FUNERAL OF ARCHDEACON GOVET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 215, 7 October 1903, Page 2

FUNERAL OF ARCHDEACON GOVET

At 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning a short- service, attended by the familv, wiih held at the kte Archdeacon's res':denc--, the Revs. Canon Oole and A.. P. Smith officiating, and nt its conclusion' . the body was reverentl" convoyed to Ss Macy'a Church and placed imniedmI tely in front of the steps leading to the [choir, whore it remnincd until conj veyed to its last resting place, a guard [of honour being furnished by the Taranaki Rifles under Colour-Sergeant. Armita«e. This was a fitting tribu :e nnd one f.bat wis highly appreciated by the family.! Tha coffin lid was left un closed bo that those who desired to takp a list gaze at the features of one "•) o had endeared himself to all could do *o, and many availed themet/lves of the privilege. Tha bkek drapings of the pulpit an'i Lectern were relieved, by tin maps ol white flowers of which the floral tributes were comprs-'d. These ktte were noV only exceptionally mrmai jus but exceedingly beautiful, it being evident that those who had undertaken thi labour of love had been stimuli!el by the feeling that nothing short of their bust efforts would be worthy of the occasion. This in itself was a touching testimony of. the veneration and esteem in which the late Archdeacon was held by his people. The wreath sent by the teachers and scholars of St. Mary's had been entrusted to Mrs Dockrill and was a beautiful production. That sent by the Te Henui Sunday School had been prepared by Misses Bosworth and Weller and was also very beautiful. The other_ florol tributes all had the same exquisite finish, and it may safely be recorded that such a lovely series of floral offerings has never before been seen in New Plymouth. The funeral service commenaed in the church at 3 p.m., by which time the sacred edifice, which owes so much to the deceased's liberality, was densely thronged—the assemblage being one that only such an occasion could bring together. All the Churches were represented, as were the Suuday Schools and public bodies in the district. It was a memorable gathering, especially as all present were brought together by a common and spontaneous desire to pay a last tribute of respect to a dear departed friend. Whilst the large congregation was assembling the organist, Mr Fletcher, played a sub dued but melodious voluntary in keeping with the sad and solemn occasion. There was a large attendance of the choir, and tho following clergy were present: -Venerable Archdeacon Oole. Revs. P. W. Young (Okato), G. W. Dent (Waitara), A. F. Smith (Te Henui), Watson (Stratford), Reeve (Inglewood), and Bradbury (New Plymou*t). Archdeacon Cole officiated. After the opening sentences of the burial service had teen recited in unit on by the clergy, the " D<md March in Saul" was played on the organ. Psalms 39 and 90 were sung with touching reverence, as was also the beautiful hymn which followed, " Now the labourer's task is o'er," many of the congregation being visibly afftcted. with the significance of \h& woads as applicable to. him who was now at rest after so many years of labour in the church. Then Archdeacon Cole read with telling force, yet with a to!:al absence of declamation, the portion of scripture which forms part of the burial service. This was followed by the hymn " Peaoa, perfect peace," must touchingly and pathetically sung. Archdeacon Oole, who wao evidently almost overcome with emoiion, hrifly addressed the congregation. He a'id his feelings would not permit him to give expressson to tho words he would like to h*ve said, but everyone present knew the Venerable Archd.iacon who had now departed from their midst, and who had lived among them for many years, so that they well Knew

what he was, far better than he (Archdeacon dole) did. He trusted that their Heavenly Father would give them grace to follow his grand example, his i noble work and princely faith. To the , young e3peoially he appealed to follow in the footsteps of the late Venerable ' Arohdeaoon Govett, "God rest his i soul."

During the singing of the concluding hymn •« On the Resurrection Morning " the coffin, preceded by the clergy and followed by the chief mourners, Mr and Mrs Clement Govett, Mrs and Miss Evan?, Mrs Brougham and ethers was carried from the Church by the Churchwardens and taken to the grave a short distance from the east end of the churchy and there committed to the earth, beside the last resting place of the Rev Mr Bolland, the first minuter of St. Mary's. At the conclusion of the service the volunteers fired threo rounds, and the large cqncQurae dispersed, feeling f,h.at the world was all the poorer thjough the loss of the gcod clergyman on whom they had loaked for the hst time,

Among the representatives of puMic bodies present were-His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Cock) and most of the Borough Councillors; the Chairman of the County Council (Sir H. Okey), thd Chairman of the Education Board (Mr E. G. Allsworth), the Chairman of the Hospital Board (Mr G. Tisch), the Chairman of the High School Gover-

nors (Mr N. K. MacDiaimid), the Chairman of the School Commissioners (Mr R. Cock), also the secretaries and several members of the. abive bodies iThe Very Rev Dem was also present. The Ministers Associa tion was represented by the Revs S S. Qaborne and H. J. Lewis (Presbyterian), J. N. Buttle and W. U-innell (Wesloyau), W. Drew and W. R. Woolley (Baptist), J. Nixon (Primitive Methodist). The Council of Churches was represented by Messrs W, Ambury H. Goodacre, T. R. Hoddor, G. H. Maunder, EwiDg and S. Smith. ' , Amongst the numerous fl.>ral tri- i butes wera the following sent by : S:,

Marv'e and To Honui Sunday Schools, E iucatioa Board, Bowling Club, Miss A. Hrmfch, Mm Wo&iiud, Miss Tawsod, Rqv, Mrs Baker aud family, Mr , and' Mrs H. Westou, Mr and Mrs John Young and family, Mr aud Mrs Albert Fookea, Mr and Mrs Harry Fookes, Mr and Mrs Todd, Mrs Revel], Mr aud Mrs Roy, the Misses Stephenson Smith and Miss Curtis, M> and Mrs McKellar, Mr and Mis A, Standi&h, Mrs Marshall, Mrs and Miss Devonian, Mr mi Mrs Allsworth, Mrs and Mis* Sklpon, Mr and Mrs B. Oarthew, Mr Morton, Mrs Thomis King-, Miss Kate Hammerton, Mrs A, B. Weils, Mis Bradbury, Mrs Cornwall, Mrs Cape), Mrs Black, Mrs Dividaon, Mr Newton King, Mrs Kingdon, Mrs Walter Bayly, Mrs W. Web3ter, Mrs and Miss Randolph Smith, Mrs Rwe, Mrs [ Beals, Mrs Griffith, Lidios Guild, Mrs Wplcb, Mr and Mrs S. Shaw, Mrs Palmar, Mrs Srooker, Mrs F. Webster, Mrs Preßt-n, Bible Class Girls, Mr and Mrs C. Rennell and family, Miss Stanford, Mrs Thomson and family, Mrs Earp and family, Mrs 0. Samuel, Mrs Brewster, Mr and Mrs Deaoon, Mm luke and. family, Mr and Mm frid.

[ham, M'-s T'crarp, Mi"? K. 'Cornwall, "'■a'.; Oibbons, Mrs Pa>on, Mrs Cop lurd, Miea Carringum, Mrs Read tind fa-.ailv, Mr and Mrs Spencer, Mr and Ms Bedford. Mr ar.d Mrs Berry, Mr(..ihu.n, Mi:.'sStockley, Mrs A. Owen, '-.. ' raany othrr*. •'he Churchwardens had made ixel.'ent; armugcumnts for seating those a'tending the service in a representative capacity, as well as for the g*nen 1 cocgregation. The* Sunday School teachers of both churches assemblf-d in tho school and ontared the chutch in a body carrying wreaths, which they deposited on the coffin. The volunteers, under the command of Ltutsnant-ColoLcl Elis, marc Led f'-om •ho Drill headed by t'.e Harris sn Band. Tho latter played the " Dsuii March" whilo 110 remains >voi'o bo ; ng rov.vrtyod to tho prave. M."j.ip Okay, Oaptjin-Qu'irtermastpr Ooi-k, Oiptain Weston, and Lieutenant Messenger wero also prs-sent. It was unfortunate that the weather •vas so w<t, as many v»ere th< ruby provented from attending. In addition to the large congregation there was a very numerous assemblage in the nhurehyai d which remained till the clog? of the service, in spite of the rain. The scene was one th<it will be long imprinted on the memory of those present, its impressiveness and the genuine sorrow exhibited being a marked feature ot the solemn service.