The Annual Monitor for 1851 | Page 5

being overcome by drowsiness in meetings for worship. On one
occasion, when this had been the case, he retired to a secluded spot, under a hedge, where,
with many tears, he poured forth his prayers for deliverance from this besetment. Many
years afterwards, when accompanying a friend on a religious visit to the families of that
meeting, he pointed out the place, and remarked with expressions of gratitude, that from
that time, he did not remember having been overcome in the same manner.
He was deeply impressed with the words of his Saviour: "All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," and he so carried this precept out into
practice, as to become remarkable for his uprightness of character, and for his
consideration for others.
The following circumstances present instructive examples of the kindly sympathy of this
"good Samaritan:"
On the occurrence of a malignant fever, in one of the eastern dales of Yorkshire, while he
resided in that district, he left his own home for several weeks, to nurse some of his
neighbours who had become affected with the disease, devoting his whole time to the
sick, while dread of infection rendered it difficult for him to obtain assistance in this
office of mercy.
After his removal into the neighbourhood of York, and at a time when many persons
were returning past his premises from a contested Election, and some of them so much
intoxicated as to be incapable of taking care of themselves; fearing lest any severe
accident should befall them while in this condition, he took several of them from the
highway, and lodged them in one of his outhouses, dismissing them on the following
morning with suitable but kind admonition. And when numbers of the Irish poor were
driven from their own country by famine, and wandered about in this land "for lack of
bread," he sheltered many of them in his out-buildings and ministered to their necessities.
George Baker occupied the station of Elder for many years, exercising a fatherly care in

the church, and extending counsel or encouragement, as he saw occasion, with a
simplicity and godly sincerity which gave him great place amongst his friends. He was
often applied to by his neighbours for counsel, and as a peace-maker; and in serving them
was remarkable for his patience, self-denial, and success. In his latter years, his powers
both of body and mind failed greatly, in consequence of an accident which he met with,
while in the pursuit of his occupation as a farmer; but having "worked while it was day,"
he was preserved through a period which might be spoken of as "a night, in which no
man could work;" so that love, that badge of discipleship with Christ, shone brightly in
his last moments, as from under the margin of a dark cloud, and a solemn feeling of
peace with God, through Jesus Christ, pervaded his dying hours.
ELIZABETH G. BARCLAY, Walthamstow. Daughter of Joseph G. Barclay. 2 8mo. 31
1849
ROBERT BARKER, Cheadle, Manchester. 62 9mo. 28 1850
THOMAS BAYNES, Bainbridge, Yorkshire. 70 5mo. 14 1850
THOMAS BEAKBANE, Liverpool. 50 4mo. 14 1850
RACHEL BEEBY, Allonby. 65 12mo. 15 1849
MARY ANNE BELL, Belfast. Daughter of Thomas and Sarah Bell. 39 2mo. 23 1850
MARY BENINGTON, Wakefield. A Minister. Wife of George Benington. 55 6mo. 8
1850
ELIZABETH BENNIS, Clonmel. Daughter of the late William Bennis of Limerick. 16
2mo. 24 1850
PHOEBE BENT, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Widow of Joseph Bent of
Stockport. 85 8mo. 15 1850
ELIZABETH BENTLEY, Ipswich. Daughter of Thomas F. and Maria Bentley. 16 11mo.
28 1849
MARY BENWELL, Sidcot. 50 1mo. 13 1850
ELIZABETH BEWLEY, Rockville, Dublin. Daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Bewley. 3
1mo. 16 1850
WILLIAM BINNS, Poole. An Elder. 81 4mo. 10 1850
We have often had to observe, that many of our friends, who have lived to a good old age,
and who have been loved and honoured in their respective stations, as upright pillars in
the church, have left but few written memorials of their course for the instruction of
others; whilst encompassed with infirmities, and looking for the help of the Lord's Spirit
to resist their manifold temptations and easily besetting sins, they have been enabled to

pursue the even tenor of their way, seeking through divine grace to fulfil the day's work,
in the day time, and hoping to hear at last the call of mercy into one of the many
mansions prepared by Him, who has loved them and died for them. We love to dwell
upon this class of our departed friends, and without undervaluing those whose gifts have
been more prominent, or whom circumstances have rendered more conspicuous in our
pages, we sincerely desire that these more hidden, but not