BLAIR, Samuel Robertson, Rev (1875-1944)
Assembly memorial minute, 1945
Samuel Robertson Blair was born at Lochgelly, Fifeshire, Scotland, on September 23rd, 1875. He received a training for Mission work at the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow. He came to Australia about 1900 and was a missionary in the back-blocks of Queensland for three years. He then returned to Scotland, and married Miss Elizabeth Smith. For some years he did Mission work in Glasgow and in Seacomb, England. His three sons were born in the Old Land.
In 1914 he returned to Australia, and began his Home Mission work with the Victorian Church. He completed this course in 1918, and proceeded to the Theological Hall, Ormond College, where he studied from 1919 to 1921. As an Exit Student he was appointed to the Charge of Chiltern, which called him, and he was ordained there, and inducted, on May 3rd, 1922. His next Charge was that of Cororooke, where he laboured for eleven years (1927-1938), and where he lost his wife, who had been a great help to him in his work. His last Charge was that of Port Fairy, where he was inducted on September 12th, 1939.
Mr. Blair was a man whose goodness of heart was recognized by all his people. He loved his people, and spared no effort in their service. His gifts were mainly for evangelistic work, and the sincerity and fervour of his prayers were felt by all. He will be missed at the Assembly Tryst. In his preaching it may be said that he sought to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him Crucified: hence his ministry was one of appeal and encouragement. Under a growing burden of ill-health Mr. Blair carried on his work, but it proved at last too much for him, and he died in the Colac Hospital on December 6th, 1944.
Mr. Blair has left three sons, the oldest a solicitor, the next a doctor (practising in Thornbury), and the youngest an accountant, now with the Air Force. He leaves a widow, who was Miss Fedderson of Colac. To her, and to the three sons, the Assembly tenders its deep sympathy.
Gender
- Male