Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine,

FOR AUGUST, 1824.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF HENRY FOXALL, ESQ.

OF GEORGE-TOWN, NEAR WASHINGTON, IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BY THE REV. JOSEPH ENTWISLE.

THE late HENRY FOXALL, Esq., was born May 24th, 1758; and departed this life December 11th, 1823. His parents were pious; and attended the ministry of the REV. JOHN WESLEY, and others in connexion with him, at an early period of Methodism. They lived chiefly in West-Bromwich, near Birmingham. HENRY, however, was born in Monmouthshire,* during a short residence of his parents there. He was accustomed to hear from his childhood the preaching of the Gospel, both by the Methodist Preachers, and at the Church of West-Bromwich. He also saw true religion exemplified in the lives of its professors, particularly in his own mother, in MRS. ASBURY, mother of the REV. FRANCIS ASBURY, and others in the neighbourhood. He grew up, however, without a saving acquaintance with the truth as it is in JESUS and it was not until after he had been married for some years, that he enjoyed the power and comfort of personal piety.

Upwards of thirty years ago, he removed to Ireland, to superintend extensive iron-works in that country. The several branches of an opulent family, of the name of O'REILEY, showed him great kindness. He was generally one of a large party who dined with that family on the Sunday, and spent the afternoon together in conviviality. Cards also were regularly introduced. But such was the effect of a religious education, that he never but once could be prevailed upon to

* In the Obituary sent to the Magazine, and inserted in the Number for January, 1824, page 69, there was a slight error. It was stated that MR. F. " took a ride in his carriage, to show to his now disconsolate widow the houses in which he and MR. ASBURY were born." I misunderstood that circumstance, and afterwards found that he was born in Monmouthshire. However, the places alluded to were connected with his earliest recollections and boyish pleasures.-J. E. 2 T

VOL. III. Third Series. AUGUST, 1824.

play. On that occasion he was strongly solicited to do it; and he said to himself, I am serving the Devil, and I may as well do it in one way as another." He complied; but had no rest in his mind afterwards.

There is a period when every one who becomes truly pious enters upon a new life; for religion is not natural to man in his fallen state : and the attention of the reader is now called to that important crisis, attended with peculiar circumstances, when MR. F. put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man ;-from which period he steadily persevered in a christian course to the end of life.

One LORD'S-day, while in Ireland, riding out on horseback, he saw a number of people gathered together under some trees in a field. Curiosity induced him to approach the assembly; when he found a Preacher of MR. WESLEY'S Connexion calling sinners to repentance. He listened with deep attention. The word reached his heart. He was convinced of sin: for about a month his mind was much agitated; but then he fully resolved to give himself to God. He "sorrowed after a godly sort," and was " weary and heavyladen," for some months. But he sought and found peace with GoD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST; and received the SPIRIT of ADOPTION, whereby he was enabled to cry, Abba, FATHER.

When this great change took place, MR. FOXALL gave up his Sunday-visits to the respectable family before mentioned. He saw the evil of spending his time in that way, and lost all relish for such pleasures. The Lady of the house waited on him to know the reason of his absenting himself. He replied in respectful terms, assuring her that it did not arise from a want of due esteem for the family; but that his views of things were so changed, that he could not now conscientiously employ the Sabbath, or any part of it, as he had been accustomed to do. She said he was "a mad swaddler : " and observing that he was reading the Holy Scriptures, took up the book in a rage, and declared she would burn it. He said, " Madam, I shall not attempt forcibly to hinder you. However, that will make no difference in me; for if you burn that Bible, I shall purchase another." She did not burn it.

From the time of his conversion, he set up in his family the regular worship of Almighty God; and always afterwards continued the practice.

About two years after he was brought to the religious experience now described, he left Ireland, and removed to the United States of America. For awhile he resided near Philadelphia; but afterwards removed to George-Town, in the district of Columbia, near Washington. There he fixed his residence, and intended there to finish his course but "GoD's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways our ways."

Before he left Ireland he had begun to preach; and amidst all his other concerns, he retained his piety, and continued to publish the Gospel of peace. The LORD blessed him with prosperity and riches, and also with a heart to lay out a large portion of what was entrusted to him in doing good. He was given to hospitality: his house was always open to God's servants: he contributed very largely to the support of the cause of CHRIST: he considered the poor and needy, relieved them in distress, and promoted their comfort. He seems to have felt the force of our LORD's words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Nine years ago he retired from business; satisfied with the success in trade which the LORD had given him,-and desirous of leisure to attend to divine things, and to be more frequently engaged in exercises purely religious. On this occasion he considered that the LORD had "given him power to get wealth," and that he ought to do something more than he had done for the LORD and his cause. He therefore erected at his own expense, in the city of Washington, a large and commodious Chapel, (as the small Methodist Society there had only a school-room to meet in,) which was opened by the venerable MR. ASBURY, who gave it the title of "The Foundry," in allusion to the Foundry so long used by MR. WESLEY as a Chapel in London. The allusion was appropriate; as MR. F., who erected the Chapel in the capital of the United States, and presented it gratuitously to the Methodists there, had obtained the means of doing it in the iron-business. It may be proper here to mention that MR. F., for several years before his death, subscribed £50 per annum to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in England. He has perpetuated that subscription by a bequest of 5000 dollars (upwards of £1100 sterling) to the Society. He has also left to the same amount to the Methodist Connexion in America.

Eight years ago, being then a widower, he embarked for England, anxious once more to see his native country, and visit his relations, to whose comfort he had long contributed by his liberality, and for whose eternal happiness he was deeply concerned. From his Journal, written at that time, it appears that his views, feelings, and reflections, (as well as his motives for undertaking the voyage,) were such as do honour to him as a man and a Christian. He felt most acutely at leaving his friends in George-Town; and especially as he had only one child out of six left,-a daughter, who was, however, comfortably settled in life, and who, with her husband, was living in the fear of God. During his residence in England he entered again, as he expresses it in his Journal, "after much consideration and prayer, into the holy estate of matrimony;" and was accompanied by her who is now his disconsolate widow across the Atlantic.

This year (1823) he again visited his native country, and has

resided principally at Handsworth, near Birmingham, where he finished his course with joy.

About a fortnight before his death, MR. F. called upon me, and spent some time in conversation. He was then indisposed. He spoke of enjoying great comfort in preaching on the Sunday preceding, and appeared to be in a blessed state of soul. It seems his mind was deeply impressed under a sermon by MR. BRIDGNELL, at West-Bromwich, on the death of the REV. Charles Hulme. The text was, "Set thine house in order," &c. A few days after he was confined to his bed. To Mr. BridgneLL he said, “O, what should I do if I had my religion to seek now! What have I to rest on but CHRIST?" Thus the LORD prepared him for the closing scene.

On Monday, December 8th, he observed that the last night had been the most restless and painful one he had ever known; and, after describing the pain he had endured, added, "It is all right." On the 9th he remarked that he had for many years endeavoured to impress upon the minds of others the necessity of living near to God, and of being prepared for death, and that now he was on the brink of the grave. "Give my love," he added, " to MR. B., and say, "The work of grace is going on." When MRS. FOXALL informed him that a relation wished to see him, he said, "My dear, I expect to meet many relations in glory who are gone before."

On Wednesday, December 10th, a messenger arrived to request my immediate attendance. I went; and, on my arrival at Handsworth, found MR. F. in the agonies of death: the state of the pulse, the coldness of the extremities, and other symptoms, proved to me that he could not live many hours. He was quite sensible, but unable to converse. He joined with us in prayer. I observed to him, that he had experienced the loving-kindness of GOD for many years." With great difficulty he said, "More than thirty." I quoted the Apostle's words: "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." He replied, though he could scarcely articulate, "I have long known that." His last words were, "O for grace to bear!" MR. F. was a man of sterling worth,-his understanding was strong, -his piety sincere and deep,—his benevolence and charities extensive. He loved the cause of religion in general,; and his attachment to Methodism was exceeded in no one that I have known. The American Methodists, for whose unity, peace, and prosperity he was most seriously concerned, have sustained a heavy loss. He was an affectionate husband and parent, and a faithful friend. He considered the poor and needy, and enjoyed the blessedness connected with that virtue. His death to many is loss; to him eternal gain.

Birmingham.

Jos. ENTWISLE.