“He was an acknowledged and unrivalled master in the interpretation of prophecy, and intensely practical withal.”

“Goodhart was no ordinary man — he dominated the Committee and ruled the missionaries with a rod of iron. Yet they all appeared to like it! For he not only thus magnified his office, but also made it honourable.” [Gidney]

I have been unable to find a photo of Rev. Charles J. Goodhart (does anyone have one?) but his character speaks for itself from the pages of Gidney’s History of CMJ:

(p273) On May 28th, 1892, the Rev. C. J. Goodhart, Honorary Secretary, passed away at the advanced age of 88, after a connexion, unofficial and official, with the Society of fifty-three years. He spoke at the 30th Anniversary in 1839 and again in 1841, and had as his fellow speakers, Edward Bickersteth, Dr. Marsh, T. S. Grimshawe, Sir George Rose, Longley Bishop of Ripon, Lord Ashley, Haldane Stewart, and Fremantle. Goodhart spoke again in 1 848 and 1 872. He preached the Annual Sermon in 1853 and again in 1869, and took part in the Anniversary of 1887 ; nearly fifty years after his first appearance!

We have already spoken of Mr. Goodhart, both at the time of his appointment and of his resignation of the post of secretary, which he held from 1853 to 1858: and would now add that he brought to the work an ardent zeal for the cause, a rare and extensive knowledge of the subject, a wonderful business aptitude, and a burning eloquence in pulpit and on platform. He was an acknowledged and unrivalled master in the interpretation of prophecy, and intensely practical withal. For twenty-three years, as honorary secretary, he gave the Society the benefit of his wise counsel and ripe experience, though he was unable to take a very active interest in its affairs, owing to increasing years. Ordained in the year 1827, his was indeed a long and useful life ; and he passed away ” as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.”

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for this distinguished and significant servant of yours, and of the London Society, whose gifts and ministry are recorded by Gidney. Help us to live lives that are similarly worthy of praise, and to your glory. In Yeshua’s name we pray. Amen.

References in Gidney

1. J. Goodhart, then minister of St Mary’s Episcopal Chapel, Reading, 1840

The Rev. C. J. Goodhart made his “maiden” speech for the Society in Exeter Hall, 1839

145 the Rev. Charles J. Goodhart, incumbent of Park Chapel, Chelsea, was appointed Secretary. He was certainly one of the most capable of the men who have held this office. Formerly a scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, and 22nd Wrangler, he was now a well-known Evangelical clergyman. He had just preached the Anniversary Sermon, but his labours had long been devoted to the Society, and his appointment was most acceptable to the friends of Israel and of the Society throughout the country. 1853

154/1853 At the conclusion of the war strenuous efforts were made to have the prohibition removed, and in 1857 a deputation consisting of the Earl of Shaftesbury, Dr. McCaul, the Revs. J. C. Reichardt, and C. J. Goodhart waited upon the Russian Ambassador in London, who referred the matter to H. I. M. the Emperor. After a delay of half a year an unfavourable reply was received, and Russian Poland remained closed to the Society for 20 years.

(1858) The Secretary, the Rev. C. J. Goodhart, read an address to the Committee on the occasion of the Jubilee from the Westphalian Jews’ Society.

(1858) The Jubilee was also widely celebrated in the Provinces. At Norwich, on the 8th of March, a sermon was preached in St. Stephen’s Church, by Goodhart, and the next morning a sermon was preached by the Bishop of Norwich in St. Peter Mancroft. On Wednesday a juvenile meeting was held in St Andrew’s Hall, 2,000 persons, principally children, being present; and on Thursday, Sir Samuel Rignold presided at a tea in the same hall, followed by a large meeting. Norwich has ever been famous for its enthusiasm for the Society. Jubilee meetings were held at Darlington, addressed by the Rev. T. Minton; at Derby, addressed by the Rev. J. Cohen and the Jubilee Secretary ; at York, addressed by Hugh McNeile, who also preached in one of the city churches. At Cambridge a very full attendance of University men was secured, the Society being represented by W. Cadman, T. R. Birks and Goodhart.

(1858) The Revs. A. M. Myers, and Dr. Fry of Hobart Town, made excellent speeches, and with prayer by Goodhart, the Jubilee commemorations came to an end.

(179) The Rev. C. J. Goodhart, who had been Secretary from 1853, resigned his position toward the close of 1868, on his acceptance of the living of Wetherden in Suffolk, and was appointed Honorary Secretary. During his tenure of office he had also held the incumbency of Park Chapel, Chelsea; the double duties not then being thought beyond the power of one man to discharge, as they most certainly are at the present day. But Goodhart was no ordinary man — he dominated the Committee and ruled the missionaries with a rod of iron. Yet they all appeared to like it! For he not only thus magnified his office, but also made it honourable. And, which was more to the purpose, he magnified the cause, and increased its popularity, especially amongst that class who were more interested in the Jewish question than in the actual work of the Society, and who held the same prophetical views as himself. These he was never tired of advocating, nor his hearers of hearing. What Sydney Smith said of Bishop Blomfield of London, might ceteris mutandis be said of Goodhart. Sydney Smith said Blomfield was ” the Church of England here upon earth,” and ” when the Church of England is mentioned, it only means Charles James London.”* So in the same emphatic way Goodhart was the Society, and the Society for the time being was Goodhart. His acquaintance with its actual work was not so circumstantial or extensive as that possessed by his predecessor, William Ayerst, which was gained in the mission field itself; but Goodhart had a more marked personality which impressed every one with whom he came into contact. Both these men were very highly esteemed and honoured for their work’s sake. Goodhart was succeeded from January 1st, 1869, by the Rev. C. H. Banning.

Sermons

The lawfulness of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister examined by scripture in a letter to a friend by C. J Goodhart( )
10 editions published between 1848 and 1849 in English and held by 449 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The lawfulness of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister : examined by scripture in a letter to a friend by C. J Goodhart( )
2 editions published in 1849 in English and held by 26 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Coming events and the coming king by C. J Goodhart( Book )
in English and held by 5 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Abraham and his seed : a sermon preached at the Episcopal Jews’ Chapel, Palestine Place, Bethnal Green, on Thursday, May 5, 1853, before the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews by C. J Goodhart( Book )
2 editions published in 1853 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The Book of Family Prayer … By clergymen of the United Church of England and Ireland. With an introductory essay on family worship by the Rev. Charles Bridges … Edited by the Rev. C.J. Goodhart … and the Rev. C. Holloway by C. J Goodhart( Book )
3 editions published in 1844 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Trinitarian Bible Society : speech by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1853 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

“Safe for Ever.” Reminiscences of the life of … A. S. Godfrey. By his Mother [Mrs. N. S. G. With an introduction by C. J. Goodhart] by N. S Godfrey( Book )
1 edition published in 1869 in Undetermined and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Glimpses of grace and glory: a sermon by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1859 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

What a man soweth he must reap. A sermon [on Gal. vi. 7] preached at the special services at Exeter Hall …, September 19, 1858 by C. J Goodhart( Book )
2 editions published in 1858 in Undetermined and English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

“Only in the Lord,” or, Christian marriage by Julia Puddicombe( Book )
1 edition published in 1846 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The errors of ritualism have their source in the unregenerate human heart by C. J Goodhart( Book )
2 editions published between 1923 and 1924 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Our Missions: being a history of the principal missionary transactions of the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews from its foundation in 1809, to the present year. With an introduction by … C. J. Goodhart, etc by Thomas D HALSTED( Book )
1 edition published in 1866 in Undetermined and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Parting Words to a Beloved Flock: being the substance of two sermons [on 1 John ii. 28 & Heb. xiii. 8] preached at Park Chapel, Chelsea, on Dec. 6, 1868 by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1869 in Undetermined and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The Book of family prayer; comprising a course of original prayers for every morning and evening in the year, arranged in the order of the ecclesiastical year, according to the Book of Common Prayer. To which are added, prayers adapted to the festivals of the Church, and to the varying circumstances of the family; with others for special occasions ( Book )
2 editions published between 1844 and 1845 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

On moissonnera ce qu’on aura semé, sermon prêché à Exeter-Hall, le 19 septembre 1858 … Traduit de l’anglais par R. Cassignard by C. J Goodhart( )
in Undetermined and French and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

What a man soweth he must reap : a sermon preached at the special services at Exeter Hall, on Sunday evening, September 19, 1858 by C. J Goodhart( Book )

1 edition published in 1858 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Glimpses of Grace and Glory. Sermons by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1859 in Undetermined and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Readiness for the Lord’s Coming; as exemplified in the life and death of A.M. Lodge … A funeral sermon [on Matt. xxiv. 44] … Second edition by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1858 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

“Only in the Lord”: or, Christian Marriage. With an introduction by C.J. Goodhart by Julia Puddicombe( Book )
1 edition published in 1846 in English and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Christian Association for the dissemination of the Scriptures, only restricted by essential truth. A sermon [on John v. 20-21] preached … May 20, 1844 … on behalf of the Trinitarian Bible Society by C. J Goodhart( Book )
1 edition published in 1844 in Undetermined and held by 2 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

http://archive.churchsociety.org/publications/tracts/CAT042_Goodhart.pdf

THE ERRORS OF RITUALISM HAVE THEIR SOURCE IN THE UNREGENERATE HUMAN HEART Church Association Tract 42