DEATH OF THE REV J. F. CHURTON.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 108, 10 February 1853, Page 2

DEATH OF THE REV J. F. CHURTON.

(From the " New Zealander," June 79.) It is with sincere and deep regret that we record the death of the Rev J. F. Churton, Colonial Chaplain, and Minister of St. Paul's, Auckland, which look place at his residence, Little Sutton, on Wedueiday last t li=* 271 h inst. His illness was short as l.e ofliciated s. lately ailhc evening of Sunday week althmgh iut'.e opinion of I.is physicians, pleuiisy—the malady which terininaled so fatally—must liave been going forward in on incipient stage longer than was supposed by himself or his 'friends. Dm. Fox. Matthews, Phil-ion, and D.ivis were in attendance, and did all that unremitting care and professional ' skill could accomplish, lint their efforts were unavailing to avert the event which we, in common with the community at large, now deplore. The Rev John FiiKOEnicK Chuhton was bom in London 01 the Ist of Sept., 17S>7, and was consequently in hu 50th year, lie was originally brought up to the legal profession, and practised in London for a short time. Having subierpifnt'y devoted himself to the wok of the ministry, he was appointed Chaplain to the New Zealand Company, and arrived at Wellington in May, 1810. Towards 111 ■ close of that year, he was appointed hy the Bishop of Sydney (in whose diocese New 'Zeal nil iheii was) to the pnstoral charge ol Kiii-sell at the Hay of Islands ; hut on his passage thither he lunched at Auckland, when, at t : ie recpiest of Governor llobson and with the s.-iuction of the Uishop, he consented to t..ke llie oilice of Colonial Chplain. To this was added the incumbency of.Jt. Paul's; while with the Colonial Chaplaincy was connected the charge of ministering to the Troops, • s well a»°to the Hospital patients, «nd the prisoners in the Gaol. All these duties were performed with fidelity ami ellicieiicy by Mr. Chukton from that period to his final illues?.

It has been noticed as a coincidence nol uu\vorlhy of remark, thai the last Sunday mornning on which he preached in St. Paul's (the 9lh instant) happened to he the Anniversary of his artival, on which he exactly completed twelve years of ininislerie.i service. To this circumstance he feelingly and impressively referred in his sermon. Thedealhof Mr.CiiLivroNcannot be regarded as less than a public calamity. As a Minister of the Gospel he was earnest, devoted, and indefatigable. Mis discourses were rich in evangelical truth, embodying and exhibiting with uncompromising faithfulness the genuine doctrines of the Church of Kngland. But he was not merely a Preacher; he was also in the best sense of the term » Pastor, ministe riii;,' from house to house, and g nerally most sine 'o he found where he was needed most. In f'iie chamber of sickness and in the house of i.iOUrhing he whs a constant and welcome, hecause a sympathising and comforting w-iitor. lit'is no small tribute to his worth that the poor are* the class who will must severely feel this •"tereaven-ent. Turn where you will, there are anecdotes to be told of his unwearying lienevoUnce, which knew no sectarian distinction or patty limitation, it was cnovgh that the case was one of undoubted distress, to secure for it all the a'd that he could himself afford, or by his justly extensive influence obtain from others. li seems a wise and gracious dispensation that such a man was not laid a*ide by a long and lingering il ness from the exercises which were to him so fully a labour of love, but that he almost literal y " Ilis (wily with bis charge laid ibirn, And m cucc to tvork mul live." The consolations of th • vital evangelical trirhs which he had preached to others Misti ned his own spirit at the last, juid, we are informed, that even in the deliiium which pieced'd death, the beiit of his mind—the channel in which his dearest thoughts and deepest feelings ran —was indicated by the fact that his language, in its greatest iucol creticy, turned to texts of scripture, psalms and hymns. The sorrow expressed on the occasion is universal, and there is scarcely a shop in town without closed shutters. Ilis Kxcellency Lieu enan'.-Coloncl Wynyardhas directed that the followinj Brigade Order be issueJ to the Garrison: — •'Il is with deep and sincere regret. Mis Excellency the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding the Troops in New Zealand announces the demise of the Kev Mr Churlon, who has so long, ond so indefatigably ui'iiisiered to the Fpi.llual wants and comforts of the troops as Chaplain of the Garr'sou. "i y them his loss must be deeply, and severely felt, for wh ther in the ordinary discharge of his duties—by the side of the sick or di ii'g —this excellent man has ever evinced himself the Soldier's friend. Kver ready with .spiritual comfort, and adiice, and ever attentive to the wants of the military, —even to the youngest child, lie listened with calm attention to every subject placed before him by the men. and with truly Christian, and parental kindness tendered them at all times the necessary explanation. • Me exerted himself for thm as a zealous Minister, and interested himself fur them (collectively, and individually), as an anxious friend, and as such the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding feels assured Ins loss will be lastingly, and deeply, lelt by ihe tro ps, who have experienced his faithful Ministry." I lie funeral is to lake place on Monday next, at three o'clock. Meanwhile the body has been placed in a leaden collin, —attired (according, we believe, to an expressed wish of the deceased) in a surplice which some time since was presented by Mrs. Wynymd and the ladies of St. Paul's cungrega'ion as a token of affectionate esteem to their Minister.