utmost loyalty and devotion. The substance of his teaching was published in 1893 in the volume entitled Christ in Modern Theology, which its author described as ‘an endeavour, through a Christian doctrine of God, at a sketch of the first lines of a Christian theology’. The book speedily passed through twelve editions. It was followed by The Philosophy of the Christian Religion (1902), and the two together gave a fairly complete presentation of a theological position which proved both stimulating and constructive at a time of stress and uncertainty. The theology is of a mediating type and, since it expresses the reaction of Fairbairn’s own mind to the intellectual conditions of his day, is perhaps more helpful ad hoc than of permanent value. The books, will, however, always be worth reading for their great learning, mature wisdom, and vivid and penetrating analyses of men and movements. Among Fairbairn’s other writings are two volumes of sermons—one, The City of God (1882), a real contribution to apologetics, the other Catholicism, Roman and Anglican (1899), the substance of which had been the occasion of a sharp controversy with Cardinal Newman—and also a volume of Studies in Religion and Theology (1910). He also wrote for the second volume of the Cambridge Modern History (1903) chapters on Calvin and on Tendencies of European Thought in the Age of the Reformation.
All this literary work was done in the intervals of an exceedingly busy life. Before coming to Oxford, Fairbairn had won a definite position as a trusted leader of the Free Churches, and he was in request all over the country as a preacher and lecturer. He paid several visits to America and lectured in many university centres. In 1898 he went as Haskell lecturer to India. He served on a royal commission on education (1894-1895) and took a leading part in framing the regulations for the theological curriculum in the Welsh universities. Educational questions always deeply interested him; and, where they were concerned, he did not shrink from political controversy.
Fairbairn married in 1868 Jane, youngest daughter of John Shields, of Byres, Bathgate, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He died in London 9 February 1912.
Fairbairn was loved and honoured by a wide circle of friends. He was devoted to his family and never so happy as when in his hospitable home. He was a keen conversationalist, a little dogmatic and assertive in manner, but always with a sense of humour, and a sensitive appreciation of human needs and failings. His wide knowledge of men, books, and affairs made him a most entertaining companion. Above all he was deeply religious. His monument is the college which he founded and the multitude of lives ‘made better by his presence’.
[W. B. Selbie, Life of Andrew Martin Fairbairn, 1914.]
FARWELL, Sir GEORGE (1845–1915), judge, was born at Codsall, Staffordshire, 22 December 1845, the second son of Frederick Cooper Farwell, of Tettenhall, Staffordshire, agent of the Duke of Cleveland, by his wife, Louisa Whitbread, daughter of Admiral Sir Frederick Michell, K.C.B. Farwell was educated at Rugby School under Dr. Temple and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he took a first class in classical moderations and a second class in literae humaniores (1868). He was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn in November 1871 and, having decided to practise on the equity side, he read as a pupil in the chambers of Sir John Wickens, the vice-chancellor [q.v.]. He then assisted Horace Davey (afterwards Lord Davey, q.v.) as ‘devil’. In 1874 Farwell published A Concise Treatise on the Law of Powers, which was quickly recognized among practitioners as the standard work on this subject and added considerably to his practice. A third edition, revised by the author’s son, was published in 1916.
Farwell’s rise was steady, and in 1891 he became a Q.C., attaching himself to the court of Mr. (afterwards Lord) Justice Chitty. On Chitty’s promotion to the Court of Appeal Farwell migrated to the court of Mr. (afterwards Lord) Justice Romer. He was an able and pleasing advocate, though not combative, and speedily acquired a substantial practice as a ‘silk’. In October 1899 Farwell was appointed an additional judge of the Chancery division and was knighted. As a judge he displayed marked independence of mind as well as learning and ability. In September 1900, when Farwell was sitting as vacation judge, it fell to him to decide, in the well-known case of Taff Vale Railway Co. v. Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, whether an action would lie against a trade union in its registered name in respect of a wrongful act committed by its agents. Farwell answered this question in the affirmative. His judgment was reversed by the Court of Appeal but restored and much praised
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