Francis Hume Lyall Paton (1870 – 28 September 1938), commonly referred to as Frank, was a Presbyterian missionary and minister in Victoria, Australia.
History
Paton was born in Aniwa, New Hebrides, to Rev. Dr. John Gibson Paton (24 May 1824 – 28 January 1907), one of the first missionaries to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), and his second wife Margaret "Maggie" Paton, née Whitecross, (1841–1905), whom he married in 1864.
He gained his MA degree in Glasgow and Melbourne, was ordained in Melbourne in November 1895, and worked as a missionary in West Tanna, New Hebrides, from 1896 to 1902, when he was forced to leave through ill health. He was then appointed the Presbyterian Church's foreign mission agent before taking charge of the Dunolly church 1904–1907 and serving as the Presbyterian church of Victoria's foreign mission secretary, 1908–1925.
In 1922 he was elected moderator (synod president) of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria.
He was a delegate to the Council of Churches in Victoria and succeeded A. E. Illingworth as president in 1924, but was unable through illness to see out his full year, and from March 1925 his duties were performed by the vice-president, W. S. Pearse. Nevertheless, in June 1925 he was able to take charge of the Deepdene Presbyterian church.
He retired around 1936 and died at his Deepdene home after a long illness, and his remains were buried at the Burwood cemetery.
Recognition
The Presbyterian church in Deepdene was renamed in his honor, and a window dedicated to his memory installed in 1946.
Family
Paton married Clara Sophia Hayer (3 September 1875 – 18 Jul 1966) on 19 February 1896. Their family included:
- Professor George Whitecross Paton (1902–1985)
- Rev. J(ames) Kennedy Paton, Presbyterian minister at Woodford, Victoria
- Francis Heyer Paton
- (Clara) Margaret "Peggy" Paton married Hadley P. Bunton, served as missioner in China
- Elizabeth Heyer "Betty" Paton, missioner in China, married Ashton
- Frances Amy Paton, married Boyd
They had a home at 44 Deepdene Road, Deepdene, Victoria.
Notes
- It is likely he was (in part) named for his father's friend and brother-in-law, James Lyall of Adelaide.
References
- ^ "Rev. F. H. L. Paton". The Age. No. 26, 037. Victoria, Australia. 29 September 1938. p. 16. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "General News". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. 47, no. 2, 439. South Australia. 20 May 1905. p. 35. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Death of Rev. Dr Paton". The Leader (Melbourne). No. 2665. Victoria, Australia. 2 February 1907. p. 23. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The New Hebrides". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 19, 222. Victoria, Australia. 26 February 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The Churches". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 14, 360. Victoria, Australia. 25 March 1922. p. 24. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Council of Churches". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 633. Victoria, Australia. 20 September 1924. p. 33. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Church News". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 533. Victoria, Australia. 25 March 1925. p. 10. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Council of Churches". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 633. Victoria, Australia. 20 September 1924. p. 33. Retrieved 27 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Memorial Window". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 21, 671. Victoria, Australia. 2 November 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- "A Popular Wedding". Geelong Advertiser. No. 15, 279. Victoria, Australia. 25 February 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 28 November 2024 – via National Library of Australia.