(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

The Brisbane Courier, 1878

DEATH OF THE REV. B.G. WILSON

At 3 o’clock yesterday morning the Rev. B. G. Wilson, Baptist minister of this city, died at his residence on Gregory-terrace. He had for a considerable time been in failing health. This fact became first painfully noticeable about two years ago, when he was laid aside by a severe attack of illness, stated to arise from sluggish action of the heart and liver; and although he afterwards, with the aid of a three months’ trip to New Zealand, recovered sufficiently to resume his pastoral duties, he never again enjoyed really good health, and his increasing ailments made it only too apparent to his intimate friends that his once robust and vigorous constitution had become greatly impaired, and was gradually breaking down. Some six months ago he became very unwell, and tried a short trip south, and on returning to the colony spent a few weeks at Sandgate, but without receiving any permanent benefit from the change. After this he rapidly grew worse, and took to his bed, from which he was never again able to rise. During this his last illness he suffered much from dysentery, which reduced him to a state of complete prostration. For some time before his death strong hopes were entertained of his recovery, and during the last week he appeared to be decidedly improving. Even on Sunday last there seemed nothing in the symptoms unusually alarming. After midnight, however, an unfavourable change took place. His breathing became difficult and weak, until at last it seemed to have ceased altogether. Mrs Wilson for a time feared to call anyone to her assistance, thinking he might possibly be sleeping, but it was the sleep of death.

Mr Wilson was born on the 16^th March, 1823, and had therefore at the time of his death nearly attained the age of 55 years. He was a native of Ireland, and brought up amongst the Society of Friends. He saw reason, however, to leave the Quakers, and was afterwards for some time a town missionary in Bradford, where he made himself especially useful in connection with the Young Men’s Christian Association of that town. During his residence there he also practised medicine, in partnership with Dr Brereton, and he then acquired that knowledge of the healing art which has since contributed so materially to his influence and usefulness as a Christian minister. His attention was first drawn to this colony by a letter published in the Freeman from the Rev. James Voller, then minister of the Bathurst-street Baptist Church, and now resident at Enoggera, near Brisbane. The spiritual wants of Brisbane, and the opening which existed here for a minister of the Baptist persuasion, were forcibly pointed out in Mr Voller’s letter, and Mr Wilson promptly decided that Brisbane should be his future field of labor. Some communications appear to have been opened about the same time between the Church in Brisbane and the Baptist Missionary Society, so that society advanced the money for the passage out of Mr Wilson and family, who sailed from England in 1858, and landed in this city in the month of September in that year.

Mr Wilson, in the choice he made, suffered considerable pecuniary loss, as he gave up a lucrative practice in Bradford, and after his arrival in Brisbane he might doubtless have done far better for himself in the medical profession than as a Minister of the Gospel. But he had chosen the latter, and in his sphere as a Christian minister in this city he has exercised an extensive influence for good, not only in his own Church and denomination, but throughout the community generally. His generous and warm-hearted disposition led him to devote a large amount of his time to alleviating the sufferings of the sick, and his medical skill enabled him, in imitation of his Great Master, to go about doing good. Whilst seeking the spiritual good of those with whom he was brought in association he was ever ready to exert himself to the utmost to restore the sick or alleviate their sufferings, and his self-denying labours of this kind have placed many a household in this city under a debt of gratitude which they can never repay. Mr Wilson was much respected in this city both as a Christian minister and a citizen, and his death has caused a gap which will not easily be filled.

The funeral will take place this morning, the cortege starting from deceased’s late residence at 10 o’clock, and stopping at the Wharf-street Baptist Church en route, where a short service will be held, commencing at half-past ten o’clock.