William F. EDWARDS, who was born at Stellenbosch, Cape Colony, April 13th, 1839.He received a sound education in the Public School of that town, and under the gracious influence of his home grew up in the knowledge and fear of God. He became a Local Preacher in early youth, and rendered valuable assistance to his father, the late Rev. Edward EDWARDS.

He was accepted as a Probationer in the year 1865, and commenced his ministry in his native town. With the exception of two years spent in the Colesberg Circuit, his ministerial life was devoted to the Dutch-speaking coloured people of the Western Province of the Cape Colony. He laboured in the Cape Town Dutch Circuit three years, in the Robertson Dutch Circuit twenty-two years, and in the Stellenbosch Dutch Circuit seventeen years. He was greatly revered and beloved, not only by the people of his congregation, but by English and Dutch residence of the localities in which he laboured. He had unique qualifications for the work unto which he was called, and had a thorough knowledge of the language, character and habits of the people.

He was a man of sound judgement and of deep piety, who adorned the doctrine of our Saviour by integrity of life and conduct. He was a great reader, a diligent student, especially of theology, and as a preacher he excelled in exposition and application of the truth. His preaching was eloquent and powerful, and was often accompanied by the rich unction of the Spirit. As a pastor he was indeffatigable and self-sacrificing, and as a social worker he earned the gratitude of the community for his unwearied efforts in the cause of temperance and purity. A brief visit to England in 1875 resulted in partial relief from a distressing malady, but from that date he had frequently been prostrated with intense agony, which he bore with exemplary fortitude. He took an active part in the proceedings of the Synod in the month of February, and returned to his home full of enthusiasm and hope. Soon after he reached home he was laid aside by severe illness, and after eighteen days of acute suffering he entered into rest in the room in which he was born, and finished his life and ministry on the 3rd of March, 1901.

From: Minutes of Wesleyan Methodist Conference 1901