The Life And Ministry Of Edward Mote

Earthen Vessel 1892:

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit: serving the Lord.”—Romans 12:11

“Of a willing heart.”—Exodus 35:5

“By the grace of God, I am what I am.”—1 Corinthians 15:10.

“When Mr. Stand-fast had thus set things in order, and the time being come for him to haste him away, he also went down to the river…I see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended; I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me…His word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my fainting; He has held me and hath kept me from mine iniquities, yea, my steps hath He strengthened in his way.”—Pilgrim’s Progress

The character and experience of our brother, the late Edward Mote, are described in the Scriptures at the head of this brief memorial, and the last acts and words of “Mr. Stand-fast” are peculiarly appropriate to the closing weeks of our dear friend’s pilgrimage. By his departure the denomination has lost one of its most useful and honourable members; the Church at Chadwell-street has been deprived of a trusted and loving counsellor; and the various societies with which he was connected mourn the loss of a valuable officer and friend. His cheerful countenance, vivacious spirit, and unassuming manner were combined with true godliness and united in producing a personality that to know was to love. With characteristic modesty, he ever sought to escape the thanks which were so often expressed for his services, and none were more sensible than he of the follies, imperfection, and sinfulness that cause every child of God daily sorrow. “Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” were words on his lips and in his heart. The fine lines of Cowper apply to our brother’s parentage:—

” My boast is not that I deduce my birth

From loins enthron’d and rulers of the earth: 

But higher far my proud pretensions rise, 

The son of parents pass’d into the skies.”

His father and mother were godly people; the former was for many years a member and deacon of the Church at Chadwell-street, and an eminently gracious man. His uncle, Edward Mote, was a minister of the Gospel, but better known through his authorship, in 1825, of that noble hymn:—

“My hope is built on nothing less 

Than Jesu’s blood and righteousness.”

Only last June our brother led the singing of this hymn, as a company of mourners stood around an open grave at Abney Park, and in less than a year his hope is changed to glad fruition.

He was born on Dec. 2nd, 1823. Like so many of the Lord’s people his religious impressions were of a gradual character, and no striking experience of his early years has to be recorded. “From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures” could be said of him. He regularly attended the sanctuary with his parents and brothers; light and life from the Holy Spirit were vouchsafed, and these were manifest in earnest spiritual desires and a warm love for the house and people of God. Exercise of soul was experienced, our friend fearing that his feelings were but natural, and that after all he was not in “the way.” This sent him much to the throne of grace, and he felt that he dare not make an open profession of faith in Christ. For a considerable time the family worshipped at Providence Chapel, City-road, where George Abrahams, in the meridian of his vigour and usefulness, was proclaiming “the glorious Gospel of the blessed God.” Ultimately they became associated with the Church at Mount Zion Chapel, Chadwell-street, which was opened for worship on Dec. 11th, 1850, under the ministry of John Hazelton. Here our brother was much blessed, and encouragement was given to him by the application of these words, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” (2 Cor. 8:12) He felt that he had been made willing, and was enabled, as a poor, lost sinner, to trust in the atonement of our glorious Saviour, and to lay hold of the salvation wrought by our covenant-keeping God. Thus he was baptized, and joined the Church in February, 1856.

Here, for the lengthened period of 36 years, was his spiritual home and no member was more frequently in his place, or desirous of fulfilling his responsibilities than he. He was never a “Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence,” but emphatically a peace-maker, and this in every department and relationship of life. He never shrank from work which needed to be done, and to which he felt he was called by his pastor and the Church. In 1877 he was chosen a deacon, and on the retirement of Richard Minton in 1879, he became treasurer of the Church. He keenly felt the loss of his dear pastor in 1888, but rejoiced in the Lord’s goodness in raising up his successor, our brother Edward Mitchell, with whom he walked and worked in loving union.

In 1850 he was married to Ellison Ellen Falkner. His family life was marked by a series of painful bereavements: ten children were born, four only of whom survive, and in 1870 his dear wife died. In 1873 he married Miss Martha Woolger, a member of the Church at Mount Zion, and who is now his sorrowing widow. In this inner circle he will be sorely missed by her and his three daughters and son. His religion was eminently practical; he lived the Gospel at home, and his loved ones will have tender and fragrant memories of the husband and father whose removal has left an aching void, which none but God can fill.

Joseph Hart’s words apply to our friend, who was not a great talker upon spiritual themes:—

“No big words of ready talkers 

No dry doctrines will suffice;

Broken hearts, and humble walkers, 

These are dear in Jesus’ eyes.”

As the seal is set on wax when it melts, so God sets His pardon on melting hearts. A humble walker, our brother gave many glimpses of his inner life in his prayers at the family altar and in the house of God; and growing spirituality of mind was apparent to those who in latter years joined in his supplications. Sweet are the recollections of morning and evening prayer. The writer loves to think of his beloved father, with bowed head of silvery hair, drawing near with his dear ones to speak with the Lord; the tones of his voice seem to vibrate now in his ear, and they surely do in his heart. Similar memories are a precious possession of the bereaved family and of many who read this paper.

A leading feature of our brother’s character was his love for the Lord’s house. Until failing health sometimes prevented, he was at every service. On Lord’s-days he would walk home to Barns-bury after the morning service, returning for the afternoon prayer-meeting; again go home, and come hack for the evening service. He could always be depended on for week-night attendance, steadily refusing all invitations or meetings with clients, that clashed with the services. Occasionally professional appointment would be made, but after the hour of the service closing. He would rather run the risk of temporal loss than miss the spiritual blessing which he so often received under the Word. The burden of many of his petitions was that amidst all the duties of a busy life, he might be kept “unspotted from the world.”

He was not a changeable man in things temporal or spiritual, and he prospered accordingly. For upwards of forty years until his death he dwelt in the same house in Thornhill-square. He never ran after religious novelty, or forsook his pastor merely to gratify curiosity. “Religious gypsies,” as his late pastor used to call wanderers of this description, are not likely to grow in grace, and are no strength to the Church. Our brother’s stability in this respect is worthy of emphatic commendation in a day when there are so much fickleness and restlessness among many members of our Churches and congregations. His love of singing was great, and he delighted to close the day with Montgomery’s hymn:—

“Here in the body pent.”

For some two years past his bodily strength was visibly experiencing decay, and a troublesome cough tried him. An attack of influenza last January quite prostrated him, and complications ensued which caused an illness of eleven weeks, terminating in his death. A painful throat affection rendered speaking difficult at times. He had but a faint hope of recovery from the first, and therefore settled every minute business detail to save his loved ones trouble after be had gone; he was calmly packing up for his homeward journey. He complained of his mind being dark and overcharged with the thought of earthly affairs, but this cloud was removed, and “the peace of God which passeth all understanding,” pervaded his soul; the grace of patience was given to him and no hasty word or fretful expression fell from his lips. One night, about a fortnight before his decease, he said, in an audible voice, “Lord, into Thine hand I commit my spirit,” the parting words of Luther, Knox, Huss, and countless more. He also said:—

“Jesus, Lover of my soul, 

Let me to Thy bosom fly,

While the nearer waters roll, 

While the tempest still is nigh.”

“Lord, remember me,” “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Once, when asked what he was thinking of, he replied, “I cannot say; verses of Scripture and of hymns come to my mind and are gone again.” 

He retained perfect consciousness to the last, and at ten o’clock in the morning of Monday, April 4th, at the age of 68, he was “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord.” In almost the last letter he wrote he quoted the verses so appropriately printed on his memorial card:—

” Give me a calm, a thankful heart, 

From ev’ry murmur free;

The blessings of Thy grace impart, 

And make me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine 

My life and death attend,

Thy presence through my Journey shine, 

And crown my journey’s end.”

These words were “a key-note to his whole life,” writes his dear daughter. The activities of our brother’s career were various. For sixteen years he was a valued member of the committee of the Aged Pilgrims’ Friend Society, and during the last five its honorary solicitor. He was also hon. solicitor to the Association, and a valued member of its committee. As treasurer of the Strict Baptist Mission he also rendered good service. He was always ready to lend a listening ear to the poor who needed his advice, and patiently to wait for those who were slow in expression. The spirit of the age says, “Dismiss them, you have no time to spare;” but only a cup of cold water, in point of intrinsic value, is still a very refreshing one to a man in the furnace of affliction. May the Lord raise up many more such brethren in our Churches, making them vessels “sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” He tarried till his Lord came, and then “went beyond the water, to our best heritage.” Adieu, dear brother, “until the day break, and the shadows flee away.” 

J. E. Hazelton