OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 May 1943, Page 5

OBITUARY

REV. JOHN LAIRD, M.A. In the passing of the Rev. J. Laird M.A., the Baptist denomination in New Zealand has lost the services of one to whom it owes a very deep debt of gratitude, for w’hole-hearted and faithful service rendered over a long period Jof years. In 1917, while at Spreydon, |Mr Laird accepted a call to the Nelison church, which he served faithfully till 1926. Though of a quiet, studious nature, he made many friends in Nelson. In 1919 he obtained his M.A degree an achievement w’hich, at that time was almost unique among the clergy, in that it was obtained while holding the pastorate of a church. At the close of the last war he took an active interest in the building, and dedication of a pipe organ in the Nelson church, as a memorial to the boys of the Nelson church who fell in the great war. From Nelson he transferred to Mt. Albert church in Auckland. There he became more closely associated with the work of the New Zealand Baptist Union, having been convener of the Literary Committee, and appointed by the Auckland auxiliary as a member of the Board of Introduction and Advice. Perhaps Mr Laird’s most important work, and that which will, indirectly, have borne fruits throughout New ZeaI land was in connection with the Baptist College in Auckland, where young men are trained for the Baptist ministry. and the mission field. For some years he was secretary of the college, of which the Rev. J. J. North. D.D.. is the principal, and of recent years has been one of the tutors in the college. In October. 1940 he took over the pastorate of the North Memorial Churrh at Remuera. and was still there at the time of his death.