ROSS, David, Rev., M.A. (1858-1931)
Assembly memorial minute 1931
Mr. Ross was born at Invergorden, Scotland, in 1858. His Arts course was taken at Aberdeen University; his theological training at New College, Edinburgh. In due time he became minister at Crathie, where he remained seven years. It was there, in this quiet parish, he laid the foundation of that life of Christian scholarship and devotion which distinguished him in after years. With the desire for a wider ministry, he placed himself at the disposal of the Colonial Committee of his Church. Western Australia was calling for men, a sphere of much difficulty, but offering splendid opportunities. Mr. Ross arrived there in 1892 to become minister of St. Andrew’s, Perth. After all these years, his memory is still fragrant in the West.
In 1899, he accepted a call to St. Kilda, to succeed Dr. Samuel Robinson. Here he remained for the rest of his ministry, beloved and revered by a large and devoted congregation. First in his affection and in its claim on his time and energy was his own congregation. But he gladly lent an ear to a wider ministry. He was ever winning golden opinions as Convener of our Foreign Missions Committee.
The Student Christian Movement had in Mr. Ross a warm and gifted friend. In every effort of our Church to win those outside, and to raise the Church itself to a more worthy life, he took his own unique part.
In a still wider sphere he was well known. He influenced by means of his pen a multitude whom he could not reach by his voice. In his book, “About Jesus, ” in the text-books for Bible study, and in his weekly contribution to “The Messenger, ” he touched for good an innumerable company. It was fitting that at the close of his ministry he should have been asked to give the students of Ormond College the benefit of his life’s experience as a Christian minister, a course which ill-health brought to a premature close.
But it is not in what he said and wrote that his influence is alone to be found. Wherever he went there was the fragrance of a life lived with Christ in God. On the bed of sore suffering in which his life closed, by his unclouded faith and unmurmuring submission, he spoke God’s message of an ever-present Saviour. He was one of God’s most precious blessings to our Church, a man of the finest gifts, consecrated with singular, devotion to the service of the Master.
He was Moderator of the State Assembly in 1919. He received a colleague in the Rev. H. Clark in 1925. He resigned his charge on 31st July, 1930. His death was on 4th March last.
We deeply sympathise with his widow in her bereavement.
Gender
- Male