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Death, on 25th April 1871, at his residence, Woollahra, Rev. Robert Blain, aged 74 years
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Marriage - on June 3, at All Saints Church, Parramatta, by the Rev. J. R. Bloomfield, David Blain, son of the late David Blain of Williams River, and nephew of the late Rev. Robert Blain of Woollahra, near sydney, to Elizabeth Sarah Watson, grand daughter of the late John Watson, Parramatta, and niece of Mrs. John Holland of Parramatta
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Marriage on September 1 by the Rev. Robert Steel assisted by the Rev. J. B. Laughton, Charles Robert Blain, of Grafton, younger son of the late Rev. Robert Blain of Hinton to Sara, youngest daughter of David Brown, Kent St. Sydney
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Arrival, on Sunday 3rd December, the barque Portland, James Coubro commander, from Greenock from whence she sailed 24th July having touched at King George Sound. Passengers Rev. Dr. Lang, Rev. George Macfie, Rev. Thomas Dugall, Rev. George Anderson, Rev. James Fullerton, Rev. Hugh Gilchrist, Rev. John Gregor, Rev. Robert Blain etc
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Marriage of Miss Sarah Avery and H. Western both of Upper Williams at Hinton on 27th December. Officiating minister Rev. R. Blane
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DEATH OF REV. R. BLAIN. — We learn by telegram from Mr. J. H. Keys, that on Tuesday the Rev. Robert Blain died, in Sydney, at the ripe old age of seventy-four years. For some few years past, Mr. Blain s name has been little more than a name, always mentioned with respect, to very many of the newer inhabitants of the Hunter district. But in years gone by he was one of the foremost ministers of religion in the district, and was we think one of the first of the Presbyterian ministers to penetrate beyond the Liverpool Range, and traverse the then little-known tablelands of New England and the Peel. At that time ministers who travelled so far were quite missionaries, having no definite stopping places, and no preaching stations except the scattered sheep-stations and a few thinly peopled townships. Mr. Blain has lived to see and to warmly appreciate the populating of this wide region, and the extension of churches and settled ministers far beyond the limit of his early journeys. With a good deal of force of character, and much native humour, Mr. Blain nevertheless did not take part very freely in the public movements of those early days, save in educational matters. On that topic he was always a very earnest advocate, and always took a wide and philanthropic view of the religious peculiarities of the question. Very few men were listened to more willingly and with more respect on other matters, than Mr. Blain, whenever he did for the moment shake off the quiet ways of the Presbyterian minister, and take part in any public matter. At one time Mr. Blain used the local and Sydney press pretty freely for the ex- pression of his opinions, on matters then before the public, in the form of letters ; but even then he very rarely touched on political topics, except to illustrate, by a passing piece of humour, the subject he was engaged on. He wrote very forcibly, in plain and simple language, and generally with a marked spice of good-humoured dogmatism -lecturing letters same of them might be termed.
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THE REV. ROBERT BLAIN.— This venerable minister of the Gospel, who died lately at Woollahra, having been well known and much respected by a large number of old residents in the Hunter River district, and other parts of the colony, it is thought that the following particulars concerning him, which have been supplied by a minister of the Presbyterian Church, long associated with him in friendship and in the work of the church, will be interesting to many readers of the Town and Country Journal. Mr. Blain was born near Ballynahinch, in the County Down Ireland, in 1797. Under the instructions of a. pious father and grandfather, he early showed such a devout and earnest disposition as seemed to indicate a fitness for the Christian ministry - a vocation to which his own feelings very strongly inclined him. He was accordingly entered as a student at Belfast College wherein he greatly distinguished himself in the various subjects of study, but especially in mathematics, for which through life, he retained a strong attachment. He pursued his studies for a time under the Rev. Dr. Cook, to whom in person, he bore a very striking resemblance whose spirit he very largely imbibed. In due time Mr Blain was licensed to preach the Gospel; and for some time he did preach it in his native country with great power acceptance, and success. Hearing, however, that a great door and effectual was open in Australia for the preaching of the Gospel, and that the cry from hundreds of his expatriated fellow countrymen was Come over and help us. he resolved to transfer his labours to this part of the vineyard. In 1837, he accompanied the Rev. Dr. Lang to this colony, in the ship Portland. Mr. Blain s first charge was Maitland, where he soon succeeded in gathering and organizing a congregation by whom he was both admired and beloved. When two divisions of the Presbyterian Church were re-united under the designation of The Synod of Australia, in connection with the Established Church of Scotland, Mr. Blain, in order to carry out an arrangement to ensure the pastor and property of the united body, removed from Maitland to Hinton, on the Lower Hunter. Here in his new field, he set himself, a second time, to establish a congregation, a work sufficiently uninviting and disheartening to any but one who had determined to spend and be spent in the cause of Christ. After great exertions, in an extensive district, and no small personal sacrifice, Blain had the satisfaction of finding that his labours had not been in vain in the Lord and the erection of a Church and manse gave local permanence to his efforts. He made, a quarter of a century ago, a tour through New England and a large portion, of the Northern districts, preaching the Gospel and baptizing where the Gospel had never been heard before. This labour of love is still remembered with thanksgiving by many. When the Abolition Act was about to be passed, Mr. Blain although in all good conscience, and with universal approbation, he might have continued to retain his Government stipend; yet, in order, as he said himself, that the benefit of State-aid might be preserved as long as possible to his poor people - resigned his charge, left his church and manse and transferred the church property and his stipend to a younger minister. From the period of his demission till his death he continued to take a deep interest in all Christian and philanthropic efforts, and regularly attended the meetings of the courts of the church with with which he was connected. Enthusiastic in the diffusion of knowledge, he was a warm advocate and supporter of the cause of education. His name is associated with the establishment of every public school in Newcastle, Paterson, and Maitland district. A short time before his death, Mr. Blain removed to Woollahra, near to Sydney, full of years, and labours, and honours. Here he fell asleep in Jesus, on the 25th day of April 1871, and was gathered, as a sheaf of corn fully ripe, into the garden of the great husband man, for whom he had laboured so long, so faithfully, so zealously, and so successfully.
