DEATH OF THE REV. DR. FORREST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 21, 14 September 1883, Page 7

DEATH OF THE REV. DR. FORREST.

(Sydney Express, August 11.) Theke has just passed from amongst us another old and respected priest in the person of the Rev. Dr. Forrest, whose death, and it is with no ordinary feelings of regret that we have to announce it, took place on the afternoon of the 3rd. instant, at his residence, Balmain. The deceased gentleman at the time of his death was 63 years of age, having been born in Mallow in 1820. He was educated for the Church partly at Maynooth, and partly at Rome, and after being admitted to the priesthood he did duty in Ireland for several years previous to his coming out to this colony to take charge of St. John's College. At this establishment he held the responsible position of Rector, which office he occupied till some seven or eight years ago, when he retired into private life. Dr. Forrest was a man of great learning, and by his kindly and benevoleut disposition, endeared himself not only to those of his own faith but also to those of other denominations. His funeral obsequies were celebrated in the Cathedral Cl'urch on Saturday morning last, at which nearly all the city and suburban clergymen assisted, IN M2MOBIAM. The Very Rev. John Forrest, D.D , was one of those Irish priests who had a fair share of the soggarth aroon in his temperament. Genial, generous, unaffected, he concealed a great deal of mental strength by his characteristic modesty and moderation. An able theologian of the best school, he was singularly competent to maintain his convictions in any pulpit or any plrtform in the land ; but he nervously shrunk from purely polemical controversy through a whole-hearted desire that men and women of all sects should live at peace with one another— neither giving offence, nor being quick at resenting provocations. Dr. Forrest was a thorough friend and on 3 of the most agreeble hosts that ever presided at a table. In the early years of his Rectorship of St. John's College University, he lectured in different parts of the colony — generally on the wisdom and goodness of God as manifested in the phenomena of Nature, and kindred topics. To one so esteemed and honoured — whom it was ever a pleasure to meet and a regret to leave— it is not surprising that public feeling should be expressed, that his funeral should be attended by many of the worthiest men in the land. We will not conceal our personal regret at the loss of a gifted friend whose very cheerfulness of manner often dispelled dull care, He was socially more of a humourist than a wit, though some of his witticisms were brilliant, andcreated merriment as much by his manner of narrating them as by the felicity of his language and the bonhomie of his character, but he was at all times the gentleman and the scholar. His memory will not soon fade from the recollection of those who knew him best, and who fervently hope and humbly trust to meet him hereafter in the New Jerusalem. — R.I.P.