rendering some splendid harmony in Exeter Hall. His system of using seven numerals instead of syllables he adopted because he thought one process of mind in a singer simpler than two, and believed that the relation of a sound to its key-note was expressed by the figures 1 to 7 better than by seven syllables, do, ra, me, fa, sol, &c. In his earlier researches, as in his later scientific investigations, his one aim was to get at the truth in nature as God made it; and this is the aim of all real science. From the profits of the Parts I. and II. he published the third and fourth parts; but these have not come into use, nor his hymnals adapted to the tunes. A large and costly volume of 1,000 chants was engraved, but not published. Mr. Waite had all the spirit of a true philanthropist. He had a passion for doing good in the way he felt called and qualified. With a large heart and a genial temper, he had superior mental powers. He was a good man; he was also a great man. Many imagined him a musical enthusiast only, and knew not what a splendid mind he had, though they exclaimed, “What a splendid head!" His face was a fine picture of the man. His massive brow seemed made to be a noble dome of thought. Such a many-sided genius would have rendered him remarkable in anything else, no less than in "the service of song." He enjoyed society, and shone in conversation. His blindness made his quick insight into character surprising, but he had his [own way of reading people's hearts by the very tones of their voices. Gifted as many in his lot have been with memory, few can have equalled him. His feats of recollection have been deemed incredible. His memory seemed, like steel, to retain every scratch upon it, and never to forget anything. A chapter read over to him in a vestry he could repeat in the pulpit better than most could read it, for he brought out the spirit of it with a rare intonation. The 119th Psalm, with its 176 unconnected verses, was no difficulty to him. Who, however, but himself, has been capable of repeating every note in either part of the 100 tunes of his "Hallelujah,” Part I.? and how many, as they have heard him go through others, and detect errors in any one of his class, have said, "He is the most wonderful blind man we have ever seen!"

Qualified by such a memory, Mr. Waite was able to fulfil a mission impossible in his blindness without it, but with it he was helped rather than hindered, by his want of sight lending a peculiar interest and even wonder to the great faculties that triumphed over his infirmities. Needing little help in going about in strange carriages and houses, he was often thought to be only short-sighted, while many forgot he lived always in the dark. He liked to show how little his privation interfered with his happiness, and he was almost as independent as if his sight had not suffered "total eclipse." He was borne up by noble Christian motives in helping the Churches of his Saviour to sing more as they ought to do for their own benefit, as well as for attracting the world. Others published books, but he went down into the arena, bravely meeting any opponent, and ready for any hard work. Glad to hear of any good arising from his efforts, yet in

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long journeys among strangers, and lonely silent hours, he was cheered by the Voice that was above every voice to him, saying, "Occupy till I come." And so he did occupy as long as he could, until his journeys were interrupted by a heavy trial.

In 1862, while away from home at a distant town, in the middle of a course of lectures, he was summoned back to the bedside of his youngest son, Frederic Wills Waite, a youth of remarkable promise, devoted to the ministry, who died within twenty-four hours of his father's arrival. The mainspring of action was enfeebled by the shock; and, with less strength, he clung more to home, to duties in the neighbourhood, and to studies in his favourite science that might be turned to some account in the same good cause. Of these researches into God's great natural scale of sound, as he liked to call it, no description can be given here, nor of the marvellous store of vibrations, ratios, and chords laid up in his memory, while affection drew his faith and imagination to "thoughts that wander through eternity," in holding communion with the unseen spirit world to which his gifted son had gone. These speculations, with a few intervening visits, were, however, brought to a close by a similar trial in last September, when he was deeply touched by the death of another son, who had been a constant companion and a peculiar comfort to him. Slow to believe he should lose him, he bowed meekly to the Divine will; and at the grave, when the burial was over, calming himself by a strong effort of faith, he said, "Now, dear friends, will you join with me in singing to the tune 'Dundee' the verse

'Give me the wings of faith, to rise

Within the veil, and see

The saints above, how great their joys,

How bright their glories be!'"

The bereavement was followed by great prostration, though he dictated a letter of much cheerful resignation, and of intense interest in the laws of sound, which he believed God had made to last for ever in a range for our mind to think on, far beyond the reach of our senses. Going, for change, to the house of his beloved daughter at Tetbury, he revived so much as to preach once more for his son-in-law, the Rev. G. Slater, and uttered some grand views on the will of God, in its infinite and eternal nature, reaching down to the smallest affairs of His children. His rallying was, however, of short duration; and, having had a slight attack of paralysis in the spring, the return of similar symptoms made it necessary for him to be taken home on Friday, the 23rd of October. On Saturday he was weaker, yet no one thought his end was near but himself. His son and daughter were written to, and it was hoped they would see him on Monday, but in this last satisfaction they were doomed to painful disappointment. His mind dwelt much on the great mercies he had been favoured with, and he told his attendant he had had the happiness of any ten men. During the last night he expressed delightful views of his heavenly Father's perfec

VOL. V.-NEW SERIES.

H

tions, and of the Friend he would soon see face to face, with many loved ones gone before him, breaking out with joy in the words

"There shall I see, and hear, and know,

All I desired or wished below."

The Lord's Day dawned on him with a sweet foretaste of the everlasting Sabbath in his heart, leading him to exclaim, "As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness. In the afternoon he turned to his beloved wife, begging her to "remember, I die trusting alone on the Lord Jesus Christ." About four o'clock he experienced a difficulty in breathing, which gradually increased until five o'clock, when he repeated the verse, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." Beginning another promise, he ceased to breathe, and the shadow was left behind for ever. With the setting sun, his spirit went to shine in a better land, and to see the glory with eyes that will be dim no more.

At his funeral, a procession of two hundred of the clergy, ministers, gentlemen, and tradesmen of Hereford, paid the last tribute of respect, when an able address was given by the Rev. J. O. Hill. The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. H. M. Gunn in the large Corn Exchange, as none of the free churches could hold the number wishing to attend. Warminster.

H. M. GUNN.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.
Quarterly Record.

By universal consent, IRELAND is, at the present moment, occupying the foremost place in the solicitudes and consultations of statesmen and politicians. Ought she not to have the chief place in the anxious thoughts, the earnest efforts, the generous contributions, of all true Christians? When the facts of the case are more widely known, the Committee of the Irish Evangelical Society believe that the efforts they are putting forth to meet the crisis so obviously and so nearly impending in that country's spiritual and ecclesiastical position, will be sympathised with and supported, with an energy and liberality unknown before. Never was the help of British Christians so imperatively needed for Ireland; and never were the prospects of such help being fruit

ful and prosperous so certain as now. It is earnestly hoped that all who read these pages will aid the Committee in that larger and constantly enlarging work, to which they feel that, by the providence of God, they are called.

THE NEW EVANGELISTIC AGENCY.

The friends of the Society will be gratified to know that Mr. Church, the general evangelist recently appointed to labour throughout the province of Ulster, is meeting with much encouragement in his labours. A valued ministerial brother in Belfast writes: "I wish to say a word about Mr. Church. He is working hard; and, under all the circumstances, his work is prospering. He has preached and lectured in the principal towns

around us, and I have received good happy here and hereafter. I delight accounts of his meetings."