DEATH OF DR. HENRY J. POPE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 9

DEATH OF DR. HENRY J. POPE.

A CHEAT METHODIST STATESMAN. 4.fter au illness of a little over a wool;, Rev. Henry J. I'opc, secretary oi nqsloyan Ilomo Mi died cfl ully on Julv lli, at 2 p.m., !it his residencf in Wandsworth Common. He was 7li years of age, and Iliad well nigh completed (ii'tv-I'our years of active ministerial Inc. His death nt this juncture, when liw Church is in exceptional need of strong and wise leadership, is (says the C'mstiaii World") a loss of the heaviest kind. In Iho last thirty-five years of-its history Weslevan Methodism has had three supreme leaders —Dr. Kigg, Hugh Price Hughes, and Dr. Pope. Dr. Bigg represented the Conservative and pro-Aiigli-can view in the Church; Price Hughes and 11. J. Pope were the protagonists ot that Forward Movement which m tho 'eighties fought and. after a Mverc struggle,' Touted, the foveas of tradition and "reaction, and carved out a new aggressive and 1 evangelistic Methodism. Hi that struggle Hugh Prico Hughes was the dashing Kupert, rejoicing to do Ijnttlc with his peers; Dr. Pope may be coinpared with Moltke, tho man of calculating mind, far-seeing, using men and movements like pawns 011 the chenboard to further the great ends of lus mmd. I hat aim was the revival of tho evangelistic fervour of his Church. The success with which he achieved Ins aim led Dr. Watkflison to compare the General Chapel ■ Department. with ■ that paradox of nature ill ivhich a.jump, ic-o becomes a burning-glass." Ibe aim which guided his work in that (•apartment become tho purpose which animated him when lie., was transferred ttf.the'ofhco which he held at-tho time of-his dentin With consummate address lie made the Home Mission Committee sort of geueral staff of the' Methodist army. aSo new development that promised to increase tho spiritual influence of the Church went be ,r "ing. In towns the Central* Mission movement was firmly, established nnd vigorously promoted; in the rural districts hv moans of Connexional evangelists, Gospel cars, and tho amalgamation of weak circuits into largo rural' ( mt>■.yms a new life was infused'into 1 village Methodism. • Hut apart from his official positions, Dr. Pont} held a unique place in the, \\eslevan Church. The subtle, far-feeing sagacious, mind of this M.ethodist Ulysses made him supremo Counsellor of the Connexion. ' To him ctinie always the perplexed minister with the troubles of _ the Church, the circuit, or the Connexion; and always this tall, bovned, courteous veteran, with the air of a distinguished diplomatist of tlw old school, sent.his visitors away with troubles disentangled and a llflv hope fill, the the raw faculty' 'it- discovering'' gbocl agents to carry out his projects, and with unerring skill lie placed'.tho square/peg in the re'cfcingnlar hole. • • Horn 'alt March, in. Cainbridgeshire; he was reared in a. Methodist atniospheie, and his attachment to his Church, was fortified bv tho influence of a schoolmast°r in Hull when his parents-removed to that city. Ho was educated at'Tamworlh Grammar School,' and was accepted for the ministry in 1858. His first appointment was to Aberdeen, and eight years of his eighteen' years of circuit ministry were passed in' Scotland. At his ordination in 1862 : ho was sent to East, LonMn as the assistant of Rev. Alexander M Aulay, and with him laid the foundations oi what subsequently 'became four or fivo strong circuits " equipped < .with Jirge churches. In 1816 110 went to the Chapel Committee; in 1885 he was elected a member of the Legal Hundred; and 111 1893 hebecame President of the Conference. He succeedcd .1. Ernest Claphain as Home Mission secretary in 1897, .and ill that post ho has laboured with unwearied, zeal aiul success till tho summons-came-this week to cross the river.