[From Thomas Howard Gill, 1895]

Thomas Howard Gill

PREFACE.

IN writing this short Memoir of the Rev. T. Howard Gill, it has been my great desire to infuse into it something of that brightness which was his essential characteristic. Life to him, even when overshadowed by heavy trials, was never sad.

He walked in his Master's garden, rejoicing in the flowers and fruits of the earth, in the soft spring showers, and the bright summer sunshine.

The earth was the Lord's, and it was very good, and he was the sower sowing the seed, casting it plentifully abroad on barren places, in the glad hope that even there a harvest might spring up.

" My death may do more than my life would have done," he said, when he felt the shadow of death creeping over him. No thought of self, no personal regret for the life he was leaving disturbed him in that solemn hour. His thoughts, to the very last; were for others-how he could benefit them.

And so I send these words forth to the world that some may still hear his voice, and feel how great was his love. " For being dead he yet speaketh "-speaketh with that strong, joyous faith, which for young and old alike, but more especially for the young, had an almost magnetic power, drawing them ever upwards, not into the clouds of doubt and fear, but into the sunlight of Christ's presence.

For the young then, whose power in the future he so well recognised, I have more especially written this sketch of a noble life, in which I have striven to blend the manly human life with spiritual aspirations, so as to make it no dead letter, but a living reality, full of colour, gladdening, not saddening those who shall read these pages, making them rejoice rather that so faithful a worker in his Master's vineyard has finished his course, and entered into his rest.

ELIZA F. POLLARD.