LATE MR D. FINLAYSON

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 July 1935, Page 6

LATE MR D. FINLAYSON

TRIBUTE BY REV. JOHN DAVIE. A moving tribute to the late Mr Donald Finlayson, Senr., whose death occurred in Masterton last week, was paid by the Rev. John Davie at Knox Church yesterday morning. "Our congregation has suffered the loss of anoth. er of the old pioneers of our church,” said Mr Davie. "The late Mr Donald Finlayson came to this district 56 years ago and began at once to take an interest in the church and its work, serving both as manager and as elder. He had the advantage of an upbringing in a godly home in Scotland, where the true principles of morals and religion were carefully inculcated and practised. The influence of such an atmosphere and upbringing simply cannot lie overestimated. From such homes thousands of Scotland’s choicest , sons and daughters have migrated to the uttermost parts of the earth, to carry with them the strong inflexible integrity and religious bias which have made for righteousness in every community into which they came. Mr Donald Finlayson has done that for Masterton. One man said of him he was as straight as a die, and during the 13 years experience I had of him, I could beai out that testimony. Of his work outside of the church I do not need to speak. I believe that outside his business his church was his chief concern. Although I did not get to know him until ho was an old man, yet he was able when I came here to take an active paTt in our church work, and every service he rendered was most effective. Both he and Mrs Finlayson were constant members at the pmyermeeting, and frequently he took part in the prayers. I felt always, on such occasions as if I were listening to a man who walked very close until God, There was a reverence in his manner and spee'ch which was 1 very pleasing to me, who feel that much could be done in our time along these lines to im'prove the helpfulness of our worship, p p a , member of the Session he never failed to be present at the meetings and to take an active part in the administration of the affairs of the congregation. He carefu’lv visited the sick in his district and kept his minister in constant touch with all cases

needing his ministration. Latterly through failing health his place has been vacant first of all in the Session and then in the church. One of the sadnesses of a minister’s life is to part with his co-workers. Of late we have lost quite a number. Their places will be hard to fill. It isi a call and a challenge to our younger men to fill up the gans in the ranks, so that the army of Jesus Christ will be able still to present a strong and unbroken front to the enemy of our souls. It would be well for the Kingdom of God if we all were to practise the loyalty, devotion, consecration and whole-hearted enthusiasm of these old pioneers in our church’s life. To the widow, who has suffered the loss of a life-long partner, and to the members of the family who have been bereaved our congregation expresses its sincerest sympathy and to God we give thanks for His servants and for the long faithful service he has rendered to our congregation.”