The Life And Ministry Of Alfred Dye

Waymarks Vol 2 (1930)

Since we went to press, the Lord has seen fit to call to Himself, after an illness lasting only a fortnight, the former Pastor of the Church at “Providence,” Rowley Regis—Mr. Alfred Dye. He entered into rest just after 8 a.m. on March 17th, 1930, at the age of 78 years. Some of his last words were: “Heaven! heaven! heaven! I see heaven! Going, going, going;” and later on, “Up, up, up.” The funeral took place on Thursday, March 20th, at “Providence,” in the presence of a large gathering of friends, Pastors Yates, Robbins and Hunt officiating. 

Waymarks Vol 2 (1930)

The Late Mr. Aldred Dye

Owing  to the fact that our April number of “Waymarks” was in the hands of the printers when the late Mr. Dye entered into rest, only a very brief announcement of his death and funeral could be given last month; hence the promise that a more detailed account should follow in our present issue. In assembling together particulars concerning one who dies in the Lord, it surely dishonours the God of all grace to put down in black and white any statements which fail to reflect that free and sovereign grace which separates from, and superabounds over, the power and dominion of sin. For one to attempt even a brief account of the subject of this, or any other memorial, with the foregoing important considerations out of sight, would certainly be to rob God of His glory, bring guilt upon one’s conscience, and greatly displease every sober-minded gracious reader.

Alfred Dye, the son of a farmer in the village of Tasburgh, Norfolk, was born on July 14th, 1851, and was left an orphan when quite young. According to his own account, he was called by grace at an early age, while listening to a sermon preached one Sabbath morning at Saxlingham. He says: “The substance of the morning sermon was upon the evil of sin, the certainty of death and of eternal judgment, and the necessity of the new birth; during which the preacher quoted these words:

“When Thou, my righteous Judge, shalt come

To fetch Thy ransom’d people home,

Shall I among them stand?”

This verse (says Alfred Dye) like a flash of lightning struck my very soul, and in a flood of tears I got out of the chapel.” In this his great trouble he cried, ”I shall never stand with the righteous. I am lost for ever.” From this time the work of conviction by the Holy Spirit appears to have deepened, insomuch that our friend was brought into increased concern on account of sin. Often he was crying to the Lord for mercy. His misery and sense of his lost condition so weighed upon his spirit, that on one occasion he feared he must soon die, and be damned for ever. During tins period he used to walk to Elstow, look at Bunyan’s cottage, walk over the green and churchyard, and cry, “Oh that the Lord would bless me as He did Bunyan.” At this juncture, in the order of providence, Mr. Dye was brought under the ministry of the late Mr. Thorpber at Bedford. While listening on one occasion to a sermon preached by Mr. Thornber from the words, ”Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer 31:3), our friend was led to hope that the Lord had drawn him from his sins and the world to Himself. He now experienced love going out of his heart to the Lord, of whom he had previously felt afraid. Having had a very strong desire that if ever it was made clear to him that he was God’s child he would like to be baptised, Alfred Dye went to work one morning in a very low, desponding frame of mind, and while planing at his carpenter’s bench, this verse of Hart’s was much blessed to him:

“Let not conscience make you linger,

Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth,

Is to feel your need of Him.”

This drew forth the cry, “Dear Lord, I do feel my need of Thee, but dost Thou speak to me?” Then the rest of the verse was applied: “This He gives you; ’tis the Spirit’s rising beam.” By this experience he felt in some measure that God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, had shone into his heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He was shown that this was “the day dawn,” and “the Day-star” arising in his heart. Shortly after he was baptised by Mr. Thornber. This was evidently God’s time for sealing forgiveness home upon his soul; for he says that in passing through the ordinance of baptism he was filled with sacred joy and peace, and felt that all his sins were swept away. He was so full of praise and blessing before the Lord that he thought he should soon die, feeling the sweetness of the word:

“Ye are travelling home to God in the way the fathers trod;

They are happy now, and ye soon their happiness shalt see.”

Soon after this deliverance Alfred Dye commenced to preach, and from that time until Iris death he continued in the ministry’—a period of 56 years. Prior to the beginning of his pastorate at Rowley Regis in June, 1888, he itinerated among various churches for about eight years, travelling from Maldon, in Essex, to which place he had removed, and from whence he came to the scene of his first and only pastorate. For thirty-five years he ministered at “Providence” Strict Baptist Chapel, Rowley Regis, during which period there were times when his labours were much blessed. Some friends now living, whom he baptised in the early years of his pastorate, to whom the writer feels a spiritual union, can remember seasons when they received special benefit under his ministry. The last few years of our friend’s life were spent in serving various churches in different parts of the country, for he resigned his position here as pastor seven years since. Naturally he was fond of travelling, so that his frequent journeyings were not so uncongenial as they otherwise must have been to a man of his years. It had been noticed of late, however, by many, that old age was becoming more and more manifest in him, and the last journey he took, into Wiltshire, was evidently too much for his strength, seeing that upon his return home from Malmesbury, where he preached on March 2nd, he was taken ill. The doctor was summoned, but found that he was suffering from heart trouble, and gave very little hope of his recovery. The patient, whose work was evidently now done, was ill for just a fortnight, during which season the writer paid frequent visits to Iris bedside, endeavouring again and again to commit him by prayer into the hands of Him with whom are the issues of life and death. From the beginning of the illness our friend seemed conscious of the fact that his end was approaching, although at times when feeling better he could scarcely believe that he was unfit to fulfil his engagements. This is to be accounted for, seeing that he had known very little illness all his life, and had a remarkably strong constitution. When I first saw him in bed, at the beginning of his affliction, he said slowly and deliberately to me: “His blood, His Person, His righteousness, His intercession;” to which I replied, “That is enough, Mr. Dye.” Then he quoted the word: “For we must needs die, .and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up’ again” (2 Sam. 14:14). On one occasion, as I was leaving him, he said, “God bless you, and help you to preach the truth with power; keep nothing back;” and at another time: “God Almighty bless you, my friend, and grant you much of His Spirit to declare the truth when I’m gone.” May our friend’s good dying wishes thus expressed, and greatly needed, be abundantly granted.

To his family, various members of which were constantly in attendance, he said many good things. Once he said to them: “No other testimony but the blood of the Lamb.” “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” At another time he quoted the verse beginning, “Venture on Him, venture wholly.” On Saturday, March 8th, he bade each member of his family a loving farewell, and made his funeral arrangements. Just previously he had expressed his wish to me that he should be buried in the front of the chapel, in the same grave where the remains of one of his children rested. On Sunday, the 15th, he roused once or twice from a state of coma, and smiled saying: “Heaven! Heaven! heaven! I see heaven!” “Going, going, going!” and later on with a whisper, “Up! Up! up!” Seeing that he had prayed, “O Lord, grant me a clear passport to the heavenly gate,” we can but believe that his dying testimony indicated that he was given a blessed answer to his petition ere he breathed his last on Monday morning, March 16th, just after eight o’clock, at the age of 79 years.

The funeral took place at “Providence,” Rowley Regis, on the following Thursday afternoon, in the presence of a large gathering of friends from Rowley Regis, Blackheath, and Old Hill. Mr. Yates (Pastor at “Cave Adullam” S.B. Chapel, Beeches Road, Blackheath), Mr. P. Robbins (Pastor at Spring Meadow S.B. Chapel, Old Hill) and the writer, conducted the service. The hymns, “Now I have found the ground wherein,” etc., and “Rock of Ages,” were sung in the chapel, and before I read the committal sentences at the grave, we sang there, “Prepare me, gracious God,” etc. On the following Lord’s day evening, the funeral sermon was preached by the writer from Psa. 103:4, and three of Mr. Dye’s favourite hymns were sung: “I’ll praise my Maker with my breath;” “Raise thee, my soul, fly up, and run, through every heavenly street;” and, “Awake, my soul, in joyful lays.”

Much sympathy has been felt for, and expressed to, the aged widow and family in their bereavement. May each sorrowing relative and friend find grace and comfort in this and every time of their need; and may all who have in remembrance seasons wherein Mr. Dye’s ministry was blessed to their souls, take courage from the fact that while the servant is gone from them and his labours to his rest, his Master still lives, promising to “feed His flock like a shepherd.”

In concluding this memorial of our departed friend, may the writer ask how many of his readers can feelingly unite with him and say personally:

“Oh may I live to reach that place

Where He unveils His lovely face,

Where all His beauties you behold,

And sing His Name to harps of gold”?

The Lord graciously make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

1. R. H.

 

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Digitized by the Strict Baptist Historical Society