The Life And Ministry Of Frederick King

Earthen Vessel 1890:

Mr. F. King, Baptist Minister

In loving memory of Mr. F. King, of Carlton, Beds., who fell asleep in Jesus, on Saturday, July 26th, 1890.

Our dear friend was a tried Christian, but he did not parade his troubles in the pulpit. He was careful not to speak about himself, but his sermons were brimful and running over with a precious Christ. I have seen the tears start in his eyes, and an expression of glory in his countenance, while he exclaimed in Rutherford’s language:—

“O Christ, He is the fountain,

The deep sweet well of love,

The streams on earth I’ve tasted

More deep I’ll drink above;”

His sermons were sweetly interspersed with choice hymns, and they were always most appropriate. I asked him once how it was that he expressed himself so often in poetical language, and he quietly replied because hymns or verses expressed his feelings in better language than he could. I have known the dear departed one for thirty years, and am acquainted with many incidents in his life and experience as a minister. He was from first to last a firm, upright, faithful, affectionate friend. He began to preach when very young, and the first church over which he was settled was Aldreth. The people loved him, and many souls were added to the Church. In 1859 he resigned his pastorate, and accepted the charge at Great Gransden. The chapel was endowed by the immortal Anne Dutton of blessed memory. In this place he laboured for a period of twenty years, and he left them amidst tears of deepest regret and sorrow. He then became settled at Carlton, in 1881, where he laboured very hard for nine years, generally preaching three times on the Sabbath, and five times during the week. When I called his attention to the fact that he was trying his physical health, he said with a smile, “Well, my dear sister, I would rather wear out than rust out, and I should like to go from my pulpit to heaven. I hope that I may preach while I live, and live while I preach.

“I’ll speak the honours of His name

With my last lab’ring breath,

And dying clasp Him in my arms,

The antidote of death.”

I loved to hear him extol Christ. He did not know where to find a name good enough, or an epithet endearing enough in speaking of Him. His utterances on the person and work of Christ were such, that I rarely heard from any lips excepting those of such dear men of God as John Hazelton, John Foreman, James Wells, C. W. Banks, P. Dickerson, and I. Atkinson. He was very unassuming in his manner. His bronchial organs were weak; his delivery was not altogether pleasing, especially when he had a cold; but his cheerful manner soon made one feel at home in his society.

Mr. King was called by grace in very early life at Waterbeach, and his soul was delivered by that sweet text, “His going forth shall be as the morning.” These words were frequently sweet, and were ever memorable to him. Once when he preached from them himself a dear mourner was comforted and delivered, and soon came before the Church, and testified of the Lord’s goodness to her. He was called to endure great family bereavement, and other trials, but in January, 1873, his eldest daughter was given him in answer to many prayers, and she was soon added to the Church with the sister who was delivered under the sermon from “His going forth shall be as the morning.”

Mr. King had resigned his pastorate at Carlton, and had engagements for three months ahead. On Saturday night, July 26th, he went down to. St. Ives, and asked his youngest daughter to meet him there; his train was late, but he arrived safely, and went to the refreshment rooms to get tea. This he seemed to enjoy, and talked about me to his daughter. They left in about an hour to go to Fen Drayton; but as he felt poorly, he leaned against a fence. She fetched him something to drink, and he partook of a little, but as he grew worse, she sent for a doctor, and in the meantime he laid his head on her arm, and expired in about five minutes:—

“Softly he lay his fainting head

Upon his Maker’s breast;

His Maker kissed his soul away,

And now he lies at rest.”

I could, with Divine assistance, write a book of him, but must wait for direction. Once Mr. King dreamed the following verse, quite original:—

“The cup of glory’s at my lips,

Christ fills me to the brim;

The waves of Jordan touch my tips,

I soon shall be with Him.”

The remains of our dear brother were interred by Mr. Jull, of Cambridge, on Wednesday, July 30th, in the presence of a large concourse of friends who had come to pay their last tribute of respect to his memory.

M. L. Pellatt (late Walker)

Dean House, Carlton, Cambs.

The Late Mr. Frederick King

[We are obligingly indebted to our beloved brother J. Jull, pastor of Eden Chapel, Cambridge, for the annexed sketch of the life of our departed brother, Frederick King, of Carlton, Beds.—Ed.]

Our beloved brother, F. King, of Carlton, was suddenly called home when on his Master’s errand to preach the Gospel at Over, in Cambridgeshire. He was born at Waterbeach, in Cambridgeshire, of truly godly parents, in 1825; his father being a deacon of the chapel, for many years reputed for his godly life and true devotedness to the cause of Christ. When about 15 or 16 years of age, our brother was baptized and joined the Church at Waterbeach. His first pastorate was at Aldreth, Cambs., for nine years, then at Great Gransden, Hunts., for twenty-two years, and his last pastorate was at Carlton, where he laboured nine years. In all three places the Lord used him as an instrument of calling sinners and feeding the people of God.

He was a very honourable, consistent, and godly minister of Jesus Christ, and very much respected for his uprightness of life and true devotedness to his Master’s work. He was 65 years of age, and, after preaching forty years, without missing one Sabbath from the pulpit, through ill-health, was called away from his work on earth to a higher, holier, and purer employment and service in the home of the redeemed above on July 26th, 1890.

The mortal remains of the deceased were interred by his intimate friend (and predecessor as pastor of the Church at Carlton) in the Baptist Meeting-house burial ground, Carlton, on July 30th, 1890, in the presence of a large assembly of mourning and sympathizing friends. Many were moved to tears, feeling the loss they had sustained.

On Sunday, the 3rd August, in the evening, a memorial service was held, and conducted by Mr. Jull, to a very large congregation. The text spoken from was Rev. 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

May the Lord support and sustain the widow, and soon raise up a pastor for the bereaved Church, and sanctify this bereaving Providence to all for Christ’s sake. Amen.

The following newspaper report of the death of Mr. King is considered to be very accurate:—

“The late Mr. F. King had recently resigned his pastorate at Carlton, and was on Sunday last to have preached at Over, in Cambridgeshire. With that in view, on Saturday last, Mr. King left home by the Harrold bus, taking train at Bedford for St. Ives, and it was near the railway station in that town the lamented gentleman passed quietly and quickly away. He suddenly complained of some pain, and before assistance could be procured, had ceased to breathe. The body was brought to Carlton on Monday, and amidst manifest tokens of sorrow and esteem was laid to rest in the chapel graveyard on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. John Jull, of Cambridge, an old and intimate friend of Mr. King’s, conducted the sad service, at which there was a large and representative gathering, friends being present from Harrold, Odell, Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Bedford, Wellingborough, Wollaston, Turvey, Stevington, Lavendon, and several other villages. This may be accounted for by the fact that Mr. King was a true pastor and worker; it was his regular custom to preach six times a week to his own people, and wherever help was wanted or good could be done, Mr. King was never asked in vain. He was a constant visitor to the sick and afflicted, and, as will be seen, he died in harness. Mr. Jull gave an excellent and stirring address to the congregation, and, speaking of his deceased friend, said he had been in the ministry forty years, during the whole of which time he had never missed preaching on the Lord’s-day. His first pastorate was at Aldreth for nine years; next he went to Great Gransden, in Huntingdonshire, where he remained for twenty-two years; and the last nine years he had been with them at Carlton, where his quiet yet earnest Christianity had won him troops of friends in all classes for many miles around. Wreaths were sent from the friends at Zion Chapel, Wollaston; Mr. and Mr. Clayson, Harrold; Mrs. Medlow, Chellington; Mr. Risely, Carlton; Mr. Reynolds, of Higham Ferrers; Mrs. Knight, of Colworth; and one from his former congregation at Gransden. Mr. King was 65 years of age. In connection with this sad event, it may be noted that Tuesday was the chapel anniversary, when two sermons were preached by Mr. Reynolds, of London, to good congregations. It had been intended to have made a presentation to Mr. King at that meeting, of a purse subscribed by his friends as a token of esteem and regard on his leaving them, but, of course, that could not be. It was, however, decided to give it to Mrs. King, and the sum of £11 5s. 6d. was thus handed to the bereaved widow, who touchingly thanked her dear friends for it, and more for their kindness in that time of deep sorrow.”