William BUCKINGHAM

BUCKINGHAM, WILLIAM (b. Yorkshire, England, c. 1854; d. Sydney, NSW, 7 Dec 1928). Proprietor of a large department store, noted for his strict application of Christian principles to business.

Immediately on arriving in Australia at the age of 20 Buckingham engaged in business, first in a partnership in George St, Sydney and then from c.1879 on his own in Darlinghurst. At the time of his death his store had 37 departments and employed 250 people.

It is reported that he was converted under the ministry of Rev F Hibberd, pastor of the Bourke Street Baptist Church, Darlinghurst 1872-79. William Buckingham associated himself with that church, especially in its new building the Burton Street Tabernacle, Darlinghurst. He was a generous supporter of its work until his death. From 1896 to 1901 he was superintendent of the Baptist Union's Mission to Chinese residents in Sydney. In 1901 he called Baptists living nearby to his residence in Petersham for a meeting which resulted in the formation of the Stanmore Baptist Church. For the remaining 27 years of his life he was a vital force in that church. He loved to sing the gospel and was in demand as a soloist and song leader at church celebrations.

His views on how a Christian business man should conduct his affairs were set out in an article 'Religion in Business' (Baptist 1 April 1902, 8) and in a paper read before the Baptist World Congress in London, 1905 and published in Baptist (2 Oct 1905, 9-10). He emphasised the need to observe such Christian virtues as integrity, self-control, and truth in advertising. He believed it was a fallacy that a man cannot be honest in business and succeed. He contended that a Christian business man who is dishonest may have apparent success for a time but God would send leanness into his soul and disaster would overtake him sooner or later. He affirmed that mere money-making is not success, basing this viewpoint on the words of Jesus: 'What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?' (Mark 8:36). A man, he declared, might become as rich as Croesus but he has not succeeded if he has allowed one dishonest practice to obtain. His pastor at Stanmore said that Buckingham regarded himself as a steward of the wealth of God. Buckingham said that giving of one's substance to God's cause shut the door against covetousness. At the head of his invoices he had printed a Scripture text and as a strict sabbatarian he had the blinds drawn over his display windows on Sundays. His employees said that he always tempered justice with mercy.

In his personal life he delighted in Bible study and prayer. For 20 years after daily lunch at the YMCA he retired, usually with a few friends, to a quiet room for prayer. He was concerned for the widest possible preaching of the Christian message. Australian Christian World (14 Dec 1928) stated that he was prominently identified with religious movements of an inter-denominational character and was a leading layman of the Baptist denomination. He was a wise counsellor on many of the committees of the NSW Baptist Union and a generous supporter of its activities and for 15 years treasurer of its missionary committee. His concern for the work in the homeland was expressed in the purchase in both country and metropolitan areas of sites for the building of churches.

Of a retiring disposition he avoided public recognition of his services and donations and it fell to his wife to lay the foundation stones and open the doors of new church buildings which he had generously subsidised.

HUBERT WATKIN-SMITH