evidence of much old and recent disease. It is not wonderful, then, that health declined, with so much damage to an important organ like the liver; and that life was extinguished with new, added to old, disease of the brain; or that treatm.ent could no longer be of any avail."

Mr. Rose was buried in Woolwich Cemetery, and in the same grave with his honoured parents; his pastor, Mr. Teall, conducting the service. The funeral was attended by all the deacons of Queen-street Chapel, and many other friends; and his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Teall on Sunday evening, November 13th, from the words, "In my Father's house are many mansions (John xiv. 2).

The crowds of persons who attended this service clearly evinced the fact that a neighbour and a man of God of great worth had gone to his rest; and while everyone tried to feel, as well as to say, "The will of the Lord be done," still the conviction could not be suppressed that the Church of Christ can but ill spare, and that too at forty

A

MAN of mark has passed awayone of those stalwart-framed, independent-minded, conscientious, and intelligent men whose individuality impresses itself upon the national character. The BAPTIST MAGAZINE, as the organ of that section of the Church of Christ to which he belonged, is the most fitting place for some memorials of his life and character.

Mr. Buckland was born at Wraysbury, September 5, 1798, in the house in which he afterwards lived and died; and, from the tombstones of Wraysbury Churchyard, it appears that his ancestors, for generations past, were substantial yeomen of that interesting locality, of which it may be well to note that Runnymede lies on the opposite side of the River Thames; but in the river itself is the

little island where Magna Charta was sealed by King John, and this island is in the parish of Wraysbury.

While he was at school at Camberwell, in 1812, his father died, leaving six children, of whom he was the youngest, to the loving care of his true-hearted mother.

In 1820

He left school in July of the following year, having received a good sound English education. His apprenticeship, near Reading, was a hard bondage, of which he spoke often in remembrance of its bitterness; but from this he was liberated at the end of three years. he became a freeman of the city of London, and commenced business on Holborn-bridge. To this home he brought his young wife. It was a marriage of the purest affection, and their mutual love was the charm of their dwelling for more than fifty years. Four sons and six daughters eventually grew up," like olive-plants, round about their table," all of whom are still living, and several of them are also blessed with sons and daughters.

In 1823 he went to live at Hammersmith, and here it was that the secret workings of the Holy Spirit upon his mind produced outward results. For nearly nine years, ever since he had heard a sermon preached by Dr. Leifchild, he had experienced religious impressions, but hitherto they had borne no fruit. Brought up in the communion of the Church of England, he had endeavoured to rest satisfied with that indefiniteness of Christian experience which her formularies encourage; but, having become an attendant at the Baptist chapel where the Rev. Thomas Uppadine ministered, he, in 1824, fully gave his heart to God, and being baptized by that pastor, he joined this Church, with the full determination to serve and honour his Lord and Saviour.

Hitherto, notwithstanding his strict attention to business, and the might with which he had done everything that he had found for his hand to do, his worldly prosperity had been but small; but henceforth a gracious providence attended his steps, and he became, through life, an example of the truth (1 Sam. ii. 30), "them that honour God He will honour."

In February, 1826, he returned to Wraysbury, to the house and farm which his father had held, and here he remained until his removal to heaven. Here, as the years rolled on, his skill as a farmer, under the Divine blessing, filled his barns with plenty; while his well-known ability, integrity, and uprightness as a land-valuer, surveyor, and auctioneer, procured him very extensive engagements at Windsor and throughout the surrounding neighbourhood. Increase of wealth and social position made no alteration in him in the matter of the law of God. He never bowed the knee to Baal, nor desired to frame any excuse for worshipping in the house of Rimmon. Uncompromising fidelity to God and to the truths of His Gospel distinguished him through life.

On his settling down at Wraysbury, he found the moral and spiritual condition of the villagers to be in a deplorable state. The only place of worship was the parish church, the vicar of which resided at a distance. Like sheep without a shepherd, the people wandered far from God, and no man seemed to care for their souls. Mr. Buckland at once took measures to improve this state of things; but, being himself young in the way, it was some time before he rose to the position which many of us have seen him sustain for years-viz., that of a New Testament Christian bishop. A few extracts from his diary will show

his gradual advance in usefulness in the field of Gospel labour:

66

May 1st, 1827.-Took two cottages to convert into a meetinghouse, signed the licence for it.

May 20th.-The meeting opened by Mr. Hall, of Poyle, for preaching every other Sunday afternoon.

September 16th.-Began having preaching in the evening once a fortnight, by Mr. Hawson, of Staines. November 4th.-Enlarged the meeting, by taking in one room. December 23rd.-First collection, of £1 17s. 11d.

January 6th, 1828.-Enlarged the meeting, by taking in the other

room.

January 13th.-I read a sermon at meeting, as Mr. Hall did not

come.

March 2nd.-Began the Sundayschool.

November 25th.-Had the first prayer-meeting at Wraysbury.

January 23rd, 1829.-The meeting-house robbed of Bible and Hymnbook, which were found six months after, when the corn was cut, in the field opposite.

May 4th, 1830.-Preached the first time at a prayer-meeting, from Psalm lxxxiv. 11.

June 28th.-Held the service outof-doors, on the spot for the new chapel.

September 23rd, 1830. New chapel opened; Mr. Uppadine, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Coles preached. Collected £31.

June 27th, 1833.-Baptized for the first time, for Mr. Hawson, three persons at Staines."

During the years covered by these extracts, there was an organization for the spread of the Gospel in destitute villages, called the North Surrey and Middlesex Mission. This was under the care of the Berks and West London Association, of which the Rev. J. H. Hinton was

secretary. In the published correspondence of the Association, WraysUnder bury is often mentioned. date of March 31, 1828, Mr. Hawson writes:

lished at Wraysbury, and sixty chil"A Sunday-school has been estab

dren have been entered. The school is

superintended by an active friend in the village, and the kind assistance of several of the congregation as teachers is confidently expected; so that I trust it will be a great blessing to the rising generation, who were before destitute of the means of religious instruction. It is not merely encouraging, it is astonishing, to see the numbers that attend to hear the Gospel in this village, and the attention they manifest. Last night it was quite full; but the ceiling of the room is so lownot more than seven feet from the floor -that I think it will be impossible for so many to meet in it in the summer. If money could be obtained, a small meeting-house would be a great blessing. I trust the Gospel has been already blessed to some; and I seldom visit the place without feeling my mind impressed and encouraged by the language of the Saviour, Lift up your eyes and see; for the fields are white already to harvest.'

"At Wraysbury the prospects are very gratifying. The new meetinghouse was opened on the 23rd September last.. The place has been well filled every Sabbath evening since the opening, sometimes to excess. Prayermeetings are held at several houses in the village, including the workhouse; these are superintended by Mr. Buckland, who also preaches, with much acceptance, every other Sabbath evening. The houses for prayer are generally crowded to excess; the Sundayschool is in a flourishing state; and surely we may hope that these efforts, persevered in with a single eye to the glory of God, will be crowned with His blessing, to the conversion of immortal souls."

Again he writes, March 13th,

1831:

"Wraysbury is a very interesting station and, although we have to contend with formidable opposition, the attendance of the people is very encouraging, and even at this season of the year, has suffered but little, if any, diminution; indeed, Mr. Buckland has thought it necessary to purchase a piece of ground at the end of the meeting-house to provide for an enlargement. The female referred to in my last report, who suffers so much persecution from her husband, goes on well; and I have lately met with two other persons there, who professed to have received saving impressions. Mr. B. attends vigorously to the schools and prayer-meetings, and preaches once every Sabbath, with much acceptance.

So year after year went by, bringing to our friend the farmer the appointed weeks of harvest, and so rewarding him for his culture of the fields; and, better still, giving him to see the fruits of his toil in the

Gospel field, and to share in the joy of angels, who rejoice over repenting sinners.

From the Sunday-school, the young of both sexes were constantly removing to situations in other parts; and from many of them he had the pleasure to receive communications in after-life, expressive of their gratitude to him for all the instruction and advice he had given them while they were in his school. And sometimes they would revisit Wraysbury, at the chapel or school anniversary, grown out of all remembrance into

"Among the different villages, Wraysbury has been favoured in a peculiar manner during the past year. The Lord has taken three of a family, and brought them to Zion. Last November I baptized the father, who is a monument of mercy indeed, having lived in almost barbarian ignorance till he attended our place of worship. At that time the eldest daughter was under deep concern for her soul's salvation, and was baptized last month; but the mother was a decided enemy, and would not even accompany her husband to the place of worship. Since then, however, she has been prevailed on to attend, and the Lord has taught us that

'Hearts base as hell He can control,'

by turning her from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to Him

self."

In No. 10 of the correspondence, 1834, there is a letter from Mr. Buckland, describing the happy end of a young woman who had been a regular attendant at the means of grace, and whom he had directed to the Lamb of God for salvation.

ning up to shake hands with him, would smile at his embarrassment on not remembering them.

Invitations from other Churches to supply their pulpits, or take his place upon their platforms, were constantly pressing upon him; and, as far as possible, such invitations were accepted.

It was no unusual thing for him to drive eighteen miles out on the Sabbath, to preach three times, and return the same night. And this, too, when his business engagements were so multifarious and pressing as to occupy all the hours of daylight and many of the night during the week. So diligent was he in business, so fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

In 1862, the chapel was pulled down, and a more commodious and beautiful one was erected upon the site, having attached to it a convenient schoolroom. The total cost was about £800. In this work Mr. Buckland was assisted and encouraged by many friends, so that the whole amount was paid off during the following year. The chapel stands in a prominent situation, and

is the most conspicuous and beautiful object in the village.

Here our friend continued to labour in word and doctrine, and here some of his children and his children's children worshipped the God of their father. But it was not only in the chapel that this servant of God laboured. He was often found visiting the sick and the dying, and telling them all the words of life. took untiring interest in the Sundayschool; and on the children leaving to occupy situations, made it his custom to write to them. entreating them to make the Word of God their guide through life.

He

For the last few years he suffered from disease of the heart; but his mental powers remained to the last vigorous and unimpaired. He still preached once each Sabbath, and was assisted for the rest of the day by friends from Windsor. Hitherto, Wraysbury had been regarded as a station or offshoot from Staines; but in December, 1868, it was determined to form its believing worshippers into a Church. This was accordingly done, and Mr. Buckland was unanimously chosen to be its first pastor. One who was present says, "This was a great joy to crown his useful and happy life. His fatherly love will never be forgotten by those who were privileged to be among that number, gathered like a family around him."

In the summer of 1870, having lived together in love for fifty years, Mr. and Mrs. Buckland celebrated their golden wedding. All their children, except one son, who lives in Sydney, were present, and so were most of their grandchildren. This is an event which happens to very few under any circumstances, and it is very easy to imagine that this modern patriarch's heart must have been full to overflowing, as he contemplated the scene around him, and felt inclined to say with Jacob, "The God which fed me all my life long unto

this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the children."

On the 16th of October, 1870, he preached his last sermon, from Proverbs viii. 35. On the following Sabbath he offered up one of the prayers of the sanctuary. On the next Sabbath (October 30) he attended the morning service as a hearer, and was remarkably cheerful and happy. Indeed, every Sabbath was to him a delight, and it was always hailed at the family altar by singing the hymn

"Welcome, sweet day of rest!"

This was his last earthly Sabbath, for early on the following morning he suddenly became unconscious; and in this state he remained till the next morning, when his change came, and his ransomed spirit entered into the joy of his Lord. He had often said, when pressed to allow himself some relaxation from Sunday or week-day toil, "I must work while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work." So, as if in compliance with his own anticipation and desire, he

did

"His body with his charge lay down,

And cease at once to work and live."

His mortal remains were interred in Wraysbury Churchyard on Monday, 7th November, in the presence of a large number of spectators. His sons and grandsons were chief mourners, and four friends who assisted him in preaching were pall-bearers; but the whole company appeared to share in the deep sorrow which prevailed. From London, Windsor, Staines, Colnbrook, Horton, Datchet, and Wraysbury, some friends had come to testify their respect to his memory, and their grief at his loss. The body of the church was filled. The service was read by the vicar of the parish; and his body was laid near the dust of his ancestors, in sure and certain hope of a joyful re