EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. AUGUST 1821. A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE LATE ROBERT SPEAR, ESQ. M OF MANCHESTER. (Abridged from the First Number of the Investigator.) R.SPEAR was so sincere and zealous a friend to evangelical religion, and to the active means of late years adopted to support it, that we feel it our duty to preserve a memorial of his character; and not having received an original Memoir, adopt with pleasure the following particulars from the above respectable publication, which we have been some time waiting for an opportunity to insert. Mr. Robert Spear was born in Manchester, November 27th, 1762. His father was a respectable linen draper, and a native of Scotland. Both his parents were dissenters, and the former for many years an active member and deacon of the Independent Church in Cannon Street, Manchester. Young Mr. Spear received his education in part at the public grammar school of that populous town, and finished it at a private seminary near Liverpool. He was a youth of great promise, and from the age of 15 gave evidence of decided piety. By an alarming illness at this period his mind was much inclined toward the ministry; but his talents appearing to his friends more suitable to trade, he was persuaded to relinquish that idea, and was bound apprentice to Messrs. Clegg and Kirkham, who were among the first cotton-dealers in Manchester. XXIX. About the same period, Mr. S. appears to have joined the church of which his father was a deacon, and from that time took a deep interest in its concerns. His conduct in business was also so highly satisfactory to his employers, that, in the last year of his apprenticeship, he was intrusted by them, in conjunction with two other houses, with an important mission to Lisbon to purchase Brazil cotton, and made a very successful and advantageous speculation. But what is more pertinent to our subject, and will be far more interesting to our readers is, that though he visited a place so devoted to superstition, and was compelled to mix in the high and fashionable circles, he preserved both his conduct and principles uncontaminated; though, as might naturally be supposed, he suffered much ridicule from his companions, on account of his religious scruples, particularly in his strict observation of the sabbath. On Mr. S's return from Lisbon, and the expiration of his indentures, he entered into business on his own account, and with good success. After about two years, he engaged in partnership (so far as regarded the cotton trade only) with Mr. R. Arkwright (son of Sir R. A-) which, owing to the circumstances of the times, was but of short duration, 2 A and occasioned to Mr. S. considerable loss; but though necessarily separated in business, they lived on terms of friendship till Mr. A's death. Soon after this, Mr. S. entered in a mercantile connexion with Messrs. Brocklehurst and Whittenbury, also of Manchester, which continued till 1793 or 4; after which he recommenced business alone, and, by the blessing of God, realized a very considerable property. Mr. Spear was also twice married, and has left a daughter by his first marriage, and several children by the second. But our principal concern (as we have already intimated) is with Mr. Spear's religious character and conduct. In the support of the cause of Christ, and the interests of philanthropy, he was generous to a degree that many would call profuse; and ga gave, not only his money, but his time and talents to such objects as were within his reach; but his interference was not assuming, nor his charity ostentatious; an example of which occurred at the first Missionary Collection at Moseley Street Chapel, when he put 300l. privately into the Missionary Box; but the amount of the sum betrayed him. He also contributed liberally to the support of village preaching in his native county, and of Sunday Schools. In 1803, he built a neat and commodious chapel in Cross Street, a village about 6 miles from Manchester, which cost about 800l., the whole expense of which (except about 50%.) was defrayed by Mr. Spear and a relation, who furnished 120l. to every 501. of Mr. S. He also built a day-school adjoining, to the concerns of which he gave his "personal attendance, whereby the discovered himself so much imposed upon, by parents who needed not such assistance, that he turned this benevolence into another channel. Deeply impressed with the im portance of learning to a Christian minister, he liberally assisted Rotherham Academy, then under the care of Dr. Ed. Williams, and made a journey to London, together with Messrs. Walker and Clapham, to engage the friends of religion in the metropolis on its behalf. He also formed one himself on the same principle, though on a smaller scale, at Manchester. In another excur*sion, however; which he made with several ministers through the Highlands of Scotland, for the promotion of religion, he contracted an asthmatic complaint, which compelled him to withdraw, first from all active concern in business, and then from his native town and from all secular concerns. In 1809, he wound up his affairs in trade, and retired to Mill Bank, about 12 miles from Manchester. Here Mr. S., still mindful of the spiritual interests of his neighbours, and especially the poor, fitted up a barn as a place of worship, and established a Sunday School. His pastor (Mr. Bradley, of Manchester) was invited to open the new chapel; but the concourse of hearers was so great, that he had the pulpit (which was moveable) carried out of doors-officiated himself as clerk, and opened the service with giving out these striking words, "I'm not asham'd to own my Lord, In the close of the morning service, he also affectionately addressed the people, assuring them that his object in coming to reside among them was to do them good both in soul and body. Many appeared to be effectually wrought upon by the services of that Sabbath day, and a church and congregation were soon after formed upon the spot. Soon after this event, Mr. Spear's garden and hot-houses were robbed of a considerable quantity of valuable fruit. This was on Saturday night; next morning he had a pla card stuck against the wall, stating, that if the depredator would come to him, he would not only forgive, but, if in distress, relieve his necessities: This so interested the feelings of his neighbours, as to raise his character for benevolence very high among them; and though it does not appear that the thief confessed, yet the indignation excited against the offence was so general, and so great, that he was robbed no more. Mr. Spear was, however, never settled after he left Manchester: a depression of spirits seems to have followed him in his removals, and he was harassed between an anxiety to fix on a station of the most promising usefulness, and a conscientious dread of departing from the path of duty: at length, after much deliberation, counsel, and even hesitation, he fixed his final residence at Edinburgh, where he died. The following account of his last illness is quoted from the periodical work above mentioned: tain indication of his danger, immediately on their entering the room. All hope of life was now taken away. The dying saint was himself fully aware of it. Early on Tuesday morning, the last day he spent on earth, at the close of which he entered heaven, several of the members of his family being assembled round his bed, he broke silence by this short aspiration" Let the bright shining of thy countenance appear!" This he repeated several times; and when his daughter expressed her confidence, that his prayer would be answered, he added, with peculiar emphasis, "O, yes!" He was disposed to converse, but was restrained by the express and repeated request of the Physicians; on this account but few of the family were allowed to see him. It was evident that his thoughts were much engaged about eternal things; his prospects of future felicity were unclouded, and his mind was perfectly tranquil. He was not, however, without anxieties for his family; but was quite alive to the deep affliction in which his death would involve them. About 9 in the evening, a few friends being assembled in the house, he was asked if it would be agreeable to him that they should join in prayer on his behalf: He instantly expressed his satisfaction, his countenance brightening into a smile that indicated the glory that filled his soul. He retained his consciousness almost to the last moment: and, at half past 12, on the morning of the first of September [1819] his happy spirit entered into the rest that remaineth to the people of God. "About the middle of August, he was attacked with fever, and confined for a week to his room. He recovered, however, so as to be able to take exercise, and went up [from Porto Bello, by the sea-side, where he then resided, about 3 miles] to Edinburgh, to meet his eldest daughter, on her arrival from England. But the fever soon returned, accompanied with inflammation. He remained in Edinburgh, and every exertion of medical skill was made to afford him relief. On Monday, 30th of August, he was considered materially better, and great hopes were entertained of his recovery: but A relative, who was present, writes, these appearances were only flatter-His departure, like his life, was ing and delusive; for, on the follow-marked, I may say, with an almost ing morning, a rapid change for the worse took place; so great, indeed, that it affected his countenance, and gave to his medical attendants a cer enviable serenity: The taper of life gradually sunk lower and lower in the socket, till he departed, without a struggle, a groan, or the |