Funeral of the late Mr Wright

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 65, 10 November 1885, Page 2

Funeral of the late Mr Wright

The funernl of the late E. H. Wright which took place, on Sunday last was probably the most imposing event 'which has ever been witnessed in any settlement on the coast. -. At one o'clock the members of the Manchester Rifles, under the command of Lieut. Blackmore, including the Firing Party, and the Band, under Mr Samuel Daw, began to assemble on the Square. At half past one the procession of Masons, marshalled by P. M. Bro Bray, left the lodge room, and the whole being formed in line of procession, marched two deep to the late residence of the deceased. Here an immense concourse of people, in vehicles of every description, onliorseback, and on foot were assembled. After a few minutes the coffin was carried out of the house into a conveyance prepared for the purpose. The bearers were four men 'of the Rifles, and the pall bearers four brethren of the Masonio body.. The order «f procession was as follows : — Firing Party Band Corpse Manchester Rifles Carriage with Mrs Wright Masonic Body Other Mourners Carriages Horsemen The whole concourse inarched to the solemn and melancholy air of the Dead March in Saul by the combined Makino and Feilding Brass Bands, On arriving at St. John's Church the beautiful service for the dead of the Church of England was impressively read by the Rev. Joshua Jones, the Curate. At the conclusion of this ceremony the procession again resumed its melancholy way, headed by the bands. At every yard of its progress the numbers were augmented by fresh arrivals until the advent at the gates of the cemetery when it was discovered that several hundreds of persons had already assembled there to assist. The concluding part of the burial service was read by the Rev. J. Jones, after which, he in his capacity of chaplain to the Masonic Lodge, read the beautiful service for the dead of that body. The W.M. D. H. Macarthur, the officers, and brethren standing round the grave assisted in the usual manner, and one by one deposited sprigs of acacia on the casket containing the remains of their departed brother, as tributary tokens of regret. The firing party of the Rifles, under the command of Sergt. Nicholas, thea fired three volleys over the remains of their departed comrade. This concluded the ceremony. Altogether we should estimate^ that there were from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons presenti The Free Masons sent representatives from Palmerstoß, Marton, Bulls, and Wanganui, and the only brethren were not present of bis own .lodge were detained at home by sickness or other sufficient reasons, or by absence from the district. Every one was accounted for. An eye witness i has stated to us that from 2 p.m. until after 6 there were not fifty persons — of all ages — left, in /Feildmg. The whole population: appeared to have turned out to pay the last tribute' of respect to one who. was better known than any other resident in the Manchester Block. It ■ will be a matjfcer of pride and satisfaction to the widow who is left to mourn in sorrow the loss of her partner and helpmate for so many years, to remember the whole surroundings of the last obsequies of her departed husband. ' j