Our late Single Brother, Joseph Carr, has left the following account of himself.
I was born in Pudsey on August the 27th 1764 of poor parents and baptized by the Brethren at Fulneck. I used constantly to attend the public preachings at Fulneck, till my Father put me apprentice; when I was about 13 years old, to one William Harrison, a tailor at Stanningly, where I got acquainted with a neighbour, which proved a great detriment to me. When his wife died, he used to get me to keep his house for him, as he was a shopkeeper, while he went to the markets; and on Sundays he would take me with him to public houses, and into unprofitable company, so that at last it became quite indifferent to me, whether I went to any place of worship or not as my acquaintance cared for the expense, and I began to consider myself as my own master. I paid no regard to any admonitions that were given me, but I thought I had met with a very good companion. My master, in particular, used to tell me, that he hoped I should see the time when I should think him not my friend, but I treated this observation with disregard and slighted what he said because he was a Methodist. When I was loose from my Master, having lived with him 7 years, I continued to go on in my old course, keeping company with my friend (as I then looked upon him) the above unprofitable acquaintance. About a year after I had left my master, it pleased our Saviour to visit me with a heavy sickness, so that no one thought I should recover. I made a promise at that time, that if ever I got better again, I would forsake my wicked ways and turn as a poor sinner to our Saviour, but alas when I got well again, I went on as before, forgot entirely my promise, and associated again with my former hurtful companion.
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My sister who belonged to the Brethren’s Congregation was much grieved about me and tried to persuade me to attend the preaching at Fulneck, when she went thither. I went once with her on a Sunday in the afternoon, when I heard the late Brother John Miller read some accounts concerning the Indian Congregation in North America, and afterwards keep a discourse. I was struck at hearing how much sooner the poor Indians were brought to the knowledge of our Saviour than such a wicked man as myself. Brother Miller came down after to see my sister and as I was at work in the same room he addressed himself to me, and after speaking in a friendly way with me, he invited me to call, and I see him. I went down after, and made known to him my desire to join the Brethren and soon after I was received into the Society, and became acquainted with the Single Brethren’s Labourer, and used to spend the time between the meetings in the Single Brethren’s house. I little expected then, that I should once come and live in it as I considered it to be too high a favour for such a great sinner, as I then felt myself to be. I got leave also to come to the Choir meetings on Sunday mornings, which was a real blessing to me.
March 29th 1790 I came to live in the Brethren’s house; and it being the Passion Week I attended the meetings, which made an abiding impression upon my heart. December 14, 1791 I got leave to be an Inhabitant of Fulneck to my great joy, and on the 26th of December I was received into the congregation and since then, though trials have not been wanting, our Saviour has sanctified them, and helped me through them all, for which I cannot sufficiently thank him: and I trust he will continue to lead me on to the end, poor and needy as I am.
Thus far our late Brother’s own account of himself.
June 2nd 1772 he was a spectator at the holy Communion, and August 29th
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he partook with us of the Communion. For some years past he has been sickly, and in March last, it appeared as if his complaint would terminate in a consumption: his Labourer adds concerning him: He was a Brother of few words, but the feeling attending what he said, as well as the earnest desire, which he often expressed during his sickness to go to our Saviour, showed clearly, that he loved him: being once asked whether he thought he should see the beginning of another year, his answer was, no, our Saviour has made it clear to me, that I shall go before the next Communion. He departed gently and happily on December 5th, 1796 and is now at rest.
In some papers found after his departure, he writes under November 13th, 1791. “This was a very blessed day to my poor soul. Our Saviour let me see what a thoroughly depraved and spoiled creature I am and that without him, I am nothing but sin and misery, but thanks be to his name for the blessings, which I receive from him from time to time. August 29th 1792 I partook of the Holy Communion for the first time: I cannot express in words, what a nearness of our Saviour’s love to poor sinners I then experienced. I began the year 1793 trusting in our Saviour’s merits and praying him to keep me ever in remembrance of his death and sufferings endured on my account a poor sinner, thanking him likewise for the many favours and blessings I had received at his hand in the year past. August 27, 1793 (being his birthday) now I begin another year: O Lord, be near to me, and let me have thee in my mind both day and night, I pray.