Alexander, John (4)

Alexander, John (4), an English Congregational minister, was born at Lancaster, Dec. 19, 1792. He learned to love and serve God in the family circle. In 1812 he was received into fellowship with the Church, and immediately began to preach. Mr. Alexander entered Hoxton Academy in 1814, and in 1817 was sent as a supply to the Tabernacle, in Norwich. In 1820 he was ordained over that charge, and there labored for nearly fifty years. Upwards of a thousand persons were received into Church fellowship as the result of his ministry, and ten entered the ministry. Much of his success was owing to the love and attention he gave to the young people. As a preacher, Mr. Alexander was deliberate at the beginning of his sermons, waxing into great earnestness and fervor at its close; rather rhetorical in style; and apt in illustration, anecdote, and quotations from Scripture and sacred song. His efficiency both as preacher and pastor resulted greatly from thorough and prayerful preparation. His prayer-meeting addresses, week-day sermons, public prayers and speeches, Bible-class lectures, and visitations of the sick were as carefully thought over, written out in a marvelously neat hand, and prayed over, as were his three Sunday sermons. In 1866 Mr. Alexander resigned the care of his charge. He died July 3, 1868. Mr. Alexander published, by request, several single discourses and pamphlets: — also 2 vols. of sermons entitled The Preacher from the Press: — brief Memoirs of bishop Stanley and of Joseph John Gurney: — and a Life of his father, the Lancashire Apostle. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1869. p. 234-236.