Jabez Burns
Encyclopedia
Jabez Burns was an English nonconformist divine and Christian philosophical writer.
He was one of the first clergymen of any denomination to preach teetotalism
from the pulpit.
, Lancashire
, where his father was a chemist. He was educated at a school at Chester
, and at the grammar school of Oldham, which he left to engage in commercial pursuits at York
and Bradford
. For about three years he managed a bookselling business at Keighley
. His mother, who died in his early childhood, was a Wesleyan, and named him after Dr. Jabez Bunting
.
Burns early in life joined the Methodist New Connexion
, and at the age of sixteen delivered his first public address in a Methodist house near York. In 1824 Burns married Jane, the daughter of George Dawson of Keighley. He departed in 1826 for London. Here in the midst of hardship he commenced his career as a religious writer by the compilation of the Christian's Sketch Book (1828), of which a second series, with the same title, was issued in 1835. In 1829 he published Spiritual Cabinet and other editions. Previously to this date he had been baptised by the Rev. Mr. Farrent, the pastor of a general baptist congregation at Suffolk Street Chapel, in the Borough; but he did not sever his relations with the Methodist New Connexion. After a few months spent in mission work on behalf of the general baptists in Edinburgh
and Leith
in 1829, he was from 1830 to 1835 the pastor of a congregation connected with that body in Perth. He travelled over a large extent of country during that period, preaching on temperance. While at Perth Burns edited the Christian Miscellany. In May 1835 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the general baptist congregation assembling in Ænon Chapel, New Church Street, Marylebone
, and in June finally moved with his family to London. His congregation at first was small, but owing to his enthusiasm it increased so much that twice in the first twenty-five years of his ministry at Paddington it was found necessary to enlarge the building in which it worshipped.
Burns had much influence as a preacher and public speaker, especially on temperance. He is said to have been the first clergyman of any denomination to preach teetotalism
from the pulpit. He delivered thirty-five annual temperance sermons, beginning 16 December 1839, many of which were published. He was one of the earliest members of the Evangelical Alliance, formed in 1845. In 1847 Burns paid his first visit to America, as one of the two delegates from the General Baptist Association of England at the triennial conference of the Freewill Baptists of the United States.
Burns died at his residence in Porteus Road, Paddington
, on Monday, 31 January 1876. Wesleyan University
in Middletown, Connecticut
, conferred upon Burns in 1846 the honorary degree of D.D., to which the faculty of Bates College
, Lewiston, Maine
, added that of LL.D. in 1872.
and Palestine
, and prepared a Helpbook for Travellers to the East; including Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, and Italy in 1870.
Burns wrote a vast number of religious books year by year. In 1837 he issued a very popular work, entitled The Golden Pot of Manna; or Christian's Portion, containing Daily Exercises on the Person, Offices, Work, and Glory of the Redeemer, published in two volumes. In the fifth edition the title was altered to The Christian's Daily Portion, 1848. Similar works were entitled Christian Exercises for every Lord's Day, morning and evening, in the Year (1858), The Preacher's Magazine and Pastor's Monthly Journal, (published in 66 parts between April 1839 and September 1844), One Hundred Sketches and Skeletons of Sermons, (published in 4 volumes between 1836–9), Sermons, chiefly designed for Family Reading and Village Worship (1842); One Hundred and Fifty Original Sketches and Plans of Sermons (1866) and Two Hundred Sketches and Outlines of Sermons (1875) as preached chiefly in Church Street Chapel on Edgware Road, London from 1866.
Burns prepared and edited the Pulpit Cyclopædia and Christian Minister's Companion in 4 volumes (1844). He also published many other books including The Mothers of the Wise and Good, or select Essays on Maternal Duties and Influence (1846), Christian Philosophy, or Materials for Thought (1845), Light for the House of Mourning: a Book for the Bereaved (1850), The Marriage Gift Book and Bridal Token (1863) and many more.
He was one of the first clergymen of any denomination to preach teetotalism
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
from the pulpit.
Biography
Burns was born 18 December 1805, in OldhamOldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, where his father was a chemist. He was educated at a school at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, and at the grammar school of Oldham, which he left to engage in commercial pursuits at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. For about three years he managed a bookselling business at Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
. His mother, who died in his early childhood, was a Wesleyan, and named him after Dr. Jabez Bunting
Jabez Bunting
Jabez Bunting , English Wesleyan divine, was born of humble parentage at Manchester. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, and at the age of nineteen began to preach, being received into full Connexion in 1803...
.
Burns early in life joined the Methodist New Connexion
Methodist New Connexion
Methodist New Connexion was a Protestant nonconformist church, also known as the Kilhamite Methodists. It was formed in 1797 by secession from the Wesleyan Methodists, and merged in 1907 with the Bible Christian Church and the United Methodist Free Churches to form the United Methodist...
, and at the age of sixteen delivered his first public address in a Methodist house near York. In 1824 Burns married Jane, the daughter of George Dawson of Keighley. He departed in 1826 for London. Here in the midst of hardship he commenced his career as a religious writer by the compilation of the Christian's Sketch Book (1828), of which a second series, with the same title, was issued in 1835. In 1829 he published Spiritual Cabinet and other editions. Previously to this date he had been baptised by the Rev. Mr. Farrent, the pastor of a general baptist congregation at Suffolk Street Chapel, in the Borough; but he did not sever his relations with the Methodist New Connexion. After a few months spent in mission work on behalf of the general baptists in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
in 1829, he was from 1830 to 1835 the pastor of a congregation connected with that body in Perth. He travelled over a large extent of country during that period, preaching on temperance. While at Perth Burns edited the Christian Miscellany. In May 1835 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the general baptist congregation assembling in Ænon Chapel, New Church Street, Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, and in June finally moved with his family to London. His congregation at first was small, but owing to his enthusiasm it increased so much that twice in the first twenty-five years of his ministry at Paddington it was found necessary to enlarge the building in which it worshipped.
Burns had much influence as a preacher and public speaker, especially on temperance. He is said to have been the first clergyman of any denomination to preach teetotalism
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
from the pulpit. He delivered thirty-five annual temperance sermons, beginning 16 December 1839, many of which were published. He was one of the earliest members of the Evangelical Alliance, formed in 1845. In 1847 Burns paid his first visit to America, as one of the two delegates from the General Baptist Association of England at the triennial conference of the Freewill Baptists of the United States.
Burns died at his residence in Porteus Road, Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, on Monday, 31 January 1876. Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, conferred upon Burns in 1846 the honorary degree of D.D., to which the faculty of Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
, Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
, added that of LL.D. in 1872.
Works
He published Notes of a Tour in the United States and Canada in the Summer and Autumn of 1847, in 1848. He visited America again in 1872. In 1869 he visited EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, and prepared a Helpbook for Travellers to the East; including Egypt, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, and Italy in 1870.
Burns wrote a vast number of religious books year by year. In 1837 he issued a very popular work, entitled The Golden Pot of Manna; or Christian's Portion, containing Daily Exercises on the Person, Offices, Work, and Glory of the Redeemer, published in two volumes. In the fifth edition the title was altered to The Christian's Daily Portion, 1848. Similar works were entitled Christian Exercises for every Lord's Day, morning and evening, in the Year (1858), The Preacher's Magazine and Pastor's Monthly Journal, (published in 66 parts between April 1839 and September 1844), One Hundred Sketches and Skeletons of Sermons, (published in 4 volumes between 1836–9), Sermons, chiefly designed for Family Reading and Village Worship (1842); One Hundred and Fifty Original Sketches and Plans of Sermons (1866) and Two Hundred Sketches and Outlines of Sermons (1875) as preached chiefly in Church Street Chapel on Edgware Road, London from 1866.
Burns prepared and edited the Pulpit Cyclopædia and Christian Minister's Companion in 4 volumes (1844). He also published many other books including The Mothers of the Wise and Good, or select Essays on Maternal Duties and Influence (1846), Christian Philosophy, or Materials for Thought (1845), Light for the House of Mourning: a Book for the Bereaved (1850), The Marriage Gift Book and Bridal Token (1863) and many more.