FUNERAL OF THE REV. J. F. CHURTON.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 108, 10 February 1853, Page 3

FUNERAL OF THE REV. J. F. CHURTON.

(From the "New Zealander," Feb 2) The remains of this excellent Minister were on Monday consigned to the grave,—the funeral having been postponed to that day in order that the Irish of the dece sed might be acted on by sending to the W'aikato for the Rev. Mr. Maunsell lo officiate on the mournful k*i sion. The del»y did not, however, secure the object, as Mr. Maunsell was unable to come. —himself, having been as we hear with regret, suffering from the prevalent epidemic when the messenger arrived. Shortly after three o'clock, the funeral procession left Little Sutton. There was no fo/nal programme arranged,— at least none as notified; but the order observed was nearly aj follows:

Clergy of the Church of England. Medical Attendants. Tall Bearers. Pall Bearers. P. Berrey, Esq.. Lieut.-Col. Hulme ll* Jackson,Etq., c - w - L 'g ar > Es 1His Honor Chief | W "3 His Kxcy.U -Gov. Justice Martin. Wynyard. The Chief Mourners. Military Officers. About 250 Soldiers of the 58th Regiment, the Sappers and Itoyal Artillery (who attended voluntarily) Ministers of various Denominations. Members of the Congregation of St. Paul's and other Citizens. Odd Fellows in their Funeral Regalia. Auckland Police. Military School. St. Paul's School. The cortege presented a most impressive aspect as it'wound along the n-ad through Mechanics' Bay towards St. Paul's. All classes, denominations, and parlies in the community united as one man to render this last tribute of lespcel and affection. On the arrival of the procession »t St. Paul's ("h-irch, the first portion of the Funeral Service was read in the Church by the Kev F. Thatcher, after which the and still increasing train of mourners followed the bier to the Cemetery, where the Kev. G. A. Kissling read the remaining portion of the sublime service of the Church of England, consig.iing, amidst the tears of not a few, and the sorrowful respects of very many, the dust to its kindred dost, lint, while so committing it, animated by a sine and certain hope of a resurrection day and a resurrection body. We have heard in various quarters the expression of a wish that some permanent memorial of Mr. Ciivrton's life and labour, should be erected by public subscriptions Some have thought a tablet in the Church where he ministered would be especial y appropriate, while others would prefer a monumental .erection in the burying ground where his retrains repose. 'Flic particular character of the memorial would be matter for subsequent consideration, but we believe it to be the desire of very marry that something of the soil should be done without delay.

It is our painful duty lo iiifjrm our Native readers of llie decease of their deservedly esteemed friend Mrs. George Vaile ; which took place on the lGtli of January after a lingering illness. Few Clirisiian women in this land imbibed so large a sliaie of the Missionary spirit as Mrs, Vaile, her anxiety for tic temporal and spiritual welfare of the Natives generally, svas evinced in a variety of ways from her arrival in New Zealand, up to ll.e close of her caithly careei. Very many of her pious acts were unobserved by any human eye, but they are nevertheli si legistered in |;eaven, for it is written, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea saitli the Spirt that they may vest from their labours, and their works do lullnn* them." The excellent letters which appeared in this Journal, from time to lime, bearing the signature of " An English Mother" weic the productions of Mrs. Vaile's pen ; but her extreme modesty led hei to conceal this interesting fact from her numerous friends, and even from the inmates of her own household. Mrs. Vaile's malady was of a painful nature, but she bore her sufferings with Christian resignation, and looked forward to her d.ssolution with a degree of cheirfulnoss which was truly consolatory 10 her weepirrg relatives. In her dying tnoinenls, she realized the saving presence of her Lord and Saviour, and said to one of her children, "I am happy; I have no fear,'* Thus died this exemplary Christian, whose exampln and advice, will we trust, prove a lasting benefit to all her Maoii friends.