"Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" This text most fittingly applies to the character of Mr John Haslop, life-deacon of Trinity Baptist Church, Port Elizabeth, who rendered 64 years of service in various capacities. Born in London, he came to South Africa as a child in 1889. He spent a lifetime in the service of the wholesale firm of Mosenthals, retiring as Credit Manager at 75 years of age.
He was a true pioneer of Baptist enterprises. He was superintendent at various times of the Sunday schools of Queen Street, Walmer Road and Cape Road. He was treasurer of Queen Street for many years, and of Cape Road for almost 30 years, steering the work through difficult times to stability and strength.
He was deeply interested in denominational affairs and was chairman of the old Pension Fund, being largely responsible for the stability on which the new Pension Fund is now established. He presided over the New Brighton Supervisory Committee which built the church there. In his younger days he was a faithful lay preacher in the Baptist churches of Port Elizabeth, and took the keenest interest in the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
His interests were wide. He played his part in the progress of the Young Mens Christian Association and in the work of the Chinese community in the city. For 21 years he was chairman of the Committee of Management of the Senior Collegiate School for Girls.
Above and beyond all his duties and achievements, however it was his loyalty to Christ combined with great qualities of perseverance in difficulty which marked him as a man whose name will long be remembered in our country. He bore his last two years of increasing pain and restriction with cheerfulness and was mentally alert almost to the last. "Well done, good and faithful servant."
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