Robert Roberts (Christadelphian)

Robert Roberts (April 18, 1839 – September 23, 1898) is the man generally considered to have continued the work of organising and establishing the Christadelphian movement founded by Dr. John Thomas. He was a prolific author and the editor of The Christadelphian Magazine from 1864 – 1898.

Early life

Robert Roberts, born in Link Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, was the son of a captain of a small coasting vessel. His grandmother on his father’s side was of the Clan MacBeth. His mother was a strongly religious Calvinistic Baptist, schoolteacher, and daughter of a London merchant. Though his family were of lowly circumstances, he was raised in a well disciplined, and strictly religious environment. Leaving school at the age of 11, he worked a short while as clerk in a rope factory, then serving in a grocers shop, and thirdly as a sort of apprentice to a lithographer. At 13 he became an apprentice to a druggist, also taking lessons in Latin, and learning Pitman's Shorthand. He formally and briefly, became a member of his mother's church when aged 12. Shortly afterward he came across a copy of a magazine, belonging to his sister, entitled the Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, by John Thomas. Robert Roberts then began his Bible studies in earnest. After reading John Thomas’ book Elpis Israel, with Bible in hand, he became convinced of its soundness, and thus he ceased to attend Chapel with his family. He was baptised in 1853 when just 14 (this was 11 years before the name 'Christadelphian' was coined by John Thomas. He was re-baptized in 1863 "on attaining to an understanding of the things concerning the name of Jesus, of which he was ignorant at his first immersion"). ["The Christadelphian" Vol. 11 1874, p.610(Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association)] He developed a reading plan to facilitate his daily systematic reading of the Scriptures. A form of this plan was later published as The Bible Companion and is still used by Christadelphians today. He married Jane Norrie in Edinburgh on April 8, 1859, producing 6 children, only three of which survived into adulthood.

Shorthand writer and reporter

When Robert Roberts was 17 he became shorthand writer for a modest paper, called The Aberdeen Daily Telegraph, after which he worked as a casual reporter, once being called on to assist in reporting the speeches delivered at an investigation into the merits of the Suez Canal scheme, conducted by Aberdeen Town Council on the occasion of a visit by Ferdinand de Lesseps. He left Aberdeen for Edinburgh to work as a reporter on The Caledonian Mercury. Leaving Edinburgh 1858, he worked for The Examiner in Huddersfield, then briefly for the same employer in Dewsbury. Then he accepted a travelling assignment as shorthand writer for the American phrenologists, Fowler and Wells, who were visiting Huddersfield as part of a lecturing tour. He returned to his job on the Huddersfield Examiner in July, 1861. During his time at The Examiner he was also appointed as the Huddersfield correspondent for The Leeds Mercury, The Halifax Courier, and The Manchester Examiner. In the winter of 1863-64 Robert Roberts moved to Birmingham, but failed in his attempt to set up a general reporting and advertising agency there. In 1864 he became a reporter for The Birmingham Daily Post, largely as a result of a testimonial from John Bright MP. In July 1865, he became a shorthand writer for the Birmingham Bankruptcy Court, working there until 1870, when a change in the Bankruptcy Act brought an end to his appointment. Then, at the suggestion of John Thomas, it was arranged that he should receive a salary for his Editorship of The Christadelphian Magazine, thus his career as a reporter came to an end.

Association with Dr. John Thomas

It was 1856 when Robert Roberts first wrote to John Thomas in America. In 1858 he tried and failed to raise funds for travelling expenses, to invite Dr. Thomas to visit England again, receiving a reply concerning his efforts through the pages of the Herald of The Kingdom. During the American Civil War, John Thomas had to suspend publication of the Herald of The Kingdom magazine. Thus on Oct. 8, 1861 Robert Roberts wrote John Thomas urging him to visit, which he did in 1862. Shorthand notes taken by Robert Roberts during this visit, formed the basis of his biography of Dr. Thomas his Life and Work (published in 1873). Some time after this visit, due in part to misunderstandings and misinformation, there was a short breach of friendly relations between the two men; this was resolved in October 1864. Subsequently they enthusiastically supported each other’s work. Robert Roberts collected subscriptions and organised the distribution of John Thomas’ exposition of the Apocalypse, Eureka, in England, and (in time) many of his other works. Robert Roberts raised the money to fund what would be the last trip of John Thomas to England in May 1869. Toward the end of this trip, March 1870, the Doctor made Robert Roberts custodian of all his affairs in the event of his death, which occurred sooner than anticipated in 1871. Robert Roberts died in 1898, and was buried in Brooklyn Cemetery, New York, beside John Thomas.

Preaching

Even in his early days Robert Roberts endeavoured to organise preaching events wherever he went. His first serious attempt was in 1860, when he delivered a course of 8 public lectures in Senior’s schoolroom, East Parade, Huddersfield. The Huddersfield meeting then took on Spring Street Academy, (a former Campbellite meeting place) for Sunday meetings including public lectures. Some Sunday afternoons he would also give out-of-door addresses, either in St. George’s Square or the Market Place, Huddersfield. It was at Spring Street, in the winter of 1861, that Robert Roberts delivered a series of twelve Lectures on successive Sunday afternoons, systematically setting out Christadelphian beliefs. In 1864 after moving to Birmingham, he organised a lecture at Birmingham Town Hall, in reply to an Irvingite preacher who had spoken there previously. Between 1,500 to 1,800 people attended. Eventually in 1866 he leased the Athenaeum Hall, Temple Row, Birmingham, staying there until December 1871 when the meeting moved to the Temperance hall, Temple Street, Birmingham. Although based in Birmingham, he travelled widely around the country, preaching and supporting the growing Christadelphian movement.

He used all the means at his disposal to preach what he believed to be the Truth, to all of whatever rank. It was in this spirit that in 1877 he sent a copies of his pamphlet "Prophecy and the Eastern Question" to all the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, receiving the following reply from William Gladstone: “DUNSTER, January 24th, 1877. Sir, Allow me to thank you for your tract, which I shall read with great interest; for I have been struck with the apparent ground for belief that the state of the East may be treated of in that field where you have been labouring Your faithful servant, W.E.Gladstone.”

In 1895 he embarked (through pressure of circumstances) upon a voyage to Australia. He travelled via the Suez canal, touching at Naples and Colombo to Adelaide. He visited many towns and cities, in Australia and New Zealand, preaching everywhere he went. He then travelled back via the Fiji Islands, the Sandwich Islands (Honolulu), Canada and America arriving back in Birmingham in 1896. In 1897 he returned to Australia with his family, they settled in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne, in “Orient House”. In 1897-1898 he went on a short preaching tour in Australia, before embarking on a yet another preaching tour to New Zealand with is wife. He was in the midst of yet more travelling and preaching when he died of heart failure in San Francisco on September 1898 aged 59

Writer and editor

Robert Roberts, as early as 1858, attempted to start a manuscript magazine - just a single copy sent from friend to friend through the post. It did not get beyond the 4th or 5th number. In 1862 John Thomas, having suspended publication of the "Herald of the Kingdom", advised Robert Roberts to start a magazine. Thus in July 1864 Robert Roberts commenced the publication of "The Ambassador of the Coming Age". Dr. Thomas, out of concern that some less worthy person may start a publication and call it "The Christadelphian", urged Robert Roberts to change the name of his magazine to "The Christadelphian", which he did in 1869. His editorship of the magazine continued with some assistance until his death in 1898.Robert Roberts wrote and published numerous articles, pamphlets and books. A series of 12 lectures given in Huddersfield in 1861; formed the basis of his first book. Each lecture was published sequentially at fortnightly intervals, in penny numbers. The second edition (Feb.1862) entitled "Twelve Lectures"; was stitched together in one volume. Expanded to 18 lectures, the book was republished by Robert Roberts in 1884, as "Christendom Astray From the Bible". From its first publication as 12 lectures, Christendom Astray has been acknowledged by Christadelphians as a standard work putting forth their beliefs; it has now been in print for almost 146 years without a break. In 1867 collaboration with one R.C.Bingley he published "The Declaration", another standard work still used for preaching today, by some Christadelphians, as are many of his other works.He was involved in many public religious debates (a feature of the spirit of the age in which he lived) with those of differing opinions, often publishing the substance of the debate, in book or pamphlet form eg. "The Bradlaugh Debate", a public debate held in 1876 with Charles Bradlaugh MP entiltled “Is The Bible Divine?” Also later, in April 1879 "Anglo-Israelism Refuted", based on a three night debate with Mr.Edward Hine, held in Exeter Hall, London, Lord William Pitt Lennox presiding. In 1872 he published his book "Man Mortal" in answer to the teachings of Annihilationism, as a reply to Mr.F.W.Grants book “Life and Immortality”. He was also involved in debates, within the Christadelphian movement, which in some cases resulted in divisions. As a result he promoted the compilation of the Birmingham Statement of Faith, later amended to the "BASF" () as a test of fellowship.

Bibliography

Books

* "Christendom Astray From the Bible" (1884)
* "Dr Thomas: His Life and Works" (1873)
* "The Law of Moses"
* "My Days and My Ways"
* "Nazareth Revisited" (1890)
* "Seasons of Comfort" (1879)
* "Thirteen Lectures on The Apocalypse" (1880)
* "To the Elect of God in Times of Trouble"
* "The Truth about God and the Bible"
* "The Visible Hand of God"
* "The Ways of Providence" (1881)
* "The Trial" (1882)

Booklets

* "The Blood of Christ" (1895)
* "The Christadelphian Instructor" (1891)
* "The Commandments of Christ"
* "The Ecclesial Guide" (1883)
* "The Good Confession" (1869)
* "The Parables of Christ"
* "The Sect Everywhere Spoken Against" (reprint of a lecture)
* "The Slain Lamb" (1873)
* "Was Jesus of Nazareth The Messiah?" (The Stern debate; 1871)

Magazines

* "The Christadelphian"

References

* Robert Roberts, "My Days and My Ways An Autobiography" (Birmingham: The Christadelphian, 1894)
* C.C.Walker, "Robert Roberts His Ways and His Days" (Birmingham: The Christadelphian)
* Dr John Thomas "The Herald of the Kingdom" (America:1858)
* "The Christadelphian" Magazines 1864-1940

External links

* [http://www.christadelphianbooks.org/ Works by Robert Roberts and other Christadelphian writers]
* [http://www.thechristadelphians.net/pdfdownloads.html PDF Downloads of Robert Roberts works]