FUNERAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 15

FUNERAL

THE REV. W. H. JOHNSON

The death occurred at Waikari recently of the Rev. William Henry Johnson, minister of the WaikariHawarden Presbyterian Church. He was in his thirty-first year. Mr Johnson was ordained and inducted into thi« charge by the Christchurch Presbytery in June, 1937, and although'his ministry had been a short one, he had won the esteem of the whole district.

There was a very large attendance at the funeral service, held in the Waikari Church, before the casket left for interment at Palmerston. The church and ball were not large enough to hold the congregation. Representatives of every denomination Were present, as well as members of the various societies and sports bodies in which Mr Johnson had been interested. The service was conducted by the Moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery, the Rev. James Robertson, assisted by the clerk, the Very Rev. George Miller, and the Rev. I* Farquhar Gunn, a fellow student of Mr Johnson, who gave the addfess and paid a tribute to his worth and work. Other members of the Presbytery present were the Revs. W, W. French, G. L. Taylor, R. Warnock, R. Leishman, 15. Martin, -J. Watson, and N. J. Stevenson.

. The pall-bearers from the hospital to the church were members of the ‘ United Football Club and tbe Sports' Association, Messrs W. P. Honeybcne, H. Gorrie, G. W; Soal, H. Phipps. H; Watts, and H. Saundercock. From the church, the casket was carried-by' the office-bearers. Messrs D. Black, J. McAdam, F., Trounce, F. D. Dalzell, J, Stewart, and R. J. Lewis. As the cortege left the church, members of the Scout Troup, recently formed by Mr Johqson, formed a guard of honour. - Memorial services were conducted throughput the parish by the Rev. L. P. Gunn on rSunday, and were‘ : largely attended. MrGunn spoke from the text, “He being dead, yet speaketh,’* and applied this to-the life and work pf Mr Johnson;