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JamesNixonTranscriptionofSketchinthePrimitiveMethodistMagazinebyJohnTHorneIntheearlyyearsofthelastcenturyasmallbandofmenoriginatedagreatmoralmovement,whichveryrapidlytookshape,andbecameanewreligiousorganisation.ThesemenwereboundtogetherbythetiesofacommonChristianlove,andvoluntarilysubordinatedthemselvestopromotethespiritualwell-beingoftheirfellows.AsamatterofconveniencewespeakofthemasBourneandClowes,butintruththerewereseveralothers,speciallyendowed,whowereequallyemployedinthisremarkablework.Wearenotfavouredwithbiographiesofthesemen,andwiththeexceptionofMr.ThomasBateman,ofChorley,theydonotappear,singly,tohavelefttheirimpressuponthepolityofourChurch.Buttheywerenonethelessremarkable,andifweproceedtotryandbrieflysketchthecareeroftwoorthree,itwillonlybetostateafewthingswhichoughtnottobeallowedtopassintoforgetfulness.WehavemembersinourTunstallChurchwhosechildhoodwasspentintheatmospherewhichtheseoldsaintscreated,andwhocherishforthemanaffectionamountingalmosttoreverence.Theylivedamongstthem,andfoundtheirlivesmadesweetegladder,andmoreblessedbytheirpresenceandtheirprayers;theycalltheirchildrenandtheirchurchesbytheirnames;theirdomesticconversationsparkleswiththestoriesoftheirlabours;theirfamiliarsayingsarequoted,their“greatsermons”arerememberedandrepeated,andwithsome,theirtheologyisthestandardbywhichallChristianexperienceismeasured.Thetraditionswhichhavecomedowntousarelensesthroughwhichwecanseeintotheirminds,andshowthesphereofthoughtinwhichtheylived,andthespiritualrealmfromwhichtheyderivedtheirpower.Theyinterpretedthecryofthehumansoul,andledittotheheartoftheGreatFather.EndowedwiththeDivineSpirit,theyconvertedthematerialofrawhumanityintogoodcitizens,andmadeiteasyfortheStatesmentosolvethesocialproblemsoftheirtime.ThesemenwerespiritualcentressendingoutramificationsthroughthegreatseethingmassesofcorruptioninEnglishSociety.ItmaybealongtimebeforefullrecognitionismadeoftheservicetheseworkersrenderedtoourModernEngland,buttheforcesgeneratedbytheirmeetingscontributedverypowerfullytosaveusfromtherevolutionwhichsweptoverFrance.BourneandClowesoccupytheplaceofhonourastheleadersofthisheroicband,buttheywouldbethefirsttoadmitthattheywereonlytwoamongstequals.OurpresentpurposeistobrieflyoutlinethecareerofMr,JamesNixon,whomPetty,inhis“HistoryoftheConnexion,”statestohavebeenthefatheroftheSocietyatTunstall.WehavestilllivingwithusMrs.Thelwell,adaughterofMr.Nixon,whohasinheritedmanyofherfather’sremarkablepowers.Forthirty-eightyearsshehasbeenapreacheress,andduringherpublicministrationshaswitnessedmanyremarkablemanifestationsofspiritualpower.Althoughseventy-sixyearsofagesheisstillvigorous,withkeenintellect,tenaciousmemory,andisofalovabledisposition;exertinganinfluenceforgoodoverhundredsoflives,inalmostallpartsofourEmpire.Sheisaspiritualmysticofahighorder.FromherIhavegatheredafewincidentswhichwillenablemetogivea

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shortsketchofMr.Nixon.TheletterswhichCloweswrotetoherfather,andtheliterarymaterialwhichhehadprepared,wereallhandedovertoMr.Fletcherbysomemembersofherfamily,andhaveneverbeenreturned,possiblybecauseapplicationwasnevermadeforthem.

JamesNixonwasbornonFebruary18th,1785,inacottagewhichisstillstandingatGoldenhill,inthevicinityofTunstall,andwhichwereproduce.Hewasoneofninechildren,andhismother,beingawidow,wasnotabletogivehimmorethanthescantiesteducation.ForashorttimehewassenttotheWesleyandayschoolatBurslem,butwasveryearlysenttoworkonthepot-bank.Hehadservedhisapprenticeshipwhenhewassixteenyearsofage.AlthoughthehomewaspoorhismothertriedtotrainthefamilyforGod,andbeingamemberoftheWesleyanChurch,openedherhouseforreligiousmeetings,andawidespreadrevivalresultedfromtheservicesconductedinthatcottage.Thishomeinfluencehadarestrainingpowerupontheyoungman,andalthoughheindulgedinthebrutalsportscommontoyounglifeatthatperiodhenevercompletelythrewofftheimpressionsmadeby

hismother'sgodlylife.Inhistwentiethyearheexperiencedachange,whichIhadbetterdescribeinthewordsofhisdaughter:“Hewasdeeplyconvincedofsin,andforatimeappearstohavedespairedofobtainingmercy;butMr.JamesSteelesaidtohimonenightaftertheyhadbeentothemeetingtogether,‘James,doyounotbelievethatJesusdiedforyou?‘‘Ido,’hereplied,‘Idarenotdisbelievethat.’‘That’sit,’rejoinedhisfriend;‘believeitoverandoveragain,tillyoufeelhediedforyou.’Aftermyfatherhadpartedwithhisfriend,andwaswalkinghomewards,hewasenabledtobelieveontheLordJesusChrist,wasjustifiedfreelybythegraceofGod,andreceivedthewitnessinhimselfthathehadpassedfromdeathuntolife.ThishappyeventoccurredMarch4th,1805.’HeatoncebecameamemberoftheSocietyClassofMr.JamesSteele,intheWesleyanChurchatTunstall,andretainedhisconnectionwiththatcommunityuntil,tousehisdaughterswords.“HewasputawayfromtheWesleyanConnexion,partlythroughhiszealforcampmeetings,andhisferventmannerofworshippingGod,butwithoutanychargeaffectinghismoralcharacter.”DuringhismembershipwiththeWesleyanChurchhehadbecomeveryintimatewithWilliamClowes,andtherewasbetweenthetwomen,averyclosefriendship,asmaybelearnedfromtheJournalofClowes,andalsobythelife-longcorrespondencewhichtheycarriedon.Theywerecompanionsinsorrow,forCloweshad,ataboutthesametime,experiencedtheforceoftheWesleyanConferenceregulationagainstcampmeetings,andhadbeenleftofftheplan,deposedfromleadershipofhisTunstallSocietyClass,anddismembered.WhenCloweswasdeposedheformedaclassinhisownhouse,andreceivedintofellowshipthosepersonswhohadbeenbyhisagencyledtoChrist.“ThisclasswasthefirstSocietyClassintheConnexion,andnottheStandleyClass,whichwasformedinMarchofthesameyear.”WehavepersonslivingwhotellusthattheStandleyClasswasofferedtotheWesleyanChurch,andacceptedbythatbody,andthataMr.Slaterwasappointeditsleader.ButtheclassthatwasformedinthehouseofMr.ClowesbecamethenucleusoftheConnexion,andwhenMr.JamesSteelewasinterrogatedbytheNottinghamPreparatoryMeetingin1819hestatedthatthiswasthefirstclass.FromClowes’housetheclasswasremovedto

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aroombelongingtoMr.T.Smith,wheretheyoungconvertsworshipped,andheretheywerejoinedbyMr.Nixon,Mr.T.Woodnorth(abrother-inlawofClowes),andothers.AtthistimeMr.NixonlivedwithhismotherintheGroldenhillcottage,andworkedasapotter,renderingveryvaluableservicebystrengtheningthehandsoftheworkersintheinfantcommunity.BeingmuchimpressedwiththesuccessofJamesCrawfootasamlssionary,Messrs.NixonandWoodnorthproposedtoemployClowestodevotehimselfentirelytomissionarywork,forwhichtheybelievedhimspeciallyfitted.BeforedecidingonthisimportantsubjectClowesspentfivedaysandnightsinfastingandprayerforguidancefromGod,and,ifitweretheLord'swill,forendowmentforthework.Ultimately,itwasmadecleartoClowesthathemust“go,”andhewentforthfromthatlittlechamber,withaDivinepowerrestinguponhim,tohisfirstserviceasanevangelist,whichheheldonapot-bankatTunstall.Itneedhardlyberecordedthatamarvellousmanifestationofspiritualpowerattendedthepreachingofthe“word”;andthiswasthebeginningofthatwonderfulevangelisticcareerduringwhichCloweswentlikeawhiteflameofholinessthroughoutEngland.TheproposalofNixonandWoodnorthtopayClowestenshillingsperWeek,oftentimesinvolvedNixoninheavysuffering.Itsometimeshappenedthatworkwasshort,andMrs.Thelwelltellsofoneexperiencewhichwasrelatedbyherfather,inwhichhewasrequiredtomakeagreatsacrifice.ItwasarrangedthatWoodnorthandNixonshouldpayClowesonalternateSaturdays.OncewhenitwastheturnforNixontopay,hiswholeweeklywagewasonlytenshillingsandsixpence.He,however,paidthemoney,leavinghimbutsixpencetogivehismotherwithwhichtosupplythehouseholdneeds.Thenextmorning,Sunday,hewasplannedataplacealongjourneyfromTunstall,towhichhestartedwithoutanyfood,gatheringblackberriesfromthehedge-rowstosatisfyhishunger.Heconductedthreeservices,butnooneofferedhimbread.Returningtohishome,footsoreandhungered,hecalledatafriend'shousetobegfood.Thedoorwasbolted,forallhadretiredforthenight.Intrying

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thedoorheawokethesleepingman,whoquicklyadmittedhisfriend,afterwhichheplacedbeforethefamishingmanaplentifulsupply,whichrevivedhisexpendedpowers,andenabledhimtoreachhishomeintheearlyhoursofthemorning.Thismaybetakenasasampleofthemanyprivationswhichtheseheroicmenvoluntarilyenduredinobediencetothebehestsofconscience.BeforeseparationfromtheWesleyanbodyhehadimpressedhisfellow-workerswithhiswonderfulpowerandhighpiety.HelivedinclosecommunionwithGod,“walkedwithGod,”spentmuchtimeinsecretprayer,andwasmightyinScripture.Hewasamanofstrongwill,andwhenhehadreachedaconclusionthatacertaincoursewasright,hecouldnoteasilybedissuadedfromhisopinion.AfterleavingtheWesleyanChurchawidesphereforusefulnesswasfoundintheevangelisticandaggressiveworkoftheyoungcommunity,andhisnameappearsonthefirstwrittenplan.Manystrangeandexcitingincidentsoccurredinthelittle“CottageChapel,”CrossStreet.Atonetimethereweretwoparties,andasaconsequence,veryoftendisputes.Sohighdidfeelingrise,thatacaretakerhadtobeleftinchargeofthepremises.Now“James,”asMr.Nixonwasfamiliarlycalled,wasveryretiring,butonenightthecaretakerwasoverpoweredbyfourstrongmen,whohadcometothechapelforthepurposeofdoingallthemischiefpossible.InformationofthisstateofaffairsreachedMr.Nixon,justashehadretiredtobedforthenight.Byhisbedsidewasapairofnewbreeches,whichhehurriedlypulledon,andarminghimselfwiththekitchenpokerforaweapon,heatonce,halfdressed,proceededtothesceneofdisturbance.Uponreachingthechapelhequicklyroutedtheassailants;andbythreats,significantbrandishingofthepoker,andothermeans,chasedthemtoScotiaRoad,nearlyamilefromthechapel.Icannotascertainwhetherpersonalviolencewasused,but“James”returnedhomelatethatnightwiththepokerbadlybent,andhisbreechesslitinmanyaplace.Mrs.Thelwellhasavividremembranceofthatredoubtableweapon,andsaysthatitwaskeptformanyyearsafterwardsinthefamily.Mr.JamesNixonwasaverypowerfulpreacher.HemadeaprofoundimpressionatthesecondCampMeeting,July,1807.CloweswritesinhisJournal:—“MyfriendJamesNixonlabouredwithextraordinarypowerandeffect.Iandmanyothersweregreatlystruckwiththesolemnityandpowerwhichattendedhisministrations.Ingivingoutthehymnwhichbeginswith‘Stop,poorsinner;stopandthink,’everywordappearedtoshakethemultitudeasthewinddoestheforestleaves.”OneWednesdayeveningthesaintlyFletcherattendedtheserviceatTunstall,andasNixonpreached,itissaidthat“Fletcherweptlikeachild,”andatthecloseofthesermon,hethankedNixon,saying“Oh,James,Ineverknewhowtopreachlikeyou.”ThiswasahightributefromamanlikeFletcher.LongandwearyjourneysheundertooktopreachtheWord,andhismessagewasfrequentlyattendedwithuncommonpower.Asaclass-leaderheexcelled;hismembersfoundinhimaguideandcounsellorwhocaredbothfortheirtemporalandspiritualwelfare.Heneverwenttohisclassmeetingwithoutfirstspendingalongtimeinearnestprayerfortherightwordstobegivenhim;andhismembersstillspeakofhiscounselsrichinwisdom,andhisexhortationsbeingScripturalandsavoury.FormanyyearshetookaveryinfluentialpartinthebusinessaffairsoftheConnexionasamemberoftheGeneralCommittee,andwashonouredbyselectionasapermanentmemberoftheConference,whoseannualassemblieshegenerallyattended.

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ItremainsforustosaythatMr.NixonwasmarriedtoMaryBarlowonJune27th,1818.Forsomemonthsbeforehisdeathhehadpremonitionsofhisend.Asthmaanddiabeteshadlongtroubledhim.HetoldthemembersofhisSocietyclassonMarch16th.1857,thatwhileatprayerbeforecomingtothemeetinghehadbeenimpressedthatthismightbehislasttimeofmeetingthem,andsoitproved,foronApril8th,1857,intheseventy-secondyearofhisage,theGreatMastercalledJamesNixontotheHigherService,andtheworldwassomuchthepoorerbyhisremoval.Hismortalremainswerecarriedtotheirearthlyhomebygoodmenandtrue,whohadbeenhis“comradesinarms,”andhewaslaidintheburyinggroundbelongingtoChristChurch,Tunstall.Pettysaysthat“hehadbeenappointedbytheGeneralCommitteetoassistattheJubileeCampMeetingonMowHill,heldinthefollowingmonth;butthegreatHeadoftheChurchremovedhimtotheregionsabove,andhespentthatdayinthesocietyoftheblessed.”

ThebiographyofJamesNixonderivesinterestfromhisclosefriendshipwithWilliamClowes.Mrs.ThelwelltellsmethatthereexistedbetweenNixonandClowessuchcloseaffinitythatherfather“hadafullknowledgeofClowes’smovementswhilehewasonhismissionarytours.”Therewasakindofspiritualtelepathybetweenthemen.Onespiritseemedtodominatethetwobodies,andinanygreatconflictinwhichonewasengagedtheotherwasasharer.NixoncouldtellbyspiritualinstinctwhatCloweswasdoingatHull;andClowes,bysomemysteriousinfluence,couldmoveupontheSpiritofNixon.Thelatterhadsomeindefinablequalitybywhichhecouldprojecthispowers

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throughspace,andwatchthemovementsofhisfriend.Forinstance,duringoneofthevisitswhichClowesmadetoBirmingham,NixonatTunstallsawthecoacharriveintheMidlandtown.HewatchedClowesalight,andnoticedthatMr.G.,whowastheretomeetthetraveller,begantospeaktoClowes.Mr.Clowesmadesomeangryreply,afterwhichhewasledofftohishost.Ashorttimeafter,whenClowescametoTunstall,NixontoldhimofhisvisittoBirmingham,andenquiredthenatureoftheconversationonhisarrival,andthecauseofthedifferencebetweenhimandMr.G.“Oh,”saidClowes,“IwasreprimandinghimforannouncingthatIshouldtakesomanyservicesduringmyvisit,asIfeltIhadnotsufficientstrength.”Thismightbetreatedasoflittleaccount,butMrs.Thelwelltellsmanyotherincidentsillustratingtheworkingofthesamemysteriousforcewhichboundthesemeninsuchcloseaffinity.Takethisasaspecimen.DuringatimeofgreatConnexionaltrial,whileCloweswasworkingatHull,hewrotetoNixon,invitinghimtoHull,ashewantedhishelp.Foratimehewasunwillingtoaccepttheinvitation,butatlastthefeelingthathemustgobecamesopowerfulthathecouldnolongerresist.WhenhereachedHullhewasmetbyClowes,whotookhimdirecttohishomeandtheyspenttogetherthewholenightinprayer.ClowesdidnottellNixonthenatureofhistroubleuntiltheyhadbeenprayingthreehours.HetheninformedhimthatthechurchesinHullwerepassingthroughaseverecrisis,causedbythemisconductofcertainpersonswhomhenamed.Mrs.Thelwelldistinctlystatesthatduringthatnightofprayer,bothClowesandNixonclearlysawtheformsofthefourleadersintheagitation,andthatClowesgavetoNixonhisopinionrespectingthesemen.Theycontinuedtheirprayersforafurtherthreehours,andthefourformsgraduallydisappeared.Aftersixhoursspentinprayertheyrosefromtheirkneeswiththeassuranceofvictory.ThiswasnottheonlytimewhenNixonsaw,orbelievedthathesaw,thesepersonsduringhisprayers.SomemonthsafterhisreturnfromHull,NixonreceivedfromClowesalettertellinghimthathewantedhishelp“inkneework.”Mrs.Thelwellsaysthatshevividlyremembersherfathersayingthathewouldhavefamilyworship,afterwhichMrs.Nixonandthechildrencouldgotorest,ashewas“goingtohelpClowes.”Sometimeafterwards,promptedbycuriosity,shestoledownthestairs,andwatchedherfatherengagedinprayer.“Hedidnotleanforwardasmanydowhenpraying,butmaintainedhisbodyerect.Forsixhoursheprayedthatnight,”andheafterwardstoldhisdaughterthathedistinctlysawthefourpersonswhomhehadseenwhenprayingwithClowesatHull,andhewrestledwithGoduntilhewasassuredofvictory.Onthesamenight,andduringthesamehours,Mr.andMrs.CloweswereprayingatHull,andafteralongtimeMrs.Clowessaidtoherhusband,“Wehavethevictory,anddearNixonispraying.Iknowit,andyoucantellhimIsayso.”ThesefactsClowescommunicatedtoNixonbyletterwhichhereceivedshortlyafterwards,andwhichwereplacedwithothersofClowes’sletters.Wehaveneitherthetimenorspacetoenterintoanexplanation,oranattemptedexplanationofthesefeaturesInthelifeofMr.Nixon.Therearecertaingreatlawswhichgiveusakeytothesolution,butwehavealreadyexceededourlimits.WiththepermissionoftheEditor,wewill,inthenearfuture,attempttoformulateaworkinghypothesissufficientlycomprehensivetoembracethepsychicphenomenashownbythepsychicalaffinitybetweenNixonandClowes,andillustrateitfromtheremarkablecollectionwhichMrs.Thelwellhasmadeofincidentsinthelifeofherveneratedfather.Ourworkto-dayissimplytorecordoneortwoofthesefacts;andreservetheotherstoverifythetheorywhichtheyillustrate.

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WedonotsaythatJamesNixonwasperfect—hewouldbethefirsttodisputehisrighttothat—butwedosaythathewasgood.HedweltinthesecretplaceoftheMostHigh,andthoughnobiographyofhimmaybewrittenbyman,hisrecordisonhighandhisnameshallshineresplendentastheflashingdiamondinthatdaywhenGodshallmakeuphisjewels._______________________________________________________________________ReferencesPrimitive Methodist Magazine 1902/840