74 



MINISTRY AT STAND. [Chap. III. 



in drunkenness and idleness. His sister opened two sewing- 

 schools in the neighbourhood, and was gaining, on a small 

 scale, the experience which was so useful at Warrington ; and 

 the interest she took in her scholars, and the visits she paid at 

 their homes, often brought the parents to the chapel. 



In May Philip preached the school sermons at Newchurch, 

 another of the primitive Rossendale congregations. He was 

 intensely affected by the morning prayer-meeting, the people's 

 hearts having been deeply touched by the recent death of 

 "Emmanuel, their favourite teacher." He preached, "What 

 do ye more than others?" " The collection was their largest, 

 without any begging. . . . The people throw out no obscure 

 hints of clubbing together, for me to labour among the three 

 congregations ; but at present I dwell among my own people, 

 and wish to do so, as long as they wish me, and give me 

 liberty. When a balmy, warm day comes, I think of the cold 

 north and my own sunny fatherland, like the lady in 'Strife 

 and Peace ' [Miss Bremer's]. But I love these dear people, 

 where the Spirit of God has made its temple, and feel that the 

 few years I may have of life must be devoted to God's work in 

 this powerful district — powerful for good or bad. . . . Dearest 

 mother, if it be the Lord's will, we must meet, and I must seek 

 from you new light in my course. I had rather give up 

 Cambridge than that. I feel that I 6 tread upon enchanted 

 ground ; ' but the day of trial does not last for ever. I don't 

 know what I am ; I have altered, and am altering, so much. I 

 fear it is not always for the better ; but we are all in safe hands, 

 if only we are faithful. Our dear Travers was preaching for me 

 yesterday : he will go through many trials and suffer much ; but 

 I believe it will perfect him, for never yet did I know a youth 

 who had so unreservedly given himself to the service of God." 



He intensely enjoyed the meeting of the British Association 

 at Cambridge, where he met his brother, Dr. W. B. Carpenter : 

 they had rooms at Corpus Christi College. He wrote an 

 account of his visit, addressed " Dear people all, and future 

 self — for it is to be returned to me, please," filling thirty-eight 

 closely written pages, accompanied with engravings of the 



