In Memoriam—H. W. CASE, Bristol.

HENRY WILLIAMS CASE was the eldest son of James Case, who originally came to Bristol from Withycombe, in Somerset, near Minehead, where his family had been engaged in agriculture for many generations. James Case was a dairy farmer in Bristol, and worshipped at Bethesda Chapel, in the days of George Müller and Henry Craik. His son, however, grew up to be a rebel. He ceased to attend the meetings and went in for every worldly amusement with keen zest. He was strong and active, and fond of outdoor exercises, and these claimed all his interests. But the voice of conscience was not easily to be quieted, and there were times of acute anxiety of soul, even when he seemed most reckless. Mr. Müller promised the father to pray for him every day till he was converted and fulfilled the promise for years. When he was about twenty-five years of age, the young man, spurred on by an attack of conscience, went to hear Mr. Tinling preach, attracted to some extent by the fact that the preacher was not in favour with the powers that be. Under this sermon, he was thoroughly awakened, and experienced a complete conversion to God, dropping all the old ways of living, and was received into fellowship at Bethesda.
He soon got to work for the Lord, especially in the Hotwells district of Bristol, near the river, where so much of the rascality of a town is apt to accumulate. Great blessing was given in the Gospel, and Mr. Case was able to build largely at his own expense a very nice hall, Cumberland Hall, in which the Assembly meets to this day. A number of very rough-living men, well known to the police, were converted, and they and their children after them, have walked with the Lord ever since.
When his father became advanced in years, he took over the responsibilities of the business, and by enterprise and sound judgment and fair dealing, made it prosper. Later, his two sons came into business with him. He was very fond of riding and driving, and loved a powerful, high-spirited horse that would go like the wind. Sometimes even his own grooms were terrified of his fiery mounts and would beg him not to ride them. The family (who had their own trepidations on the subject) would often tell of the dismay of various good brethren whom he entertained, and offered to take for a drive, who as soon as they reached the end of the first street, would say, "Let me get down, dear brother. I would much sooner walk!"
In later years, he became interested in foreign travel, and partly for his health's sake and partly to further missionary work; he paid visits to Egypt and the Holy Land, the West Indies and British Guiana, and Algeria, going up into the interior to the mission stations in Kabylia. He put his experiences on record in a breezy manner in his two books, "On Sea and Land" and "A Place in the Sun."
He and his wife made a special service of entertaining Christian workers of very various types, so reviving one of the most commended virtues of the early believers. By so doing, he used to say, they had often entertained angels unawares, but not always. When Mrs. Case died, Mr. Bergin stated at her funeral: "She gave hospitality to the nice Christians, and the others!"
Another special service willingly rendered by our departed brother was in connection with Stewards Company and Counties' Trust, in both of which he took a great interest. These associations are concerned with responsibility for property, at home and abroad, used in the Lord's work, and gave scope both for his deep interest in mission work in the counties and overseas, and also for his business capacity. By precept and example, he carried out George Müller's last message to the Bristol brethren: "Ask the dear brethren who minister, that they give prominence to systematic giving." The Lord used our departed brother to gladden the hearts of many of the Lord's servants in this service.
The end was full of the mercy of the Lord. At the age of 78, he was still enjoying fair health, when he almost suddenly became drowsy, and after eleven days in a semi-conscious condition, passed without pain into the presence of his God, on 6th November [1924]. A.R.S.
“The Believer’s Pathway” 1924