Obituaries Australia

The death of the Rev. James Cosh, B.A., B.D., will be lamented not only by the congregation of Ann Street Presbyterian Church, where he ministered for over 21 years, but by churchmen in many parts of Australia,

The deceased, who was in his 66th year, despite ill-health borne patiently through several months, remained faithfully at his post until the morning of Sunday, March 26, when he suffered a seizure at his home. During last week his condition was critical and he passed away yesterday shortly after 1.30 p.m.

The late Mr. Cosh, who was born at Vila, in the New Hebrides, on June 6, 1867, was the son of a Presbyterian missionary, the late Rev. James Cosh, M.A., B.D., who, after completing his theological studies in Scotland, went out into the South Sea Island mission fields. The missioner, with his wife and family, later removed to Sydney, where he became a Professor in Polynesian Languages and Hebrew. Young James Cosh was educated at the Sydney Grammar School, and later entered the Sydney University, where, in 1890, he graduated in Arts. By 1893 he had completed his theological studies at Ormond College, Melbourne. He gained his B.D. degree in 1895 from St. Andrew's University, Scotland.

The late Mr. Cosh's first appointment was as assistant minister at the Hunter-Baillie Memorial Church, Annandale, one of the most beautiful churches in the Commonwealth. His first charge was at Young, where he remained until 1897. This was followed by a charge at Hornsby-Thornleigh; and in July, 1899, he began his work at Drummoyne.

On January 30 last the Courier felicited the late Rev. James Cosh upon the fact that the previous day marked the 37th anniversary of his ordination as a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Of those 37 years, it was remarked, Mr. Cosh had been in charge at Ann Street for 21 years, completed on January 15, 1933.

He was always a student, and at the annual Queensland Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church he was a figure who commanded attention for the thoughtfulness of his addresses.

At different times during his ministry in Brisbane he was associated with Emmanuel College as senior lecturer on the English Bible, systematic theology, Christian ethics, New Testament Greek, and the Old Testament Hebrew. During the Great War he was senior chaplain of the A.M.P. in Queensland, and held the post of Moderator of the General Assembly of Queensland. In connection with the Presbyterian Church in Australia he was the first lecturer in Hebrew at St. Andrew's College, Sydney, and subsequently for 16 years was examiner in Hebrew for the Australian Presbyterian Church.

The late Mr. Cosh was a keen sportsman. When at the Grammar School he rowed in the all schools' race on two occasions, and was a member of the crew that won two cups for the school in 1886. He excelled at football, playing a good game for both school and university. Mr. Cosh also took a prominent place in the cycling and sailing worlds. He was vice-president of the Port Jackson Skiff Sailing Club, and was the owner of three boats, with two of which he did splendidly. With one he was runner-up in the State and club championships, and the other—the Meta—was undefeated in 1908, winning the State, Pittwater, and club championships.

Mr. Cosh is survived by his widow and one son, Mr. James A. Cosh, a member of the Sydney firm of architects, Messrs Spain and Cosh.

The funeral, which will leave the Ann Street Presbyterian Church tor the Toowong Cemetery this afternoon, will be preceded at 3.30 o'clock by a service, at which the Rev. Alexander Duff, of Thompson Estate Presbyterian Church, will preside.