BURIAL RITES DENIED SOLDIER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1051, 1 June 1912, Page 4

BURIAL RITES DENIED SOLDIER.

CURIOUS INCIDENT AT FUNERAL OF ROMAN CATHOLIC AND FREEMASON.

An extraordinary incident occurred at Colchester at the funeral of Colour-sergeant Ashcroft, of the Ist Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, who was unfortunately killed in a cycling accident on Easter Saturday, says Reynolds newspaper of April 14th,

Tbe deceased was a Roman Catholic, and a grave had been prepared for his remains on the Catholic side of the cemetery. It appears, however, than an intimation was received from the local Roman Catholic priest that he would be unable to officiate at the burial rites on the ground that the deceased was a Freemason. Another grave was accordingly dug shortly before the funeral in the Protestant portion of the cemetery. The Freemasons who had arranged to attend the funeral agreed to dispense with the customary Masonic rites, but this concession was of no avail, and the deceased was, therefore, interred according to the rites of the Church of Kugland, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. A, V. C. Hordern, Senior Chaplain to the Forces, and a gentleman who served throughout the siege of Ladysmith. The late Colour-sergeant Ashcroft was a man beyond reproach, both as a soldier and a citizen, and the fact that his body was refused interrment by the Church to which he belonged greatly distressed his relatives. The Rev Dean Blomfield, of the Roman Catholic Church, declined to make any statement.