WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1851. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE REV. STEPHEN BAMFORD, OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA: BY THE REV. WILLIAM BURT. THERE is a solemn pleasure in the review of scenes and friendships belonging to former days. It teaches, moreover, the shortness of human life: it reminds us that many of our highly-esteemed friends are gone, and that we ourselves are at no great distance from the world of spirits. Our Christian duty requires us to preserve "the memory of the just." The Holy Ghost sets the example in the pages of the word of God. The benefit of the living, and the triumphs of Divine grace, are intimately concerned. Proof of the truth and power of the doctrines preached among us is multiplied in sound conversions, rich Christian experience, and the triumphant deaths of many who were once with us, but are now with the "cloud of witnesses" before the throne. The Rev. Stephen Bamford, late Missionary in British North America, was born near Nottingham, in the year 1770. Little is known of his family, or of his own early history. About the usual age he was apprenticed to a manufacturer in his own neighbourhood, and he was now exposed to many hardships and privations. Being at that time without God, he was too high-minded to bear them, and he left his master. After some wanderings and difficulties, he enlisted in the 29th regiment of Foot. Mr. Bamford was a man of considerable talent, and of genius peculiarly his own. He was passionately fond of music, which soon gave him an introduction to the band of the regiment,-a position which he creditably retained during the whole of his military life. He saw considerable service, and was exposed to many dangers in the army. In 1793 we find him with the Duke of York in Holland, where there was much fighting. After successes followed by disasters, he embarked with his regiment for the West Indies. In one of the famous naval engagements which at this period signalised British skill, and (above all) showed the favour of Providence toward our beloved country, the corps to which he belonged acted as Marines. He was also at the taking of some of the West India islands, and was once severely wounded in the breast by a musket-ball, which nearly cost him his life. On the day alluded to he seized the musket of a VOL. VII.-FOURTH SERIES. 3 м hesitating soldier,* approached the breast-work of the enemy, discharged his piece, and was shot in return for his temerity. He used often to refer to the kind providence of God in preserving his life on that most perilous occasion, when he was utterly unprepared to die. He was subsequently called to take part in quelling the Irish rebellion in 1798,-a difficult and harassing service, during which his regiment, in one memorable instance, saved the lives of many Protestants, and effectually repulsed the cruel rebel leaders. In 1799 he married a truly excellent woman, who continued to adorn her profession, and proved a great blessing to her husband. The particulars of his conversion cannot be now minutely detailed. It appears that he first heard the Wesleyan Ministers in Ireland, became truly concerned for his soul, and, forming an acquaintance with one who also feared God, soon became confirmed in the faith of Christ, and "obtained mercy.' The reality and fruits of this blessed change were soon evident. He became anxious for the conversion of his comrades, and sought opportunity to instruct and exhort them. For this he often suffered violent persecution, until his integrity and the purity of his motives secured for him the favour of many among his companions in arms. About the year 1802 the 29th regiment was stationed at PlymouthDock. Mr. Bamford had already become a zealous and useful Local Preacher. Here he was greatly assisted and encouraged by the Rev. Samuel Bradburn, then stationed in the Circuit. Of this he frequently spoke, during his subsequent life, in terms of high admiration. for that celebrated Minister. It was here also that the writer first saw him. His labours as a Local Preacher were greatly owned of God. After he left England with his regiment for Nova-Scotia, the writer altogether lost sight of him until the year 1816, when called into the Missionary work himself, and stationed at Newport, NovaScotia. In that year Mr. Bamford was stationed in Horton and Windsor, an adjoining Circuit. Here some of the scenes of former days were recalled in the most vivid and pleasing light. Mr. Bamford well remembered the little boy who had been led by the hand of his father to hear the soldier preach. It is scarcely needful to say that a deep and lively friendship immediately followed, which, though now interrupted by death, will, I trust, be renewed in the kingdom of heaven. Arriving in Halifax, he continued his zealous labours, and became in the best sense popular. When the excellent friends in that place had ascertained his worth, his discharge from the army was obtained; and in 1806 he received his first appointment as a Missionary. To the Rev. William Black, who may be justly called the apostle of NovaScotia, and who had come to England, not many years before, to obtain an increase of Missionaries, it was no common joy to find the * His own account is, that, in the day of battle, "a great coward threw down his musket, and ran away;" on which he "immediately took it up, fired it at the enemy, and was shot in the breast in return." number of zealous labourers increasing in the country which he had adopted as his own, and in which his personal exertions had been crowned with eminent success. It is delightful to add, that the descendants of that venerable man, still in the province, are among the most zealous supporters of Christ's cause. The sphere of Mr. Bamford's labours being now greatly enlarged, he proved himself earnest and useful in the Lord's vineyard. In 1810 it was arranged that he should go to the United States, to receive ordination at the hands of Bishop Asbury. Mr. Bamford was greatly pleased with the simplicity, piety, and affection of the Bishop, who at once called his little family together to congratulate the "Englishman" on his safe arrival, and to set bread before him. The request for ordination, as contained in the documents presented to the Bishop, was readily complied with. After the solemnity, Mr. Bamford returned to preach the word and to administer the sacraments to the scattered population of Nova-Scotia. Many extensive settlements were scarcely ever visited by any other Minister than the Wesleyan. The benefit of these wide-spread Missions will appear in the great day. A provision has been made for our own small but increasing churches; but many miscellaneous emigrants have been also pointed to a home and to religious ordinances in the wilderness; while the word of life has been preached to multitudes of other Christian denominations, deprived in a distant land of their own ordinances. About this time we find Mr. Bamford leaving the beautiful little fishing-town of Liverpool, where he had laboured with considerable success. He parted from his friends there with a heavy heart. His next appointment, in 1811, was to the city of St. John, New-Brunswick, where we have long had a most affectionate and flourishing Society. Here the Lord was indeed with him, and gave him much favour in the eyes of the people. The old inhabitants used to describe the rugged and forest-like appearance of the site on which a great part of the city now stands, and the joyous welcome which greeted those servants of God who visited the infant community, to show unto them the way of salvation. Now the "little one has become a thousand." One Circuit, which then had but one considerable chapel, has been divided into three. "What hath God wrought!" Mr. Bamford left St. John, in 1813, for Cumberland, quite a country Circuit. Here were many families from Yorkshire, some of whom had known Methodism in England, and were prepared now to receive the word most gladly. Not a few profited by his ministry, and their affection for him caunot soon be forgotten. Before the Missionaries visited this part, Mr. Wells, a Local Preacher, used to call his neighbours together to hear the tidings of salvation. Here in those days the Rev. William Black was convinced of sin, went into the woods to cry to God, and found peace in believing. Beginning to exhort his neighbours also, Mr. Black wrote to Mr. Wesley on the subject, and was appointed, in 1786, as a Missionary to Nova-Scotia,-the station then including New-Brunswick also. In this arrangement our venerable Founder was, doubtless, directed by the Spirit of God.— What was long called the Cumberland Circuit now embraces the Circuits of Sackville, Point-De-Bute, and Petitcodiac. The first of these places calls to mind the eminent liberality of C. F. Allison, Esq., the founder of the Wesleyan Academy, Mount Allison, Sackville, New-Brunswick, which has commanded the attention and aid of the Legislature of Nova-Scotia and New-Brunswick.* Do our friends at home love Methodism? So do those on the foreign stations. Is the cause of Christ liberally supported here? So it is where the Missionaries have laboured. True religion exerts its own blessed influence in every place. In 1816 the Minutes of Couference report Mr. Bamford at St. Stephen's; but his Circuit was Horton, Nova-Scotia, (as before stated,) where his orderly and persevering labours were held in high esteem by the people. In 1817 he was appointed to the city of St. John, New-Brunswick, for the second time; and the writer to Fredericton, about ninety-five miles up the river St. John. While thus associated, we had opportunity of intercourse, which was truly spiritual, and, it is believed, profitable also both to ourselves and to the people. On one occasion the stormy weather, and especially the great accumulation of snow, had prevented his coming to Fredericton at the time appointed; but, as soon as he could, he forced his way thither, and arrived soon after my departure for the Nashwaak, where the old 42d regiment had been disbanded after the American war. (There God had poured out His Holy Spirit, and a neat, commodious chapel had been erected.) The piercing cold was followed by a most extensive thaw, and, all travelling being on the rivers during the wintermonths, the roads on land were not kept open. In this state of things I had to urge my way down the stream of the Nashwaak, the water frequently above the knees of my horse, and filling the vehicle in which I rode. In due time, however, the animal placed his feet on the firmer ice of the river St. John, perhaps six feet thick. The danger over, I spent a short time in returning thanks to Almighty God for the deliverance, and soon crossed the river to Fredericton, where I found my brother Bamford anxiously waiting for me. an opportunity of affectionate greeting was welcome indeed. Such During one of these visits he found a regiment of the line in the town of Fredericton; and, as many of the soldiers were friendly, and some of them religious, we opened our chapel for a special service on their account. It fell to the lot of Mr. Bamford to preach to them on a Sabbath afternoon. The chapel was well filled, and the conduct of the soldiers was orderly. The Preacher ascended the pulpit, and was overpowered with the recollection of former times, awakened by the sight. He found relief in a flood of tears; and then, referring to occasions when imminent peril had not produced such emotion, he observed, "I knew a man that would not turn upon his heel to save * See Missionary Paper, March, 1849. |