George Dawson (preacher)
George Dawson (
February 24,
1821 -
November 30,
1876),
English nonconformist divine, was born in
London, and was educated at
Marischal College,
Aberdeen, and at the
University of Glasgow.
In
1843 he accepted the pastorate of the
Baptist church at
Rickmansworth, and in 1844 a similar charge at Mount Zion,
Birmingham, where he attracted large congregations by his eloquence and his unconventional views. Desiring freedom from any definite creed, he left the Baptist church and became minister of the Church of the Saviour, a building erected for him by his supporters. Here he exercised a stimulating and varied ministry for nearly thirty years, gathering round him a congregation of all types and especially of such as found the dogmas of the age distasteful.
He had much sympathy with the
Unitarian position, but was not himself a Unitarian. Indeed he had no fixed standpoint, and discussed truths and principles from various aspects. His sermons, though not particularly speculative, were unconventional and quickening. He was the friend of
Carlyle and
Emerson, and did much to popularize their teachings, his influence being conspicuous, especially in his demand for a high ethical standard in everyday life and his insistence on the Christianization of citizenship. He was warmly supported by
Dr RW Dale, and by JT Bunce, editor of
The Birmingham Daily Post. Both Dawson and Dale were disqualified as ministers from seats on the town council, but both served on the Birmingham school board.
Dawson also lectured on English literature at the
Birmingham and Midland Institute and helped to found the Shakespeare Memorial library in Birmingham. He died suddenly at
Kings Norton on the 30th of November 1876, and is buried at
Key Hill Cemetery. Four volumes of
Sermons, two of
Prayers and two of
Biographical Lectures were published after his death.
Life by
HW Crosskey (1876) and an article by RW Dale in
The Nineteenth Century (August 1877).
