DEAIH OF THE OLDEST PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER IN THE WORLD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 142, 16 June 1879, Page 4

DEAIH OF THE OLDEST PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER IN THE WORLD.

The Rev. Dr. logram, Free Church minister of Host, Shetland Isles, died on the 3rd Maroh last, at the patriarchal age of 102 years and 1 1 months, and in the 75ih year of bis ministry — he having been ordained in the 4ih year of the present century. He was known to have been the oldest Presbyterian minister in the world, and a few years ago hia portrait, with a liihographical notice, appeared in one of the Edinburgh religious periodicals. The deceased centenarian was one of a race of men remarkable for longevity, hia grandfather having lived 105 yeare, ajpd bis father 100. This gives an aVerage to each ot them of 102 yeara and eight months, and modern times have cot produced a similar instance of extreme old age, in direct succession io one family. Dr logram was a native of Shetland, and his ministerial labors were especially confined to that group of Islands, where he waa deservedly popular. He held most orthodox evangelical views, and was a rem&rka-

bipear'nest ana searofueg preaobe<\ At tttß lime off r tbe disruption in the Church of Scotland ia 1843, Dr Ingram considered it his duty to join the Free Churchy bufe;he did so with much r regret, abd with undimiuiahed regard for both ministers and people who remained iv the Establishment. Owing to bodily, weakness and infirmity, the venerable man had for raony years been retired froni the world, but was able to perform divine service in his own church once or twice every Sabbalb, till 1875, when he was obliged to desist from preaching. Although desirous oi paying a visit to friends on the mainland of Scotland, yet so great was his concern for the spiritual welfare of his flock, that he felt disinclined to absent himself fro<a his charge, even for the limited period of a fortnight or a month, and during the last 55 years of his life he had not been out of Shetland. Thus h may be eaid that he was "a keeper at home " iv the strictest apoatoiical sense. His son, the Rev. John Ingram, who has been his father's colleague for many years past, and who ia now in the 41afc year of his ministry, succeeds him in the Free incumbency of Uost. It is remaifeable that eighteen lives of the same duration as that of Dr ingram'e, would form a retrospective connection with the firat century.