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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1876.

MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN CARTER,

OF GILLINGHAM:

BY THE REV. ROBERT S. ELLIS.

THE late MR. JOHN CARTER, of Gillingham, near Rochester, will long be remembered by many as a venerable Christian. At the time of his decease, in December, 1869, he had nearly reached the advanced age of eighty-six, having been for about three score years and ten a devoted servant of Christ, and a consistent member of the Methodist Society. In his later life, especially, he was a beautiful example of Christian holiness,-truly "a man of God;" reverent, serene, benignant, and cheerful. To the very end his fine intellect was clear and vigorous, and his noble countenance radiant with wisdom and kindness. After a protracted course of honourable industry, as well as of domestic care and frequent affliction, he spent the bright and peaceful evening of life in a quiet rural home, among much-loved relatives and friends, yet often longing to be with the Lord Jesus. To look upon the holy, happy patriarch was a reviving sight; and to spend a little time with him in Christian fellowship was a blessed privilege, improving to the heart, and encouraging to faith and hope. Beyond the circle of his friends, and even of Methodism, he was greatly respected for his unblemished integrity, amiable disposition, and unobtrusive benevolence; and when at length he passed to his heavenly rest, his death was generally lamented in the neighbourhood, and throughout the Rochester Circuit, as a great bereavement. Some particulars of the career of one so eminently good may be both interesting and useful.

Mr. Carter was born at Lenham, Kent, in the year 1784. As a youth he was apprenticed to a business in the town of Brompton. Here he attended the Methodist chapel; and when about seventeen years of age he was powerfully awakened to a sense of his guilt and danger, and some weeks afterwards, while engaged in private prayer, found "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." There was, indeed, after a while, a brief relapse into sin, which he never ceased to deplore; but, excepting this, he maintained a steadfast and consistent profession.

VOL. XXII.-FIFTH SERIES.

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Mr. Carter soon became a zealous and active worker for Christ. Every true convert feels an instinctive longing to lead others to the Saviour. Having drunk of the fountain of life, he becomes himself, while he lives in the Spirit, a channel of blessing; thus realising the fulfilment of the Saviour's promise: "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." He feels also that, as a servant of the Lord Jesus, he is bound to labour for the interests of His kingdom. Accordingly, young Carter sought and found opportunities of doing good. He joined others of like spirit in conducting cottage prayer-meetings; and these young men, not content with diffusing the light of life in neglected streets of the town, frequently walked on the Lord's day to distant villages to hold prayer-meetings, which, in several instances, led to the erection of Methodist chapels.

Being warmly attached to children, who, at that period. were rarely brought under religious instruction, but spent the Sabbath in frolic and wickedness, Mr. Carter devoted himself to the raising of a Sunday school at Gillingham, to which place he walked from Brompton every Sunday for many years. This school was established in 1820; it was the first in Kent, and among the first in the country. The success which attended it, and the benefits which it diffused, are well known in the neighbourhood; and the high character which it attained under the judicious and zealous management of its founder, it still retains. Many now in the prime of life bear willing testimony to the moral and spiritual good which they received there. 66 Among the sweetest recollections of my early life," says a highly respected Local-preacher and Class-leader, “are the kind admonitions of Mr. Carter, given to me and others when I was a boy in Gillingham Sunday-school; for it pleased God to give His dear servant a wise and winning way of penetrating into the hearts of children." During his declining years, this venerable man evinced the most affectionate interest in the prosperity of this school.

As a class-leader, likewise, Mr. Carter was eminently successful. Being deeply pious, "fervent in spirit," well versed in Holy Scripture, of a gentle and affectionate disposition, and, at the same time, discriminating and judicious, he was singularly qualified for this important office. During forty years he conscientiously discharged its duties; and it is impossible to estimate the influence which he exerted in forming the religious character of a large number of persons who belonged to his classes. When the infirmities of age unfitted him to look after those who met with him, he showed his good sense, as well as his regard for the cause of Christ, by requesting that younger and more active persons might undertake

the grave responsibility and labour. It was his conviction, that while years mature gifts and wisdom for this high office, they also, after a certain point is reached, abate the vivacity and energy necessary to efficiency and success. Holding this view he retired, with characteristic amiability, to the position of a private member when his bodily weakness admonished him that others could be more useful; and from that time, until illness confined him to his house, no one was more constant and punctual than he in attendance at the class-meeting.

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Mr. Carter was "zealously affected" in every "good thing." Anxious to enlarge Christ's kingdom, and to save souls, he was ready for "every good word and work." As a Tract-distributor, collector for missions, Trustee of chapels, and Society-steward, he faithfully and heartily discharged every duty. His life was rich in good works; and in old age he was honoured for his manifold services, the blessed fruit of which remains, while the faith that prompted and sustained them will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." One instance of his self-sacrificing devotedness to the cause of God deserves particular record. Many years ago, when he was a missionary collector, and when the Mission Fund was in an extremely straitened condition, he accompanied one of the Circuit ministers to ask a contribution from a rich gentleman in the neighbourhood, although they believed that he had very little regard for the Methodists. He seemed to take no interest in the Mission work, and to think it unworthy of his support; "but," he said, evincing his sympathy with our departed friend, who was well known to have then suffered heavy losses in business, "I will give you five pounds, Mr. Carter." "Well," was the prompt and cheerful reply, "I will take it if you will allow me to do what I like with it." The gift was received, and appropriated to the Missions. His self-respect and manly feeling would have recoiled from asking, or accepting, alms, while he had brain and muscle to provide for himself; but he had a noble solicitude for the work of God, and he was never ashamed of begging, nor reluctant to travel far, in order to raise money for Missions or chapels.

Although Mr. Carter was never a wealthy man, he, for many years, systematically relieved the poor. In old age, and with a comparatively small income, he rigidly maintained habits of frugality and self-denial, in order that he might minister to their necessities; and he did this so secretly and considerately that few know the extent of his liberality to the indigent and afflicted. While on his dying bed, and only a few hours before his departure, he sent for some of his poor neighbours, and gave them acceptable

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