This desire has been granted to our beloved and honored brother in Christ, Mr. Timothy O. Loizeaux, who fell asleep in Jesus, Tuesday, March 15th, 1927, at his residence in Plainfield, N. J.
Our brother had been in failing health for several years past, having been subject to serious attacks of heart-failure connected with his well-nigh lifelong asthma. Owing to his advanced age-being in his 84th year-his strength was not equal to sustaining the last attack, and for more than a month his family have expected the end which has now come.
While there is grief at the separation-for "a little while"-from one so greatly beloved, there is thankfulness that he has been released from the sufferings which he bore so sweetly and patiently. His desire was to depart and to be with Christ, and we thank our blessed Lord that he is now proving in his Saviour's presence how unspeakably "far better" it is than the happiest, most active life of service here could be.
It is fitting that there should be put upon the pages of this magazine, upon which he spent so much patient, prayerful labor for many years, some little word of recognition of that service to our Lord and to His people which has marked his entire Christian life for more than sixty years.
Our dear brother was the subject of the same grace, and at near the same time, which reached the heart of his brother, Mr. Paul J. Loizeaux? and the entire immediate family. Receiving the emancipating truth of the gospel in all the simplicity of faith, he entered upon a life characterized by quiet but most devoted service to his Saviour and Lord. The two brothers, Paul and Timothy, were in a marked degree knit together in faith, love and service. Of very different temperaments, and engaged in different lines of service, they were of the greatest help to each other, the boldness and zeal of Paul the elder being tempered, guided, and supplemented by the sober judgment, caution and patient labor of his younger brother. The result was, in the mercy of God, a blended testimony and a united service to the Church of God which has been of incalculable blessing to multitudes of the people of God.
While the influence of his younger brother was felt in the public ministry of Paul, it was in the office and rooms of the Bible Truth Depot that the life-work of Timothy was wrought. Here his personality was impressed upon every detail. From the choice of suited paper, type and form of the tracts and books printed, to every sentence of their contents, all passed under the eye of our brother. The neatness and accuracy of the mechanical detail has become the standard for all that leaves the establishment, and far and near it is recognized that the publishers' name on a book is a guarantee, so far as human, prayerful care can safeguard it, of the soundness of its contents.
It is difficult to form a correct estimate of the amount of labor which all this involved. This was given constantly, ungrudgingly, with no thought but for His honor for whom all was done. It is not easy for a publisher to refuse a well-written book, which gives promise of wide circulation, but -does not maintain the full truth of God's word. Never a syllable was allowed to pass which did not ring true upon the absolute inspiration of the Scripture, the divine perfection of the Holy Son of God in His person and His atoning work, the lost and ruined condition of all men, and the perfect provision for their present and eternal redemption through the sacrifice in death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Similarly the inevitable and eternal doom of the rejecters of this gospel was the theme of many a paper and book sent forth.
In like manner the great truths of prophecy-the coming of the Lord for His Church, when all His own will be "caught up," the tribulation following, the appearing and Millennial kingdom of Christ over Israel and to the ends of the earth-were embodied in the various books and tracts put forth. Nothing sensational, or beneath the dignity of Christian sobriety, was allowed to mar the works published.
The same can be said of the distinctive truths relating to the nature and testimony of the Church. The publishing office was no "open forum" for the discussion of ecclesiastical questions which might mislead the readers. With deep convictions of his own, our brother felt the necessity that everything issuing from his office should express those convictions. While his respect and affection for Christians who did not see as he did, was marked, yet it was as a burden, a necessity laid upon him, that the publications should be a Testimony. Let us thank God for this firmness and loyalty to his Master.
His place at the center of all this activity made it also necessary that he should have a wide correspondence, not only upon business matters down to the minutest details, but upon doctrinal, ecclesiastical, expository and practical questions. He was the recipient of large numbers of letters about scriptural questions, the meaning of certain passages, the doctrines involved, as well as the more personal and confidential questions of the writers. To all this he gave without stint his time and prayerful attention. How many have been helped in their understanding, guided in their perplexity, encouraged in their difficulties, and comforted in their sorrows! How many wavering ones has he helped to firmer ground. The "day" will alone reveal the fruit of the pen of this quiet, painstaking, conscientious servant of the Lord and of His people.
Nor was this pastoral care limited to writing. A cordial welcome was given to every visitor at the office, and guidance and help imparted to many with their perplexity. Uprightness, grace, devotedness to the truth and conscientiousness marked it all.
The same may be said of his place in the local assembly which he attended, and wherever he might visit. The welfare of the various gatherings within the radius in which his life was largely spent, was especially on his heart. Often at the "Conferences" would his voice be heard in prayer, exhortation, or instruction, and the same piety, simplicity and earnestness which were the elements of his character, marked all.
Indeed, it may be said, rarely do we find one with so uniform and unvariable a character. What he was at the Depot, that he was in the assembly and at his home. There was a weightiness, a sobriety which cannot be simulated, and which commands the esteem and respect of every true heart; and this was accompanied by an affection which was deep and genuine, and by true Christian cheerfulness.
What an example and what a heritage he has left to his large family to the third generation, and whom he and his beloved wife loved to meet at the little domestic reunions which brought them together. Back of all the cheerful conversation, the loving interest in the affairs of each, and the wise counsels, was the consciousness that here was one who walked with God. Christ was the first, the chief interest, and the savor of that lingers wherever our dear brother went. For this we thank God. Of him it may be truly said, "He was a faithful man, and feared God above many" (Neh. 7:2).
May the influence of his life remain in real effect among us. The days grow darker as we look about us. The enemy is ceaseless in his effort to effect an entrance, either by subtle forms of error, by unholy walk, or by the sacrifice of divine principle. Let us gird our loins afresh for the remainder of the way. "The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Pet. 4:7). Let us also seek in all lowliness and meekness, while standing firm for the truth, seek to shun strife, bitterness and the discord which can only work the opposite of that for which our dear brother stood, and prayed.
We would at the close of this brief word turn our own hearts and minds to Him who"dieth no more," our blessed, holy, changeless Lord of life and love. "Thou remainest," -amid all the clamor about us, all the "change and decay" around us. He calls His loved and faithful ones to Himself, we feel their absence, but He hath said, "I will never leave nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:S). To His word let us cleave, in His steps let us walk, for His own let us care, till He come. May our lives be marked by the prayerfulness and consistency which has Christ alone as its object. Thus shall we too serve the blessed Lord and His people, for His sake. S. R.