REV. G. LINDSAY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20957, 11 September 1933, Page 8

REV. G. LINDSAY

- - "■■■■ MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. NINIAN'S TRIBUTES BY REV. J. A. ALLAN A memorial service to the Rev. George Lindsay, who since his retirement from the Presbyterian ministry until his death at the end of last month was an cider of St. Ninian's Presbyterian Church, was conducted in tho church yesterday morning by the Rev. J. A. Allan. The lessons were read by the Rev. J. Swanston Reld, who had known Mr Lindsay for more than 60 years, and who paid a brief tribute to his fine character and devoted work. Mr Allan took as his text, "The spirits of just men made perfect." "Will the life hereafter involve a long process of development of character in a period of discipline and purification?" said Mr Watson. "The idea may have attractions for some, but the teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith, based on Scripture, gives us a grander and lovelier thought of death: 'The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heaven, when they behold the face of God in light and glory.' This doctrine is not hard to believe when we think of the just man whose memory we are honouring to-day. The process of perfecting had already gone so far in his case, he was already so 7 selfless, so devoted, so fllled with love to God and man that surely only a little remained to make him perfect in holiness." A Saintly Man. After sketching Mr Lindsay's career in the ministry, mentioning especially the success of his 23 years of work in St. Paul's Church, Invercargill, the preacher dwelt on his long remembered preaching, and his devoted pastoral work. "Of his character," he said, "what moi-e need be said save that all who knew him would agree thai he was one of the few men of our acquaintance to whom we would apply the word 'saintly.' Both those who knew him in the vigour of his manhood, and those who knew him only in his gracious old age, will remember him with reverence. Lessons from Life. "Let us take three lessons from this

life," continued Mr Allan. "First, remember his devotion and loyalty to the Church of Jesus Christ. How he loved the Church! It was one of the griefs of his old age that owing to his increasing frailty he was no longer able to attend public worship Sunday by Sunday. Men like this keep the church alive. Again, learn from him what Christ can do for n man's life. When a life is opened lo all the influences of Christ working through Scripture, prayer, and obedience, Christ can make a life very beautiful. Third, see what strength comes from peace. We all wondered after at Mr Lindsay's serenity of spirit, the unruffled calm of a heart fixed on eternal things. We know now, from what we have seen in this venerable man's life, that there is indeed a love of God which passeth all understanding that can keep a man's heart and mind in the knowledge and love o£ God."