(Extracted from a Funeral Sermon preached by the Rev. John Ham, in the Baptist Chapel, Melbourne, on the 19th July, 1846)

The Rev. William Pascoe Crook was born in Devonshire, in the year 1775. He received his early education in Plymouth, and during his residence there he occasionally attended a dissenting place of worship, and for some time had strong convictions of sin. Very early in life, he removed to London, and going one Sabbath into a dissenting chapel, he heard a discourse "on the love of Christ" which so powerfully affected his mind, that it drew him at once to the Saviour, of whom he had just heard. His heart was so filled with love and gratitude, that he could scarce refrain from crying out; that hymn being given out after the sermon, -

he joined in singing with an overflowing heart. After this service, the Lord's Supper was administered; he followed the communicants, and not being repulsed, he heartily joined in celebrating the Saviour's death, for he now felt assured of his interest in Christ, and could firmly believe that Christ died for him, and that he gave himself for him. Shortly after this, the London Missionary Society was established - great interest was excited respecting missions to the heathen. Being then in London, he called upon some of the directors of the society, and offered himself as a missionary, but met with very little encouragement, the directors told him they considered him too young. Though grieved, he was not discouraged, but called upon Dr. Hawes, who was one of the directors, and after some conversation with him, the Doctor gave him a letter to the Rev. Matthew Wilks, who had the chief management and selection of the missionaries. From this time, Mr. Wilks took him under his special superintendence and instruction, and they went through a course of studies together. Being accepted and approved by the London Missionary Society, he was set apart for the great work of a missionary to the heathen. The society having purchased a ship on purpose to convey the missionaries to their respective destinations, he sailed, with the first missionaries, in the ship "Duff," in the year 1796. He was now just twenty-one years of age when he left his native shores, to go forth unto the heathen "to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." The ship sailed for the South Sea Islands, where she arrived in safety, and after touching at Tahiti, and leaving some missionaries there, it was proposed to form a mission at the Marquesas. Mr. Crook volunteered to go if any one would join him, when the Rev. Harris offered to do so, and the "Duff" took them to the principal Island of the group, Santa Christina.

In Picken's "Travels and Researches of Eminent English Missionaries," we have the following account, selected principally from the voyage of the ship "Duff" :-

"It was not until the 11th June, 1797, a little before sunrise that the Captain of the "Duff" descried Santa Christina, one of the Marquesan Islands. The next day they got safe into Resolution Bay, and began to get acquainted with the interesting inhabitants of these Islands. The two missionaries who had destined themselves for the Island of Santa Christina, were a Mr. Crook and a Mr. Harris. When the Chief, whose name was Tenae, was informed by the Captain of the intention of the two Englishmen to settle among his people, for their instruction, the good natured barbarian was highly delighted, and offering them a house to live in, he also promised them a share of all that he possessed. The two missionaries afterwards going on shore to reconnoitre the place, Tenae, the Chief, received them on the beach, and conducted them a little way with much decorum. He was evidently proud of the visit, and desiring to show off the strangers to the natives who crowded round. He made them all halt and form a ring round the object of their curiosity, those in front sitting down to allow the others to see over their heads. When the Chief had exhibited the missionaries in this manner to the people for about a quarter of an hour, he conducted them to the valley, to show them the house which he intended for their reception. When they reached it, they found it small and mean, compared with the lofty building that their bretheren occupied in Tahiti; and all the food that was set before them was a few cocoanuts. The Chief, however, seemed anxious to treat the strangers with kindness as far as his means went. Upon the return of the two missionaries to the ship, the obvious discomfort of the dwelling they had seen, and the apparent difficulties before them in this place, seemed entirely to have damped the ardour of Mr. Harris, whose impression from all he had witnessed, was very different to that made upon his brother Crook, as he was by no means willing to be left on the Island; but Mr. Crook being perfectly satisfied from present appearances, with all he had seen, and still impressed with the importance of the undertaking, it was at length agreed that both should accept the Chief's invitation for the following day, and that taking their beds on shore, they should make trial of their new quarters at least for one night; but Mr. Harris subsequently declining to go, Mr. Crook went and took with him a boy, whom the Captain brought from Tahiti, to keep him company for the night."

"On the 20th of the month, Mr. Crook, the missionary, went on board the "Duff," and there was held a meeting with Mr. Harris, who was to have been his companion, and in the presence of Captain Wilson desired to know his mind as to his intention of settling on the island. The impression he had taken of the poverty and discomfort of the place, however was so strong with Mr. Harris, that he could not bear the idea of being left in such quarters, besides, he said, he could not eat the mahi, and the hogs and fish were far from plentiful. Mr. Crook, though only twenty-two years of age, was by no means so influenced by considerations of personal comfort, and much more ardent in the cause he had undertaken."

"Ultimately Mr. Harris consented to accompany Mr. Crook on shore, and to make another trial of the situation of a missionary on the Island, but an unexpected and ludicrous disaster was the consequence of his second trial; and he determined to leave the Island and return to the vessel with all possible speed, which with considerable difficulty and annoyance, he finally accomplished leaving Mr. Crook behind. The experience Mr. Crook had acquired on the Island led him to conclusions directly contrary to those of Mr. Harris. Finding that Captain Wilson was preparing to depart, he intimated his resolution to stay on the Island with no other companions than the kind-hearted Chieftain and his friends. This worthy young man having had the good sense to accomodate himself, as far as possible, to the feelings and circumstances of the Islanders, undertook their instruction with cheerfulness; and though sensible that the conversation and sympathy of a Christian missionary from his own country, would be a great comfort to him in these regions of ignorance; yet, as that was denied, he was willing in the strength of his Divine Master, to labour alone while there was any prospect of doing good among the people. Taking with him, therefore, an assortment of garden seeds, to sow in the valley, with some implements of Husbandry, some medicines, books, and other useful articles, he contentedly prepared for his solitary labours."

"Before the departure of the "Duff," the Captain went on shore on the Island, but on the same evening the party being about to return to the ship, they reached the beach, when the Captain and his friends took an affectionate farewell of the Chief and of Mr. Crook, the intrepid and youthful missionary. The conduct of the latter was on this occasion as manly and gallant as it had all along been."

"Betraying no sign of fear at being left alone by his friends, nor any way daunted by the work he had undertaken," the tears glistened in his eyes," says one of the journals, "but none fell," and he resigned himself to the care of Him, by whom he knew he should not be forsaken."

"On the following morning of the 27th June, the day following that on which the Captain had taken leave of Mr. Crook, he weighed anchor and set sail, intending to return to Tahiti to ascertain what was the position of the missionaries he had left there three months before."

The next extract I shall introduce here from the same work furnishes us with further particulars respecting Mr. Crook's labours in the Marquesan Islands.

"It now only remains" says the writer, "to say a few words regarding the fate of Mr. Crook, the young man who was left by the "Duff" in 1797, without any English companion on the island of Santa Christina. Mr. Crook undoubtedly possessed all the enthusiasm and courage so requisite for a missionary. - For many months after he was left on the Island, the chief hardship he suffered was from scarcity of food, the former improvidence of the natives, having left the Island in such a state, that he and they were almost starved. This circumstance, however, by no means prevented the chiefs from exercising that hospitality and kindness towards him, which was very much in their nature; for they were always ready to share with the solitary missionary, the morsel that they had. By the time that Mr. Crook had been a year on the Island he was taken from it by an accident, which though he could not forsee, yet seems to have been little against his wishes. - A ship having arrived off the Island, the missionary went on board to make some enquiries, and to write by her to Europe, if she should be found to offer an opportunity. But the wind coming to blow rather fresh from the land, the Captain found it impracticable to work back into the harbour, and the ship was driven off to sea with Mr. Crook on board. Finding himself disappointed in respect to Santa Christina, the missionary requested to be taken to Sir Henry Martyn's Island, which lies about sixty miles to the north-west, and the Captain having borne away to that place, Mr. Crook was there put ashore."

"Having, by this time, made great progress in acquiring the language of these Islands, the people, on the landing of Mr. Crook in this new spot, were so astonished at hearing a white man speak like themselves, that they were convinced he was a God, and he found it difficult to persuade them from this idolatrous fancy. Immediately, however, the chief adopted the stranger as his Taio, or friend, and besides liberally supplying him with provisions, gave him a large piece of ground, abundantly stocked with the best trees of the Island, upon which Mr. Crook soon built himself a house, and enclosed the whole with a fence of bamboo. Here he lived in unusual comfort for seven months; but at the end of that time two ships from London having visited the Island, in quest of refreshments, he became their interpreter with the inhabitants; and being convinced of the little good he was likely to effect by himself, he availed himself of the opportunity which was afforded him to return to England, with the information which his residence among the Marquesan Islands had enabled him to collect. Accordingly, having taken a passage in the "Butterworth," one of the visitor ships, he left the Island and arrived in England in May, 1799, having been absent nearly two years and eight months."

To show the dangers to which Mr. Crook was constantly exposed while labouring among these savage people, it is only necessary to mention that they were great cannibals. In one occasion when a great famine raged in the Island, a poor woman took a bread fruit which had fallen ripe from one of the King's trees, when the King was informed of the fact by one of the men, he coolly ordered the woman to be killed. She was accordingly cut down with an axe and baked, and her body divided among them. One arm was given to Mr. Crook as his share, but being horrified and disgusted, he took it and buried it in the sand; but being watched by a native, he came and laughed at him - took up the arm from the sand, and ate it. He with much difficulty escaped being tattooed in the face by force. He took with him a young man named Timotsitei, a native of the Marquesas, thinking that if educated in England, he might be useful on his return to the Islands, but he died in London, before Mr. Crook's return to Tahiti.

When Mr. Crook arrived in England from the Marquesas he found that war had broken out with France, and that the ship "Duff," on her way out with a reinforcement of missionaries, had been taken - and all the missionaries landed in France. He remained sometime in England; married, and held himself in readiness to go again as soon as peace was restored. In the mean time he was employed in itinerating in the country.

In the year 1803, two vessels, the "Calcutta" and the "Ocean," were sent out by the Government with a Lieutenant-Governor, &c., to form a colony at Port Phillip. Mr. Crook accompanied them in the "Ocean," intending to go on to Sydney, and to proceed from thence to Tahiti. He remained with Mrs. Crook for three weeks at Port Phillip, in a regular military encampment, and then proceeded to Sydney; but painful intelligence awaited him there, for on his arrival in that city he found that the Society Islands were all at war, and that the missionaries had all left except two, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Notts.

Unable to resume his missionary labours and not wishing to be chargeable to the Society, he opened a school for young gentlemen; and some of the most influential gentlemen in Sydney received their first education from him. This school he continued while he remained in the colony.

During the time that Governor Bligh was kept under an arrest, Mr. Crook acted as Colonial Chaplain, and was allowed a salary by the Home Government; but subsequent to this he often suffered great persecution for preaching the Gospel, and administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper in his school-room.

Governor Macquarie sent for him and told him that he would not allow any one to administer the sacrament but a minister of the Church of England, and if he continued to do so he would send him out of the Colony; but Mr. Crook told him he should obey the command of Christ his Master, and should continue to do so as he had done, if he suffered death for it. About this time he laboured zealously in his Master's cause on the Sabbath. He preached to the prisoners in the morning - rode to Kissing Point and preached in the afternoon - and returned to Sydney and preached again to the soldiers in the evening.

In the year 1816, peace being restored in the Islands, and a prospect of success appearing among the natives, he returned to Tahiti with his family. At this time his prospects in life were highly flattering and gave him every reason to believe, if he remained in Sydney, he was likely to become one of its wealthiest inhabitants, having at this period of its history established a lucrative business, at a time when many persons made rapid fortunes. In business he could not be happy, but sold all off, and returned to the mission, considering that only to be his proper place.

On his arrival at Tahiti with his family he found that the whole of the Islands had renounced heathenism, and professed themselves Christians. A wide field was now open to him. He was quite in his element - more so than he had ever been before. He cheerfully devoted all his energies to the work, and was now fully employed in teaching and preaching - in instructing the poor natives in temporal as well as spiritual things.

While in Sydney he had studied medicine, and he also obtained some knowledge of surgery by attending the hospital for some time with one of the physicians of the City. He had also acquired a knowledge of printing; he assisted to print the first portion of the Scriptures - the Gospel of St. Luke, which was printed in Afareaitu, in the Island of Aimeo, in the year 1818.

He afterwards removed to Papeete, in Tahiti, where he remained for 7 years, living entirely in his work, preachng on the Sabbath and week days, teaching school both for adults and for children. Here Pomare II, the father of the present Queen, resided, and was extremely kind to Mr. Crook, and encouraged his people to hear him. Mr. Crook attended him in his sickness and death, administering medicine both to the body and mind. On being asked by Mr. Crook on what his hopes of salvation were founded, he emphatically answered "On Jesus alone." These were his last words.

Mr. Crook was with the Queen at the birth of Pomare III. The young King as he grew up was continually with Mr. Crook's family, until he was sent to the South Sea Academy, to receive an English education, where he died.

His sister Aimata, then received the government, her name signifies, an eater of the eye, from a Heathenish custom, of presenting the eye of the slain enemy to her father, on a leaf which was used as a plate, who feigned to eat it. She was called Pomare the IV. from her husband, who was also called Pomare; he was the son of a king of one of the Leeward Islands. The Queen of Tahiti resided with her mother, and were both pupils of Mr. and Mrs. Crook's, the latter being a true missionary's wife, assisting her husband in "every good work." With the present Queen of Tahiti, he continued to correspond as long as he was able, and for several years acted as her agent in Sydney. Where here he made a complete tour of the Island, preaching, and sending teachers in various parts. On two occasions during his residence in this place, a rebellion broke out against Pomare the II. On the first, the rebels intended to attack the settlement, as the Christian natives were at worship on the Sabbath. Mr. Crook advised them to carry their arms with them to chapel, which they did. While they were on their knees imploring Divine assistance in their very perilous situation, the Rebels appeared, - the Christians flew to their arms and advanced in the name of the Lord, surrounded and captured a number of the enemies, and dispersed the rest. The King was very arbitrary, ordering all for immediate execution; but Mr. Crook prevailed with him to spare their lives, except the two ring-leaders - they were executed, and the rest were banished.

On the second occasion, the natives took the King and his family, and all Mr. Crook's family, together with the old men, their wives and children to Motufuta - the small Island, now in the possession of the French, a part of their settlement. The men remaining to protect the town. Mr. Crook advised them to lie in ambush at a point of land, on which the enemy would have to come to the town. While Mr. Crook and friends were at prayers and worship on the small Island, they could see the houses at a distance in flames. The enemy came in the night, but the Christians leaped from their ambush upon them, as they were between them and the sea; not expecting this attack, the enemy was seized with such sudden dread, that they became almost powerless, and immediately surrendered. Two of the ringleaders were afterwards left for execution. Mr. Crook attended them every day, and was with them when they suffered - they died very penitent for their crimes. Thus the Christians were always delivered in the time of danger, which greatly tended to strengthen their belief in the truth of Christianity. Here Mr. Crook had a surgery, and attended the sick; and besides this, he preached every Sabbath, after the native service in English, to the English inhabitants, and to the crews of any vessels that lay in the harbour.

In the year 1826, he removed with his family to Taiarapu, a distant part of Tahiti, where no missionary had ever resided before. Here he was rendered eminently useful in enlightening the poor neglected natives; and as his skill in medicine was now become known, he was frequently sent for from distant parts of the Island, so that in his medical capacity, he was the means and the instrument under God, in saving the lives of a great number of persons. Their souls, their immortal souls, were especially dear and precious to him, and he proved himself to be a faithful servant in the Lord's vineyard. His plan of teaching was as follows: - On the Lord's day, before breakfast, a prayer meeting was held in the chapel; about ten, the Sunday school children were assembled, when he took the superintendence of the boys, and his two eldest daughters, the girls. At eleven o'clock, service was held in the chapel, the children assembled again in the afternoon, and preaching again followed. The laborious services of the Sabbath were closed by a family service in English, when his own children were effectually catechised, and faithfully adressed on the important subjects affecting their salvation. His week day labours commenced with a prayer meeting in the chapel, the male and female adult schools followed. After breakfast, the children's school occupied some hours, and again an hour in the afternoon. The interval was employed in visiting the sick, and in giving advice to any who came to him for the purpose, as many constantly resorted to him for advice. In his medical capacity he was always attentive to their complaints, and anxious to do them good. Two or three evenings in the week were set apart for receiving those who expressed concern for their souls, and many were received into the church, which now consisted of about 300 members. While he was at this station, it was thought advisable by the missionaries to make a second attempt at the Marquesas, to establish a mission there. The missionaries met for that purpose, and after much deliberation and prayer, they determined to cast lots who should go, and first prayed that the lot might fall on the one best qualified for the work, the lot being cast into the lap, the whole disposing thereof, might be of the Lord. The lot fell upon Mr. Crook, and though he had been there before, and suffered much and might reasonably have excused himself; yet he did not, but immediately, without gainsaying, undertook the voyage, and embarked, leaving Mrs. Crook and family, and taking with him two Tahitian teachers.

On landing at the Marquesas, two men were seen on the reefs, who had been banished there. He told them he was Mr. Crook, who was formerly on the Island. They immediately called to those on shore "Tie o Teruku mai te tua te raki" - the English of which is, "Here is Crook from the back of the sky." He was known again by the natives, who received him kindly, and allowed the teachers he brought to remain, but little good was done among them at this time, as they were at war with the neighbouring tribes, but they had learnt that their idols were of little use, as Mr. Crook was allowed by one of the priests to carry away on his shoulders an immense God, from one of the Maraes.

Mr. Crook returned after an absence of two months in another vessel. The crew of a vessel which had been wrecked, came back with him, and on their arrival at the mission station, he supplied them with lodgings and medicines until they obtained a passage home. The natives of his station received him home with joy, and made a feast to celebrate his safe return.

In the year 1830, it was thought advisable that he should remove with his large family, consisting of nine children to New South Wales. His children were nearly all grown up, and himself and wife growing old, Mrs. Crook's health having been impaired by the climate as also that of some of the children; but he was so cautious and concientious, that though he had a most eligible opportunity of leaving, he would not, before he had consulted with the directors of the London Missionary Society. Considering that he had been thirty-five years employed in the mission work, with but very little interuption, the directors readily acceded to him with, as may be seen from the missionary records decisive proof, how highly his labours were appreciated by them.

In the year 1831, he embarked with his family for Sydney, and on his arrival there, he again commenced a school, his mental powers not being in the least impaired. From this period, he was constantly employed on the Lord's day in preaching the Gospel, and for the most part gratuitously. He raised contributions and built a chapel at South Head and preached in it for a considerable time. He was the first that commenced the Temperance Society in Sydney. He was also concerned in the formation of some, and in the support of almost all the religious and benevolent institutions of the city.

It may be truly and emphatically said of him, that he was a faithful and diligent servant, "that for about 50 years he laboured zealously and cheerfully for the glory of God, and for the temporal and spiritual benefit of his fellow men." His labours were attended with numerous instances of good in the conversion of souls to God. He was the honoured instrument, in turning many from the worship of idols to the service of the living God. His labours were signally blessed of the Lord, both in the Islands and in the colony, and we doubt not but he is now mingling his song of triumph, with many who were his "joy on earth, and will be the crown of his rejoicing in day of the Lord Jesus," then he shall say "Here am I and the children thou hast given me."

About nine years ago Mrs. Crook died, Mr. Crook was at the time attacked with Erysipelas in the head, he recovered but was very feeble, both in mind and body. Ever since this attack he gradually declined, before his recollection and memory were taken entirely from him, he had the pleasure of knowing that all his children had been brought to the knowledge of the truth. Thus he was permitted to live to see his prayers answered for all his children, which fact should encourage all Christian parents to pray more earnestly for their children, that ere' they depart this life, they may see them walking in the fear of the Lord. Just before he came to Melbourne, his speech and memory entitely left him, and he was reduced to a second childhood, having no remembrance even of his own children.

In his last moments he seemed more sensible, although he could not be understood. He looked at his son and family, as if he knew them, and waved his hand over his head, as if he knew where he was going. He passed from this earthly tabernacle without any apparent suffering. He fell asleep in Jesus, and of him it may be truly said "he rests from his labors, and his works do follow him." He died at Melbourne, at the house of his son, June 14th 1846 in the 71st year of his age, having been more than 50 years a faithful laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.

In concluding the narrative of the Rev. W. P. Crook it may be added, that he was of a generous disposition, a kind and indulgent father in his family, and an affectionate husband, and having finished his course, he has entered into the joy of his Lord.