DEATH OF DR GILRAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3439, 10 February 1920, Page 53

DEATH OF DR GILRAY.

AN APPRECIATION.

By Peofessob G. E. Thompson,

Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Charity suffertth long, and is kind; charity eur vietli not; charity vuunteth not itseli, is not puffed up .

These were the words Professor Gilray was reading when his tragic end came. His last utterance on earth was, "Charity thinketh no evil," and then the call cam© to a higher life. As he entered the church, his last words of conversation were, " X am very glad to have the opportunity of reading this chapter: I think it is the most beautiful passage in the Bible." Wo are face to face with one of God's mysterious coincidences, which the thoughtless misname "chance." No text in the Scriptures more fittingly portrays the spirit that formed the guiding star of his whole life. Charity, kindliness, tolerance, warmth of feeling were in him personified to a raro degree. And thousands of his past students have often paid tribute to the gentleness and patient courtesy with which he treated all those with whom he came in contact. Probably no professor in Otago University since its foundation has enjoyed a wider degree the affection of students who havo passed through his classes. On his_ recant election to the New Zealand University Senate, nothing pleased and touched him more than the receipt of letter after letter from his own students,, now scattered throughout the dominion from Auckland ■ to the Bluff, congratulating him on his success, and expressing their indebtedness to him for what he had done for them. It was one of these ex-students, now a graduate, and recently head of a wellknown girls' school, who said on leaving,, the church yesterday, " : A great end of a great man." A typical instance of tho respect and affection in which he was held occurred a few years ago. A woman student at. the close of a session came to him and saidv "Dr Gilray, I have no father, but if I had one, I should like him to be like you." Probablv few among his colleagues knew him better than I. For years I was closely associated with him as a student and ae a colleague, and I came to realise the real meaning of an intense devotion £o duty, and a conscientiousness that spared no sacrifice. Latterly I have been privileged to take part with him in his recreations, and I found that the true man far transcended the professor. A certain modesty and diffidence, joined to a highly-strung nature, concealed a side of his character which was known only to a few. His conversation was that of a man who had read everything worth reading, whose rango of" knowledge was immense, who had an inexhaustible fund of interesting anecdote, entertaining reminiscences, and playful humoiu\ H« often spoke to me of his love of He "loved to have young people around him," and each year he entered upon the arduous work of a session like one taking < up again a task in which his whole happiness was involved. This love of teaching made him methodical to a degree. The whole clas.'< work of a session was arranged and tabulated to the last detail long before the opening day. What specially endeared him to bis students was his loyal devotedness to the traditions of the University in which he taught, and he kept himself in touch with nearly every student who had passed through:his hands. The jubilee ceremonies in which he was so proud to take part had stirred his emotions to an extent that few can realise. Among the graduates who joined in the procession there were many whoso faces brought bacfe recollections of happy days in the old lecture room. He entered the church flooded with these memories. This is what makes his death a death that anyone of us"«night have chosen —a death stripped of everything but its grandeur and its triumph. DR GILRAY'S .FUNERAL. The funeral of the late Professor Gilray, which left his residence at Bishopscourt on Friday morning, was attended by a_larg« and representative gathering of citizens. A preliminary service in the house was conducted by the Rev. W. Saunders. The pallbearers wore Messrs P. Goyen, W. J. Morrell, P. Barr., and the professor's three younger sons. Among l the mourners present were Sir Robert Stout, Sir James Allen, Sir William Fraser, and numerous representatives of tho University of OtagOj the University of New Zealand- Moray Place Church, the Orchestral Society, tho Presbyterian Synod, and the teaching, medical, and legal professions. The intermenS took place at the Anderson's Bay and at the graveside Mr Saunders read from the Scripture, and the Rev. Dt Cameron offered a most appropriate prayer with deep feeling.