GATHERED FRAGMENTS—A MEMORIAL OF THOMAS STANLEY WAKELEY. Oxford: J. C. Pembrey.
This neat substantial volume is a record of the life and words of a useful servant of Christ in the South of England. Mr. Wakeley was born in 1832, and was the son of a Church of England household, where Evangelical principles were professed. His native place, which was also the scene of his whole future life, was Rainham, Kent. The year 1859 was the year of Mr. Wakeley’s great change, when his dead soul was quickened into newness of life. His changed life was something of a public wonder, as he had been a very eager man of the world. Within the circle of his near friends, others beside himself were also being wrought upon at this time, and it is remarkable that this was also the year of spiritual manifestations in Scotland and the North of Ireland. His newborn zeal for the Kingdom found vent in a prayer meeting which he established in 1860 for the workers on his lands. It was held in the granary of the farm; and the spectacle of the former enthusiast for field sports taking pleasure in leading the devotions of a company of rustics was a thing to be noted. In the course of three years Mr. Wakeley’s deepening experience made him dissatisfied with the prevalent teaching of both Church and Chapel, and he was providentially led to acquaint himself with Mr. Grace, Particular Baptist minister at Brighton. Mr. Grace was of the school of Mr. Philpot of famous memory, and being thus introduced into the circle of fervid evangelical doctrine and experience, Mr. Wakeley profited so as he eventually became a prominent lay preacher of that communion. He began stated preaching in 1870 and continued in the work till his death in 1899. Providence Chapel, Rainham, Kent, was the central scene of his labours, but he was frequently absent preaching in distant villages and cities. The extracts contained in the book give a good idea of Mr. Wakeley’s plain experimental divinity. His proficiency in grace was the result of much prayer and many tribulations. There are also in the book glimpses of many other like-minded Christians, and the brief memoir of Mrs. Wakeley is interesting and instructive. This well-got-up volume consists of 384 pages, crown 8vo, with two portraits and two illustrations, and is to be had at the very moderate price of 3/., post free.
“THE MEN OF SKYE,” by Mr. Roderick MacCowan, is now issued, and may be had, as will be seen from advertisement, for 3/6 nett, or 3/9 including postage. We expect to have a more extended notice of this interesting book, which covers a new field, in next issue. It may be sufficient to say meantime that it should be read with great avidity by Skyemen in particular, and by all who are interested in the religion of the Highlands in general.