The small autobiography of Chaplain John Torrance seems to have been written after his retirement and finished shortly before his death. It was published not long after his death and I wonder whether he finished it with the knowledge that he might not see the finished product.
It is an interesting series of vignettes of the late 19th century, including the lives and deaths of some of the Maori prisoners of Te Kooti's War and from Parihaka. Truly moving is his description of the death of one of them - Watai Tumoerangi, buried in the same cemetery as John Torrance and already published in this blog.
His tenure under the Otago Provincial Government and later as agent of the Dunedin Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society gave him the opportunity to encounter many people whose stories would not feature in any serious history. His humanity depicts them with great sympathy.
The Rev. J. Torrance, gaol chaplain at Dunedin, writes: — "Few will fail to be at one with Dr. Levinge hi his protest against the use of the harsh and inept terms 'lunatics' and 'lunatic asylums.' Perhaps to the bulk of the lunatics of the asylums throughout the country this is a matter of no moment, but it does seriously affect not only a large number whose mental impairment is only partial, and in many instances intermittent, but also generally the relatives and friends of those whose condition necessitates restraint and special treatment by experts. There has for some years been a growing feeling in this regard, and it is to be hoped that it will result in leading to the desired change. The outspoken protest and representations to the same effect, repeatedly made by Dr. Truby King, of the Seacliff Asylum, will doubtless help in that direction." -Press, 27/10/1902.
We hear from Wellington that the Government has recognised the good work done by Mr J. A. Torrance during his long tenure of office as chaplain and agent of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society, and in view of his approaching retirement from his life's work has paid him the compliment of appointing him to tho commission of the peace for the colony. -Otago Daily Times, 11/7/1907.
DEATH OF A GAOL CHAPLAIN.
(BY TELEGRATH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Mr. A. Torrance, for many years gaol chaplain at Dunedin, and organiser of the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society, died at half-past six o'clock this morning after a long illness. Mr. John Ainslie Torrance was born in Edinburgh in 1832, and educated in his native city. He arrived at Port Chalmers in the ship Ben Lomond in 1863, and was first appointed chaplain to the gaol, hospital, and lunatic asylum by the Provincial Government in 1868. Nine years afterwards the Government chaplaincy ceased, but in 1877 the Dunedin, Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society was established, and by it the chaplaincy was continued, with the addition of an aid branch. Mr. Torrance being retained as the society's chaplain and agent. -Evening Post, 10/8/1908.
OBITUARY.
JOHN AINSLIE TORRANCE.
[By One Who Knew Him.]
The death of Mr J. A. Torrance took place at his late residence, Heriot row, at 6.30 this morning, after a long illness.
If our friend could be ferried back for an hour or two's converse with those whom he loved, his nearest and dearest would not expect any original assistance in writing up the particulars of his eventful career. For of matters that related to himself Mr Torrance did not delight to speak much, and no doubt there are in various parts of these Southern lands hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women who knew him simply as their good angel, and never broke through that personal modesty which became him well, and was really so natural as to pass unnoticed.
Once, when pressed to put into writing something concerning his beginnings and his doings, he gave this aecount of himself: "I was born at Edinburgh in 1832; was educated in my native city; came out to Otago by the ship Ben Lomond in 1863; was appointed chaplain by the Provincial Government in 1868; and when in 1877 the chaplaincy ceased, the provinces having been abolished, the Dunedin Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society was established, by it the chaplaincy was continued, with an and I was retained as the society's agent and chaplain, holding that appointment until I resigned and was succeeded by Mr F. G. Cumming in 1907."
In this and in his sayings and doings generally may be perceived a wish to avoid puff and publicity, and that wish is now converted into a command. Nevertheless, the veteran chaplain being by his office a public man, it is not only pardonable but seemly and just to bring to general notice some details concerning his long and honorable life, since the telling will be gratifying to those whom he has ministered to, and also because there is the possibility that some may be thereby strengthened in their resolve to follow in his footsteps.
Any who have that thought in their minds will be encouraged by the fact that Mr Torrance belonged to and came from "the people," as distinguished from the privileged class. Colleges and universities did nothing for him, and so far as can be gathered — for the knowledge of his relatives as to his early life is scanty — he had no special preparation in boyhood for the work that he afterwards took up with such conspicuous benefit to his fellows. All the members of his family, five brothers and a sister, died thirty or forty years ago. His father, it is said, was an austere man. Perhaps this is an unjust tradition; if true, however, it may in part explain the fact that all the sons, except one "ran away" to sea. Four of them were drowned. The subject of this notice also went to sea, leaving home when a mere boy, and he came near to losing his life in the Baltic. The vessel of which he was cabin boy was anchored somewhere near Kronstadt when he and another youngster essayed to clear out from the ship by slipping down a rope to a dingey that was hanging astern. They got away, lost an oar, drifted down the Baltic, and nearly died of exposure and cold before they were overtaken. Not finding the sea congenial, he returned home. He seems early in life to have had an inclination for work of a philanthropic nature, being influenced mainly by the example of a pure-living and God-fearing mother, whose memory he always revered. In his teens he took an active interest in the ragged school — Guthrie's, I think — of his beloved Edinburgh, and this connection with a humble but important educational institution left its impress on his life and character, besides stimulating his affection for the beautiful city of which he always spoke with pardonable pride. It was in Gentle's close, in the Canongnte, that he first saw the light. He had a somewhat limited education in early life, but, like many others, he found enlightenment by an apprenticeship to the printing trade, being employed as a compositor on one of the big newspapers, and, it is said, for a time possessing a "frame" on ' The Scotsman,' where he was classed as "a whip," or fast hand. He left Scotland to come out to Otago as chaplain of the Ben Lomond. In the late sixties he became overseer or "printer" of the 'Evening Star,' this journal then being owned and managed by Mr W. J. Henningham, and issued from an office in Manse street and afterwards in Stafford street, next door to the old Red Lion Hotel. He held this position till appointed chaplain.
Somewhat quick in his temper, he could, when occasion demanded it (as in dealing with some perverse reprobates), work up quite a wrathful indignation; yet he was the most kind-hearted of men, ever ready to give a helping hand. In the days of the "long-timers" many and sometimes notorious were the characters who, after a long incarceration, were brought home to have tea with the family, and sent away with a cheery word and the wherewithal to make a fresh start. To Mr Torrance's then neighbors this was a cause of annoyance, and they confided their expressions of opinion and fears to one another, with the hope presumably that the tales might reach the chaplain's ears. Perhaps they did. and perhaps the chaplain was conveniently deaf upon such occasions.
Often he had to face awkward positions, requiring tact and all the influence of his stainless reputation to pull him through. One such occurrence is related by a member of the family: "I remember an incident in connection with Butler, the noted criminal. Butler had just left gaol after a long term of imprisonment, and was being carefully shadowed by the police. But one day they lost the run of him. Detective Bain knocked at our door, which was fortunately answered by my father, who, to the detective's inquiry, as to whether he knew anything of Butler's whereabouts, with hushed voice bade him begone, indicating with his thumb over his shoulder our dining room, where Butler was having tea with us. On this occasion I know he felt some anxiety, fearing that our guest, did he hear the inquiry, might have jumped to the conclusion that there was collusion between himself and the police."
Notwithstanding the fact that of necessity Mr Torrance was cosmopolitan in his sympathies and his beneficent work, he was a true, staunch member of Knox Church, and an elder of long standing. The late Dr Stuart had a great admiration for the man and his mission, and on one occasion openly declared that if he desired to be specially visited in any time of trouble Mr Torrance would be the man of his choice. The Kirk Session of Knox Church, the different Presbyteries and Synods, on different occasions put on record their appreciation of and sympathy with the veteran chaplain's services to suffering humanity. Nor was the esteem of the present incumbent of Knox Church a whit less than that of the esteemed Dr Stuart. Of the well-known lay workers of the seventies, Mr Torrance was the doyen. One of his contemporaries — Mr James Macfie — passed away long years ago, and now only one remains in active duty. Those who knew Mr Torrance were aware that he had the faculty of expressing himself well both verbally and in writing. Those who have followed his career of usefulness must have observed how His Honor Mr Justiee Williams, at the annual meetings of the society, always carefully pointed out with what discrimination Mr Torrance handled the different cases which he met with, and how striking was the analytical faculty for reading character which he possessed. Dr Stuart often remarked that the providence of God was to him a deep mystery, and surely the mystery of suffering through which our friend passed before the end came is beyond our ken.
Though perhaps liable to worry unduly over trifles, Mr Torrance was really of a cheery disposition and full of humor. He had a dry and effective style in telling a story, and upon occasion, when in the vein and surrounded by agreeable company he would surprise his hearers with his great fund of reminiscences and anecdotes. For foolishness, however, he expressed the greatest contempt. With the Wise Man, he recognised that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, and few of us ever saw Mr Torrance get these things into confusion.
He was fortunate in his marriage, becoming united with a woman of infinite patience, who sympathised with him, who soothed and comforted him 'midst all the vexations incidental to his life's work. Besides Mrs Torrance and his son, Dr James Torrance (of the Bluff), there are three daughters — Minnie (who is married to Mr Robert Wilson, chief assistant Caversham Public School), Miss Jessie (on the nursing staff of the Dunedin Hospital), and Miss Mattie (who resides at the home in Royal terrace). -Evening Star, 10/8/1908.
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