The Funeral of the Late Mr Hastie

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 139, 23 June 1888, Page 2

The Funeral of the Late Mr Hastie

! The funeral of the late Mr James I Hastie took place on Thursday afternoon. At one o'clock the Freemasons, of which, craft deceased was a member, met in the lodge room, where the customary solemn rites for the dead were performed. The brethren, of whom there were visitors from Marton, Bulls, and other parts of the district, then formed in ranks and marched to che Feilding Hotel, where they took a last look at the remains of their deceased brother. The funeral cortege was then formed. The Masons headed the procession, followed by the hearse, which in its turn was succeeded by carriages containing the chief mourners and relatives, next came carriages and vehicles of all descriptions, and in the rear of them a large gathering of horsemen, making in all a line of nearly half a mile in length of friends and well wishers of the bereaved family who desired to testify, by their presence, the respect in which the deceased and his family were held. Arriving at the Cemetery the Eev. H. M. Murray, of the Presbyterian Church, officiated, and gave a most impressive address, at the conclusion of which Brother W. Carthew, Worshipful Maeter of the Feilding Masonic Lodge, delivered the solemn and impressive Masonio ritual for the dead. The brethren then deposited sprigs of acacia on the cusket, and after marching slowly round the grave the sad ceremony was concluded. We may state that a number of the business places were closed in the afternoon.