OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2539, 12 November 1902, Page 48

OBITUARY.

DR JAMES COPLAND

We regret to have to announce the death of Dr James Copland, who passed away at Gore on Sunday afternoon after a brief 111nees. The deceased gentleman was born, in Edinburgh in 1837,; and wa* educated first at the high school of his native city mnd subsequently at the Universities of •Edinburgh, Berlin, Heidelberg, and Aberdeen, and in the; Theological Hall of the United Presbyterian Church, in connection with which he became a. licensed preacher in 1858. Four years previously he had taken the degree of M.A. at Edinburgh University, and in 1858 he received from the University of Heidelberg the degree of "Ph.D." and in 186* from that of Aberdeen thW degree of M.D. His intention had been. Proceed to China ac a medical missionary, it was while he .was awaiting an appointment to the mission field that he dtme to New Zealand in 1864. Deciding to '.remain in the colony, he was received by .it© Presbytery of Dunediu — then the Bupreme court of the Presbyterian Church. ,ln the provincial district, — and- in May, 11865, he was called to the pastoral charge t>f the Lawrence church, thu3 becoming the first settled minister in the Otago goldfields. fFhexe he laboured assiduously for over six yean, making available his medical attainanents as well as performing his ministerial 'duties, and in the rough pioneering work (which fell to' his lot, and which he undertook in that spirit of loyalty and selfsacrifice that marked the labours of all the •arly ministers, he rendered inestimable •ervice to the church he represented and feo the cause of religion. To his ability mnd literary enterprise while he was at fjawrence the Presbyterian Church owed its first organ — the 'Evangelist, — which he continued to edit until 1874, when it became merged in the Presbyterian. Before this 'change eventuated he had accepted' a call ]to a town charge, for in 1871 he was inducted to the pastorate of the North flDunedin congregation, which was then torganiaed for the first time. For 10 years lie retained his ministerial connection with ■hat church, but in 1881 he resigned hia toh'arge with the view of devoting himself to ■he practice of medicine. A few years later he removed to Gore, where he resided lever since. The calls made upon a country practitioner involved him repeatedly in exposure by night as well as day, for hours lit a time, to the severest weather; but he never flinched from what, in obedience to «he highest traditions of his profession, he Jregarded a« his duty. He made time, however, in the intervals of his practice, to identify himself very intimately with the conduct of. public affairs in the district. JEIe occupied for some time a scat in the -Borough Council, and was the Mayor of Gore for one term. He was also a member of the Southland Charitable Aid Board for ■ome time. During the late war he took a most prominent part in the patriotio movement in the Gore distract. But his chief interest was in educational and religious matters. He was for years a member of the Gore School Committee, and be was at the t time of his death a member of the- Southland Education Board. From Ith© time of the formation of the Mataura Presbytery until its last meeting, when his resignation was handed in, he was its clerk. He was deeply attached to the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, and was never absent from its annual meetings. For years he was the convener of the Bible-in-Sohools -Committee, and for a time also he held the conveners-hip of the Mission Committee. Throughout his life he was a frequent contributor to J\e columns of the press, and almost up to the very last was his pen trencliantly employed. He was twice married. Of the first marriage there were six children, of whom four — the eldest being Dr G. A. Copland, of Gore, — with his second wife, survive him.

Our Oam«ru correspondent telegraphs: — ** The sudden death occurred here on Saturday, under sad circumstances, of Mr M. O. Nevanas, organist of Sr. Luke's (Anglican) .Church. He had been in 'delicate health for some time, and on Saturday morning "was attacked with hemorrhage of the lunes, near the show grounds, and died on the street before anything could be done. He •had lately Vcn in the Flagstaff Sanatorium, near Diinedin, and had been temr>orarily benefited. As an organist he had considerable abilities, end for a short time was 6iisJ*tanr-or<>r&'nist at the Liverpool Town Hall, of which town lie was a native. He tad been tattled in Ouauu foe hi* health

for four years, and his death came as a painful shock to the community. He had an organ recital in preparation at the time of his death. The funeral this afternoon, was a large one, deceased being very popular."