THE IMPERIAL MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1831.

BRIEF MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM FREEMAN LLOYD.

(With a Portrait.)

THERE are no classes of the community more worthy of having their names transmitted to posterity, than those who have devoted their time and talents to the benefit of their fellow-creatures. The multitudes who need

assistance, present themselves in various characters; but among the melancholy groups, none appear so forlorn and helpless as the children of the poor. Without parental instruction, without the influence of good example, and without the means of procuring friends, vast numbers among them enter life under every disadvantage. Excluded from all opportunities of acquiring useful knowledge, and of obtaining any moral culture, the seeds of vice, which are lodged in the human heart, soon produce a fatally luxuriant crop, which, growing to maturity without any control, fills up every avenue of the soul, and leaves no room for the admission of virtues which education might implant.

In all ages, individuals, actuated by the pure principles of benevolence which christianity inspires, have found many objects on which to employ their energies; but in modern times, these objects have multiplied in number, and presented themselves in such striking characters, that a new impetus has been given to the active virtues of the christian world; and the friends of Revelation, regardless of the distinguishing peculiarities of their respective creeds, have united in one harmonious co-operation, to give an ample diffusion to that knowledge which is able to make men wise unto salvation.

In the formation of Bible Societies, and of Missionary establishments, they have long since concentrated their energies; and to their unwearied exertions, mankind are greatly indebted for that extended knowledge of Revelation, which is now diffused throughout a considerable portion of the world. Happily, however, for the rising generations of the poor, their benevolence has not been exclusively devoted to foreign parts. Many among them saw with painful emotions, the infant tribes of their neighbours growing up in ignorance and vice, and to their condition the charities of the heart were instantly turned.

Robert Raikes, of immortal memory, appears foremost in this band of christian patriots. But no sooner had he touched the sacred string, than the sound vibrated in the ears of others, who were actuated by a similar spirit, and who voluntarily came forward, to assist in moving an untried, but powerful machine, that promised to effect a mighty change in the moral world. Among these, multitudes gave pecuniary aid; some rendered personal assistance; while others, having calculated on the causes, means, and consequences of employing this energetic instrument, nobly resolved to devote their time and talents to a work, which, from every feature of its character, they were fully persuaded would be owned and blessed of God.

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In this undertaking, there could be no room for the operation of dishonourable ambition. To collect from the streets, and lanes, and courts, and alleys of our towns and cities, the little vagrants, to bear with their obstinacy, and teach them their duty to God and man, was not a region in which pride delights to walk. Worldly emolument, and the plaudits of admiring spectators, may in many instances gratify self-esteem, and induce even haughtiness and vanity to submit to temporary degradation; but where these stimulants have no power to operate, when we see an individual, gathering together the little outcasts of the human family, from the most depraved neighbourhoods, to instruct them in the things which make for their everlasting peace, and devoting his life to the performance of a task so irksome to flesh and blood, we cannot but conclude that he is under the influence of a more powerful principle, and is actuated by gratitude to God and love to man. It is in this light that we must survey the subject of this memoir.

Mr. WILLIAM FREEMAN LLOYD was born at Uley, a beautiful village in Gloucestershire, on the 22d of December, in the year 1791. The county which gave him birth is remarkable, not only as furnishing the source of the Thames, the fame of which is known throughout the civilized world, but as giving birth to two of the greatest blessings connected with the young, that the history of mankind could ever boast. These are the Sunday-school system, originating with Robert Raikes; and the vaccine inoculation, for the preservation of life and health, by the celebrated Dr. Jenner.

The father of Mr. Lloyd was a respectable cloth manufacturer, and a deacon of the Independent church in his native village. His mother was descended from a long line of pious ancestors, among whom may be men→ tioned the Rev. Joshua Head, one of the ejected ministers. This was formerly an epithet of disgrace, but it is now a mark of honourable distinction. Both these parents died when Mr. Lloyd was in his youthful years, but not until he had learnt some valuable lessons from the instructions and example of each. This may be fairly inferred from the following little incident. When addressing the children of Sundayschools on the duty of prayer, he has sometimes referred to his pious mother, and mentioned the following prayer which she taught him when quite a child: "Lord, teach me, a little child, to pray; for I do not know how to pray.

ance.

With Mr. Lloyd's early education we have only an indistinct acquaintIt would appear, that while receiving the rudiments of his learning, the interests of the Sunday Schools invariably engrossed much of his attention. Pleased with what he had seen of these institutions, then in their infancy, both at Gloucester and in his native village, he entered with spirit into the nature and work of Sunday-school instruction. About the year 1806, when a pupil at the school of the Rev. James Hinton, of Oxford, from whose pious advice and counsel he derived much spiritual advantage, he commenced the employment in which he has ever since been engaged, by assisting in teaching some of the junior Sunday scholars. The labours thus commenced in early youth, were continued in subsequent years.

Removing shortly afterwards to London, he still adhered to the work in which he had engaged, and joined some individuals, of a kindred spirit, who had opened a Sunday School in the degraded neighbourhood of Saffron-hill. He afterwards established another at Haberdashers' Hall.

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Towards the close of the year 1808, Mr. Lloyd became a member of the Rev. Dr. Winter's church, at New-court, Carey-street, London. He still continued his former Sunday-school labours, while he expressed his regret that no such institution was connected with the church of which he had just become a member. After some months he brought the subject before the pious minister, and the members belonging to that congregation. It was instantly taken into consideration, and so warmly supported, that on the 3d of December, 1809, the New-court Sunday-school was permanently opened. Though young in years, yet having had more previous acquaintance with the nature and management of these institutions, than those friends with whom he was now associated, he was requested to take the offices of superintendent and secretary. To this wish he acceded, and these offices he continues to hold to the present day.

The Sunday-school Union, of which Mr. Lloyd has during a long period been secretary, was established in 1803. It consists of a voluntary association of gratuitous teachers and others, interested in the welfare of Sunday-schools, who, by their united efforts, endeavour to improve and extend these institutions, without interfering with the private concerns of any individual establishment. Churchmen, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and Methodists, furnish the members of this Union. These originally founded the Society, and they still continue to labour in the same cause with harmony and unabated zeal.

At what particular time Mr. Lloyd was appointed secretary of this Union, we have not been able to learn with precision; the minute-book which contains the entry having been lost. It is, however, well known, that more than twenty years have elapsed since he was delegated to this office, during which period he has continued to manifest the same warmth of affection, and ardency of zeal, to promote the interests and extend the influence of the Union, that primarily induced him to associate with his fellow-labourers in this benevolent cause.

On the 13th of May, 1812, the first public breakfast of the Sundayschool Union was held, and the first general report of the Society was presented to the teachers and the numerous friends of the institution. These circumstances gave publicity to its proceedings, and, by bringing it more into public notice, considerably extended its sphere of usefulness. From that period to the present time, an annual breakfast has collected its friends together at an early hour, in the month of May; and among the multitude who attend, few will hesitate to characterize it as one of the most interesting anniversaries in the metropolis.

Placed thus on the pinnacle of observation, and at the fountain-head of information, Mr. Lloyd, during the last twenty years, must have witnessed many important changes in Sunday Schools, and in their influence upon the morals of the community. Vast multitudes of scholars have been thrown into society; several successions of teachers have arisen'; public opinion has taken a decided turn; the system of instruction has been materially altered and improved; and the management and mode of teaching have become more decidedly religious in their character.

It will be unnecessary to trace the progress of the Sunday - school Union from its formation up to the present period, as the reports of the last nineteen years are accessible to the public. With the transactions contained in these, the personal history of Mr. Lloyd is most intimately connected to these, therefore, we most cheerfully refer the reader, persuaded that, on a perusal of them, he will readily join us in congratulating this indefatigable teacher, and his fellow-labourers, on the success

which it has pleased God to grant to their work of faith and labour of love.

Thus far we have seen Mr. Lloyd as an active and zealous promoter of Sunday Schools, devoting his time and talents to the instruction of those "for whom nothing is provided;" and stimulating others, both by precept and example, to engage in the same great and benevolent design. But it is not merely to oral teaching that his exertions have been confined; the press has been made by him the medium of many valuable communications, and to these our attention must now be directed.

On the first of January, 1813, Mr. Lloyd, with a view to promote the cause of Sunday Schools, commenced the "Teacher's Magazine." This useful work at first appeared quarterly, but after some time it became a monthly periodical, of which he continued the editor until within the last three years. The "Teacher's Magazine" has been the means of conveying much useful information to the friends of Sunday Schools, and of promoting the extension, improvement, and usefulness, of these institutions.

In the year 1822 Mr. Lloyd published "The Bible Catechism," and an abridgment of it. This work has passed through many large editions, and has also been translated into several foreign languages. The fame and publicity which it has acquired render all observations on its merits totally superfluous.

In 1824, a small volume, entitled, "The Teacher's Manual; or Hints to a Teacher, on being appointed to the charge of a Sundayschool Class," made its appearance, from the pen of Mr. Lloyd. Its design is, to benefit those who may engage in the important duty of tuition. A third edition has passed under our inspection; and those who are acquainted with its wholesome advice and salutary precepts will scarcely think that the following extract from a review of this volume, in the Evangelical Magazine for March, 1825, delineates its character at the expense of truth :-"The worthy Author of this highly-interesting Manual has done more, perhaps, to further the cause of Sunday-school instruction than any other living man; and verily he has his reward. The gratitude and the prayers of the Christian world are not to be despised; and it is his privilege to enjoy them. We beg to inform our readers, that the little book now introduced to their notice is, in our opinion, the best in the English language, on what may be called the practical machinery of a Sunday School. No Teacher in England, or in the world, should be without it. We have read it with special care, and have no fear of being charged with the sin of extravagant commendation."

In 1825, Mr. Lloyd published " A Catechism on the principal Parables of the New Testament;" and subsequently, "A Catechism on the Evidences of the Bible." He also endeavoured to communicate some knowledge of the leading truths of the Gospel in a way adapted to children of three or four years old, in a small publication, entitled, "The Little Child's Catechism;" and so far was this effort successful, that many most valuable ideas are, by means of this small book, easily communicated to the alphabet-class scholars, even before they know their letters.

A Sketch of the Life of Robert Raikes, Esq., the founder of Sunday Schools, and of the History of Sunday Schools, was published by Mr. Lloyd, in 1826. The design of this publication was, to collect the scattered documents which related to the early state of these institutions, and, by concentrating them, to shew their progress, while advancing to the flourishing maturity which they have since attained.

Several other publications of minor importance, we understand, may