On Sunday evening, June 17, James Lambert, Senior, of Oswald, passed away to his eternal rest, at the age of seventy four years old and eight months.
His long and consistent connection with the Methodism in the Hunter River District, his steady earnestness in the cause of God, and his familiar acquaintance with the many in our Church, demand that there be placed on record a slight notice of his decease.

He was born in Hollington, in the county of Sussex, England. In 1838 he arrived in this colony, and subsequently resided at Bolwarra, in the Maitland circuit, where he became soundly converted to God, and a member of the Methodist Society. About thirty years ago he removed to Oswald, where to the time of his death, he has lived a life of great consistency and Christian advancement. His walk with God has been close, all absorbing, increasingly manifest, precious to himself and worthy of emulation. Many who knew his life of sin, have pondered with astonishment the genuine change, which was undoubted evidence of the power of grace, and of the reality of religion. His earnest labors for the cause of God at Oswald, have been made a blessing to many, and will be greatly missed by those who remain.

As a class leader, Sunday School Super-intendant, and a worker in other ways, he has earned rich reward. Humble in life, free from ostentation, prompted only by love to Christ, he has benefitted many by his council and spiritual oversight. A kind Husband and Father, his memory is precious to the bereaved of his own flesh and as a social friend and neighbour, he was greatly respected.

The sickness which terminated in death, came suddenly upon him. Yet he knew no fear. He communed with Jesus, and was safe. His short sayings and ejaculations, ere he passed away, conveyed an assurance of inward peace, and quiet waiting for his master.

He lay for many hours in no unconscious state, ere he died, but to those who witnessed the withdrawal of life, he seemed to fall very calmly into that blessed sleep, upon which there is the waking of heavenly glory.

A great number attended his burial, and sorrowed o'er the grave which now holds his dust, and the simple yet enviable comment upon his life, was voluntarily by given all as they separated.--
 
                                                " He was a good man."

In the death of James Lambert, Heaven has added another trophy to the temple of Christs praise, but the Methodists of Oswald can ill spare him, and our prayer is, that here God would raise up other workers to advance his cause with similar consistency and zeal.

JULY, 1877.                                                                                                    L.P.

Methodism in this colony, as in other lands, has been very largely sustained and extended by men     " unknown to fame."  Many a small town and village society has been fostered and upheld, year after year, by the personal influence and efforts of some man or men, who though of humble earthly position, were yet rich in faith and the grace of God. The obligations of Methodism to such faithful servants can never be told. The least she can do for them is to honour their memory in death and to publish some brief record of their worth of character and service. If ever such was deserved in this colony, it is in the case of Mr. James Lambert, who for the long space of thirty years maintained an unbroken and devoted connection with our Church, in the little village of Oswald, in the Maitland circuit.

To the religious services and influences of the Methodist Church, he owed his conversion to God, and to her work of saving souls, he gratefully devoted the energies of his renewed life. For upward of forty years he had been a daring sinner; for the remaining thirty years of his life he strove to be a devoted disciple of his saviour Jesus Christ. Nominally a member of the Church of England in the old country, he grew to a mature age, destitute and even ignorant of , true religion.
"For five and forty years I was a sinner rebelling against God, but he has had mercy upon me; glory to his name." Was his own form of testimony to the grace of God in his conversion. This took place at Bolwarra; he was, however, convinced of sin at a camp meeting service held at Coolie camp, during the ministry of the Rev Samuel Wilkinson. Soon after he joined our Church, he with several other members, removed to Oswald. There public worship was conducted by the ministers of the circuit, and such local preachers as Messrs- Parkhurst, Silas and William Gill, Bottwood, Burgess, Delves, paterson, and others. Socity classes were also formed, of one of which Mr. Charles Field was appointed leader, to this class Mr. Lambert joined himself, and when mr Field removed from Oswald, he was appointed leader. Upon this work, which was to be henceforth, his chief religious work, he entered with many misgivings, but he soon proved himself a wise and successful guide of souls. At one time he met three society classes weekly, with exemplary regularity and fidelity. His heart was in the work of the Lord, and he did that work  " with both hands earnestly."
He was a happy and cheerfull christian; he had a warm heart and liberal hand. His zeal for God burned steadily and seemed almost unquenchable. At the ordinary services, and in time of special services, his place was never empty, save through illness. He was mighty in prayer and in praise he loved to make a joyfull noise unto God. The cause of God at Oswald lay near to his heart; he watched over it, and labored for it, with unfailing love; up to the latest period of consciousness it was one of his chief concerns. For the last ten or twelve years of his life he has been freed from the necessity of daily labor, and has devoted himself to the spiritual oversight of the society of Oswald. Many a visit to the sick, the careless, and the dying has he made. Who will take his place?
Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, and the faithfull fall from among the children of men.

He was a fine old man, a true christian, and well worthy of the title by which he was known in his later years- "FATHER LAMBERT" He had a stalwart form, there was a largeness of make about him, both of body and soul, which was apparent to all who knew him; and the purifying and elevating influences of the gospel of Christ, had added dignity and sweetness  to a naturally superior nature. For thirty years he lived a blameless christian life in one locality; no slanderous tongue, as far as I could learn, ever espersed his character. Men of the world, noticed and admired the consistency, simplicity, and the strength of his christian character. There was nothing mean or bitter in his nature. He could be angry at wickedness, and could rebuke the wrong doer with wonderous fidelity and power; and yet to the distressed, the suffering and the young, he could be tender and gentle indeed. He gained and retained the confidence and affection of the successive ministers of the Maitland circuit. He was to them a wise councellor, and a true helper. They new his worth and will cherish his memory. The illness which resulted in his death began on his return from visiting his dying son-inlaw. He rallied alittle but only to suffer a relapse. To one of his sons who had been sent for from a distance, he said- " You have just come to see your Father die, I shall soon be gone." He was very anxious for the conversion of all his family, and in his last hours he exhorted them with tears and tender entreaties to seek their own salvation. As for himself he had no fear, he knew in whom he had believed. His saviour Christ, who had been precious to him through a long life, was very precious to him in death. He had heard the command , and caught the inspiration of the promise.
" Be though faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." He was faithfull  unto death, he has now received the promised crown.
After hours of unconsciousness, he quietly passed away from earth, on a Sabbath evening, to the rest of heaven, where Sabbaths never end. It was a fitting day for such a man to die. His body was laid in the burial ground near to the Chapel, which had been his spiritual home for many years. A large assembly testified to his worth. Many true mourners were there. The Reverend W.E. Bourne conducted the service and delivered a suitable address. The funeral sermon was preached on a succeeding Sabbath by the Rev. Luke Parr from psalm xvii, verse 15.

His loss to Oswald, seems irreparable. May his mantle descend upon some worthy successor!
To his memory I offer this humble tribute of loving esteem.
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