The Life And Death Of John Kennard

Earthen Vessel 1892:

A very brief sketch is here given of the late Mr. J. O. Kennard, who gently fell asleep at 1.25 A.M., on the 30th November, 1891. His memory is dear to many connected with the Churches of truth. As a more detailed sketch of his life may appear next month, it is only necessary at present to say deceased was born September 30th, 1808. At Deal, in Kent, he spent his boyhood days, where the Holy Spirit taught him to pray. Ere he was twenty-one years of age he came to London, and the preachers his heart yearned to hear were men like Dr. Rippon and Joseph Irons. He joined the Church at East-lane, Walworth, during the pastorate of Joseph Hamblin. In 1838, our departed brother (residing at Deptford) sought the company of those who loved the distinguishing doctrines of grace, who, with him, opened “Zion,” Griffen-street, Deptford, in January, 1844. From this grew the present “Zion.” His death removes to heaven the last of the original members of the Church. Zion loses her senior deacon, and the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches a colleague who has been treasurer from the beginning.

The funeral service was held in Zion, New Cross, on Friday, December 4^th,when a large number of people congregated to manifest their love to the memory of one whose whole Christian career had been governed by the words of Jesus recorded in Matt. 6:33, as we gathered from the address of Brother John Box on the occasion, and to which statement many in the congregation bore testimony. Among those who were present, to manifest their esteem to a brother soldier in the Christian warfare, who had fallen in the battle of life at a ripe age with his armour bright, were: Mr. George Pocock, an old comrade of forty years; Mr. White, from Mount Zion, Chadwell-street, who served under his command for some years, and many others. The old English or national tokens of respect to the memory of departed friends were very marked by the mourning habiliments of the congregation, and by the pulpit and gallery being draped in black.

At a quarter past two the funeral cortege arrived, when Mr. J. H. Lynn and Mr. W. K. Squirrell entered the pulpit, and after a few words in prayer by the pastor, the following hymn, a favourite of the deceased, was sung:—

“He is a God of sovereign love, 

That promised heaven to me;

And taught my thoughts to soar above, 

Where happy spirits be.”

Mr. Squirrell read 1 These. 5 and Rev. 7. Mr. Box gave an address, referring to the occasion as one of deep solemnity, and reminding us of the certain snapping of all earthly ties. He said that our brother, whose remains are before us, was one of the instruments in establishing this cause; his name will be revered by all who knew him. His footsteps will never more be heard, but many will remember his plaintive voice in prayer. In the Church and at home his Christian character shone. Our prayer is that the son and daughter may receive divine comfort in their loss, who will no more bear his voice in family prayer. J. O. Kennard delighted to serve the Lord by remembering His cause and the claims the poor have upon us. He served his day and generation in connection with the Church of Christ. Grace made him what he was here and fitted him for glory, and we think of him in his new home. When here he could experimentally sing:—

‘ Grace first inscribed my name 

In God’s eternal Book;

‘Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, 

Who all my sorrows took.”

And we can sing with him now, “Grace all the work shall crown,” &c. Mr. Box concluded his address by saying after four score years’ pilgrimage our brother is now laid to rest.

Mr. J. H. Lynn made a few suitable remarks, and Mr. F. C. Holden closed the service in the chapel with prayer.

The procession, consisting of six mourning coaches and several private carriages, then started for Nunbead Cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest till the resurrection morn. Mr. J. H. Lynn in suitable words “committed the body to the grave.” Mr. Box announced hymn, “Come let us join our friends above,” which was sung to the sweet, suitable, and solemn strains of “Abridge,” which attracted the attention of many passers-by, who stayed and listened to the closing prayer of Mr. J. H. Lynn, who was led to pray for any present who might be strangers to saving grace. The deputation from the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptists consisted of Brethren W. K. Squirrell, F. C. Holden, C. Wilson, E. Mote, R. E. Sears, and H. Clark. 

John W. Banks

[A biographical sketch of our departed friend, from the pen of our esteemed brother, J. H. Lynn, will (D.V.) appear in our next issue, also the funeral sermon.—Ed.]

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Founder And Senior Deacon Of The Church At Zion Chapel, New Cross Road, London, And Treasurer Of The Metropolitan Association Of Strict Baptist Churches, From Its Commencement Until His Translation To The Father’s House.

“Goodness And Mercy”

Outline of Sermon by Pastor J. H. Lynn, at Zion Chapel, New-Cross-Road, on Sunday Evening. Dec. 6^th, 1891, occasioned by the decease of John Orrick Kennard, who feel asleep Dec. 1^st, 1891. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”—Ps. 23:6

There are four passages of Scripture closely interwoven with the pilgrim life of our brother John Orrick Kennard. Perhaps the most appropriate one is our text. His life here could not be better told than in the former part, and the latter part describes his life above.

He was born Sept. 23rd, 1808, and passed his childhood at Deal. There, in very early days, he learned the truth, and it took root in his soul. Friends marked the thoughtfulness and apparent devotion of the lad, and led him, to his great joy, to a prayer meeting. As a boy he was a suppliant. He sought the Lord in his youth; and the Word of God became precious to him. These words were much blessed to him: “I love the Lord because He hath heard my voice and my supplication;” and the word was verified in his experience, as in that of many a youth besides, that “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” He found the blessedness of the Good Shepherd’s love and of fellowship with the flock of God in his boyhood; and the Heavenly Father joyed to look down on the lad walking from Deal to Canterbury, or Sandwich, reading, and pondering his New Testament on the way.

He then came to London, and at Walworth was privileged to hear Joseph Irons and Dr. Rippon, being led during the pastorate of Joseph Rambling to settle at East-street, Walworth. This pastorate ended in 1842, and was followed by that of Jeffrey Moody (under whose ministry the preacher received mighty blessing). Our brother then came to Deptford, where, true to the truth—and how could he be otherwise, if the truth had laid hold of him?—he sought a place where he could hear the testimony that had become so precious to him. Failing to find a spiritual home, he sought friends who would join him, and the meeting at Zion, Giffen-street, was commenced. Thus this Church, under God, was founded by our brother, with the co-operation of a few gracious men and women, only one of whom is with us now—our much-loved sister Mrs. Topley. In subsequent years he was always ready to take his full part in every undertaking connected with the Church. When any matter of Church order needed attention, or help for the cause or for the poor, if he was not first he was never far behind. His zeal grew and strengthened with the work. We thank God that He put it into his heart to commence and continually help this cause.

In pondering the text, let us mark the steps of its realization, tracing them in the life of this man of God. Note well his early joy that exclaimed, “I love the LORD because He hath heard my voice and my supplication.” The love of the Lord from such a cause is only part of the gracious truth. The vitality of love precedes (however unconsciously) the exercise of true prayer. To seek the Lord is an effect from the causal love implanted. Who seeks Him without loving Him? Did ever heart seek God from any other cause? How little we understand the full meaning of the word fellowship. “Called to the fellowship of His Son.” “Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.” Why does the Shepherd seek the sheep? Why does the Father send His Son for His children? Because He loves them. In them His purposes are fulfilled. If our brother loved because he found the Prayer Hearer, he also must have loved before he sought Him. For our approach to and joy in God is throughout in correspondence with, in answer to, and the reflection of His in regard to us. Herein is fellowship. Are you where our brother was in his 20th year? Why do you seek God and pray to Him? In spite of nature’s shrinkings, you are attracted to Him. The reason is that you are His child. He is your Father. The secret actings of the Holy Ghost have wrought, perhaps for years, and you knew it not. He had touched you. The Holy Ghost brought you to the only ground where it is possible to want God. All that is from you Godward is the fruit and result of that which is from Him. Some heart says, “I fear He will not hear me!” Our brother knew the fear. Was his fear justified? No! Neither shall yours be. Who seeks God’s bosom, yet fears rejection, shall find his fear falsified.

“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul.” That was the best capital to bring to London after all (our brother, though commercially successful, came from the country with only a few shillings). These words were ofttimes on his lips. Prayer answered puts us into the centre of God’s love. His heart is mine! His love is mine! Himself is mine! This is the only possible issue for the suppliant sinner, the seeking soul, the needy heart. Many of you have found it so. Oh, be encouraged, souls that seek the Lord. Could he not well now look forward, and say, “I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever?” God does not become our portion by our taking possession of Him, but by Himself entering our hearts and abiding. This is your experience who know Him, and mine. He says, “I will have mercy on whom I will!” We clung to our imaginary fulness. He showed that it was less than nothing, and vanity. When He comes in insistingly, who can expel Him? And when death can rob God of His immortality, then and then only can the redeemed soul say that God is not His portion. What else, then, can follow but goodness and mercy? Child of God, do you feel there are difficulties about the “surely…shall”? But! Yes, you have your “but!” Where is it written? What is its support? What are its arguments? God’s truth will have none of it, and the issue of all the soul bewilderment is that you are brought back to His surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Often our brother altered the tense, and in prayer based his plea on “Goodness and mercy HAVE followed.” Doubtless, if David had re-written the psalm at the end of his career, he would have done the same. Our brother used the gracious words in review, and they were verified in his gentle death. Discouraged believer, be encouraged. But you say, “I am differently circumstanced to him.” We are all placed in different circumstances, but our covenant God is the same, His grace the same, His skill and His bounty. Is your way more rugged than that of some may seem? still

“His way was much rougher and darker than mine! 

Did Christ, my Lord suffer, and shall I repine?”

Another Scripture very precious to him was “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Heard prayer and the known portion led our brother into the first part of our text. “Christ in you the hope of glory,” while a present blessing, led to the second part: “I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” How perfectly the Holy Ghost teaches this in the review of the pilgrim life of God’s beloved. Our brother would often say to me, “Why am I left here? I am no use.” He was of use. We need the testimony of such men as to the faithfulness of a covenant God to His children. To his near friends and to the senior members of this Church it must have been a great comfort and gladness to remember how sure and unbroken was the confidence of his latter days. “Jesus, lover of my soul” was often the utterance of his heart. In the near prospect of dissolution he would say, “What a mercy to have a good hope!” When reminded that he was nearly home, he would say, “What a mercy!

“Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale, 

Soon all my mortal powers must fail,

O may my last expiring breath

His lovingkindness sing in death.

Then let me mount and soar away 

To the bright world of endless day, 

And sing with rapture and surprise 

His lovingkindness in the skies.”

I speak not thus to-night to extol or adulate our brother who has gone home, but to magnify the grace of our covenant-keeping God.

“Whose faith follow.” If you speak to any of God’s children about following them, they will say, “Oh, no!” Let us follow their faith. Was he perfect? Is any perfect? ”If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” God lead us to emulate and to excel our brother. Meekly following and faithfully trusting in Him who has engraven on our hearts His grace, mercy, and love. Faithful to His mandates, ready-handed for His work, whatever it may be. Whether we have pence or pounds, ready to minister to the needs of others. Be ours unfailing confidence in His truth, loyalty to His Lordship, readiness for His work, and sympathy for His saints. If there be a difference, may we be more richly thus endowed, and so increase with the “increase of God” in our lives and histories.

You who have never prayed, what would an aged man like this have been without prayer? What history would his have been without his blessed hope? Where art thou? Art thou estranged from God, and hopelessly passing down to perdition?

Our text has been fulfilled to our brother. He dwells in the House of the LORD for ever. He is absent from the body and at home with the Lord. May this be fulfilled in our experience. Amen.

One of our members (brother George Ruffell) has written and handed me a beautiful In Memoriam, which I will read to you:—

“Long we have loved him! Yesterday he died, 

Entering an unseen and unchanging state 

There to abide for ever: thus cut off

From mortal fellowships and so from cares 

Emancipate, nor knowing nor to know 

Desiring, never to return thereto.

Earth holds his ashes in her firm embrace 

Till all unfinished things be made complete. 

When he laid down an angel bore him home; 

But when he rises Christ Himself will call.

And we go on a few brief months or years

Until the flick’ring candle of this life

Is spent, and wasting, of itself expires.

Till then unmoved and steadfast will we be

In work of God abounding, knowing well 

That all such labour with success is crowned.”