Revision as of 11:13, 25 February 2023

Arthur Richard Crocker was born in 1885 in London, England, and in 1908, was standing on a street corner in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada at the age of 23, and was converted to Christ thru the preaching of a Mr. Lester and a Mr. Brown who later served in Argentina. Crocker was received into fellowship at Brandon, Manitoba and commended to full-time laboring in the Lord's work among the open brethren (OB) from an assembly at Galt, Ontario. He labored for many years on Manitoulin Island, then in Florida, then his remaining years in Los Angeles, California where he died in 1955. He married Dinah Higson Crocker (b. 1881 Bolton, England - d. 1969 Tustin, CA).

Testimony

The following is transcribed from Assembly Annals 1934-4, unrevised notes of address by A.R. Crocker, titled "Our Death With Christ", with main texts Rev. 2:1-6; 1 Kings 22:1-3. Italics his. Some spellings have been Americanized, editor's choice.

"We have been meditating a little in past nights upon the truths of the death, the burial, and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I would like to follow that up tonight and apply it to the heart, for there is a tendency to let these old-fashioned, yet nevertheless vital truths slip. The tendency today, as no doubt you will agree with me, is to depart from the simplicity that is in Christ.

I don't know how it was with each of you who are saved. I know how it was with myself when God saved me twenty-five years ago last summer, standing on a street corner in the city of Woodstock, in Ontario, Canada. Two brethren now laboring in South America (I refer to Mr. Lester and Mr. Brown of the Argentine) were preaching, and as a young man of twenty-three years of age my heart was captivated. "Religious?" Yes, so religious that I was studying for the Episcopal ministry at Wycliffe College, yet I knew nothing of the lovely, simple truths, now so well-known to us that we are prone to treat them as commonplace.

For the first time there and then entered into my heart the wonderful, the warm message of the death of Christ, and I well remember how the mingled tears of contrition and joy coursed down my cheeks. The date of the month I do not know. I know it was a Saturday night between the hours of nine and ten o'clock, that my heart was won, was captivated, when for the first time I took in the reason why the Lord Jesus died on that cruel rugged tree. I there and then apprehended that it was for a guilty sinner like me.

I was very simple then and I pray the Lord that whenever I refer to my conversion He will help me to throw my mind back to that occasion so that I may not add twenty-five years of Christian experience to it. Everyone here that is saved, even though you have been saved forty or fifty years, will heartily concur in this remark that you were very simple the night, or the day, that God saved you.

I just drank in the glorious message of the wonderful love of God to me. I know that men thought me mad. Some ridiculed me. Some insulted me, and said very unkind things, such as, "Give him enough rope", and gibes like that. But twenty-five years have rolled over my head since then and I am still here by the grace of God. If I know my own heart, I think the Lord Jesus is more sweet and precious to me than ever He was before.

But at the same time, I would like to get back to that beautiful simplicity that we found in Christ Jesus when we were saved, not being "simple", but the simplicity that is in Christ. The tendency today is to want new things, big things, prophecy, coming events. All well and good in their place, but God's work, if it is anything at all, is heart work. The Lord Jesus clearly teaches us that, by His words and His life and actions. Never do we see Him performing miracles to make the giddy-eyed populace stare and wonder. Never. Every one of His miracles, without exception, is a moral miracle, heart work.

Now I want to elucidate and emphasize the truth of our death with Christ by asking a question. Young Christian, what did you learn when you were saved? "I learned that Jesus made an end of all my sins." That is good. But I want you to remember this as well, that God then made an end of you. God's estimate of you was that you were no good. You were so bad in His eyes that you were past recovery. Only one thing could He do with you, and that was to put you to death judicially in the person of Jesus Christ.

We said something the other night about a young man I knew who had got saved. He had been saved about six months and it was lovely to hear him pray. I like to hear babes lisp. It is something out of all proportion when hear discourses from babes. That man was happy, but he came to the prayer meeting one night and his head was hanging down and he looked the picture of misery. I tried to find out the trouble. He said, "While at work today, I hit the wrong nail with my hammer, and something shot out of my mouth. I never thought I would ever say a thing like that after I was saved, but it was out." Now he was wondering if he was saved at all.

"What did you learn when you got saved?" I asked him. "I learned that Jesus had made an end of all my sins by His precious blood. "Well, you are saved all right. Your trouble, young man, is that you are proud." He looked puzzled. "Yes, you are proud. You are giving yourself away. You are looking into your own heart for something good that you will never find there, and that is enough to make you miserable. You are looking in the wrong place."

Not only did Jesus make an end of your sins, but remember this other truth... for it will stabilize you, it will steady you in days to come; it will help you when there is opposition, when you get the sneer and frown from a wicked, cold, Christless world: it will help you to know this... that not only did God make an end of your sins, but He made an end of you. That will help wonderfully.

(To be continued D.V.)"

Assembly Annals obit

"Brother Crocker went home on July 25 after a lingering illness, patiently borne. He was born in London, England, was born again in Woodstock, Canada, received in fellowship in Brandon, Manitoba, and commended to the work of the Lord in Galt, Ontario.

He had been operated on six times and had been in fourteen hospitals, some of them being the largest and best in the country. The Lord richly blessed his testimony to the salvation of souls contacted, outstanding among them was Col. French, at Peter-Bent-Bingham Hospital (Harvard). Also a medical student, Warner, was saved while he was there. He had come all the way from Chile to study at Harvard.

For a good many years our brother labored on Manitoulin Island, and many years in Florida where he had the joy of seeing the good hand of the Lord in conversions. The last several years were spent in Los Angeles where he sought to help in ministering to the saints there. Brother Crocker's last words were from Psalm 62:5 (JND Translation), "Upon God alone does my soul rest peacefully."

We commend the widow (1507 S. Stanley, Los Angeles, California) to the prayers of the Lord's people. Brother Westwood and Olson spoke at the funeral services."

Visiting Ministry

Crocker was among those who performed open air meetings in this area in the 1920's & 1930's in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, alongside John Sylvester, Albert Joyce, William Warke, James Key, T. Dobbin, and John Govan which benefited the Albert Street Gospel Hall, presently (since 1947) known as Spring Street Gospel Hall at Spring & Wellington. See Robert L. Peterson's Canada_Ontario chapter.

1920's

• OR 1928-6: "Br. A.R. Crocker had meetings in Guelph, Ont.; also at Waubashene, Ont.; in both places he writes of fruit."
• OR 1929-6: Campbellford, ON: "Bro. A.R. Crocker has visited us here. There has been a new interest with some blessing on the seed sown."
• OR 1929-10: Gone Home: Victoria Harbor, ON: "On Aug. 9, our esteemed sister, Mrs. C. Steer, passed into the Lord's presence in her 76th year. Saved 35 years ago, beloved by all. Brn. Silvester and Crocker spoke faithful and comforting words at the funeral."
• OR 1929-11: Manitoulin Island: "An Assembly, the fruit of labors by Brn. Bailey, Crocker and others, has been started here. J. Thorburn, Poplar, Manitoulin Id., Ont., can give further information if desired."

1930's

• OR 1930-4: Deckerville, MI: "Mr. A.R. Crocker is with us, visiting among the Christians, after being discharged from the hospital after an operation for throat trouble three weeks ago."
• OR 1931-8: Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island, ON: "A.R. Crocker is here alone, plodding away, and hopes to remain during the summer, looking for definite blessing on God's Word being preached."
• OR 1931-11:
  • Manitoulin Island, ON: "Br. Crocker's meetings were uphill work, but he saw the good hand of God in a few being saved."
  • Victoria Harbor, ON: Gone Home: "Mr. A. Brotherstone died Aug. 21. For many years saved, a good steady Christian who will be much missed. He leaves a sorrowing wife and one son. The funeral, which was very large, was conducted by Br. A.R. Crocker."
• OR 1931-12: Cambridge, MA: "Our brother, A.R. Crocker, who has been laboring in the Gospel but hindered in his service for several years on account of spinal symptoms, is now in the Hospital here recovering after a successful operation in which fragments of an old fracture of the spine have been removed, with the hope held out of a complete restoration to health. Much prayer went up to the throne of grace in his behalf, and now 'it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord'."
• OR 1932-2: R. McLachlan @ Providence, R.I.: "We are happy to inform you that the Christians here, 'gathered unto the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ', have been greatly cheered by visits from Mr. J. Ferguson, Mr. J. Bernard, and Mr. W.H. Hunter. The assembly gathers at 700 N. Main St. We have also had a visit from A.R. Crocker of Galt, Ont. His visit was much appreciated."
• OR 1932-3: Miami, FL: "Harvey Farmer had some meetings here which were helpful. Mr. Crocker from Galt is here recuperating after an operation and hopes to have some meetings when able."
• OR 1932-9: D.E. Crary @ Deckerville, MI: "Mr. George Smith closed three weeks of meetings and went on to Bay City. Mr. A.R. Crocker visited among the Christians and others for a week. We are glad to note that his health is better."
• OR 1933-12: Forest, ON: "The forty-eighth convention of Christians gathering to the Name of the Lord Jesus in this place was held as announced on November 10th, 11th and 12th. On account of a storm that made bad roads the attendance was not quite as large as usual but the ministry was good and profitable. Those who took part in the ministry were Brn. McClure, Monypenny, Gould, Sen., Crocker, Mehl, Shivas, Swartz, Govan, McKay, and others. After the conference, Mr. McClure remained for several meetings."
• S&R 1935-5: Tampa, FL: "Mr. A.R. Crocker's addresses on the Tabernacle over a period of seven weeks were fruitful, also at West Palm Beach."
• AA 1936-10: "John Monypenny had a week's meetings with us. Br. McCrory, Crocker, and Fletcher also called on us. Br. John Ferguson had some meetings. Ministry practical and profitable."
• BM 1937-1: West Chicago Blvd Gospel Hall, Detroit, MI (Stark Road Gospel Hall, MI): "Assembly at 7315 West Chicago Blvd., Detroit, have had appreciated visits from W.H. Hunter, A.R. Crocker, J. Spreeman and L. Sheldrake. Annual Meetings on thanksgiving day much enjoyed, and helpful time. A. Stewart, W. Warke, T. Dobbin and others ministered."
• L&L 1937: Bethany Gospel Chapel, Newport News, VA: "Conference was held Jan. 1-3. Fifteen preachers were present. Benjamin Bradford, S. McEwan, Fisher Hunter, Jas. Smith, William Smith, Mehl, Calderhead, Crocker, Cather, Reager, Nugent, Monypenny, Wilson, McCloud, and Craig. Conference was much enjoyed." Crocker also ministered there in 1942 & 1947.
• Witness 1937-2: Forest, ON: "Forest Conference well attended. Edifying ministry from Messrs. M'Crory, Ferguson, Sheldrake, Gould, Sen, Shivas, M'Keown, Monypenny, Crocker and Macleod."

1940's

• L&L

1950's

• LOI 1951-9: Harold Smeal @ LaBrea Gospel Chapel, Los Angeles, CA: "Southern California assemblies for the past six months or so have been deprived of Brother Crocker's exceptionally helpful ministry due to his having a serious heart ailment and a severe disease in the blood vessels of the lower extremities. His many friends in the United States and Canada will undoubtedly join in swelling the large volume of prayer locally that, if it be His will, the Lord will grant at least partial restoration, so as to permit His servant to continue to distribute the precious nuggets of biblical truth which have always characterized Bro. Crocker's unfolding of the Word."

Sources

• Assembly Annals: 1936-10; 1955-8
• Believers Magazine: 1936-1
• Light & Liberty: 1937; 1947-9
• Letters of Interest: 1951-9
• Our Record: 1928:6; 1929:6,10-11; 1930-4; 1931:8,11-12; 1932:2-3,9; 1933-12
• Sowing & Reaping: 1935-5
• Witness: 1937-2