THE AUCKLAND CLERGY.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 235, 14 March 1885, Page 9

THE AUCKLAND CLERGY.

Rev. Thomas McKenzie Fraser, M.A.

The subject of our present sketch is a native of Inverness, the beautiful capital of the Scottish Highlands. The following extract from Bayne's "Life and Letters of Hugh Miller," though referring to Mrs Miller, equally applies to her brother :—" Both beauty and status had been among the attributes of the stock from which she sprung. The ' lovely Barbara Hossack,' and several other women noted in the Highlands for their personal attractions, had been of her ancestry, on the female side. Provost Hossack, of Inverness, trusted friend of President Forbes, and honoured intercessor with the Duke of Cumberland for the vanquished of Culloden ;' Mr Lachlan McKenzie, famed Highland preacher, of whom tradition in the northern Scotch counties has much, to report; and the McKenzies of Redcastle, ' said to be the most ancient house in the north of Scotland,' had been among her kindred in the line of male descent. Her father, notably handsome in youth, and famous in Strathearn as a deer-stalker, entered, later in life, into business in Inverness. Mr Fraser' s schooldays were spent in London, at the celebrated Christ's Hospital, so that he is entitled to the honourable distinction of an ' Old Blue. 1 On one of his annual holiday trips from the north of Scotland he narrowly escaped shipwreck and death. Our readers will doubtless recollect David Copperfield's graphic description of the fearful hurricane at Yarmouth, in which the ill-fated Steerforth and the nobleminded Ham Pegotty lost their lives. Mr Fraser was at sea during that dreadful gale, returning from Cromarty to London in one of those passenger smacks, which were (excepting the mail coaches) the only means of conveyance to the far north. The violence of the storm may be estimated by the fact that 9,000 trees were blown down on the single estate of Cromarty in three days, and numbers of coasting vessels perished. Mr Fraser has a perfect recollection of the fearful scene which th%lee shore presented as the little vessel was passing Flamborough Head, which she weathered only by about a pistol-shot. It is doubtless to his long residence in London during the formative period of boyhood that Mr Fraser owes the purity of his accent and his freedom from that provincial roughness of pronunciation which betray even the best educated of our neighbours north of the Tweed.

On leaving school, Mr Fraser pursued his University curriculum at King's College, old Aberdeen, where he distinguished himself as a Greek scholar, carrying off the highest honours three years out of four, and leaving with the degree of M.A. His theological studies were prosecuted in Edinburgh under the celebrated Dr Chalmers, one of whose district visitors he was while prosecuting his great West-Port experiences. Before he had completed his theological studies, he was chosen as minister of the Free Church, Yester, the congregation cheerfully agreeing to wait till he should receive license as a preacher from the Presbytery of Edinburgh. In this quiet rural parish Avere spent the first eleven years of his ministry, the monotony of which was varied by freqxient visits to Edinburgh, where hip. enjoyed the society of his sister, who had been married to Hugh Miller, then editor of the Witness, but far more celebrated as the poet - geologist of Scotland. When Mr Fraser had been only a short time at Yester, he was invited to become the pastor of a new and promising off-shoot from the Presbytex-ian Church of Kiver Terrace, Islington, London ; but he preferred the quiet of his country charge, and declined the flattering proposal. In 1856, however, Dr Guthrie, who had been authorised by the Presbyterians of Singapore to select a minister for them, offered the appointment to Mr Fraser, who accepted it, and spent four years and a-half in that deiighful island, where, in addition to his ordinary labours, he established a mission to the Chinese, which has been successful in. producing many converts, and still exists to this day. But a residence in India, however pleasant, involves the separation, from one's children. "With a view therefore of re-uniting his family, Mr Fraser in 1861 resigned his charge in Singapore and came over to Victoria, where he was immediately elected minister of the High Church, Geelong, and where he conthmed to labour for nineteen years During the whole of this time he took an active part in the public business of the church ; and was the founder of the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, which has gladdened the old age and broken health, of about twenty superannuated pastors, and now amounted to the respectable sum of £14,000. Ho "was also the originator of the Loan Fund for assisting in the erection of churches and manses through^ out the colony,- and which now distributes upwards of £2000 per annum in easy loans to struggling congregations. To him also the Presbyterian Church, of Victoria is largely indebted for the improvement in its Church Praise, the introduction of hym.nology and instrumental music being in a 1 great measure owing to his strenuous advocacy. Duiinj his ministry in Victoria he published a volume entitled "Sermons for Colonists," which, was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the Church, as one of its aids to public worship in bush districts, and has been pronounced by Dr Stuart, of ;Ofcago,-the;te3t.of)its kind; Mr Fraser also , ihad. a : large kaharet littjfoe.

establishment of the Pastoral Aid Society, by which small congregations of the Episcopal and Presbyterian denominations which are unable to undertake the entire expense of separate ordinances are assisted in maintaining alternate services in the same buildings. In this part of New Zealand the exclusive attitude of the High Church clergy renders such a scheme impossible, however much it may be desired. We may add that for eleven years Mr Fraser acted as interim Professor of Apologetics in the Theological Hall of the Victorian Church.

At length the time came when his health broke down. For some time his life trembled in the balance, and the resignation of his charge became an imperative necessity, though it was doubtful whether he would ever be able to assume his labours. On his retirement he was presented with a highlycomplimentary address, accompanied by a purse of 400 sovereigns, contributed by his numerous friends in Victoria. On the recommendation of his friends he resolved to try the colder climate of New Zealand, and as the result has proved, with such highly beneficial results, that after a few months relaxation he was able to accept the pastorate of St. David's Church, Auckland, which, though at first by no means a bed of roses — to use a late expression of his own — lie has built up into a respectable congregation, and changed from a scene of perpetual discord and strife into a united and harmonious church.

The people of St. David's Presbyterian Church, have much reason to be pleased with their minister, the Rev. T. McKenzie Fraser, who, as a preacher and lecturer, occupies a high position in Auckland, and who is supported by men of intelligence with capacities for distinguishing- between the shallow and the true in faith and morals, and between mere religion and godlinesss. St. David's congregation, not so strong in numerical strength as several other city congregations, it may be, is nevertheless equal in point of true appreciation of real talent. A foremost teacher of the people, who endeavours to make Christianity a vitalising, controlling power, the moral guide of hurnanfactions, and the equitable rule of commercial activity. may not attract the large mediocre section of a community ; but such a teacher possesses an abiding interest for the thinking few, and exercises a more beneficent influence on society. Mr Fraser is a preacher of such a character, still clinging to fundamental truths, -while he sheds a newness of thought over all, and does not spare the lash in dealing with petted errors and crushing selfishness. There is one special f sature in connection with Mr Fraser's teaching which is noteworthy, and this is its practical bearing upon the affairs of common life. In this respect he is essentially utilitarian. Other distinguishing characteristics are his purity of style, his choice words, and the tone and manliness of his utterances. Possibly Mr Fraser has advantages over many preachers. In his early days he apjjears to have been fortunately placed under men of sterlingpiety and literary eminence. Such a preceptor as Dr. Chalmers, who occupied the chair of moral philosophy at St. Andrew's, a man of whomitissaid "he never pleaded any cause uuless convinced at the time that it was for the spiritual and temporal welfare of his fellow men," must have exercised a marked influence on all around him, excepting the callously indifferent and cold-hearted. Mr Fraser's subsequent connection with his illustrious kinsman, Hugh Miller, the esteemed and lamented editor of the Witness, with whom, we understand, Mr Fraser laboured for a time, was not without lasting benefit to himself, and no doubt these and similar associates stimulated him in quest of profitable knowledge, and aided in the establishment of settled prineixDles. Other advantages were derived from travel and observation in lands beyond the borders of auld Scotland. Mr Eraser has lived in India, and other parts of the world, and witnessed nien, things, and events with unclosed eyes. His readings of history and authors, past and present, must have been very extensive, while his minute acquaintance with current literature and events social, political, and religious, distinctly show that, without neglecting his primary vocation as an exponent of Scripture, a correct knowledge of political and national affairs are essentially serviceable, and not beyond the province of the Christian minister.

It is impossible to listen to Mr Fraser's practical sermons and interesting lectures -without gaining useful information, without catching some new light, and some brightening, almost inspiring thought, although the subject of his discourse may be of the time of Moses, or David, or Isaiah ; and the lessons from their lives are invariably brought out in picturesque relief. The fact that Mr Fraser has a ciilivated taste for music, and is an able critic in this almost divine science, is well known to his intimate friends and to those who had the pleasure of attending his exquisite lectures on Handel and Mozart — two of a series of lectures on the world's great composers. Mr Fraser has a decided objection to bad singing, and especially at his own church of St. David's, where on Sunday last the new "Book of Praise" Avas first introduced. In his opinion, indifferent singing is a disgrace to the church and a reproach to any people.

Mr Fraser's lectures on "Scripture Characters " display a large amount of critical ability and studious research. These lectures are delivered at St. David's on alternate 'Sabbath evenings, attract full congregations,

are minutely thorough in treatment, nice in discrimination, and are well constructed and trustworthy. Mr Fraser has crossed the line of middle-age, possesses vigotir and fair health, physical and intellectual strength, with apparently many years of usefulness before him.