At the evening service on Sunday last at St. Luke's Church of England, the Rev. R. A. Scott preached a memorial service on the life of the late Rev. Andrew Toomath who was rector of the Yea Church some 45 years ago, and whose obituary notice appeared in our last issue. The preacher chose as his text the words "I am among you as - He that, serveth" (St. Luke Xxii, 27). In his opening remarks, the reverend gentleman said; "These are strange words for a text at such a service as this, a service in memory of one whose voice sounded within these walls, but has now, after years of suffering, been called beyond the vale. Yet I have chosen them with a purpose, because they seem to me to be the keynote of the life of Andrew Toomath. Some of you remember what a strenuous life this man lived when clergyman here 45 years ago. Travelling was not easy, distances long, yet he spared not himself in carrying the glorious gospel news from place to place, helping wherever he saw the need. His work was conscientiously done and I am sure those who knew him best will agree that the dominant note of his ministry was "I am among you as he that serveth." He heard God's call while a schoolmaster, and obeyed the "Follow Me,"' Yea was his first parish, and part of this building in which we worship was built greatley by his effort. Since then many voices have proclaimed the “Old, Old Story" within these walls, but none more faithful, more earnest more desirous of serving their fellow men for Christ's sake than he who passed away at the good old 82. His life was a consecrated life and such should be the effort of every Christian to make his life a life of service - to go in and out among his fellows in the spirit of our text.- I am among you as he that serveth. Vast opportunities for service are open to all." The preacher made further reference to the life of the Rev. Toomath whilst rector of the Yes parish, and held his life up as an example for others to follow. During the service appropriate hymns were sang and the choir rendered the anthem, "Across the Bar." The congregation was a large and attentive one.

A telegram reached Yea on Friday evening last conveying the sad news of the death early that morning of the Rev. Andrew Toomath, at his residence, "Airlie Avenue," Armadale. The deceased gentleman was well into his 82nd year and in the early year's of his ministry was closely associated with Yea. He was the first resident clergyman of the combined parishes of Yea and Alexandria from 1857 to 1872 and first minister of St Luke's Church, (it having been built during his ministry,) being succeeded in charge by the present rectors father, the Rev, S. B. Scott, In 1873 Mr Toomath became I. of Ch. Ch., Kilmore in which he ministered for 18 years (1873 to 1891) and was R.D. of Kilmore from 1889 to 1891. From thence he removed to the city, having received the chaplainship of the Melbourne cemetery, retiring from the ministry in 1903. The deceased Rev. gentleman has of late years been invalided with ?eczema?, but was a patient suffering under the careful nursing of his daughter Emily. Brief and feeling reference to the sad event was made at St. Luke's on Sunday last by the Rev. R. A. Scott who announced that owing to the deceased Rev. gentleman's early association with Sr. Luke's and the spiritual work of the parish, he would hold a memorial service on Sunday evening next. The rev. gentleman., whose wife pre deceased him by about 14 years, left a family of eight, three sons and five daughters to whom in unity with his old parishioners here we extend our deepest sympathy in their bereavement.