BROWNLIE, Andrew, Rev. (1876-1923)
Assembly memorial minute 1923
The Rev. Andrew Brownlie was born at Kaihiku, N.Z., in 1876. He received his theological training in Ormond College and was ordained in the Wilderness Church, Strathdownie. From there he went to Eaglehawk, and then accepted a call from Rochester, where he laboured with rich spiritual results for three years.
On April 20th, 1923, after an illness of less than a week, he passed into the joy of his Lord. His death in the prime of life is a severe blow to our Church.
His character was stamped with truth; not merely truth in speech, but in deed and life. He was incapable of anything petty or mean. By this sincerity and truth, which adorned his ministry, he won a respect, which, in turn, gave place to a love which will long abide in the hearts of those who knew him. Another prominent quality of this man of God was thoroughness. He was a man with a conscience. His pulpit work illustrated this. This was was to him a great joy and a solemn duty. He strove diligently to show himself a workman approved of God, and the Church at large was more and more coming to know of him as a minister whose preaching was singularly blessed by God.
It was, however, in the work of visitation that he won his finest successes. In this department of service he laboured incessantly, and reaped a rich harvest in the affections of young and old. Many homes will miss, yet gratefully remember, his faithful counsels and loving intercessions. His beauty of character and power with men were the result of his close walk with God. He was essentially a man of prayer. Praying was life to him, and his constant petition was that man might see Christ, even in him. His public prayers were a rich means of grace to earnest worshippers. He dwelt much in the Secret Presence, and thus could talk with God as a friend.
Among his brethren in the ministry he was deservedly beloved. Never shirking his share of work, he yet always esteemed every other brother above himself. His character was a fine example of the beauty which Christ can give a consecrated manhood.
The Assembly records its gratitude to God for the fragrant life and fruitful services of the Rev.A. Brownlie, and extends its prayerful sympathy to the widow and young daughter.
Gender
- Male