PAUL, George, Rev (1868-1943)
Assembly memorial minute, 1944
George Paul was born on the 20th day of January, 1868, at Buckfastleigh, Devonshire, England. Early in life he evinced a capacity for energy, which he was destined to utilize to the fullest. While still at school he worked each half-day in local woollen-mills for 1/6 per week. At the age of eighteen he went throughout surrounding villages with a band of young Methodists conducting evangelical services. After being accepted for theological education by the Reformed Episcopal Church of England, he was ordained as one of its ministers on the 15th day of December, 1886.
Three years later he migrated to Australia, to be accepted by the Presbyterian Church as one of its home missionaries. His first appointment was Box Hill; then at Brighton Beach, where he was during the building of the present church building of St. Leonard’s. In 1894 he became assistant to the Rev. Dr. P.F. MacKenzie, of the Hunter Baillie Memorial Church, Annandale, Sydney. During this assistantship he attended St. Andrew’s Theological Hall, winning distinction in final examinations. Ordained in 1898 at St. Stephen’s, he was inducted into the charge of Grenfell and later became the minister of Forbes, until in 1908 he accepted a call to Shepparton, Victoria, to commence a remarkable and fruitful ministry of 26 years, for 21 of which he carried the clerkship of the Presbytery of Goulburn Valley. This district was one selected for closer settlement. Mr. Paul was instantly alive to this important opportunity for church extension, with the result that he was responsible for initiating Presbyterian causes at Grahamvale, Orrvale, Shepparton East. Success within his own town congregation is marked by additions to the buildings effected during his pastorate.
Mr. Paul was ever a fighter for the things of God that are constantly attacked by social evils and vices, and stood among the community as the champion of Christian reform. He always knew the souls of men and the lives of little children to be of far greater values than moneys raised by methods of unrighteousness. Thus he was outspoken against gambling at carnivals, and gave active support to temperance works. He substantiated these ideals and won the hearts of many by untiring charity and acts of mercy, but with such humility and understanding that few of the inmates of the hospital or the poor and distressed settlers of that district had any real conception of the good he did. Many considered him to be their messenger from God.
In 1925, accompanied by Mrs. Paul, he went abroad and attended the Pan-Presbyterian Alliance at Cardiff, as an Australian delegate, and also the World Conference on Faith and Order at Stockholm.
The Rev. G. Paul went into retirement in 1934, to live with his daughter, Mrs. J. Gray Robertson, of the Elsternwick Manse. Here, five years later, he suffered bereavement in the death of Mrs. Paul. Gordon Paul, of the 1st A.I.F., had died during the first World War. But retirement to such an active man could never mean cessation of labours. Thus he served as voluntary chaplain to the Caulfield Military Hospital as well as assistant to the Rev. J. Gray Robertson, his son-in-law. In 1941 he accompanied the Rev. J. Gray and Mrs. Robertson to Mosman, Sydney, where he was again supplying pulpits in his mother-State.
The Rev. George Paul died as he had lived; with a natural ardour unabated, and his eye was not dimmed. It was while relieving at Narrandera, N.S.W., for the Rev. James Marshall, of the R.A.N., that, after the evening service of the 6th of January, 1944, he relaxed quietly into an easy chair and, as it was found later, slept away into his rest. He was a fearless servant of the Most High, and loyal to Jesus Christ in his untiring and unfaltering witness among the people. He gave all to the Creator he courageously declared and Who he knew had entrusted him with eternal gifts. He thus hears the voice of his Lord—“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. ”
To Mrs. J. Gray Robertson, of Mosman; Mr. C. McK. Paul, of Port Pirie; and the Rev. Norman Paul, chaplain of the Forces, the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male