of the scriptures into them, and teaching the people to read their own language. However a great deal of this preparatory work is now accomplished. We keep our press engaged in printing translations and original books, and our schools have raised up a great number of leaders, so that we trust a great work will soon result. Within the Colony we have many very interesting congregations consisting of British Settlers, besides several large native congregations,-the British Settlers in this Colony succeed very well, many who were pennyless when they reached the shores of Africa, are now persons of considerable wealth. THE POWER AND BENEFITS OF RELIGION. IN 1827, when stationed in the West Indies, a venerable old Class-Leader often attracted my notice, especially in our love feasts. Though far advanced in years, and past manual labour, there was in him a vigour of mind, when engaged in the things of God, which seemed to give new life and activity to the body. On those occasions, his eyes glistened; his hands were lifted towards heaven, or clasped upon his breast; his tongue moved as the pen of a ready writer; his soul appeared wishful to escape from its earthly tenement, and to be clothed upon with its house in heaven. Never were the words of Solomon more strikingly exemplified, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." The owner of this slave kindly permitted us to preach on his estate on Sabbath evenings. Himself and family, though professed members of the Episcopal Church, favoured us with their attendance; and every encouragement was given the people to attend. I have often been gratified with the number in attendance, and with the mutual good wishes and kind inquiries which have passed between the master and his slaves. On one occasion the gentleman spoke to me of this old man. "That," said he, "is a good man. I would not lose him from the property on any consideration. He has a numerous family of children, whom he has brought up in religious and industricus habits; taking them to chapel, teaching them to read, and encouraging them to labour. Many of them are members of your society, are comfortably married, and are now bringing up their children in the same way: so that by his exertions I have a number of excellent individuals. He is also of great service to some others; for they look to him as a father; and what he says to them has great weight.' Many kind offices done to the aged slave confirmed this testimony, proving that he was highly esteemed by the master and family. One may be mentioned. When one of our Preachers left the island, on a special occasion, to visit Tortola, fears were entertained that the vessel was lost. There was much distress on the account, and especially among the people of our charge. This old man was deeply affected. In a few days the Preacher unexpectedly landed. His master happened to be on his way to the town, when one told him of the Preacher's arrival. Immediately he turned his horse, and rode back with all speed to communicate to Cyrus the joyful tidings that his Minister was yet alive. Such an instance reminds one of the pleasing narratives of condescension and goodness recorded in the Gospels. I was informed that so long as this slave was able to ride, he was furnished with a horse, to carry him to the chapel on the Sabbath-day. The master and his slave are now numbered with the dead. The slave lies in our chapel-yard, with an humble stone, recording his name and age. The other is entombed in the church burial-ground adjoining. This that they have done is told for a memorial of them. JONATHAN CADMAN. POETRY. MR. EDITOR The following verses from the pen of James Montgomery, Esquire, appeared in the Saturday Magazine, for May, 1839; as they have been made a blessing to me who have been long deprived of the ordinances of the sauctuary through affliction; I send them for insertion in the Magazine, (should they meet your approval) in hopes of their being the means of raising the heads of others who may be similarly situated WATERBOROUGH, (Q. C.) Nov. 1, 1841. THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. Thousands O Lord of hosts! this day They see thy power and glory there, As I have seen them too; [prayer, They read, they hear, they join in As I was wont to do. They sing thy deeds, as I have sung, In sweet and solemn lays; For thou art in the midst, to teach,. I, of such fellowship bereft, Oh! hast thou not a blessing left? L. A. W. The dew lies thick on all the ground, Behold thy prisoner; loose my bonds, Behold thy prisoner still. I may not, to thy courts repair, To faith, reveal the things unseen; Oh! make thy face on me to shine, BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN WESLEYAN METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR FEBRUARY, 1842. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. STEPHEN CANFIELD, BY THE REV. JAMES BUCKLEY. WALLACE, as a Circuit, has been included in the Mission Field for above half a century. Here many of the faithful servants of God endured much fatigue, while with indefatigable effort they sowed the precious seed of the gospel, and confidently looked for the early and latter rain. And while this Circuit was favoured with a succession of men, whose hearts were imbued with glowing zeal for God and yearning pity for their fellow men, they were signally owned by the Great Head of the church, and not allowed to labour in vain, nor spend their strength for nought. Many were the glorious out-pourings of the Spirit, experienced at different times in this Circuit; and in connexion with these visitations of the Spirit, many precious souls were brought into the glorious liberty of the gospel. The first Society was formed in this place in 1792, by the Rev. William Grandine. Those who were brought to God through his instrumentality, in general, continued steadfast. Of those who are deceased it may be said, in life they were devoted to God and in death they triumphed; and of those who was eminent among his fellows, for his devotedness and stability in the service of his Maker, and happy death, was the late Mr. Stephen Canfield, in regard to whom it is my design to offer a few remarks. The late Mr. Stephen Canfield was born in Bedford, in the State of New York, in 1752, where he continued until the commencement VOL. II. First Series. FEB. 1842. E of the American Revolution, in 1775; when anxious to support the authority of the British Crown, he enrolled himself in the militia, and was quartered at Maurice Cove. Having during the war vigorously exerted himself to promote the interest of British principles, the year after the establishment of the American Independence (1783) he left the States, and on the fifteenth of June, landed in Westmorland, a County of New Brunswick; he went from this to Amherst, where he continued the ensuing winter, but in the spring of eighty-four, he removed to Wallace, then called Ramshag. This part of the Province, when Mr. Canfield came to it, was not only almost, if not altogether, in a wilderness state, but it was destitute of the gospel. For eight years after his settlement in Wallace, it had but one visit from a minister of the gospel; and that was from one belonging to the Baptist denomination. It might truly be said, "the word of the Lord was precious in those days." While the inhabitants of Wallace and the adjacent settlements were destitute of the ministry of the gospel, folly and iniquity abounded; the prophet's declaration was applicable, "darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the hearts of the people." However the time of their gracious visitation drew near. The Lord, who is rich in mercy, directed the footsteps of the Rev. Mr. Grandine to this place, in the early part of the winter of 1792; he preached in the evening of the day he arrived, and it is worthy of remark, that the people who attended his ministry were intending to have a ball that evening, and in the very house where he dispensed the gospel. Under the first sermon delivered by Mr. Grandine the Lord began powerfully to operate on the minds of the people, their attention was excited, and the minister's expectations were raised; day after day the people crowded together to hear the word of life, and almost every service, for months, was graciously owned of God in the comfort and establishment of believers, in the liberation of penitents, and in melting the sinner's obdurate heart. Thus God began and carried on a glorions revival of religion that extended far and wide, embracing all classes and ages. In this revival Mr. Canfield experienced redemption in the Saviour's blood, the forgiveness of his sins; he was made unspeakably happy in the love of God. Then he could say with the evangelical prophet, “O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Little is known of the exercises of Mr. Canfield's mind when he commenced his religious career, or of the circumstances attendant upon his conversion; but from what he was accustomed to state in the relation of his experience, we may conclude that he did not enter upon the service of God by profession, without duly counting the cost. He was frequently heard to say, "When I set out for heaven, it was with a determination, by the grace of God, to hold out to the end: the prize is only for them that endure to the end." He was a man who cherished the most cordial affection for his christian brethren; he delighted in their company, and loved to converse of the things of God. As a christian he maintained decision of character: refusing to compromise matters with the world, he took up the cross cheerfully, and was ready, when it was called for, in whatever company, to express his attachment to Christ, and his identity with the people called Methodists. He had in general, a lively sense of the greatness of God, and of his obligations to his beneficent benefactor; hence the language of gratitude dwelt upon his lips. His affability rendered his society interesting, and his piety as manifested in his conversation, edified the christian, and led the carnal mind to confess he was a good man. Nothing delighted Mr. Canfield more than the prosperity of the cause of God; he was concerned for the salvation of those who were related to him, as also for his neighbours, and indeed for all with whom he had any intercourse; he was a faithful attendant upon the afflicted, and by suiting his prayers and conversation to the state of those who were called to drink the cup of affliction, he strove to alleviate their sufferings, to raise their minds to God, and inspire them with cheerful resignation to the divine will, from a full conviction of the benevolence of his designs. He not only strove to promote the interests of the church by co-operating with the ambassadors of the cross and the people of God in the means of grace, but in a pecuniary way he was liberal to the utmost of his ability. By his frugality and perseverance, he acquired considerable property, and so had it in his power to be friend the cause in general, and the ministers of the gospel, in those days, in particular. When this part of the Province first became a circuit, few places were open, or at all fit, to afford any thing like comfortable accommodations for the Missionary appointed. However at Mr. Canfield's hospitable dwelling he always met a cordial reception. Here in succession, the Rev. Messrs. Payne, Miller, Snowball and Richey, boarded during their appointment to the circuit; and all these gentlemen acknowledged the unwearied attention and persevering efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Canfield and family to promote their happiness and usefulness on the circuit. For more than twenty years he acted as Society Steward, and although it required not a little time and labour, yet he cheerfully performed his part, from a |