DEATH OF IAN MACLAREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 8 May 1907, Page 7

DEATH OF IAN MACLAREN.

By Telegraph.—rrese Association.—Copyright.

(Received May 8, 1.14 a.m.) " '" ' New York, May 7. Dr. Watson, better known as lan MacLaren, has died at Mount Pleasant, lowa, of blood-poisoning, following tonsilitis. ' , .7/

Dr. Watson, whoso pen name Was "lan MacLaren," was one of the foremost of popular writers of the day. It is not very long—only .*: about a - dozen yearssince he leapt into sudden popularity with his delightful book, "<:'■ Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush." This was followed by "The Days' of ". Auld Lang Syne," "Kate Carnegie and .Those Ministers," '.' A Doctor of the Old School," and a number of other charming stories. In addition to this class of writing, however, he turned out a great quantity of literature of .' a different ? class, including such books as "The Life of 'the Master,' ; " The " Homely ' Virtues," \ and "The Inspiration of Faith," the, last-named having been written in"1905. ; Born at Manningtree, Essex, on November 3, 1850, Dr. Watson was the eldest son of tho late John Watson, of H.M. Civil Service. He 1 was educated at Stirling Grammar School, subsequently proceeding to Edinburgh University—where he graduated M.A.—New College,- and Tabingen, in. Germany. He was licensed by the Free Church of Sootland, in 1874, and was appointed assistant to the Rev. Dr. Wilson, of Barclay Church, Edinburgh. In the following year he was ordained minister of Logiealmond Free Church, and two years later went to Free St. Matthew's, Glasgow. 'He was Lyman Beecher locture-r at; Yale University inf 1896. ■In 1900 Dr. Watson, who had then become famous as a writer of many books, was appointed Moderator of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of England. From 1880 to 1905. just a-quarter of. a century, he was minister of Sefton Park Presbyterian Church, Liverpool. 'Dr. Watson was .a devoted follower of golf. . v