MINISTER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 17

MINISTER'S DEATH

THE REV. A. J. BECK LONG SERVICE TO CHURCH WORK IN MANY DISTRICTS A ministerial career of 44 years in the Auckland Anglican Diocese was closed yesterday by the death of the Rev. Arthur James Beck, of Gordon Road, Xorthcote. Mr. Bci;k was born in Wellington 70 years ago, his father being the late Mr. John Beck, a well-known timber and shipping merchant. He studied for holy orders at St. John's College, Auckland, and was ordained deacon in 1895 and priest the following year by the late Bishop Cowie. He obtained the diploma of L.Th. in 1911.

After a period as curate at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mr. Beck became vicar of Northern Wairoa in 189 G. His subsequent appointments were to Huntly, 1904; Northcote, 1913; Thames, 1916, and St. Luke's, Mount Albert, 1924. Owing to ill-health ho resigned his charge at Mount Albert in 1930, but later took up relieving work at Eltham, Warkworth, Hauraki Plains, New Lynn, Ellerslie and latterly as acting-vicar of St. Matthew's. Auckland, for two years prior to the appointment of the Rev. G. V. Gerard, now Bishop of Waiapu. As a young man#Mr. Heck was interested in outdoor sports, and was responsible for forming tennis clubs in connection with parishes of which he had charge. He held high office as a Freemason, and served for a considerable period as a chaplain to the Territorial Force. Mr. Beck is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. There are five grandchildren. A funeral service will be held in St Matthew's Church at 3.30 this afternoon.