James Beath NICHOLSON

NICHOLSON, JAMES BEATH (b. Stirling, Scotland, 10 Mar 1863; d. Sydney, NSW, 4 April 1954). Brethren businessman, evangelical strategist, philanthropist.

J B Nicholson grew up in a Scottish Presbyterian family. He became a partner in the London engineering firm Richard Waygood & Co and was sent to resolve management problems in the firm's Melbourne branch in 1889. On his return his recommendation to close that office was ignored; in 1891 Nicholson took over the struggling Melbourne branch in exchange for his London partnership.

Having married his cousin Ethel Beath, a member of a Melbourne Brethren assembly, he moved to Sydney. In 1909 his company and another merged to form Standard-Waygood Ltd, which became renowned as lift manufacturers. Nicholson and his wife became involved in the Brethren assembly at Burwood. Though not a regular public speaker Nicholson gave positive, refreshing messages at his assembly. Nicholson's overwhelming interest shared with most Brethren, was bible-centred work. He made bibles available to great numbers of people, often in unusual ways: he gave copies of the Knox translation of the NT to every Roman Catholic convent and to every priest in NSW; assisted the Scripture Gift Mission; and subsidised the sale of the Scofield bible, with its strong premillennial emphasis. He was one of the first in Australia to see the benefit of using cartoons to communicate the bible's message to children. He also generously subsidised the sale of T C Hammond's (q.v.) In Understanding Be Men.

Nicholson's support for overseas missionary work was generous, but anonymous. He maintained a lifelong interest in CIM. He was also chairman of the Sydney City Mission and a vice-president of the (London) BFBS from 1917, actively involved in BFBS work in Sydney. In 1932 the Australian Scripture Union committee included Nicholson's wife Ethel, daughter Mary and daughter-in-law Elinor. Nicholson paid Vincent Craven's salary as he commenced his 14 years as SU general secretary, providing a car and paying associated expenses.

Nicholson, a big man, was often abrupt, gruff and unapproachable. Yet once as they walked together to his front door, he put his arm around Vincent Craven, looked him in they eye and said: 'Vincent, I'd give everything I possess if I could lead a boy to Christ'. In his support for Craven, Nicholson displayed a typical Brethren attitude of encouragement to young men of promise.

The wider evangelical work was of great importance to Nicholson. Having failed to persuade British IVF General Secretary, Douglas Johnson, to work in Australia he turned his attention to Howard Guinness (q.v.), inviting him to Australia to work among university students, paying his fare to Australia and giving him support; in doing so he made an enormous long-term contribution to Australian evangelicalism.

Abp Howard Mowll (q.v.) was among Nicholson's close friends. Undoubtedly many of Mowll's own visions profited from Nicholson's generosity. More importantly Nicholson was an evangelical whose advice Mowll often sought. It is reputed that Nicholson's home was the only one in Sydney where Mowll was addressed as 'Howard' rather than 'Your Grace'. Unofficial meetings were held in the Nicholson home to which Mowll and Nicholson personally invited evangelical leaders from many denominations. These meetings, aimed at promoting informal fellowship between Sydney's evangelical leaders, were referred to ironically as for 'Exclusive Brethren'. Nicholson's funeral service was led by Archbishop Mowll, T C Hammond (q.v.), and the Rev Hugh Paton (q.v.) (Presbyterian), the Rev R Leghorn (Baptist) and J Amos (Brethren) conducted the graveside service: this array emphasised the significance of Nicholson's impact as an evangelical strategist in Australia. Having provided for his wife and children, Nicholson died with little wealth, for his aim was to 'lay up treasure in heaven'.

New Life 8 April 1954; Tape from W Vincent Craven May 1990 (CSAC); Interview with P Nicholson and Mrs S Knox 25 Sept 1990 (CSAC); Joy Parker, A Vision of Eagles (Sydney, 1980); Scripture Union Minutes, 1930s

MARGARET YARWOOD LAMB