William Leask (1812–1884) was a Scottish dissenting minister and religious author. He served as Editor to several Christian periodicals. His views were far from mainstream, including the coming of a Theocratic Utopia and hoping for the mass conversion of all Jews to Christianity.[1]
Life
editLeask was born at Churchbank in Kirkwall, Orkney on 4 March 1812. He suffered from encephalitis as a child but recovered in his teenage years. In 1828 he joined the Scottish Secession church.
In 1834 he moved to Edinburgh. He had employment as a clerk and Sunday School teacher. He also became a religious agitator and began writing theological works. In 1835 he and his new wife moved to Liverpool in England. In 1839 he moved to Dover as a lay preacher. In 1846 he moved to Esher Street in Kennington, London. In 1857 he moved to Ware, Hertfordshire.[2]
He became Editor of several Christian periodicals: the Christian Examiner (1853–54); the Christian Times (1864), and The Rainbow (1864–66). For his services to Christianity Jefferson University in the USA awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD).[1]
He died at 34 Sandringham Road in Dalston on 6 November 1884 and his funeral service took place at Maberley Chapel on 9 November. He is buried in Abney Park Cemetery in London.
Publications
edit- The Hall of Vision (1838)
- Philosophical Lectures (1846)
- The Evidences of Grace (1846)
- The Footsteps of Messiah (1847)
- The Two Lights (1856)
- Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister (1864)
- Carey Glynn the Child Teacher (1868)
- The Scripture Doctrine of a Future Life (1877)
References
edit- ^ a b Sellers, Ian. "Leask, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16249. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1892). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.