"In this way, without calling on any one or urging any one to speak or pray, he would kindle the flame of devotion until no one could keep silent. "The Orthodox Friends-than whom no more godly people are to be found in that city-were many of them attracted to his church, and associated with him in Christian work.

"Perhaps no man ever exerted a wider or better influence in that community, in the same time, than did Alfred Cookman, and no man was more highly esteemed or more tenderly loved. And why should he not? To very many his life and labors had proved, under God, an unspeakable blessing.

"The moulding power of Brother Cookman's godly life over Grace Church just at a most important period of its early history will continue, I doubt not, to bless that Church to its latest day; so it will many outside of that Church who were brought in contact with his great, catholic, Christ-like spirit.

"For, while a decided Methodist, Brother Cookman was a man of large heart, expansive views, and a charity that cordially fellowshiped with all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence he was ever ready for cooperation with any or all the other denominations in any movement for advancing the cause of Christ in the community or in the world. I have heard it said by old men that never before had there been such a kind, fraternizing spirit among all denominations of Christians as there was at that time in Wilmington."

The following tribute, in harmony with Mr. Smyth's statement, appeared just before Mr. Cookman's removal, in The Wilmington Commercial :

"The Rev. Mr. Cookman closes the last three years of his ministry in this city on next Sabbath. They have been years of indefatigable labor, of great acceptability, and distinguished success. Being the first pastor in the great Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, the most beautiful church, we think, on this continent, it was his to settle its spiritual foundations, and give tone and evangelical views to its worshipers, and start the Church on in deeds of great enterprise. He has borne up the ark of testimony by his own personal piety, by his faithful and eloquent preaching, his labors in Sabbathschools, in the temperance cause, missionary operations, and, in fact, in every good word and work among the sister churches and other denominations. He truly possesses a union and fraternal spirit, and wherever he goes he has a hand and heart for every body.

"It is with deep regret that his brethren of the Wilmington Conference

PARTING WITH GRACE CHURCH.

401

part with him, and many of the laity will follow him with tearful eyes, and prayerful wishes that they may meet again on this side of the grave, and if not, that they may meet in heaven. The young, to whom he has been peculiarly useful, and who are sincerely attached to him, will be deeply affected. May good angels go with him."

The parting interviews of the beloved pastor with his Church in all its departments-the general congregation, the Sundayschool, the social meeting-were deeply affecting, but with none more so than with the chosen circle of persons who were in the habit of attending the Wednesday-afternoon meeting. Mr. W. S. Hillis, a minister of the Society of Friends, in opening the Wednesday-afternoon meeting at which Mr. Cookman was last present before leaving, felt impressed to select the account of St. Paul's last charge to the elders of the Church of Ephesus, Acts xx., 17, etc.; and as he read the verses concluding, “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more," he was overcome by his emotions. Mr. Cookman and the whole audience wept, and for some time the sorrow was so uncontrollable as to make it impossible to proceed with the services. Alas! how prophetic the selection of those words!

CHAPTER XXIII.

CENTRAL CHURCH, NEWARK, N. J.—OCEAN GROVE CAMP-GROUND. -NATIONAL CAMP-MEETINGS AT ROUND LAKE AND URBANA.

FOR months prior to March, 1871, Mr. Cookman's mind had been agitated with the question of his next appointment. He had been invited to Boston, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Cincinnati, Ohio, Washington, D. C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Newark, N. J., and pressed earnestly in all these cases to entertain the proposition for a transfer. He undoubtedly meant, when he returned to the Philadelphia Conference, to remain in it for life; but the division of the Conference in 1868 had unexpectedly thrown him out of it into the Wilmington Conference, and now his Conference relations were again unsettled. So imperative seemed the demand for his services in certain important churches in the controlling centres of population and influence, that he finally yielded, though reluctantly, to higher convictions of duty -in regard to the freest interchange of ministers throughout the whole Church-and consented to be transferred to the Newark Conference, and was stationed at the Central Church, Market Street, Newark, N. J. This proved to be his last transfer and his last appointment in the Church. At the next roll-call, at the name of Alfred Cookman, instead of the round, full, silvery "here," there would be silence and tears.

In view of the frequency of Mr. Cookman's transfers from one Conference to another, and of the class of churches which he generally served, a communication from Mr. John Thompson, of Philadelphia, will be found pertinent. A letter from himself to a lady friend reveals the same earnest desire that ever attended these changes, to know and follow the divine

CONCERNING HIS NEXT PASTORATE.

403 will. An incident also occurred before he left Grace, while his mind was yet undetermined as to the course he should take.

There was a little prayer-meeting at which were present some of his closest friends. He prayed earnestly to be directed to go where God might will—to suffer or to die for Him; and requested his friends to make special prayer. The next morning they all said "Newark."

From Mr. John Thompson to Mrs. Annie E. Cookman:

"PHILADELPHIA, March 22, 1873.

"Some time before you left Grace Church, Wilmington, Del., I wrote to Brother Cookman in reference to his future field of labor. You know that our intimacy was such that we freely opened our hearts to each other on all such subjects. I kept no copy of my letter, and do not recollect the precise wording, but the substance which I recollect distinctly was that for some time I had been strongly impressed with the conviction that his usefulness would be greatly increased if he were allowed the privilege of filling a different class of appointments. I recollect I named such churches as Kensington, Tabernacle, and Ebenezer, of this city. I urged that while he had the ability to succeed in what are called first-class churches, such as he had been filling, that the proposed charges, with the same untiring effort, deep piety, and popular ability for which he was so remarkable, would yield a much more glorious harvest. I closed with the solicitation that he would give me his views and convictions in this connection.

"The promptness of his reply indicated his deep interest in the subject. I regret that I did not preserve his letter. He said he was glad I proposed the inquiry. It was a subject that had caused him the most intense solicitude. The great matter with him was to ascertain clearly what the Lord would have him do (on this point he was sometimes confused), but a clear conviction of the will of God settled all other questions in his mind. Firstclass churches were seemingly a necessity of the times. Somebody must be appointed to the pastoral charge. Without any seeking on his part some of them asked for his services, and it was the opinion of the bishops that this was his proper sphere of labor. He considered when he entered on the itinerant work of the ministry that he surrendered the question of the field of his labor to the godly judgment of the bishops, and if they should at any time change their judgment and appoint him to such fields of labor as I had suggested, it would give him great satisfaction. As far as he had any choice in the matter, he thought this would be his preference.

"He claimed that it was generally understood that he preferred the freeseat system—that on this subject he had not sought to conceal his views, but that he did not feel called on to disturb the peace of the Church on this subject, as he had unbounded confidence in the piety of those who held opposite views. He supposed that Newark, N. J., would be his next field of labor, but if it were not the will of God, he trusted that all arrangements in this direction would be defeated. I do not pretend to give Brother Cookman's precise words, but I think I correctly give you his sentiments as expressed in the letter referred to."

To Mrs. Lewis, of Columbus, O.:

"WILMINGTON, September 20, 1870.

*** “Last Friday I was disappointed in not dining with you and Homer, but some brethren, waylaying me, marched me off to the Continental, and took nearly all my noon-time in pressing upon my attention the claims and attractions of their pastorate. I am sure I could enjoy it and be useful in that sphere, but what am I to do? The calls begin to come in, and among the rest a very special one from Cincinnati. The mention of Ohio will make Homer's heart thrill. I love it for his sake, but have myself never felt any wonderful drawing to the West-dread the long journey for my large family, the laborious house-keeping in that smoky atmosphere, the separation from our mothers and life-long friends, etc., etc. Still I want to move in God's order, and this may be His order. Oh, for a voice from Heaven! It is too bad for so many people to put their cares on your kind heart, but you know that, apart from kindred, you are one of my very dearest friends in the world. Homer will not upbraid me when I say that I love you-aye, and him, too, with a true, pure, and blessed love in the Lord Jesus Christ. For nearly twelve years your friendship has been as true as the needle to the pole, while the remembrance of your self-sacrificing services in times of trial fills my heart with unutterable gratitude to Almighty God for your sisterly affection. Will you not, then, let me ask that you will especially pray that I may be guided at this most important juncture? God can overrule my mistakes. I know that, but I do not want to make any mistake. I desire to choose the right and the best way. "Give my best love to Homer.

"Annie starts for Philadelphia to-morrow, taking the baby, of course. He is intensely sweet—a drop of Heaven's honey laid on our hearts.”

The Central Church, Newark, gave a cordial welcome to their new pastor. He found a large and handsome church edifice,