Albert Butler (Baptist minister)
Albert Butler (c. 1887 – 15 July 1947) was a Baptist minister in Australia, based successively in Hobart (Tasmania), Sydney (New South Wales), and Brisbane (Queensland). He served a term as president of the Baptist Union, and of the Council of Churches, in each of these states.
History
[edit]Butler was born in Perth, Tasmania, one of five sons and three daughters of Edward or Edmund Butler (c. 1858 – 10 January 1931).[1] As a practising preacher with no access to a theological college, he took the "Home Mission" path to ordination,[2] which entailed a series of annual examinations by the Home Mission superintendent, Rev. F. J. Dunkley.[3]
He began preaching at Baptist churches in Tasmania, successively of Bracknell 1910–11, Deloraine 1914–1916, when he was ordained as a minister of the Baptist faith.[4] He served in Moonah 1916–24, then he was called to the church of Concord, New South Wales, being succeeded at Moonah by R. Farrer, also of Perth, Tasmania. During WWI he enlisted as a military chaplain, with the rank of captain,[5] involved in recruiting.[6]
- He was elected president of the Tasmanian Baptist Union 1921–22.[7]
- He was secretary of the Council of Churches of Tasmania for 1922–23.[8]
- and succeeded George Wainwright as editor of the Baptist Chronicle, official organ of the Tasmanian Baptist Union.[9]
He was pastor at the Baptist church in Concord, New South Wales (sometimes referred to as the Strathfield church) from May 1924 to November 1935, during which time the building was replaced, at a cost of £4,400, opened 31 March 1928.[10] His successor was Frank Robinson.[11]
- He was secretary of the Baptist Theological College for seven years.[12] and president of the Baptist Union of New South Wales for the year 1934–35[13]
- He was secretary of Baptist College Council in 1926, president, Council of Religious Education in 1927,[14] and president of the local region of Christian Endeavour in 1931.
Butler and his wife arrived in Brisbane on 6 November 1935 with their two daughters. The two sons remained in Sydney, where they had employment.[15] During the latter years of the Second World War, Brisbane was host to a great number of Empire and Allied servicemen, and the Tabernacle found a greatly increased congregation.[16]
He died suddenly, at home, while still an active minister.[16]
Family
[edit]Butler married Laura Martha Ball of Longford, Tasmania on 8 April 1912.[17] They had four children,[16] two sons and two daughters. The elder daughter, Lorna Etta Butler (died 2009) married Ian Harris Fraser on 9 March 1940.[18]
They had a home at River Road, Auchenflower in 1936; Their last residence was "Maxley", Coronation Drive, Auchenflower or Toowong.
References
[edit]- ^ "Perth". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XXIX, no. 12. Tasmania, Australia. 14 January 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Sheffield". The North West Post. No. 4412. Tasmania, Australia. 11 January 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Final Day". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times. Tasmania, Australia. 4 November 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "North-Western News". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times. Tasmania, Australia. 12 May 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "About People". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXV, no. 120. Tasmania, Australia. 20 May 1916. p. 8. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Recruiting Campaign". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXIV, no. 201. Tasmania, Australia. 24 August 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Baptist President Longford". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. XC, no. 249. Tasmania, Australia. 20 October 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXVI, no. 17, 080. Tasmania, Australia. 30 June 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Personal". The Watchman (Sydney). Vol. XXI, no. 47. New South Wales, Australia. 23 November 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Concord Baptist". Australian Christian Church Histories. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "The Churches". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 620. New South Wales, Australia. 22 February 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Personal". The Northern Champion. Vol. 17, no. 2030. New South Wales, Australia. 17 September 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Concord Baptist Church". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 184. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Council of Religious Education". The Methodist. Vol. XXXVI, no. 37. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "New Minister for City Tabernacle". The Courier-mail. No. 682. Queensland, Australia. 5 November 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "Death of Baptist President". Maryborough Chronicle. No. 23, 533. Queensland, Australia. 16 July 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXI, no. 87. Tasmania, Australia. 11 April 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Bride's Father Officiates at Fraser–Butler Wedding". The Telegraph (Brisbane). Queensland, Australia. 9 March 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 27 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.