Elder Wm. M. Crothers by A. T. BENJAMIN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

Elder Wm. M. Crothers

By A. T. BENJAMIN

ELDER WM. M. CROTHERS died on his field of labor, Montego Bay, Jamaica, British West Indies, Oct. 2, 1915, aged 48 years. He was born in Pierson, Mich., and later lived in Grand Rapids, of which church he was a member when, as a young man, he gave himself to the Lord's work and went as a pioneer canvasser to New Zealand. He made two trips to New Zealand, one of which was on our good missionary ship “Pitcairn.” In this island field he spent the best of his strength and life, walking distances as great as eighty miles to fill appointments, and crossing bridgeless streams as occasion demanded. This strenuous labor eventually began to undermine his robust constitution, and though he tried various sanitariums and climates, his shattered health received no permanent benefit. It was in the early days of our work in New Zealand that he was ordained to the gospel ministry, laboring in the field with success, and serving as secretary of the New Zealand Conference. For a time he was superintendent of the field. Later he labored in Australia. Elder Crothers was closely associated with Sister E. G. White in this field, serving as her secretary. In the year 1901 he returned to America, spending considerable time at points in the West to benefit his health. His pen spoke through our various papers when his weakened condition prevented public labor, and his book, “Scriptural Evidences,” is now a potent witness to his well-known knowledge of the Scriptures. After spending some time of late years in Nashville, Tenn., he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., and then to Jamaica, serving as pastor at Montego Bay. On September 26 he became seriously ill, finally becoming unconscious, and on Sabbath, October 2, he fell asleep, attended by his wife, and Sister Haysmer, the only other white worker near by who could respond to their call for help. Elder E. C. Boger preached the funeral sermon. The services were attended by a large concourse of friends, among whom was the American consul. Our brother was laid to rest in the Wesleyan Cemetery at Montego Bay, to await the Life-giver’s call, in whom his confidence was supreme to the last. He leaves his wife, Mary Tuxford Crothers, formerly of New Zealand, and an aged mother, three sisters, and two brothers, all of Grand Rapids, to mourn their loss.

A. T. BENJAMIN