The Late Rev. W.S. M'Gowan of Lyttelton.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 893, 30 March 1877, Page 7

The Late Rev. W.S. M'Gowan of Lyttelton.

» At the close of a sermon, which he delivered last Sunday at Leeston, on tbe words of Isaiah, " We all do fade as a leaf," the "Rev J. Cree made the following remarks ; — ** These reflections, my brethren, have been suggested by that solemn dispensation of Divine Providence which, during the past week, has bereft a sorrowing family of their earthly head and guide, the Church of one of its most faithtul and earnest ministers, and myself of a most esteemed friend and fellow worker in the cause of Christ. Alas! he is gone ! And that affectionate voice to which I know, you listened with pleasure and profit at one of our late Communion seasons, will no more, be heard among us. The late William Stewart M'Qowao was

ordained to the ministry in the year 1835, and became settled pastor of a church ia one of the Orkney Islands which are separated from the northern coast of tbe mainland of Scotland by the Pentiand Firth. Here for the long period of 30 years he labored in his Master's service, with much acceptance to the people of his charge, and with profit to the congregations of the neighbouring islands, sometimes in much peril from the treacherous waters which had to be crossed. In 1865 he resigned his charge in that distant part of the world, and with tbe view of finding profitable occupation for his large family, and promoting the spiritual concerns of a country where the harvest was great, but the laborers few, he proceeded to the Colony of New Zealand, and was at once settled in the Hufct, a district at no great distance from Wellington. At the end of five years, and when the resources of youth were no longer at his command, hia health gave way under the incessant strain of mental and physical toil ; and relaxation and change were insisted on as absolutely necessary to his recovery. With this end in view he came as far as Canterbury ; tbe means were graciously blessed of God, aud be gradually recovered the strength and vigor of former days. At that time the Church of Ly'tteltoa was vacant, and had no prospect of a settled minister, and receiving a cordial invitation to become the pastor thereof, he felt it his duty to remain in the place where his impaired health had been so wonderfully restored. The Eev. preacher then referred briefly to the painful circumstances that led to Mr M'Gowan's resignation after a six years* ministry, and gave a very edifying and touching account of his conduct during his long illness of eight m ths and of his last hours, concluding with these words— "Ah! my brethren, 'mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for tbe end of that man is peace.' As you value your own souls and the souls of others, seek to be ' followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.' " — ' Lyttelton Times '