MACLEAN, Murdo Smith, Rev (1862-1943)
Assembly memorial minute, 1944
The Rev. Murdo Smith Maclean gave faithful service to the Presbyterian Church in three countries—Scotland, England, and Australia. He was born in Stornoway, in the Island of Lewes, in 1862, and belonged to the Free Church of Scotland. His early years were spent in the vocation of teaching, but he was led to dedicate himself to the ministry. Four years were spent at the Glasgow University (1883-1887), and he obtained his theological education in the Theological Hall of the Free Church in Glasgow. In 1898 he was ordained, and inducted into the pastoral charge of the Free Church Congregation in Arisaig—his only charge in Scotland. He then received a call to England, where he, laboured first in the charge of Stockton-on-Tees, and later (1920-1928) in the Sandringham Road Church in West Hartlepool. While there, he married an Australian girl, Miss Florence Howell, of Kew, who was on a trip to the Old Country. The strain of work necessitating a rest and change, a visit was paid to Australia.
Returning to England, his health again gave way, and Mr. and Mrs. Maclean decided to take up permanent residence in Australia (1928). Their home was in Wellington Street, Kew, and Mr. Maclean’s work began with a year’s strenuous work at Hartwell, then in its early stages of existence. He became associated with the congregation of Hawthorn West, and did much useful work in the Eldership. He was Representative Elder in Assembly and Presbytery for seven years. He gave most valuable assistance to the minister of the Congregation, and frequently took the service at Abbotsford, which was a kind of dependency of the Hawthorn West Charge. The Gaols and Hospitals Committee also found a ready helper in him, and in many other ways he gave faithful service. A Gaelic Service, conducted by him in the Kew Church, and attended by Highlanders from all quarters, will be long remembered. He died on December 4th, 1943.
The Rev. Murdo Maclean was first and foremost a man of God. No one could be long in his presence without becoming conscious of a profound reverence of spirit in him. But he was a genial and most friendly man of God. He loved his fellowmen, and keenly enjoyed their fellowship in work and recreation. Springing from his unaffected godliness, there was, in all his contacts with others, a quiet dignity of demeanour and an old-time courtesy which never deserted him. He was modest and unostentatious to a degree. He never spoke in our Assembly. He loved, and was loved by, both young and old, and when he died, it was a great sorrow to many friends.
To his widow the Assembly tenders its sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male