BENJAMIN DAWSON was born at Deargbbhuach, in the Parish of Kilfinnan, Argyllshire, on the 18th day of June 1845. Till he arrived at twenty-seven years of age, he lived without God, and consequently without hope in the world. It is strikingly noticeable that, by far the larger number of such as are effectually called by the Holy Spirit from darkness to light and from the Kingdom of Satan to that of God’s dear Son, pass through this all-important change before they attain to thirty years of age. This should stir up the young to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, and should arouse the aged to seek the Lord while He may be found.
Mr Dawson, at the age of twenty-three, married Miss Catherine Turner. The Lord blessed them with a family of six sons and nine daughters, who, with the exception of one daughter, are still living. Mrs Dawson also survives. They lived fifty-four years together in the world as true helpmeets, and will evidently spend eternity together.
That eminent man of God, Mr Archibald Crawford, Tighnabruaich, was the Lord’s messenger to Benjamin Dawson. The portion of God’s Word through which the Holy Spirit made the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to shine into his troubled soul was—”And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Rev. xxi. 6). Another portion which came to him shortly after, and gave him great relief and comfort, was—”O thou afflicted tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires” (Is. liv. 41). Thus a bond was effected between him and Mr Crawford that continued unbroken till Mr Crawford was taken home to his everlasting rest. Many a happy hour these two spent together in the world, and they are now in the great multitude who are led by the Lamb to living fountains of water, and from whose eyes God has wiped tears for evermore. Mr Crawford’s labours were blessed to a goodly number of the young of Cowal in those days, the most of whom have gone to their rest, and the few remaining are tottering on the brink of the grave. May the Lord visit the rising generation there with a day of the exceeding greatness of His power by which He raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. Nothing less will quicken dead sinners and turn them to the Lord.
The writer met Mr Dawson for the first time in the spring of 1891. During five months of that year he had the privilege of becoming acquainted with him, and ever after that Mr Dawson held a very high place in his estimation as a true and sincere Christian. All who knew him gave him full credit for being a man of sterling integrity. The Lord’s people loved him as a beloved brother in Christ.
In the year 1891, the Rationalists in the Free Church became so bold and numerous in her Courts that they formulated a Creed according to their own heart, passed it by a large majority in the Assembly, and sent it down to the Presbyteries under the Barrier Act. This new heretical creed was concurred in by the vast majority of the Presbyteries, and was at the Assembly of 1892 passed into a binding law and constitution in the Free Church. The godly within her pale had been for over twenty years pained at their hearts on account of the place given by her to men who denied the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible, and who, albeit, they had vowed to hold faithfully to the Westminster Confession of Faith, taught doctrines subversive to it. Honourable and truly pious men had now to become traitors to God’s Word and the subordinate standards of their Church, or to separate from these infidels. Benjamin Dawson was, from that time, one of those who saw no alternative (should the next General Assembly refuse to take steps to have this new creed repealed) but separation. So as to be prepared to do their duty relative to the Assembly’s decision, the office-bearers of the congregation held a meeting in March 1922. At that meeting it was unanimously resolved that should the Free Church refuse to rescind the Declaratory Act in May, they would not remain any longer in her fellowship. They faithfully kept this resolution, for they were the first congregation to separate from the Declaratory Act Church, in order to hold in its entirety the Creed and Constitution of the Church of Scotland Free. Mr Dawson was not one of those men who are more harassing to a Church endeavouring to adhere conscientiously to their ordination vows, than are the enemies who openly oppose them. His presence in the Free Presbyterian Church was a source of strength. However long one might be without meeting him, there could not be any thought that he changed his mind about these matters. The writer saw him weeping over the unfaithfulness of some of whom he had better hopes for many years. But what is man! Mr Dawson was not one of the so-called Christians who are never troubled with inward corruption. Many a sigh and groan it brought from his heart. Neither was he ignorant of Satan’s devices. He said more than once—”I have found Satan a liar hundreds of times, but yet I believe him to my own discomfort and to God’s dishonour.” But as his troubles abounded, his consolations did much more abound. The joy of the Lord was his strength so manifestly that it could be seen in his countenance. God was truly the light of his countenance and his portion in the land of the living.
Since the writer knew him he acted as a traveller. Being a tall, heavy, and soft man, the hardships through which he went, and especially his being thrown out of a gig in the year 1918, affected seriously his health. His trouble was internal. He sometimes suffered great pain, but bore it all with Christian patience and resignation to the Lord’s will. Not a murmur was heard from his lips. Shortly before the end came, he said to his family—”Whatever you do, remember the salvation of your souls.” When he was asked what portion of Scripture he would like them to read to him, he replied—”It does not matter, it is all precious to me.” Two days before he died he said—”I am going to leave you.” When he was asked, where was he going, he answered—”I am going away to be with Jesus Christ, which is far better.” Thus did Benjamin Dawson depart to be with Christ on the 23rd of April 1922. His mortal remains were interred in Kilbride Church-yard, in his native parish, on the 25th day of that month. The Church on earth mourns her loss, but the Church in glory received another voice to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Our great comfort is that we firmly believe in his having entered into the joy of his Lord, and that the Lord has wiped tears from off his face for evermore.
To his lonely widow, and to each one of the family, we express our deepest sympathy, and we pray that the Lord (who made Benjamin Dawson what he was by His grace) may take the sons and make them princes instead of the fathers. There is enough merit in the blood of Christ, enough power in the Spirit of life in Christ, and enough mercy in the Lord’s heart to fulfil this in them. May He do it for Christ’s sake.
N. C.