GIBSON, James, Rev, M.A. (1859-1944)
Assembly memorial minute, 1944
On March 10th 1931, the Rev. James Gibson resigned from the charge of the West Melbourne Congregation, and later became a Minister Emeritus. Many, therefore, of the present members of Assembly will probably know little of the fine service which he rendered in early years.
James Gibson was born in Glasgow in 1859, and in Glasgow he received his education. Supporting himself by means of scholarships and teaching, he worked his way all through, and graduated Master of Arts at the University of Glasgow, where he also obtained his theological education.
After being licensed, he came to Australia in 1888, and was received by the Home Mission Committee of our Church. The same year he was ordained and inducted as minister of the West Melbourne Congregation, in succession to the Rev. P. J. Murdoch. This was his first and only charge. Up till that time this had been a flourishing congregation, and carriages and buggies from outer suburbs lined the streets around the church. The natural growth of the city caused a serious decline in attendances. But Mr. Gibson was a most determined man; and though he might easily have found another charge, he loved his people and faced and fought the progressive deterioration of the Congregation with great courage. It was only after a struggle of 43 years that he resigned.
Mr. Gibson did a full share of Assembly work. He was a member of the Board of Finance, and also of the Council of the Presbyterian Ladies' College. He took special interest in our Foreign Missions work, and in 1891 he was appointed Joint Convener of the Foreign Missions Committee, along with the Rev. Dr. T. R. Cairns, of Ballarat. In November, 1897, the Assembly expressed its “warm thanks to the Rev. James Gibson for his long service, unwearying care, and assiduous labours as Convener of the Foreign Missions Committee. ” (It was he who in 1892 moved the appointment of the Rev. Fred Paton to Malekula. ) Mr. Gibson had a natural aptitude for finance, and he gave much help in connection with the Loans, Sales and Mortgages work of our Assembly. In 1929 the Assembly, expressing its regret at the loss of his services as Convener of the Loan Fund Committee, placed on record its “high appreciation of the diligence and conscientiousness with which he carried out the duties of the Convenership during the long period of 38 years. ”
Mr. Gibson was a most widely read man, and he had splendid libraries, first in the Vestry of his Church, and later at Hawthorn, where he lived after his resignation. The desolate manses of the fire-swept areas will, if the kind thought of his sister be carried out, be helped from this library. In the Assembly he was a good speaker and an able debater, well able to hold his own with the giants of those days. He died on April 16th, 1944.
In 1895 his mother and two sisters came out from Scotland and lived with him. (Mr. Gibson never married. ) One of his sisters still lives at Hawthorn, and to her and to other relatives the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male