Br Saml Sykes.

The suddenness of the call from time into eternity of one of the most active members of the Congn who had long resided in our midst, renders a sketch of his character almost unnecessa ry. And yet we love to think of the dear departed and to trace some of the most striking of its features. There was a frankness freedom from guilt in his character; but the strongest trait was active sympathy and kindness of feeling towards all – willing to aid and assist even at the expense of his own case and comfort. His energies, his talents, and his time; As far as his own duties allowed, were at the service of Congon. He will be a missed man in Fulnec. His charity made him blind to the defects of others. and even at times, led him to countenance ??

by his presence. others what some would censure and condemn. He possessed a buoyancy of spirit, and considering his age, a cheerful hilarity wch has often astonished us. He delighted to witness and assist in any gathering of the young, to give espression utterance to feeling of either national or social joy, And his cheerful voice was heard encouraging and prolonging expressions of delight re joicing. At the Christmas season especially it was his yearly custom to collect a number of his old friends to meet the family circle. And also at this season, he invariably devoted our ??? to gather together his aged friends chiefly females, when with his own happy countenance beaming with delight he encouraged them to speak of the goodness of God in the days past, and closed the evening with prayer and

praise Our late Br was born at Linthwaite Hall near Huddersfield Janry 11th 1796. His parents Both his parents even members of the Mora Brethren’s Church, and his good and pious Mother was very anxious, that he should be trained up under the fos tering care of that Church she so much loved. Many years previous to his birth, the Brn had occupied used the old Hall as an out preaching place at tached to Wellhouse Congn, and every month one or more of the Brn visited and preached there to a small flock, several of whom were in society fellowship with the Church. These periodical services were continued & were blessed to which were blessed to many many were continued during the youthful years of our late Br and and made a deep impression on

the young heart of our late now happily departed Br. The frequent visits of young ministers and students of the Church who never failed in their journeys to sp? the Yorkshire & Lancashire Congns to call at this hospitable abode, afforded oppor tunities for him to hear of the love of Christ and the Lords dealings with his people. Moreover he was blessed in having a most affectionate & Christian Uncle whose gentle spirit was ever ready to counsel and advise him, and by his ?? and godlike walk and conversation was a bright example. Of this, his old uncle James, he often spoke with affectionate regard. And truly he was a man of God, an Isralite in whom was no guilt, an humble follower of the Lamb, simple and unaffected as a Child. for he lived very near to the

Saviour. He walked with God, and his eyes diffused with tears, while his lips spoke of the love and mercy of his Jesus. Thus our late Brs early years were spent in the bosom of an affectionate family who were assiduously careful of this their only child. In 1808 his parents sent him to the boarding school at Wellhouse, & he often spoke of this period of his life with unfeigned gratitude. The year following he was bound apprentice to Br Thos Sykes of Ashton. Here his uprightness, diligence and faithfulness, won for him the esteem of his master, and the warm hearted and Enduring love of his Christian mistress. With these attended the services at Dukenfield, and here also he attained to further privileges in the Congn. and was confirmed. At the close of his apprentice

ship he returned home, and com menced business for himself But he longed for to nearer closer in tercourse with the members of the Congn., and as soon as a better he determined as soon as a situation was vacant, he would embrace the oppor tunity. He had not long to wait for in Febry 1818 he was called to fill be assistant to Br Hanniman in the shop at Fulnec. This he considered a providential leading, and to his dying day, he thanked his dear Saviour that he had been led to this place to dwell among his own people. Oct 9th the was married to the Sl Sr Lydia Verity, overseer of the needle work in the Srs House. They before their married life determined from the com mencement of their married life that all their doings should be influenced by the love and fear of God. And in accordance with the practise then

prevailing in the Congn he invited all the married Brn & Srs to a cheerful love feast. Throughout life, he continued to value and enjoy all the peculiar customs and usages of the church. On Oct 1st 1830 he was called to serve the church as Diacony master in the shop and soon after was called elected to fill the offices of Committee member & first Chapel servant. In all these his faithfulness & activity gained him the love and esteem of his Brn & Srs. Oct 6th 1842 our dear Br was called upon to bear a heavy affliction in the loss of his dearly beloved & faithful wife. this was indeed a sore trial but his confidence was in the Lord of hosts, & it was not put to shame. He was thus left a Widower with 7 dear children, for whose welfare spiritual & temporal he showed the most unwearied care and affectionate soli tude. His children gave him great

pleasure, and up to the time of his happy departure was favored to be near him and enjoy his fatherly care. If at any time he gave expression to his ansious concern for them it would be in these or similar words “I wish my boys may keep in the way and be screened from the evils of the world. I should have more pleasure in thinking of them if they joined the Congn. This I trust will be the case sometime.” Doubtless his prayers and tears have been treasured up in the book of God’s remembrance and will not be forgotten. See paper His Christian course was even for did not often speak of though He said little of his experience what he did say testified that he was no stranger to the happiness which a sense of peace and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus produces. With humility he would sometimes deplore his coldness of heart and that he suffered the cares of this

life to supress too much of his attenting His chief delights see believe was in the Lord his God. The Writer of this short account has had, especially of late, many edifying conversations with him satisfactory to the mind that the one thing needful was not forgotten. This was especially the case during an alarming illness in the beginning of this year. Death was near, eternity at hand which called forth deep searching of heart, but his faith was fixed on the Rock of Ages. “Nothing”, he said “nothing but my Saviour’s blood and death will do for me now.” No hope no plea but the attonement he made for sinners I am I have been an unworthy and sinful creature, but he knows that I have loved him.” And can you trust him now? asked his visitor. With a firm voice he answered “yes,” adding “I know he will receive me.” A few minutes after the said, “I should like to recover if it pleased the Lord for the sake of my family; but if not, into his hands I commit my spirit

Since the illness referred to, Hem morage from the nose, from which he recovered he after occasionally complained of langour and week ness; but there were no symptoms to cause alarm that (death) departure was no near at hand. On Christmas day, finding himself not well, at the request of his children he called on the doctor to consult with him, and then was present at the latter part of the morning service. Feeling At dinner he assured his family that he felt much relieved, and more than once expressed this great pleasure in seeing his children around him. After diner he lay on the sofa and conversed freely with his eldest son. Contrary to the entreaties of his children, he determined to go to the Christmas lovefeast at 5 o’clock and desired all his children to go before him that he might himself see all safe and lock up the house. One daughter however determined to wait for her father as while he went up stairs to secure the windows

and the doors of the rooms. More than once she heard his voice calling to her to hasten her departure lest she should be too late saying “I will soon follow” Again she heard his voice from the top of the stairs in a mourn ful tone saying “I am very ill” She assisted him down stairs and onto a chair in the kitchen. Fortunately at that moment his son William and son-in-law Sewell entered the house and assisted him onto the sofa in the parlour where he spoke but once repeating the words “Oh my dear Saviour.” He lay conscious but unable to articulate though he made many attempts, and before the lovefeast was over his ransomed spirit had joined the congregation of the redeemed before the throne. “Happy soul thy days are ended, All thy mourning days below Thou by angel guards attended Didst to Jesus presence go.” We mourn our loss, yet rejoice in his eternal gain, and now we

do that for his honoured remains which he often did for others. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection, remem bering the apostles words “we shall meet again and so shall we be ever with the Lord, where fore comfort one another with these words.”