The late Reverend Theophilus Taylor was born in Bawtry, Yorkshire, on the 13th April, 1829. His early education was to some extent neglected, at least, he was not favoured in this respect as were his elder brothers. He was in the habit of attending the Wesleyan Sunday School and was frequently the subject of Divine influence. At the age of 15 he left his home and being the subject of the continued strivings of the Holy Spirit he was at length overcome and he yielded to the call of God. He was engaged in secular business on the morning of the 13th of June 1845 when it "pleased God to reveal his love in him." He was inexplicably happy for it was, he has often said, "A revelation from heaven." The natural stubbornness which had held out so long against God was now completely subdued; and the current of his soul being entirely changed, he gave himself with much earnestness to the cause of Christ. At this interesting period of his life he poured out the fulness of his newborn spirit to his Heavenly Father in a solemn covenant in the following terms: "Rejoicing with a loyal heart in Thy unlimited governments as what ought to be the delight of the whole rational creation, may I ever hold myself in an attentive position to observe the first intimations of thy Will; ready to spring forward with zeal and joy to the immediate execution of it; and if any surviving friend should, when I am in the dust, meet with this memorial of my solemn transaction with Thee may he make the engagement his own and do Thou graciously admit him to partake of all the blessings of the covenant through Jesus Christ, the Great Mediator". Amen

He was now sixteen years of age and his renewed nature manifested itself in intense desires for the salvation of all around him, but, especially, for the members of his own family for whose benefit he wrestled continually with God. His diligence in business did not preclude him from pouring out his soul in prayer, for whilst so engaged he often rejoiced in fresh supplies of grace. A circumstance now occured which he ever regarded as the turning point of his life. His Master, in a fit of passion said,in the presence of witnesses, that he would send him away and cancel his indenture; by the advice of friends he took him at his word and found on receiving the document the following words written upon it: "We have parted by mutual consent".

Being now free to follow his providential course we find him entering on the work of a Local Preacher. He was only 18 years of age. He earnestly availed himself of every opportuniy of urging those around him to embrace the dear Saviour whom he had found; and his acquantainces, altho at a distance from his home, did not escape his faithful remonstratances and he backed them by ardent prayers to God on their behalf.

One great object of his solicitude was his brother and God vouchsafed to him this trophy of his love as well as many others. He was now under the full conviction that God intended him for his work; and, altho he watched & prayed against every high thought, he calmly left himself with God's spirit to be directed in his Providential path.

He was encouraged to enter upon the full work of the Ministry by the Superintendent of the Circuit, and soon we find him entered as one of the theological students at the Richmond Institution. During the two years he remained there he laboured most assidiously and passed through his examinations with great credit. His health, however, suffered from these exertions and he took a severe cold to which he refers in his diary in the following terms " Feby 1848, I have been confined to bed from Monday till Friday. On Monday I had six leeches on my lung and in the evening a blister. I have not been able to read or write, but, in the midst of all I have had a sweet calm and blessed be God. I feel quite resigned to his will. Now whether "I live, I live unto the Lord or whether I die, I die unto the Lord, so that whether living or dying I am the Lord's."

On leaving the Institution he was, after invitation, appointed to labour in the Castle-Donington Circuit where he remained for a year. At the Bradford Conference of 1853, he received an appointment to Australia and he sailed from England in November of the same year and arrived in Hobson's Bay in the month of February 1854. From the period of his conversion up to the time of his leaving his native land he kept a diary. Its records indicate a steady growth in grace, deep spirituality of mind, and a full and unreserved dedication of himself to the great work to which he had been called. He "counted all things but loss for the excellancy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord."

By the District Meeting of 1854 he was appointed to the Ballaarat Circuit. He was introduced to his new field of labour by the Rev W.Butters, who immediately left him to do as he could with the perplexing circumstances connected with the early settlement of this gold-fields population; and, which, at that time, distressingly embarrassed the cause he had come to serve. He was nobly assisted and encouraged by Christian brethren (some of whom remain to this present but others are fallen asleep) towards whom he cherished grateful emotions to the day of his death. After three years of incessant labours, severe trials, and deep suffering, he had the satisfaction of leaving a Circuit of great extent, studded with Chapels and Schools, at once a credit to him as the Superintending minister and to those numerous friends who had so disinterestedly helped him in accomplishing such results.

By the Adelaide Conference in 1857 he was appointed to the Superintendency of the Brighton Circuit. After his removal thither, finding his health not to improve, he journeyed to Maitland in New South Wales, where he was mercifully delivered from a watery grave by the help of a few stalwart men who carried him beyond the reach of the great flood which desolated that portion of the Colony occasioned by the overflowing of the Hunter. He and his family returned to Brighton in the latter part of the year. This was a year to him of "sorrow upon sorrow", and when he left that locality in March last it was with a relieved spirit; and with a comparatively glad heart he retraced his steps to this place to spend the remainder of his life.

There are no words so ominous to a Wesleyan Minister as the ones "laid aside" and, perhaps, there never was in our official ranks one who felt them more acutely than did our dear departed brother. He had a soul for the Methodist itinerancy; a mind of no ordinary calibre- clear, discriminating, logical, comprehensive and sound;- and a severe conviction that the "call" to the ministry is of so solemn and divine a character that to be superannuated, ("laid aside") appeared to him one the most dreaded calamities that could possibly befall him. But God's will must be done! And now he, who had actively performed it, is to suffer it in seclusion and painful rest.

"Wearisome days and nights" were appointed him. For several months he was a great sufferer and as he personally wasted away he would speak of his approaching dissolution with calm and steady faith. Care for his family much distressed him and rendered him very unhappy - Disappointments too, and particuarly those which came upon him after he entered into a small business for the sole benefit of his dependent family after his decease, agitated his spirit; but, nevertheless, it was delightful to witness the subdued state of his mind occasionally; and, particularly was it so during the last ten days of his sojourn amongst us - "In the eventide there was light".

There was not a cloud to intercept his vision or to disturb the repose of his spirit on the great Atonement for salvation and victory over death.

On the evening of the 23rd of December I called on our departed brother. He had been the subject of a severe attack and had rallied a little. He opened his mind freely to me and said: "Now that death was rapidly approaching him, he felt no fear. His soul was full of gratitude, thankfulness, and peace. If the Lord were to put it to him whether he would prefer to die or to live his preference would be the former. The glory at God's right hand he longed to enjoy . He had been, he said, reserved in his communications to others of his experience of religion. He considered it too sacred a thing to be talked about. He had had nevertheless a "spring under a spring"; the upper had been his official life and through that he had gone without fear or timidity- no hesitation or hanging back had ever marked that department of his life; underneath it had lain a "spring" of sweet enjoyment and strength. This was unseen and often it had been thought that his was an official piety, but it was not so. I could never be converted in those meetings yonder; "it pleased God to reveal his Love to me" was the manner of my conversion; it was a revelation and in secret. I shouted for hours, "Glory, glory" for my soul was full to overflowing. I feel it now, altho my disease considerably affects my mind and gives it a false coloring and makes me irritable. But I am on the rock. I give up all to Him. I am safe."

On the third of January at 9pm the night before his death, Mr Lane was with him. He asked the sufferer "Are you still upon the rock?" to which he replied "All is well my brother". His dear and afflicted wife then asked him "If he had any doubts?" He opened his eyes and fixing them significantly upon her, Said, "Do you think the Saviour would leave me now?" She said "No, you have no doubts have you?" "No", he said "All is well". I saw him at 11pm and enquired "if he felt he was still upon the rock, Christ Jesus, entirely and lovingly trusting in Him?" To which he replied, "Yes, all is well." I quoted the passage "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day". He faintly responded "Yes". The next morning at 4 o' clock he awoke and asked for water and of which he drank heartily. He expressed his thankfulness for the draft and for the light of another day. He had not expected to have seen it. He then turned on the right side and began rapidly to die. At 5am without a struggle or a groan he breathed forth his spirit into His hands who had redeemed him with His precious blood. Thus was brought to a close at the early age of 29 years a life which had had the events and labours of three score years and ten crowded into it. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them"

James Bickford, Jany 8th, 1859, Ballaarat

EDITOR'S NOTE

They returned to live in Ballarat where their daughter, Mary Narcissa Taylor was born on 27/4/1856. Their second daughter, Annie Hunter Taylor was born in East Maitland, NSW on 18/9/1857 but died in Ballarat on 4/7/1858.

Rev Theophilus died on 4/1/1859 at the age of 29 and a son, also named Theophilus, was born two weeks later on 19/1/1859 but died within 12 hours.

The father, the second daughter and son are buried together at Ballarat.