VETERAN PRESBYTERIAN

Evening Star, Issue 22879, 10 February 1938, Page 10

VETERAN PRESBYTERIAN

DEATH OF REV. A. GREIG OLDEST MINISTER IK DOMINION The distinction of being the .oldest Presbyterian minister in the Dominion was held by the Rev. Alexander Greig, whose death occurred this morning after an illness. Although confined to his bed, Mr ‘ Greig celebrated his ninetyninth birthday last August at the home of' his daughter, Mrs J. P. Bell, of Bay View road,. St. Kilda. At that time he took a keen interest in the events of the day, and was in the best

of spirits. • The attainment of such an old age was-the subject of great interest and warm- commendation by all his friends, and he was • the• recipient of a congratulatory message from the Dunedin Presbytery.- • The Rev-. Greig was ordained in 1867, his firet- charge being on the Peninsula, ■ which then ■ stretched from Anderson’s Bay to the Heads and was covered with bush. : Along the harbourside it was--settled by men who made their living cutting- and felling firewood. Many had previously been diggers. and they were-of different nationalities, but-held religious beliefs. They were content to -rally round the minister, who had -the selected number of nominal followers. The call to Mr Greig was issued by persons of 10 different nationalities. There was then no church building or manse in existence, and no communion roll had been made up. Mr Greig conducted the first meetings in private, houses, his charge extending to the Kaik. His first homo was an. 11-roomed dwelling that was formerly Christie’s Hotel,' the tenancy being obtained - through influential friends. His throe children were born on the Peninsula, and'Mrs Greig died in 1917. Th-e .eldest son, Mr David 11. Greig, is a retired school teacher residing at Invercargill, while the second son. Mr Alexander Greig. js also a retired teacher residing at Napier, Airs Bell was the. only daughter. He is also survived by. several' grandchildren and great-grandchildreiu-, ...