Jackson, Samuel

Jackson, Samuel a Wesleyan minister, who held the highest offices in the gift of the Wesleyans, and for many years was one of the greatest powers of English Wesleyanism, was born at Scranton, Yorkshire. Feb. 10, 1786. i.e. was particularly prominent in the Sabbath-school movement. "To him alone," says a writer in the London Quart. Rev. 1863, p. 261, "must be attributed the awakening among them (the Wesleyans) of that religious jealousy for the younger members of their societies and congregations, which of late has so much elevated their system of Sunday-school instruction, and has thrown the hedge of a more direct ministerial oversight and training around multitudes of their youth, who might otherwise have passed unguarded through the perils that precede adult age. For some years before his death concern for the spiritual welfare of 'the young became a passion with Mr. Jackson; he wrote and spoke of little besides." As a preacher, he was plain in language, masculine in sentiment, ever abounding- in simple but forcible illustrations. He died suddenly, Aug. 4, 1861. His brother Thomas, another celebrated minister of the Wesleyans, edited the sermons of Samuel Jackson, and prefaced them with a memoir of the author (London, 1863, 8vo).