CENTENARY OF ROBERTSON OF BRIGHTON.

Evening Star, Issue 16092, 18 April 1916, Page 2

CENTENARY OF ROBERTSON OF BRIGHTON.

[By J. T. Pixj-otD, M.A., B.D.]

Perhaps no sermons influenced the Ipso generation of Methodist preachers in New' Zealand more than those of him who usel to be affectionately sunken of as "Robertson of Brighton."" These sermons aic" vceptionally lucid in expression, and reveal a combination of the analytic, with the constructive and imaginative faculties. Tin iull name was Precieriek William Roi.crtson, and he was born in London on Pf---.ru-axy 3, 1816. It is thus just- ICO v-ears a.-o smce the event took pli.ee. ' ° As a child he had a Jove for Tvuure and its marvels. He was also fond ,-,;' manly games and athletic sports. " fhs first recollections were of military mat-sis. His grandfather was a eolcief and >v< father a captain, lie hinue'i r.;.-d to speak of the boom of the cannon, mid of his fathers orderly walking out with hii.i hand-in-hand. Robertson wsb a food stiidc.tt. had a- retentive memory, "and profited much from the careful ediuatioii that his parents gave him. llis inclination led him to prepare for entering the Army. Kis great ambition as a youth was to hecome a man and be a soldier. His fai her, however, and several of his- irion p,' thought he should enter the Chris-u"! ministry. He yielded to their wishes, and matriculated in connection with Oxford University. He entered Rrasenoso Collefj when he was 21 years of ace. Five davs after this event he was offered a comnrissiou in the 2nd Dragoons, with the option of exchanging into the 3rd. wliich was then about to embark for India. Had the commission arrived earlier, how different would have been his life !

Having graduated at the university. ! Robertson began his ministry as a curate I at Winchester, whence he removed tc ! Cheltenham, and afterwards to Oxford But these appointments were simp'lv preparing him for his great work at Brighton —great not in duration of time, for he was only there some six years, but great in power and influence. He tells he accepted the position with reluctance. 1U was only on the strong advice of the Bishop of Oxford that he went at ail His wise summary of ministerial duty and the expressed outline of the. ideal hj sCI before him when he bc.-jan his work at this English watering place not only r - veal his personal eayirestness and pir.c"ritY. but they are worthy of the careful and prayerful study of any young man who i •■ beginning Ms work in 'the sacred eailitic of a preacher of the Gospel. The character of Robertson was cast in a serious mould. When a boy, as in th. case of Wesley, he was wonderfully preserved from sudden death. His gratitude to God as a result was strong and de-en-rooted. He started his ministry with "a grave and awful sense of responsibility. He won faith out of doubt by a slow and perhaps insensible development. He had such a high conception of the woik of a Christian minister as an exponent of the Word of God that before he left college he literally laurnt by heart the whole of the New Testament, not only in English, but Greek. Sn.ch earnestness brought its o-.v:: reward, as it will ever do, in a complete equipment for successful servfee. Robertson was an independent thinker. Ha waa willing to receive all the help he could obtain irom others, but he nevei slavishly followed their lead. Kg respected his own conscience, and .evolved his ideas after his own fashion. By prayer and study, without the aid of commentaries, he strove to receive direct impressions from the Bible, Then, from his own experience, and out of a full heart, he gave utterance to those impressions with a freedom and variety which plainly revealed his own individuality, His mora: integrity and his iove of clearness made him a master in logic, so that his thoughts were not only original, but expressed witi. perspicuity and force. It is not without its lesson that his greatest success was j achieved amongst the servant class ami the working men of Brighton. It was as a preacher that .Robertson wabest known. And it is from this standpoint that we can most truly say " mt works oo follow him." He had a message to deliver, and he used all tho abilities with which ho was so richly endowed for the fulfilment of his sacred duty. As a preacher he was often eioqu-ent." In public speaking he lost sight of everything but, his subject. He not only possessed the thoughts about which he wished to speak, but no was himself so possessed by thera that he literally subjugated men bv bold and persuasive words. He preached a positive theology. He instated on the historical reality of the life of Christ: that Christianity was founded on a life, the spirit of which was infinite and capable oi infinite expansion. In dealing with false presentations of doctrinal or moral truths he placed side by side with them the real truths they counterfeited, so that nien might see and love the true, eschew that which is evil and cleave to' that which is good. In social questions Robertson was greatly interested. Some of his most stirring addresses were given in connection with the Working Man's Institute at Brighton. He had a high regard for women, and his letters show him to have been a staunch friend- He was a great sufferer from physical infirmity. Like St. Paul, he had ft thorn in the flesh to buffet.him; but he was ever courteous and patient. Few men.have been so much misunderstood as waa he. and fewer still have longed for

human sympathy more than he did. Yet had no not suffered much and in solitude he would never have possessed the ripe experience ho did, and his sermons would never have been the groat source of comfort and _ inspiration they have been to thousands of sorrowing and suffering r.wn and v.-on: en.

l.ieatit was hastened by a controversy which Air Robertson had with the Yic:ir of Brighton over a Mr lowers, whom he wished to have p.s ids ctrraio, but who had previously offended the vicar in souk v.-;./. lie di-co Ac gust. 15, 1053, aged 37 is iei-'.ttves wi-hod that the luoeral siiooid bo a private une, but they yave wa\ in -.-.eieicncv' to the, general desire of th-: people of Brighton, who wishfd to (live

pu. lie expi--.-s.-ion to tl.eir rorrow. Tomembers of several societies, all the miniier.; of the Established and I)isseiuie : churches in the town.—in ail over 2.oLpersons—fcilo.ved the bier, and the shot' ail along the route where the cortege _ His congregation and friends raised : simile ana massive mo-numon; to his- me nv.:ry. and a memorial window has h-coo jihie-.i in Braser.ofe Cjllege Chapel. Aftc ids death *,he rapid sale of editions -of If sormoiH i-howed the great interest the pub lii: icoi; in ids. life ar.d labors. "i he e<ii tor of his biography stated in IGB2 tha: 15 editions ot the first volume of ferrnou had been published, 13 of the ic. ood. an-;' 13 ol the third. They had reached the. ninth edition in America, and had U-e----translated into Genoam Pvideiitlv ro-

uev.ed interest is being shown in them, fo; a fresh edition has recently been piiuibhe-d ilis views are crystalli e<i in his sermon; and by this means his iniiv.enc a as a

eilie;-! and roligioiu teaclur remains wit us. "He, being dead, yet speaketh."