IN MEMORIAM SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 11

IN MEMORIAM SERVICE

THE LATE REV. P. B. FRASER An in memoriam sermon to the late Rev. P. B. Fraser was preached in St. Stephen's Church on Sunday last by the Rev. Thomas Miller. Taking as his text " I have fought a good fight . . . henceforth there is laid up for me a crown" (2 Tim. iv, 7-8). Mr Miller said: "One of the sublimest features of the Church of the first century was the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Having set his hand to the plough, he went straight forward through perils and trials of every conceivable kind. The failure of others served only to enhance his own unswerving faithfulness: he held 'we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better.' A prisoner in the Mamerttne Prison in Rome, he now knows that the end is approaching, and in this epistle his last act is to hand the torch of the Gospel, which he had borne aloft so long and faithfully, to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. As he does so, he looks back, and in the language, not of self-praise, but of truth, and gratitude to God. he says, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.' Having viewed the retrospect he turns to the prospect before him, and says, ' Henceforth ... for me ... a crown.' "In the words of our text we have in many ways an epitome of the life and service of the Rev. Philadelphus Bain Fraser. Through all the changes of theological vagary he held steadily on his way. Many years ago he inscribed in a young woman's autograph album the fine words of Faley, ' It is true fortitude of the understanding not to let what you know be disturbed by what you do not know.' Underneath he wrote, ' I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded.' Two days before he passed away he quoted to me the words, ' Time can't undo what once was true.' " Born in Lerwick. Shetland, he was the youngest son of the Rev. Daniel Fraser, who ' came out' in the Disruption. When he was 10 years of age, his father became minister of Kildonan, on the mainland, and Mr Fraser often remarked that when a boy he sat behind Mr Gladstone when that great statesman attended the service In his father's church. A student and master of arts of Aberdeen University, he came out to New Zealand in 1885, and followed the teaching profession at Waitahuna and Waiareka. At the latter place he came under the impressive influence of Dr James MacGregor, who for some years had followed William Cunningham as professor of systematic theology in the central chair of the Certtral College oi Scotland. This contact with Dr MacGregor seems to have given to Mr Fraser that bent for systematic theology which distinguished him for the rest of his life. Without entering a theological college he was ordained to the ministry, and after having charge of Dunback, he was called in 1897 to Lovell's Flat, where in many ways he had a remarkable ministry, remaining till 1911. He had a fruitful ministry of 12 years in Hokitika, whence he retired to Dunedin, attending St Stephen's Church, of which he became an elder.

As a scholar Mr Fraser had an unquenchable thirst for truth, and therefore for the books wherein he found it. The mural tablet in Knox College Chapel, which commemorates the late Professor William Salmond, contains words supplied by his son, the late Judge Salmond. descriptive of his father as 'an eager student all his days.' No words could be more true when applied to Mr Fraser. He had one of the largest private libraries in this country, and, along its own lines, one of the best. About the year 1912 he published his ' Brief Statement of the Reformed Faith," which, in its first edition was a masterpiece of lucidity, compression and comprehension, and also in the nobility and grace of its diction. Into this he had brought the fine essence of almost a lifetime's study, and his own soul.

"This and other services brought the moderator's chair within Mr Fraser's reach for two or three years, but he declined it. There was also an influential movement to place him in the chair of systematic theology, but he held back Doubtless this and other services which he rendered to the church led the Assembly to make him our first superintendent of home missions. "Mr Fraser was a true minister of Jesus Christ our Lord. The Presbyterian ministry, with its life-call, can be a very exacting calling for head, heels, and heart. C. H. Spurgeon said that a man who can successfully minister to the same people over a number of years is capable of anything. This Mr Fraser did and of waning influence there was no evidence. Through his ministries, and after they were closed, he carried with him the unstinted affection, esteem, and confidence of his people. , "About the year 1901 Dr Torrev held a remarkable mission in Duuedin, when, according to the late Dr Rutherford Waddell, the city was moved as never before. After these meetings Mr Fraser returned to his charge at Lovell's Flat, which in its turn was bedewed with revival. To the Assembly, which met about the same time, there came a telegram from him which opened the eyes of people to a new vista in his nature. In it he regretted his absence, owing to his having a revival in his church.

" We knew Mr Fraser for many years as a voluminous and indefatigable writer, the output of whose pen was amazing. Besides his 'Brief Statement,' he wrote pamphlets on church union and baptism, and for 26 years he was both proprietor and editor of the Biblical Recorder, a monthly magazine which was always Informative and trenchant, but never commonplace. Much of his writing was controversial. I. know of no great leader of the Christian Church throughout all the ages who was not a controversialist, and in this statement I include the prophets of Israel, John the Baptist, Our Lord Himself, His Apostles, and especially the Apostle Paul, the post-apostolic fathers, especially Augustine, the Reformers, the Wesleys, the Disruption leaders, C. H. Spurgeon and the Rev. P. B. Fraser. Most men are enthusiasts for their own interests; Mr Fraser was ever an enthusiast for interests other than his own.

" Finally, Mr Fraser was a devout Christian believer. Of him, we could say what Lord Salisbury said of Gladstone—that he was ' a great Christian.' When a youthful student of 14 in Aberdeen, h«a bought his first Greek Testament; and this remained his constant companion until, in his eightieth year, he passed to his reward. "I have said nothing of the fine work he did after his retirement in establishing the Christian Service Library, by which he sent to Christian workers throughout the Dominion the best and most recent books.

"Among the many spontaneous message:? which came to his home on the news of his death was one from four telegraph boys in the North Dunedin Post Office, and one from each ward of the Dunedin Hospital, where he had been a daily visitor. He is buried beside his first wife in the Fcilding Cemetery. Over tier grave he had placed the beautiful Latin inscription, 'ln Christo vixiresurgam '—' In Christ I have lived; I shall rise again,' and this now stands over his own restingplace."