CHAPTER XIX. 1849-1852.
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CHAPTER XIX.
1849-1852.
PARRAMATTA, --to many the dearest spot on earth: for many of its lovely homes, which from the earliest years of the colony had been held by worthy families, and the vineyards and orchards, in which as children they had romped, now afforded them retirement for fond or pensive meditation. But to as many more, who knew it from necessity, it was the dullest. The changes since effected by the railway have somewhat improved its general character. The numerous available sites for rural homes, within an hour's reach from the city, have tempted many families; and the growth of colonial population has stimulated the industries of orange and vine growing and orchard culture, for which the surrounding country is famed. New folk and fancies have somewhat modified the ideas of the people, but at the date of this narrative their quietude was proverbial. It was not inappropriately that a city reporter, in chronicling a memorable hunt in the vicinity of city sportsmen, said, "Then Parramatta turned round and went to sleep again."
Of the founders of large families resident there, not a few were pious, God-fearing persons; and of this number some were Wesleyans. Several valuable public men in Methodism had begun their labours there. The dull conservatism, however, which had marked its commercial and social life, had prevailed in matters more important. And though the, Wesleyan Ministers who since 1820 had successively occupied the station, had experienced much
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kindness, they had in general found it a depressing appointment. Mr. Turner had laboured there in early times for a few months, and had since then often visited it; so that he knew well its wants. He had many friends there; and, being received with kindness, entered upon his work with cheerfulness and energy.
There were two chapels in the town, the second being a mistake of the Centenary year; and several scattered Societies in the country, at distances of six, eight, and ten miles from home. Mr. Turner had no colleague, and the staff of effective preachers at the time was inadequate for the whole work. Under the circumstances, he laboured harder than was prudent. His ordinary public work was six or seven times preaching, besides two classes and prayer-meetings, weekly. For three months he grieved much that he saw but little encouragement. He spoke of his work as "like so much ploughing on a rock." Sometimes, when "the old standards" would remind him that so many of God's servants, during thirty years, had had similar discouragement, he would reply, "Ah, well! something must be wrong. I cannot be happy, unless I see the work of God prosper." What he meant by the work prospering was not simply having an interested congregation, and a hearty acceptance among the people, but the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, believers sanctified, and sinners saved.
Recreation meant change of work. In April he visited Goulburn and neighbouring towns, in the hope that an evangelistic tour of a fortnight in that salubrious region would benefit both himself and the several communities in his round. The journey gave him "the most severe shaking he ever had." On reaching Goulburn he found "its buildings far in advance" of what he had expected. The plains were "brown through the protracted drought." At Queanteyan he preached twice with freedom, and on the Monday night gave a missionary speech, which occupied an hour and a
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half. On Tuesday night he preached at Gunning, having travelled forty-five miles that day. Next day he preached in the forenoon, attended a tea-meeting in the afternoon, and a Missionary meeting at night. His Thursday's work was a full day's travel and four times preaching by the way. One of the places was Wheeo, since famous as the rendezvous of bushrangers. On Friday he journeyed to Crookwell, Mr. Oake's station, and preached at night. After a full Sabbath's work in Goulburn, he reached home on Wednesday, all the better for the bracing air of the table land district, and mentally and spiritually refreshed by the free engagements of his roving commission. That fortnight's tour is perhaps not an unfair specimen of the occasional "Recreations of a country" Methodist "Parson" in New South Wales, when enjoying the honour of being a deputation to an inland district.
In Parramatta were a few devoted men who felt for God's cause. Their Minister's stirring pulpit appeals, and earnest labours for souls, awoke and stimulated their reserve force of spiritual life, and they worked hard. Frequently the Sabbath evening prayer-meetings became services of revival power. Several wanderers were restored, and some few penitents found the Saviour. At these times Mr. Turner had not always the self-restraint called for. His strength for the day having been pretty nearly exhausted by fifteen or twenty miles' travelling and three services, he would just open the prayer-meeting he had called after the sermon, leave the Hymn-Book with some Local Preacher or Leader, run into his house next door, exchange his flannel vest, wringing wet with perspiration, for a dry one, and then return to do battle with the devil and unbelief. He often earnestly engaged in prayer several times in the same meeting.
As he had been forewarned, these undue labours, and the excitement connected with them, proved too much for his
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physical strength. An attack of bronchitis came on, which enfeebled him very much. Medical advisers and friends counselled him to rest wholly from public work for a time. In view of his family his case became serious. Several times during the previous four years he had overtaxed his strength, and been temporarily laid aside; and it now became evident that his zeal was rapidly consuming his vital force. His ardent temperament, an occasion of danger with him as a Methodist preacher anywhere, was peculiarly so where the atmosphere was unfriendly or the labour undue. As a matter of duty to his family, he reluctantly undertook a voyage to Melbourne. The neat little clipper schooner "Favourite," a model to look at, took his fancy in preference to the steamer, and there were friends among his fellow passengers. During the voyage much bad weather was experienced, and the craft had to shelter in Twofold Bay. She was twelve days reaching Melbourne, but the sea air had invigorated his lungs and appetite, and considerably recruited his strength. He found Melbourne distracted with the gold fever. In company with his son-in-law, the Rev. John Harcourt, he paid a brief visit to Mount Alexander, where twenty thousand persons were congregated. He met many Wesleyan friends, who were doing well. One party of five had cleared one hundred pounds in five days. Only one whom he knew spoke unfavourably of gold digging. Feeling benefitted by the change, and hoping for further improvement by the return voyage, he took passage for Sydney by the "Hirondelle," though in Melbourne he had been pressed by invitation to visit Van Diemen's Land. The voyage was tedious, and the latter part of it rough. Cold south-east winds, with much rainy weather, renewed his cold, and when he rejoined his family he was scarcely, if anything, better than when he had left them. The weakness in his chest was great, and he was quite unfit for work. He
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talked to the people a little on the first two Thursday evenings, and afterwards resumed his Sabbath labour with tolerable comfort.
Mr. Turner was now fifty-eight years of age, and being possessed of uncommon energy and a good flow of spirits, the prospect of early falling out of the ranks of an active working ministry was very painful to him. He had a large family, many of whom were still young; and except under occasional attacks, the result usually of undue exertion, he was lively and vigorous. He had the conviction that a voyage to England and back, with the thorough change and pleasure it would afford, would do him permanent good, and secure him strength for several years' added labour. The General Superintendent did not feel free to sanction his going, without the consent of the Committee. On the 30th of January he posted a letter to the Committee, requesting the required permission. A copy of the letter is before me. It modestly alluded to thirty years' faithful services, according to his ability, and suggested that he might, if spared to see England, by his presence exert so much influence in the interest of Missions as would cover the extra expenses to be incurred by his voyage. For several months he anticipated a favourable reply, but from some unaccountable cause he never received a line from the Committee upon the subject. With this he was much grieved, and he did not renew the application. His family hoped that there was some postal miscarriage.
His few letters written at this date which have come to my hand exhibit a delightful spirit of Christian confidence and submission; and his correspondence with the members of. his family especially, scattered throughout the colonies, breathe a loving and faithful concern for their highest welfare.
Early in June Mr. Turner had an attack of lumbago. It was immediately followed by ophthalmia, from which he
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suffered acutely, and was confined to his room for more than a week. While very feeble, he attempted a Sabbath morning service, but found himself unequal to it. He wrote: "I should be glad to be kept quiet for two months, till winter shall have passed away. What the District Meeting will do with us I know not, but suppose I shall not be allowed to lay aside at present." He greatly enjoyed this month a visit from his friend, Mr. Henry Hopkins, of Hobart Town. Thirty years before they had been associated in loving Christian labours in Hobart Town, and through the whole succeeding time had enjoyed a sanctified intimate friendship. I feel it a dutiful obligation to name Mr. Hopkins as among the foremost of the successful merchants in the churches of the southern world who have honoured God with their substance. The Christian character shone in his valuable life. His liberal donations towards religious purposes were not by legacy, but by consecration during his life.
The gold mania was making sad work with the congregations and Societies of the Parramatta Circuit. Inquiries by pastor or leader for absentees from church or class were met by the answer, "Off to the Diggings." Many returned wofully disappointed. To get a very little gold, they had expended much silver, besides suffering physical hardship and spiritual loss. The Church excitement and derangement from this cause continued and increased for the rest of his term in the Circuit.
The District Meeting re-appointed him, regretting, at the same time, that, from the paucity of Ministers and of funds, the way did not appear by which they could render him any effective assistance. During the whole of the December quarter he was entirely laid aside from public work. The spiritual wants of the Diggings, south and west, were attracting much attention; and at the General Superintendent's request, Mr. Turner, while still an invalid, and in part
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with a view to his health, went on a ministerial visit of inquiry and observation to Braidwood. He was driven by the writer of these memorials. The first Sabbath was spent at Goulburn. Monday's journey of sixty miles to Braid-wood was much enjoyed, the course lying through a magnificent valley or series of rich plains. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at Braidwood and Major's Creek. There were the usual scenes of vice prevailing at new goldfield towns. But there were several pious Wesleyans at the latter place, who honoured God by their worship and testimony. The weather generally was fine; and though the toil of travel was overmuch, the three hundred and fifty miles' tour was, upon the whole, an enjoyment. Upon his return journey an old forsaken road had been followed: the mistake was only found out just as night and rain had set in together. It was an awkward country for strangers, and for some time there appeared every probability of his camping out in the wet, without fire or food, which in his state of health would have been very serious. Whether his lungs were weak or strong, he made the bush ring again and again with his "cooee." But its echo was the only reply. This was before the days of buggies, and the old gig was kept jolting on at the supposed rate of a mile in half an hour, till patience was rewarded. A shepherd's dog replied to the "cooees," and in a short time a refuge was found, and the supper of damper and mutton was enjoyed. It is hoped that the kindly words and prayers of the servant of God, welcomed in that lonely bark hut, cheered on the struggling shepherd and his wife in after years, and that their bright-eyed little children have learned to sing of Jesus from the hymn-book left with them.
In March he wrote to his eldest son as follows:-- "My health is much better, but it is now pretty certain that I shall not be ever equal to the regular ministry again. My chest is very, very weak, and with the slightest change to damp
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and cold I become oppressed like an asthmatical person; but I am encouraged to hope I may for a while be spared to my family, and do good in a smaller way. Mr. Morris, from India, is at Adelaide, on his way to the colony, and should he come to Parramatta, I shall seek to leave it before winter sets in; for it is more damp and cold here than in the neighbourhood of Sydney, to which locality we shall probably direct our attention for the present, if we can procure a suitable dwelling. Retiring will be a trial to me, but I will try cheerfully to submit. I have been long favoured with health and vigour, and it would be wicked in me to complain."
The foregoing appears to have been his first written anticipation of retiring wholly from the work. Circumstances favoured him so far that at the end of the quarter arrangements were completed for his removal from Parramatta. He carried with him the affection of the Church, and esteem of the community, and left not a few who had been savingly benefitted by his ministry.
