McLEOD, Hugh, Rev, M.A. B.A. (1863-1939)
Assembly memorial minute, 1939
With the passing of the Rev. H.M. Burns, the Assembly loses a brother most beloved and honoured. He was born at Hampstead, England, in 1863. His father, the late Rev. J. D. Burns, was minister of Trinity Church, Hampstead, and his memory is kept alive by some beautiful hymns, four of which, including “Hushed was the Evening Hymn, ” are in our Revised Church Hymnary. He died in 1864. Hugh was educated at Murchiston, Edinburgh, and later received his M.A. degree from the Edinburgh University.
At Edinburgh he came strongly under the influence of the famous Dr. A. Whyte, of St. George’s. He followed his mother to Australia in 1884, and for a time enjoyed the ministry of the Rev. J.T. Robertson in North Melbourne. He did Home Mission work under the Rev. J.M. Connor, at that time at Sale. He completed the theological course at Ormond College in 1887. During the next forty-five years he faithfully served his Church in several charges, beginning with the Leigh, to which he was called in 1887. In 1894 he married a daughter of the late Rev. J. Lyall, of Flinders Church, Adelaide. In 1900 he went to Mentone, he and the Rev. J.E. Higginbotham (now of Burwood) having exchanged parishes—the only instance of this form of procedure in the Victorian Church. In 1905 he went to Bairnsdale, and in 1910 to Lilydale. The death of his son, James Drummond Burns, at Gallipoli caused a severe breakdown of health, and he left Lilydale in 1916.
After six months’ rest, he supplied for the Rev. James Crookston at Bendigo, and exercised a wonderfully comforting and healing ministry in that congregation. In 1918 he was called to St. Stephen’s, Caulfield, and remained there till 1932, when he retired from the active ministry. In 1932 he was elected Moderator of the State General Assembly, and filled the office with dignity and distinction. His period of retirement was filled with useful work. He served on the Session of Scots Church, Collins Street. He took a keen interest in the Mission to the Jews, and acted on the committee. He was also an examiner for the Welfare of Youth Committee, and was co-editor of “The Chronicle” for over five years. The Faith and Order Movement claimed his special interest and service, and he acted as secretary to the Victorian branch. After a period of failing health he died at Gipps Street, East Melbourne, on April 10, 1939.
The Rev. H.M. Burns was a man who won the affection of people everywhere. No one could fail to be impressed by his extreme modesty, his deep and brotherly interest in others, his independence of judgment, and his wide tolerance in respect of those great issues on which many good men may differ. He eagerly looked for the day when the Christian Churches should present a united front to the perils and influences that threaten all alike. Throughout his long ministry he maintained constant habits of study, and his thoughtful sermons bore the marks of true scholarship. His pastoral work, faithfully discharged, brought great comfort to the sorrowing. He gave to others the benefit of those deep lessons which he himself learned in suffering. He was both the son of a poet, and the father, for his son, James Drummond’s, poem “For England” stands high among the poems produced during the Great War. He himself wrote some choice pieces which breathed the true spirit of poetry. But his central inspiration and theme was the Redeeming Love of God in Jesus Christ.
To his widow, his daughters, and his son, Dr. Hugh Burns, of Perth, the Assembly tenders its deepest sympathy.
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