OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 8

OBITUARY

REV. CHARLES VOYSEY,

LONDON, July 22. The Rev. Charles voysey, 8.A., founder of the Theistio Church, is dead.

A Londoner by birth, and eighty-four years of age, th« Rev. Charles Voysey had a notable career. The son of an architect, ue was educated partly by private tuition, partly at Stockwcll Grammar School, and afterwards at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, where ho took his B.A. degree in 1851. From 1853 to 1859 he held the curacy of Hesslo. near Hull, and then for fifteen months was curate (under tho Crown) of Craigton, Jamaica. Returning to England, ho was appointed curate of Great Yarmouth, but in the some year (1861) was transferred to St. Mark’s, Whitechapel. Being ejected from that curacy in consequence of a sermon against endless punishment, he was recommended by the Bishop of London (Dr. Tail) to a curacy of tho Victoria Dock parish. Thence, after six months’ service, ho went to Yorkshire, and in 1864 became vicar of SJcaiaugh. Mr Voysey began his career as a religions reformer bv the publication of a sermon entitled ‘‘ls every Statement in the Bible about Our Heavenly Father strictly True?” This was soon followed, in 1865. by “The Sling and tho Stone," which appeared first. In monthly parts and was continued, through several years. The opinions expressed were denounced as heretical by the ultra-orthodox parties in the Anglican 'ihurch. and in the spring of 1869 legal proceedings were instituted by the Archbishop of York’s secretary against Mr Voysey. Tho Chancery Court gave judgment against Mr Voysey/ and this was confirmed by the Privv Council, which decided that the appellant must bo deprived of his living and nav costs. This was in 1871. after over eighteen months’ litigation. In October of that year Mr Voysey began holding Theistic services, and preaching in London, where, in 1885. tho Theistic Church was established in Swallow street. Piccadilly. Mr Vovsev wrote several books besides "The Sling and the Stone.’’ and was the last of tho founders of the Cremation Society of England.