THE LATE MR E. JAMES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16410, 2 January 1919, Page 7

THE LATE MR E. JAMES.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED. At St. Peter's Churcli, Temuka, on Sunday, a marblo tablet, crected to the memory of the late Mr Edmund James, was unveiled by the vicar, the Rev. A. H. Norris. The tablet has boon erectei! on the south wall, almost opposite the main entrance, and very near where the late Mr James used to sit. The vicar took his text from St. John i.. 14: "And tho word was mado flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glonr as the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." After the sermon, the vicar said: "I have spoken of the degrocs of virtue, because I want to speak for a few minutes of a man whom many of you knew, and more than any man I have known, mado it possible for us to know the beauty and the grandeur and the greatness of the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. Edmund James, the man whose name we seek to perpetuate in this church, was in many respects a Christlike man. Like liis Master, whom lie rcverenced and loved, and tried to follow, he was a man who loved righteousness and truth and justice, and whatever is lovely. He hated iniquity, and; withal there was Christian humility, no sense of self-righteousness marreel his fine sense of indication. He hated a cold, calculated lie, and yet he was morciful and humane in his judgment of those who fell or erred through weakness. There is no need to dwell on his generosity and benefactions, for all knew how wonderfully and bountifully generous lie was. In* relief of distress ho was incomparable in the district. "Would that those of equal or larger means would follow his example. Some men at the end of their lives are able to have earned the admiration of their follow-men for their brilliant attainments and achievements, and some earn the quiet respect of their follows —respect for their ecodnoss. Few men earn both the admiration and respect-, and also tho love of their fellows. Edmund James we respected and wo loved. We respected him fo r his magnanimity and his marvellous patience through long years of pain, often ncromsing; we loved him because of the wonderful love which ho gave to others whom he called his friends."