The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-03-14 00:00:00

THE LATE REV. T. BINNEY.

In London, on Sunday, at the Weigh House Chapel,
the Rev. Dr. Stoughton preached a sermon on the late
Mr. Binney, who was so long known as minister of the
chapel. Tne chapel was crowded, and the balustrades
end pulpit were draped in black. The Rev W. ,
Braden read the lessons, and at the conclusion of the
firet lesson offered up a touching prayer in memory of
the late Mr. Biuney. Dr. Stoughton then aecended
the pulpit, and, taking for his text the last verae
f the first chapter of the Epistle of Paul to the
G.latiane, j" And they glorified God in me," gave a
sketch of the life and acts of Mr. Binney, and showed
how that umpire, tation appeared in him. With regard
to physical conformation, God had often implanted
a superior !Lind in an inferior frame; but such
was not the owe with regard to Mr. Binney. To pats
from the physical to the intellectual, their late brother
was the type of a man whose mind would bar analysis
to an extreme degree. One great dietirction of their
friend was his capacity in argument; his ability to
build up logical structures, and to by the foundations
n which they rested. His judgment never soared into
transcendental realms. He was an Eeglisbman out
and out, adapted more to practical than to specu-
lative studies, having a keen, penetrating common-
sense rather than an insight into regions of abstract
is quiry. He would have made an eminent lawyer,
for his f denude abilities would have been adinirahly
adapted to eliminate the intricacies of a case
at law. How many of them had found in him the
sort of teacher wanted—the one who would help
into the right path. He had heard people say of him
that he had brain without much heart, but he had seen
him tremble ltke a child. His compassion for people
in trouble surpasaeti everything that was ordinary.
Having alleid, d to his early etruggles in life and his
adoption of the eccieelastical profession, the rev.
preacher sold that he studied certain departments of
divinity with unusual thoroughness, and hie theology
was decidedly of the evangelical type. He way a fol-
lower of the old Poritaide; he bore their stamp and
mark, and believed himself to be clothed in the armour
n His great sermons were on the old puritan plan
of exhausting a subject, and reminded him somewhat
of the sermons of Warburton, or still more of Horsley.
He also took a leading part in the reformation of
psalmody. The eminence to which he attained, was not,
however, due to any one, but to a combination of causes.
He said some sharp things with respect to the Esta-
blished Church ; but he never bet an opportunity of
aeseciating with its clergymen. lie never entered into
any combination with political partiee for ecclesiastical
er.cle, though that had been suggested; he was far too
I independent. He ehrank from all extreme measures,
considering moderation to be the truest, wisest, and
, safest path. With regerd to his spiritual life, he was
rather reticent; but he was retiring and unostentatious
In his habits, although exposed to a good deal of flat-
tery. Having referred to the lest moments of Mr.
Money, the rev, preacher called on the audience to
imitate the example of their late departed friend, and
follow the precepts whiA he taught.

On Sunday evening the Res. Joseph Parker, PD.,
mini ter of the City Temple, Holborn Viaduct, de-
livered a memorial discourse in Exeter Hall, eelecte
ing as its basis Romans xvi. 7—" Of note among the
apostles." He analysed the character of Mr. dinney
as a man, as a friend, as a preacher, an a committee
man, and an a Nonconformist, "Thinking of Mr.
Binney in these various impacts," remarked Dr.
Parker, "I am reminded that each of them is fitly
expressed ly a passage of Scripture. When I recall
his physical likeness I feel that he was made but
a • little lower than the angles ; • when I think
of his ministry, in all its scope and influence.
I cannot but ray, 'Thou crownedst him with
glory and honour;' when I remember his position
amongst his brethren, I see that he was 'of
note amongst the apoetled ;' when I reflect noon
the wonderful scene of which his elfin was the centre, ,
time the closed window; the suspended business, the
thousands; of persons who carried him to his grave, the
vacated colleges, the abandoned decks, and the innumer-
able tokens of in tereattand sympathy which were to be
seen on .every bide, I remember ' devout men carried
him to bin burial and made great lamentation over
him ;• and when I get a view of his complete
character as a man, a minister, a pastor, an author,
and a Mem), I am cure that he himself would
have summed up the whole by saying—' By the
grace of God I am what I am." Could Thomas
Binney himself dictate the application nf my din.
course he would say—Tell your bearers to acquaint
themselves with God and be at peace with Him ;direct
them urgently and tenderly to the Lamb of God elate
for sinners; implore them t renounce all sin and live
moberly, righteously, and godly in Ole present evil
world ; tell young men to be faithful to their age by
being faithful to their Saviour ; tell businees men not to
be so busy as to let the Ring pies by; and as for your-
self, he would ray to me I know, standing in the centre
of London and on the thoroughfare of the world,
• Preach the G •crel, endure affliction; do the work of
an evangelist, and soaks full proof of thy ministry.'"