MEEK, John Howard, Rev (1862-1908)
Assembly memorial minute 1908
The mountain districts of the north-east and the whole Church of Victoria was poorer when the Rev. J. Howard Meek, B.A., was “ called Home ” in the prime of life in July. Born in Gisborne, a name for half a century associated with that of his venerable father, he was educated at the Geelong College, and graduated at the University of Melbourne as an Ormond student, and soon after received his training in the Theological Hall.
As a student he was an admirable example of mens sana in corpore sano—a reputation he kept till overcome by his last illness. After exit he proceeded to the north-east, where, after a few months in Tallangatta and Corryong, two of the largest and most mountainous charges in the Church, he was, in 1891, settled in another mountain charge, Yackandandah, where he laboured with admirable result to the end. Though not one of the great orators of the Church, he never allowed his fondness for study to leave him, and the results of his reading were passed on to the edification and stimulus of his hearers.
He possessed, however, many other still more valuable qualities, which endeared him to his people, and enabled him to advance the Kingdom of God. A many-sided sympathy with old and young, in their sorrows and in their joys, gave him an entrance to the hearts of all who knew him.
His sympathies were not confined to the circle of his Church, but went out to the whole community, and did much to combat the forces of evil in the town; while through all he himself wore “ the white flower of a blameless life.
Gender
- Male