FOR APRIL, 1833.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY CROGGON :

BY HER HUSBAND, THE REV. WALTER O. CROGGON,

Missionary in Zante.

MARY CROGGON, whose maiden name was Mullis, was born September 11th, 1799, at Chubbicombe, in the parish of St. German's, Cornwall. Her infant years were spent with her parents on the farm where she was born; and a merciful Providence watched over her life amidst many accidents. Her parents transferred the farm to one of her brothers; and she, with them, removed to a small cottage at a short distance. There her earthly prospects were blighted; and rather than be a charge to her parents, she spent one year in Liskeard, to learn the business of a dressmaker, after which she returned to the cottage, and obtained her bread by working in the most respectable families in the different parishes around; who frequently sent a horse to fetch her; and she often resided for some days together at different houses, where her prudent conduct, and great industry, endeared her to all who knew her. The only education that she received was at two country schools, where she learned to read, write, and sew.

The time spent at Liskeard, and even after her return to her parents' house, she has been heard to say, were days of vanity; yet the fear of the Lord restrained her from many evils; and before she had reached her twentieth year the Lord was pleased to begin a work of grace in her heart. The Clergyman of Menheniot, whose ministry she attended, had a most impressive delivery; and his sermons were calculated to awaken the conscience. Mary Mullis was one among others who felt the force of his addresses. To the family of this Clergyman she was indebted for much kindness; and to the end of her life, whenever we conversed on Cornish affairs, and talked of friends at home, she always expressed her obligation to Mrs. Gilbert of Bodmin, for her attention to her when ill of the measles; which she had when more than twenty years of age, at this lady's home, whither she had gone to work for a few days.

One very powerful means by which she was led to take up her cross, and follow Jesus, was a sermon preached by Mr. Richard Geake, of St. German's, in a room at Menheniot. The word spoken in season was applied by the Spirit of God; and through the kind counsels of a female friend she was induced to attend a Methodist class-meeting. The particulars of her conversion I am unable to give; but of its reality I can have no VOL. XII. Third Series. APRIL, 1833.

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doubt, from the feelings with which she realized the divine presence, the fruits of the Spirit in her life and conversation, her perfect knowledge of the plan of justification by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of sanctification by his Spirit. Many were surprised when she joined the Methodist society; as they thought her conduct so correct, that there was no occasion for such a step. Her attachment to the Methodist doctrines, discipline, and mode of worship, increased with her religious advancement; and though of late years she was cut off in a great measure from Christian communion, yet there was no abatement in her love to the worship, the word, and the people of God. At the same time, she was free from bigotry; and loved the company of a Christian whenever she met such a one. She most admired in Christians decision of character. Among many Captains of vessels, who from time to time came to our house at Zante, she always said, "I like Captain Oy. He is decidedly a Christian; more so than most of the Captains we have seen here." This worthy person is a member of a Baptist church.

From the time Mary Mullis joined the Methodist society, in June, 1819, until she left her home for France, she was very diligent in attending all the means of grace. She lived about a mile from the village of Menheniot, where there was a prayer-meeting every Sunday morning at six o'clock. This she regularly attended. Liskeard was about four miles from her house; and after returning from the prayer-meeting, she often walked thither to hear the word of God, on the Sunday forenoon, and returned to dinner. The class-meeting was held in the afternoon, near the village of Menheniot; and she sometimes took a little bread and cheese with her, and remained there. In the evening she attended the preaching also in the village. On some Sabbath-days she has walked ten or more miles to enjoy these different means of grace. These were happy days, to which she often referred with great pleasure. In the prayer-meeting at the village she frequently exercised her talent; for she had a good gift in prayer, expressing herself scripturally and fervently; in visiting the sick in her neighbourhood, she was industrious; and also in delivering tracts in the surrounding cottages. She contemplated the Missionary life at times with joy; and entered upon it from a sense of duty.

Our marriage took place at St. German's church, August 5th, 1823. We proceeded immediately to London, and from thence to France; being appointed to Charenton, near Paris, where resided from four to five hundred English persons, including men, women, and children. Our instructions were, to be employed for the spiritual benefit of our country people; and, as opportunities offered, among the natives. The colony consisted of different sects and parties. There were members of the Church of England, Independents, Baptists, Methodists, and a few followers of Joanna Southcott. The Rev. Mark Wilks, of Paris, had preached to these people for some time; and a Sunday-school was begun. To this work Mrs. Croggon immediately applied herself; and took great

delight in teaching the girls belonging to the colony. On the Sunday mornings we had the service of the Church of England; and preaching also in the afternoon and evening. A small class had been formed before we came, which soon increased. On our arrival prayer-meetings were established in different houses, every Friday, and a service on Wednesday evening. In all these means of grace Mrs. Croggon took great delight; and occasionally exercised in prayer, in the class and prayer-meetings.

After some time had elapsed it was proposed to raise supplies for the Missionary Society at Paris; the colony paying all our expenses by a fund raised among the workmen. Mrs. Finch and Mrs. Croggon went from house to house, and collected weekly a sum which amounted in the end to some hundred francs, for the French Protestant Missionary at Paris. Mrs. Croggon also visited the sick and dying; for in three years sixty of the colony died; and many were ill who recovered their health.

On the 11th of July, 1824, our first child, a daughter, was born; and on the 16th of Sept., 1825, a little boy, whom we called Henry Martyn, was given us, but only for a short time. After living four months, he was seized with illness one morning at five o'clock, and before nine his spirit took its flight to a better world. After the birth of the little boy, Mrs. Croggon was called to endure a severe affliction. Her life was in danger, and we thought her death near; but it pleased God to restore her to health. For three months, in the spring of 1826, she returned to Cornwall, to obtain the benefit of her native air. This change, by the divine blessing, produced the desired effect. The sight of her friends also was particularly cheering to her mind.

After seeing her aged mother, (her father having died during her residence in France,) and her Christian friends with whom she had formerly associated, Mrs. Croggon joined her husband at Paris, in July, 1826. Being succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. Adams at Charenton, and appointed for Zante, in the Ionian Isles, we proceeded, with our little Marianne, by way of Lyons to Nismes, to visit Mr. and Mrs. Cook, in the south of France. The journey was long; but the pleasure was great to my departed wife when she met her Christian sister, and in the south of France so many affectionate friends, who received us with all possible kindness. An accident occurred in going from Nismes to Congenies, the village where Mr. Cook resided. The horse that drew the carriage took fright, and galloped furiously down a hill. The carriage came in contact with a stone, and we were precipitated into a ditch; but, by the kind providence of God, we suffered no injury. Mr. Henry de Jersey was in the carriage with us. Had we gone over the road a few paces further, and then been overturned, it might have proved our death, as there was a deep precipice. But God

"Watches every number'd hair,

And all our steps attends."

From Nismes we went to. Marseilles, and embarked for Malta. At both these places we found friends; and at the latter place we were

cheered by Mr. and Mrs. Keeling, Mr. and Mrs. Jowett, Mr. and Mrs. Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and Mr. Smith, who all endeavoured to encourage us in our work. Mr. Jowett, the director of the Church Missions in the Mediterranean, had a meeting expressly on our account, in which he gave us an address from Romans xiv. 3, full of Christian love. Mrs. Croggon never forgot his words, but often referred to them at Zante. Mrs. Jowett is now gone; Mrs. Temple is gone; and my Mary is gone! "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

From Malta we sailed for Zante, and in both voyages encountered storms; but the God who rules above kept us from being swallowed up in the mighty deep. On November 23d, 1826, we landed in Zante. There being no inn, we were indebted to a soldier of the fifty-first regiment for a place in which to sit down, and a piece of bread to eat. Before night we were favoured with a room, found friends, and the next day I obtained a house, where we erected an altar to the Lord. The soldiers of the regiment, with their wives and children, came to the worship; a little Sunday-school was formed, in which Mrs. Croggon took a very active part; and our prospects among our own countrymen were truly cheering. We had service at the Castle; and a class was formed, which began with one, and at last increased to fourteen. In all these means Mrs. Croggon took great delight; and her soul was happy in God. But this regiment removed, and another came, to which we did not find the same access. This led us more among the Greeks; yet some time elapsed before Mrs. Croggon regularly undertook a girls' school. During this interval she was called to pass through deep affliction. Our third babe, Sarah, was born May 30th, 1827. A dangerous affliction to Mrs. Croggon followed; and at the end of six months we had to consign the remains of the infant to the tomb. On her part was displayed the same resignation as in France on a similar occasion.

In the month of January, 1829, I had occasion to take a voyage to Alexandria, in Egypt. A servant, who was thought trust-worthy, was left in the house, and every necessary caution taken to render her comfortable during my absence; which was expected to be only of a few months' continuance. This was a season of trial to her. My letters were long in coming; Marianne, the eldest child, suffered an alarming accident; the servant man robbed her of about thirty dollars, and other things; and other circumstances occurred, which produced such an effect on her body and mind that on my return I found her confined to her bed. Change of air was again necessary; and a visit to the isle of Cephalonia for a few weeks, to the convent of St. Andrea, where Mr. and Mrs. Dickson from Scotland have established a girls' school, by the blessing of God completely restored her to her usual strength; so that on her return to Zante, she resumed her ordinary duties, and began a Greek girls' school. As there is no girls' school in the town, in which a regular education is given, female education is greatly neglected. On the 12th of October, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, Mrs. Croggon took her seat in what we