Page images
PDF
EPUB

and some are positively injurious.

We also concede, that it would be impracticable and useless to publish the life of every good man, or even minister, who may have faithfully "served his generation by the will of God." There is such an undeniable sameness in the general features of the history and character of most pious persons, that to read the life of one would be to read the lives of many. A few histories of such ordinary-good people, perhaps, is enough.

While, however, this is admitted, it must be maintained, there are others whose mental constitution and talents—whose religious character and usefulness— or the circumstances of whose history, are altogether so remarkable as to constitute an exception. Such an exception, if his piety and endowments are considered, we humbly conceive, was the youthful subject of this biographical sketch.

These considerations, joined to the request of his brethren, have influenced the Editor of these papers to undertake his present task. A work on which he enters with the sincerest diffidence; not only from its being to him an untried department, but from the fact, that the most important of all materials for such a production, namely, a private diary or journal, is wanting. The only personal record left by the deceased was the dates of a few important events connected with his natural and religious life, on a detached piece of paper not four inches square. As a substitute for this, however, it is but just to say,

that his biographer has been furnished with a short connected history from his bereaved father; and also a written communication from each of the other two superintendents with whom he laboured during the short but brilliant and useful period of his itinerancy, expressive of their views of his character and of his labours while associated with them in the work of the ministry. Of the sentiments, and sometimes words, of these valuable productions, he has availed himself as occasion required. After all, it is with extreme distrust, that he submits his lucubrations to the public. Still, humbly confident of the purity of his motives, and the goodness of his subject, he is not without hope, that, in answer to earnest and oft-repeated prayer, the Divine Being will make it a blessing, in prompting some at least to imitate the virtues of this youthful saint. This object gained, the author will rest satisfied and thankful.

The plan of the work adopted by the writer has been, to consider, his early history; his conversion, and incipent efforts to be useful; his itinerant life and labours; and his sickness and death-with a review of his mental and moral character.

THE

STRIPLING PREACHER, &c.

EARLY HISTORY.

ALEXANDER STURGEON BYRNE, the subject of this memoir, was the son of the Rev. CLAUDIUS BYRNE, who was for about twenty-four years a laborious and useful minister of Christ, in connexion with the Irish Wesleyan Conference, and who at the present time is exercising his ministry in Canada in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The younger Byrne was also born in Ireland, in the town of Dungannon, County Tyrone, which event transpired, June 20th, A. D. 1832. He was called at his baptism, after the Rev. Alexander Sturgeon, his maternal grandfather, who was for many years a highly esteemed and useful Wesleyan Minister in Ireland. As he was descended from a pious stock, and the immediate son of exemplary, pious parents, so also there was something remarkable in his history and character from his birth. His very introduction into the world was attended by circumstances corresponding with his after-holy life, and which go to show, that the blessing of Jehovah is bestowed upon those that acknowledge him. What we refer to shall be stated in the words of his father." A

few hours after his birth, the late venerable Gideon Ousley, who happened to be passing through the town, called to see the family; and was introduced into the apartment where the mother and babe were lying. After making remarks which had reference to the goodness of God in mercifully preserving life in the hour of nature's sorrow, and the joy' permitted mothers 'when a man-child is born into the world,' he kneeled down, and devoutly returned thanks to the Father of Mercies for her safe delivery; at the same time, participating in our feelings as parents, he dedicated our darling one to Him in whom we live and move, and have our being."

even

From so auspicious a birth-day scene, we are not surprised to learn, from the same source, that “ in helpless infancy, he was remarkable for the placidity of his disposition, and long before he could articulate, his manner of taking notice of objects around was indicative of a mind of more than ordinary promise." Nor does it appear that these early buddings of intellect were left by his truly assiduous parents to unfold themselves in an unpropitious moral atmosphere; but on the contrary, every effort was made to direct his precociously active and inquiring mind to things saered and divine. And if a similar course were pursued by parents in general, similar results, so far as piety is concerned, would be usually witnessed.

His parents, with a right appreciation of their obligations to their covenant God, to whom they had dedicated their child in baptism, introduced him, from the time he was able to profit by them in the smallest degree, to all the services of the Christian church, and to those social means also which are peculiar to the denom

« PreviousContinue »