THE LATE REV. J. MAXWELL

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14110, 1 August 1911, Page 7

THE LATE REV. J. MAXWELL

IN MBMORIAM SERVICE

At Knox Church on Sunday morning tho Rev. Dr. Erwin preached an in Meniori&m sermon in connection with tho death of the Rev. James Maxwell. He took for his text John xiv.. 1-3. "Let not your heart bo troubled: yo believcth God, believe also in mc." In the Jast portion of the sermon Dr. Enrin spoke of the late Mr Maxwell's work and character. Hβ said that Mr Maxwell had been, closely associated with JKLnox Church congregation since he had resigned his pastoral charge at Mai vera. Tho parish to which he ministered for twonty-tour years was, during bis term,,one of thoso extensive, widely-scattered parishes with many preaching stations, which seemed inevitable in a nowly-sottled country liko New Zealand. But it necessarily entailed much physical fatigue and exposure, driving long distances in all weathers, and the late Mr Maxwell most conscientiously discharged all his duties, never allowing the weather conditions to deter him from keeping his preaching and other appointments. His sympathetic, kindly disposition and deep piety, peculiarly fitted him for ministering comfort to his parishioners in their times of suffering and bereavement, and his ministry on suoh occasions was gratefully remembered by all the older parishioners. Mr Maxwell's character was a peculiarly beautiful one, in which all the gentler graces seemed especially to shine. Hβ was one or those gentle, kindly, forgiving,, unselfish souls who, in departing, left no enemies, and whose memory was like the odour of precioue ointment poured forth. Never, whilo ho was able to walk, was he absent from either service on the Lord's Day, or from the week night and when through growing debility he was forced to relinquish one service, he attended once a feunday till within one or two "weeks of his being confined to bed altogether. In that Tie was & pattern to all. His faith was as simple as that of a little child. God's .providence, as surely as God's word, revealed God's will, end that will ever soemeid to him to bo good. Hence, in a long and trying illness, the last part of which was very painful, not only was he never hearU to murmur, bat ne regarded it as a privilege to be confdrmed in that respect to his Divine Master, who was made perfect through suffering.