John Shaw, of Pudsey : a man "mighty in the Scriptures," and "greatly beloved"

Front matter

BY THE SAME AUTHOR:

A SUMMER'S CRUISE in the WATERS of GREECE, TURKEY, and RUSSIA. Large Crown 8vo., 400 pages, 6s. London ; T. Fisher Unwin.

" A substantial volume of delightful reading. . . . Always fresh and vivid."— Manchester Examiner.

Preface

The preparation of the following pages at the request of the Book Room Committee, has been a labour of love. That the memory of dear old John Shaw might be preserved among us, that the fragrance of his sanctified life might not be permitted to waste itself, and die away, has been a cherished wish of my heart for several years. These pages are sent forth in the hope that they will serve to stamp his likeness more clearly and lastingly upon our minds, and help to make his devoted life an abiding inspiration to faithful service in the cause of the Master.

My hearty thanks are due to many people, who knew John well, for the prompt and willing assistance they have rendered me. Ministers of other Denominations, as well as our own, and friends in various parts of the Connexion, have supplied me with material for the memoir ; and I trust they will accept, one and all, the grateful acknowledgments which I now sincerely offer them. To Mr. Boyes, of Pudsey, for information concerning John Shaw's early life, my

thanks are especially due.

A. C.

Chapter I. Early Years

Pudsey — Characteristics — Situation — John Shaw's birth and parentage — Ancestry — Condition of working people — Family wants — John's first employment — Panic — Coal carrying — Prayer — Increasing trade.

Chapter II. Religious Training

Conversion — Mother's influence — The Word of God — Sunday School tuition — Fulneck — Moravians — Methodist New Connexion Sunday school — Discipline — John Steele and the formation of the Pudsey Society — Attendance at religious meetings.

Chapter III. The Master's Service

Speaking for Christ — Revival of 1832 — Samuel Lee's Conversion — Dewsbury Conference Lovefeast, 1876 — " Aye, lad " — Consecration — Class leader — Revival of 1835 — Examination for local preacher — Appearance in the pulpit — Preaching — Brighouse — Batley — Prayer —Lesson reading — Rev. Andrew Lynn and the donkey — Inspecting a Chapel at Hunslet — John Shaw and John . Steele — Liability to fits — Removal of the affliction.

Chapter IV. Home Life

Mother's death — Courtship — Marriage — Shopkeeper — Tea Trade — Pension — Invitation to become Home Missionary — Domestic habits — Visitors — Mary Ann's birth — The thank-offering — Daughter's education — Affection for his daughter — The writer's visit — Cottage at Fulneck — A sacred place.

CONTENTS.

Chapter V. Among his own people

Attachment to Methodist New Connexion, and to the Church at Pudsey— The Barkerite dissension— Debt on the graveyard- Society troubles— The new school— Revival— Thanksgiving meeting— The new chapel— Visit to Stapleford— Chapel opened— Encouragement to preachers— Responses— Ministerial friendships— Hanley Conference, 1847— The lovefeast— Preaching services— Spreading fame— Mission work at Wakefield and Ventnor Street, Leeds — Attendance at Conferences— Dr. Stacey and the word " colloquial " — Huddersfield Conference Lovefeast, 1867— Little Abe and Thomas Hannam— A memorable morning service— Keeping abreast of the times— Dr. Stacey and John Shaw— Visit to Ranmoor College.

Chapter VI. Working for others

Servant of all the Churches — Pastoral work — Relief of the poor — The Vicar of Pudsey and John Shaw — At an Episcopal prayer meeting — Service among the Moravians — Visits to Scarborough— Hard heads — Yorkshire Sunday School Union gatherings — Missionary meetings — Teetotalism — Smoking.

Chapter VII. " Talkin' wi' Jesus."

A neighbour's child — Conversational prayer — Dr. Stacey on John's peculiarity in prayer — Seven oxlock prayer meeting — Praying for all— Overcoming prejudices — Promise to a carter — Remarkable answer to prayer at Stapleford — Another remarkable answer to prayer — Directness in prayer — Criticisms in grammar — Prayers for individuals.

Chapter VIII. His Text Book

His knowledge of the Bible — Reading Billy Bray's life — Information from Burkitt's Notes — Knocking the Bible off the reading desk — Comments during the reading of the Scriptures — Personal references — Psalm xix. and Isaiah xxxv. — Rev. R. Hutton on John's reading of the Bible.

CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. Sermons

Preparation of sermons — Conversation with Colonel Tempest — The transfigured face — Gestures while preaching — Full of joy — Old-fashioned Methodists— Sally Child, of Batley— Definition of prosperity— John disconcerted — New sermons — Power in preaching — Sermon on the translation of Enoch — A word of advice at Ardsley — The cure of the demoniac — His last sermons — Lack of freedom — Special services in Nottingham — Huddersfield — Stockton-on-Tees — A varied ministry.

Chapter X. On the King's Business

Travelling — Damp beds — Staying at the same places — Visit to Ripon — Journey to Stapleford — Missing the train — Scene at Haxey railway station.

Chapter XL Sowing beside all waters.

A timely reply — Concern for the spiritual welfare of his friends — A mill fire — A shot at the- Colonel — The railway ticket — Direct questioning during pastoral visitation — A friendly warning — Tribute of respect — Effect of silent reproof — A hard heart softened — Controversies with sceptics — A proposal of marriage.