The Christian patriarch : the life of Mr. Robert Gate : with some notices of early Methodism in the Penrith Circuit

Preface

The lives of great men, as such, may command the admiration of the masses of the people, but as examples they are of service only to few ; and, therefore, the lives of men who, whilst possessing but ordinary abilities, were extraordinarily useful, are calculated in general to do the greater amount of good. The subject of this memoir was not endowed with any uncommon gifts either of nature or providence, being possessed of but average abilities, and having had during the greater part of his life to work hard for his living ; yet he accomplished a vast amount of good, and his life is placed before the Christian public — not as something beyond their reach merely to be admired, but for imitation. He is worthy of note, not for the possession of great talents, but for the judicious and unwearied employment of such as he had, and Christians of but ordinary abilities and opportunities for doing good may be directed to his example with the injunction, " Go thou and do likewise."

viii Preface.

The generation that knew Mr. Gate in the prime of his manhood has passed away, and as he but seldom spoke of himself and kept no journal, it has been difficult to gather information concerning him. Had he kept a journal, many interesting circumstances might undoubtedly have been inserted in this little volume that are to be found only in the records of heaven.

The writer sincerely hopes that the example set forth in the following pages may suggest fresh modes of usefulness to the reader, and stimulate him to greater diligence in the work of the Lord.

Easingwold,

CONTEN T S.

Chapter I

PAGE BIRTH AND PARENTAGE — EARLY TRAINING — APPRENTICE- SHIP AT PENRITH — RESIDENCE AT DURHAM — SEEKING PEACE AND FINDING NONE — ATTENDS A METHODIST CHAPEL — THE REV. JOHN BRAITHWAITE — MEETS IN CLASS — RETURNS HOME — FINDS PEACE — THE FIRST NIGHT AT HIS FATHER'S HOUSE— DISCOURAGEMENT — FIRST-FRUITS t

Chapter II

PENRITH — MR. WESLEY'S VISITS TO THE TOWN AND NEIGH- BOURHOOD— THE REV. JOSEPH BENSON — MR. VARTY — MISS BOSANQUET — THE ASSEMBLY ROOM CONVERTED INTO A PREACHING PLACE — EARLY METHODISM IN PEN- RITH—MR. GATE UNITES WITH THE SOCIETY AND BEGINS TO PREACH . 26

Chapter III

MR. GATE BECOMES ENGAGED — SUITABLE CHOICE — MR. JAMES BARRY, OF DURHAM — MARRIAGE — THE NEW HOME — APPOINTED LEADER — DEATH OF MR. VARTY — HIS CHA- RACTER AND LIBERALITY—THE ERECTION OF THE SAND- GATE HEAD CHAPEL 42 x Contents.

CHAPTEE IV.

PAGE MR. GATE BECOMES A LOCAL PREACHER— HIS UNSECTARIAN SPIRIT AND ATTACHMENT TO METHODISM— PREACHING, A CROSS AND A PLEASURE — HARD WORK — COLD RE- CEPTIONS— PREPARATION FOR THE PULPIT — CON- SISTENCY OP HIS LIFE — STYLE — CO WPER — FAVOURITE THEMES — THE LABOURER OF FOURSCORE YEARS — THE OPINION OF A CHURCHMAN 56

Chapter V

THE METHODIST CLASS MEETING — MR. GATE AS A LEADER — USEFULNESS — TESTIMONY OF MR. JOHN MAWSON — MR. GATE'S ACTIVE INTEREST IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS — ORIGIN AND PROSPERITY OF THE MEETING-HOUSE LANE SUN- DAY SCHOOL — THE RAGGED SCHOOL — THE TRACT SO- CIETY—THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY — LETTER OF THE REV. T. R. MOXON — THE BIBLE SOCIETY 80

Chapter VI

MR. GATE AS A VISITOR OF THE SICK — HIS SELF-DENYING LIBERALITY — THE GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY — ADVAN- TAGES OF SUCH AN INSTITUTION — RETIREMENT FROM BUSINESS — A PROVIDENTIAL CIRCUMSTANCE— EXTENT OF VISITATION — GOLDSMITH — EXTRACT FROM THE HIS- TORY OF PENRITH — INSTANCES OF USEFULNESS — A DAUGHTER'S GRATITUDE FOR HER MOTHER'S CON- VERSION . 95

Contents. xi

Chapter VII

PAGE THE ESTEEM IN WHICH MR. GATE WAS HELD — TESTIMONIES

OF THE REVS. ADAM FLETCHER, G. C. HODGSON. AND JOHN DAYMAN, M.A. — PRESENTATION AT THE JUBILEE OF THE PENRITH BRANCH OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY, AND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN SO- CIETY— A HAPPY OLD AGE — LETTER FROM MRS. PALMER (OF AMERICA) — LAST LABOURS AND RESULTS — CONFINE- MENT TO THE HOUSE, AND DEATH 120

Chapter VIII

GENERAL REGRET ON ACCOUNT OF MR. GATE'S DEATH — EXTRACT FROM THE PENRITH OBSERVER — FUNERAL — NOTICES OF HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER IN THE BIBLE SOCIETY'S REPORTS — RESOLUTION OF THE LEADERS' MEETING — LETTERS FROM THE REVS. JOHN HANNAH AND T. T. DILKS — CHARACTER 143