the  moment,  and  possessed  of  amazing  force  and 
beauty. 

Prior  to  the  Newcastle  Conference,  the  "Gown" 
question,  which  was  settled  the  Conference  following, 
became  a  subject  of  conversation.  "  My  prejudices," 
said  Mr.  Dawson,  "  are  in  favour  of  a  gown ;  but  my 
reason,  in  the  present  state  of  affairs,  is  against  it. 
When  young,  I  could  not  bear  to  hear  a  person  preach 
without  a  gown  ;  and  hence  I  feel  strong  objections  to 
the  use  of  one  in  the  Sheffield  Proprietary  School. 
The  boys  will,  like  myself,  imbibe  a  prejudice  in  favour 
of  the  gown  ;  and  it  will  have  a  tendency  to  alienate 
the  mind  of  the  boys,  on  their  return  home,  to  find 
Wesleyan  Ministers  denuded  of  what  they  have  been 
practically  taught  to  value." 

In  one  of  his  excursions,  in  the  course  of  summer, 
he  was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Chatsworth,  and  availed 
himself  of  the  opportunity  of  going  over  the  house  and 
grounds  belonging  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire. 
What  he  was  especially  struck  with  was,  the  "  CON- 
SERVATORY ; "  *  from  which  he  came  to  Acaster,  fresh 

*Thi:>  is  stated,  by  Dr.  Granville,  in  his  "  Midland  and  Southern  Spas  of 
England,"  to  be  perfectly  original  and  unique,  so  far  as  it  was  proceeded  with, 
when  his  work  was  published.  It  would,  by  modern  Parisians,  receive  the 
title  of  "  Terre  Monstre."  It  stands  at  a  short  distance  from  the  great  water- 
work  or  cascades  in  the  park.  Here  a  spot  of  ground  was  cleared  of  trees  and 
shrubs  to  the  extent  of  two  acres,  one  of  which  is  covered  over  with  glass. 
The  glazed  surface  contains  seventy  thousand  square  feet  of  glass,  divided  into 
slips,  each  two  feet  long  and  six  inches  wide,  arranged  in  perpendicular  rows, 
and  so  that  the  angles  upwards  and  downwards,  give  to  the  whole  the  appear- 
ance of  a  series  of  horizontal  zig-zag  lines  of  panes  of  glass  one  above 
another.  Under  this  enormous  dome,  some  of  the  best  garden  soil  is  strewed 
on  the  levelled  ground,  to  the  extent  of  seventy  thousand  square  feet,  including 


456  MEMOIRS    OF 

as  from  paradise,  where  the  biographer  met  him  at  the 
house  of  his  brother,  Mr.  Richard  Dawson.  He  took 
up  the  subject  at  a  Missionary  Meeting,  which  was  held 
in  a  large  barn,  and  with  a  fine  play  of  rich  imagina- 
tion, and  gorgeous  colouring,  represented  the  Christian 
Church  as  the  Conservatory  of  Jesus  Christ,  adorned 
with  every  variety  of  character,  like  flowers  of  various 
hues,  and  enriched  with  "  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit." 

After  this,  he  went  into  the  north,  and  though  not  in 
full  strength,  yet  he  had,  on  reaching  Carville,  travelled 
four  hundred  miles,  and  preached  twenty-nine  times, 
within  the  space  of  eighteen  days. 

On  completing  this  tour,  and  returning  home,  he 
visited  the  Rev.  Alexander  Bell,  Superintendant  of 
Leeds  first  circuit,  and,  making  a  low  bow,  pleasantly 
said,  "I  am  a  poor  man,  and  have  been  out  of  work 
four  days ;  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  a  job  ?" 
Such  were  his  habits  of  industry,  that  he  could  not  en- 
dure the  thought  of  being  out  of  employment.  He  had 
never  eaten  the  bread  of  idleness ;  and  even  with  his 
limited  annual  stipend  from  the  Missionary  Fund,  he 
never  thought  he  could  do  enough  for  the  sacred  cause. 
When  he  went  to  John  Burton,  Esq.,  of  Roundhay, 
who  was  commissioned  by  the  Missionary  Committee, 

both  wings  ;  and  in  it  is  planted,  sown,  and  transplanted,  every  vegetable 
production  that  requires  a  permanent  atmospheric  heat,  higher  than  what  is 
peculiar  to  our  own  climate, — a  temperature  for  which  a  suitable  provision  is 
made  under  the  Conservatory,  by  means  of  boilers  and  pipes,  conveying  hot 
water  along  corridors  some  hundreds  of  feet  in  length,  ami  high  enough  for  a 
man  lo  walk  upright  in  them  from  one  to  another.  Tim  various  plants,  shrubs, 
and  flowers  of  the  two  tropics,  and  Australia,  are  reared  in  this  artificial 
southern  hemisphere,  arranged  in  groves  and  parterres,  as  if  growing  naturally 
on  the  spot,  v.'itliout  the  appearance  of  pot  or  box  of  any  kind  ;  streamlets  of 
running  water,  or  standing  pools,  giving  freshness  to  the  sultry  atmosphere  ; 
and  meandering  paths  through  these  bowers,  and  a  carriage-way,  across  every 
part  of  ihis  conservatory. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  457 

to  pay  him  his  quarterly  instalment,  which  was  little 
more  than  an  acknowledgment  for  labour  so  great,  he 
would  say,  "  You  had  better  take  ten  pounds  of  this 
for  the  Missions ;  I  have  no  use  for  the  whole."  Mr. 
Burton  replied,  "  I  am  commissioned  to  pay  the  whole, 
and  the  whole  you  shall  have  from  me.  Do  with  it 
what  you  please,  when  you  receive  it." 

Adverting  to  his  physical  state  at  this  time,  he  re- 
marked to  one  who  wished  to  engage  his  service,  "  You 
must  not  trust  to  such  a  broken  reed,  as  your  old 
friend."  He  was  troubled  with  cough  and  shortness  of 
breath. 

Having  to  go  into  the  north  again,  he  wrote  to  his 
friend  Mr.  Longden,  of  Sheffield,  from  North  Shields. 
"DEAR  SIR, — God  willing,  I  hope  to  set  off  on 
Saturday  evening,  by  the  train  which  leaves  Leeds  at 
five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  professes  to  arrive  at 
Sheffield  about  half-past  six,  when  I  expect  to  enjoy  the 
mental,  social,  and  spiritual  pleasures  of  your  society, 
and  that  of  your  worthy  partner  and  family.  So  be  it, 
says  the  heart  of,  Yours  truly, — W.  DAWSON. 

"  P.  S.  I  write  this  note  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Bram- 
well.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  desire  to  be  affectionately 
remembered  to  you  and  yours." 

On  reaching  Sheffield,  he  was  a  good  deal  indisposed. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  urged  him  to  seek  medical  advice  ;  but 
to  this  he  objected,  owing,  it  was  supposed,  to  his 
having  been  so  seldom  in  the  hands  of  the  gentlemen  of 
the  profession.  This  passed  over ;  and  Mrs.  L.  having 
to  make  a  call  or  two  the  day  following  his  pulpit  ser- 
vices, asked  him  to  accompany  her,  with  which  request 
he  readily  complied,  supposing  a  morning  ride  might  be 
serviceable  to  him.  Alighting  at  the  door  of  a  friend, 
o 


458  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  was  soon  introduced  to  the  good  lady  of  the  house. 
Not  long  after,  the  gentleman  of  the  house  stepped  out 
of  an  adjoining  room.  Combined  with  the  object  of 
Mrs.  L.  seeing  her  friends,  was  the  welfare  of  Mr. 
Dawson.  The  plan  was  complete.  The  gentleman 
belonged  to  the  medical  profession.  Mrs.  L.  told  him 
Mr.  Dawson  had  been  complaining  a  little,  and  wished 
to  know  whether  he  could  prescribe  anything  to  afford 
relief.  Mr.  Dawson  found  where  he  was,  and  saw  no 
way  of  escape.  He,  therefore,  entered  frankly  into  the 
state  of  his  health,  when  the  doctor  told  him,  that 
there  was  water  in  the  chest.  "  That,"  said  Mr.  Daw- 
son,  without  any  emotion  of  fear,  "  is  the  complaint  of 
which  my  mother  died."  The  doctor  advised  him  to 
relax  his  pulpit  exertions ;  stating,  that  if  he  did  not,  it 
would  be  perilous,  if  not  fatal. 

No  advice,  however,  of  this  kind,  seemed  at  the 
time  to  be  availing,  in  consequence  of  the  engagements 
into  which  he  had  entered,  and  his  anxiety  to  fulfil  them. 

While  at  Sheffield,  the  following  account  on  "the 
power  of  conscience,"  was  written,  which  pairs  well 
with  another  case  mentioned  in  the  preceding  pages. 
"  It  is  always  pleasing,"  says  he,  "to  a  pious  mind,  to 
observe  the  workings  of  Divine  grace  in  the  soul,  as  it 
manifests  itself  in  appropriate  fruits ;  but  seldom  do  we 
witness  such  a  remarkable  instance  of  its  power  on  the 
conscience  as  in  the  following  case,  which  lately  came 
under  my  observation  : — About  seventeen  years  ago,  a 
young  man  in  this  town  was  sent  to  get  change  at  a 
neighbouring  shop  for  a  ten-pound  note,  when,  by 
mistake,  he  was  paid  ten  guineas,  which  he  received, 
and  said  nothing  on  the  subject.  Of  late  he  has  been 
converted  to  God ;  and,  having  an  uneasy  conscience 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  459 

on  account  of  this  transaction,  felt  desirous  of  making 
restitution.  But  the  person  from  whom  he  received 
the  money  being  dead,  he  was  unable  for  sometime  to 
obtain  any  information  concerning  the  family.  At 
length  he  discovered  where  the  son  resided ;  and  having 
ascertained  that  neither  of  the  parents  was  living, 
during  the  last  week,  he  sent  a  person  to  inform  him 
of  the  circumstance,  and  to  pay  him  the  extra  ten 
shillings  which  had  been  received  of  his  father  at  the 
time  stated,  with  interest,  if  required ;  adding,  that  he 
could  not  be  happy  until  he  had  paid  the  same.  The 
son  expressed  pleasure  in  witnessing  such  an  instance 
of  the  grace  of  God ;  but  said  he  would  not  take  the 
interest,  and  that  the  ten  shillings  should  be  given  to 
the  cause  of  Christ.  He  has  since  presented  it  to  the 
"Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  as  God's  own  peculiar 
property.  I  understand  the  same  person  has  made 
restitution  in  several  other  cases  of  a  like  nature." 
This  account  appeared  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Magazine,  1841,  p.  123,  signed,  "  William  Dawson." 
The  Rev.  B.  Clough  appends  to  it,  "  The  ten  shillings 
referred  to  in  this  interesting  note,  have  been  paid  to  me 
on  the  behalf  of  the  Missions,  and  accounted  for  ac- 
cordingly." 

He  visited  the  city  of  York  in  December,  where  the 
biographer  had  much  of  his  society,  and  where  he 
could  not  but  observe  a  change  for  the  worse  in  his 
physical  energies.  While  accompanying  him  to  the 
houses  of  a  few  old  friends,  Messrs.  Peart,  Rocliife, 
Lyth,  and  Agar,  he  observed  to  the  writer  on  passing 
along  the  street,  "  I  believe  I  shall  die  of  diabetes 
at  last. "  He  lodged  at  the  house,  as  usual,  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Taylor,  while  in  the  city  ;  and  when  the  son 


460  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  his  friend  was  parting  with  him  at  the  railway 
station,  he  said,  "  Farewell,  John  ;  this  is  perhaps  the 
last  time  I  shall  see  you  upon  earth  ;  I  have  a  presenti- 
ment that  I  shall  go  off  suddenly,  and  you  must  not  be 
surprised  if  you  hear  tell  of  me  being  found  dead  some- 
where." 

In  addition  to  his  regular  missionary  work,  which,  as 
already  intimated,  included  one-half  of  his  time,  he  had 
no  less  than  four  hundred  and  twenty  letters  of  invita- 
tion to  different  places  in  the  course  of  the  year  :  not 
from  small  insignificant  places  leading  him  hither  and 
thither,  and  giving  the  notion  of  a  mendicant,  by 
accepting  them  with  hungry  anxiety,  as  though  "the 
smallest  offering  would  be  thankfully  received."  His 
popularity  was  of  a  higher  order ;  it  partook  of  the 
character  of  that  of  some  of  the  "mighty  dead," — not 
forgetting  a  few  of  the  living,  to  whom  the  Connexion 
is  so  deeply  indebted. 

The  London  "  Times,"  relying  on  the  report  and 
comments  of  the  York  Herald — a  paper  not  to  be 
trusted  for  too  much  candour  where  Methodism  is  con- 
cerned, nor  yet  for  too  little  when  Popery  is  in  question, 
passed  some  strictures  on  Mr.  Dawson's  speech  at  the 
York  Missionary  Meeting,  stating,  that  railway  travel- 
ling and  steam-engines  were  improved  in  a  style  which, 
though  common  two  centuries  ago,  and  not  unknown  to 
the  early  ages  of  the  Church,  bordered  too  closely  on 
the  ludicrous  to  be- properly  applied  to  sacred  subjects. 
It  was  admitted  that  the  speaker's  meaning  was  good, 
and  that  the  speech  was  well  received ;  but  that  they 
seldom  had  read  anything  which  gave  them  a  lower 
opinion  of  the  taste  of  orator  or  audience.  In  this, 
there  is  as  severe  a  reflection  on  the  Wesleyans,  for 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  461 

being  pleased  with  such  an  orator,  as  on  the  speaker 
himself.  But  Mr.  Dawson,  with  all  his  eccentricities, 
was  too  high  for  the  pages  of  the  York  Herald, 
which  it  would  be  much  more  easy  to  burlesque,  than 
the  subject  in  question. 

A  few  days  after  Mr.  Dawson  left  York,  he  preached 
a  funeral  sermon  at  Barwick,  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  his  friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Lumb,  a  local  preacher, 
who  died  suddenly,  on  the  15th  of  December,  in  the 
fortieth  year  of  his  age,  just  after  he  had  been  praying 
with  his  family.  A  few  sentiments  at  the  close  of  Mr. 
Dawson' s  address  will  show  the  views  he  entertained  of 
"  sudden  death ;  "  and  these  taken  in  connexion  with 
his  own  presentiment,  expressed  at  the  York  station 
to  Mr.  Taylor  only  a  few  days  before,  cannot  but 
awaken  in  the  mind  some  powerful  emotions  ; — the 
preacher  living  hi  daily  expectation  of  the  sudden 
transit  on  which  he  was  descanting,  in  reference  to  the 
subject  of  his  discourse! — "Blessed  is  that  servant 
whom  when  his  Lord  cometh  shall  find  watching ;  so 
he  found  our  beloved  brother.  0  the  delightful,  the 
important  change  !  Now  bowing  before  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  in  a  few  minutes  worshipping  before  the 
throne  of  glory ;  one  minute  surrounded  by  his  fellow 
creatures,  clad  in  the  garments  of  mortality,  and  another 
minute,  surrounded  by  angels,  archangels,  and  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, — one  minute  holding 
communion  with  the  presence  of  his  adorable  Saviour 
by  faith,  and  in  another  minute,  beholding  him  face  to 
face.  Farewell !  may  we  meet  thee  in  glory !  "  A  manu- 
script account  of  this  excellent  man  was  found  among  Mr. 
Dawson' s  papers.  His  demise  is  noticed  among  the  "Re- 
cent Deaths,"  in  the  Methodist  Magazine,  1841,  p.  152. 


462  MEMOIRS    OF 

Immediately  on  this,  Mr.  Dawson,  appears  to  have 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  where  he  was  put  into 
a  bed,  which  was  too  thinly  clothed  for  the  season  of 
the  year,  and  of  which  the  family  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  sufficiently  aware.  The  consequence  was, 
that  he  took  cold,  and  became  much  indisposed.  Ill  as 
he  was,  he  had  to  preach.  In  this  state  also,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  London,  where  other  public  services  awaited 
him.  Having  fulfilled  these  engagements,  he  returned 
to  Leeds,  where  he  instantly  took  a  cab,  and  proceeded 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Morley,  who  bled  him,  till,  in  his 
own  language,  he  "was  almost  drained,"  but  without 
producing  faintness.  Mr.  Morley  was  apprehensive  of 
pleurisy  following ;  but  by  precautionary  measures,  it 
was  prevented,  and  Mr.  Dawson  began  to  recover. 
Although  he  had  experienced  a  few  slight  illnesses,  yet 
till  this  period,  he  had  never  been  confined  to  the  house 
one  whole  week  through  indisposition. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  463 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  King's  Daughter. — The  Will  of  God. — Proverbial  Sayings. — 
Indisposition. — Acaster. — Plan  of  Labour. — Mr.  J.  Wild. — 
Dover. — Letter  to  Mrs.Ince. — Croydon. — Birkhamstead. — Last 
Sermon. — Return  Home. — Colne. — Sudden  Death. — Reflections. 
— Processions. — Funeral  Obsequies. — Tokens  of  Respect. 

MR.  DAWSON  commenced  the  labours  of  1841  with 
his  accustomed  spirit,  but  not  with  his  usual  physical 
strength. 

Being  at  Nottingham,  he  took  for  his  text,  Psalm 
xlv.  13,  &c., — "The  King's  daughter  is  all  glorious 
within;  her  clothing  is  of  wrought  gold,"  &c. ; — a 
part  of  the  imagery  according  as  much  with  the 
net,  lace,  and  needle-work  of  the  place,  as  it  was 
suited  to  the  peculiar  character  of  his  genius.  His 
manner  of  handling  the  subject  was  peculiar  to  him- 
self; and  in  consequence  of  making  every  thing  tell 
on  the  conscience  and  the  understanding,  the  sermon, 
connected  with  an  extraordinary  influence  of  God  upon 
the  people,  was  rendered  extensively  useful.  A  friend, 
who  had  heard  him  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
enquired  afterwards, — "  How  is  it,  we  have  not  had 
this  sermon  before?"  Mr.  Dawson  replied, — "It  is 
not  altogether  new ;  -for  I  took  it  at  Manchester,  in 


•464  MEMOIRS    OF 

Oldham-street  chapel,  on  the  evening  of  Dr.  W's. 
return  from  his  chancery  trial  in  London,  when  the 
Society  was  balancing,  and  when  it  was  unknown  a 
short  time  before,  whether  I  should  be  allowed  to 
occupy  the  pulpit.  Since  then,  I  have  had  her,  in 
true  oriental  style, — though  the  daughter  of  a  king, 
locked  up,  and  have  not  once  suffered  her  to  go 
abroad  till  to-night."  And  with  his  touchings  and 
embroiderings,  she  was,  indeed,  on  the  testimony  of 
those  who  heard  him,  made  "glorious  "  to  the  auditory, 
— being  arrayed  in  the  "beauties  of  holiness." 

When  speaking  of  subjects  for  the  pulpit,  he  ob- 
served to  the  writer, — "  I  never  preached  on  the  will 
of  God  but  once."  This  was  owing  to  the  compre- 
hensive character  of  the  subject,  the  nicety  required 
in  its  management,  and  to  what  he  conceived  to  be 
the  pre-requisites  of  the  speaker, — whose  own  will, 
should,  in  everything,  be  swallowed  up  in  the  will 
of  God :  and  though  few  men  could,  with  greater 
sincerity,  say, — "Thy  will  be  done,"  yet  such  were 
the  views  he  had  of  his  many  imperfections,  that 
they  awed  him  away  from  the  subject.  Glancing  at 
Acts  xiii.  36, — "For  David,  after  he  had  served  his 
own  generation,  by  the  will  of  God  fell  on  sleep,  and 
was  laid  unto  his  fathers,"  he  said, — "I  have  long 
viewed  this  passage  as  David's  epitaph,  endited  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  written  by  the  pen  of  an  apostle, 
and  placed,  as  it  were,  over  his  tomb,  to  be  read  by 
the  Church  and  by  the  world  to  the  end  of  time." 

In  his  tcte-h-tetes  with  his  private  friends,  he  often 
introduced  the  proverbial  expressions  of  rural  and 
humble  life ;  and  even  seemed  to  delight  in  them. 
"Allow  me  to  help  you  to  a  little  more,  Mr.  Dawson," 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  465 

said  a  friend  at  a  social  meal,  where  plain  col- 
loquy was  in  use. "  "  No  more,  I  thank  you,  " 
was  returned ;  hitching  in,  —  "if  there  have  been 
shameful  eatings,  there  shall  not  be  shameful  leavings:" 
— a  gentle  hint,  by  the  way,  for  the  more  saucy  part 
of  the  community,  who  pay  more  attention  to  the 
desire  of  the  eye,  than  the  wants  of  nature  and  the 
feelings  of  the  provider  of  the  repast,  by  turning 
aside  what  they  have,  perhaps,  previously  solicited. 
To  waste,  sauciness,  and  extravagance,  he  was  a  deter- 
mined enemy. 

He  was  down  in  Lincolnshire,  preaching  occasional 
sermons  in  connection  with  Mr.  Charles  Welch  of 
Hull,  author  of  "Wesleyan  Polity,"  and  some  other 
excellent  publications ;  on  which  occasion  he  stated, 
that  he  felt  the  work  too  laborious  for  him;  further 
adding, — "  I  purpose  going  on  till  July,  and  then 
I  shah1  state  to  the  committee,  that  I  must  become 
a  supernumerary."  It  was  not  the  feeling  of  a  tri- 
fling ailment,  that  induced  him  to  make  this  remark ; 
and  it  is  only  to  be  regretted,  that  it  had  not  been 
made  earlier,  and  made  also  to  the  committee,  as 
his  labours  would  have  been  instantly  diminished. 

In  the  month  of  March,  he  spent  three  days  with 
his  brother,  Mr.  Richard  Dawson,  at  Acaster,  one  of 
which  was  his  birth-day ; — the  longest  period  the 
family  had  enjoyed  his  society  for  many  years,  and  even 
then,  he  was  engaged  part  of  the  time  in  preaching 
in  the  neighbourhood.  He  complained  of  indisposition ; 
and  said  to  Mrs.  Dawson,  who  was  previously  pain- 
fully impressed  with  what  she  had  observed,  that  he 
was  "troubled  with  a  wheezing,  tickling  cough,  ac- 
companied with  difficulty  of  breathing,  and  believed 
u2 


466  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  was  labouring  under  the  complaint  of  which  his 
mother  died. "  He  manifested  on  this,  as  on  a 
former  occasion,  no  painful  apprehensions,  but  was 
cheerful,  as  usual,  and  under  a  sweet  religious  influence. 
He  left  Acaster  for  Leeds,  on  the  1st  of  April, 
and  on  his  arrival  at  his  own  house,  he  had  almost 
immediately  to  set  out  on  his  missionary  tour.*  This 
he  undertook  with  the  fortitude  of  a  martyr  going 
to  the  stake ;  and  with  as  full  a  persuasion  apparently, 
that  his  adherence  to  the  good  cause  was  hastening 
his  dissolution,  as  the  sufferers  for  Christianity  were 

*  The  following  is  his  route. 
1841. 

April  4  (Sund.)Burslemand  Tunstal    May  11 Bristol 

5 Uttoxeter,  Staffrdsh.  16  (Sund.)  Pontefract 

6 Newcastle-under-Lyne          17 Ditto 

7 Burslem    ditto  19 Bramley 

8-- Tunstal      ditto  23  (Sund.)  Northampton 

9  (Good  Friday)  Leek  24 Ditto 

10 Return  home  25 Daventry,  Nortbamp. 

11  (Sund.)  Huoslet  &  St.  Peter's  26 Towcester 

12 Aberford  28 Leighton  Buzzard 

13 Vacant  30  (Sun.)  Dudley 

14 Barwick  S.  School        June  1 Perhaps  Burton  circuit 

15 Vacant  4 Melbourne 

16 Ditto  6  (Sund.)  Borrowash  near  Derby 

17 Go  to  Birmingham  7 Hyson  Green  near  Nott. 

18 Birmingham  8 Long  Eaton,  ditto 

19 Ditto  13  (Sund.)  Richmond 

20 Ditto  14 Brompton  near  Northal. 

21  ..-•..-•  Redditch,  Worcestersh .  15 Perhaps  Masliam 

22 Tewksbury,  ditto  16 Weeton  near  Harewood 

23 Evesham,    ditto  20 Queen-street,  London 

24 ....... .Go  to  Oxford  25 Tunbridge  Wells 

25  (Sund.)  Oxford  27  (Sund.)  Perhaps  Canterbury 

26-  • Return  to  BirminghamJuly  4 Colne 

27 Denby  potteries  5 Haworth 

28 Riddings,  Derbyshire  6 Steeton 

29 Rotherham  11  (Sund.)New  Mills 

May   2  (Sund.)  Cheltenham  18  (Sund.)Knaresbro' 

9  (Sund.)  Bristol  25  (Sund.)  Doncaster 

10 Bath  26 Worksop 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  467 

assured,  that  their  creed  was  the  cause  of  their  pre- 
mature death.  But  it  was  a  cause  in  which  he  gloried, 
— to  advance  the  interests  of  which  he  laboured, — 
for  which  he  felt  he  was  ready  to  die ; — and,  to  the 
memory  of  such  a  man,  everything  is  due,  in  the 
shape  of  honour,  from  the  Wesleyan  body. 

In  the  course  of  his  peregrinations,  he  preached 
the  funeral  sermon  of  his  old  friend,  Mr.  John  Wild 
of  Armley,  of  whom  there  is  a  brief  account  in  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine  for  1841,  p.  620.  From 
a  nearly  thirty  years  acquaintance  with  this  man  of 
worth,  the  biographer  does  not  say  too  much,  when 
he  affirms  from  his  personal  knowledge,  that  the  reli- 
gion of  Mr.  Wild  bore  the  character  of  Seneca's 
description  of  virtue,  which,  like  fire,  turned  every- 
thing into  itself;  his  actions  and  his  friendships  being 
tinctured  with  it,  and  whatever  it  touched  was  im- 
proved. He  died  at  the  age  of  between  eighty  and 
ninety;  and  in  advanced  life  had  the  ruddy  hue  of 
youth.  He  suffered  long  and  much,  before  he  died; 
but  his  religion,  like  precious  odours,  became  the 
sweeter,  the  more  he  seemed  to  be  crushed  by  affliction 
in  its  exercise. 

Mr.  Geden  observed,  in  correspondence  with  a 
friend,  that  Mr.  Dawson  had  been  at  Dover,  where 
he  preached  on  Psalm  xl.  1 — 3,  and  Luke  xv.  11 

July  27 Hayton  Aug.  22  (Sund.)  Scarbro' 

28 Tnxford  29  (Sund.) Ashton-under-Lyne 

Aug.  1 Birstal  Sep.  5  (Sund.)Farnley 

3 Acaster  6 Armley 

8  (Sund.)Cullingworth  12  (Sund.)  Perhaps  Camileo 

9 Bradford  Low  Moor  19  (Sund.)  Liverpool 

10 Wibsey  perhaps  21 Wensford,  Cheshire 

11 Wilsden  26  (Sund.)  Selby 

15  (Sund.)  Loughborough  30 At  Workington,  Curob. 

17 Draycott 


4G8  MEMOIRS    OF 

—  to  the  end ;  and  also,  that  he  had  preached  at 
Canterbury  on  Acts  xiii.  38,  39,  and  Matt.  xvi.  26 ; 
and  that  at  Dover  especially,  his  ministry  was  made 
a  great  blessing,  while  his  private  conversation  was 
truly  spiritual  and  impressive.  On  leaving  the  house 
of  Mr.  Geden,  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  head  of 
his  son,  who  was  just  entering  upon  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  said,  with  great  affection  and  solem- 
nity,— "Live  when  I  am  dead, — live  better  than  I 
have  lived  !  "  This  was  truly  Dawsonian ; — urging 
others  to  duty,  while  he  attended  to  it  himself, — 
but  with  his  glory  swallowed  up  in  shame. 

Though  the  introduction  of  Letters  from  Mr.  Daw- 
son  himself,  has  been  studiously  avoided,  for  reasons 
stated  in  the  preface,  yet  it  may  be  proper  here  to 
give  an  extract  from  one  to  Mrs.  Ince,  21,  Bedford- 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  dated  June  11,  1841. 
"I  thank  God,"  he  remarks,  "that  my  health  is 
considerably  restored,  though  I  still  feel  a  little  diffi- 
culty in  breathing,  when  going  up  stairs,  or  walking 
quick  up  hill.  But  I  must  not  expect  to  be  exempt 
from  the  failings  of  mortality.  The  pins  of  my  taber- 
nacle must  loosen,  and  the  canvas  must  have  its 
rents  and  holes,  as  well  as  others  ;  and,  therefore,  the 
leading  wish  of  my  heart  is,  as  strikingly  expressed 
in  those  words  of  the  German  Hymn,  translated  by 
Mr.  Charles  "Wesley, — and  which  I  often  say  and  sing : 

'  Let  me  in  life,  in  death, 

Thy  steadfast  truth  declare  ; 
And  publish  with  my  latest  breath, 
Thy  love  and  guardian  care.'" 

When  in  the  metropolis,  in  the  latter  part  of  June, 
he  domiciled  several  days  in  the  house  of  his  friend, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  469 

Mr.  William  Ince ;  and  proceeded  from  thence  to  Tun- 
bridge  Wells,  and  some  other  places. 

The  following  notice  in  the  "Watchman,"  of  July 
7th,  shews  that  he  was  at  Croydon  on  the  30th  of 
June.  "  On  Wednesday  last,  the  friends  of  this  place 
were  favoured  with  the  services  of  Mr.  W.  Dawson, 
who  preached  two  sermons  in  aid  of  the  Sabbath 
School.  The  congregations  were  excellent,  particularly 
in  the  evening.  The  use  of  a  meadow,  adjoining  the 
chapel,  was  kindly  granted  by  W.  Taylor,  Esq.,  where 
a  spacious  booth  was  erected,  in  which  about  250 
persons  sat  down  to  tea ;  after  which  the  friends 
re-assembled  in  the  chapel,  and  were  gratified  with 
appropriate  addresses  from  the  chairman,  E.  Corderoy, 
Esq.,  —  Haynes,  Esq.,  (Independant),  Mr.  Dawson, 
J.  Corderoy,  Esq.,  and  the  Rev.  H.  Castle." 

According  to  previous  promise,  having  a  little  time 
to  spare  for  more  extra  work,  he  proceeded  the  next 
day  to  Great  Birkhamstead,  in  the  St.  Albans  circuit, 
to  engage  in  the  services  connected  with  the  opening 
of  a  place  for  divine  worship.  These  services  he 
closed  on  Thursday,  July  1st,  by  preaching  in  the 
afternoon  and  evening.  On  commencing  the  after- 
noon service,  he  remarked,  in  reference  to  the  hymn 
he  was  about  to  give  out, — "This  is  a  solemn  and 
remarkable  hymn  ; — unlike  most  of  those  we  sing. 
It  is  neither  a  hymn  of  praise,  of  adoration,  nor 
yet  of  prayer :  it  is  a  soliloquy,  and  represents  a 
person  talking  to  himself.  Let  each  person  in  the 
congregation,  then,  talk  to  himself,  as  I  purpose  talking 
to  myself,  while  singing  these  solemn  words : — 

'And  am  I  only  born  to  die ? 
And  must  I  suddenly  comply 
With  nature's  stern  decree  ? '"  &c. 


470  MEMOIRS    OP 

He  then  joined  in  the  singing,  with  a  loud  and  clear 
voice,  and  manifested  great  depth  of  feeling.  On 
offering  up  a  deeply  interesting  and  ardent  prayer, 
and  reading  the  thirty-second  chapter  of  the  book  of 
Exodus,  he  selected  part  of  the  26th  verse  of  the 
same  chapter  as  his  text, — "Who  is  on  the  Lord's 
side?"  In  introducing  the  subject,  he  observed, — 
"This  is  a  most  remarkable  chapter,  respecting  a 
most  remarkable  people,  by  a  most  remarkable  man;" 
and  afterwards,  in  his  peculiar  and  impressive  manner, 
pointed  out  the  base  ingratitude  of  the  children  of 
Israel  to  Moses.  At  the  close  of  the  afternoon  ser- 
vice, he  took  tea  with  about  one  hundred  friends  ; 
immediately  after  which,  he  delivered  an  appropriate 
and  interesting  address,  in  reference  to  the  infant 
cause  in  the  place,  and  exhorted  the  friends,  tenderly, 
watchfully,  and  perseveringly,  to  care  for  the  infant, 
with  which  they  had  thus  been  entrusted.  At  the 
evening  service,  the  congregation  was  exceedingly  large, 
— many  of  the  people  having  journeyed  several  miles 
to  the  place.  He  took  for  his  text, — "And  now  also 
the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root  of  the  trees  :  therefore, 
every  tree  which  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn 
down,  and  cast  into  the  fire."  Matt.  iii.  10.  In 
preaching  on  this  text,  his  familiar  acquaintance  with 
rural  life,  furnished  him  with  various  observations, 
which,  proceeding  from  some  ministers,  might  have 
been  deemed  not  sufficiently  dignified  for  the  pulpit, 
but  which, — with  the  Baptist  before  him  as  a  model, 
—a  plain,  pointed  preacher,  homely  in  costume,  and 
with  a  "wilderness"  for  his  sanctuary,  were  rendered 
strikingly  illustrative  of  the  subject.  He  made,  in 
the  course  of  his  sermon,  some  interesting  and  touching 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  471 

references  to  the  doctrine  of  divine  Providence;  and, 
in  support  of  it,  noticed  the  particular  providence 
of  God  towards  himself  and  his  family  connexions. 
After  this,  he  offered  up  a  devout  and  suitable  prayer 
for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  thus  closed  the  public 
service. 

The  last  text  was  mixed  up  with  several  affecting  cir- 
cumstances in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Dawson.  He  preached 
on  it  at  Horseforth,  near  Leeds,  in  the  year  1819, 
when  much  good  resulted  from  it.  Mr.  J.  Verity, 
having  to  wait  upon  him  some  time  afterwards,  told 
him,  that  Thomas  Jackson,  who  had  heard  him  on 
the  occasion,  retired  to  rest  in  health,  about  nine 
o'clock  the  evening,  after  taking  his  supper,  and 
was  found  dead,  by  the  side  of  his  son,  at  eleven. 
Mr.  Dawson  clasped  his  hands,  and,  after  a  brief 
pause,  said, — "It  is  very  strange!  I  never  feel  my 
mind  impressed  to  preach  upon  that  text,  but  it  is 
almost  invariably  followed  by  a  sudden  death." 

Having  completed  his  southern  tour,  which,  with 
journies  in  other  directions,  had  occupied  a  period  of 
some  months,  and  during  which  he  had  been  engaged 
in  almost  incessant  pulpit  and  platform  labour,  he 
returned  home,  where  he  arrived  on  the  Friday, — 
having  travelled  all  night.  On  his  arrival,  by  rail- 
way, at  Leeds,  he  was  about  to  engage  a  cab,  to 
convey  himself  and  his  luggage  to  his  own  house. 
Two  of  the  cab-men,  each  asserting  his  right  to  the 
conveyance  of  his  person  to  the  destined  place,  quar- 
relled,— both  maintaining  the  priority  of  addressing 
him.  Mr.  Dawson,  in  order  to  settle  the  dispute, 
having  been  frequently  annoyed  by  such  officious- 
ness,  dismissed  them  both,  and  resolved  upon  car- 


4/2  MEMOIRS    OF 

rying  his  own  luggage.  It  was  heavy,  and  fatigued 
him  so  much,  that  he  was  compelled  to  leave  it  at 
a  friend's  house  on  the  road.  He  felt  the  effects  of 
the  exertion,  but  concluded,  that  a  little  rest  would 
enable  him  to  regain  his  wonted  state  of  feeling  and 
strength.  Accordingly,  after  a  few  hours  repose,  he 
felt  improved ;  set  to  work,  and  wrote  sixteen  letters, 
in  answer  to  a  number  he  found,  lying  in  the  house, 
and  which  required  immediate  attention.  One  of  the 
shorter,  to  the  Rev.  P.  "Wilkinson,  being  among  the 
last  letters  he  wrote,  may  be  here  introduced. 

"  Burmantofts,  Leeds,  July  2nd,  1841. 

DEAR  SIR. — Returning  home  this  morning,  after 
a  fortnight's  absence,  I  found  your  letter.  My  arrange- 
ments at  present,  are  as  follow : — Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
Sunday,  July  18th;  Wall's  End  colliery,  19th;  Middles- 
bro',  21 ;  and  Dishforth,  22nd.  I  thought  I  could 
get  from  Middlesbro'  on  Wednesday,  and  then  by 
railway  to  Thirsk  on  Thursday,  and  from  thence  to 
Dishforth  that  day,  and  return  next  day.  But  as 
I  am  not  yet  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  railway 
communication,  I  cannot  speak  positively  upon  the 
subject.  I  have  received  no  intelligence  from  Middles- 
bro' yet ;  but  I  think  of  writing  to-day  to  Mr. 
Jackson,  to  know  his  mind  upon  the  subject. 

Could  I  meet  every  case,  it  would  highly  delight, 
Dear  Sir,  yours  affectionately, 

W.  DAWSON." 

After  this,  he  went  into  the  town  to  see  the  mem- 
bers chaired,  who  passed  the  house  of  his  friend,  Mr. 
Reinhardt,  where  he  enjoyed  himself  with  a  social 
religious  party,  and  was  Tory  enough  to  express  his 
satisfaction  in  the  non-election  of  Mr.  Joseph  Hume. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  473 

While  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  Reinhardt,  druggist,  a 
friend  enquired  into  the  state  of  his  health,  when 
he  replied,  laying  his  hand  on  his  hreast,  and  gently 
patting  it, — "  I  am  not  right  here ;"  subjoining,  "my 
work  is  too  hard  for  me. "  The  propriety  of  medical 
advice  was  suggested,  and  the  Rev.  Edward  "Walker, 
with  his  accustomed  kindness,  proposed  to  attend  to 
his  appointment,  provided  he  would  tarry  at  home. 
He  returned,  that  he  was  always  hest  when  in  the 
open  air  and  travelling,  and  hoped  that  the  journey 
would  be  conducive,  rather  than  prejudicial  to  health. 
On  his  return  home  with  Mrs.  Phillips,  he  paused, 
and  said, — "  I  am  short  of  breath  ;  "  and  reclined 
himself  against  a  wall.  Mrs.  Phillips,  on  their  reaching 
Spring  Field,  again  urged  the  propriety  of  medical  aid, 
coupled  with  the  advice  of  a  few  days'  rest  from  labour. 
But  he  still  clung  to  the  hope,  that  the  journey  would 
be  advantageous  to  health.  He,  therefore,  rose  about 
six  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning,  July  3rd,  and  left 
Leeds  for  Colne,  in  Lancashire,  in  company  with  his 
relative,  Mr.  Phillips,  at  which  place  they  arrived  in 
safety,  and  took  up  their  residence  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  John  Phillips,  the  brother  of  Mr.  Edward. 

Though  his  appearance  seemed  to  indicate,  that 
he  was  not  quite  well,  when  he  arrived  at  Colne, 
yet  he  did  not  complain,  but  conversed  on  various 
subjects  in  his  usual  cheerful  manner  with  the  friends 
in  whose  society  he  spent  the  afternoon.  He  also 
joined  in  singing  several  hymns,  and  selected  the 
tunes  which  he  wished  to  have  sung  in  the  chapel 
on  the  ensuing  day.  At  eight  o'clock,  he  took  a 
Bible,  and  went  to  his  apartment,  where  he  remained 
for  some  time.  On  his  return,  after  a  light  supper, 


4/4  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  prayed  with  the  family  in  a  very  comprehensive 
manner,  for  the  nation,  the  Church,  and  particularly 
the  inhabitants  of  Colne, — that  the  Lord  would  assist, 
and  crown  with  his  blessing,  the  services  of  the  ap- 
proaching Sabbath.  He  retired  to  his  chamber  about 
eleven  o'clock,  and  was  soon  after  followed  by  Mr. 
E.  Phillips,  with  a  floating  light,  in  order  to  leave 
it  in  the  room,  stating,  that  as  he  had  not  been  very 
well,  it  would  be  better  to  have  a  light  at  hand;  to 
which  Mr.  Dawson  replied, — "O  child,  I  am  much 
better;  there  is  no  need  of  it, — blow  it  out."  It 
would  seem,  that  he  soon  sunk  into  a  state  of  rest, 
on  his  friend  leaving  the  room,  as  nothing  was  heard 
of  him  till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  he  awoke 
Mr.  Phillips,  saying, — "Edward,  get  up,  I  am  very 
poorly."  Mr.  Phillips  was  instantly  at  his  side ;  and, 
in  a  few  minutes,  several  members  of  the  family  and 
a  medical  gentleman  were  present,  to  render  all  the 
assistance  in  their  power.  But  it  was  unavailing. 

While  sitting  in  a  chair,  and  labouring  for  breath, 
he  spoke  a  little  to  those  around  him.  His  walking- 
stick,  which  is  preserved  as  a  little  memento  of 
private  friendship  by  the  biographer,  was  reached 
to  him  by  Mr.  Phillips,  to  grasp,  while  the  medical 
attendant  endeavoured  to  open  a  vein.  But  the 
hand  had  nearly  become  powerless.  He  slightly 
pressed  the  "staff"  between  his  finger  and  thumb, 
upon  which,  like  another  Jacob,  he  had  so  often 
leaned, — an  incident  not  beneath  the  pen  of  inspira- 
tion, and  fell  back  in  the  chair  on  which  he  sat.  The 
increasing  difficulty  experienced  in  respiration,  soon 
rendered  speaking  next  to  impracticable.  The  few 
sentences,  however,  which  fell  from  his  lips,  attested 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  475 


that  all  was  right  within,  and  his  last  words  were, — 


"  Let  ns  in  life,  in  death, 

Thy  steadfast  truth  declare." 

In  attempting  to  repeat  the  other  lines  of  the  verse,  — 

"  And  publish  with  our  latest  breath, 
Thy  love  and  guardian  care, " 

utterance  failed ;  and  in  his  inclined  position,  he 
crossed  his  hands  upon  his  breast, — as  occasionally 
in  the  pulpit,  and  expired  without  a  struggle;  thus 
giving  reality  to  poetic  expression, — he  "  ceased  at 
once  to  work  and  live. " 

His  sudden  departure  from  the  present  state  of  exist- 
ence— itself  but  transitory,  reminds  us  of  the  sentiments 
to  which  he  gave  utterance  in  the  sermon  he  preached, 
occasioned  by  the  sudden  death  of  the  Rev.  "William 
Bramwell.  "  Mr.  Bramwell,"  said  he  to  the  listening 
multitude,  who,  in  open  air,  stood  near  the  spot  where 
he  had  expired — "  Mr.  Bramwell  was  unusually  favour- 
ed in  this  respect.  His  health  was  seldom  interrupted 
by  sickness  ;  and  he  tasted  little  of  the  bitter  cup  of 
indisposition,  of  which  many  take  large  draughts.  In 
the  time  of  his  removal  from  this  world,  he  was  also 
peculiarly  indulged.  Never  was  Jordan's  current 
smoother  than  when  he  embarked,  and  along  its  banks 
was  never  seen  a  narrower  place  than  that  which  he  was 
privileged  to  cross.  He  was  not,  as  some  have  been, 
five  or  six  weeks,  or  even  a  longer  period,  in  passing 
over  the  river,  'tossed  with  tempests  and  not  com- 
forted.' No :  in  a  few  minutes  he  was  wafted  across  the 
stream  :  so  that  we  may  justly  adopt  the  language  of 
the  Rev.  Henry  Moor,  who  emphatically  remarked,  upon 
the  suddenness  of  Mr.  Bramwell's  removal, — '  We  can 
scarcely  call  it  DEATH.  It  is  almost  a  TRANSLATION.'  " 


476  MEMOIRS    OF 

In  this  brief  statement,  he  might  have  been  describing 
his  own  general  state  of  good  health ;  nor  could  he,  if, 
with  the  eye  of  a  seer  he  had  been  capable  of  glancing 
at  his  own  exit,  have  portrayed  it  more  correctly.  It 
was,  indeed,  a  narrow  place,  occupying  only  a  few 
minutes  in  crossing, — from  ten  to  twenty !  All  was  like 
the  sudden  dropping  of  a  curtain ;  and  when  over,  and 
once  awakened  from  the  hurried  surprise,  left  upon  those 
around  the  impression  of  a  dream.  In  his  own  house 
at  Leeds,  in  Yorkshire,  on  the  Saturday,  and  at  Colne, 
in  Lancashire,  the  same  evening.  In  Time,  when  the 
clock  struck  twelve  on  the  Saturday  night,  and  in  Eter- 
nity a  few  minutes  after  two  on  the  Sabbath  morning  ! 
leaving  the  dawn  of  one  Sabbath  for  the  brighter  day  of 
another — and  one  whose  day  should  never  have  a  close. 
The  body  animated  by  its  active  spirit,  and  in  its  home, 
at  the  close  of  one  week  ;  and  after  a  sudden  transit 
from  one  county  to  another,  coffined  within  the  walls  of 
that  home,  at  the  beginning  of  another  week  ;  and  in 
the  space  of  two  brief  days  more,  conveyed  to  the 
church  in  which  he  had  sat  as  a  hearer,  when  a  boy, 
and  laid  in  the  ground  over  which  his  boyish  feet  had 
strayed!  It  brings  to  recollection  also,  some  of  the 
expressions  he  employed  in  his  sermon  a  few  months 
before  at  Barwick,  on  the  equally  sudden  death  of 
Thomas  Lumb,  to  which  the  reader  will  be  able  to 
advert. 

Another  reminiscence  may  be  here  indulged,  relative 
to  a  previous  visit  to  Colne,  in  company  with  his  friend 
Mr.  Phillips.  It  will  be  recollected  that  the  two  lines 
of  the  hymn  which  he  falteringly  quoted,  form  a  part  of 
the  eighth  verse  of  the  hymn  which  he  gave  out  with 
his  accustomed  energy  and  animation,  in  the  pulpit  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  477 

the  Wesleyan  Chapel,  in  the  same  place,  on  a  public 
occasion,  at  the  time  to  which  reference  is  made.  It 
was,  as  has  been  already  observed,  during  a  period  of 
considerable  commercial  depression,  when  the  spirits  of 
many  serious  persons  were  bending  beneath  the  load, 
and  when  he  laboured  to  elevate  their  spirits  by  singing — 

"  Giye  to  the  winds  thy  fears  ; 

Hope,  and  be  undismayed,"  Sec. 

Little  was  he  aware,  that  part  of  the  last  verse  of  that 
hymn  would  be  the  last  words  that  should  escape  from 
his  lips — that  they  should  be  uttered  in  the  town  to 
which  he  was  then  on  a  visit — that  they  should  be 
addressed  to  the  ear  of  the  friend  who  was  with  him  on 
both  occasions,  and  in  the  house  he  had  just  left — and  that 
the  last  "  night "  on  which  he  closed  his  eyes,  should  so 

"  Soon  end  in  joyous  day." 

Equally  remote  was  it  from  his  apprehension,  on  the 
Thursday  previous  to  his  death,  when  giving  out  the 
hymn  at  the  commencement  of  the  service  at  Great 
Birkhamstead,  that  he  was,  on  that  day,  closing  his 
public  services, — that  "  nature's  stern  decree  "  was  to 
be  fulfilled  within  the  space  of  little  more  than  two 
days  from  the  close  of  the  one  on  which  he  was  preach- 
ing,— that  the  text  and  sermon  which  had  been  so 
often  the  forerunners  of  the  sudden  death  of  others, 
should  immediately  precede  his  own, — and  that  he  was 
not  only  unconsciously  sounding  the  requiem  of  his 
ministerial  labours,  but  that  he  was,  as  if  in  prophetic 
strains,  singing,  in  mournful  yet  in  fearless  notes,  his 
own  funeral  dirge.  But,  being  "  on  the  Lord's  side," 
the  "axe  "  was  "laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  "  of  mor- 
tality, only  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  him  by  the  side  of 
the  "  Tree  of  Life  "  for  ever. 


478  MEMOIRS    OF 

The  tidings  of  his  death  soon  spread  through  the 
town  and  neighbourhood,  and  the  house  was  beset  with 
a  crowd  of  people  by  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  After 
Mr.  Phillips  had  given  orders  for  a  lead  coffin  to  be 
made,  and  entered  into  other  necessary  arrangements, 
he  hastened  into  Yorkshire,  to  communicate  the  melan- 
choly intelligence  of  his  death  to  his  friends ;  and  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  tidings  reached 
Acaster,  near  York,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Richard 
Dawson. 

On  Mr.  Phillips  leaving  Colne,  the  itinerant  and  local 
preachers,  and  other  officers  in  the  Society,  with  the 
members  and  friends,  assembled  in  the  chapel,  to  pay 
their  last  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased. The  Rev.  T.  Powell,  of  Burnley,  it  may  be 
observed,  very  obligingly  preached  the  sermons  on  the 
Sabbath  day.  Mr.  Charles  Smith,  co-executor  with 
Mr.  E.  Phillips,  left  Leeds  at  four  o'clock  on  the  Mon- 
day morning,  from  whence  a  hearse  had  also  been 
forwarded,  to  convey  the  corpse  to  its  place  of  rest.  On 
the  coffin  being  placed  in  the  hearse,  it  was  preceded  by 
travelling  and  local  preachers,  stewards,  trustees,  and 
leaders  ;  and  these  were  followed  by  a  crowd  of  Wes- 
leyans  and  others.  Some  of  the  factories  having  been 
stopped,  in  order  to  give  the  members  of  society  an 
opportunity  of  joining  the  procession,  the  crowd  of 
attendants  became  the  greater.  In  passing  slowly 
through  the  town,  the  people  sung  one  of  Mr.  Dawson' s 
favourite  hymns  ;  and  when  the  procession  had  pro- 
ceeded about  a  mile,  the  people  divided  themselves  into 
two  companies,  one  on  each  side  of  the  road,  where 
they  stood — men  and  boys,  with  their  heads  uncovered, 
while  the  hearse  passed  between  ;  when,  as  a  last  fare- 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  479 

well,  they  again  united  in  singing  the  verse  which  he 
had  attempted  to  repeat  the  morning  before — carrying 
it  out  for  him,  as  it  were,  and  wafting  it  with  becoming 
reverence  to  heaven : — 

"  Lot  us  in  life,  in  death, 

Thy  steadfast  truth  declare ; 

And  publish  with  our  latest  breath 

Thy  love  and  guardian  care." 

Before  the  hearse  reached  Keighly,  it  was  again  met  by 
Wesleyans  and  others,  when  another  procession  was 
formed,  accompanying  it  some  distance  through  the 
town;  where,  as  the  friends  had  done  at  Colne,  they 
halted,  bared  the  head,  gazed  sorrowfully  on  the  mov- 
ing vehicle  as  it  passed  between  the  lines,  and  then 
sung,— 

"  Oh  that  without  a  lingering  groan, 

I  may  the  welcome  word  receive  ; 
My  body  with  my  charge  lay  down, 
And  cease  at  once  to  work  and  live." 

The  same  respect  and  deep  feeling  appeared  in  every 
place  which  the  hearse  had  to  pass  through.  The 
remains  arrived  in  Leeds  on  the  same  day.  It  was  in- 
tended that  the  funeral  should  take  place  on  the 
Friday ;  but  circumstances  rendered  it  necessary  to  fix 
upon  Wednesday  the  7th,  as  the  day  of  interment ;  so 
that  little  more  than  twenty-four  hours  could  be  secured 
to  give  notice  to  the  friends,  and  make  other  arrange- 
ments. But  short  as  the  time  was,  the  feeling  of 
respect  was  such,  that  the  hour  had  only  to  be  an- 
nounced, for  public  homage  to  be  paid. 

The  Trustees  of  the  principal  Wesleyan  Chapels  in 
Leeds,  expressed  a  wish  that  the  remains  should  be 
interred  in  connexion  with  one  of  the  places  of  worship 
belonging  to  the  body,  and  kindly  offered  a  vault,  and 


480  MEMOIRS    OF 

proposed  a  tablet  to  his  memory.  But  the  family 
burying  ground  was  preferred  by  the  surviving  relatives. 
One  o'clock  was  the  time  fixed  for  removal ;  and  on 
the  corpse  being  brought  out,  an  interesting  service 
took  place  in  the  open  air.  The  Rev.  Edward  Walker 
commenced  by  giving  out  an  appropriate  hymn  ;  after 
this,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Bell,  engaged  in  prayer  ;  he 
was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Galland,  A.M.,  who 
delivered  an  interesting  address,  combining  with  it  the 
character  and  talents  of  the  deceased  ;  then  the  Rev.  J. 
Cusworth  concluded  with  prayer.  At  the  close  of  the 
service,  the  procession  formed,  composed  of  the  travel- 
ling and  local  preachers,  together  with  the  leaders, 
&c.,  of  the  four  circuits  belonging  to  Leeds ;  these 
preceded  the  hearse,  six  abreast.  A  long  train  of 
people  followed  the  hearse  and  mourning  coaches.  The 
streets,  and  public  road  out  of  Leeds,  for  the  space  of 
about  a  mile  and  a  half,  presented  one  congregated  mass 
of  people,  though  the  weather  was  rather  unfavourable, 
and  the  funeral  had  thus  taken  place  earlier  than  was  at 
first  anticipated  by  the  populace  at  large ;  and  multi- 
tudes of  these  followed  to  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
mile  and  half.  The  distance  from  Leeds  to  Barwick-in- 
Elmet  is  seven  miles,  and  the  funeral  did  not  reach  the 
village  till  six  o'clock.  The  hearse,  drawn  by  four 
horses,  was  preceded  by  the  singers,  and  followed  by 
three  mourning  coaches.  Besides  many  persons  on  foot, 
who  proceeded  the  full  length  of  the  journey,  it  was 
calculated  that  there  were  not  less  than  a  hundred  per- 
sons on  horseback,  while  sixty  eight  carriages  were 
counted  in  the  train,  multiplying  to  eighty-six  when  the 
remains  reached  the  village,  containing  friends  of  various 
ranks,  who  thus  paid  their  voluntary  respect  to  one 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  481 

whom  they  loved  in  life,  and  by  the  effects  of  whose 
ministry  they  were  likely  to  be  benefited  forever. 
Hymns  were  sung  in  passing  through  Seacroft,  Scholes, 
and  Barwick,  while  the  old  family  residence  of  Barubow 
appeared  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  to  the  left,  reviving 
many  recollections  in  the  minds  of  the  mourners.  The 
church  was  crowded,  and  those  who  were  unable  to 
gain  admission  stood  in  the  church-yard  amidst  heavy 
rain.  The  service  was  impressively  read  by  the  Rector, 
the  Rev.  W.  H.  Bathurst,  nephew  of  Earl  Bathurst,  in 
the  midst  of  deep  feeling ;  and  the  50th  hymn  on  page 
52,  of  the  Wesley  an  Collection,  was  sung,— the  son  of 
one  of  the  early  friends  of  the  deceased  officiating  as 
clerk.  Another  hymn  was  sung  at  the  grave.  The 
grave  itself  was  very  deep,  penetrating  through  the  rock, 
lined  at  the  bottom  with  brick,  and  at  least  a  couple  of 
yards  deeper  than  the  remains  of  his  mother,  part  of 
whose  coffin  was  visible  to  the  eye.  On  seeing  the  mul- 
titudes, hearing  the  sighs,  and  witnessing  the  tears  that 
were  shed,  the  writer  could  not  but  recur  again  and 
again  to  that  portion  of  holy  writ, — "  Them  that  honour 
me,  I  will  honour."  But  even  "THIS  honour  have" 
NOT  "all  his  saints."  Thus  lived — thus  died — and 
thus  was  honoured  WILLIAM  DAWSON,  who  departed 
this  life,  July  4th,  1841,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age. 

In  his  Will,  dated  April  15,  1841,  written  by  him- 
self, we  find  the  following  bequests  : — To  the  Wesleyan 
Missionary  Society,  50  guineas ;  to  the  Methodist 
Preachers'  Annuitant  Society,  30  guineas ;  and  to 
Kingswood  and  Woodhouse  Grove  Schools,  30  guineas. 

Funeral  sermons  were  preached  in  different  places, 
on  the  occasion  of  his  death.     The  Rev.  R.  Newton 
preached   on  the   occasion   at  St.  Peter's,   Leeds,   on 
x 


482  MEMOIRS    OF 

2  Sam.  xiv.  14, — the  circuit  in  which  Mr.  Dawson 
had  resided.  The  biographer  preached  sermons  on 
the  same  occasion  at  Banvick,  Bradford,  Tadcaster, 
Bramley,  in  Wesley  Chapel, — Leeds,  and  in  York.  In 
the  last  place,  the  collectors  of  the  Juvenile  Mis- 
sionary Society  were  all  arranged  in  front  of  the 
gallery  of  the  Centenary  Chapel,  some  of  whom  were 
Mr.  Dawson' s  children  in  the  gospel,  and  at  the  for- 
mation of  which  Society  he  preached  the  sermons, 
as  well  as  generally  aided  the  young  friends  for  a 
period  of  upwards  of  twenty  years. 

Several  touching  tributes  of  respect  were  paid  to 
his  memory,  at  missionary  meetings.  The  day  after 
his  death,  a  Missionary  Meeting  was  held  at  Thorp- 
Arch,  in  the  Tadcaster  circuit,  at  which  W.  G.  Scarth, 
Esq.,  presided.  On  the  forenoon  of  the  same  day, 
a  trustee  meeting  was  held  at  Tadcaster,  and  when 
Mr.  Dawson' s  name  was  called  over,  which  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  list,  the  mournful  intelligence  of  his 
sudden  death  was  communicated.  At  the  Missionary 
Meeting,  in  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Scarth,  to  whom  Mr. 
Dawson  had  been  endeared  by  an  intimate  friendship 
of  forty  years,  adverted  to  his  character  and  labours. 
Several  of  the  speakers  also  referred  to  his  services, 
and  their  value  to  the  missionary  cause ;  and  at  the 
evening  meeting,  a  substantial  proof  of  a  feeling  of 
gratitude  to  God,  and  affectionate  regard  for  his  de- 
parted servant,  was  furnished  by  the  presentation, 
through  the  Rev.  Alexander  Bell,  of  a  purse  of  gold, 
containing  .£11  10s.,  privately  offered  in  the  course 
of  the  meeting  by  various  friends  in  the  chapel,  and 
announced  as — "  A  token  of  affectionate  esteem,  pre- 
sented by  a  few  mourning  friends  of  the  late  Mr. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  483 

William  Dawson,  in  support  of  the  Mission  cause, 
which  lay  so  near  his  heart,  and  which  he  so  zealously 
laboured  to  promote."  Mr.  Bell  was  much  affected 
while  presenting  this  appropriate  expression  of  truly 
Christian  feeling ;  and  ventured  to  express  a  hope, 
that  the  example  set  in  this — probably  the  first  mis- 
sionary meeting  held  after  Mr.  Dawson' s  death,  would 
be  followed  by  his  numerous  friends  thnnigh  the  Con- 
nexion. 

Two  or  three  friends  at  the  small  village  of  Buck- 
land,  in  the  Aylesbury  circuit,  who  heard  Mr.  Dawson 
preach  his  last  sermon  at  Berkhamstead,  were  deeply 
affected  by  the  intelligence  of  his  death  so  soon 
after,  and  felt  an  earnest  desire  to  offer  some  memo- 
rial of  their  attachment  to  him,  and  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  they  held  his  services.  In  reading 
an  account  of  the  above  meeting  at  Thorp-Arch, 
which  appeared  in  the  "Watchman,"  and  especially 
that  part  of  it  which  stated  that  the  sum  specified 
had  been  presented  to  the  meeting,  hy  certain  friends, 
in  grateful  remembrance  of  Mr.  Dawson' s  services,  it 
was  thought  something  might  be  done  at  Buckland 
for  the  same  noble  cause.  The  subject  was  named 
to  the  Society  and  other  friends,  and  the  sum  of 
£4  was  raised  for  the  Mission  fund,  as  a  thank- 
offering  to  God  for  raising  up  a  man  so  eminently 
distinguished  for  his  Christian  virtues,  ministerial 
abilities,  and  great  usefulness ;  and  in  mournful,  but 
submissive  remembrance  of  that  Providence  by  which 
the  Church  was  so  suddenly  deprived  of  his  valuable 
sen-ices.  A  donation  also,  of  ^£10,  was  given  by 
Jacob  Harrison,  Esq.,  of  the  St.  Albans  circuit,  to 
the  Mission  cause,  in  memory  of  his  labours.  In 


484  MEMOIRS    OF 

none  of  these  instances  are  we  to  look  so  much  at 
the  sum,  as  at  the  principle ; — in  each  we  recognize 
a  principle  recommended  hy  our  Lord, — "She  hath 
done  what  she  could; — verily  I  say  unto  you,  Where- 
soever this  gospel  shall  be  preached  throughout  the 
whole  world,  this  also  that  she  hath  done  shall  be 
spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her." 

The  Rev.  Louis  Rees,  it  may  be  added,  composed 
a  "Funeral  Anthem"  on  the  occasion  of  his  death, 
to  "  Servant  of  God  !  well  done ;  "  a  piece  entitled, 
—"The  Christian  Soldier,"  by  the  Author  of  the 
"World  before  the  Flood,"  &c. 

In  "  The  Annual  Address  of  the  Conference  to 
the  Methodist  Societies,"  is  the  following  tribute  to 
his  memory,  "  Valuable  members  of  the  Connexion 
have  likewise  been  removed  by  death;  among  whom 
we  feel  it  right  to  mention  the  venerable  William 
Dawson ;  who,  after  many  years  of  useful  and  ac- 
ceptable labour  as  a  Local  Preacher,  has  this  year 
died  in  the  Lord.  Few  men  were  ever  more  exten- 
sively known  in  the  Wesleyan  Connexion  in  Great 
Britain,  or  more  highly  esteemed  wherever  known  : 
it  is,  therefore,  unnecessary  that  we  should  speak 
to  you  at  any  length  of  either  his  character,  talents, 
or  labours.  Earnestly  desirous  of  promoting  the 
prosperity  of  the  work  of  God,  especially  in  its 
Missionary  department,  he  devoted  his  very  popular 
talents  to  its  advocacy.  His  numerous  sermons  and 
addresses,  delivered  with  all  that  sanctified  energy 
which  belonged  to  his  character,  were  highly  acceptable, 
and  often  produced  the  most  important  results.  His 
removal  was  sudden,  and  he  was  engaged  in  his  valu- 
able labours  to  the  last.  During  the  brief  interval 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  485 

between  his  final  seizure  and  death,  he  was  enabled 
to  express  his  unfailing  trust  in  the  Saviour  who  had 
died  for  him,  and  been  his  guide  through  life.  While 
he  lived,  he  had  always  been  ready  to  attend  to  the 
voice  of  Providence  when  it  called  him  to  labour : 
by  the  grace  of  God  he  was  not  less  ready  when 
suddenly  called  to  die.  The  calmness  which  he  mani- 
fested on  experiencing  what  he  felt  to  be  the  stroke 
of  death,  and  the  holy  joy  with  which  he  at  once 
commended  his  spirit  to  his  Redeemer,  proved  that 
while  he  had  long  and  extensively  lived  what  may  be 
termed  a  public  life,  he  had  yet  maintained  all  the 
inward  power  of  religion,  and  had  walked  humbly 
with  God.  His  happy  death  was  a  suitable  close  to 
his  holy  and  useful  life."  Minutes,  1841,  pp.  137—8. 


To  such  as  were  personally  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Dawson,  any  description  of  his  external  appearance 
will  be  unnecessary,  as  a  correct  portrait  of  him — 
in  full  length,  will  be  found  suspended  in  the  inner 
chambers  of  the  soul,  touched  off  to  the  life  with 
all  the  colourings  of  the  imagination,  and  will  there 
hang  for  the  eye  of  the  inner  man  to  repose  upon, 
till  its  own  outward  form  shall  crumble  into  dust, 
and  mingle  with  the  clods  of  the  valley  ;  for,  with 
such,  his  image  will  ever  live.  It  was  that  of  a  man, 
— a  man  in  the  most  manly  sense  of  the  term.  He 
was  strong  of  bone, — muscular, — well  built, — well 
rounded,  —  proportionate,  —  standing  about  five  feet 
nine  inches, — had  hair  of  a  deep  auburne, — and  a 
complexion  approaching  the  embrowned  rather  than 


486  MEMOIRS    OF 

the  dark.  The  eye,  of  a  lightish  grey,  and  with  a  dark 
pupil,  was  round, — keen, — full  of  fire, — and  well  set 
in  the  head,  mounted  with  slightly  overhanging  eye- 
brows. The  face  too,  was  round,  somewhat  full  ;— 
the  ears  small,  thick,  and  closely  attached  to  the  head  ; 
— a  good  mouth,  with  a  somewhat  biting  expression, 
similar  to  what  is  found  in  some  of  the  portraits  of 
Sir  Walter  Scott ; — and  an  excellent  forehead,  covered 
in  later  life,  as  was  that  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Isaac, 
with  false  hair,  but  hair  much  worse  in  construction,  ill 
adapted  to  the  head,  and  overhanging  the  fine  sin- 
ciput like  an  eave  of  thatch, — an  article  on  which 
the  writer  did  not  fail  to  rally  him,  though  perhaps 
indispensable  to  comfort.  The  features  might  be  pro- 
nounced regular,  but  expressive,  —  inclining  to  the 
fierce,  on  the  eye  being  fixed, — full  of  meaning, — and 
conveying  the  impression  of  thought ; — that  thought 
which  is  brilliant,  active,  penetrating, — which  only 
himself  could  seize,  and  which  others  could  neither 
tame  nor  break, — fertile  in  a  fruitfulness  which  only 
died  with  himself.  Three  or  four  years  prior  to  his 
death,  he  shrunk  a  little, — walked  with  a  stick, — 
and  complained  of  being  more  timid  in  pointing  the 
foot  at  night,  than  formerly,  lest  he  should  fall.  Still, 
his  general  health  was  unbroken,  and  he  soon  regained 
more  than  he  had  lost  in  actual  corpulence. 

In  social  life,  there  was  an  agreeableness  which 
ingratiated  Mr.  Dawson  into  the  good  feelings  of  the 
heart,  and  made  him  a  general  favourite.  It  was 
not  that,  however,  which  connects  itself  with  softness, 
and  with  a  something  bordering  upon  harmlessness 
and  insipidity,  turned  off"  with  a  smile ;  but  that 
which  partakes  of  cheerfulness; — that  which  proceeds 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  487 

from  the  heart  rather  than  the  will,  and  is  innate 
rather  than  acquired.  When  his  wit  was  the  most 
sparkling  and  penetrating,  he  never  assumed  any  osten- 
tatious airs;  and  when  his  thoughts  appeared  a  little 
high  in  their  hearing,  they  were  still  perceived  to  be 
seated  in  a  heart  of  tenderness  and  of  courtesy.  Though 
free  to  converse,  he  was  never  forward  or  loquacious, 
— always  leaving  the  company  with  a  relish  for  more, 
rather  than  producing  satiety ;  and  though  void  of  polish, 
possessed  of  a  fine  sense  of  propriety  ; — that  kind  of 
behaviour  which  is  destitute  of  all  squeamishness  and 
fastidiousness,  and  which,  in  the  higher  walks  of  life,  in 
properly  constituted  minds,  "  gives  beauty  to  pomp,  and 
majesty  to  adversity."  This  is  not  too  much  to  claim  for 
Mr.  Dawson,  and  would  only  be  denied  him  by  "puppets 
led  about  by  wires,"  and  who  would  reverse  the  order  of 
things,  by  converting  the  cottage  into  a  drawing-room, 
and  who  confound  good  behaviour  with  affectation. 

Though  he  loved  society,  yet  he  was  not  one  of 
those  persons,  who  can  only  live  in  its  bustle.  He 
took  society  in  his  way  to  more  important  work,  and 
enjoyed  it  as  a  relaxation  from  severer  mental  toil. 
His  popularity  was  not  merely  the  result  of  certain 
peculiarities,  combined  with  great  native  genius;  but 
added  to  good  soil  to  work  upon,  there  was  more 
than  ordinary  persevering  industry.  For  want  of  this, 
— even  talented  men, — men  popular  in  early  life,  have 
become  formal  and  insipid  before  they  have  more 
than  reached  their  prime.  They  have  settled  down 
upon  a  few  years'  industry,  at  the  commencement  of 
their  ministerial  career ;  and  by  attending  to  anything, 
but  the  thing  itself  for  which  God  called  them  into 
the  work  of  the  MINISTRY,  have  lost  the  freshness 


488  MEMOIRS    OF 

which  they  once  had  for  the  pulpit, — have  starved 
the  spirit  of  preaching  out  of  their  souls, — and  at 
length  have  found  the  sacred  work  of  calling  sinners 
to  repentance  irksome,  and  have  shunned  it ; — moving 
in  the  church  of  God,  with  a  decent  morality,  the  occa- 
sional cant  of  better  things  upon  their  lips,  in  full 
orders,  and  in  full  pay,  and  yet  living  monuments  of 
indolence,  as  to  pulpit  reading  and  pulpit  thought. 
It  is  melancholy,  when  men  outlive  the  spirit  of  their 
office.  Not  so  with  the  apostles  of  Christ,  who  im- 
proved as  they  proceeded ;  nor  yet  with  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  earned  his  notoriety  with  hard 
toil,  though  he  might  have  flourished  a  little  without 
it ;  and  candidates  for  the  Christian  ministry  should 
be  deeply  impressed  with  the  fact,  that  the  industry 
which  is  necessary  to  raise  a  man  to  a  high  point 
of  elevation,  is  equally  necessary  to  keep  him  there ; 
for,  like  a  growth  in  grace,  not  to  proceed,  is  to  draw 
back,  and  a  man  often  loses  the  past  for  want  of  per- 
severance. Mr.  Dawson's  studies  and  reading  could 
not  be  denominated  systematic :  but  still  he  thought, 
— and  thought  intensely  too  ;  and  he  also  read  to 
purpose, — not  absorbing  the  mind  in  the  newspapers 
of  the  day,  and  giving  a  political  hue  to  every  thing 
he  touched, — but  works  that  assisted  his  piety  and  his 
preaching.  He  was  far  from  being  extensively  read,  as 
to  the  actual  number  of  volumes  which  passed  through 
his  hands, — though  extensive  when  taken  in  connexion 
with  the  small  portion  of  time  he  had  at  command  for 
the  purpose :  but  when  we  advert  to  the  authors  that 
have  incidentally  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  Memoir, 
such  as  Dr.  Walls,  Flavel,  Drelincourt,  Sherlock,  Dr. 
Owen,  Romaine,  Burgess,  Scougal,  Dr.  Bates,  Saurin, 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  489 

Dr.  Manton,  Dr.  Goodwin,  Baxter,  Alleine,  Showers, 
Law,  Fletcher,  Brainard,  Young,  Venn,  Benson,  Bishop 
Newton,  Bishop  Butler,  Bunyan,  Rogers,  Ambrose,  Dod- 
dridge,  Wesley,  Whitfield,  Cennick,  Henry,  Preston, 
Watson,  Clarke,  &c.,  and  others  that  might  be  noticed, 
a  familiarity  with  the  theological  writers  of  his  own  coun- 
try may  be  fairly  inferred ;  and  when  the  manuscripts 
he  has  left,  are  taken  into  the  account,  comprising  at 
least  four  hundred  sermons,  mostly  full,  and  others  in 
outline,  exclusive  of  essays,  diaries,  speeches,  and  other 
public  addresses,  and  an  extensive  correspondence, — he 
may, — all  his  secular  engagements,  travels,  and  pulpit 
labours,  being  preserved  in  remembrance,  be  exhibited 
as  an  unusual  type,  or  extraordinary  model  of  industry  ; 
— a  son  in  whom  the  Founder  of  Methodism — himself 
one  of  the  most  laborious  men  that  ever  lived,  would 
have  gloried.  A  sentiment  found  in  Ischomachus,  will 
apply  either  in  a  civil  or  ecclesiastical  sense, — "He 
who  will  not  apply  himself  to  business,  evidently  dis- 
covers that  he  means  to  get  his  bread  by  cheating, 
stealing,  or  begging,  or  is  wholly  void  of  reason. " 
In  Methodism,  however,  there  are,  perhaps,  fewer 
opportunities  for  the  indulgence  of  indolent  habits 
than  in  almost  any  other  religious  system ;  and  if  a 
man's  zeal  is  not  tempered  with  knowledge,  he  may 
soon  abridge  life,  and  bring  it  into  much  less  compass 
than  the  portion  of  time  allotted  to  humanity. 

Such  a  habit,  in  connection  with  talent,  was  sure 
to  raise  a  man  above  the  common-place  characters  of 
which  society  is  often  composed.  In  passing  from 
his  private,  to  what  more  immediately  connects  itself 
with  his  public  character,  his  manner  might  not,  in 
every  instance,  be  prepossessing  when  in  the  pulpit ; 
x  2 


490  MEMOIRS    OF 

but  it  was  rarely  offensive, — though  sometimes  strange 
to  strangers.     He   did  not  uniformly   commence   his 
sermon  by  announcing  his   text ;    and   then   proceed 
with  his  introduction  ;   but  very  often  made   two  or 
three  remarks  before,  by  way  of  awakening  attention, 
and  then  by  an  easy  transition  glided  into  it.     When 
the  text  was  rousing,    and   the   materials  he  had  to 
bring   to  it,   by  way   of  enforcing   and  applying   it, 
partook  of  the  same  character,  he  sometimes  employed 
too  much  vehemence  in  the  outset,  and  conveyed  the 
notion   of  a    general   resolved    to    storm    and    fire    a 
city,   rather  than  to  take  it   by  tact  and  stratagem. 
On  these   occasions,   while  grappling  with  a  subject, 
and  battling  with  the  vices  and  follies  of  men,  there  was 
generally  fixed  attention  and  deep  feeling  in  the  hearers ; 
but  through  continued  excitement,  a  degree  of  fatigue 
ensued.     This,  however,  was  only  the  case  when  he 
missed   his   way   in   the   commencement,    which   was 
but  seldom.     His  more  general  manner  was  not  sub- 
ject to  this  charge ;  and  if  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
energy  displayed  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Chalmers,  the 
difference  would  be  found  to  exist  in  the  circumstance 
of  the  latter  giving  out  in  greater  lengths,  that  which 
the  former  usually  let  out  at  intervals.     In  Mr.  Daw- 
son,    the  disturbed   air,    so   to   speak,    came  in  more 
frequent   and   unexpected   gusts ;    in   the    doctor,    the 
tempest, — when    he    himself  was   in   the   hey-day   of 
health,  was  of  longer  continuance ; — yet  both  moving 
the  leaf,  the  twig,  the  branch,  the  stem,  and  the  trees 
of  the  human  forest,   over  which  the  voice  was  per- 
mitted to  pass. 

Though  very  far  indeed  from  being  a  finished  speaker, 
yet  there  was  that  about  him,  as  there  has  been  already 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  491 

occasion  to  remark,  which  at  once  disarmed  criticism, 
and  disposed  persons  to  apologize  rather  than  find 
fault.  The  energy  which  he  displayed,  often  trenched, 
as  has  been  seen,  on  violence;  but  it  was  not  energy 
throughout,  as  in  the  comparison  of  his  manner  with 
that  of  Dr.  Chalmers; — it  was  not  the  torrent  over 
the  wide  and  inclined  champaign,  which  sweeps  on 
with  one  continued  force ; — it  belonged  more  to  the 
flood  among  the  mountains,  rolling  over  tremendous 
heights ;  and  in  proportion  to  the  depth  of  its  falls, 
again  tossing  its  spray  upward,  —  with  breaks  and 
pauses  among  the  rocks, — then  murmuring  along  the 
plainer  portions  of  the  country, — and  rarely  ever,  in 
its  loudest  roar,  its  boldest  dashes,  distracting  the 
ear  of  the  bystander.  The  secret  of  this  is,  that  he 
was  never  vehement,  never  impassioned,  except  in  cases 
where  truth — from  its  strength,  and  sin — from  its 
atrocity  and  other  peculiar  characteristics,  required  k ; 
then,  and  then  only,  was  he  energetic, — powerful, — 
overwhelming, — almost  oppressive.  He  seemed  to  set 
persons  before  him,  in  danger  of  drowning  or  burning. 
Every  turn  bore  on  the  point  of  rescue ;  and  inven- 
tion was  always  the  most  rife  when  trying  to  succeed 
in  desperate  and  difficult  cases.  To  save  was  his 
object. 

One  point,  touched  by  the  Rev.  R.  Philip,  in  his 
Life  of  the  celebrated  George  Whitfield,  chimes  in 
here,  and  is  distinguished  for  its  justice,  so  far  as 
the  moving  principle  by  which  Mr.  Dawson  was  ac- 
tuated goes  ;  when  he  says, — "  I  studied  Whitfield 
until  I  understood  him  ;  and  therefore,  I  have  instinc- 
tively recognized  whatever  resembled  him,  in  all  the 
popular  preachers  of  my  time.  James,  of  Birming- 


492  MEMOIRS    OF 

ham,   has  occasionally  reminded  me  of  his  alternate 
bursts  of  tenderness  and  terror,  in  all  but  rapidity; 
Rowland  Hill  of  his  off-hand  strokes  of  power;   and 
Spring,   of  New  York,  his  off-heart  unction,   when  it 
fell  like   dew,    copiously  and   calmly.     Baptist  Noel, 
also,   has  reminded  me  of  this.     Robert  Newton  has 
some   of  Whitfield' s   oratory,   but  none   of  his   high 
passion.     Irving  had  nothing  of  him  but  his  voice. 
Cooper,  of  Dublin,  when  in  his  prime,  and  preaching 
in   the   open   air,   has   enabled   me   to   conceive   how 
Whitfield  commanded  the  multitude   in   Moor-fields. 
I  must  add, — although  I  shall  not  be  generally  under- 
stood,— that  Williams  of  the  Wern,   and  my  friend, 
Christmas   Evans,    of  Wales,    and  Billy   Dawson,   of 
Yorkshire,  have  oftener  realized  Whitfield  to  me,  than 
any  other  preacher  of  my  time :  and  yet,  these  three 
men  do  not  resemble  him,  nor  each  other,  in  mind 
or  body ;  but  they  can  lose  themselves  entirely  as  he 
did,    in   tender   and   intense   love    to   souls.     This   is 
what   is  wanted ; — and  it  will   tell  by  any  voice   or 
style,   and  from  any  eye   or   stature."     Mr.  Philip's 
either  did  not  know  Mr.  Dawson  personally,  or  had 
ceased   distinctly  to  remember  him,   when  he   states 
him  not  to  have  resembled  Mr.  C.  Evans  "in  mind 
or  body ; "  for  in  both  of  these  there  was  a  striking 
resemblance.  Both  were  corpulent, — each  had  a  strongly 
marked   countenance, — and  there  was  a  similarity  in 
the  formation  of  the  head.    Mr.  Evans  was  taller  than 
Mr,  Dawson.     With   regard   to  mind,    a  friend  well 
acquainted   with    both,    observes, — "If  originality   of 
thought  —a  luxuriant  imagination — a  peculiarity  of  voice 
—  a    singularity   of  style  —  and   influence    over   their 
hearers,  beyond  precedent,  possessed  by  both,  will  not 


WILLIAM    DATVSON.  493 

identify  likeness,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  imagine  what 
will."  Admitting  Mr.  Philips  to  have  seen  and  heard 
Mr.  Dawson,  he  must  only  have  glanced  at  him, 
while  he  studied  Mr.  Evans.  On  intense  love  to 
souls,  Mr.  Philips  is  correct ;  and  it  was  this  that 
influenced  Mr.  Dawson' s  manner,  as  well  as  his  matter. 
Never,  never  did  man,  in  modern  times,  take  captive 
an  audience  sooner  or  more  effectually,  in  consequence 
of  the  ardour  of  his  love.  He  bore  his  hearers  along 
with  him,  after  first  drawing  them  to  him, — relieved 
them  every  now  and  then  from  an  intensity  of  feeling, 
under  which  was  manifested  the  stillness  of  the  tomb, 
by  some  lighter,  but  more  graphic  picture  presented 
to  the  imagination,  and  coming  upon  them  as  un- 
expectedly as  a  beautiful,  yet  picturesque  scene,  in  a 
lovely  valley,  invisible  to  the  tourist,  till  he  is  brought 
in  his  rambles  to  the  verge  of  the  elevated  ground 
in  the  vicinity. 

Instances  have  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  Memoir, 
to  shew,  that  there  was  as  little  formality  in  his  mode 
of  commencing  the  general  service,  as  in  commencing 
his  sermon ;  but  his  usual  manner  was,  to  glance  at 
the  hymn,  after  announcing  the  number  and  page, 
and  to  give  out  the  first  and  second  line,  with  his 
eyes  closed, — engaging  in  the  singing  himself,  and 
often  beating  time  with  his  hand,  which  rose  and 
fell  either  on  the  Bible,  or  the  open  pages  of  the 
hymn-book,  accompanied  with  an  occasional  graceful 
sweep,  like  a  half  circle,  and  a  pendulum  kind  of 
motion,  with  the  palm  spread  downwards.  The  eyes 
were  often  closed,  too,  when  delivering  a  sentence 
or  two  during  sermon.  This  was  chiefly  the  case, 
when,  through  impetuosity  of  feeling,  he  struggled  for 


494  MEMOIRS    OF 

expression ;  and  it  was  too  rapid  for  distinct  enuncia- 
tion. His  features  then  became  distorted, — the  nose 
was  partially  drawn  up,  —  the  eye-brows  were  knit 
together,  —  the  eyelids  compressed,  —  and  the  fore- 
head was  thrown  into  conflicting  curves,  shewing  the 
struggle  within.  The  face,  meanwhile,  was  flushed ; 
and  the  veins,  full  and  throbbing,  seemed  like  snakes 
writhing  their  way  up  the  temples.  These,  to  per- 
sons unacquainted  with  him,  were  moments  of  peril, 
— being  half  afraid  of  the  rupture  of  a  blood-vessel. 
But  he  was  no  sooner  relieved  by  expression,  than 
— though  crippled  and  halting  before,  away  he  went, 
— the  curves  retiring  like  dying  waves,  leaving  the 
face  open, — the  eyes  piercing  through  the  unruffled 
countenance,  like  planets  breaking  forth  from  a  serene 
sky.  He  had  amazing  flexibility  of  muscle  ;  and  could 
have  accommodated  the  whine,  the  wooing,  the  smirk, 
the  comic,  the  sneer,  the  tender,  the  terrific ;  and, 
with  a  little  more  refinement,  would — had  he  been 
disposed  to  indulge  in  them,  have  made  as  great  a 
noise  in  the  world,  as  the  most  noted  for  such  qualifica- 
tions. When  he  was  in  his  gayer  moods,  he  was 
a  little  extravagant  in  this  way,  not  being  in  every 
instance  well  timed,  and  bordering  upon  the  ludicrous, 
though  mostly  tolerated,  and  always  within  the  pale 
of  forgiveness. 

When  very  vehement,  there  was  often  a  sway  of  the 
whole  person  from  side  to  side,  like  a  vessel  yielding 
to  the  rocking  of  the  waves  ;  and  the  hand  occasionally 
placed  on  the  top  of  the  head,  as  if  a  little  anxious 
respecting  the  proper  adjustment  of  his  upper  adorn- 
ment, which,  owing  to  its  form,  was  apt  to  shift 
its  position  with  his  violence,— sometimes  requiring 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  495 

the  thumb  and  finger  of  each  hand  to  draw  it  over 
the  ear.  His  hand  was  inclined  to  the  thick  and 
short, — was  sometimes  laid  upon  the  breast,  as  if 
suddenly  smiting  it,  and  at  other  times, — according 
to  the  subject  in  hand,  as  if  gently  patting  it.  On 
other  occasions,  when  extremely  emphatic,  it  was 
suddenly  driven  down  by  his  side,  as  if  giving  a 
sudden  stroke  to  a  stake,  with  a  -view  to  fix  it  in  the 
earth ;  during  which  the  shoulders  were  slightly  raised, 
— the  chin  partially  lowered  on  the  breast, — the  eye- 
brows rising  and  falling  like  curtains, — and  the  eyes 
flashing  from  beneath  them.  His  actions  were  occa- 
sionally a  little  heavy  towards  the  close  of  life,  but 
never,  strictly  speaking,  awkward ; — almost  invariably 
comporting  with  his  person,  his  matter,  and  the  ex- 
pression of  his  face.  There  was  generally  ease,  if 
not,  in  every  instance,  grace ;  and,  till  latterly,  they 
corresponded  with  his  eye, — varied  and  quick  ;  and 
though  sometimes  slightly  redundant,  not  offensive. 
In  his  more  colloquial  moods,  when  he  had  a  rest 
for  the  hand,  or  the  arm,  he  often  planted  one  leg 
across  the  other ;  but  when  impassioned,  the  union 
was  instantly  dissolved,  and  there  was  an  occasional 
stamp  with  the  foot. 

He  had  a  tolerable  ear,  but  not  a  correct  one  ; 
and  here,  as  in  the  case  of  certain  provincialisms, 
persons  are  much  more  alive  to  the  defects  of  others, 
than  their  own.  Hence,  Mr.  Dawson  has  sometimes 
remarked  to  the  writer,  on  the  monotonous  manner 
in  which  the  late  excellent  Rev.  Daniel  Isaac  gave 
out  the  hymns ;  and  yet,  when  he  brought  his  own 
imitative  powers  to  bear  on  some  exquisitely  tender 
subjects,  or  those  of  a  bolder  character,  such  as  pro- 


496  MEMOIRS    OF 

clamations,  &c.,  the  subjects  were  occasionally  over- 
wrought by  the  manner.  The  subject  of  the  Memoir, 
like  all  others,  was  most  natural  when  without  design. 
When  he  set  his  heart  on  the  manner,  he  often 
failed.  His  voice  was  not  adapted  to  all  circumstances, 
subjects,  and  occasions;  and  yet  he  tried  all  with  it, 
when  it  would  gladly  have  yielded,  but  could  not,  for 
want  of  flexibility.  It  was  not,  like  some,  equally 
adapted  to  the  sarcastic,  the  ironical,  the  colloquial, 
the  pleasant,  and  the  oratorical,  but  excelled  in  the 
three  latter, — in  which  it  sometimes  yielded  the  same 
variety  to  the  ear,  that  a  tolerable  landscape  affords 
to  the  eye. 

In  reading  the  Lessons,  he  was  sometimes  running 
and  monotonous ;  leaving  the  impression,  that  there 
was  not  only  a  defect  in  taste,  but  in  the  ear, — for 
though  he  delighted  in  music,  he  had  not  the  nice 
discrimination  requisite  to  enable  him  to  form  a  judg- 
ment in  every  case  ; — being  pleased,  without  the  ability 
critically  to  examine  it.  Hence,  in  imitating  the  per- 
sons supposed  to  speak,  which  he  often  did  while 
reading  and  preaching,  he  sometimes  failed  to  hit  to 
a  nicety  the  intonations  required,  as  just  noticed, — 
being  either  underdone  or  overdone,  but  most  frequently, 
in  consequence  of  the  strength  of  his  own  feelings, 
the  latter.  At  other  tunes,  he  was  extremely  happy ; 
though  generally  more  natural  in  extempore  speaking 
than  reading.  His  expositions  of  the  Lessons,  when 
he  indulged  in  this  way,  were  mostly  brief  sentences 
on  some  particular  verse  or  turn  of  expression  ;  rarely  en- 
tering comprehensively  into  the  design  of  the  sacred  pen- 
man, connecting  one  part  with  another,  or  bringing  one 
part  to  bear  upon  another.  His  forte  was  not  exposition ; 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  497 

and,  therefore,  he  generally,  and  wisely,  avoided  any 
formal  attempt  to  elucidate  Scripture  in  that  way. 

But  though  he  failed  in  real  effectiveness  occasionally 
in  reading,  he  amply  made  up  for  it  in  his  sermon.  His 
voice  was  not  clear,  nor  yet  sweet  and  musical,  and 
rarely  varied  beyond  three  or  four  notes ;  but  amazingly 
effective  in  its  higher  and  bolder  tones.  In  its  middle 
tone,  there  was  occasionally  the  apparent  effect  of  a 
slight  hoarseness,  after  hard  labour  and  outdoor  ex- 
posure, accompanied  with  something  like  roughness, 
but  not  unpleasantly  so ;  perhaps,  rather  a  want  of 
sharpness,  than  otherwise.  Its  ordinary  tone  could  be 
given  out  with  great  fuhiess, — then,  screwed  up  to  a 
height  till  it  became  shrill, — narrowing  the  mouth, 
and  pouring  it  out  from  a  smaller  aperture, — still  rising 
till  the  key  differed,  and  there  was  a  pause  for  want 
of  breath, — the  last  note  quitting  the  ear,  like  the 
last  shrill  blast  of  a  bugle  horn  among  the  moun- 
tains,— which  was  as  much  felt  in  the  sensations  pro- 
duced, as  the  other  is  heard  in  its  echoes.  He  would 
next, — according  to  the  subject,  move  the  more  tender 
feelings,  or  rouse  the  stronger  passions, — sometimes 
roaring  it  out,  like  the  lien  in  the  forest,  while  his 
eyes  seemed  to  flash  fire  upon  all  that  looked  upon 
them.  At  a  moment,  when  perception  was  clear,  but 
recollection  was  faulty  as  to  expression,  in  not  bringing 
up  words  for  the  occasion,  he  became  rapid, — stut- 
tered,— and  would  have  run  on  three  or  four  times, 
with  "there,  there,  there,  &c., — but  seemed  to  feel 
no  pain  on  that  account ;  or  if  any  were  felt,  it 
instantly  died  on  the  sentiment  being  delivered,  pleased 
with  its  anticipated  beneficial  effect  upon  the  audience. 
On  some  of  these  occasions,  he  exhibited  some  of  the 


498  MEMOIRS    OF 

finest  and  most  sublime  strains  of  natural  oratory. 
One  of  his  sermons,  on  "the  fields  are  already  white 
unto  the  harvest,"  which  he  preached  at  Hull,  on 
a  Missionary  Anniversary,  in  1818,  which  the  writer 
heard,  was  in  the  highest  style  of  sacred  action ; 
especially  when,  like  an  ancient  priest  under  the  law, 
he  waved  his  hand  over  his  head,  as  if  filled  with 
stalks  of  precious  grain,  and  with  a  heart  teeming 
with  the  finest  emotions, — his  prophetic  eye,  mean- 
while, darting  forth  its  rays  to  the  grand  millenium, 
when  God  shall  have  gathered  into  his  church  all 
nations, — and  the  reapers  shall  be  seen  returning, 
and  heard  shouting, — "  Harvest  home !  harvest  home ! 
harvest  home !  "  The  voice  and  manner  being  adapted 
to  the  occasion, — and  for  which  they  were  admirably 
fitted,  nothing  but  the  "joy  of  harvest"  was  felt  by 
an  electrified  auditory.  The  same  fine  intonations 
were  heard  also  in  his  appeals  to  sinners,  hastening 
to  destruction,  and  whom  he  was  urging  to  enter 
the  Christian  race  ; — "  Stop,  stop, — strip,  strip, — start, 
start  sinner ! " 

Often  at  the  close  of  an  impressive  passage,  he 
would  offer  up  a  petition  in  prayer,  as  "The  Lord 
grant  it!  The  Lord  apply  it,"  &c.,  during  which, 
the  hands  were  either  clasped  or  spread,  the  face  turned 
up  to  heaven,  and  the  piercing  eye,  like  a  wedge,  seemed 
as  if  it  would  cleave  the  heaven  towsards  which  it  was 
directed. 

In  singing,  his  voice  was  much  sweeter  than  in 
speaking ;  he  could  humour  it  more ;  and  it  seemed 
as  if  it  had  acquired  additional  flexibility  in  the  exer- 
cise. His  voice  was,  upon  the  wh.ole,  sound, — though 
not  like  a  bell ;  and  full,  rather  than  richly  varied. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  499 

He  bad  much  more  eloquence  of  feeling,  than  correct- 
ness of  ear.  His  feelings  were  right,  when  his  into- 
nations and  emphasis  were  not  always  properly  placed, 
— but  always  most  correct  when  loud,  or  rising  to  a 
climax.  His,  in  short,  was  not  among  the  "  airy 
tongues  that  syllable  men's  names,"  but  which  put 
forth  things,  and  dealt  them  out  with  tremendous 
force. 

As  to  his  language  and  pronunciation,  there  were 
several  defects  to  a  merely  critical  ear ;  the  one,  in 
some  instances,  being  homely  from  preference,  and  the 
other  provincial  from  habit  and  localization.  It  was,  in 
some  cases,  expressively  Yorkshire ;  as  nou,  shou, 
nou-en,  shou-en,  for  know,  show,  known,  shown, — 
giving  the  two  latter  the  effect  of  words  of  two  syllables. 
Wouldn't,  shouldn't,  &c.,  were  often  employed,  and 
earthen  had  the  sound  of  ear t hern.  Yet,  like  most 
persons,  he  was  unconscious  of  some  of  his  defects,  and 
could  occasionally  smile  at  those  of  others,  when  tried 
upon  his  own  ear.  His  accentuation  very  often  partook 
of  the  same  character  as  his  pronunciation.  When  in 
a  homely  vein,  he  would — as  to  language,  have  selected 
"  black  hole "  instead  of  prison  or  cell ;  and  would 
have  represented,  in  true  "Pilgrim  Progress"  style, 
the  devil  as  the  "gaoler"  of  the  "prison  house  of 
sin,"  and  the  sinner  with  the  chains  of  his  unforgiven 
crimes  "clanking  around  him."  Then,  in  a  moment, 
like  a  sudden  gleam  of  sunshine,  he  would  have  stolen 
over  the  spirit,  with — "  But  even,  in  this  state,  there 
is,  while  on  this  side  the  gulf,  encouragement  for  the 
poor  sinner.  If  angels  sung,  '  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,'  when  Jesus  was  in  a  manger,  we  may  well 
sing  it  now,  that  he  is  upon  a  throne."  There  was  a 


500  MEMOIRS    OF 

negligence  about  him  now  and  then, — a  want  of  neat- 
ness in  his  style ;  but  still,  in  the  general,  his  language 
was  respectable, — sometimes  rough,  or  rather  plain, — 
but  never  vulgar.  Its  leading  characters  were  strength 
and  perspicuity.  Though  occasionally  undignified,  it 
was  never  distorted,  laboured,  or  inharmonious.  He 
was  not  among  the  defilers  of  the  pure  "  well  of  Eng- 
lish," but  preserved  the  idiosyncracy  which  it  possesses 
independant  of  mere  grammatical  rules.  He  was  never 
harsh,  crude,  dissonant,  or  obscure, — but  might  have 
been  understood  by  a  child.  "Style"  has  been  prop- 
erly denominated  "the  envelope  of  the  inner  thoughts  ;" 
and  his  perceptions  being  invariably  clear,  his  language 
was  in  harmony  with  his  ideas.  There  was  nothing  misty 
and  undefined.  It  was  not  difficult,  as  just  stated,  to  detect 
occasional  inaccuracies,  and  to  perceive  a  want  of  early 
classical  training — sometimes,  in  his  impetuosity,  sub- 
stituting were  for  teas.  But  even  here,  there  were  no 
blemishes  of  thought,  through  the  weight  of  which  he 
sometimes  broke  down.  Independant,  however,  of  his 
own  style,  and  also  of  the  style  of  those  men,  he  united 
in  himself  the  allegory  and  tenderness  of  two  of  the 
most  famous  of  the  Italian  poets  ;  and  he  would  have 
excelled  in  language, — in  its  strength,  if  not  in  its  ease, 
if  polite  literature,  instead  of  the  world's  business,  had 
engaged  his  time  and  attention.  "  He  sought,"  in  his 
own  words,  "  to  impress  truth  upon  the  heart  in  living 
characters  of  light." 

In  his  writings,  as  in  his  public  speaking,  are  to  be 
found  some  fine  touches,  and  some  passages  of  great 
brilliancy  and  strength.  He  published  a  sermon,  as 
already  adverted  to,  on  occasion  of  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  William  Bramwell,  several  short  memoirs,  a  few 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  501 

letters,  and  some  addresses  on  passing  events  ;  and 
some  of  his  sermons  were  taken  down  in  short-hand, 
and  published  in  the  "  Wesleyan  Preacher."  But  he 
was  not  equally  happy  in  writing  as  in  speaking.  The 
reader  loses  the  fire  and  the  unction  enjoyed  by  the 
hearer.  And  besides, — except  in  his  private  letters  to 
his  friends,  many  of  which  are  exquisitely  tender,  faith- 
ful, forcible,  and  graceful,  he  generaUy  wrote  under 
restraint,  when  the  press  and  the  public  stood  before 
him,  owing  to  a  consciousness  that  he  wanted  the  pre- 
requisites for  the  niceties  of  English  composition. 
Proceeding  in  fear,  a  degree  of  stiffness  was  the  result ; 
the  fountain  of  his  thoughts  sent  forth  its  streams  with 
less  copiousness,  and  the  affections  of  the  heart  were 
but  partially  unsluiced.  Yet,  in  this  case,  his  poverty 
would  have  been  another  man's  wealth ;  and  it  was 
only  the  poverty  of  a  rich  man,  under  less  felicitous 
circumstances.  He  always  paid  for  perusal,  and  im- 
parted to  the  reader  what  he  could  not  obtain  else- 
where, though  somewhat  less  than  might  have  been 
obtained  from  himself  under  more  auspicious  cir- 
cumstances. He  frequently  interlined  his  manuscript 
sermons  with  large  emendations — introduced  whole 
paragraphs — wrote  out  new  plans,  and  prefixed  them  to 
the  old  materials, — and  sometimes  re-wrote  the  greater 
part,  and  intermixed  the  new  with  the  old,  in  such  a 
way  as  to  confound  any  one  besides  himself;  and  in 
such  a  way  too,  as,  would  have  even  distracted  his  own 
attention,  had  he  been  a  mere  memoriter  preacher. 
But  he  dwelt  on  things,  not  on  mere  verbiage  ;  the 
thought  was  there,  and  the  drapery  followed. 

Perhaps,   in  prayer,   he  was  less  acceptable  to  the 
fastidious,  than  in  preaching  and  writing.      By  some 


502  MEMOIRS    OF 

persons,  who  knew  but  little  of  his  sincerity,  and  could 
make  no  allowance  for  the  peculiar  cast  of  his  mind,  he 
would  have  been  deemed  too  colloquial  at  a  throne  of 
grace,  and  more  desirous  of  producing  an  effect  upon 
the  hearer,  than  of  obtaining  a  blessing  from  God; 
more  busily  engaged  with  man  than  with  his  Maker ; 
more  disposed  to  strike  the  one,  than  to  produce 
reverence  towards  the  other ; — in  short,  too  quaint, 
figurative,  and  familiar — giving  the  notion  of  a  person 
working  out,  and  working  up  a  thought,  with  a  view  to 
impress  the  creature,  rather  than  interest  the  Supreme 
Being.  Not  only  the  fastidious,  but  pious,  candid,  and 
intelligent  persons,  have  demurred  here.  Hence,  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  James,  of  Birmingham,  in  a  letter  to  the 
biographer,  observes,  "It  occurred  to  me,  that  with 
occasional  real  pathos,  there  was  blended,  as  in  the 
case  of  my  venerated  friend,  Rowland  Hill,  too  much  of 
the  humorous  :  and,  in  prayer,  I  thought  there  was  a 
too  great  familiarity  in  his  style  of  address  to  God." 
This  defect  was  sometimes  felt  by  his  best  friends ;  and 
both  matter  and  manner  might  give  rise  to  an  impres- 
sion of  this  kind ;  but  it  was  generally  more  at  the 
commencement,  than  in  the  body  of  his  prayer.  As 
an  example  ;  he  commenced  his  prayer,  on  a  particular 
occasion,  by  telling  his  Maker,  that  he  is  the  centre 
and  element  of  man  ;  that  man  had  wandered  from  his 
proper  centre,  and  must  now  address  himself  in  the 
language  of  the  Psalmist, — "  Return  unto  thy  rest,  O 
my  soul ;"  and  that  he  could  no  more  be  happy  out  of 
his  clement,  than  "  the  fish  of  the  sea  could  be  satis- 
fied to  live  in  green  fields."  Than  this,  not  any  thing 
can  be  more  naturally  or  theologically  correct.  The 
last  expression  was  the  result  of  the  previous  train  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  503 

thought ;  and  though  few  men,  besides  himself,  would 
have  employed  the  simile  in  prayer,  yet  the  intonations 
of  the  voice  which  followed — his  earnestness  of  spirit — 
his  evident  hold  of  God — and  the  thorough  Christian 
feeling  of  his  heart,  instantly  swallowed  up  the  first 
impression  of  the  ludicrous  ;  and  nothing  but  the  sober, 
deep,  devout,  yet  fervid  emotions  of  the  soul,  were  felt 
by  all  present.  These  were  the  general  impressions 
left  upon  the  minds  of  religious  characters,  who  united 
with  him  in  devout  addresses  to  heaven,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  drawback  to  which  reference  has  been  made. 

Being  familiar  with  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  he  not  unfrequently  interwove  a  part  of  its 
sentiments  and  phraseology  into  his  prayers ;  which, 
with  his  earnest  pleadings,  had  an  amazing  effect  upon 
the  heart,  and  drew  forth  the  deep  response  from  the 
audience.  On  other  occasions,  he  would  lay  hold  of 
some  text  of  Scripture,  such  as, — "  I  will  sing  of 
mercy,"  or,  "  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever,"  and 
would  apply  it  to  the  various  states  in  which  persons 
might  be  found,  or  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
might  be  placed,  and  then  plead  with  God  for  mercy, 
in  connection  with  his  promises  to  man. 

He  was  always  most  in  danger  when  he  indulged  his 
fancy,  which  led  him  to  the  verge  of  the  wild  and 
ludicrous.  This  faculty,  when  restrained,  has  been 
aptly  compared  to  a  fountain,  which  plays  the  highest 
by  diminishing  the  aperture.  But  though  he  occasion- 
ally,— apart  from  prayer,  indulged  in  the  arabesque, 
and  the  picturesque  ;  and  was  fond, — especially  on  the 
platform,  of  bewitching  fancies  ;  and  though  he  abound- 
ed in  carelessnesses,  yet  he  rarely  dealt  in  the  super- 
ficial, and  scarcely — beyond  a  few  moments,  ever  lacked 


504          «s  MEMOIRS    OF 

vigorous  variety.  There  was  such  glowing  imagery, 
such  strength  of  expression,  such  fine  strokes  of  wisdom, 
such  tenderness ;  that  the  turns  of  humour,  and  the 
sportings  of  fancy,  were  soon  lost,  "  like  the  splendid 
but  unsubstantial  creations  which  rise  in  the  mists  of 
the  morning,  but  are  dissolved  in  the  noon-day  sun." 
He  knew,  to  change  the  metaphor  adopted  by  another, 
that  sand  often  contains  gold,  but  that  sand  would 
make  a  very  sorry  foundation ;  and  therefore,  never 
failed  to  dig  till  he  reached  the  rock. 

Imagination,  which  is  less  airy  in  its  character,  and 
somewhat  more  sedate  in  its  movements,  as  well  as 
more  correct  in  its  delineations,  was  still  more  con- 
spicuous. This  was  always  at  his  command ;  and 
through  the  influence  of  the  grace  of  God  upon  his 
heart,  he  rarely  failed  to  mirror  things  to  the  life. 
Eveiy  man  could  see  himself  in  the  glass  held  up,  and 
the  particular  truth  in  which  he  was  most  interested, 
as  immediately  connected  with  his  state  and  character. 
The  likeness  was  not  always  finished,  but  it  was  invari- 
ably strong ;  and  no  one  could  mistake  the  object  or 
character  portrayed.  He  had  the  power,  in  a  high 
degree,  of  representing  even  sentiments  and  abstract 
ideas, — such  as  justice,  mercy,  and  truth,  and  of 
putting  appropriate  speeches  into  their  mouths,  as  in  the 
"  Sacred  Dramas  "  of  Mrs.  H.  More,  and  other  moral 
dramatic  pieces  ;  and  these  impersonated  ideas,  had  very 
often  an  extraordinary  effect  upon  his  auditors.  Had  he 
not  been  under  the  influence  of  religion,  and  had  he 
belonged  to  the  reigns  of  JAMES  and  CHARLES,  or  to 
the  seventeenth  century,  he  would  have  excelled  Daniel 
in  his  masques — a  species  of  writing  consisting  chiefly  of 
dialogues,  and  supported  by  allegorical  characters. 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  505 

On  subjects  where  all  was  gay  and  brilliant,  fancy 
would  sometimes  steal  a  march  upon  him ;  as  when 
representing  the  church  under  the  similitude  of  a 
building.  "There,"  he  would  say,  "every  stone  is 
polished — each  fitted  to  its  place ;  and  on  one  square  is 
written — sparkling,  not  in  letters  of  gold,  but  in  living 
letters  of  light, — '  Him  that  cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in 
no  wise  cast  out ;'  on  another, — '  Wherefore  he  is  able 
also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God 
by  him  ;'  and  on  the  top-stone, — '  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest.'  "  Yet,  for  the  spiritually-minded  class  of 
hearers  before  him,  the  whole  was  sufficiently  intelligible, 
and  his  other  matter  amply  atoned  for  any  little  freak  of 
imagination  in  which  he  might  indulge, — the  object  and 
motive  tolerating,  if  not  justifying,  the  thing  itself, 
when  even  at  issue  with  good  taste  and  rigid  criticism. 
His  descriptions  were  sometimes  mixed  up  with 
pictorial  remarks,  referring  to  moral  and  religious  ideas, 
while  his  moral  and  religious  sketches  and  personifica- 
tions were  now  and  then  as  quaint  as  Quarles  ; — at 
one  moment  horrid  and  unearthly,  and  at  another 
gay ; — thus  rendering  them  occasionally  repulsive  to 
persons  of  refined  taste  but  accordant  with  the  feelings 
of  the  uncultivated  mass. 

He  seemed  to  have  the  faculty  for  representing  what 
are  called  the  "Miracle  Plays,"  whose  object  was  to 
present  the  principal  supernatural  events  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament, — not  with  their  proofs  of  divine 
authority  by  argument,  but  in  their  proper  character, 
and  the  incidents  attendant  on  them.  This  remark 
is  of  course  made  with  a  view  to  shew  the  character 
of  his  mind,  and  is  not  to  be  understood  as  expressive 
of  regret,  that  it  was  not  employed  in  that  peculiar 

Y 


506  MEMOIRS    OF 

way  on  divine  subjects.     Like  Bunyan,   he  stood  in 
a  class  by  himself.    He  exhibited  some  of  the  darker 
and   more  violent    passions    of   human   nature,    often 
beautifully  relieved  and  contrasted  with  the  sorrows  of 
an  unoffending  and  virtuous  mind,  as  to  the  characters 
he  drew.     He  spoke  as  a  traveller  writes,  who  has 
seen  the  object,  and  designs — not  neatly,  but  boldly, 
touchingly,  and  sometimes  minutely,  as  by  the  pencil 
of  an  artist ;   and  he  felt  like  a  man  who  believes  what 
he  says.      His   descriptive   powers   were  such,  as   to 
enable  him  to  throw  off  what  might  be  deemed  faithful 
portraits :  they  were  exact  and  living,  and  often  rapid 
in  their  succession, — for  he  had  amazing  quickness  ; 
and   such, — though    often    explored    in    their  hidden 
depths,  as  were  not  always  brought  to  view.    Others 
often  referred  to  what  he  described ;  and  the  descrip- 
tions,  as   already   observed,   in  reference   to  himself, 
were    hung  up   in   the   chambers   of  the   heart    like 
a  portrait, — but  sometimes  in  the  reverse  way  to  his 
own,   for  the  portraits,    as  noticed  in  the  commence- 
ment of  this  article,  were  such,   that  the  possessors, 
— when  they  themselves  were  represented,  would  have 
gladly  exchanged  for  others,  but  could  not  get  rid  of 
them,  and  memory  would  not  permit  their  destruction  ; 
and  though  sometimes   a  little  caricatured,    still   the 
likeness, — even  under  these  seldom  occurring  circum- 
stances, might  be  seen,  and  the  portrait  fastened  on 
its  rightful  owner.     He  never  attempted,  however,  to 
caricature,  but  with  a  view  to  induce  the  sinner  to 
fall  out  of  love  with  his  sins  and  with  himself.     He 
seemed  now  and  then  to  have  the  singular  faculty, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  possessed  by  an  eminent 
German    poet,    of    divesting    himself   of   intellectual 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  50,7 

identity, — of  becoming  that  which  he  contemplated  or 
described, — of  feeling  the  sensations,  of  thinking  the 
thoughts,  of  other  persons.  He  would  have  become 
the  mother,  the  child,  the  penitent,  the  joyous  Chris- 
tian, —  the  horror-stricken  sinner,  and  his  hearers 
seemed  to  see  and  hear  the  person,  and  sympathize 
with  him. 

Distinct  from  imagination,  and  from  his  descriptive 
powers,  there  was  the  faculty  of  invention,  and  that 
too,  in  an  eminent  degree.  This  may  be  distinguished 
from  the  creative  power  which  he  possessed,  and  which 
will  not  be  overlooked,  by  applying  the  one  to  the  act 
of  bringing  a  world  of  thought,  so  to  speak,  into  exist- 
ence, in  the  mass ;  and  the  other,  to  the  power  of 
eliciting  from  that  mass,  things  in  detail,  in  an  almost 
endless  diversity  of  form.  Not  that  his  inventive 
faculty  was  equal  to  his  creative  powers.  He  had  his 
divisions  and  subdivisions ;  but  still  his  sermons  were 
not  branched  out  into  various  puritanical  particulars. 
Multiplicity  would  have  embarrassed  him  ;  a  settled 
plan  of  this  kind  would  have  destroyed  his  freedom. 
It  was  the  inspiration  of  the  moment  that  awakened 
his  inventive  faculty.  He  could  have  taken  up  a 
single  thought  or  figure,  which  flashed  upon  his 
mind, — could  have  turned  it  round  and  round  in  a 
cylindrical  way,  both  in  prayer  and  preaching, — con- 
stantly exhibiting,  as  it  revolved,  some  new  point, — 
some  new  appearance  on  the  surface,  producing  on 
the  minds  of  others  the  same  effect  that  is  experienced 
by  panoramic  exhibitions  upon  the  eye.  On  other 
occasions,  to  employ  the  still  less  sanctified  allusion 
to  the  chase,  which  almost  demands  au  apology  for 
its  use,  because  of  other  more  serious  associations, 


508  MEMOIRS    OF 

he  would  start  a  thought, — pursue  it  for  some  length 
of  time, — keep  pressing  upon  it, — lose  sight  of  it  for 
a  few  seconds, — then  branch  off  in  another  direction, 
in  consequence  of  other  conceptions, — suddenly,  and, 
in  an  unexpected  moment,  springing  upon  the  old 
thought  again,  in  another  part  of  the  field,  —then 
re-pursuing  it  for  a  brief  space,  till,  like  an  animal, 
taking  shelter  among  the  brushwood,  it  no  less  sud- 
denly disappeared.  When  he  broke  away  thus,  they 
were  moments  of  intense  interest  with  the  hearers, 
who  were  all  fixed  in  palpitating  pleasure  in  the 
pursuit.  He  never, — in  any  of  his  chasings, — any  of 
his  revolvings,  failed  to  rouse  and  to  instruct :  and 
on  other  occasions,  he  would  have  conjured  up  enemies 
to  the  truth,  of  all  sorts,  and  would  have  knocked 
them  down  like  "nine  pins." 

When  not  on  particularly  touching  subjects,  his  wit 
would  sometimes  unexpectedly  escape ;  and  though  not 
always  refined,  yet  always  helpful  to  the  point  in  ques- 
tion, and  never  indulged  merely  with  a  view  to  produce 
amusement.  He  invariably  gave  greater  latitude  to  his 
devious,  roaming,  and  abrupt  imagination  on  the  plat- 
form, than  in  the  pulpit ; — a  proof  of  his  discretion. 

As  is  generally  the  case  with  highly  imaginative 
characters,  he  never  shone  as  a  logician ;  and  would, 
— from  his  want  of  ability  to  enter  consecutively  into 
subjects  of  a  profound,  subtle,  and  abstract  nature, 
have  been  soon  baffled  by  a  metaphysician.  Yet, 
notwithstanding  this,  there  was  great  shrewdness  and 
quickness  of  perception  :  but  with  him,  it  was  the 
blade  that  made  an  entrance  at  once, — the  logic  of 
a  single  stroke ;  a  few  sentences  grasping  the  general 
argument,  but  specially,  and,  as  by  instinct,  finding 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  509 

their  way  to  a  vulnerable  part, — laying  it  bare, — and 
producing  such  conviction  as  to  affect,  and  to  render 
suspicious,  if  not  to  demolish,  the  whole,  in  the  esteem 
of  his  unsophisticated  hearers.  He  frequently  employed 
the  terms  therefore  and  consequently,  which  shewed 
that  the  mind  was  exercising  its  reasoning  powers. 
But  while  he  admitted  with  Fuller,  that  "  Reasons 
are  the  pillars  of  the  fabric  of  a  sermon,"  he  knew 
with  him  at  the  same  time,  that  "  similitudes  are 
the  windows  which  give  the  best  light."  Hence,  he 
dismissed  argumentation  the  moment  he  found  he  had 
established  his  point,  and  gave  scope  to  his  imagination. 
But  though  it  was  not  a  mind  that  could  delight  itself 
with  entering  into  the  various  subtleties  and  niceties 
of  an  argument, — pursuing  it  through  all  its  intricacies, 
doublings,  and  bearings, — ferreting  the  designs  of  an 
opponent  out  of  all  their  lurking  places,  and  keeping 
close  to  the  heels  to  the  very  last;  yet  he  possessed 
what  was  infinitely  better  for  his  purpose  and  for 
his  work, — and  this,  by  the  way,  is  no  bad  proof 
of  the  sagacity  of  the  friends  and  members  of  the 
Missionary  Committee  in  the  selection  they  made, — a 
ready  perception  of  truth,  took  a  masculine  grasp  of 
his  subject,  and  had  a  bold,  persuasive,  effective  ora- 
tory. The  facts  of  man's  fall  were  too  glaring,  and 
the  truths  of  the  gospel  too  clear,  for  a  profuse 
expenditure  of  logic.  In  thus  speaking  of  his  argu- 
mentative powers,  it  is  by  no  means  insinuated  that 
there  was  any  essential  defect  in  the  manner,  the 
process,  or  the  result  of  his  reasonings.  He  sustains 
no  injury,  when  it  is  affirmed,  that  he  was  not  a 
Locke,  not  a  Reid,  not  a  Beattie,  not  a  Dugald  Stewart. 
There  are  many  gradations  of  intellect  between  a  person 


f*10  MEMOIRS    OF 

of  respectable  talents  and  the  first  of  these  masters. 
He  might  not  have  reached  any  of  these,  and  yet 
have  surpassed  millions  of  the  human  species.  Mr. 
Dawson's  was  not  the  long  even  thread  of  the  finest 
spun  silk,  but  a  logic  of  points  and  angles,  shooting 
out  in  unexpected  directions,  and  excessively  annoying 
to  the  persons  against  whom  it  might  be  directed  ; 
scattering,  to  change  the  metaphor,  his  shafts,  like  a 
shower  of  barbed  arrows,  which  were  left  rankling 
in  the  conscience  of  the  sinner, — compelling  him  to 
flee  to  the  spiritual  physician  for  healing  and  strength. 
It  was  the  logic,  not  of  the  study,  but  of  the  market, 
of  the  exchange,  and  of  the  counting-house ;  the  logic, 
not  of  the  few,  but  of  the  multitude ;  the  logic  which 
the  least  cultivated  could  understand.  It  was,  in  short, 
the  logic  of  the  lightning,  whose  stroke  was  death 
to  the  subterfuge  of  every  sinner,  and  whose  flash 
was  conviction  to  the  lukewarm  professor. 

He  proceeded  to  work  with  an  argument,  like  the 
eagle,  on  perceiving  its  prey,  never  for  a  moment 
busying  itself  in  the  examination  of  the  plumage  or 
the  form  of  the  bird  upon  which  it  is  about  to 
pounce,  but  viewing  it  as  a  whole, — making  one  fell 
swoop, — clutching  it  at  once, — and  bearing  it  up,  writhing 
in  very  agony,  till  lost  for  ever  to  the  gaze  of  the 
spectators.  There  was  no  delicacy  in  the  handling ; 
— it  was  prey  he  had  to  deal  with, — prey  to  be 
destroyed, — not  for  its  value,  but  because  of  its  odious- 
ness,  having  been  hurtful  to  the  life  of  the  sinner 
himself  and  his  associates,  and  in  the  destruction  of 
which  angels  might  rejoice.  This  was  the  man  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  If  there  was  a  naked  point, 
it  was  seen ;  and  though  visible  before  to  the  sinner,  it 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  511 

was  laid  still  more  bare  to  the  public  eye,  so  that  he  began 
to  suspect  he  was  as  well  known  to  the  preacher  and 
others  as  to  himself.     If  deception  had  been  resorted 
to,    it  was    exposed ;    if  the   sinner   persevered,    the 
branding  iron  was  applied.     If  he   had  been  in  the 
hands  of  others, — had  been  tampered  with, — and  his 
case  had  become   desperate,    he   was   dealt  with  like 
a   person  whose   life  was   at  stake.      There  was  no 
ceremony, — rank  never  occurred  to  the  mind, — health 
was  the  object, — a  few  twinges  and  writhings  in  the 
patient  were  unheeded,   so  intensly  was  the  eye  fixed 
upon   the   grand  object   to   be   attended  to, — health, 
perfect  health.    He  boldly  lashed  the  vices  and  follies, 
both  of  individuals  and  whole  classes,  sometimes  with 
bluntness,  but  always  with  fidelity  :  and  when  he  found 
persons  ministering  to  the  grovelling  tastes,   and  un- 
reasonable prejudices  of  the  multitude,  he  never  failed 
to  launch  a  bolt  at  them,  regardless  of  consequences. 
Every  thing  was  done  and  said,  whether  in  the  pul- 
pit or  the  social  circle,  with  such  honesty  of  purpose 
and  manner,   that  his  very  failings  commended  him 
to  confidence.     There  were  no  suspicious  pretensions 
to  credit.    When  speaking  of  himself,  though  he  might 
excite  a  quiet  smile  now  and  then  at  his  own  expense, 
•it  was  unmixed  with  anything  offensive  ;   and  at  no 
time  did  he  ever  attempt  to  raise  himself  by  sinking 
others.      All  his   remarks   upon   himself  were   good- 
natured,  not   selfish, — somewhat   gregarious  ;   and  he 
felt   a  pleasure   in   extolling    others   whenever    praise 
was  due.     The  fact  is,  that,  in  the  minutest  circum- 
stances,   and    in    all  his   transactions  with  men,   he 
permitted  an   enlightened  conscience   to   tell  its   own 
tale ;  and  trivial  things, — things  unavoidable  in  them- 


512  MEMOIRS    OF 

selves,  produced  the  greatest  sensibility,  when  they 
would  have  been  passed  off  by  others  as  things  of 
course. 

Generally  speaking,  he  had  a  consummate  know- 
ledge of  man, — a  shrewd  insight  into  business  trans- 
actions,— and  good  judgment  and  experience  in  the 
leading  truths  of  the  Bible.  This,  with  his  rich 
imagination,  which  aided  him  in  drawing  out  and 
illustrating  the  general  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  in  his 
peculiar  way,  formed  a  good  ground-work  for  his  appeals 
to  the  conscience.  In  some  very  rare  cases,  the  love 
of  novelty,  and  the  desire  of  producing  effect,  gave 
a  momentary  bias  to  the  judgment ;  particularly  when 
grappling  with  some  great  subject,  or  employed  in 
the  work  of  illustration,  and  at  the  moment  that 
thoughts  appeared  to  be  teeming  in  upon  him, — re- 
turning to  them  again  and  again, — then,  throwing 
out  his  feelers  for  expression, — but  still  in  love  with 
the  conceit  or  novelty, — and  trying  to  justify  it,  with 
a  disposition  to  maintain  it,  from  a  pure  love  of  its 
being  new,  till  the  judgment  rose  up  in  rebellion 
against  it.  Thus,  in  an  attempt  to  encourage  the 
desponding  sinner,  he  observed  on  one  occasion, — 
"  There  are  two  Infinite  Loves ;  one  in  the  Deity, 
and  another  in  the  humanity  of  Christ; — two  infinite 
oceans  meeting  in  one."  Now,  the  idea  of  two  in- 
finities, and  one  of  those  infinities  in  a  finite  humanity, 
involves  an  absurdity  which  would  soon  Jbe  detected 
by  the  mind,  though  capable  of  administering  encourage- 
ment to  the  feelings  of  an  uninstructed  awakened 
sinner.  Besides,  an  attempt  to  augment  the  infinite 
love  of  God  by  dividing  it — for  it  could  never  in- 
crease it,  will  admit  of  but  little  support  in  the  way  of 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  513 

argument.  This,  however,  was  urged  by  the  excellent 
subject  of  the  Memoir ;  and  when,  in  his  amplification, 
he  found  the  love  of  novelty  fetter  him,  he  endeavoured 
to  qualify  it,  by  asserting  an  infinite  love  in  the  God- 
head, and  a  perfect  love  in  the  manhood.  The  same 
consequence  resulted  from  his  desire  to  produce  effect, 
which  was  generally  mixed  up  with  his  love  of  novelty, 
— the  one  originating  chiefly  in  his  creative  powers, 
and  the  other  in  his  deep  feeling.  The  latter  some- 
times led  him  to  mar  his  best  thoughts,  by  over- 
shooting them.  His  mouth  was  generally,  in  the 
language  of  the  apostle,  full  of  "  strong  meat "  from 
GoS  to  the  people.  His  thoughts  resembled  his  phy- 
sical frame ;  they  were  solid, — full, — strong.  It  was 
not  unfrequently  the  sledge-hammer, — the  battering 
ram, — the  thunder, — the  lightning.  In  some  instances, 
he  would  be  heard  by  persons  of  no  religious  feeling,  but 
of  refined  taste  and  classical  attainments,  for  amusement, 
owing  to  his  light,  daring,  terrific,  singularities. 

If  he  ever  failed,  it  was  when  fancy  was  in- 
dulged in  the  illustration  of  a  subject :  in  his  deduc- 
tions from  scriptural  truth,  he  was  remarkable  'for 
soundness  of  judgment ;  always  clear  and  condensed 
in  his  definitions,  and  convincing  in  his  conclusions. 
He  had  a  quick  and  clear  insight  into  the  Word  of 
God;  and  the  truths  there,  like  certain  propositions 
noticed  by  Reid  on  the  "Intellectual  Powers,"  were 
no  sooner  understood  than  believed.  The  judgment 
followed  the  apprehension  of  them  necessarily ;  and 
both  were  equally  the  work  of  nature,  and  the  result 
of  his  original  powers.  There  was  no  searching  for 
evidence,  no  weighing  of  arguments ;  no  inference 
drawn  from  other  things.  He  saw  the  light  of  truth 


f>14  MEMOIRS    OF 

in  itself;  and  with  the  same  clearness,  and  force, 
and  correctness,  he  imparted  it  to  others.  There  is 
hut  too  much  truth  in  the  remark,  that  "it  is  with 
our  judgments  as  our  watches  ;  none  go  just  alike, 
yet  each  believes  his  own."  But  if  a  man  wish  to 
keep  his  watch  right,  he  will  take  care  to  regulate 
it  by  the  sun,  as  the  good  man  takes  care  to  regu- 
late his  creed  by  the  Bible.  This  was  the  case  with 
Mr.  Dawson,  who  read  and  examined  the  Sacred  Re- 
cords for  himself,  and  would  never  rely  on  "visual 
beams  refracted  through  another's  eye." 

In  directing  still  further  attention  to  the  mind,  his 
originality  seemed  at  once  to  invite  observation ; — a 
talent  by  which  things  and  qualities  not  previously  des- 
cribed, are  discovered  and  exhibited,  or,  if  familiar,  are 
shewn  in  new  lights.  It  is  only  occasionally, — as  it 
was  in  his  case,  united  with  power, — for  it  is  a  slow 
and  studious  faculty  ;  and  when  combined  with  genius, 
is  often  mistaken  as  the  peculiar  element  of  that 
remarkable  energy.  His  creations  were  numerous  and 
varied,  and  of  a  character  peculiar  to  themselves — but 
never  finished.  They  resembled  a  bold,  rich,  well- 
wooded  country, — not  the  gay,  lined,  systematized 
pleasure-ground,  in  which  art  is  stealing  upon  the  gaze 
of  the  spectator  at  every  turn  :  but  though  rich,  always 
in  want  of  a  certain  portion  of  cultivation,  the  veriest 
trifle  of  which  would  amply  compensate  for  the  labour 
bestowed,  and  which  stood  more  in  need  of  the  hoe,  the 
knife,  and  the  mattock,  than  the  shower,  the  sun,  and 
the  manure.  When  most  unfinished,  they  still  bore  the 
hand  of  a  master, — the  principal  thing  required  to  im- 
prove them  being,  not  so  much  the  general  adjustment, 
as  merely  a  little  levelling  here  and  there,  for  the  sake 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  515 

of  greater  grace  and  ease,  there  being  prominences 
sufficient, — even  more  than  a  due  proportion,  without 
it.  Nor  were  they,  it  may  be  added,  always  beautiful, 
indeed  rarely ;  but  they  were  invariably  striking.  He 
was  never  without  original  imagery,  striking  sentiment, 
fertility  of  expression,  and  happy  combinations — though 
occasionally  a  century  behind  some  of  the  modem 
sermonizers,  associating  more  immediately  with  the 
most  useful,  the  purest,  and  noblest  of  the  Puritan  divines. 
The  Rev.  J.  A.  James,  of  Birmingham, — himself  an 
excellent  model,  as  well  as  an  admirable  judge  of  minis- 
terial character  and  qualification,  whose  opinion  has 
already  been  adverted  to,  observes  in  the  same  letter  to 
the  biographer, — "  With  respect  to  the  opinion  which  I 
am  alledged  to  have  expressed  of  Mr.  Dawson,  I  cannot 
take  upon  myself  either  to  confirm,  or  deny  the  report. 

If  you  had  it  from  Mr. himself,  I  have  no  doubt  of 

its  correctness  :  for  if  I  did  not  say  it,  I  thought  it.  Mr. 
Dawson  was  in  every  respect  a  man  sui  generis,  and 
must  not  be  tried  as  a  public  speaker  by  the  rules 
which  are  applied  to  other  men."  Mr.  James  then,  in 
allusion  to  what  the  classical  reader  will  find  in  one  of 
the  most  admired  Italian  poets — one  of  those  thoughts 
which  could  only  proceed  from  a  great  mind,  and  only 
occur  once  to  the  same  mind, — 

"  Natura  lo  fece,  e  poi  ruppe  la  stain  pa  ;" 

"  Nature  formed  him,  and  then  broke  up  the  mould  ;" 
further  observes, — "  The  mould  in  which  his  mind  and 
manner  were  cast,  was  exclusively  his  own,  and  was 
broken  up  when  his  character  was  formed.  No  one 
should — none  I  believe  did,  for  none  could  imitate  him. 
I  never  heard  him  preach  but  once,  nor  did  I  ever  hear 
more  than  one  speech  from  him  ;  but  both  the  sermon 


516  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  the  oration  displayed  a  force  of  genius,  and  com- 
mand of  striking  illustration,  such  as  I  had  scarcely 
ever  heard.  The  taste  of  some  of  his  most  splendid 
corruscations  of  mental  brilliance  might  be  questioned, 
but  their  power  over  a  certain  class  of  minds  was  irre- 
sistible." In  a  conversation  which  the  biographer  had, 
about  the  same  time,  with  the  author  of  "The  World 
before  the  Flood,"  the  latter  remarked,  when  speaking 
of  Mr.  Dawson,  that  he  often  employed  beautiful 
figures, — not  figures  for  the  occasion,  introduced  for 
the  sake  of  embellishment,  as  in  a  poem,  but  woven 
into  the  very  texture  of  his  language,  and  forming  a 
part  of  it.  He  admitted  that  he  occasionally  bordered 
on  the  absurd,  when  he  gave  scope  to  his  fancy,  but 
that  he  sometimes  rose  into  sublimity,  and  into  the 
highest  style  of  natural  eloquence ;  added  to  which, — 
and  it  was  here  that  he  admired  him  most,  there  was 
often  uncommon  power  of  thought,  and  unusual  pathos ; 
though  he  always  preferred  him  in  the  pulpit  to  the 
platform.  He  considered  him  a  good  subject  for 
biography,  though  not  equal  to  Samuel  Hick  for  sim- 
plicity and  unexpected  variety  ;  being  much  more  varied 
in  his  discourse  than  in  his  character, — and  so  consti- 
tuting one  difference,  with  many  others,  between 
Hick's  originality  and  his  own.  In  matter,  he  pro- 
nounced him  to  be  exceedingly  varied — having  height 
and  depth,  with  all  the  shades  between. 

It  will  be  easy  to  perceive  the  kind  of  matter  in 
which  it  was  likely  he  would  deal,  from  the  peculiarity 
of  his  genius,  and  the  strength  of  his  feelings.  His 
thoughts,  both  in  prayer  and  preaching,  were  like 
masses  of  ore — and  often  of  the  most  valuable  kind, 
like  ingots  of  pure  gold,  from  which  the  most  beautiful 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  517 

current  coin  might  be  struck  into  form  and  size,  and 
without  which,  though  devoid  of  polish,  a  realm  might 
have  been  without  a  currency  ; — at  least,  without  a 
currency  but  for  similar  minds ;  as  it  is  not  likely  that 
the  "coinage  of  the  brain,"  would  have  received  the 
same  sort  of  die — if  die  at  all,  except  taken  up  from 
such  minds,  by  others  of  inferior  intellectual  grade. 
Throughout  the  whole,  there  was  an  evident  want  of 
refinement,  which  a  thorough  discipline  might  have 
produced.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  the  exu- 
berance of  his  fancy  and  genius,  would  have  ever  allowed 
him  to  be  pinioned  down  to  order.  The  question  pro- 
posed to  the  Rev.  J.  A.  James,  of  Birmingham, — 
"  What  would  he  have  been  had  he  been  favoured  with 
an  academical  education?"  and  the  reply  given  to  it, — 
"  He  would  have  been  spoiled,"  comprehends  much 
more  of  truth — without  at  all  interfering  with  the  gen- 
eral question  which  involves  the  propriety  of  a  whole- 
some early  training — than  will  at  first  sight  be  admitted  ; 
for  it  is  not  improbable,  that  the  buoyancy  of  his  native 
genius,  whatever  might  have  been  the  polish  bestowed, 
would  have  turned  up  the  surface,  and  have  rendered  it 
occasionally  a  little  rough  to  the  eye.  He  was  one  of 
the  patriarchs  of  Methodism — not  in  years — but  for 
being  hale  both  in  body  and  mind — unsmitten  by 
effeminacy  ; — a  diamond  in  the  rough,  who  received 
sufficient  polish  from  the  station  which  he  was  destined 
to  adorn,  as  he  rolled  on  with  the  tide  of  labour  that 
carried  him  forward — precious  for  his  value,  and 
dazzling  for  his  brilliancy,  without  being  indebted  to 
the  hand  of  the  lapidary.  His  value  was  seen  and 
known  through  his  coating ;  as  much  so,  as  was  that 
of  John  the  Baptist  through  his  "leathern  girdle," 


518  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  his  garment  of  "  camel's  hair. "  He  thought 
strongly,  and  he  spoke  strongly.  The  thoughts,  how- 
ever, which  he  bolted  forth,  were  not  mere  huge, 
shapeless  masses,  'but  were  often  worked  up  with  con- 
siderable skill. 

Love  and  fear  were  the  two  passions  on  which  he 
principally  laid  hold ;  and  these  had  a  corresponding 
influence  upon  his  matter.  No  congregation  could 
resist  his  appeals,  when  addressing  the  maternal,  filial, 
or  fraternal  feelings.  On  all  pathetic  subjects,  the 
people  were  like  a  piece  of  mechanism  in  his  hand, 
which  he  could  wind  at  will.  In  the  same  sermon, 
and  within  only  a  few  seconds,  the  same  persons, 
melted  into  tenderness,  and  like  the  wax,  ready  to 
receive  the  impression,  or  like  the  ore  in  a  fluid 
state,  ready  for  the  mould,  would  have  been  suddenly 
awe- struck, — the  eyes  fixed, — the  lips  apart, — the 
body  motionless, — and  within  hearing  of  the  beating 
of  their  own  hearts.  On  the  horrors  of  hell,  the 
flame  seemed  to  flash  upon  the  eye, — representing, 
in  terrific  contrast,  the  rich,  the  titled,  the  gay, 
surrounded  with  everything  calculated  to  fascinate  the 
eye,  captivate  the  ear,  and  minister  to  the  taste, — 
tossed  from  a  bed  of  feathers  into  a  bed  of  fire, 
exchanging  the  salubrious  air  for  the  suffocating  stench 
of  brimstone,  the  salute  of  fondest  friends,  for — in 
his  own  language,  the  "grin  of  demons,"  and  where 
"the  least  and  meanest  fiend  in  the  regions  of  woe, 
was  permitted  to  spit  hell  fire  in  their  face. "  It 
was,  indeed,  on  such  occasions,  "  the  reign  of  ter- 
ror." But  even  Here,  he  was  very  often  on  his  way 
to  something  exquisitely  tender.  He  was  never  remote 
from  the  cross  ; — rarely  out  of  sight  of  it, — generally 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  519 

hovering  round  it, — and  sometimes,  like  a  bird  of 
heaven,  would  seem  to  alight  upon  it,  and  there 
make  his  stay.  He  generally  avoided  long  declama- 
tion ;  and  his  style  being_  highly  impassioned,  was 
consequently  metaphoric,  and  therefore  striking ;  for 
all  metaphor  is  the  natural  language  of  a  raised 
imagination  and  agitated  heart :  and  his  own  heart 
being  affected  with  his  subject,  he  found  ready  access 
to  the  hearts  of  others.  When  he  did  declaim,  he 
was  generally  brief;  though  he  was  as  powerful  a 
declaimer,  as  he  was  an  excellent  painter ;  and  always 
had  logic  enough  for  the  subject  upon  which  he  des- 
canted. 

In  connexion  with  his  matter,  and  uninjured  by  his 
lighter  moods,  was  a  certain  authority  which  he 
invariably  exercised  over  his  respective  auditories. 
Whatever  he  might  have  felt,  he  appeared  an  utter 
stranger  to  everything  like  fear  in  the  pulpit.  He 
was  there  like  "  one  having  authority."  Beside  his 
native  courage,  the  immense  crowds  that  attended 
his  ministry — sometimes,  as  in  Manchester  and  other 
populous  places,  rendering  the  presence  of  the  police 
necessary,  attested  how  much  he  was  beloved  by  the 
people ;  and  it  was  love  in  him  which,  in  return, 
"  cast  out  fear."  He  spoke,  whether  colloquially  or 
oratorically, — acted, — and  was  as  free,  even  with  the 
most  splendid,  and  most  numerously  attended  audience 
in  the  city,  as  with  the  smaller  and  humbler  in  the 
rural  districts.  On  entering  the  pulpit,  and  closing 
the  door,  he  was  like  a  man  who  had  entered  his  own 
dwelling,  where  he  only,  of  human  beings,  exercised 
the  authority  of  a  master,  and  those  around  were  at 
his  bidding,  and  under  his  influence,  as  dependants. 


520  MEMOIRS    OF 

The  pulpit  was  his  home,  wherever  it  might  stand. 
Yet,  though  master,  there  were  no  authoritative  airs. 
With  a  becoming  dignity,  there  was  always  that  feeling 
of  reverence  present,  that  left  the  impression,  that  one 
was  his  Master — even  CHRIST.  In  his  fearlessness 
and  authority,  with  other  qualifications,  he  reminds  us 
of  the  self-possession,  and  some  other  traits  that  were 
found  in  the  character  of  Bridane,  who,  like  himself, 
acted  in  the  capacity  of  a  Christian  Missionary.* 

*The  Abbe  Maury  has  given  us  a  striking  exordium  of  Bri  Jane's.  Speakii.g 
of  Cicero,  and  extolling  his  eloquence,  he  says, — 

"  If  there  remain  any  traces  of  this  ancient  and  vigorous  eloquence,  which 
is  no  other  than  the  voice  of  nature,  it  is  among  the  missionaries,  and  we 
must  go  to  the  country  for  examples.  These  apostolic  men,  endued  with  an 
imagination  vigorous  and  strong,  know  no  other  success  than  conversions,  no 
other  applause  than  tears.  Often  destitute  of  taste,  they  descend,  I  grant,  tt> 
burlesque  details  ;  but  they  strongly  strike  the  senses.  Their  threatenings 
impress  terror ;  and  the  people  hear  them  with  concern.  Yet  many  among 
them  have  sublime  strokes;  and  an  orator  does  not  attend  them  without  profit, 
when  he  knows  how  to  distinguish  the  great  effects  of  his  art.  Mr.  Bridane, 
the  man  of  this  age  the  most  justly  celebrated  of  that  order,  was  born  with  a 
popular  eloquence,  full  of  metaphors  and  fire ;  and  no  one  possessed  in  a 
higher  degree  the  talent  of  seizing  on  an  assembled  multitude.  He  had  such 
a  fine  voice,  as  rendered  credible  all  the  prodigies  that  history  recounts  of  the 
declamations  of  the  ancients.  He  could  be  as  easily  heard  by  ten  thousand 
people  in  the  open  air,  as  though  he  had  spoken  under  the  most  sonorous  arch. 
One  could  remark  in  all  he  said  natural  turns  of  eloquence ;  very  expressive 
metaphors;  blunt,  new,  and  striking  thoughts,  with  all  the  characters  of  a 
fertile  imagination;  some  extemporaneous  stroke,  and  sometimes  even  whole 
discourses,  delivered  with  the  correctest  taste  and  warmth.  I  remember  to 
have  heard  him  preach  his  first  sermon  in  the  church  of  St.  Sulpicius,  in  Paris, 
in  the  year  1751.  The  most  brilliant  circles  of  the  capital,  excited  by  curiosity, 
came  to  hear  him.  Bridane  perceiving  in  the  assembly  many  bishops  and 
persons  of  distinction,  with  an  innumerable  crowd  of  ecclesiastics,  the  siglit, 
far  from  intimidating,  inspired  him  with  the  following  exordium: — 

"'At  the  sight  of  an  audience  so  new  to  me,  it  might  seem,  my  brethren,  I 
should  not  open  my  mouth,  but  only  ask  favour  in  behalf  of  a  poor  Missionary, 
destitute  of  those  talents  which  you  require  when  we  address  you  on  the 
concerns  of  your  salvation.  But  I  feel  impressed  to-day  with  a  sentiment 
widely  different ;  and  if  I  appear  to  humble  myself,  do  not  believe  that  I  abase 
myself  to  the  miserable  inquietudes  of  vanity,  as  though  I  were  accustomed  to 
preach  myself.  God  forbid  that  a  minister  of  heaven  should  think  he  has  any 
need  of  apologizing  for  himself  to  you  I  For,  whosoever  you  are,  yon  are  no 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  521 

Associated  with  his  authority,  was  his  power,  which 
was  still  more  perceptible,  though  often  confounded  by 
less  critical  minds,  with  power  altogether  divine,  as 
attendant  on  his  ministry.  This  faculty  was  distin- 
guished in  him,  not  barely  by  bringing  a  creation  of 
the  mind  into  existence,  but  by  occasionally  heaving  up 
the  mighty  mass — manufacturing  materials  already 
brought  into  being,  and  shewing  a  Herculean  power 

other  than  sinners  like  myself.    It  is  before  your  God  and  mine  that  I  feel 
constrained  to  smite  upon  my  breast.    Ace  Maria .' 

'"Till  the  present  time,  I  have  published  the  righteousness  of  the  Most 
High  in  temples  covered  with  thatch  ;  I  have  announced  the  rigours  of 
penitence  to  the  miserable  who  wanted  bread  ;  I  have  proclaimed  to  the  good 
inhabitants  of  the  country  the  most  terrific  truths  of  my  religion.  What  have 
I  done— 'wretch  that  I  am?  I  have  saddened  the  poor, — the  best  friends  of 
my  God.  I  have  carried  grief  and  dismay  into  those  simple,  faithful  souls 
whom  I  ought  to  have  consoled  j  and  with  whom  I  should  have  sympathized. 
"  '  But  here  my  looks  fall  on  the  great,  on  the  rich,  on  the  oppressors  of 
suffering  humanity ;  or  on  sinners  audacious  and  hardened.  Ah .'  it  is  here 
only  I  should  make  the  holy  word  resound  with  all  its  strength  and  thunder  ,- 
and  place  with  me  in  this  pulpit,  on  the  one  hand,  death,  which  threatens 
you;  and  on  the  other,  my  great  God,  who  is  about  to  judge  you.  I  hold 
to-day  your  sentence  in  my  hand.  Tremble,  then,  before  me,  ye  haughty  and 
disdainful  men,  who  hear  me.  The  necessity  of  salvation,  the  certainty  of 
death  ;  the  uncertainty  of  that  hour  so  terrible  to  you  ;  final  impenitence  ;  the 
lust  judgment;  the  small  number  who  obtain  salvation;  and,  above  all, 
ETERNITY — ETERNITY  !  These  are  the  subjects  with  which  I  come  to  enter- 
tain you,  and  which  I  ought,  without  doubt,  to  have  reserved  for  you  alone. 
Ah !  what  need  have  I  of  your  applause,  which  might  damn  me  without  saving 
you  ?  God  is  going  to  affect  you  by  his  unworthy  minister  who  addresses 
jou  ;  for  I  have  acquired  a  long  experience  of  his  mercies  :  then,  penetrated 
with  horror  for  your  past  sins,  you  shall  come  and  cast  yourselves  into  my 
arms,  pouring  out  tears  of  compunction  and  penitence ;  and,  by  the  force  of 
remorse, 'you  will  find  me  to  be  eloquent  enough.  Ah.'  upon  what  do  you 
found  your  hopes,  my  brethren,  that  your  last  moments  are  so  distant?  Is  it 
because  you  are  young  ?  Yes,  you  say,  /  have  as  yet  but  twenty  or  thirty  years. 
Ah  !  it  is  not  you  who  have  twenty  or  thirty  years,  but  death  who  has  twenty 
or  thirty  years  in  advance  upon  yon.  Take  heed.  Eternity  approaches.  Do 
you  know  what  eternity  is  ?  It  is  a  clock,  the  pendulum  of  which  incessantly 
says,  ALWAYS  !  EVEE!  EVER!  ALWAYS!  ALWAYS!  During  these  vibrations,  a 
damned  soul  cries  out,  What  o'clock  is  it?  And  the  same  voice  replies,  It  it 
KTERXITY  ! '" — Dicours  sur  f  Eloquence  de  la  Chaire,  page  45. 

I  am  afraid  we  have  no  traces  of  this  missionary  eloquence  in  England, 
unless  it  be  among  the  itinerant  missionaries. 


522  MEMOIRS    OF 

in  their  use :  hence  it  has  been  styled,  and  not  un- 
aptly, "a  manufacturing  faculty."  It  is  not  in  the 
light,  superficial,  "namby  pamby"  way  that  it  acts; 
but  it  shews  itself  by  wielding  the  mace,  or,  like  the 
giant  of  old,  by  handling  the  weaver's  beam  ; — or, 
perhaps,  more  appropriately  still,  like  Samson,  shaking 
pillars,  temple,  and  all,  but  without  expiring  in  the 
struggle, — again,  and  again  rising  with  the  same  giant 
might  as  before :  and  here  was  a  peculiarity  in  the 
subject  before  us ;  for  it  was  not  with  him.  as  with 
a  man,  who  puts  forth  all  his  energies  on  a  solitary 
occasion,  and,  by  one  single  effort,  exhausts  his  strength, 
— requiring  a  lapse  of  time  to  recruit  again,  but  it 
was  a  regular  succession  of  efforts, — without  any  appa- 
rent feebleness  occasioned  by  exercise, — year  after  year, 
and  in  place  after  place,  manifesting  the  same  power 
in  body  and  in  intellect.  He  had  a  remote  resem- 
blance to  one  of  our  first  poets,  — whom  to  name 
might  be  deemed  a  profanity  by  some,  and  a  weakness 
by  others, — but  so  it  is  believed  is  the  fact, — he  had 
a  power  of  conceiving  characters,  and,  after  conceiving 
them,  a  readiness  of  throwing  himself  into  them,  as 
has  been  shewn, — though  a  little  too  comic  now  and 
then,  so  as  to  bring  from  them  a  discourse  which 
would  generally  be  allowed,  to  be  such  as  would  be 
spoken  under  the  supposed  circumstances.  It  was 
the  same  with  characters  selected  from  Scripture,  from 
personal  observation,  and  general  history.  He  seemed 
to  have  strong  pleasure,  when  his  subject  led  to  it, 
in  whatever  was  terrible,  even  though  it  bordered 
sometimes  upon  extravagance ;  and  there  were  single 
passages  in  his  sermons,  which,  as  exhibitions  of  the 
more  violent  passions,  were  inferior  to  nothing  in  the 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  523 

whole  range  of  modern  pulpit  oratory.  He  shewed  ex- 
traordinary power  also,  as  has  been  noticed,  of  managing 
argument  in  sentences, — of  compressing  his  thoughts, 
like  Pope,  in  his  "Essay  on  Man,"  into  clauses  of  the 
most  energetic  brevity,  as  well  as  of  expanding  them 
into  passages  glittering — though  in  the  rough,  with 
every  ornament  calculated  to  captivate  the  general 
hearer.  Such  a  man,  it  would  not  be  unnatural  to 
conceive, — when  we  connect  with  his  native  energy, 
the  overwhelming  power  that  attended  his  ministry, 
would  have  been  a  fine  companion  in  open  field  with 
Luther ;  nor  is  it  at  all  derogatory  to  either  the 
birth  or  native  character  of  Luther, — his  learning  of 
course  unmixed  with  the  comparison,  to  have  another 
noble  creation  of  God  placed  by  his  side. 

There  is  a  passage  in  the  works  of  a  popular  author, 
on  the  least  fascinating  portion  of  Luther's  character, 
which — as  it  contains  some  points  of  similarity,  will 
produce  the  impression  that  the  writer  wishes  to  con- 
vey, and  so  form  an  apology  for  the  subject  in  question, 
— an  apology,  be  it  observed,  not  so  necessary  because 
of  any  positive  defect  in  the  subject  alluded  to,  as 
because  of  the  mistaken  views  of  others.  "Hitherto," 
the  author  observes,  "  the  too  common  idea  of  the 
great  Reformer's  character  has  been,  that  it  was  a  mere 
compound  of  violence  and  ruggedness.  These  traits 
have  been  made  so  prominent,  that  the  finer  lines  of  the 
portrait  have  been  completely  shaded  from  the  sight. 
If,  in  fact,  we  knew  nothing  of  Dr.  Johnson  but  his 
occasional  bursts  of  savage  and  vmcouth  manners,  we 
should  not  have  a  more  erroneous  impression  of  him 
than  is  generally  entertained  of  Luther.  Another 
reason  of  our  misconception  is,  that  we  too  often  honour 


524  MEMOIRS   OF 

mere  daintiness  of  mind  with  the  name  of  delicacy, 
sensibility,  humanity,  and  virtue;  whilst  the  rough 
exterior  and  the  passionate  expression,  smack  to  the 
taste  of  drawing-room,  fashionable  society,  whence 
opinions  are  usually  circulated,  only  of  brutality  and 
ferocity.  Perhaps,  however,  the  finest,  richest,  and 
most  generous  species  of  character  is  that  which  pre- 
sents to  the  dainty  the  most  repulsive  surface.  Within 
the  rough  rind  the  feelings  are  preserved  unsophis- 
ticated, robust  and  healthy.  The  rough  outside  keeps 
off  that  insidious  swarm  of  sensibilities,  which  taint, 
and  adulterate,  and  finally  expel  all  natural  and  vigorous 
emotions  from  within  us.  The  idea  of  a  perfect  man 
has  always  been  figured  forth  in  our  minds  by  the  em- 
blem of  the  lion  coming  out  of  the  lamb,  and  the  lamb 
coming  out  of  the  lion.  Of  this  description  of  charac- 
ter was  Luther.  Nothing  could  exceed  his  submissive- 
ness  and  humility  when  choice  was  left  him  whether  to 
be  humble  or  daring;  but  when  conscience  spoke,  no  other 
consideration  for  the  moment  was  attended  to,  and  he 
certainly  did  then  shake  the  forest  in  his  magnificent 
ire.  But  if  we  behold  him  one  moment,  to  use  his  own 
quotation  from  Scripture,  pouring  contempt  upon  princes, 
and  highly  raging  against  the  highest  upon  earth,  we 
see  him  the  next  in  his  familiar  correspondence,  a  poor, 
humble,  afflicted  man,  not  puffed  "up  with  pride  at  the 
great  things  he  had  accomplished,  but  rather  struck 
down  at  a  sense  of  his  unworthiness.  As  to  his  violence, 
it  was  part  of  his  mission  to  be  violent,  and  those  who 
charge  it  as  a  fault,  blame  Divine  Providence.  Not  to 
have  been  violent,  would  have  been  in  him  not  to  be  in 
earnest.  And  here  it  may  be  observed,  that  his  violence 
was  not  verbal ;  it  was  merely  the  rousing  voice  to 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  525 

awaken  Europe  from  the  lethargy  of  ages.  In  his 
opinions  and  views,  he  was  the  most  moderate  of  all 
reformers.  In  his  coarseness,  however,  his  low  origin 
certainly  speaks  out ;  yet  there  is  something  sublime  in 
the  peasant  (the  miner's  son)  dragging  popes,  and 
kings,  into  his  wrestling  ring,  and  handling  them  with 
as  much  roughness  and  as  little  ceremony  as  he  would 
a  hob-nailed  clown  from  a  country  market-place.  He 
was  moulded  by  the  hand  that  sent  him.  The  acci- 
dents of  this  world  had  no  power  to  change  or  modify 
his  moral  conformation.  There  was  a  oneness,  a  whole- 
ness, an  uncompoundedness  of  character  in  him.  The 
Divine  finger  had  chiselled  on  his  moral  frame  but  one 
idea — and  that  external  to  his  earthly  condition.  Hence 
was  begotten  the  simplicity  and  homeliness  of  Luther's 
walk  and  life.  Had  he  acted  the  great  man,  he  would 
have  proved  that  he  was  not  the  apostle." 

The  similarity  between  the  two  men, — the  son  of  the 
Isleben,  or  Saxon  Miner,  and  the  son  of  the  Yorkshire 
Colliery  Agent,  is  not,  as  already  intimated,  so  much  to 
be  seen  in  the  detail — in  the  filling  up — as  in  the  broad 
mass, — the  masculine  character  sustained  in  the  separate 
spheres  in  which  they  moved.  The  one  had  the  range 
of  Germany, — the  other,  England,  Ireland,  and  Wales ; 
the  one  had  to  do  with  princes  and  ecclesiastical 
dignitaries, — the  other  with  the  humbler  orders  of 
society  ;  the  one  had  to  uproot  error  in  the  church, — 
the  other  to  grapple  with  vice,  in  its  various  forms,  in 
the  world ;  the  times  of  the  one  were  of  the  most 
sombre  character, — those  of  the  other,  of  religious  light ; 
the  one  had  few  aids, —and  public  favour  was  on 
the  side  of  the  other :  but  like  Luther,  from  the  collo- 
quial cognomen  of  "  BILLY  "  in  his  own  neighbourhood, 


526  MEMOIRS    OF 

and  the  "YORKSHIRE  FARMER"  abroad,  an  air  of 
rusticity  was  thrown  around  his  character  which  did  not 
belong  to  it ;  and  from  the  mistaken  notions  of  others, 
who  never  entered  within  the  walls  of  a  Wesleyan 
chapel,  and  who  received  their  impressions  from  the  state- 
ments of  either  the  ignorant,  the  irreligious,  or  from  the 
burlesqued  accounts  of  the  profane,  he  dwindled  down 
into  the  character  of  a  plain  well-meaning  man,  —with 
something  of  fancy, — with  less  of  judgment, — whose 
popularity  arose  from  his  eccentricities, — the  thunder 
of  whose  power  was  merely  in  the  strength  of  his  voice, 
— and  whose  religion  was  enthusiastic  rant.  But  com- 
bined with  vast  power,  he  possessed,  beyond  all  ques- 
tion, the  greatest  degree  of  originality  of  any  of  his 
contemporaries  in  the  ministry.  His  genius  too,  was 
of  a  high  order — the  highest  in  the  body ;  but  it  was 
by  his  power  and  originality  that  he  was  principally 
distinguished.  In  Luther's  day,  and  in  Luther's  cir- 
cumstances, he  would  have  been  found,  vested  with  a 
Luther's  prowess,  and  armed  with  the  quailing  power 
comprised  in  some  of  the  best  and  most  condensed  of 
Luther's  replies.  Who,  but  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary mental  capacity,  could  have  given  birth  to  the 
conception,  or  would  have  been  ready  with  the  reply 
which  Mr.  Dawson  gave  to  the  question  respecting  the 
sublime  and  benevolent  object  of  Christian  Missions  ? 
"  Their  object,"  he  returned,  "is  no  other  than  that  of 
blocking  up  the  '  broad  icay ' — of  covering  it  over 
with  verdure — and  of  preventing  the  keen  eye  of  an 
archangel  from  seeing  so  much  as  the  print  of  a  human 
foot  upon  it."  This  was  reformation  on  a  much  more 
magnificent  scale,  an  object  much  more  sublime,  than 
Luther  ever  contemplated,  whose  object  was  not  so 


WILLIAM    DAWSON.  527 

much  the  conversion  of  the  world,  as  the  purification  of 
the  church. 

But  in  that  which  has  been  stated,  we  can  scarcely 
fail  to  perceive,  in  the  late  Mr.  William  Dawson,  the 
MAN,  the  CHRISTIAN,  and  the  MINISTER;  the  Man, 
who  was  an  honour  to  human  nature, — the  Christian, 
who  was  an  ornament  to  the  Church, — and  the  Minister, 
who,  in  Methodism,  whether  ancient  or  modern,  stood 
more  apart  from  his  brethren  than  almost  any  other 
preacher  for  the  peculiarity  of  his  genius,  and  the  bold, 
original,  and  successful  character  of  his  ministry — 
approaching  the  nearest  of  any  man  to  the  definition 
given  by  the  poor  countryman  of  the  celebrated  George 
Whitfield  as  a  preacher,  who,  in  reply  to  the  interroga- 
tory of  his  master  on  the  subject,  returned, — "  Preach, 
Sir !  He  preached  like  a  lion ;  "  a  metaphor  full  of  life, 
full  of  fire,  full  of  power,  full  of  majesty.  But  if  Mr. 
Dawson  preached  like  a  lion,  he  lived  like  a  lamb ;  and 
has  in  this  furnished  posterity  with  another  example  of 
a  "  perfect  man  " — as  far  as  perfection  can  be  attached 
to  the  human  character,  in  connexion  with  its  own 
peculiarities — "  the  Lion  coming  out  of  the  Lamb,  and 
the  Lamb  coming  out  of  the  Lion  " — bold,  yet  harmless, 
innocent,  inoffensive; — nay,  more,  a  blessing  to  his 
species; — thus  terminating  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
and  extraordinary  careers  in  the  history  of  the  lay 
ministry  of  Methodism,  at  the  close  of  its  first  trium- 
phant CENTENARY. 


FINIS. 


YORK  :— J.  COULTAS,    PRINTER. 


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