SMILEY, John, Rev , B.A., Prof (1866-1951)
Assembly memorial minute, 1952
John Smiley was born on the 2nd May, 1866, in Londonderry, Ireland, where he received his early education, revealing excellent gifts of scholarship. In his leaving year at Foyle College he was Dux of the College, also winning the Royal Irish Society’s scholarship. He attained the Art Master’s Teaching Certificate of the Londonderry and Kensington schools. He became a resident teacher in Mathematics first at Derry, then at Lame, and then Headmaster at Queen’s College, Belfast. After a brilliant three-year course in Mathematics and Science at Cork, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Astronomy in that city, later being given charge of its Royal Observatory.
His Divinity course was taken, first at Magee, Londonderry, and later at New College, Edinburgh, where he was a student under the late Professors A.B. Davidson and Marcus Dodds. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Derry and appointed Chaplain to the Navy in Queenstown Harbour. He was ordained in 1897 by the Presbytery of Derry for work in Queensland.
Accepting a call to Allora, he was inducted there in 1897. While in this pastorate he became clerk of the Darling Downs Presbytery. From Queensland he came to Victoria in 1903 and was inducted into the charge of Learmonth. His rich gifts were readily recognised, and he became clerk of the Ballarat Presbytery. In 1913 he was inducted in Sandringham, his third and last charge, where he laboured for 21 years, and gave himself to the full life of the Church, as well as to the administration of the Gospel among the people of his parish.
He was, for three years, a chaplain in the First A.I.F. and served in Egypt and France, to be invalided home in very indifferent health. He was, from 1921 to 1939, clerk of the Presbytery of Melbourne South, and from 1936 to 1939 clerk of the Victorian Assembly. For 10 years, 1930 to 1939, he held offices of Convener of six Assembly committees — Suva, “Messenger,” Selection, Temperance, Moderator’s and Standing Orders. He was Assistant Business Convener from 1928 to 1933 and Business Convener of the Assembly from 1933 to 1934.
He resigned the charge of Sandringham in 1934, to be appointed minister emeritus in 1939 in the Presbytery of Melbourne South. With the outbreak of the second World War he became locum tenens in the Mooroopna charge while the minister was away on Active Service, and. during three years, carried on a most profitable ministry, endearing himself to all, young and old alike.
During his long life of 85 years, 54 of which were of ordained ministry, Mr. Smiley gave unstintingly of his rich and varied gifts to the furtherance of the witness of his Lord. He was one of the stalwart sons of the Church, beloved by all who knew him; a great man, a faithful friend and a lover of the noble things of life.
After a brief illness he passed away at his home in Hampton on Tuesday, the 30th January, 1951. He was a beloved husband and father. To Mrs. Smiley and her two daughters the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male