Life Sketch of Elder W. A. Shafer by S. G. Haughey

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

Life Sketch of Elder W. A. Shafer

By S. G. Haughey

ELDER WILLIAM ALLEN SHAFER, son of Matthias and Elizabeth Shafer, was born Feb. 7, 1883, in the State of Indiana, and died of typhoid fever in the City Hospital North, Liverpool, England, Sept. 20, 1913, aged thirty years, seven months, and thirteen days. The family moved to a farm near Burdett, Kans., when the deceased was three years old, and there he grew to young manhood. He was led to a knowledge of present truth through the influence of an older brother, and from the time of his decision to obey God and devote his life to Christian service, a spirit of intense earnestness and devotion characterized every effort. At the age of seventeen William decided to enter the canvassing work, and it was arranged for him to join an older worker in the northern part of the State. An interest had already been created by literature being circulated, and a call was sent to the conference president for a minister. There was none to send, so Brother Shafer took hold and did his best, conducting a series of meetings which resulted in several new Sabbath-keepers.

Through this and similar efforts he became known as "the Boy Preacher."

At the next annual meeting of the Kansas Conference, he was granted ministerial license, and the Lord signally blessed his future labors. In 1902 the General Conference issued a call for young men to go to the British Isles and attend our college in London preparatory to taking up work in that field. Brother Shafer responded, and entered the school in October of that year. He completed the college course, working his way, and in 1906 connected with Elder Knight, who was then conducting a tent effort in Scotland. Later he labored for two years in the Welsh field. During the summer of 1908 he was ordained to the gospel ministry, and in the fall of the same year united in marriage with Edith E. Howarth. They labored in North England until 1911, when the South England Conference called them to the work in Bristol. Here our brother worked faithfully until May of this present year, when, with his wife, he sailed as a delegate to the recent General Conference. A goodly number of souls accepted the truth in all these fields where he labored.

Ten years Elder Shafer had spent in the British Isles. He greatly desired to see his aged parents once more in this life, so at the close of the General Conference he and his wife went to the West and spent some weeks with his parents, brothers, and sisters in the State of Kansas. Just before leaving for England he complained of not feeling well. August 12 he and his wife sailed from Boston, Mass., for Liverpool, England, on the steamship "Cymric" of the White Star line. The third day out he was taken to the ship's hospital, suffering from typhoid fever. Upon arriving in Liverpool he was removed to the City Hospital North. Here everything that medical skill could do was done, no effort nor expense being spared. In all our churches Sabbaths and at family worship daily our people prayed God to spare our brother to labor longer in the cause he loved so dearly. For four long weeks his devoted wife kept vigil at his bedside watching for some indication that the Lord would raise her loved one to health. But our Heavenly Father willed otherwise, and Sabbath morning, September 20, our beloved Brother Shafer peacefully fell asleep in Jesus—the first minister of the denomination to lay down his life in the British Isles. We bow in humble submission, knowing that our Heavenly Father is too wise to err. He doeth all things well.

Elder Shafer was a man of strong faith and fervent in prayer. He endeavored always to practise in his daily life the truths he preached, so that he might be an example to all.

He filled several important positions of trust, serving as a member of the executive committee in the Welsh, North England, and South England Conferences. He was a member of the executive committee in the South England Conference at the time of his death. Our brother fell at his post in the land where he chose to labor, and around him, to the north, to the east, to the south, are the fields of ripening grain into which he thrust the gospel sickle. May his mantle fall upon some young man who will be as faithful and as devoted to the heavenly calling as was he.

His faithful wife, aged parents, three brothers, six sisters, and a large number of like precious faith mourn the loss of this devoted servant of God who laid down his life at such an early age.

The funeral service was conducted in the chapel in the Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, and we laid him to rest in a grave on the green hillside overlooking the city, to await the coming of the Life-giver.

S. G. HAUGHEY.