THE FUNERAL OF THE REV. J. ANGELL JAMES.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 229, 30 December 1859, Page 3

THE FUNERAL OF THE REV. J. ANGELL JAMES.

The body of the Rev. John Angell James was peacefully consigned to its last resting place, in Carr's Lane Chapel, yesterday. The whole ceremony was a' sorrowful and an impressive. one. Everything, not excepting Nature herself, betokened that a great man and a good man had departed this world, to be seen no more to partake in its busy strife and turmoil. A dull funeral haze overhung the town, and effectually enshrouded the sun during the whole morning ; the knell of St. Martin's at intervals smote heavily on the ear•;,the shops throughout the, whole, route from Hagley Road to Carr's Lane were either entirely closed or partially so; and silent thousands gathered by the way-side to witness the sad procession. A full hour before the time at which it was announced that the funeral cortege would leave the house, the streets in the line of route began to fill. Tradesmen; artisans, labourers; men, women, and children, of every grade and calling, ceased their avocations for a while. Every eminence or angle of two streets, whence a good view of the cortege might be obtained, was speedily appropriated. Thus, the angles of Broad Street and Easy. Row, and New Street and High Street, of Dale End and Carr's Lane, were crowded; first of all the area in front of the Old Wharf, and in short every available eminence, were next taken, advantage of; and finally both sides of High Street,. New Street, Paradise Street, Broad Street, and even further along the route, became lined with eager spectators. Perhaps the greatest assemblages were those at the late residence of the rev. gentleman, and around the front of the chapel where fifty-three years agone he entered on Us. ministry. Throughout the vast concourse, however, the greatest order prevailed,. The Chief-superintendent of Police, together with Superintendents Backler an,d Gibbs, had charge of the way from the late residence of the Rev. J. A. James, in Hagley Road, to Easy Row; from thence to Carr's Lane, Superintendents Leggatt and Norten were in charge ; and Superintendent Edmonds was in attendance at the chapel.. '• ■■■■<••

A force of 250 constables was distributed along the whole route. For two hours before the cortege reached Carr's Lane, the galleries and the floor pews immediately beneath had b,eea completely filled by members o£ the. congregation, all attired in the sombre qolours appropriate to t\\e occasion,. The centre of the chapel was reserved for those who were in the procession, w,ho speedily filled the space left for their accommodation; and the cafßn, having been removed from the hearse, was carried into the chapel, the six ministers of religion acting, as pajl-.bearers, and the immediate relatives of the deceased following the coffin. llt was placed in front of the precentor's desk during the service. : The officiating ministers were. the I£ev. : R. ;W. Dale, the Rev. Tk. Tidmaiiy and the Rev. Professor Barker.; The service opened by Mr. Dale reading the psalm, "Lord; thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations,"and the chapter, " it; is appointed unto man once to die, a£d after death the judgement." A ye^y fervent and beautiful prayer frojc^ professor Barker followed. M>%,- Da}e then proceeded with the remainder of the service, reading a portion, of the chapter in the Epistle to the Corinthians, " Now-is Christ risen from fehe dead;" and John's apocalyptic vision of the i»ew heavens and the pei^ earth. The rev. gentleman, after an eloquent]! and touching addres% concluded witb. two stanzas of the biyran—' ' UnveiU^iy bosom, faithfultombly *Take this new treasure to thy trust! And give these sacred: relics room Awhile to, slumber in the dust. While these lines, were being sung, the coffin was lowered into a vault in front of the pulpit, and the " sacred relics" of John i\ngell James rested in the spot he had himself selected. The sorrow of the vast • congregation was painfully manifest during the whole proceedings, but at this point it : was espescially caressing, as well as during 1 Dr. Tidarcn'a closing prayer, the emotion of \ that gentleman being very affecting. » The service then closed, but all in the L chapel had an opportunity of taking a f are- [ well look at the spot where their beloved \ pastor and ftwt l»^