AMERICAN Missionary Register. VOL. V. JANUARY, 1824. Biography. No. 1. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM WARD, D.D. ONE OF THE MISSIONARIES AT SERAMPORE, IN BENGAL. [From the London Evangelical Magazine.] THE death of this eminently pious and useful servant of Christ has made a very general and deep impression on the minds of British Christians, and especially on those who take a lively interest in the cause of Missions to the heathen. We hasten, therefore, to lay before our readers a brief sketch of Dr. Ward's history, for which we are indebted to a sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. IVIMEY, and to other sources to which he refers. MEMOIR, &c. Mr. Ward was a native of Derby, where he was born Oct. 20, 1769. His mother was a pious woman, who received her first religious impressions under the discourse of a female Quaker, who preached in the Town Hall of that place. Mr. Ward had the advantage of maternal counsel and example, and it is believed became, while young, the subject of converting grace; and was made a partaker of the unsearchable riches of that gospel which he was appointed to preach among the Gentiles. In early life he was brought up to the printing business, and while a youth was united to the Baptist church at Hull; by whom, it being soon perceived that he possessed promising talents for the ministry, he was encouraged to devote himself to that work, and was placed under the care of the late VOL. V. 1 Rev. Dr. Fawcett, of Ewood Hall, Halifax, for literary instruction. The writer of the interesting Memoirs of that excellent and useful man gives the following honourable testimony to the conduct and character of Mr. Ward: : "A residence of about a year and a half at Ewood Hall endeared Mr. Ward as much to the family, as his exertions in behalf of the heathen have raised him in the esteem of the public. They witnessed the first appearance of that missionary spirit which induced him afterward to relinquish every other engagement for this sacred cause. His most delightful employment was to preach in hamlets tion; and by the dispersion of short wherever he could collect a congrega tracts, &c. to lead careless as well as inquiring souls to a serious attention to the best things." Mr. Fuller also, in his valuable Memoirs of good Mr. Pearce, of Birmingham, says, “The congregation at Cannon-street was supplied for several months by Mr. Ward who |