STEVENSON, Humphrey 1787 - 1873

Obituary Minutes of Conference 1873

Humphrey Stevenson ; who was born at Bestwood-Park, Notts., October 1st, 1787.

Blessed with pious parents, he was converted in his boyhood, and appointed, while still a youth, leader of the class in which his mother was a member.

Four years later he entered the Wesleyan ministry, and for thirty-nine years laboured in it with fidelity and success. He was a plain, sound, hard-working Methodist preacher.

During twenty-seven years he was a Supernumerary, but to the last it was his joy to work in the Lord’s vineyard. He delighted to meet his class, to visit the sick, and occasionally to preach. In advanced age he was characterised by great good sense, and a certain quaint humour. His life was blameless, and he was strong in faith and charity ; if he could not speak well of any, he refrained from speech.

Full of peace himself, he took a bright view of the state and prospects of the Church. He was no believer in the degeneracy of modern Methodism. He held that the preachers of the present day, on the whole, were as able, and quite as faithful and zealous, and the people generally as consistent as when, seventy years ago, he began his work as a class-leader.

During his last night on earth he was almost con- stantly praising God and singing. About four o’clock in the morning he wished the gas in his room to be put out, saying, “The day had come ; it was all light around him.” Four hours later he passed into that city the inhabitants of which “need no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth them light : and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

He died at South-Shields, March 22nd, 1873, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and the sixty-sixth of his ministry.

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