RENTOUL, John Laurence, Rev., O.B.E. M.A. L.L.B. D.D., Dr. (1846-1926)
Assembly memorial minute 1926
By the death of the Rev. John Laurence Rentoul, O.B.E., M.A., LLB., D.D., Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Apologetic in the Theological Hall of Ormond College, the Presbyterian Church of Victoria loses its most distinguished member.
Dr. Rentoul was the fourth son of the late Rev. James B. Rentoul, of Garvagh, County Derry, Ireland. On one side he was a lineal descendant of one of five clergymen of the Church of Scotland who in 1643 founded the first Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. On the other side his grandfather, the Rev. James Rentoul, of Perthshire, Scotland, unified the various "secession” Presbyterian Churches, and thus helped to bring about the unification of the present Presbyterian Church of Ireland. In the romantic surroundings in which he spent his youth, Dr. Rentoul acquired not only his love for fishing, but his love for the beautiful in picture and verse. One of the forces which helped to mould his boyhood was the intense struggle between the landlords and the farmers and people for "Ulster tenant right, ” which culminated long afterwards in Gladstone’s Land Act.
Dr. Rentoul crowned a brilliant University career by graduating in Dublin (Queen’s University of Ireland) with first honours and the gold medal in the tripos of history, English language and literature and political economy, and also gained an exhibition in law. His unusual acquaintance with English literature also was one of his characteristics, and in the literary and debating societies of the University he was always a central figure. At that time his poetic power was notable. After spending a year or two in teaching he returned to University life.
In addition to the usual theological course, Dr. Rentoul studied in Germany, at the University of Leipzig, and he always was keenly interested in the movement of German scholarship and thought. After a ministry of notable success in Southport, Lancashire, the Rev. Dr. Oswald Dykes, of Regent Square, London, invited him in 1879 to accept a position in Australia as minister of the newly built St. George’s Church in East St. Kilda.
In 1884 he was appointed as first Professor in the Theological Hall, Ormond College, the three difficult subjects of Hebrew and Old Testament criticism (of which he was relieved a few years later by Professor Andrew Harper), New Testament Greek literature, and Christian Philosophy being entrusted to his care. Thus he had largely shaped for the ministry hundreds of students.
The Presbyterian Church of Victoria elected him Moderator in 1894, and in 1912-14 he was Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. As such he became Chaplain- General of the Australian Military Forces from 1914 onward, and in 1916 was also appointed Chaplain-General of the A.I.F. at the war fronts. He exercised a great influence during the Great War. On the advice of Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, the Governor-General, the distinction O.B.E. was conferred on him. This is the more notable in view of the fact that he was in Australia the most outstanding and fearless opponent of the South African War, his wide reading in constitutional history and his intense sympathy with "little nationalities” convincing him that such a war could have been prevented by wise statesmanship, and was a wrong to the greatness of the British flag. These convictions made him all the more an enthusiastic advocate of the British cause in the struggle against German military despotism.
While his health had visibly failed in recent years, he retained remarkable vitality, and lectured with unusual power and brilliancy on the morning of the 15th April. In the afternoon he collapsed and died at the Spencer-street railway station. He is survived by a widow, daughter of the late Mr. D.T. Rattray, of Southport, two sons and two daughters.
It is perhaps through his work as a Professor that Dr. Rentoul has left his deepest mark on the Church. He carried with easy grace an almost unrivalled mass of scholarship, which he imparted to his classes for upwards of forty years with rare brilliancy, flashing wit, and profound spiritual conviction.
The same qualities marked his work as a preacher in his ministry at Southport and East St. Kilda, and during the long years which followed. His services were cheerfully given to help his brethren in the ministry, and those who listened to him seldom went away disappointed.
He was also a conspicuous figure in the Church courts, and took a leading part in a number of debates on the most momentous issues. He used with equal dexterity every weapon of debate, and combined in himself qualities rarely found in one man, an alert mind, a caustic wit, a delicate sentiment, and an impassioned eloquence. His lucidity and felicity of diction charmed even his opponents.
Dr. Rentoul took an intense interest in all great public ques tions. His fearless utterances on the platform and in the press led him to be regarded as one of the best-informed, ablest, and most fearless of controversialists.
He had a wide circle of friends, on whom he lavished freely the wealth of his heart and mind. Though he might differ from them on public and ecclesiastical questions, his friendship remained unbroken to the end.
It was, however, in his home that he revealed his nature most fully. Domestic sorrow, of which he and his wife had more than their share, was not allowed to cloud the genial and joyous social intercourse, and there was never a dull moment when he was at the head of the table.
His family, his circle of friends, the hundreds of students whom he trained and inspired, and the whole Church and community, are the poorer for his passing.
The Assembly extends its prayerful sympathy to his widow and family.
Gender
- Male