MACDONALD, Daniel, Rev., D.D., Dr. (1846-1927)
Assembly memorial minute 1927
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Macdonald was born in Alloa, Scotland, on March 4th, 1846. He came to Australia at the age of 14 years. After preparatory study, he entered the Theological Hall, which met in the vestry of Chalmers Church, under Dr. Oswald Dykes.
In 1872 he was ordained by the Presbytery of Melbourne as the first Victorian student to the missionary service of the Church in the New Hebrides.
He married Elizabeth Keir, a daughter of Rev. Dr. John Geddie, the pioneer New Hebrides missionary.He was settled at Havannah Harbour, on the Island of Efate. During his 24 years’ service he saw a strong native church established, and took a large share in the translation of the New Testament and other Scripture portions into the language of his people. He was a fearless defender of the natives against wrong and spoliation, and took an active part in maintaining British interests in the Group.
In 1895 he received the degree of D.D. from the McGill College, Montreal. In 1896 he was called to the Moderator’s Chair.
He retired in 1897, through failing health, and shortly thereafter attached himself to the St. Kilda Church, taking office and faithfully discharging his duties as an elder. He was much admired by the people, and everything he did had an added savour because they remembered how he had dedicated his life to the winning for Christ of a dying people. He remained a student to the end of his days, publishing one book after another, as a result of his patient studies in the Word of God and in Oceanic languages. But the people of the New Hebrides, to whom he had given his life, remained to the end of his days his peculiar interest and charge.
His homegoing was that of a warrior, who fought well for the Kingdom of God; of a student, who toiled to understand God’s Word; and of a humble disciple, whose life showed he. was moved by the Spirit of Christ.
We think of his wife, partner in his life and labours in the Islands of New Hebrides and here. Daughter of one New Hebrides missionary and wife of another, she has been a missionary all her days. We commend her to the Lord, whom she has so loyally served, confident that He will show forth in her experience the sufficiency of his grace. We commend her sons and daughters to the same sufficient grace. Heirs of so worthy a heritage, may they all be servants of the same Lord, thinking nothing so noble as to do something for the Kingdom of God.
Gender
- Male