Resurrected writers: Sangster

The dead still speak
An occasional series by Maxwell Ryan

W

illiam Edwin Sangster, who went to heaven in 1960, has long been one of my heroes of the faith and his books continue to nourish and challenge me. Sangster was a British Methodist minister with a passion for Wesleyan holiness. One of the most able preachers of his time, he was – for 16 years - minister of Westminster Central Hall in London, the headquarters and centre of Methodism for the United Kingdom. He died at the age of 60, and at the height of his powers and influence, of ALS, known as Lou Gherig’s disease.

Following military service during World War I, he studied theology (with distinction in philosophy), and following ordination served in short-term pastorates before being called to be senior minister at the “cathedral” of Methodism. The huge building seated 3,000 and was filled for morning and evening services by crowds that were challenged and strengthened by the virile preaching of Sangster, particularly during the trying days of World War II.

But Sangster was more than a preacher, he was a writer whose books were full of biblically-based common sense, expressed in plain language, often with compelling metaphor. His writings were grounded in his pastor’s heart, yet with stringent logic and adept use of language. A quote from The Secret of Radiant Life – a handbook on practical holiness – reveals his passion.

 

Many people find life disappointing. They are haunted by the feeling that it ought to be inwardly satisfying, and that if it were so it would be outwardly radiant. But nothing deeply satisfies them for long. This book begins with the deep conviction that our healing and wholeness are in God. I have written for plain people and avoided any parade of scholarship. To be as simple and practical as possible has been my aim throughout. I had two groups of people in mind: people outside the Church who find life disappointing but are willing to read a book which is frankly religious, and those inside the Church who are willing to admit that religion has never come alive for them.

One of Sangster’s most sought after books – at least by preachers – is The Craft of the Sermon – a volume of more than 300 pages that combines two of his earlier volumes, The Craft of Sermon Construction and The Craft of Sermon Illustration. This book is a gold mine of practical guidance for any whom God has called to preach the Word. With pungency he writes, “The history of preaching records no sadder story than that of those misguided zealots who have brought no consecration of mind to the preaching of the word and have just ‘opened their mouth’ in public in expectation that ‘the Spirit would do the rest.’ The Spirit spurns their superstitious sloth.”

But it is in his clear teaching on the Wesleyan doctrine of holiness that Sangster, in my opinion, excels. As a young officer I was advised by a well-known holiness teacher to get a copy of Sangster’s book The Pure in Heart, subtitled “a study in Christian sanctity”. For more than 50 years this sturdy book has been my companion. I am glad that the writer recognizes The Salvation Army’s large contribution in exploring and explaining the doctrine of holiness. There are many references to the Booths, in particular Catherine Booth. Sangster writes, “Through Catherine Booth (and her dear William) God called into being a world-wide army of soldiers of the cross.” A companion volume is The path to perfection, subtitled, “An examination and restatement of John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian perfection.” It was published nine years before the above volume and is more analytical and theological than his other holiness writings.

His last book was Westminster Sermons, volume 2, which was sent to the publisher only a day or two before he died. His son, Dr Paul Sangster, writes in the foreword, “The last weeks of his life were spent correcting and re-writing these sermons. He was virtually helpless, retaining only a little strength in two fingers of his right hand with which to hold a pen. Yet the finest sermons he ever preached is not in this collection, though the book tells something of it. That distinction belongs, not to any he preached from the pulpit, nor to any printed word but to the last years of his life. It was then that Dr Sangster preached his best, and preached, curiously enough, silence.”

Dr Victor Shepherd, a former Salvationist and now a Presbyterian minister and university professor, has written” “Everything about William Sangster – his philosophical rigour, his fervour in preaching, his affinity with saints who had drawn near to the heart of God, his writing, his genuine affection for all classes – it all served one passion and it was all gathered up in one simple line of Charles Wesley, Methodism’s incomparable hymn-writer, ‘O let me commend Saviour to you.’”

Even though William Sangster’s powerful voice has been silent for nearly 50 years, his passion, his intellectual energy and his compassionate heart live in his books, many of which have been reprinted or are available in used book stores. Salvationists would do well to drink at the well that was filled to overflowing by this Methodist giant. His books, which are listed below, have been published by Epworth Press, Baker Book House and Hodder and Stoughton publishers.

The Path to Perfection
The Pure of Heart
The secret of Radiant Life
The approach to preaching
The craft of the sermon
Power in preaching
Give God a chance
Why Jesus never wrote a book
He is able
God does guide us
These things abide
Ten statesmen and Jesus Christ
Let me commend
Teach us to pray
They met at Calvary
Methodism can be born again
A spiritual check-up
Westminster pamphlets, 1 - 12
Westminster sermons, volumes 1 and 2

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a part-time chaplain in a Salvation Army hospital in Winnipeg, Canada, a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of theRubicon series called Thinkaloud.

2 Comments to Resurrected writers: Sangster

1. Thank you for recognising this great man - ‘The Path to Perfection’ (his doctoral thesis) is a book I have returned to many times.

   To further whet any appetites out there:

   “There is an experience of God the Holy Spirit, available for all who will seek it with importunity, which imparts spiritual power far above the level enjoyed by the average Christian: which inspires a caring God-like love different in kind and degree from the affections of the normal nature: which communicates to the eager soul the penetrating power of holiness. No book can give this experience. It belongs to the secret intercourse of the soul with God. It lies at the very heart of personal religion. Its wide reception would transform the Church and shake the world.”
Matt Clifton on January 9th, 2008

2. Max - Thanks for this terrific series which is reminding me - unnervingly so - of the sumptuous array of insightful writers, theologians and provocateurs I have yet to truly devour.

   I have done the next best thing - and copied every word you have written and created a Max Ryan folder on my hard drive. At the very least, the bibliographies will reside there, for future consumption.

   I recommend replicating the series for a broader audience - if the Rubicon editorial team permits! Or, a book.

   Write on!

   Richard Munn
Richard Munn on January 9th, 2008

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