OBITUARY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10497, 6 November 1912, Page 5

OBITUARY.

REV. JOHN ROSS. By the death of the Rev. John Ross there is broken one of the links which.bind the pioneer life of-oxlr Dominion Lo its present modern life. Mr Ross was born in the Highlands, was a good Gaelic linguist, and a true son of Scotland/ In his youth he passed through the toils and labours attendant on all young men who aspire to enter the Christian ministry. Mr Ross, as a young: man, * reached his determination in this , direction after a severe spiritual conflict; but once having set his _ heart upon it ‘ there was no turning back. He was ordained to a congregation in Caithness more-than 41 years ago; but two years later heard the cry of the pioneers of New. Zealand and along with his hand- : some young bride, set out ,in 1807 for this land to share fortune with the sturdy settlers, of the Waira- . rapa. In October, 1837,>Mr Ross was inducted to the charge of, Mas- 1 terton. Inside two year* a church was built, (for Mr Ross thought more of a church building than of a house for himself. For the four years' in the Wairarapa Mr and Mrs . Ross knew the perils and hardships alongside the early”settlers. During the years of his ministry at Masterton Mr Ross itinerated frdm Wanganui to Castle Point; supplying Featherston, Greytown, Waihenga, Gladstone and a host of other places. In 1871 Mr,Ross accepted a call to Turakina where, for 88 years, ho was the faithful minister and devoted friend of his people. : Only a man of iron will and constitution could have achieved what he did, . He knew ■ perils of waters as be. . swam the .flooded livers .with; bis ’ - horse and was stuck up for a day to get his clothes dried. Wherever there was need for a helping hand be was the'first. volunteer. In -the earlier days in the realm of education Mr Ross was a living force, ■ serving for years on the Wanganui Education Board!., and directing wisely its policy. Then at Turakina his manse became a, centre of learning, for he established a school, there where some who are now ministers and other professional men received their intellectual awakening and quickening. Theff in aeal , for the church of his fathers Mr Boss was behind no man. In Presbytery and Assembly, he" was living force and received the highest honour .the church can confer — being Moderator of the Assembly twenty-five years ago/ With-his fellow-ministers he stood in the highest esteem „and to the last took part in their cqnnsels.