THE OBITUARY OF THE YEAR. BY FREDERICK SHERLOCK. Author of "Illustrious Abstainers." "King of Saints, to whom the number Lives for ever round Thy Throne ; Lights, which earth-born mists have darkened There are shining full and clear, Nameless, unremembered here." IN the various celebrations which have so worthily marked the Jubilee of the Temperance Reformation, no incident more thoroughly kindled the enthusiasm or quickened the fervour of the audiences than the presence of those who were recognised as veterans of the movement. At its inception, the crusade against our great national vice was met by an angry storm of opposition, in which contumely, contempt, and scorn, were the presiding elements; and it must be added, that not a few of those who were supposed to be friendly, complacently tolerated the reform as "a harmless fad," which would soon collapse from its alleged inherent weakness. But "there were giants in those days," and their ranks were often "sifted as wheat." Nobly heroic indeed were they, who throughout the trying ordeal continued steadfast, faithful, and true, to the promulgation of Total Abstinence from intoxicating liquors, as the grand preventive and corrective of Drunkenness. The world is a quick teacher, but a slow learner. Happily, however, the lesson of the past fifty years of temperance effort is beginning to fasten itself in the public mind; and, one by one, as the Temperance leaders go to their reward, men are led to a truer appreciation of the unselfish chivalry in which the Temperance movement had its birth. The past twelve months have been marked by the removal of several earnest-hearted brethren, of whom it may truly be said, "they rest from their labours and their works do follow them." Nor must we forget to chronicle the loss which Temperance sustained during the closing days of 1879, in the persons of Edward Shipley Ellis, J.P., and Thomas Knox, J.P. They passed away within a few hours of each other, and were laid in their graves amidst circumstances which showed that they had gained, in no small degree, the affection and esteem of those amongst whom they lived and laboured. The former, in his position as Chairman of the Midland Railway Company, exercised an influence which extended far and wide, and his consistent support of Temperance work was ever accompanied by a large-hearted liberality rarely to be met with. Thomas Knox, one of Edinburgh's worthiest citizens, was in many respects in advance of his time. In the midst of an active commercial life, he sought and found opportunities of laying bare some of the great festering sores which hinder social progress, and by his foresight and prescience contributed in a remarkable degree to the creation of purer and healthier conditions. Nearly a quarter of a century ago, in his letters on "Temperance Teaching in Schools," he proposed that Temperance should be taught as a specific subject in our elementary schools, and although the scheme was at that time considered impracticable, he never lost faith in the idea, and lived to see its adoption entered upon with an earnestness which augurs well for its universal development. The passing of the Forbes-Mackenzie Act, moreover, received an impetus from Thomas Knox, which carries its own lesson. He organised a staff of 200 individuals to ascertain the number of visitors who entered the public-houses of Edinburgh on a given Sunday, and the publication of the result as 40,000 persons, produced so profound an impression upon the public and Parliament, that the Sunday Closing Act for Scotland speedily became law. Among the memorable ministerial workers removed during the year may be mentioned the Rev. Dr. James Paterson, of Glasgow ; the Rev. George Verrall, of Bromley, Kent; the Rev. John Curwen, the originator of the Tonic Sol-Fa system of music in England; the Rev. John Dwyer, of Enniskillen ; and the Rev. John Rodgers, M. A., vice-chairman of the School Board for London. Dr. Paterson was an abstainer for forty-five years, and steadfastly supported the movement during the whole of his eminently honourable and useful life. As the editor of the Scottish Temperance Review, a monthly periodical issued by the Scottish Temperance League, and the editor of the Scottish Review, a quarterly journal of social progress, issued by the same society, his pen rendered material aid to the advancement of total abstinence views. Mr. Curwen took a deep interest in the temperance cause, and, by the introduction of melodies in its favour in several of his publications, did much to formulate opinion through one of its most popular agencies—the ministry of song. Mr. Rodgers was so thoroughly in earnest with anything he took in hand, that his accession to the Temperance ranks, many years ago, proved a "tower of strength." At a time when clerical supporters were few and far between, the deceased was a hearty co-operator, and whether in the pulpit, on the platform, or by his own hospitable fireside, never failed to exercise his powerful influence, in favour of the Temperance movement. A heavy inroad has been made into the devoted band of selfdenying public advocates, whose unwearied exertions in the open market-places and scattered hamlets of the country, constitute one of the brightest pages in the whole history of the movement. For more than forty years, Richard Horne-" Dicky Horne," as he was affectionately called by the thousands to whom his name was familiar traversed the country, with untiring assiduity, as a temperance advocate, most of that time in connection with the British Temperance League. The homely wisdom of his addresses"full of wise saws and modern instances "-gained added force from the genial and cheery presence of the man, who was a typical Englishman, in the highest and best sense of the word. Charles Bent was a kindred spirit to this extent-that, like Richard Horne, he never failed to exercise a magnetic influence over working-class audiences. His early manhood was passed amid surroundings which gave no indication of the position he was destined to fill as a temperance advocate. The demoralizing glories of the prize-ring gave place to, if possible, a still more deplorable condition, in which life itself became intolerable. At this crisis Bent was persuaded to take the pledge, and the rescued brand thereafter became a beacon-light to tens of thousands. Charles Smith, for nearly ten years the much-respected missionary of the National Temperance League, filled a position of usefulness almost unique. His special mission was to visit the elementary schools of the metropolis, and address the children on the subject of Temperance. His labours in this sphere were crowned with gratifying success, and the good seed sown in the minds and hearts of his youthful hearers shall yet bring forth an abundant harvest. The honoured name of Pease is so intimately associated with good works of every kind, that it naturally runs through the narrative of the Temperance movement, as an integral part of the story. Edward Pease, of Darlington and Bournemouth, had been an invalid for a lengthened period, and was therefore unable to occupy a public position, like his brothers, Messrs. Joseph Whitwell Pease and Arthur Pease, both of whom are members of Parliament. He was, however, none the less public spirited, and the keen interest which he took in the promotion of temperance, not less than his amiability of disposition, caused his early death to be deeply deplored. Birmingham has been called upon to part with three of its most deservedly esteemed notabilities, Benjamin Head Cadbury, James Stubbin, and John Skirrow Wright; the first-named at a ripe old age, the latter in the prime of life, and at the supreme moment in his career when the honourable ambition of years had been achieved. Of Benjamin H. Cadbury it has been well said:"Though his voice was seldom heard in any public assembly, yet the success of many of the greatest temperance meetings ever held in Birmingham was chiefly owing to his admirable business arrangements and intelligent interest in the work." James Stubbin, a solicitor, was for forty years prominently connected with the Birmingham Temperance Society. He was an ardent student of the literature of the movement, and was the author of the well-known work “ Tirosh lo Yayin,” so frequently referred to in the Scriptural Wine controversy. John Skirrow Wright took an active interest in politics, and at the recent General Election was elected a member for Nottingham. Within a few days of his return, and during his attendance at a meeting of the School of Art Committee, in Birmingham, he was suddenly seized with a fit of apoplexy and expired. As president of the Baptist Total Abstinence Association, and a vice-president of the National Temperance League, the weight of his great personal influence was always cheerfully given to the cause. What J. S. Wright was to Birmingham, Alderman Guest, F.S.A., was, in many respects, to Rotherham. He served his townsmen in varied ways, and by his death the district sustained a loss which it will be difficult to replace. For more than forty years Alderman Guest had been an abstainer, and for upwards of thirty years he was the honoured president of the local temperance society. The United Kingdom Alliance lost an active member of its executive during the General Election. Councillor Whittaker, of Salford, died suddenly while engaged in supporting the Local Option candidates for that borough; and more recently Joseph Wilson Owen, the widely esteemed electoral secretary of the Alliance, died after a few hours' illness, at a comparatively early age. The Dublin Total Abstinence Society has been deprived of its honoured president, George Foley, barrister-at-law. The deceased was a man of rare culture and scientific attainments, and his devotion to the temperance movement was characterised by a wholehearted enthusiasm seldom surpassed. The Irish Temperance League too misses one of its best friends, in the person of Edward Hume Townsend, J.P. He was for many years associated with the great pro-consul of India, Lord Lawrence, whom he survived barely twelve months. His interest in temperance work was manifested in an intensely practical manner, and that at a time when the movement was far from popular. So far back as forty-six years ago he was a decided advocate of total abstinence. The Irish Society for the Suppression of Intemperance will miss the genial presence of William Archer Redmond, M.P. for Wexford. Only two days before his lamented death, he had taken part in the Annual Meeting of the Society in Dublin. His unfailing support of temperance legislation in Parliament was ably supplemented by the assistance so willingly rendered at any gathering where it was thought his influence would aid the progress of the movement. The Western Temperance League has been called upon to part with George Jarvis, of Kilmington, who had been a member of |