CAIRNS, Thomas Robinson, Rev., D.D., Dr. (1846-1913)
Assembly memorial minute 1913
The Assembly places on record the expression of its deep sorrow at the death of the Rev.Thomas Robinson Cairns, D.D., of St. Andrew’s Kirk, Ballarat, which has removed from its converse and its work a man greatly beloved and greatly trusted.
Dr. Cairns was by birth and training an Ulsterman of Scottish descent. He was born at Comber, Co. Down, Ireland; educated in the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast, the Queen’s University, Ireland, and (during the theological portion of his curriculum) the Assembly College, Belfast. His character and his standing with his fellow-students are indicated by the fact that, at the close of his theological course, he was chosen as “Student’s Missionary” to the West of Ireland, a post attained only by a student who wins from his comrades special affection and confidence.
After a ministry in two successive parishes, Mr. Cairns was induced to remove to New Zealand. He was immediately called to the newly-formed parish of Sydenham, Christchurch, Canterbury Province, and this he built up into a vigorous charge, with full equipment of church and school buildings, and an energetic congregational life. He threw himself into the forward movement and mission enterprise of the Church of New Zealand, promoting the Union of New Zealand Presbyterianism, and being called to the Moderatorial Chair of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.
In 1886 Mr. Cairns was called to the parish of St. Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat, Victoria, and there he entered upon a ministry of varied and wide-spread influence. It would be impossible in this Memorial Minute to give an adequate estimate of the many- sided activity of Mr. Cairns in the growing life of the city and State to which he had now consecrated his powers. There are a few features of his ministry to which, however, we desire to give special prominence.
By the attractiveness of his personality, his kindliness, his geniality of disposition and temper, and his fine sagacity, he not only attained a leading position in the civic affairs and educational advancement of the city of Ballarat, but also proved himself in many ways most helpful to his brethren, and in the Church’s life and forward movement an inspiring, hopeful and peace-bringing motive force.
Especially would the Assembly record, with grateful memories, his long years of arduous work and wise and gracious guidance as Convener of our Church’s Foreign Missions’ Committee, and the wide-reaching enterprises committed to its care. In this respect, as in others, our own Church and the Kingdom of God at large owe to the late Dr. Cairns a great debt. In his removal by death they have suffered a great loss. His pulpit message was evangelical, forceful and sincere; his life was that of the true, sincere Christian.
Our Assembly appointed him Moderator in 1905, and in that year also the Theological Faculty of Ireland signified its appreciation of his personality and work by conferring upon him its Doctorate of Divinity. His manifold labours during his Moderatorship, extending to a year and a half, are still in the grateful recollection of his brethren.
During his New Zealand ministry Dr. Cairns wedded Miss Agnes Hurst, only daughter of the late Mr. W. Hurst, of South- bridge, and to her—one of the most earnest Christian workers in our land-—our deep sympathy reaches out in her sore bereavement.
Gender
- Male