Robert roberts

The Life of Brother Robert

Roberts

Laindon Bible Class8th December 2010

Bro Robert Roberts 2

Portly form Florid complexion Red & straggling

beard & moustache Dark hair, oiled and

brushed back Deep set

penetrating eyes Short sighted

Source: Islip Collyer

Robert Roberts


Victoria’s third year of reign Development of photography Tea first arrived in Britain Charles Darwin elected member of Royal Society First baseball game in America Belgium becomes an independent Kingdom British capture Hong Kong from Chinese Prussia limits the working week of children to 51

hours

The year 1839


Born: Link Street, Aberdeen, Scotland on 8th April

1839 Father was a seaman, later became captain of a

small coastal vessel, often away from home Mother had been educated in London and came to

Aberdeen as a school teacher after father’s death When mother married, raised a large family with

little money Mother was religious and applied ‘wholesome

discipline’

His place of birth


Family comprised 6 boys and 1 girl (plus 4

others who died) RR at age 10 went with his mother to a talk by

Brother John Thomas on Baptism (1849) RR left school at age 11, wanted to be a cabinet

maker Started work in a grocer’s shop, moved to a

printer, to a photographer and the unemployed age 13

Resisted temptation to go to sea because he wished to better himself

His early years


Attended evening classes but absented himself

with a friend and went out on the town (was found out)

Threw himself into ‘religion’ as a Calvinist Baptist Read voraciously and looking for material came

across a copy of “Herald of the Kingdom and Age to come” (through interest of sister and grandmother)

Effect was extraordinary, he was “carried away” with the Bible based logical argument

He read the magazine monthly and sought a copy of Elpis Israel, which he read cover to cover

His early years (continued)


Was filled with joy at the Truth he had

discovered Sought out the followers of Brother Thomas

(about 20) who met in a small room of an old castle

Follows Brother Thomas’s teaching


Union Street

Aberdeen


The tunnels under St Nicholas Street


Was filled with joy at the Truth he had

discovered Sought out the followers of Brother Thomas

(about 20) who met in a small room of an old castle

Attended their afternoon meetings but had to attend chapel in the mornings (age 12)

One day absented himself from chapel and went to the brethren’s meeting place

His mother’s wrath descended on him but a deal was done after some fierce threats (did not last long!)

Follows Brother Thomas’s teaching


Apprentice to a Druggist


Recommended by his sister becomes an apprentice

and learns Latin and Pitman’s shorthand Was baptised in 1853 (aged 14) in the River Dee

after being examined by 2 brethren Devised a system for reading his Bible, now known

as the Bible Companion and marked his Bible Saw the start of the Crimean war, signs of the

times, but disappointed when Russia driven back Convinced Christ’s return was imminent Wrote to Brother Thomas of his zeal for the Truth

RR is baptised


Joins the Aberdeen Daily Telegraph but leaves

on a matter of principle Does odd freelance reporting jobs, one of

which was regarding the building of a railway through Aberdeenshire (talk on Daniel 2)

Well paid (bought a watch) but still out of work Visited brethren at Edinburgh ( met his wife to

be) Recommended by a brother to work for The

Caledonian Mercury in Edinburgh

Starts his career as a reporter


Left Aberdeen and moved

to Edinburgh Was drawn to Jane Norrie Became disappointed with

the Edinburgh brethren Was just 19 (Jane was 27)

when became engaged Sacked from his paper

because of an transcription error

Reporter in Edinburgh


Whilst serving his notice, receives a recommendation

to join the Examiner in Huddersfield Moved there in 1858 (the same year Darwin

proposed his Theory of Evolution) No local ecclesia so walked 6/7 miles to Halifax and

met with 12 brethren (including F R Shuttleworth) Writes to Brother Thomas, sending £15-5s-0d and

inviting him to visit and preach in Britain. Also asks for guidance on witnessing

Receives a warm letter in the magazine by way of reply

RR moves to Yorkshire


Brother Thomas says: “Do brethren expect to get

the Kingdom if they do nothing and live like other men?”

New paper started in Dewsbury and RR gives a lecture there

RR feeling unwell and comfortless in lodgings, decides to hasten his marriage to Jane (April 8th 1859)

Meets wife’s relations, then settles down in Huddersfield, preaching amongst those with whom he worked

Maintains a marital diary but becomes very unwell

RR in Huddersfield


Continued with public lectures in Huddersfield Provided help to Fowler & Wells taking shorthand notes Was offered a job at double the salary, opportunity to

travel and to finish up in New York Phrenology involves a study of the shape of the skull as

an indication of personality and character Travelled the country: Leeds/Birmingham/Wolverhampton

/Leicester/Nottingham/Derby/Sheffield/York/Durham/Newcastle on Tyne/Sunderland

5 months on the road brought a change of heart

Meets the phrenologists


RR’s lack of personal ambition Took an unpaid assistant that gave him time to

write the 12 lectures, precursor of Christendom Astray (age 22)

Established an ecclesia in Huddersfield (6 brethren)

Outdoor meetings up to 70 persons, indoors 0 to 13

Gave series of 12 lectures with 50-100 attending, followed by a tea meeting

1862 saw the American Civil War and the prospect of Brother Thomas visiting Britain (Eureka volume 1 issued)

Return to Huddersfield


Brother Thomas stayed with RR who paid his

expenses Took notes of an interview which would become

a biography Brother Thomas gave lecture to a half filled

room, started with an exposition of Hebrews, difficulty with questions

RR concludes not good at presenting his knowledge but admits a youthful lack of understanding

Envious elder brethren turn Brother T against RR

Brother Thomas visits


RR had to wait for Brother Thomas to

understand the situation and relations to be repaired

Brother T, now on tour of Britain, criticises RR for lack of action on Dowie error (1864)

Brother Thomas advocates RR moves to Birmingham

Difficulty of finding a job in Birmingham (no weeklies) but moves to work as a freelance (age 25)

Birmingham Ecclesia some 15-20 brethren

Brother Thomas & RR


Starts a contract job from his office with Daily

Post Publishes a magazine “Ambassador of the

Coming Age,” later renamed “the Christadelphian”

Reports on an enquiry into General Hospital and gets paid £50 so buys a new house

Birmingham Ecclesia grows, produces a hymn book (the Golden Harp) and draws up some ecclesial rules

After Sunday meetings had to work till late at night but was accompanied by his wife

RR in Birmingham


Continued 15-18 months to 1865 (age 26) Some problems in ecclesia, “lovers of their own

selves” RR at first thought Brother Thomas too “severe

and suspicious” but came to realise his wisdom Brother Thomas to publish Eureka volume 2, RR

looking for another visit to Britain RR holds a town hall event, 1500/1800 attend

and 23 candidates for baptism result (ecclesia now 68)

RR becomes shorthand writer for Bankruptcy Court

Birmingham Ecclesia grows


Brother Thomas petitions for exemption from

military service and names Christadelphians Civil War ends in America but Federal Army

become known as Army of Thieves Edinburgh’s antagonism to Brother T and George

Dowie allows brethren freedom to decide on immortality (“discussing everything and settling nothing”)

RR leads a withdrawal from Edinburgh Ecclesia Emerging principle re doctrines to be rejected

Troubled times


Aberdeen Ecclesia call RR to task over judging,

he distinguishes two sorts of judging (Kingdom v right)

RR’s view on contending for the faith: “An effort should doubtless be put forth to reclaim those who are in error but where the efforts fail, disassociation by withdrawal is natural and inevitable. Division is the inevitable concomitant of an uncompromising adherence to the Truth”

The Declaration is published in 1867

Reaction to RR’s actions


Eureka volume 3 published in 1869 and

Brother T sails after publication Spends 4 weeks in Birmingham (now 123

brethren) Moves on to a lecture tour but arranges to

have a house built outside Birmingham RR paid as Editor of Christadelphian after his

job at the Bankruptcy Court concludes 1871 Brother Thomas dies in New York, RR

notified by Sister Lasius

Brother Thomas’s 3rd visit


The temporal power of the Pope overthrown

(1870) 1873 Renunciationist controversy, Edward Turney

issues a pamphlet “32 Qs & As concerning Jesus Christ”

RR immediately delivers a response entitled “the Slain Lamb”

RR is severely ill but whilst recuperating writes article “21 years waiting and watching and at it still”

1876 the Bradlaugh Debate and 1885 the Inspiration Controversy (Robert Ashcroft)

More troubles develop


1877 Russo-Turkish War (Prophecy and the E

question) Gladstone responds to copy of pamphlet 1879 Ways of Providence 1880 Thirteen Lectures on the Apocalypse 1882 Britain moves into Egypt and Jewish

restoration gains momentum 1883 The Visible Hand of God and The Trial 1885 division after 6 months over partial

inspiration controversy

Some key dates


1886 the Sugar Disaster – electrical refining of

sugar Many Christadelphians involved – aim to raise

funds to support Jewish Colonisation Venture crashes in 1889, all is lost and

recriminations fly in the direction of RR 1893 J J Andrews introduces error on

resurrectional responsibility 1894 Unbreakable Glass scam RR ill as a result

Some sad developments


1895/6 RR’s first visit to Australia and New

Zealand 1897 second voyage to settle in Australia,

given a house in Coburg near Melbourne Visited New Zealand en route for England Died unexpectedly of heart failure in San

Francisco on September 24th 1898 Brother C C Walker went to arrange burial and

remarked when he looked in the coffin that RR looked ready to step out

RR’s trips to Australia


Green-Wood CemeteryBrooklyn New York

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Green-Wood_Cemetery_by_David_Shankbone.jpg


Used every opportunity to preach the Truth Saw everything in his life in the context of the

Truth Managed his working life to fit the Truth Learned in the face of controversy that “the

Truth of God is the rule of friendship and communion”

Greatly valued the writings of Brother Thomas Although flawed like all men, is a great

inspiration and has left a large legacy of immensely valuable writings

Lessons from RR’s life

Spiritual

Robert roberts