DEATH OF MR. ROBERT LAMBERT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5196, 16 November 1877, Page 7

DEATH OF MR. ROBERT LAMBERT.

Another old colonist, Mr. Robert Lambert, died suddenly on October 27th. The deceased arrived here about the year 1845, and for many years was employed as clerk in the firm of Messrs. W. M, Bannatyne aud Co. For some time past, however, he has been living independently. Mr. Lambert was one of the oldest Freemasons in the colony, and had been elected Master of the Pacific Lodge on several occasions, and was well known to all the members of the craft here. He was a man of most kindly disposition, ever ready to render assist-, anco in the work of his Lodge, and to aid others, and his death will be very widely lamented.' Deceased was about sixty-five years of age, and unmarried. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Thistle Hotel ou October 30th before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. Fredk. Luhning was foreman, touching the death of Robert Lambert, an old aud highly respected settler, who died suddenly on the 27th iust. The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said the deceased was an old colonist whom he had known many years, and who was probably known to many of the jury. He was a single man, living a solitary life; but was of a cheerful, active disposition. His character was a most exemplary one. He was ever ready to do good aud to promote peace and reconcile quarrels amongst his neighbors. He was accustomed to spend much of his time iu working in his garden, and had been so employed up to within a short time,of his death. There was no doubt he died from' natural causes; but in all cases of sudden death, where no medical man had been in-attendance, it was customary to hold an inquest, and for that reason the jury had been called together. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken ;■ — Dr. Diver deposed: I knew deceased, Robert Lambert. I had not seen him for sometime previous to his death. On Saturday evening about 9 o’clock I was called to see the deceased, and went to his residence immediately. I found him dead. He was lying underneath’ his bed. The body was cold, and deceased had apparently heeii' dead some hours. I made a post mortem examination of the body to-day. There were no external marks of violence. The hotly was healthy. On opening the head the surface of the brain was found to be much congested, and in the left ventricle was an immense clot of blood, four or five inches iu length. There was also a large clot of blood deposited in the left ventricle of the heart. The’ cause of death was softening of the brain, producing apoplexy. Leonard Dixon deposed : I am a cab proprietor, living near deceased’s house. I have known him several years, and last saw him alive about 11 o’clock ou Saturday, when he was trimming the fence near his gate. He appeared in his usual health. He was in the habit of getting me to send him a newspaper' every •vening, and on Saturday evening my little girl went to his house for the purpose, but the blinds were down, and she thought he was out. About 9 o'clock I went over to his house, and found him lying dead on the floor. Mr. Mowbray and Mr. Osborne were with me. The body was quite cold, aud life had apparently been extinct for some hours. Information was given to the police, and Dr. Diver, who was sent for, came soon afterwards. Deceased was very temperate iu his habits. He was unmarried, and lived quite alone. The jury, under the direction of the coroner, returned a verdict of death from natural causes, to wit, apoplexy. i THE FUNERAL. ■ The remains of the late Mr. Robert Lambert were interred iu tile Wellington Cemetery ou October 31st. A large number assembled to follow the deceased to the grave. The various lodges met at the hlasonic Hall, in Boul-oott-street, and proceeded in the regalia of their respective' lodges to the late residence of the deceased gentleman, iu Sydney-street. The following was the order in which the procession marched to the cemetery;— District Grand Tyler. Visiting Brethren from other Constitutions. Waterloo Lodge. No. 463, E.C, Tyler and Inner Guard. Stewards. . ' Master Masons. Secretary and Treasurer. Senior and Junior Deacons. Deputy Grand Master (Carrying the Volume of the Holy Law). Past Master. Bight Worshipful Master. Brethren of the English Constitution. (The Wellington and Pacillo Lodges marched iu the same order as the preceding lodge.) District Grand Lodge, Nortli Island, E.C. District Grand Sieward. Pursuivant. Organist. Sword Bearer. Deacon. Secretary. Treasurer. Chaplain. Wardens. Fall Beaters. Tue Corns. Pall Bearers. Bight Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Toxward. Private Friends of Deceased and the Public.

On arriving at the gate of the cemetery the procession formed on each side to allow the coffin to be borne down the centre to the mortuary chapel, . The Rev, B. W. Harvey read the English service for the dead. The mortal remains wore then removed and lowered into the grave. The Rev. Brother Nicholls performed the service for the dead according to the Masonic rites. Brother P.M. Woodward then delivered a funeral oration ' as 1 followsßrethren,I—The 1 —The present occasion presents to our view_ a striking instance of the uncertainty of life, and demonstrates the vanity of human pursuits. When last I had the honor of joining with you in a funeral service it was to the 1 memory of ■ our then lately deceased Grand. Master the Earl of Zetland. Now, while no one would have been less likely than Robert Lambert to have pronounced his name in the same sentence with that of the puissant earl, yet, as in Masonry there are lesser'as well as greater lights, I feel that X shall not be gainsaid when I assert that of the lesser lights few shone more brightly, and none gave forth a clearer or more consistent ray than our brother who has departed. ! Eor nearly thirty years X have’had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and can now- 1 unhesitatingly say that which is the most honorable eulogy that can be pronounced upon any man,—the longer and the better he was known, the more highly was he esteemed 1 and respected. ; What Masonry owed to him none even here, can* tell,' though many will ‘ cherish for long years to come the memory of what ho was. But the sprig of acacia which we reverently place on his grave is not the emblem of death,' but of young budding life. , We say "He is, dead,” but really it is that 1 the'/Great Architect ’of the Universe has called him to the grand lodge above. His body is buried in peace, but his soul livoth for evermore., Let us theu : so follow' in his footsteps that when the call shall come, as it will come for us, the “bright morning star,” which ever. brings light and salvation, may

‘so'' illumine "''llie" 1 that we may pass - .through-it uufearing aud uuharmed, and enter those glorious man-sions-where: the greater—nay, the greatest light—shall shine with unwavering and eternal glory. -I stand before no common assembly, but an the presence of those who have known the departed as a brother ; and whilst we feel that'he-will not return to us, but that we shall go to him, let us leam so to live, each in our several sphere and station, that we at last may hear the Master say “Well done good aud faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”—So mote it be. At the conclusion of the oration the brethren passed round the grave in due order, dropping into the grave a sprig of acacia. The procession then re-formed and returned to the Masonic Hall.