DAWE, Joseph Henry, Rev. (1859-1924)
Assembly memorial minute 1924
The Rev. Joseph Henry Dawe was born at Ballarat in 1859. The greatest decision of his life was made in his youth, and the powers of his young manhood were early dedicated to the service of his Divine Master.
He was a preacher at the age of 18 years, and at 24 was ordained to the Christian ministry, in communion with the United Methodist Free Church, within whose bounds he served with great acceptance and success in several of the States.
After severing his connection with that denomination, he became associated with the Presbyterian Church on the West Coast of Tasmania, and was ordained to the eldership at Zeehan in 1900. Some time later he was appointed by the Home Mission Committee of the Tasmanian Church to supply the charge at Queenstown, which was then vacant. His work in the Mount Lyell district was much appreciated.
Towards the end of 1903 he came to Victoria, and was at once placed on the Home Mission staff of our Church, serving successively in Landsborough, Garvoc and East Brunswick. During his period of service in the last two of these spheres, he completed the full curriculum of the Theological Hall, Ormond College, with a very creditable record, in 1910.
After a short ministry in Wedderburn, following upon his exit year at the Hall, he accepted a unanimous call to Wycheproof, where he labored faithfully for five years, until his translation to Warragul, from which charge he was translated to the service of the Church Triumphant, after an eight years’ pastorate.
Mr. Dawe placed a high estimate on the intellectual equipment of the minister of Christ. He himself did not shrink from facing the Theological Hall course at 50 years of age. As a minister he did not fail to “give attention to reading, ” and his people received the fruitage of a well-cultivated mind, possessing a natural literary bent. But his qualities of heart endeared him most of all to those who knew him. Brotherliness and Christ-like sympathy made him a true “son of consolation” in the homes of his parishioners clouded by suffering and sorrow.
The Assembly prays that God may grant to the sorrowing widow, son and daughter His all-sufficient grace in their day of mourning.
Gender
- Male