THE LATE MR S. J. MORRIS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 123, 20 December 1915, Page 3

THE LATE MR S. J. MORRIS.

Dedication of Pulpit and Unveilinn of Tablet.

Them was a large congregation at St Andrew's Church, Pukekohe, yekterday (Sunday) morning, on the occasion of the dedication of the pulpit and unveiling the memorial tablet to the memory et Mr Morris, the late Manager ot the Pukekohe Butter Factory, who died alter a short illness un Sunday, 20th December, 1914—just a year ago.

Among thote preaent were Miss Morris and Misa Alma Morria, daughters ot the late Mr Morris, his brother, Mr Arthur Morris, and Mra Mirri*. all of whom had come from Ngaruawahia to be present at tha service; Mr Vivian Morris, a ntphew of the deceased, Mr Kirkmar, the manrger of the Pukekohe Butter Factory, and a large number of the factory staif who had made special arrangements in connection with (heir work' in order to be present

The service was of a special character, Paalm 119, Veraea 9to 41, being substituted for the Psalm of the day. Ihe special lessona read by Mr J B Brown, the lay reader, who is alto one of the factory a'aff, and had worked with Mr Morria for many years, » were Deuteronomy 31, verses S to 14, and 2 Timothy 4, verses 1 to 9. The hymns were No. 353, "0 Thou Who makest Soula to Shine," and No. 242, "We Love the Pl:ce, 0 God." Just before the sermon the Vicar, the Rev F B Dobson, said the woid of Dedication tor the pulpit and read the dedicatory prayers. At the conclusion of the sermon, Mr Robert Bilkey, the Vicar's Warden, unveiled tha memorial tablet. The Vicar took for his text the worda "Be being. dead yet •peaketh," and pointed cut that during hia life Mr Morris had set such an excellent example for other Chnitiana to follow, not only in the excellent work he did as a manager of the Butter Factory for so many years, where he was loved and respected by the staff and suppliers alike, but specially in hia work for his church as a regular attendant, a member of the choir, Veatryman, Churchwarden and Treasurer of the Parochial District, and also in his work as a Temperance advocate, and one anxious to see the Bible restored to its place in the achools of New Zealand. The Vicar said that Mr Morria waa the best Itiend he ever had; that he was glsd to know that many othera ware able to say the same ot him. His kindness and sympathy made him the friend cf all, the enemy of none. Iha pulpit, an excellent niece of work from the factory of the > D.B.C. and Cousins and Cousins, Auckland, is in the form of a hexagon on a hexagonal base, built of rimu with two polished punri panels in each face. The arrange* ments of the graining of the puriri wood shows that it was done by one skilled at hii work, aod makes an excellent background to the rimu framework. The pulpit bears a amall brass tablet inscribed as follows: "To the Glory of God and * in Memory of Sydney Jolliff Morris. Born 7th October, 1861; Lied 20th December, 1914. Erected by the parishioners." Besides this tfcere is also a memorial brass tablet placed on the wall of the church just over the place in the choir where Mr Morris used to sit, with the following inscription " lo the Glory of God and in Memory ot Sydney Jolliff Morrfp, Treasurer of the Parochial District ot Pukekohe from its inception in 1905 until his death. Born 7th October, 1861; Died 20th December, 1914. Be being dead, yet speaketh."