THOMAS LTSTx'^.R. 
387 
decliued to accept the situation. Afterwards the post again became 
vacant, and the disabilit}^ having then been removed, Mr. Lister 
became postmaster, a position he held until 1870, when he retired on 
a pension. He was presented with a handsome testimonial by the 
inhabitants on resigning his post. As a student of natural history 
and meteorology he was very diligent. The deceased gentleman finds 
favourable mention in many works, including Xewsam's " Poets of 
Yorkshire," Grainge's " Poets and Poetry of Yorkshire," Searle's 
" Life of Ebenezer Elliott," Dr. Spencer Hall's " Sketches of Remark- 
able People ;" in an article by a friend and contemporary. Mr. John 
Hugh Burland, on " Country words of the West Riding ;" and by 
Mrs. G. Linnffius Banks, in her story, " Wooers and Winners," iMr. 
Lister for many years filled the office of local .secretary to this 
Society at Barnsley, and to his assiduous attentions much of its 
successful appreciation in this district was due. He was rarely 
absent from the meetings of the Society, and contributed one paper 
to its proceedings which will be found mentioned on another page. 
