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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN James Bayne
We regret to announce the death of Rev. Dr. Bayne, of Pictou, one of the most prominent clergymen of the Presbyterian Church in these Lower Provinces. After a long illness, he passed away on Saturday, forenoon, at Pictou. Dr. Bayne was a native of Dunbar, a town in the East of Scotland, well known in Scottish history, where his father was for many years minister of a Secession congregation. He was born on 14th. December 1814, so that he had nearly completed his 62nd year. He prosecuted his classical and philosophical studies at the University of Edinburgh and his theological studies at the United Secession hall then under the care of Drs. Mitchell, Duncan, Balmer, and Brown. He, however, for a time abandoned his intention of following the ministry as a profession and came to Nova Scotia about the year 1840, with other purposes. "A man's heart deviseth his way, but God directeth his steps." God had work for him of which he had little idea. First, circumstances led him to take a school at Maitland, where he did good services to the cause of education in that quarter. We may mention that he had been a teacher in an academy in Scotland and took a deep interest in education wherever he resided. The urgent necessities of the Presbyterian Church at that time for preachers were strongly presented to him, and he was induced again to direct his attention to the ministry. He was accordingly licensed by the Presbytery in Truro in 1842, and immediately proved a popular preacher. Soon several calls were presented. He accepted that to the collegiate charge of Londonderry, and was ordained there the same year. The field on which he entered was every extensive, and is a condition requiring all the care and diligence of a faithful pastor. He immediately entered upon his labors with great energy, not only preaching frequently throughout every part of his widespread charge, but diligently discharging all the more private duties of the pastoral office. The result was that the congregations flourished so that in a short time they found it necessary to divide and obtain an additional minister. In 1851, on the death of Rev. John McKinley, he was called to the charge of the Prince Street congregation, Pictou, in which he laboured with the same zeal for a little over a quarter of a century. Here too his labors were blessed to the ingathering of many souls. Not only was Dr. Bayne distinguished as a diligent pastor. He took a deep interest in all the religious movements of the day. In all the measures of the body to which he belonged, he through his whole ministerial career, took an active part. He was for many years Secretary of the Foreign Mission Board of that church, an office involving a large amount of labor and few members of that body were on more committees, or had a larger share of the public business of the body entrusted to him. To everything of this kind committed to him he gave most conscientious attention. In all the church courts or committees to which he belonged, he was a regular attendant upon their meetings, and active in all their proceedings. Though strongly attached to his own church he was a man of catholic spirit, and took an active interest in every Christian enterprise. He was for years Secretary of the Pictou Auxiliary Society and tongue and pen were ever ready to be employed in its support. In education, he did our land good service. Wherever he resided his exertions were always earnest in its behalf. He was chairman on the Board of School Commissioners and has charge of the examinations of teachers, in the Northern District of the Country of Pictou. One of the schemes in which his energies were last enlisted was the establishment of a female College at Pictou. We may add that in private he was on of the most genial of men, indeed his hearty laugh seemed in the eyes of many too rude an invasion of the ??rchedness of the ministerial habit. His house was the very home of hospitality. He was a man of powerful physique, and during the greater part of his life enjoyed almost uninterrupted health. O'late his friends observed symptoms of age creeping over him, but not such as to cause any present alarm. On Sabbath, 25th ult, he assisted his old friend, Rev. James Watson, with this communion at New Annan, and on Monday preached with his usual vigor. On rising the following morning he felt a stiffness in his right limb, which he attributed to cramp. He, however, started for home, but before he reached the station where we was to take the train, paralysis of the right side had set in. He was helped into the car, and under the care of his friends arrived home safely. Medical aid was immediately procured, and under proper treatment was recovering his strength, but on the 13th inflammation of the lungs set in. Active measure were at once administer, which gave relief and checked the disease, but only for a little while. He gradually became weaker, and peacefully expired on Saturday. During his sickness his mind was calm and composed, finding abundant consolation in the truth he had so often preached to others.
Servant of God well done, Rest be
they new employ, The battle fought, the victory won, Enter they Master's joy.
Dr. Bayne leaves a widow, (a sister of Lieut. Governor Archibald,) and eight children. The eldest son, after taking the highest honors at Dalhousie College, was for some years Principal of the Academy, and is now studying at a German University. The second son is pastor of the Presbyterian congregation of Murry Harbor, P.E.I. , and his third is an engineer, now employed on the Eastern Extension.
Newspaper: The Colonial Standard, Tuesday, 12 December 1876, Page 2
Contact: Garry Weir |
