The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1903. THE PASSING OF ARCHDEACON GOVETT.

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

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1903. THE PASSING OF ARCHDEACON GOVETT.

The mortal remains of the Venerable irchdeacon Henry Govett, M.A., were aid in the graye plose to the church te loved so well on afternoon vith all the honours the pubUc of New Plymouth could pay to one who oocu )ied such a prominent and honoured jlace in the community. Succeeding lis friend and feljow student, by whose side he now lies, the Bev. J. Balland, who began the .veotion of St, Mary's Ohurch, for over fifty years he" filled the pulpit, and saw the church and congregation grow from very smal

beginnings to its present large anc prosperous condition. How large i share he had in bringing about th present prosperous condition of th place and people only those who hav worked side by side with him durinj the past; 60 years know. During hi whole career he always kept steadily ii vi*w that it is righteousness that ex alteth a nation, Hence he made th' religious welfare of the people his firs consideration. Always a loyal am Btaunch churchman, he readily co operated with the ministers and peopl of other denomination in everythinj

for the moral and religious advancement of the people, fit was broad in hia views anc liberal in his assistance to even dese-ving cause. His wise and carefu! administration of the Archdeaconry o Turanaki has brought aboui the prases prosperous condition of the Ohurch o England in Taranaki, Those who hav. worked in the outlying districts knov how largely he assisted by his wis counsel and often with his private purse in keeping alive the church ordinances in places where, in the early

days of settlement the struggle for existanca left a vary small margin for the support of church seryice<, Daring all this the late Archdeacon, by hit methodical and business-like habits found time to take part in social and public functions. DuriDg the troubled times of the Maori War in conjunction with the revered Kev. John Whiteley, h e "'ant in and out amongst the troops, the settlers, ?*& ©yen the Maoris in the most intrepiU manner. After the war he earnestly promoted the acta ol peace. He took a keen interest iu the educational welfare of the people and was for seme time ohiirman of the Education Board. He was, however, s strong believer in religious educitior and started and maintained a day school in connection with St. Mary't i Church, where he often himself gav< the instruction to the children, fcwc 'days a week being devoted to religion

iußi.rucl.ion. A man of remarkably ovon lernp. -ram.-nt throughout r;ll the trials and difficulties of his public career, lih gained and retained tbe respect and esteem of every ono hy his calm judicial treatment of the many difficulties he had to face. In private life he was of a very liveable disposition. The tiibu'e paid to his m«m< ry on Tuesday was a ncarked and fi'.tiog recognition of his noble life. ISo mare representative gathering was ever seen within the walls of historic St. Mary's. Closely identified as St. Mary's Church has been wi'h the proprtss of the com- [ munity, Tuesday marked an era in its ■ history which will never be forgotten by I these privileged to be present. I men of every creed and denomination, tbs I lepresentativsK of every load body, the J Tade and labour organisations, tne secondary and primary sthoolsto honor I the memory and express sympathy with bis beroavod relatives. We cannot [ *rite of his death as a loss because it is a happy releasu from much pain and suffering, and he had been eparad to live mail's allotted sp.iee ai;d complete his lift-.'a work. But wo cm point to him as a great and noble < xitnple as one who, undsr auy circumstances, did his dnty nobly as one to whose life ws may commend our young- men and " go thou and do likewise."