The Life And Testimony Of David Dann
Gospel Standard 1897:
Death. On Dec. 18th, 1896, aged 42, David Dann, a member and Deacon of Beulah Chapel, Harrow Road, London. In the providence of the Almighty he was removed to Tunbridge Wells about two and a half years ago (as he was not able to get employment in London), and was very soon laid on a bed of suffering after he arrived there; but it pleased the Lord to sanctify the affliction to the good of his soul, as will be seen from the following letter which he sent to a friend:
“Dear Friend and Brother, May the Lord help me to answer your kind and welcome letter. Am glad to find you are all fairly well in health. Through mercy I am still gaining a little strength, and am able this week to get down stairs for a little while. How I desire to thank the Lord for his mercy hitherto to such an unworthy one! How I would give him all the praise, that he should ever have had thoughts of peace and love toward me! How a sense of this sometimes brings godly sorrow and contrition for sin into our soul, and humbles one at the feet of a precious Christ! then how we feel the preciousness of his word: ‘I will make a man more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir;’ ‘This man shall be the peace of his people!’ Then we hope we have seen, in a measure, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, traveling under the weight of his people’s sins. Cannot we say, dear friend, as the poet says, ‘And hopes her guilt was there?’ my guilt, my sins, your sins. O that we could live more under this blessed feeling! how it weans the heart from the world and its surroundings! I do hope the dear Lord has more confirmed my hope and the work of grace in my soul through this affliction, and proved more of his faithfulness and promises in my experience. How I do desire to speak well of his dear name! I can say with the church, ‘The Lord has done great things for us; we will be glad and rejoice in his name.’
“Dear friend, you will think I have only the bright side to talk about; we know too much of the dark, of self and sin. The circumstance of the mad Gadarene has just come to my mind: how he desired to be with Christ, to talk to him, feeling his love in his heart! But no, he told him to go home to his friends, and tell them what great things the Lord had done for him. May the dear Lord bless you and your dear wife now and again with a touch of his love and mercy.
“I remain, yours in love, for his name’s sake.
“D. DANN.”
He was baptized by the late Mr. Munns, on November 23rd, 1882, and was chosen deacon November 10th, 1890. Just before he died he said to his wife, “Give my love to the friends at Beulah, and tell them that when I have finished my course here, I hope to receive a crown of glory.”
F. A.
David Dann (1854-1896) was a Strict and Particular Baptist believer. He served as deacon for five years of the church meeting at Beulah Chapel, Harrow Road, London.
