DAVIDSON, Arthur Irving, Rev, M.A. (1875-1961)
Assembly memorial minute 1961
The son of a minister of our Church who had been a Moderator of our General Assembly and who occupied the Moderatorial chair himself some thirty years later, the Rev. Arthur Irving Davidson died on September 5th, 1961.
Mr. Davidson was educated at Geelong College. He graduated Master of Arts at the University of Melbourne and also distinguished himself as a footballer.
Ordained at Noorat on October 17th, 1901, he relinquished his charge in 1908 to minister at Fitzroy. In 1911 he transferred to Eaglehawk, which charge he resigned when leaving for the First World War in 1916. With the First A.I.F. he served as a chaplain from 1916 to 1918 with the 37th Battalion. He was returned to Australia as a medical case and was finally discharged from active service in 1918. A call was extended to him from the Hawthorn congregation, which he accepted, being inducted there on May 7th, 1918.
After a long and useful ministry, he resigned on August 31st, 1940, and became Staff Chaplain to the R.A.A.F. He was appointed Chaplain-General for Australia in 1942, but resigned in 1943, receiving the Efficiency Decoration as a recognition of his services.
His year as Moderator of the Victorian Church was 1936-37. He was an examiner for the College Committee of the General Assembly of Australia from 1904 to 1918 and for varying periods he was convener of the following committees - Deaconess Training (G.A.A.) 1922 to 1924-; Architecture 1908; Girls' Hostel 1935 to 1939; Hospitality 1920 to 1926; Assembly Exchanges 1919 to 1920; and Budget and Finance Organisation.
He was a man of personal charm, a good musician, a good mixer and a faithful presbyter.
The Assembly expresses their sympathy with his family in their great loss.
Gender
- Male