The South Wales Star

OUR PULPIT SKETCHES. SECOND SERIES. BARRY DOCK ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE REV T. PANDY JOHN, PASTOR. [Xo. 1.] At the request of a large number of our readers we have determined to resume our pulpit sketches, the first series of which proved so popular two or three years ago. The subjeet of the opening number of the new series is the English Baptist Church, in Holton-road, Barry Dock, with its pastor, the Rev T. Pandy John HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. The history of the English Baptist Church in the Barry Dock district is an interesting and in many respects an unique one. Early in the year 1890, when the development of the neighbourhood after the opening of the dock was decidedly primitive and ungainly, about a dozen faithful persons of Baptist principles, filled with zeal for the welfare of the cause which they had so warmly at heart, commenced holding prayer meetings in different cottages week by week. Progress soon set its mark upon their self-denying efforts, and in the month of June of the same year they were kindly offered the use of an unfinished shop at the corner of Regent-street and Holton-ioad. The windows had not been glazed, so that boards had to be put up in order to keep out some of the natural elements which most rudely forced themselves upon the crude interior. The mother church of the English Baptists at Barry Dock, therefore, could not boast of cushioned seats nor polished pulpit, for rough plank had to take the place of church pew, and anything that could be impro- vised was used for the purposes of pulpit and seats. The shop, however, was soon completed, and there being a great demand for places of business in the district at the time, the" wilderness tabernacle had to seek refuge elsewhere. At this juncture, Mr Stephen Lewis, a well-known local builder, having an unfinished shop in Holton-road (now held by Messrs Barnett and Sons, general dealers), this was placed at the disposal of the little flock, and here again matters were quite as unfinished as in the first instance, but the zealous band were thankful for the smallest mercies, and having the blessing of a roof over their heads they thanked God and took courage. In a few weeks, however, this shop again passed into the hands of the commercial speculator, and the knot of Christian pilgrims had to seek for a home elsewhere. Daunting nothing, they soon succeeded in securing a small loft over a stable-not in Bethlehem, it is true, but abutting upon Thompson-street—the condition of which at that time was a desert to the last degree. This the infant church rented, and fitted up as a place of worship, the members naturally feeling proud of their new chapel." and, by way of invitation to the outside world, they painted in bold letters on the brick wall outside the words, English Baptist Mission Room." Here the gospel was preached for some time in all its purity and power both by ordained ministers and lay preachers, but in consequence of the continual traffic by carts hauling building materials to the vicinity, the little mission-room soon became utterly un- approachable by reason of the veritable quagmire with which it was surrounded. Scaffold planks were, however, brought into requisition every Saturday evenitisr, and laid down from the main thoroughfare to the mission-room, so that the brethren might enjoy the privilege of a footpath to their sanctuary on the Sunday, and in the absence of gas or any public lights, with the ex- ception of the;; parish lantern "-which favours all, both rich and poor alike-it was not at all an uncommon occurrence to see a poor benighted sister, or a dejected brother, walk" off the rails" and firmly stick in the mud, and when they at last sacceeded in extricating themselves from their unfortunate position they generally left behind them a trace of civilization in the form of an Oxford shoe or an elastic-side boot. At last a more accessible room became available in Holton- road, over the shop of Messrs Davies and Sherwood, outncter3. This was promptly rented, and proved quite a cathedral to the new cause, Divine service and Sunday school being held therein regularly for eighteen months, and such a degree of Divine blessing was experienced at this place that the room soon became too small to contain the con- tinually-growing congregation, so that the members had to turn their attention in the direction of securing land whereon to build a suitable chapel and schoolroom. Difficulties beset their path for a time, but eventually Mr R. Westacott, builder, who was one of the first mem- bers of the mission, took a plot of land in Holton- roa.d for the erection of a number of shops, and he, with the consent of the owners of property, sub- let a site to the trustees of the little church for the purpose of erecting a place of worship thereon. Plans were accordingly prepared, and the contract was let to Mr J. A. Manaton, builder, another member of the mission, and the whole of the work was successfully carried out by Mr Manaton at an outlay of £ 550. On the 12th June, 1892, the opening service in connection with the new chapel were held, the Rev B. Thomas, of Newport, Mon., being the officiating minister, and the day was an ever memorable one in the history of this remarkable little church. By this time the cause had increased to between 60 and 70 members, and up to the present it had been conducted under the active and zealous supervision of the Rev L. Ton Evans, the then pastor of Mount Pleasant English Baptist Church, Cidoxton, the mission being regarded as a branch of the Cadoxton Church. The Rev Ton Evans, it ia only just to state, was the plucky pioneer of this successful church, and from his mission field at Hayti, West Indies, Mr Evans may look back with pride and satisfaction at the noble work he was the means of accomplishing for the welfare of Christ's kingdom both at Cadoxton and Barry Dock. On the 19th of June the members were formed into a properly organised and constituted church, and were, therefore, given a separate existence, the occasion being celebrated by a social tea, followed by a Communion service. Five deacons were chosen, and secretary and treasurer were appointed, the Rev T. W. Medhurst, of Canton, Cardiff, delivering the charge to the church, and the Rev Joshua Thomas, of Ponty- pridd, explained the duties of the deacons and officers. Many neighbouring Baptist and other ministers were also present, and testified by their sympathy and co-operation their interest in the welfare of the young church. From this time onwards supplies were regularly found for the pulpit, and much blessing resulted from the meetings thereat. Sunday school, temperance, and other branches of Christian work were vigorously carried on, and the number of members was constantly on the increase, so that the church at last felt the time had arrived when they should secure the guidance of a stated pastor. Several ministers were invited to the pulpit with a view to being called, but not until the 13th August of last year, when the Rev T. Pandv John, the present pastor, preached for the first time, more as an emergency man than as an ordinary supply," was a call given, and Mr John eventually con- sented to become the first pastor of this flourishing church. In his new sphere of spiritual labour Mr John has already been eminently successful, no less than fifty-one persons having been received into church fellowship since his settlement in the district, making a total membership of 157. The congregation has also at least doubled, and on the occasion of our visit on a Sunday evening a few weeks ago, notwithstanding a strong counter attraction in the neighbourhood on that occasion, the sacred edifice was well filled. A new wing has just been added to the school-room, with accommodation for 305 persons, thus pro- viding sitting room for a congregation of 600. The Sunday school is equally prosperous, the register containing the names of 450 teachers and scholars. The church choir, under the leadership of Mr T. S. Williams, of Holton-road, shows encouraging promise, and Miss R. Franks, as an accomplished organist, renders a valuable part in making the services of the church as edifying and as enjoyable as possible. The deacons are Messrs W. Hart, R. Westacott, T. Baker, J. Hatten, R. Thomas, and H. Harries, Mr Robert Thomas being secretary, and Mr R. Westacott, treasurer. The financial state of the church is equally satisfactory and hopeful, j6150 having been paid within the past two months in connection with the building fund, this amount representing the entire cost of the wing recently built. But there still remains a debt of £ 430 upon the permanent schoolroom, which the pastor and church are anxious to defray as soon as circumstances will permit. The English Baptist Church at Barry Dock, there- fore, promises at no remote period to be one of the largest and best churches in the Barry district. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE REV. T. PANDY JOHN. The subject of our sketch was born at Wolf's Castle, in the county of Pembroke, in the month of October, 1853, but when he was only twelve months old his parents removed to Crundale, near Haverfordwest, in the same county. When he was seven years of age, however, he became the adopted son of an uncle, his father's bachelor brother, who occupied New Farm, Silly Ham, in the parish of St. Dogwell's, his uncle promising to make him the heir to his property. In 1863 the uncle died, but without fulfilling his promise with regard to his youthful nephew. Remaining at New Farm for three years afterwards, during which time Mr John received his first lessons in elementary education at the Wolf's Castle British School-which was about two miles from the home of his adoption-he returned to his parents in 1836, who then lived at Haverfordwest. Here he attended the Barn-street British School, where he was a pupil of a Mr Campbell, who was considered to be one of the best schoolmasters of his time, and he had for his teacher during the first year Mr David Salmon, now the distinguished principal of Swansea Training College. In September, 1858, Mr John was apprenticed to Mr F. Codd, builder and cabinet maker, Haverford- west, with whom he spent five years. During his residence at Haverfordwest Mr John attended the Hill Park Baptist Church, where the services at that time were conducted entirely in Welsh, and for four years he held the office of secretary of the Sunday School. In March, 1870, he was baptised and received into church membership, and from that time evinced a stronger desire than ever to enter the Christian ministry. Leaving Haver- fordwest in 1874 for Pontypridd, carry- ing with him the good wishes of many friends, he joined the Tabernacle Church at that place, and within three months from that date Dr Roberts, the venerable pastor, urged him to devote himself to the work of the ministry. Difficulties, however, still continued in the way, and some time afterwards he removed to the Rhondda Yalley, making Jerusalem Church, Llwynypia, his spiritual home. Here the invita- tion to enter the ministry was renewed, but before submitting himself to the important task Mr John was persuaded to identify himself for a time with the English Baptist Church at Tonypandy, which was then but a weak cause, and needed all the assistance possible. Here he found a valuable field for usefulness, and after repeated pressing appeals from the pastor, the Rev J. M. Jones, now of Newbridge, Mon., together with the members and deacons of the church, he determined to devote the whole of his time to Christian work, and in February, 1881, entered the Academy, Aberavon, under the able tutorship of the Rev T. Richards, Baptist minister, who possesses a high reputation as a successful trainer of young men for the denominational colleges. On the 2nd July, in the same year, Mr John sat for his entrance examination at Haverfordwest Baptist College, and at the close of two days' sitting he had the gratification of learning that he had successfully passed. Before the close of his second year at college the young student had received calls to the pastorate from the churches of Mount Pleasant, Blackwood, Mon.; Calvary, Ogmore Valley, Glamorganshire; and Pisgah, Cresswell Quay, Pembrokeshire. Being in his native county, and not far from his parents' home, Mr John accepted the latter, and was ordained in July. 1883, when the services were taken part in by the Revs. Dr. Davies, principal of Haverfordwest College, and J. Jenkins, Hill Park, there being also about twenty- six other ministers and fellow-students in attend- ance. After labouring earnestly and successfully for two and a half years at Pisgah, the members of the church at Blackwood repeated their call, and a similar invitation emanated from the church at Pennar, Pembroke Dock, asking him to "come over and help them," and, inasmuch as Pembroke Dock was a larger and more important field in his native county than Cresswell Quay, he yielded to the call frem Pennar, where his labours were largely crowned with Divine blessing. During his residence at Pembroke Dock, Mr John had the satisfaction of seeing a new chapel and schoolrooms built, and 163 persons were received into church membership, the congregation being nearly doubled in the meantime. In August of last year Mr John visited the English Baptist Church at Barry Dock, as a supply in place of the Rev W. G. Davies, of Penarth, who was unable to be present, having gone to Haverfordwest on a visit to his parents and friends. The church and congregation at Barry Dock appreciated Mr John's services to such an extent that they pressed him to stay with them another Sunday, but Mr John was unable to comply. Having received another invitation, however, to "supply" the Barry Dock Church, the rev gentleman paid a second visit in October, and preached with considerable accep- tance both morning and evening on-the 15th of that month, and at the close of the evening service the church gave him an unanimous call to the pastorate, which he ultimately accepted, severine his connection with the Pennar Church on the 26th November, and commenced his ministry at Barry Dock on the 10th December. During his residence at Pembroke Dock, Mr John was an active worker in the cause of temperance, and his usefulness in other respects as a public man was rewarded by his appointment as member of the School Board, being afterwards selected as vice- chairman of that body and on leaving Pembroke Dock both Mr and Mrs John were the recipients of very flattering testimonials at the hands of mem- bers and friends of the church with which they had so long and usefully been associated, and they came to Barry Dock with the heartiest good wishes and prayers of all whom they left behind in their Pembrokeshire home. Although resident at Barry Dock but a few months. Mr John has actively distinguished himself in different connec- tions outside the ministerial duties of the church, being a zealous promoter of the cause of tem- perance and morality in the district. As new resi- dents of Barry we, therefore, cordially welcome Mr John and his family, and trust their conneetion with the district will be a long one, and their labours crowned with the approval and benedic- tions of an Almighty Providence. THE SERMON. The rev. gentleman took for his text the 19th verse of the 26th chap. of the Acts of the Apostles —" Whereupon, 0 King Agrippa, I was not dis- obedient unto the heavenly vision." The subject of the text was one which enabled the pastor to make a persuasive and convincing appeal to his flock, and Mr John succeeded in doing so in an able manner, for not only was the subject matter treated in a way which laid clearly before the congregation the miraculous circumstances which led up to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, but also in bringing vividly home the conviction that the vision which opened up a new life to St. Paul was one which applied, to a corresponding degree, to every professing Christian. Mr John may not habitually indulge in high flights of oratory, but in his sermons from the pulpit and his utterances from the platform he manifests an earnestness of purpose and a clearness and concise- ness of style which appeal most favourably and impressively to his hearers. It is not, therefore, to be wondered at that the new pastor of the English Baptist Church at Barry Dock has already succeeded in securing for himself a prominent place in the confidence and affections of his people. In the course of his sermon, Mr John said In this chapter we have St. Paul's account of the most decisive and important moment in his life's history. His entire future was dependent upon the influence of this moment. The heavenly voice had spoken. The Divine light had shone down upon him, and we at once see the prejudiced Pharisee prostrate on the highway to Damascus. St. Paul, therefore, invites us in this chapter to contemplate this most wonderful and strange vision which took place in his history. He is there on the ground, his proud heart subdued and his haughty spirit under the control of Almighty God. When he left Jerusalem on this memorable journey his pockets were charged with warrants from the high priest to take into custody men and women whom he found in Damascus naming the name of Jesus. Looking at him prostrate on the ground, we wonder what will he do-what will be the effect of this vision upon his heart ? Will he rise melted into love and softened into submission, or will he, on the contrary, be harder still, and be more rebellious against Jesus of Nazareth whom he had so long persecuted ? We might almost say that the future of the apostle, and the future of the Christian world, were suspended from this vision. Saul possessed natural powers which, if exercised in the ways of sin and rebellion, would exert a remarkable influence upon his fellow man, but these same powers and abilities, if rightly converted and put into operation for Christ and His gospel, would be "Mighty to save." I take it, therefore, that very much depended upon this moment with regard to the future of the Christian world. Not that God could not raise another with like powers to preach the gospel like Saul of Tarsus. Not that the Holy Spirit is confined to individuals in carrying out the great plan of salvation-not that God is bound to human agencies and in- dividuals-but it was clear that Saul of Tarsus was a man who could be made a mighty instrument in the hands of God for good or for evil. St. Paul, therefore, tells us how matters turned with him at this moment, and we should be thankful that we have in holy scripture the record of his own testimony, which we have before us to-night, Whereupon, 0 King Agrippa, I was not dis- obedient unto the heavenly vision." Saul was not disobedient. He surrendered himself to Christ at once. He gave himself up to the service of Him whom he had perse- cuted by His people. St. Paul says here—"I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." We could reverse the text, or word it in another way-" But I became obedient unto the heavenly vision that is to say, St. Paul acknowledged that he possessed the power on this occasion either to obey or disobey the Divine voice. He was not compelled to obey the voice of God. He was not without a choice of his own. But at the same time he willingly surrendered, and gave himself up as a prisoner to the eternal Providence. He surrendered at once when he heard the heavenly voice speaking to him. The Divine light had smitten him-the Divine voice had spoken-and then came his confession, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." Saul, while on the ground, asked Who art thou, Lord ? and the reply came, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest." Saul then found that he had been persecuting the great Messiah that had come into the world. Leaving the apostle's conversion and the vision he experienced on the way to Damascus, let us now apply the vision to ourselves, and the first remark I wish to make is this-that mankind in general have experienced seasons of Divine visitation- times when the power of the spirit of God has been specially working upon their hearts. There are times when heavenly visions shine over you and over me-shine over each of us-not directly, per- haps, in the same way as the Apostle Paul, but still there are times and seasons when we have our heavenly visions, and when the Spirit of God has been more than usually present within Ui. St. Paul, during the whole of his life, looked back with pleasure upon the occasion of his conversion -this starting point in a most active and useful career, and he looked back upon it with an amount of joy and pleasure, and, filled with zeal and earnestness, he was determined to apply the fruits of his conversion to the bringing of others to the fame condition of experience. The influence of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus seemed to be transmitted through him into the hearts and lives of the people with whom he came in contact. He pointed them to the same Jesus that appeared to him and sent him to preach the gospel; and he told them the things which he had seen and heard, so that, by relating the circumstances of the vision, they might be means in the hands of God to bring others to the feet of Jesus. In this way God makes the conver- sion of one the medium whereby to reach the con- version of others. God made the conversion of Saul of Tarsus the means of the conversion of many thousands of Jews and Gentiles, and brought to repentance and salvation many who had previously lived in a state of ignorance and sin. It was said by some-especially by his enemies- that Saul was not an apostle-that he did not stand in the same relationship to the Christian Church as the other apostles did, simply because he had not seen his Lord and Saviour in the same way as the other apostles had while He was on earth. They did not regard him as one of the five hundred who saw Jesus Christ before His ascen. sion to glory. Saul, however, felt this did not prevent him being an apostle of Christ equal to any other, and he referred with pride to the fact that he had seen the Lord Jesus in a vision and heard His voice from Heaven. Christ referred to St. Paul more familiarly as an apostle than as a persecutor. In his vision St. Paul saw as much to qualify him for the ministry as if he had been with Christ during his sojourn on earth. We have the consoling truth, therefore, that we are to-day as much apostles as the apostles of old who saw our Saviour in the flesh. We have our visions with Him. Although we were not with Christ in the flesh, we enjoy com- munion with Him in His revealed Word. We have Him pourtrayed to us, and we have Him explained to us. We have Him here in living power in His Word. We have, therefore, the living Word and the living Christ. We have visions of Him, and He speaks to us in His Word and by His Word. We have as much of Christ to-day in the Bible and commandments and ordinances as the Apostles had of old indeed, I think we have more than they had. They saw Him as a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief, and. although they heard Him and saw His miracles, yet, after all, there was something lingering in their hearts which ore- vented them realising Him fully as the Messias. On the other hand, we have Him as the Babe of Bethlehem, the friend of publicans and sinners. going about doing good. They saw His agonies in the garden, His sufferings on Calvary, but we have Him as the living Saviour, sitting in glory on the right hand of God on high. You have been in the sanctuary, and you have possibly felt your spirits rising within you you have heard the Divine voice, you have seen the Divine vision. Let me impress you. therefore, that these visions demand decisive obedience equal with that of Saul of Tarsus. You must not think that these visions to us do not require the answer of obedience—"My Word shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." God sends His Word down to the world for a purpose. His Word to-night is as weighty as the voice of Christ speaking to Saul of Tarsus nearly two thousand years ago. When we read our Bible it demands as much obedience to-day- as it received at the hands of the Apostle of old. We have not done what God intends us to do unless we utilise His Word and submit ourselves to His will. We must reduce His Word to practice, and make it a living Word in our hearts. Saul was living contrary to the Word he was persecuting the Saviour by persecuting His people and Christ said he would have him live as he should. Saul's reply to the voice was, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ?" He knew by this time he had been doing wrong, and he asked counsel of the Most High. Our position is much the same. We must have the aid of God and the assistance of the influence of grace within us. Revelation was not intended to satisfy as a mere curiosity. There are books written simply to gratify the curiosity, and I am very sorry to find that the tendency of the age is in a great degree in the direction of an idlo curiosity, and so long as this lasts people will be found ready to cater for the demands of the age. People nowadays seem to write to live and not live to write. The gospel is a living power, and I believe we are in the enjoyment of higher privileges even than the apostles. The apostles have entered upon the fruits of their labours, and we are enjoying the results of their labours. The Divine light shines upon us and demands voluntary obedience. It is within our power either to receive instruction at the hands of God or to shut our ears against it. It is within our power to decide the life we should live, and the way in which our future will be spent. Mighty powers have been given to men. Is it not wonderful that God has given man power to say "no" to the offer of salvation ? It is a power which is sufficient to astonish angels. This being so, and man being in every respect a free agent, it makes the judg- ment of God a just judgment. Let our sub- mission to the Divine will, therefore, be a voluntary and willing submission, God will not take any service that is not voluntary. Every- thing in religion is a free-will offering to God. Compulsion has no part or lot whatever in religion. It is not religion. Once you have to use physical force in order to comply with the rites of religion then religion has lost its power. Had the Apostle been unwilling to listen to the voice of God, and had he been disobedient to the heavenly vision, Saul of Tartus would never have become Paul the Apostle. The rev. gentleman closed a highly edifying discourse with an earnest and impressive appeal to his congregation not to be disobedient to the heavenly vision, and prayed that each one present might be able to say in the great hereafter, "0, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I became obedient to the heavenly vision," and then they would be crowned with honour and glory for ever and ever.