FUNERAL SERVICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1038, 3 September 1883, Page 2

FUNERAL SERVICE.

Yesterday the services in the Presbyterian Church, Ashburton, were conducted by the Rev John Elmalie, M. A., of Christchurch, with a special reference to the death of the late Mrs Beattie, wife of the Pastor of the congregation. The rev gentleman took for his text in the morning, St John, xiii chapter 7 verse, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. ” After an eloquent and impressive sermon he referred to the deceased lady in the following terms : And now brethren, I desire in conclusion to ask you to consider these words as the utterance of a voice from the inner sanctuary, fraught with comfort and consolation to the pastor and people of this congregation to-day. The solemn bereavement which has brought a cloud of sorrow upon this church and upon many outside its pale to-day, is one of those mysterious dispensations which meanwhile we cannot fathom, but which it is co nforting to know comes from a Father’s loving hand, carrying into effect the gracious purposes of an infinite and unerring wisdom. Though the cloud that has thus fallen upon us be dark, it is cheering to know that a bright bow spans it, and even now sheds its rays of heavenly light upon hearts that are wounded and sore, and might otherwise have been compassed about with death’s terrible gloom. I speak of the “ sure and certain hope," in which it is our privilege to consign the slumbering dust of thq : believer to the silenc'e of the grave. There are but few who pause to think—perhaps there are but few who know—that the position of a minister’s wife is one i’’\ v ?l' ving cares, anxieties, and responsibilities such as belong to few positions that fall to the lot of woman. And it is gratifying to be able to say, not in the language of adulation, but in strict consistency with truth, that she whose absence we are this day mourning was enabled so long to hold that position with credit to herself and with so much advantage to the Church and cause of Christ. It > s cheering to us to-day to call to mind those traits of womanly character that shone forth so conspicuously in her daily life and conversation—pleasing to think how unwearying she was in the discharge of duty, how patient in the midst of suffering, how hopeful in the midst of disappointments, how kind, dutiful and affectionate to those around, whether as a wife, a mother, a sister, or a friend. But what it most concerns us to observe is the fact that these traits were but the natural exponents of a genuine Christian life. It has been remarked by those who knew her best that she had a sensitive dislike of all that savored of ostentation o: 1 unreality. Anal as a consequence of this she spoke but little and seldom about Divine things. Her religion showed itseff in deeds much more than in words. Yet when she did speak of the things of God, one has observed who often heard her, it seemed like a voice coming from within the veil, and not unfrequently left a deep and lasting impression behind. One of the strongest evidences of the genuineness of her Christian life was the strength and simplicity of that Christian faith which proved a staff and stay so sure when about to step ,down into the valley of death’s shadow. And this faith whose soulsatisfying object was Christ and Him crucified daily renewed its strength by feeding upon the heavenly manna of the written word. Literally this “ honey from the comb”—this heavenly manna of Bible truth—was most sweet unto her taste. From the lips of him who was with her most during the closing days of life, she craved to hear the “ exceeding great and precious promises” which she said she regarded as belonging to herself in particular as well as to others. Chief among these dear to her heart in her last days we note the following “ Call upon me in the day of trouble—l will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” “Fear thou not for I am with thee, be not dismayed for lam thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. . • • For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee ‘ Fear not, I will help thee. Such are some of the sweetly assuring words that cheered her heart when the last sands of time were sinking, and this being so, we do not marvel when we are told that she found some of the songs of Zion such as that which echoes and reechoes the note “Thy will be done,” specially precious to her soul when the shades of night began to fall, and the billows of that stormy sea to rise, she delighted to sing Jesus lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly. And when the end was drawing near, she breathed like native air the sentiments of Ray Palmer’s beautiful hymn “My faith looks up to Thee,” often repeating with a hallowed emphasis the closing lines —

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold sullen stream. Shall o’er me roll, Blest Saviour then in love, Fear and distrust remove, Oh 1 bear me safe above, A ransomed soul. And now, brethren, this prayer is answered, and from the home with its many mansions we can to-day hear the departed spirit sing ; I shine in the light of God, His likeness stamps my brow, Through the shadow of death my feet have trod. And I reign in glory now. And my humble prayer is that these memories of a Christian life and echoes from a dying pillow may be productive of such results in your hearts and homes to day, as will be a fitting sequel to the experiences we have so briefly reviewed May this humble testimony lead those who name the name of Jesus to follow Him more closely and serve Him more faithfully ; may it lead workers in the vineyard to remember that there are but twelve hours in the day, that the night cometh when no man can work ; and may it lead the careless, the impenitent, the unsaved, to pause and realise the danger of running the tremendous risk of spending another day “ without God and without hope.” In the evening the rev. gentleman again preached to a crowded congregation. He chose his lesson from St John, x. The text of the sermon was taken from St Luke ii, 29 and 30—“ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Mr Elmslie, in a most eloquent manner, spoke of the certainty of death, lightening the gloom by alluding tothe many Christian heroes of past ages gone to their rest, yet still living in the good results of their labors ; and he frequently urged the necessity of Christian life to secure true peace at death.