WATSON, Robert Darling, Rev (1876-1942)
Assembly memorial minute, 1942
With the death of Robert Darling Watson our Church lost one who served her most faithfully in both the Foreign Mission Field and in Victoria. He was born at Elaine on October 27th, 1876.
As a lad he belonged to the Ebenezer Sunday School in Ballarat. It was from Ebenezer Church that one of our senior missionaries, the late Miss Menzies, went out to Korea. This church had a missionary atmosphere, strongly encouraged by its minister, the late Rev. Charles Cameron, and that no doubt helped to turn Mr. Watson’s eyes to the Mission Field. In 1906 and 1907 he was Home Missionary at Wodonga and Pakenham.
The next three years (1908-1910) were spent at the Theological Hall, Ormond College. In October, 1910, he was appointed a Missionary to Korea, and the next month he was ordained and inducted in the Old Assembly Hall during the sittings of the Assembly. Shortly after that he left for Korea where he laboured for fourteen years.
He returned on furlough from Korea in August, 1924. On account of his wife’s health he felt compelled to give up Foreign Mission work, and on November 13th he handed in his resignation to the Foreign Missions Committee. His resignation was accepted as from the Assembly of May, 1925.
He received a call from Mia Mia, where he was inducted on March 18th, 1925, and which agreed to wait till he was free. Meanwhile his wife’s health improved so much that he again offered himself for service in Korea. This offer was gladly accepted, and on July 1st, 1925, he was again inducted for missionary work in Korea. This second term of service was more brief than the first. On account of his wife’s health he had to resign again, and left Korea in June, 1928. Then began his service in the homeland.
His Victorian charges were: Streatham (1928), Richmond (1933), Nyah West (1938), Branxholme (1940). He died at Branxholme on February 4th, 1942.
Mr. Watson was a man of deep conviction, of living faith, and of unwavering courage in face of life’s difficulties and trials. Words uttered by him on the occasion of his ordination in 1910 are still remembered, and have a peculiar relevance to the situation of to-day. He spoke to this effect: “I am going with the Gospel to the East for this reason, among others, that when the East comes to Australia with the sword it may be a little the better for us. ”
Mr. Watson left three sons, two of whom are doctors, and the third is drawing near to the end of his course. To them all the Assembly tenders its deep sympathy.
Gender
- Male