13,610
edits
Changes
added bio
===Vitals===
David was born between July and September, 1890 in Blackburn, England, son of William (b. 1865) and Elizabeth Alice Astley (b. 1869) Blackburn, married May 22, 1888. David's father was baptized into the Church of England on June 11, 1865. David's mother was baptized on October 3, 1869. William's parents were John (b. 1836) and Sarah Seed (b. 1840) Blackburn. Elizabeth's parents were David (b. 1831) and Alice Parker Astley (b. 1827), married Dec. 26, 1863.
David's father worked as an overseer in a cotton mill, the overarching industry in the town of Blackburn, named such since at least 1086 A.D., known then as Blachebourne, and noted history includes a royal manor that came into possession of Henry de Blackburn, who divided it between his two sons. Henry was 19-Gen Great Uncle of George Washington, 23-Gen Great Uncle of Lady Diana, 25-Gen Great Uncle of Charles, Prince of Wales, and possibly 21-Gen Great Uncle of Winston Churchill.
The town is located within a green belt region near Greater Manchester. The town is mentioned in a Beatles song "A Day in the Life".
David had an older sister that died as a baby, Sarah Alice Blackburn (1890-1891). Then several younger siblings: John (b. 1893) and William, Jr. (b. 1899), Harold (b. 1901), Cissie (b. 1904), Fred (b. 1906), Richard (b. 1908).
===James F. Spink tribute in Light & Liberty===
'''David Blackburn, Pioneer Evangelist'''
Bristol and Marion, Virginia, are two monuments of their labors, for in each place there is a testimony resulting from their tent work.
David Blackburn was an evangelist. His warmth of heart and passion for souls, and love of the gospel distinguished him as such. Evangelists are preachers, but all preachers are not evangelists. He believed that God called him to the southern states, and there he stuck, "enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." He never tried to please the people, nor lowered his message by entertaining the people with witty remarks. He preached Christ in a way calculated to move the hearts of his hearers, and all could tell that he felt what he was saying. God blessed his earnest preaching to the salvation of many precious souls.
Our brother spent much time in prayer and meditation. He agonized for souls, and he prayed for all the home and foreign workers. On his last morning on earth he refused to take breakfast, preferring to spend the time in prayer and communion. Now he is with the Lord "face to face".
We cannot understand why one so young and so useful should be taken home, but it is not for us to question, for He who sees the end from the beginning knows what is best for us all. David will be greatly missed in Virginia by those who heard the gospel through him, and will be sadly missed by [[Frank Moyer Detweiler]], and those who loved, and labored with him.
''We'll catch the broken thread again, and finish what we here began;
===[[Frank Moyer Detweiler]] tribute in Light & Liberty===
The words in Genesis 5:24 have been re-enacted in the life and death of my dearly beloved brother and fellow-laborer. I first met David at the [[Moody Bible Institute]], Chicago in 1923. He was then a very earnest Christian but not until a year later did he see the principles of gathering to His Name alone. He was born in Clitheroe, England and came to western Canada twenty-one years ago. He became greatly exercised about the lost and perishing and gave his life for the proclamation of the Gospel. This led him to give up his farm in Canada and prepare him for the mission field at the [[Moody Bible Institute]]. While there, he saw that the divisions in Christendom were wrong and that the principles of worship were not practiced in the church, so he took his place among the people who gather in His Name alone, embracing all the Lord's people in their fellowship, unless Scripturally barred.
He became greatly exercised about then found an open door for the Gospel in the lost mining camps in Virginia where he and perishing and gave his life W.F. Hunter labored together for the proclamation of the Gospelover a year. This led In 1927, I met him to give up his farm again during which summer we began our tent work in Canada and prepare him Bristol, VA. For the past six years we have labored together, practically all the time except for short periods during the mission field at the [[Moody Bible Institute]]winter. While there, he saw that the divisions Our hearts were knit together in Christendom were wrong and that the principles bonds of worship were not practiced in the churchGospel, so he took somewhat akin to David and Jonathan. I do greatly miss him, since his place among seat is empty. It is hard to think we shall not meet again until the people who gather in His Name alone, embracing all the LordResurrection Morning. God's people in their fellowship, unless Scripturally barredways are past finding out.
There are many outstanding memories of David's life. He then found an open door for rarely allowed anything to keep him from reading his Bible and praying every morning. For the past four years, it was his practice to read prayerfully through the Gospel New Testament each month as well as a few books in the mining camps in Virginia where he and WOld Testament.FHe could quote many chapters by memory. Hunter labored together for over His last message given Saturday night before his home-call Sunday at 9:30 a year. In 1927, I met him again during which summer we began our tent work in Bristol, VAm. For was on the past six years we have labored together, practically all work of the time except Holy Spirit from Luke 15: "Searching for short periods during the winterLost Coin". Our hearts were knit together in As I recall him walking down the bonds of road, the Gospelwords "David walked with God, somewhat akin to David and Jonathan. I do greatly miss he was not; for God took him", since his seat is empty. It is hard to think we shall not meet again until the Resurrection Morning. God's ways are past finding outcome ringing into my ear in literal fulfillment.