ONE HUNDRED YEARS of WITNESS a History of the Hobart Baptist Church 1884 – 1984

1 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WITNESS A History of the Hobart Baptist Church 1884 – 1984 Unabridged and unpublished copy with Later Appendices Laurence F. Rowston 2 A hardback of the original paperback copy, which also contains photographs, can be obtained from the author, 3 Portsea Place, Howrah, 7018 email [email protected] There is no printed copy of the foregoing unabridged version. The abridged copy was published in 1984 on the occasion of the Centenary of the Hobart Baptist Church Unabridged and unpublished copy with Appendices Copyright, L.F. Rowston, ISBN 0 9590338 0 7 Other Books by Laurence F. Rowston MA as book: Spurgeon’s Men: The Resurgence of Baptist Belief and Practice in Tasmania 1869-1884 Baptists in Van Diemen’s Land, the story of Tasmania’s First Baptist Church, the Hobart Town Particular Baptist Chapel, Harrington Street, 1835-1886 ISBN 0-9590122-0-6 God’s Country Training Ground, A History of the Yolla Baptist Church 1910-2010 ISBN 978-0-9590122-3-1 Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, A History of the Burnie Baptist Church ISBN 0 959012214 Possessing the Future, A History of the Ulverstone Baptist Church 1905-2005 ISBN 0 959012222 Soon to be released: Baptists in Van Diemen’s Land, Part 2, the story of the Launceston York Street Particular Baptist Chapel, 1840-1916 ISBN 978-0-9590122-4-8 3 CONTENTS Foreword 4 Preface 5 1. A New Initiative 6 2. Laying Foundations Robert McCullough (1883-1894) 15 3. Strong Beginnings James Blaikie (1897-1906) 21 4. A Prince of Preachers F.W. Boreham (1906-1916) 31 5. A Caring Community E. Herbert Hobday (1916-1921) 37 6. A Man of Excellence Donovan Mitchell (1923-1927) 43 7. Building Up The Body Harold G. Hackworthy (1930-1940) 50 8. Through The War Years Edward Roberts-Thomson (1940-1949) 57 9. Growth In Every Way S.J. Merlyn Holly (1950-1962) 63 10. Learning Together E. Ronald Rogers (1963-1965) 70 11. Ministry In The City Peter Stockman (1966-1972) 73 12. New Directions Rex Glasby and Peter McLean (1974-1981) 78 13. A Centenary Challenge Rev Dr Frank Rees (1983- 85 Appendices Ministry to the present 86 Lessons from the Past: Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 120 Years Ago 87 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 110 Years Ago 89 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 100 Years Ago 91 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 90 Years Ago 94 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 85 Years Ago 96 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 80 Years Ago 98 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 70 Years Ago 100 Lessons for Today from the Hobart Baptist Church 60 Years Ago 102 Index 104 4 FOREWORD quiet, tall, dark and friendly person. He was not Years ago a people carried a box on their one for pushing himself forward. Les was also journeys. It was a rectangular receptacle made devoted to this church to such an extent that he of wood. The whole was covered with gold and hand wrote profiles on over seventy of the was carried on poles inserted in rings at the families. This file, which included biographies of lower four corners. The box contained pieces of the ministers, he called the “Roll of Honour”. wood and stone and a pot of sticky stuff. The These are of unique interest. He also put wood was Aaron's rod, the stone, the two tablets together a cut and paste history of the church but of the decalogue and the pot of sticky stuff, this was never edited nor published. He himself manna. Some would say that what was inside didn’t even go through it a second time. this box was not impressive and yet for that people these items were significant. The tablets I drew from Les Kerr’s work when I wrote this of stone reminded them of the giving of the Law; work for the century of the church in 1984. But a the stick was Aaron's rod which reminded them lot of material was never used, especially the of the struggle between Egypt's ruler and Moses work on the ordinary people who made up the - between Pharaoh's power and Yahweh's congregation. My book highlighted our pastors. purpose; and the pot of manna reminded them of But Les’s work shows that the “ordinary” folk provision in the desert. These objects were a worked so hard “behind the scenes”. Their church remembering that here and here and here contributions helped to make this church one of in the past the living God had touched this earth. the leading, if not the leading Baptist church, in this state up the late 1970s. Over the last century the Hobart Baptist Church has, as it were, been carrying a box in which The appendices comprise section the Hobart have been placed bits and pieces - photographs Baptist Church web site which gives the of people and buildings, sermons, journals, pastorates up to the present time, and, notes, profiles of men and women and accounts importantly a number of articles titled "Lessons of events. Unknown to most church people is from the Hobart Baptist Church 120 years Ago", the work done fifty years ago by a Lesley Kerr of etc., written by me for a Church publication this church. At one time he was Sunday School looking at the Church 120, 110, 100, 90, 85, 80, Superintendent. He was also editor of the Baptist 70, and 60 years ago ending with the pastorate of Church Chronicle, the forerunner to today’s the Rev Merlyn Holly in the 1950s. Advance. Vida Gluskie remembers him as a 5 PREFACE photograph showing the Exhibition Building is The first hundred years of the Hobart Baptist by courtesy of the Allport Library and Museum Church had nearly passed and it was thought of Fine Arts. The photographs of Rex fitting that the task of setting out the Townley and the pipe organ from the Chalmers achievements of the past should be undertaken. It Presbyterian Church are by courtesy of The was therefore decided that as part of the Mercury. centenary celebration in 1984 a short book should be published concerning our first It is possible that many persons will search century. these pages for their own names and the story of their contribution to the Tabernacle history, and I volunteered in 1982 to assist in this project but they will search in vain, for sadly many soon discovered that I would have to work alone outstanding personalities have been although two people had anticipated such an passed over. undertaking. The first, Leslie Kerr, Life Deacon and member of the church for almost Because of its length the work has been limited sixty years, was noted for his quiet virtually to profiles of church Pastors and unobtrusive work. He was Minutes Secretary Secretaries. for the church and deacons' meetings and It is almost inevitable that mistakes will be Roll Secretary for a number of years. Kerr discovered and perhaps some of the prepared historical information which has proved conclusions that have been drawn will not meet invaluable. These writings were passed to with the approval of all concerned, but even so, Ronald G. Soundy on Kerr's death in 1961. this volume has been sent forth as an honest Ron, whose roots lie deep in the foundation of attempt to preserve the story of what has been this church, has been unofficial archivist, accomplished by the Hobart Baptists seeking to collecting and carefully storing papers and evangelise and serve this delightful city of records for a project such as this. Without the Hobart in the first century of the church's work of these two men, the work would be existence. considerably poorer in content. I have written in the hope that this story of a I take this opportunity of expressing my hundred years may prove interesting to those gratitude to those who have assisted me in this who have worshipped and served in this absorbing task. Especially to Elizabeth fellowship; instructive to those outside the Clements who typed the draft of the history, to church and an inspiration and challenge to all. Leanne Stewart who typed the final work, to Ronald Soundy for the care he has taken over What we have is a hundred years of history, many years with the irreplaceable documents of which we have no reason to be ashamed. It and records of the church, and to Graham will be seen that the people who have joined Clements, Dr. Frank Rees and Dr. Philip Hughes the church have brought with them varieties who have advised and edited the various editions. of theological outlook and practice. Through My further thanks to Colin Pyefinch who proof- the last century, as they have shared together in read the final copy. Dr. Frank Rees has the work of God, they have discovered their assisted in addition by writing the challenge oneness in Jesus Christ. I pray that this will contained in the final chapter. To these and continue and that each new member and many other people, I express my sincere thanks. adherent will find his or her way of serving their common Lord, through the fellowship of this Two institutions have given permission for use church. LFR. of photographs from their collections. The 6 Chapter One A New Initiative them. Sometimes they were caught out - it had Strange as it might sound, it took severe illness been read the night before.

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