The Rev George Hossack, former president Baptist Union of Scotland, born 1914, died January 13, 1998

MANY years ago, a friend of Rev George Hossack, when introducing him to the Baptist churches as their new president, said: ''He is a very humble man, and a genuinely good man. As such he has won the respect and affection of the whole denomination.''

One could add that he was the epitome of grace and gentleness, and one whose altruistic spirit would never allow him to dwell on his own needs, but always on the needs of others. He was also deeply grateful to anyone for the slightest service rendered to him throughout his life.

George Hossack was born in Edinburgh, but his early schooldays were spent in Perthshire. He won the country bursary to Morrison's Academy, Crieff, and while there, made his first contact with a Baptist church.

He returned to Edinburgh to face, with many others, the difficulty of unemployment.

During this period of the early thirties, he came to a personal faith in Christ in the Stenhouse church, and gave sterling service to that church in its early years. He was deeply involved in the work of Sunday School, and in Christian Endeavour, showing at this early stage the gifts of heart and mind that were to characterise his later ministry.

About this time, he took up a private study at home, and secured a London University Matriculation. Not long after this he secured a post with the Dundee Courier & Advertiser, and worked in journalism until the outbreak of war. He was involved in the Rattray Street church there, and also developed and strengthened his writing and journalistic gifts, which he later used to such great benefit in the service of the Baptist churches.

During the war he was called to military service for his country, and served for one year in the RAMC and five years in the REME on radio location. It was during the war that he married May Ramsay, whose warmth of faith matched his own. She became a strong support in his ministry, and had a service to the churches in her own right. She died in 1972.

Mr Hossack was prepared for the ministry long before academic training, by virtue of his rich involvement in local church life. He gladly undertook further studies for ministry at New College, Edinburgh, and later in the Scottish Baptist College. While at the latter, he won the preaching prize every year!

He went on to hold only two pastorates during his 30 years of ministry, first in Maybole for 10 years, and later in Airdrie for 20 years. Prior to settling in Maybole, he had a student pastorate in Bo'ness. His pastoral and pulpit work were of the highest order, and he gave himself unstintingly to the service of Jesus Christ and His church.

During his years as a minister, he wrote with great clarity and effectiveness for the Scottish Baptist Magazine; was Press Officer for the Baptist Union of Scotland for many years; served with great diligence and enthusiasm on the board of the National Bible Society, and lectured occasionally in the Faith Mission College in Edinburgh. He also served on the executive and council of the Baptist Union of Scotland and on the important Ministerial Recognition committee, which was responsible for the interviewing and selection of candidates for ministry. He was president of the Baptist Union from 1968-69.

He had a long and happy retirement, still using his preaching and writing gifts right up until the last year of his life. Though frail and aware of the growing seriousness of his illness, it was still an inspiration and a privilege to visit him, and he would love to talk about Christ and His church, and had a keen interest in the lives of his colleagues and friends within it. His was a scholarly ministry, flavoured with a rich humility, and a real fragrance of Christ.

He is survived by a son, a daughter, and two granddaughters.