CHISHOLM, Farquhar, Rev, M.A., Prof (1878-1953)
Assembly memorial minute, 1954
Farquhar Chisholm was born in February, 1878, in Inverness, Scotland. He came to Australia as a young man, and attended the University of Melbourne. He entered the Theological Hall at Ormond College, in 1905, and completed Exit in 1907. Under Home Mission appointment he went to Kerang, where he was ordained and inducted in 1908. In 1910, he was translated to Wangaratta, from which charge in 1919 he resigned, and became Chaplain of Scotch College for five years. Thereafter he was appointed to organise a building fund for a Presbyterian Girls' School at Geelong. Mainly because of his efforts the present property of "Morongo” was purchased.
On 17th August, 1926, he was inducted into the pastoral charge of St. Cuthbert’s, Ballarat, whence he was translated to Balaclava in 1930. He resigned this charge in 1935, in order to fulfil a full-time appointment collecting for the Masonic Hospital. He resumed pastoral duties a year later when, on 28th October, he was inducted to the charge of Dorcas Street, South Melbourne. Whilst here he had charge for a time of the Presbyterian weekly broadcast session.
Serious illness necessitated resignation in 1941, which illness was prolonged through four years. During 1944, he engaged in pulpit supply. With the Assembly’s urgent call for ministers, Mr. Chisholm came out of retirement and supplied at Smeaton, which congregation called him. He was inducted into this, his final charge, on 6th September, 1951.
During his ministry in the Metropolitan Presbyteries, Mr. Chisholm proved himself to be an organiser and valuable committee man, as convener of the Jubilee Fund Committee (1932-33), and twice convener of the Broadcasting Committee (1933-35; 1939-41). During his retirement, as a minister emeritus, he had a seat in the Presbytery of Melbourne South.
Mr. Chisholm was an excellent preacher and a well-informed scholar. He was a clear thinker with the ability to impart truth to others. He was seized with the importance of the Gospel message, and was intolerant of insincerity and indifference. He was courageous in the statement of his views, whilst courteously respecting the views of others. He possessed a rare gift for friendship, without partiality. Cheerful, optimistic, and widely experienced, his ready wit and laughter radiated joy. He was wise in counsel and gracious in canfort, a friend, a brother, and a true Presbyter.
Mr. Chisholm was a devoted husband and a loving parent. A deep joy was his when his daughter, Mrs. Knox Jamieson, accompanied her husband upon his appointment as medical missionary at the John G. Paton Memorial Hospital at Vila, New Hebrides.
Although greatly impaired in health when he accepted his last charge at Smeaton, Mr. Chisholm added yet another successful pastorate to his ministry. During those last 22 months, he did not enjoy full strength, and died, after a major operation, in the Masonic Hospital, on Tuesday, 7th July, 1953, having served throughout an ordained ministry of 45 years.
To Mrs. Chisholm and her family the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male