Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/43

Rh was passed by Knox Church Session at its first meeting, August, 11, 1860:—"The Session feel it their duty to record their humble acquiescence in the will of the Divine Head of the Church in calling away from the service of the Church militant Captain William Cargill, formerly an elder in connection with the First Church, Dunedin, who died after an illness of eight days, on the 6th instant. He attended at this church since it was opened, and was duly called to the eldership by the votes of the congregation. His edict was served and no objections lodged, but he was called away before his induction to the office. He was much esteemed as a man and as a Christian, and his loss is much regretted by this church, as well as by the community."

Captain Cargill is now represented in Knox Church Session by his son, Mr E. B. Cargill, who has ever manifested a warm and intelligent interest in the welfare not only of the congregation, but also in all the schemes and institutions of the Church of Otago and Southland. Among other posts of public usefulness, he has held for a number of years the offices of joint convener of the Synod's Theological College Committee, and member of the Council of the University of Otago.

Scarcely had the minister with the aid of his office-bearers succeeded in bringing the various congregational agencies into fair working order, when he was overtaken by a sore and grievous trial in being called on without warning to part from his amiable partner in life, who, at the comparatively early age of thirty-two years, was suddenly removed from her family and her work on earth to the home above, where her thoughts had for many years ever delighted to dwell. This most sad event occurred on April 16, 1862, to the unspeakable loss of her husband, her children, the congregation, and indeed of the general community.

Jessie Robertson was born at Windsor, England, in 1830, and was educated partly under her father, who held for some time the headmastership of the chief primary school in the Royal Borough, and the office of Diocesan Inspector of Schools. Mr Stuart, during his residence in the neighbourhood of Windsor, became acquainted with Miss Robertson; and when he had been settled in his ministerial charge at Falstone for about a year, he returned to the south and was