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Married:
- This was her first marriage and his second marriage.
Residence:
- John Wyburn was an Englishman who came to America to take charge of his brother's business. When his brother died in 1882 John inherited a large share of the business and a generous cash legacy. Three years later, despondent with life, he withdrew his money and began drinking. He ended up in the Bowery of New York City, penniless. A convert of the Water Street mission gave John a referral to Samuel Handley, they superintendent of the mission. John didn't mean to stay at the mission. He planned to hit Handley for a "loan" of $10 and get out of there quickly. Handley invited him to stay for the service, and when that convert stood and gave his testimony of how God delivered him from drunkenness, John surrendered his will to the Lord.
He forgot about going back to his business, instead worked as a clerk at a lodging-house and returned to the mission every night of the week! In 1896 he became superintendent of the Bowery Mission (where he met a pretty young volunteer who later became his wife). Three years later, he returned to Water Street as the assistant to the superintendent. Samuel Handley died in February 1906 and John became the superintendent, serving until his death in 1921. (8)
John served as the Treasurer of the IUGM, with Mrs. Wyburn serving as the secretary, Mrs. Wyburn said after John's death, "On at least three occasions, Mr. Wyburn was approached just before the annual business meeting and urged to accept the nomination for the presidency of this organization. But, he declined, fearing it might take him away too often from his work in Water Street, which always took precedence over everything else." (9)
Mrs. Sara Wray, superintendent of the Eighth Avenue Mission in New York City, spoke of John Wyburn's love for men at his memorial service:
"I shall never forget a convention of Rescue Mission superintendents in a distant city two or three years ago (1918 or 1919) where Mr. Wyburn and other superintendents, myself included, were. We heard eloquent addresses, but there was just one thing that really gripped me .. Just one sentence, uttered with such thrilling effect on my soul ... "we never give a man up", said Mr. Wyburn. Others may weary, other may say it is of no use, others may speak of wasted time and wasted money, but he, never. (He) knew the love and power of the Good Shepherd Himself."
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Reference:
But, Until Seventy time Seven, by Mrs. S. May Wyburn, Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey, 1936, ppp 113-114
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