The Life And Ministry Of George Turner

Earthen Vessel 1898:

The Late Mr. G. Turner, Of Elim, Limehouse

By His Pastor, F. C. Holden

“The memory of the just is blessed.”—Prov 10:7

These words express our heart’s feeling as we attempt to give the readers of the Earthen Vessel & Gospel Herald some account of our dear brother Turner, concerning whom it may truly be said that he was ”one of the excellent of the earth.”

George Turner was born at Oxney Green, Writtle, near Chelmsford, Essex, on March 3rd, 1833. Often has he been heard to speak of the beneficial influence of a godly mother’s prayers and teaching when he was very young. Her wont was to cause him to kneel by her side whilst she engaged in prayer asking the Lord to forgive his sins, keep him from temptation, bless, and save him; and many a time has he said, with tears in his eyes, “her prayers had more effect upon him than the severest thrashing his father ever gave him.”

When he was twelve years old his mother died, and he went on for several years without any particular concern for his soul.

It was not until our departed brother was about seventeen years of age that he had any serious and abiding conviction of sin, realising his state as a sinner before God. The means by which this was effected cannot be given, but it was of such a deep and cutting nature that he almost despaired of ever being saved. In after years he was wont to point out a tree in a lonely spot beneath which he knelt, and cried for mercy, asking the Lord to show him how such a sinner as he was could be just with God. This continued for several months, during which he regularly attended the ministry of a Mr. Lane, at the Independent Chapel, Writtle, of whom I have heard him speak in terms of great respect and esteem.

At length the set time to favour our brother and grant him his request came. Hearing that the late James Wells (of blessed memory) was to preach at Chelmsford, and being a seeker after truth, he went to hear him. The text or subject was Rom. 8:1-4. Under that discourse he learned the way of salvation more perfectly, and not only saw clearly how sinful man could be just with God but realizing his personal interest in Christ, his soul was set at liberty, and brother George Turner has told me that he leaped and danced for joy on his way home to Writtle. From that time he became a lover of, and firm believer in, the doctrines of free and sovereign grace; especially the doctrine of justification by faith through the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When about eighteen years of age he came to London and worked at his trade as a bricklayer, under the late Mr. Maryen, of Stepney. Several years afterwards he entered the police force, and rose step by step until he reached the high and honourable position of Superintendent of the Division, and had for several years between 800 and 900 men under his command.

Having gained the esteem of his superiors as well as inferiors, and served his full time, he retired upon a well-earned pension, which he enjoyed during the last eleven years of his life.

When he first came to London he attended the ministry of the late Mr. W. Allen, of “Cave Adullam,” Stepney, under which his soul was much profited and blessed. But circumstances caused him to remove to Grosvenor-street, Mile-end, where he heard the late Mr. Chamberlain, who eventually baptised him, and received him into the Church.

In the year 1854 he married Emma Sheering, who was a member of the same Church; this proved to be a happy union. Several children were born to them, only one of whom survives him, viz., the wife of our beloved young brother Pounds, of Bexley.

Mr. and Mrs. Turner removed with the Church to Wellesley-street, and continued there, under the ministry of Mr. Chamberlain and the late Mr. Thomas Stringer, until the year 1870. In that year they, with about fifty other Christian friends, were formed into a Church, and met for worship at Coverdale Rooms, Limehouse. Brother Turner was chosen deacon and secretary. The choice proved to be of the Lord, and highly advantageous to the Church. For eight years they went on with the supply system, but in 1878 they were led to make choice of the writer as their pastor, who for twenty years enjoyed the most intimate friendship and Christian fellowship with him without a single break or Jar.

No pastor ever had a better deacon; he was wise, just, good, kind, and true to the very core. No Church ever had a more willing and faithful servant. To his personal influence and energy, under the blessing of God, no small share of the success attending the cause at Limehouse may justly be attributed. The talents which God gave him were all made use of in promoting the welfare of Zion, and for the glory of God, so that we feel sure his Lord hath said unto him: “Well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

In the year 1885, his wife Emma died very suddenly, and at the time of her death was beloved and esteemed by the Church as being “a mother in Israel.”

In the following year he married Mrs. Eliza Wright, of Camberwell an old and valued friend of myself and my dear wife, who for several years previous had been a member with us at Limehouse. This union also proved to be a happy and advantageous one, as she has ever been a willing helper, and a blessing to the cause. May the Lord spare her life, strengthen and comfort her in and under her great loss and sorrow.

Our dear brother’s last illness was of short duration. Through personal affliction I was unable to visit him, but it was just such an end as those who best knew him would have expected; no excitement, no despondency, no ecstatic joy, but calm, submissive, firm, and steady in faith, he committed his all into the hands of Him whom he knew to be a faithful, covenant-keeping God.

On Lord’s-day, January 23rd, feeling very ill, he said to his dear wife, “You know I am not in bondage through fear of death as some of God’s people are. I feel it will be all right; the God who has borne with me all my life will not leave me at the end.” Three days after, his wife was taken ill, and had to lay by his side. Amongst many other things he said to her was this, “He crowneth us with lovingkindness and tender mercies; He is a good and gracious God.” On the evening before he died he said, “I am quite easy (his sufferings previously had been very great); I feel no pain, righteousness enjoyed,” and a little while before he died, his dear wife and daughter caught the words, “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,” as though with his dying breath he wished to affirm his faith in the Holy Trinity. Then putting out his hands to them, he said, “Pull me over.” When this was done, he faintly said—“I am ready now.” “I am on my journey home,” “I think I will try and have a little sleep.” Then placing his head upon his hand, he heaved a sigh, gathered his feet up into the bed, and fell asleep in Jesus.

His beloved daughter, Mrs. Pounds, says: ”A holy peace seemed to pervade the room, stilling for a time the intense sorrow of his beloved and bereaved ones.” “So He giveth His beloved sleep.” “Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” “We sorrow, but not as those who have no hope.” “He is not lost but gone before.” We hope soon to follow. Amen.

Our dear departed brother, George Turner, was for seven years Minute Secretary to the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches; an office requiring no small amount of time and talent, which he carried out with undeviating assiduity to the comfort of his colleagues and the universal admiration of the Association. During this time he had several attacks of bronchitis, which necessitated him sending in his resignation. Events have proved that he was not only justified in so doing, but that the Lord’s hand was in it, so that before he was taken another brother might be duly installed, and fully equipped to fill the office, giving additional proof of the fact that “the Lord doth all things well.”

Brother Turner retired from active service in the Association, March 9^th, 1897, but his colleagues in office, the delegates, and churches generally, could not allow him to retire without some practical token of their esteem for the honorary and onerous services he had rendered, and Mr. E. Mitchell, on their behalf, in an affectionate way asked Mr. Turner to accept, as a small manifestation of their love and esteem, a silver tea service and platter. Brother Turner acknowledged the gift in a very spiritual address, which he closed by saying, “I am not worthy of such kindness.” A vote of thanks was also unanimously passed for “the able manner in which he had discharged his office.”

This sketch would be incomplete without recording a most interesting circumstance in his eventful life. On retiring from his position as Superintendent of the K Division of Police, the officers and men under his command manifested their attachment by presenting him with a clock, a valuable gold watch and chain, and other testimonials. The following is a copy of the inscription on the timepiece:—

PRESENTED TO SUPERINTENDENT GEORGE TURNER, K DIVISION: METROPOLITAN POLICE, BY HIS BROTHER SUPERINTENDENTS AS A MARK OF THEIR ESTEEM ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE FORCE, AFTER A SERVICE OF 28 YEARS. 1ST NOVEMBER, 1887.

In Memoriam Of The Late Mr. G. Turner

Our brother’s gained that sweet release,

And gone to dwell and rest in peace

On yonder bright, celestial shore,

Where pilgrims meet to part no more.

Though unexpected was your flight

From this dark world to worlds of light,

To join with loved ones gone before,

In heaven your home, and part no more.

Our loss is your eternal gain—

You now through grace triumphant reign

And Canaan’s blissful heights explore;

With sweet the thought to part no more.

Dear Lord, the widow here sustain

Till she shall to that rest attain,

To join with thousands round the throne

Where death and parting is unknown.

We’ll meet again, ’twill not be long,

When we shall come to aid the song;

With ransomed millions to adore

The Christ of God, and part no more.

Thomas Edwin Moore

48, Turners-road, Burdett-road, E., Feb., 1898