The Life And Ministry Of W. A. Dale
Earthen Vessel 1900:
Dear Mr. Editor, And Brother In The Lord,—In response to your request for a sketch of my career to accompany my portrait, I send you the following few particulars of my life, and God’s gracious dealings with me.
My natural birth took place on July 29th, 1870, at Rett’s Grove, Wandsworth Road, Clapham Common, where my parents, who were members of the Church at Courland Grove, then under the pastoral care of the late Mr. Ponsford, at that time resided. The ill-health of my father, together with an epidemic of small-pox, to which my parents feared I might fall a victim, led them to remove to Tring in November, 1871, where, in the Spring of 1872, the Lord was pleased to take my father to his heavenly home.
At six years of age I entered the Akeman Street Sunday School, where I remained as a scholar until January 6th, 1889, on which date I was presented with a Bible, by the superintendent, on leaving the school. My recollections of the Sunday School are very pleasant, especially of the three highest classes, where I became much interested in the lessons; not because I bad experienced the vital power of the truth, but from the interesting method and loving disposition of the teachers.
It was on the 28th of April, 1889, that I received my first awakening. I was in the company of two members of the Church at Akeman Street, when one of them quoted the text from which Mr. Belcher had preached, on the occasion of a visit to Akeman Street some time previously. The words were, “Ye must be born again.” That text was King Jesus’ arrow; it pierced my heart, and stuck fast in my soul. “Ye must be,” rang over and over again in my mind, and each repetition caused the arrow to penetrate more deeply into my spirit. I was convinced of my sad condition by nature—unfit for the kingdom of God, a lost, ruined, and guilty sinner. I saw and felt my great need of God’s Christ, His blood, righteousness, and power. I felt that word of the poet to be true: “Thy spirit must the work perform, for it is all of grace.” “Ye must be born again,” continued to work in me, and gave me a measure of hope in God’s love, grace and mercy in Christ. He had not pronounced condemnation, but spoken words of love and grace. So that though convicted, I hoped and prayed for mercy.
In this condition, seeking the Lord, I continued for a time. Many little helps I received under the ministry of Mr. G. W. Thomas. One Sabbath morning in particular, I sat on the gallery stairs; my mind was dark, my burden heavy, the tempter active, and my heart full of misgivings. I felt truly wretched, longing for Christ, who seemed not to regard me; I lifted up my heart to God, that, if I were one of His, would He speak some word to me. Almost directly after my prayer Mr. Thomas said, “If the Lord has begun a good work in your soul, He will complete it.” These words sank into my soul with comforting power, hope sprang up, and I felt He had begun, and would complete the work. In various ways, at Mr. Thomas’ Bible class, and under the Word, I was helped from time to time. But on Lord’s-day evening, June 30th, 1889, the Lord bade darkness flee, broke every bond, and gave me liberty, peace, and joy, by speaking home to my heart these words, “Thou art My son.” Towards the close of the year I spoke to Mr. Thomas respecting joining the Church. After relating my experience I was received by the Church, and baptized on the last Lord’s-day in March, 1890. This was a season of great joy to my soul. On the following Lord’s-day I was received into full communion, and sat down to the “Lord’s Table” with indescribable feelings.
I will pass over the exercises of my mind relating to the work of the ministry, which were many. I was accustomed to accompany brethren in visits to the villages around Tring. In November, 1890, a brother who was engaged to preach at Aldbury, found himself unexpectedly unable to fulfil his engagement, and urged me, with another brother, to go and do as the Lord should enable us. With many fears we went, and I spoke, for a brief period, from a passage in 1 John. At the close of the service one of the friends affectionately addressed me, saying, ”Keep on, never give up, go forward!” These earnest words have often encouraged me since that never-to-be-forgotten evening. From that time the Lord led me on to serve Him among the Churches around Tring, gradually instructing me, and expanding the sphere of my labours.
In the early part of 1896, I became persuaded in my mind that the Lord was about to lead me out fully into the work of the ministry. Acting on this assurance I declined to make any further engagements with the Churches where I had up to this time been labouring in the Master’s service. My future was all unknown and dark, but I believed, and waited to see what the Lord intended. In July I received an invitation from the Church at Dover, to preach in August. Not being able to accept this, it was arranged that I should visit Dover on October 11th. This I did; and again on two Lord’s-days in December. Having ascertained my willingness to give myself entirely to the work of the ministry, the Church at Dover, gave me, at the close of my visits in December, a unanimous call to occupy the pulpit for three months with a view to pastorate, and, afterwards, a unanimous call to the pastorate. It had been my earnest prayer that if I were to go to Dover the Lord would show me by putting it into the hearts of the people to be unanimous on the matter. Believing it to be of the Lord, I accepted the call. I continued with the Church at Dover for nearly three years, a period of peace, love, and unity. The friends exhibited the most exemplary Christian love and sympathy toward me when I commenced my labours among them, and continued to do so to the close of my ministry in their midst.
The sole cause of my leaving Dover was because the Lord had assured me that it was His will that I should do so. The deacons and the Church expressed their deep regret on receiving my resignation; I received a very loving letter from the Church, expressing their sorrow that the tie between us was to be sundered at the end of December, 1899. I feel we are still united in bonds of Christian love, which can never be severed. To me the future was a blank, but God held the key; whither I should go I knew not, but I did know that I had done the will of God, and felt sure that He would guide me. My own hopes as to the future were frustrated, and my way hedged up again and again, but this sweet word (among many others) dropped on my spirit, “I will go before thee.” The waiting and watching, though difficult, proved to be profitable: I trusted in the God of the promise; He led me in His way—a way altogether opposite to my own thoughts and hopes.
In January of the present year I preached at Meopham, and then learned how the Lord had gone before me there, for of three things I was unexpectedly apprised. First, I was asked to preach to them for ten more Sabbaths. Secondly, I learned that the deacons were unanimously in favour of submitting my name to the Church for probationary service, with a view to the pastorate. Thirdly, that since I was leaving Dover, and engaged to preach to them so many Lord’s-days, the deacons would ascertain whether the Church would agree to me moving into the manse, which was standing unoccupied. The Church proved to be unanimous on all these points, and so I came to Meopham. On three occasions the unanimous mind of the Church has been expressed towards me: First, to invite me for ten Lord’s-days; secondly, to invite me with a view to the pastorate; thirdly, to invite me to take the pastoral oversight of the Church. I have accepted the invitation to the pastorate, having had my mind confirmed by this word: ”Go with them nothing doubting,” which was applied to my mind on August 12th. The Lord has signally blessed the word of His grace to both saint and sinner, and He has promised to do so even more. We are looking forward to good and profitable seasons at my recognition services, in the first week in December. Do I not know that the path I tread is the pathway marked out by my God? Yes, verily I do.—I remain, yours in Christ Jesus
W. A. Dale
Woodland Villa, Meopham, November 8th, 1900
[We trust that the pastorate of our young brother at Meopham may prove long and spiritually prosperous. Both himself and the Church at Meopham have our best wishes.—Edward Mitchell]
W. A. Dale (1870-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1896, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Dover. In 1900, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Meopham.
