The Life And Death Of William Hazelton

Earthen Vessel 1891:

The Late Mr. William Hazelton

The severe and protracted sufferings of our beloved brother, William Hazelton, were brought to a close by death on Lord’s-day evening, January 11th, at 8.20, in the National Hospital, Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury, London.

It will be remembered by many of our readers who attended the Annual Meetings of the Suffolk and Norfolk Particular Baptist Association, on June 6th, 1888, at Laxfeld, that our brother Hazelton was urged to preach the evening sermon on that occasion, and after much hesitancy he yielded to the call, and preached (what proved to be his last sermon) from the words, “I will work, and who shall let it?” (Isa. 43:18), and which he divided as follows:—I. The text in relation to the Speaker Himself. II. Its relation to His saved and beloved Church. III. The individual experience of God’s dear children. We sat by his side at the service, and were delighted with his solemn discourse, but much grieved at the pain he appeared to suffer during the whole of the time. He afterwards retired to brother Marsh’s house, and was kindly and carefully attended to until he was removed to his home at Lewisham.

The last letter we were favoured to receive from our departed brother (although not written for publication) is worthy of a place here:—

“Dear Brother Winters,—I was about to write expressing sympathy with you and your dear wife in your sad bereavement, when I was suddenly taken worse, and for some time was apparently nigh unto death. I am, however, spared a while longer, and feel considerably better. May the dear Lord mercifully support you both, and enable you to realise His presence, that, while earthly friends are missed, and an aching void is felt, you may rejoice in His ever faithful love. I note that (D.V.) you will be at College Park to-morrow. May the Lord abundantly bless His Church there, and make her a great power for good. I always feel there will be a good cause of truth established in Lewisham, and should I be spared to see it, I shall rejoice greatly, as my first and only pastorate, where to the last, and especially during the last few months, the Lord blessed His own word. College Park will be dear to me, and I hope ever to pray for its welfare. O that I might again proclaim the Gospel. How often the soul longs to tell of a Saviour’s love. Bless His name, in yonder world there will be ‘no more pain,’ no clouded skies, no blasted hopes, no break in the sweet service; but ‘they shall see His face.’ Amen, Amen. My kind Christian regards to Mrs. Winters; may you be long spared in the work of love, and service of the Lord. Believe me ever to remain,

Yours in Christian fellowship,

Wm. Hazelton

3, National Hospital, Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury, W. C.,

October 20th, 1890.”

Our dear departed brother had not reached (as regards his years) the meridian of life, when the Lord called him to his eternal rest. He was born of godly parents at Springfield, Essex, July 10th 1858; and was, in very early life, brought to know and fear the Lord. We well remember him about the time he began preaching. His first sermon was preached at Prittlewell, on Lord’s-day evening, Oct. 20th, 1878, from the words, “We would see Jesus.” He afterwards preached at Rochford, Gravesend, Brighton, and in several London chapels. In the early part of the year 1881, he received a call to preach at College Park, Lewisham, and after he had preached sixty-six sermons before the friends, the Church invited him to the pastorate, which he accepted, and was publicly recognised Oct. 18th, 1881. On the first Lord’s-day in June, 1888, having completed the seventh year of his pastoral work at College Park, he preached from the words, “The Lord is good” (Nahum 1:7); and on the following Wednesday morning we met him at Ipswich, and journeyed together to Laxfield, where he preached his last sermon.

Our departed brother leaves a beloved wife and four dear children to mourn his loss, the eldest child being under nine years of age. Relative to the closing scene of our brother’s life, his sorrowing widow kindly writes us, by request, as follows:—

“Dear Mr. Winters,—In answer to your kind letter just received, my dear husband was born, I believe, in the parish of Springfield, Essex, of God-fearing parents; and was, very early in life, the subject of deep convictions of sin. He was early brought to know the Lord, and to unite himself with the people of God, and was eventually, as you know, brought into the work of the ministry. His affliction has been a long and painful one, being unconscious for the last twenty-four hours of his life. He was not able to say anything, as we hoped he might have done. On the Thursday afternoon preceding his death, as I sat by his side, I said to him, ‘My dear, you have now come into the deep waters, do you realise the presence of Jesus with you?’ He replied, ‘Not as I could wish;’ but, he added, ‘He has given me the promise that at eventide it shall be light.’ I then said, ‘My dear, you will find Him faithful.’ A friend visited him on Saturday, and whispered in his ear—’Though painful at present, ’twill cease before long, And then, oh! how pleasant the conqueror’s song; to whom my dear husband replied, ‘Do pray that the Lord may soon take me home.’ All Saturday night he laboured hard for breath, but during Sunday was much more composed, lying with his eyes fixed upwards. I said to a friend who was watching with me, ‘I believe he saw heaven and was longing to enter in.’ His ransomed spirit took its flight at twenty minutes past eight. We remembered an expression he had often made use of, that he should like to go home at the close of the services on a Sabbath evening.

Yours in Jesus,

L. E. Hazelton

154, Courthill-road, Lewisham, S.E., Jan. 14th, 1891.”

We forbear writing more on our departed brother Hazelton, as his intimate friend, Mr. Philip Reynolds, of Highbury, has kindly promised to write a memoir of him for our next issue. We are deeply indebted to our beloved brother John Waters Banks for his account of the funeral, and to Mrs. M. A. Chaplin, for the annexed appropriate lines.—EDITOR.

In Memoriam—William Hazelton

No tears to-day, no tears;

Glad thanks to God be given,

That the worn, weary soul at length

lts torturing flesh hath riven.

Patience has had its work,

And God is glorified;

And Christ, the ever-living Lamb,

Is crowned and satisfied.

Oh, many a blessed crown

Begirts His glorious head,

And many a jewel greets Him still,

Begotten from the dead.

What marvel of a God,

That this torn flesh should rise

Complete and perfect, to rejoin

The spirit in the skies.

And sweeter marvel still,

That every trace of sin

Should vanish from the ransomed ones

Who are with Christ shut in.

Breathe song of sweetest praise

At Jesu’s feet to-day,

For through His agony alone

The sin was put away.

And though from scenes like these,

We shrink with natural dread,

Though richest luxuries are piled

About the blessed dead.

M. A. Chaplin

Galleywood, Chelmsford

The Funeral

The last three years of our brother W. Hazelton’s life was one long, cold, winter season, which however was frequently relieved by the genial rays of the Sun of Righteousness shining into and warming his heart. So on the day of the funeral there was everything that makes winter a stern fact—severe cold, hard frost, and snow. Yet nature did smile, the beautiful sun did shine, and as we pressed on towards the chapel to unite in the funeral obsequies, we thought there was a silver lining to every cloud (at least, this has been our experience for many years), and that which gilded this dark and mysterious dispensation was Paul’s words, “We sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” While thus meditating on the glorious and happy change experienced by our translated brother, the lines of John Kent seemed sweetly applicable:—

“For weary saints a rest remains

In heaven, from all their toils and pains;

Where seas of joy eternal flow

Without a taint of mortal woe.”

Arriving at the chapel in College Park, Lewisham, we found Mr. Hall and others arranging for the accommodation of those wishing to join in the solemn and sacred service. Just before two o’clock the funeral cortege arrived, and the proceedings commenced by Mr. Mitchell announcing the following appropriate hymn commencing:—

“Death is no more a frightful foe,

Since I with Christ shall reign;

With joy I leave this world of woe:

For me to die is gain.”

Mr. W. K. Squirrell then read from the Word 2 Cor. 5 and Rev. 7. He briefly and fittingly prefaced his reading by saying the first portion described the experience of brother William Hazelton while here, and the second portion gave an outline of the country to which he has gone.

Mr. Holden announced the next hymn, which was most expressive and touching of dear William’s case:—

“When langour and disease invade

This trembling house of clay,

‘Tis sweet to look beyond our cage,

And long to fly away.”

Mr. Crook, pastor of College Park, offered prayer. Another hymn:—

“What solemn tidings reach our ears,

How awful and how grand;

A brother landed safe from fear,

On Canaan’s happy land.”

Mr. P. Reynolds, a close and intimate friend of the deceased, then ascended the pulpit and delivered a most suitable address. Another hymn was given out by Mr. Squirrell, and Mr. Mitchell brought the service to a close by a short prayer, earnestly commending the widow to her heavenly Father, and pleading for the tender mercies of the Lord to be extended to the dear fatherless children.

At the grave, Mr. Mitchell said it would be neither wise nor kind to stay here in the cold, after the long service in the chapel. All that remains for us to do is to commit the body of our “brother beloved” to its last resting place—it is not death, it is only sleep to the believer—we sleep to wake in the morning refreshed; so with our brother on the resurrection morn, he will rise, and death will be swallowed up in victory. After prayer by Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Mitchell asked the friends to sing one verse of Montgomery’s sweet hymn:—

“For ever with the Lord, Amen, so let it be, &c.”

It was a sacred pleasure to see so many sympathetic friends gathered on the occasion; among whom were Messrs. Adams (Highbury), C. Wilson (Dorset-square), G. Sawyer (Chadwell-street), Smith (Eltham), Wheeler, W. Lovegrove, and many other loving friends of the deceased. The pastor and deacons of Mount Zion, Chadwell-street, were most attentive to William during the whole of his illness. The week preceding our brother’s departure Mr. Mitchell saw him on the Monday, Mr. Mote on the Thursday, and Mr. Sawyer on the Saturday. The following note gives us almost the closing scene of our departed brother, which must be read with special interest:—

“Dear Brother Banks,—According to your request I send you an account of my last interview with our late beloved brother Wm. Hazelton a few hours before his ransomed spirit took its departure for his glorious home. The nurse told me I could not see him, that he was dying; but, upon her asking my name, said that he had been inquiring for me; that if I would wait she would try and prepare him to see me. After some time had elapsed, I was introduced to his bedside. I stood for some time looking upon him; I supposed he had passed away. He opened his eyes, and knew me. I whispered in his ear:—

“Though painful at present,

‘Twill cease before long;

And then, oh, how pleasant,

The conqueror’s song.”

Seeing he wanted to speak I put my ear to his mouth. He said: “Oh my dear brother, pray the Lord to take me home soon.” I replied, “We did;” kissed his forehead, pressed his hand, and left him. It was the shortest visit I ever made, but a most blessed one. Upon leaving I had a few words with the nurse, I inquired if he had been patient. She replied, with much feeling, “Most patient.” I remarked that “there was a needs-be that he should have come to the hospital. Yes, indeed, it was; for she had received much benefit herself.” Now, my dear brother, make what use of these remarks you please.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

George Sawyer

103, Downham-road, N.

Jan. 17, 1891.”

Among those who followed were the widow, her son William, mother of deceased and his brothers J., H., F., and A. Hazelton; his sisters Mrs. Chifrers and the Misses Hazelton. and Mr. Chilvers; representatives of M.A.S.B.C. and S.B.M., Messrs. Mitchell, H. Hall, J. E. Hazelton, Reynolds, Wakelin and Riddle; friends, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Smith, Miss Donovan, Mr. Howard, and Mrs Riddle.