Bible Christian Magazine Samuel Pascoe

Rev. Samuel Pascoe

Rev. SAMUEL PASCOE. A Wesleyan and a Puritan of the best type, was the father of this sketch. For nearly forty years he was a leader of village Methodism, and it is one of the joys of the son to remember the day when his father, on being invited to pay the church rate, refused to comply. A strong man, with the courage of his convictions, the memory of Mr. Pascoe, senior, is greatly revered in the locality to this day.

Born at St. Erth in 18.56, Mr. Pascoe was converted in 1874, influenced by his father and by the teaching in the Sunday school. He commenced to preach on his eighteenth birthday, in a little barn at Ashton, Breage (now in the Porthleven Circuit), but the first

attempt ended with a total collapse. Nothing daunted, however, he pursued his course, and for four years was a faithful member of that local ministry from which so much spiritual benediction is derived, and upon which so much depends. He also laboured in the Sunday school as teacher and superintendent. In 1878 he entered the ministry, and was ordained at Zion Street, Plymouth, in 1882. He has travelled in Cardiff, Tiverton, Mevagissey, Camelford, Bodmin, Sunderland, Millom, Northlew, Looe, and Redruth. He has acted as District Chapel Secretary and District Superintendent. In addition to ordinary circuit work, he has rendered useful service in organizations associated with the Free Churches. He was the first secretary and organizer of Looe Free Church Council, President of Redruth Free Church Council, and Vice-President of West Cornwall Federation of Free Churches. During his stay at Redruth he rendered yeoman service in connection with the local Free Church Council, and was ever willing to protest, from the platform and the Press, against the Education Act. His speeches at temperance and political meetings have

been permeated with the fighting spirit, and he has ever been a denunciator of all trickery, whether in politics, religion, or anything else. He is always strongest when enjoying the freedom of the platform, upholding a righteous cause or exposing and denouncing a bad one. His name is also familiar to the readers of the two leading newspapers of the West, whose columns he has used with good effect. Mr. Pascoe has also rendered useful service as a lecturer, the chief subjects of his lectures being "Cromwell," "England's Crimes," "Fallacy of War," "Rambles among the English Alps," &c. The writers who influenced him in the earlier years of his ministry were Macaulay, Carlyle, Tennyson, Browning, Longfellow, Scott, Charles Kingsley, Homer, Milton, and Shakespeare. In 1891 Mr. Pascoe published a striking sermon, preached at the Bradford District Meeting, on "Wanted, a man."

Writing of Mr. Pascoe, a colleague gives the following estimate:-" He is a very acceptable preacher, possessing a choice vocabulary. Throughout his ministry he has aimed at being a useful preacher, and has

accordingly proclaimed a sturdy and robust message. He does not possess a few favourite sermons, but in his circuit, where he has almost invariably stayed his full term, his ministrations have been a source of strength and blessing to his people. As a platform speaker, however, he excels. In pleading some great cause, or in denouncing some great abuse, he is capable of great power. Mr. Pascoe also possesses considerable business ability. He acts on the principle that 'order is heaven's first law:' In his circuits he has kept himself in touch with all the departments of circuit work. He has given his kindest and best attention to the little struggling societies under his charge, and where encouragement and help have been most needed he has always extended a helping hand. An instance of this is provided in his four years most successful pastorate of the Redruth and Camborne Circuit. Whilst the church at Redruth reached its highest stage of prosperity during his pastorate, the country places were greatly blessed by his fostering and conscientious vigilance. Without the slightest exaggeration, it may be said that his best

effort and service were given to the weakest churches, and the few faithful workers were greatly blessed by his cheery words and unremitting toil.

"Mr. Pascoe's preaching has been backed up by a gracious and winsome personality. He is quite destitute of anything like self-importance. He believes in the old saying that 'it takes two to make a quarrel,' so that the individual who cannot agree with him must possess a somewhat vitriolic temperament. He has a happy knack of dealing with the cantankerous individual. He always preaches that kindness is Christliness, and that it is the surest way to reach the human breast, whilst coldness and indifference will seal it up for ever. Mr. Pascoe's relations with his colleagues have always been of the most happy character. Too much cannot be said of the splendid work he has done in the more obscure paths of service. In a real sense he has entered into the sorrows of his flock, and has made their sorrows his own. In the hour of grief and perplexity he has always been ready to give help and advice, and in even more

substantial ways has always sought to alleviate the distress of the afflicted and oppressed. One cannot close this brief sketch without mentioning the worthy wife of Mr. Pascoe, a daughter of the late Mr. Parnell, of Polmassick, who has proved herself a real help-meet. Indeed, some have gone so far as to say that she is the 'best man.' Without accepting this statement, it cannot be gainsaid that much of Mr. Pascoe's success is owing in no small measure to his estimable wife."

[ Volume 2 pages 28 - 32 ]

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