Vol 2, pages 1-100 - My Primitive Methodist Ancestors

THE PERIOD OF CIRCUIT PREDOMINANCE AND ENTERPRISE. 71
of which he was an ornament, and took a large share in its most important
transactions. He was not only a leading man in his own circuit, where his
influence was great, and beneficially exerted ;
but was likewise raised to the
highest offices of trust and responsibility which the Connexion
could confer upon a layman, being constituted a permanent member
of Conference, which he regularly attended, and at which he
rendered valuable service. He pursued a sound course in matters
of Church business, and studied to promote the best interests of
the Connexion. For some time previous to his death, it was
evident to his friends that he was ripening for the garner of God.
He became increasingly dead to the world, and more spiritual
and heavenly in his temper and disposition. His removal to the
celestial country was affectingly sudden. On Sunday, December
17th, 1854, he attended his preaching appointment at Kippax,
near
MRS. BROGDEX.
Leeds, and while engaged in prayer in the congregation, his
voice began to fail, and the last words he was heard to utter,
were, ' '
Lord Jesus, bless me ! O God ! come to my help A ! paralytic stroke
deprived him of speech, and of the use of his right side. He lingered until the
Wednesday following, when he expired without a lingering groan, aged fiftyfour
years. On December 24th, 1854, devout men carried him to his burial
'
in Woodhouse Cemetery, and made great lamentation over him.' He died comparatively
young but he had been
;
permitted to perform a large share of useful
service in the Church of Christ, and to the glory of his Saviour's name."
It is pleasing to know that fifty years after Mr. Reynard's death the family has still
its representatives in Leeds Primitive Methodism. We give the portrait of his amiable
daughter, the late Mrs. Brogden, whose husband, Mr. Alexander Brogden, was an
earnest worker in our Church, and for many years superintendent of Quarry Hill
Sunday school ;
while Mrs. Brogden herself (obiit -December, 1902)
was for ten
years a class-leader, and also a successful Sabbath school teacher at Quarry Hill
and Belle Vue.
If John Keynard was the Primitive Methodist bookbinder, John Parrot was perhaps
for a considerable time its best-known printer. His imprint
is to
be found on " "
The Primitive Pulpit and many other books and
pamphlets printed in the 'Fifties and 'Sixties. A native of Hull
and connected with Mill Street Society he removed to Halifax
in 1835, where he became a local preacher. Two years after he
settled in Leeds, where he lived and worked until his death in
1871. He was a hard worker, and what was less common in those
days a lover of fun and frolic. He filled and fulfilled many offices,
but probably the best and most lasting work he did was his
Bible-teaching. There are those occupying important positions in
the Church to-day who will be ready to express their obligations
to the genial printer.
In 1820 Leeds was made a branch of Hull Circuit, and it is an interesting coincidence
that
JOHN PARROTT.
Samuel Laister, the first Primitive preacher the deputation heard on their visit to
Ferrybridge, was one of the first preachers of the Leeds Branch. Samuel Laister was