RECORD OF SERVICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 858, 30 December 1929, Page 10

RECORD OF SERVICE

VETERAN METHODIST MINISTER REV. T. G. BROOKE IS 80 TODAY A wonderful record of service in the Methodist Ministry from the colonising days in many parts of New Zealand belongs to the Rev. Thomas B. Brooke, who today is celebrating his 80th birthday at his home in Penryn Road, Mount Eden. A native of Wargrave, Berkshire, England. Mr. Brooke was born on December 30, 1849, and Was baptised at reading by the Rev. Samuel Leigh, the first Wesleyan .missionary to Australia and New Zealand. After spending his youth in Reading, Mr. Brooke studied in the art and science department of South Kensington, and in 1875 commenced preaching at Whitehaven, Cumberland. At the same time he started studying for the ministry of the Wesleyan Church. The Rev. James Duller selected Mr. Brooke as a candidate for the ministry in New Zealand in 1878, and a three months* voyage in the Clan Fergusson saw him land in Auckland on December 19 the same year in company with his friend, the Rev. L. Hudson. The New Zealand Methodist Conference immediately received Mr. Brooke as a probationer and appointed him to a circuit. He later spent some time studying at the Three Kings’ Tehological College under the late Rev. T. Buddie.

His first labour for the church was among the toiling gumdiggers and bushmen of the back blocks of the North Auckland Peninsula, where all classes of men were assembled eking out an existence from the soil. During his term there he had the pleasure of seeing a gumdiggers’ church erected at “Scotty’s Camp,” the timber for which was donated and carted by Sir Edwin Mitchelson. He also served for three years as superintendent of the Northern Maori Mission in succession to the Rev. W. Gittos. There are few parts of New Zealand in which the Rev. Mr. Brooke has not served. He was transferred in turn to Hokitika. Grej*mouth, Ashburton, South Dunedin, Morningion and New Pl3-mouth circuits. In 1.906 he attained the highest office in the church when he was appointed president of the conference. He carried out his official duties with the same assiduity as he displayed in his ministry. He served for some years as district secretary, and for four years was the chairman of the first Otago and later %the Wanganui districts. A man of distinct literary ability, Mr. Brooke was for several years subeditor of the “Methodist Church Advocate,” and for five years he edited the Methodist section of the “Outlook.” He was appointed secretary of Methodist Home Missions department, when it was created in 3 909, and continued in charge of that work for 15 years until his retirement from active work in 1924. He was three times selected as the New Zealand representative at the general conferences before the New Zealand Methodist Church became a separate entity from Australia. Now in his retirement Mr. Brooke still enjoys excellent health, and until 12 months ago was able to preach and conduct church services. Mr. Brooke married a daughter of Mr. G. C. Waby in ISS4. and there is a family of three. The sons are Mr. T. H. Brooke, of Auckland, Mr. G. IT. F>rooke. of Christchurch. and a daughter. Miss Gladys V. Brooke, who lives with her parents in Mount Eden. There are three grandchildren.