ADAM, David Stow, Rev., Dr. (1859-1925)
Assembly memorial minute 1925
The Reverend DAVID STOW ADAM was born at Langside, near Glasgow, on February 9, 1859. He was trained in his father’s school, the Langside Academy. From early boyhood his aim and ambition was the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland. In the Arts Course at Glasgow University he took high Honours, and finally graduated with a First Class in Mental Philosophy. At the same University he was a Lecturer in Logic and Philosophy for two years. He took a distinguished theological course at Glasgow and at Erlangen University, Germany.
As a minister, he laboured first at Bambury, Deeside; then at Kelso, and finally at St. Andrew’s, Greenock. While at Kelso he married Miss Grace Paterson, sister of the eminent Professor of Theology in the University of Edinburgh.
In November, 1907, he was appointed by the General Assembly Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History in the Theological Hall, Ormond College. In 1912 he received from the University of Glasgow the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.
In September of last year, Dr. Adam, with Mrs. Adam, left Australia to pay a vacation visit to a married daughter in Canton. After a brief sojourn there, he left to visit Japan and Korea. He desired to learn at first hand the attitude of Japan towards our Mission in Korea, and towards our civilisation generally. While in Korea be took part in the official opening of the new D. M. Lyall Memorial School for Boys, at Masan. Then he returned to Canton, en route to Australia.
Dr. Adam’s illness commenced about January 2 of this year, but at first it was not regarded seriously, and he rose from bed to take a service on the first Sunday of the new year. A persistent fever, diagnosed later as “para-typhoid, ” developed. As a result of this and supervening pneumonia, from which he suffered but little pain, Dr. Adam passed away on January 31. He rests in a little secluded European cemetery on the bank of the Canton River.
His death removes a brother who was honoured and trusted by the Church he was proud to serve. He was a true Nathaniel, “in whom there was no guile. ” He could differ from a brother without a trace of bitterness. As a Professor and as a Church leader, he worked with the utmost conscientiousness and industry. He was the soul of kindness towards his students and any who sought his counsel or aid. He was most diligent in his attendance upon the courts of the Church, and willingly took upon his shoulders, during the twelve years of his professorship, a heavy burden of committee work.
He attained distinction as a writer and author, both on theological subjects and articles contributed to the press. He was an outstanding member of the Council of Churches.
The General Assembly conveys to his widow and the members of the family its profound sense of the loss his removal means, both to them and to the Church at large, and prays that they may be comforted by Him “whose grace is ever sufficient for our need.”
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