The grave of Dr David Kay is a prominent one in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery. It is the only one with an angel still present on top of the stone and that, plus its impressive stone, must have cost some money in its day.
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Death of Rev. Dr Kay, D.D.
In this issue the death of the Rev. David Kay, D.D., a retired Presbyterian minister, and doctor of medicine, who has been residing at Milburn for many years, is recorded. The deceased gentleman suffered for many years from chronic bronchitis, and consequently led a very retired life, but to those who had the pleasure of being acquainted with him he was a most interesting personality. Probably no person in New Zealand had more experience of the world, or travelled more than Dr Kay; a life of zeal and hard labor furnished the deceased with a vast amount of knowledge, which only a life of travel could inculcate, and although in recent years he was seldom able to leave his rooms, his reminiscences of his early life which he only recounted to his nearest relatives and friends, were listened to with a living interest. In his capacity as a medical man the deceased once took a very active part in combating a serious epidemic which occurred at Milan. The other doctors, with the exception of a few ministers and Dr Kay, left the affected district; but the deceased, nothing daunted, worked with untiring energy to the danger of his own life. For the valuable services he had rendered in this respect be was specially thanked by the Italian Government — and deservedly so. Apart from his many beneficent qualities Dr Kay was highly cultured, and extremely fond of literature and art, and had a library of which anyone might well feel proud. The deceased was also the possessor of a valuable and interesting collection of paintings and copies of originals by some of the best known artists. It was among his books that Dr Kay, while leading a very retired life owing to ill health, used to wile away the hours. He was thoroughly familiar with all authors of note, including the most modern writers. Deceased since coming to New Zealand, did not take any active part in public life. He resided with his sister — Mrs A. Strain — and her family at Milburn up to the time of his leath. Deceased was a widower, and was seventy-five years of age. -Bruce Herald, 8/1/1901.
The Rev. Dr Kay's estate was worth £24,323 - worth in today's money $4,615,578.64c
The will of Mr. David Kay, formerly of Melbourne, but late of Milburn, Otago, New Zealand, Doctor of Divinity, was lodged for probate in Melbourne recently. Testator's personal estate in Victoria is valued at £24,323. Included in bequests are £2000 to his niece, Agnes Staine; £1000 to her daughter, Bessie; and £400 each to ner daughter Maggie, and her son John. To the children named of his brother, Andrew Fay, he leaves Angus £500, James and David £400 each. To James Raitt, of Otago, he leaves £500. Testator also directs that £13,000 shall be invested for the benefit of Sir William Hoste, of London, and his son, Wyndham Horatio Nelson Hoste, or their eldest children, from the residue of the estate. Testator directs that £5000 shall go to the Melbourne University, to found two scholarships to be called Caroline Kay's scholarships. The residue from certain property in Collins-street, Melbourne, is left to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of, Victoria, to be called Caroline Kay's Special Fund Medical Mission to the Heathen, the money to be devoted to spreading the Gospel among the heathen, with special regard to medical missions. -NZ Herald, 19/3/1901.
Some details of Dr Kay's time in Italy can be found in "The Home and Foreign Record of the Free Church of Scotland" (Vol. 5, Aug. 1854 - July 1855), in which he writes of his experience of the Scotsman abroad: "The deterioration of the character in Scotchmen when they go to reside in foreign countries, and the long-continued neglect of our Church to exercise paternal care over them in the lands of their sojourn, or to concern itself about their souls after they have left their native shores, receive a very complete illustration from the history and character of those resident at Genoa. 'Ye have profaned my holy name among the heathen whither ye went,' is a complaint which is equally applicable to the case of very many of Scotland's baptized children, both in Popish and Pagan countries.
"With reference to our Scotch Church here, you are already aware that I landed at Genoa without knowing a single individual in the town, and only one single solitary Scotchman gave me anything like a welcome. When it was known that the Free Church was to have a minister here, the Puseyite party were up and doing; and so successful were they, that not a single family received me heartily, and the majority barely civilly. (Puseyism aka Oxfordianism: a mid 19thC movement in the Anglican Church, begun by the teachings of Edward Bouverie Pusey, which moved it closer in ritual to Catholicism, embracing personal confession and transubstantiation of the Eucharist among other things.) The first Sabbath day three children attended service, the second five children, and my young friend, who has all along acted as precentor, was with me...
"A Scotchman abroad, when he has laid off all outward respect to the Sabbath, and given over attending any place of worship, is the most thorough-going practical infidel to be met with. A German is nothing to him. The one dreams and smokes, the other thinks and sots...
"Many of the shrewd Italian mechanics have argued with me in the following way:- We know very well that the religion of Romes is false - that it ruins mankind - but where can we go to get better? If we must have a religion, we would prefer it to yours, because, bad as it is, it allows us at least one day in the seven for rest and amusement; but since you Protestants have become our masters, we are obliged to work Sunday and every day alike. We wish for glorious Italy that there were no such thing as religion of any kind; and yet, when old people come to die, it is useful to pacify them before taking the dark leap. For us young folks, we have no faith. We once thought if we had the religion of the Inglesi in our country, we would be as free and happy as they; but now we see that they work harder than we ever did; and do things so wicked that we would shudder to think of..."
What wicked things were done by Scotsmen in the wilds of Northern Italy - apart, of course, from setting the bad example of ignoring the sanctity of the Sabbath - seem to have been beyond the purview of the "Home and Foreign Record."
Some details of Dr Kay's time in Italy can be found in "The Home and Foreign Record of the Free Church of Scotland" (Vol. 5, Aug. 1854 - July 1855), in which he writes of his experience of the Scotsman abroad: "The deterioration of the character in Scotchmen when they go to reside in foreign countries, and the long-continued neglect of our Church to exercise paternal care over them in the lands of their sojourn, or to concern itself about their souls after they have left their native shores, receive a very complete illustration from the history and character of those resident at Genoa. 'Ye have profaned my holy name among the heathen whither ye went,' is a complaint which is equally applicable to the case of very many of Scotland's baptized children, both in Popish and Pagan countries.
"With reference to our Scotch Church here, you are already aware that I landed at Genoa without knowing a single individual in the town, and only one single solitary Scotchman gave me anything like a welcome. When it was known that the Free Church was to have a minister here, the Puseyite party were up and doing; and so successful were they, that not a single family received me heartily, and the majority barely civilly. (Puseyism aka Oxfordianism: a mid 19thC movement in the Anglican Church, begun by the teachings of Edward Bouverie Pusey, which moved it closer in ritual to Catholicism, embracing personal confession and transubstantiation of the Eucharist among other things.) The first Sabbath day three children attended service, the second five children, and my young friend, who has all along acted as precentor, was with me...
"A Scotchman abroad, when he has laid off all outward respect to the Sabbath, and given over attending any place of worship, is the most thorough-going practical infidel to be met with. A German is nothing to him. The one dreams and smokes, the other thinks and sots...
"Many of the shrewd Italian mechanics have argued with me in the following way:- We know very well that the religion of Romes is false - that it ruins mankind - but where can we go to get better? If we must have a religion, we would prefer it to yours, because, bad as it is, it allows us at least one day in the seven for rest and amusement; but since you Protestants have become our masters, we are obliged to work Sunday and every day alike. We wish for glorious Italy that there were no such thing as religion of any kind; and yet, when old people come to die, it is useful to pacify them before taking the dark leap. For us young folks, we have no faith. We once thought if we had the religion of the Inglesi in our country, we would be as free and happy as they; but now we see that they work harder than we ever did; and do things so wicked that we would shudder to think of..."
What wicked things were done by Scotsmen in the wilds of Northern Italy - apart, of course, from setting the bad example of ignoring the sanctity of the Sabbath - seem to have been beyond the purview of the "Home and Foreign Record."
David Kay's wife was also named Caroline - she was the eldest daughter of a Captain Hoste, one of the favourite Captains of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. She is buried in the English Cemetery in Livorno, Italy. Captain Hoste's victorious actions at Cattaro and Ragusa - hauling ship's cannon up a slope to overlook a fortress - were the basis of one of the fictional exploits of Patrick O'Brien's Captain Jack Aubrey.
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