DEATH OF REV. D. BORRIE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 38

DEATH OF REV. D. BORRIE.

The Rev. David Borrie, one of the bestknown and most-respected ministers of the Presbyterian Church in Otago, died on the Ifith 'at his residence, Maori Hill. He had been in failing health lor some little time, and some days ago his condition became critical. Mr Borrie, who was in his’sixty-sixth year, had a long and honourable record in the service 'of the Church, and his death will bo deplored by a verv large number of friends. Sir Borrie was a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and up to tho age of nine years was brought up in and near Dunkeld. Ho ' - arrived in New Zealand with, other members of his family in 1857, and his father bought a, farm in West Taieri, where the family made their home for several years. Mr Borrie was educated at West Taieri, While working on his father’s farm ho turned his attention to the ministry, and, under the advice of the Rev. William Gillies, he entered aa a student in 1871 the then newly-founded University of Otago; and after .having passed with credit through tho curriculum or arts and through tho further course of theological studies in' the Dunedin Theological Hall, he was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1876. He was the first student of the Church to take the regular course at both the University and the Theological Hall, and had. tho whole machinery of the hall to himself alone —- two professors, a Theological Committee, and a Presbytery. In 1877 Mr Borrie was : ordained as a minister, and was inducted I ina the charge of Waihola, when© he ! laboured until 1881, when he was compelled i through ill-health to resign, and to pay a ! visit to tho Old Country. He returned to I Now Zealand at the end of two years, > greatly benefited in health, and in \ 1884- he was inducted into the then newly formed suburban. charge of North-HJast Valley, where he discharged his ministerial duties with much acceptance for over 21 years. At tho end of 1905 Mr Borrie, acting reluctantly on the recommendation of his medical adviser's, resigned his pastorate, much to the regret of his congregation,. and retired practically into private life. In connection with general church work Mr Borrie never spared himself, \ and as a member of Presbytery and of 1 Synod he threw himself with characteristic i ardour into the work of ohurch extension. 1 The Rev. A. B. Todd, writing of Mr Borrie’s efforts in this field of church work, | said: “Members of the Otago Synod in oldeh days will recall how Dr Stuart, as convener of tho Church Extension Committee, held his hearers spellbound when giving in his annual report. With Oeltio fire and in graphic language, h© described whole ‘ swatches ’ of country .remaining to be possessed, and depicted' the spiritual needs of the people, almost wholly Presbyterian. It was no easy matter to follow such a veteran in the work he had made peculiarly his own, but Dr Borrie worthily maintained the best traditions of tho office. In IEB6 he was associated with Dr Stuart in tho work as secretary of the committee; in the following year became joint—that is, waking—convener; and after Dr Stuart’s death in 1894 h& became solo convener. Intimate knowledge of every charge under the committee, and of every agent employed, practical sympathy with both their trials amd triumphs, unwearied and ungrudging labours, and wise end careful administration of affairs, marked his occupancy of this office, and tho whole Church is his debtor.” Ln 1995 Mr Borrie was appointed Moderator of the Presbyterian • General Assembly, and presided over the deliberations of that body at the sittings held that year in Auckland. Mr Borrio was a good specimen of the p&rfervidum ingenium Sootorura—a man of deeply earnest spirit and enthusiastic nature, and ; combined with this the qualities of sagacity j and prudence. As a preacher he was evan- { golioal and practical, and was of a hopeful ! and cheerful disposition, and had a fund of humour, and it was characteristic of him that in debate, while he sometimes poked a little fun at his opponents, his differences of opinion never left a sting behind them. He was appointed Moderator of tho Synod of Otago and Southland in 1894. PULPIT REFERENCES. Reference was made to the life and work of the late Rev. D. Borrio in several of the city and suburban churches on Sunday, In the Town Hall at North-East Valley the Rev. Dr Watt conducted a memorial service, the attendance being large. He took for his text the words, “ I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith,” and applied this appropriate verse of Scripture to the life of the late Mr Borrio. >

Mr J. Lawson Robinson, who occupied the pulpit in First Church, made sympathetic reference to the deceased gentleman, - and stated that his death left a palpable gap in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church which oould not easily be filled. Tile speaker referred to Mr Borrie’s connection with the North-East Valley parish, where the greater part of his life’s work had been performed. He ako referred to his high character and fine qualities and to his patient and kindly nature, which endeared him to a wide circle of friends. At the conclusion of the services the organist played the “ Dead March.” The Rev. R, E. Davies, minister of Knox Chinch, said that there wore two reasons why _ that church should remember Mr Borrie. First because he had been a recognised leader of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, and secondly because he hud been intimately connected with their congregation in its early days. Mr Borrio had spent most of his labour in the NorthEast Valley, and it was there that Iris memory would bo longest perpetuated. In addition to tho high station he held in the church, he occupied a prominent position in regard to home missions. At tho Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church tho Rev. Alexander Whyte, preaching from Genesis 5-24 (“Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him ”), made reference to the death of the late Sir Borrie. He said: P we raised . the pilgrim psalm on tho sandhills over the eca. We sang >0 God' of Bethel ’ almost within sight of the spot where the Otago - . - ■■ A ■■. ■y" ' . A

mrmg’vnts first sang it at the grave of an Otago lather. We mourn to-day a prince m Otago and of its Church. Himself a pioneer, son of one of the early Taieri - lers he threw his great strength into the battle with the land. That over, ho heard the call of the Gospel, and became the first Presbvtcrian divinity student in the Dominion, g . f(g and uniqise experience fitted' him t-o become in later years, in succession to Dr Stuart, the real bishop of Otago. He preached and guided churches cverywhere> aK<l waa & father to the colj 0(ro j-[j 9 pulpit work culminated: in the office of Moderator of the General Assembly. None that heard him preside at Auckland can forget his address on the opening night on the Christian workers involved in infant baptism and on the John Knox Centenary, on the work of the Scottish St. Paul. Indeed, he had many of John Knox’s qualities, the venerable and masterful bearing. the vigour of thought and voice and action, the well of sympathy undefiled. For five years, in succession to Dr Sidey, ho acted as clerk to the Assembly, _ directing the business of the Church. He is cut off in the fullness of his influence. Ho was not. God took him. May God grant the Church a succession of such apostles, that by them He may save His people and bless His heritage, and govern them and lift Him up for over

The funeral, which took place on Saturday afternoon, was very largely attended The Dunedin Presbytery was fully represented, and there wore also present representatives from churches of other denominations and many prominent citizens, while a number of ministers had come to Dunedin from the country districts. An impressive funeral service was held at Knox Church by the Rev. R. E. Davies, the Rav. Mr Lindsay. and the Rev. Dr W att, after which a long cortege followed the body to the place of interment in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rot. R. E. Davies, Rev. W. J. Comric {clerk of the Presbyterian Assembly), and the Rev. Dr Waddell.