THE LATE ARCHDEAGON GOVETT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 219, 12 October 1903, Page 2

THE LATE ARCHDEAGON GOVETT.

MOOHUf, SIORMO.V BY, AUGHDEACOM COLE. St. lla:y's Church on S'.snday evening was deuse'y packed, The service wiie cjiiilinSucl by tho Vouoiable Archdeacon ook>, assisted by the li&v. A. F. Smith. Tha church was draped ia black in memoiy of tha iate Ven. Archdeicon Govefct and special hymns wore sung. The anthem "Grossing the B*r" was sung before the sarmon, the congregation standing. Archdeacon Oo!e, preaching from 2 Oor. xii 2, " The man in Christ," prefaced his disconrse by remarking that the certainty that their departed brother was with the Saints above made the occasion one of thanksgiving rather than of mourning, for his death was as a triumph after a long and glorious battle for all that was noblest, purest, and beet. He said that it was needless for him to speak of the deceased's life and work, (is that had already been sympathetically and beautifully aliuded to in the daily papers of the town. There was not a member of any congregation in the archdeaconry whose life in some way or other bad not been made tha better and sweeter by tho life of their late venerable and beloved pastor, whose life was of the highest type—realising the full possibilities of bady, eoul, and spirit of full manhood, IMPERFECT TYPES OF MAN,

Nowher-d mora than in ftew Zealand, said the preacher, have there bein a greater variety of conflicting ideals held up for imitation and ardently followed. In referring to soma of fhfse types he said that the first and lowest of all typ s was that of the Men of Success—men who pushed themselves j forward in overcoming obstacles and winning money or reputation at all cost—even to that of their soul*. Men whose praises are 6uog in newspap-rs ind inculcated in homrs and schools. ,; Be somathing," " rise in lifp." Yet what are they after all, but men who judge everything by its relation to their own interests, and possessing no ■ittractions excapt to the ignoble, Men of Physical Culture were another type who were extolled by miny, atd thair worship was in tho exaggeration of athletics. There were thcu 3 ands who asked no more than to possess tha physical perfection of a Sindow. The mere men of health vera, however, but beautiful animals, and could be recouked as men of the future only by those who see but an animal ancestry in the past. , Men of Power stood on a higher plane for it was these that swayed the multitudes and were adored by the populac3. But what were such men ? Merely proud and masterful—the fullest exemplification of whom is to be found in him who fell because he would be greater than his Maker. Then age in there were the Men of Culture, the idol of many, and of whom he world has cvt<r heard. But such men if they have only culture were of the earth earthy, without God and without hope in the world. Highest and best of earthly ideals was the Man of Honour. th,e highest grace that man has learned, the. noblest fruit of hunun effort, ' The ideal snight of the past, the representative )f chivalry to-day. Yet he who has :>ut honour lucks the higher virtue of ie!f-sacrifice' and the greater grace of buorility, nor is he the man for whom «h a workj craves in tender moments,

THE IDEAL HAH.—" THE Mil* IK CHRIST."

The man who is needed, said Arohleacon Oolp, whose life wns worth following, was one for whom the waters )f baptisrn meant a constantly renewed a«art, on whose brow the traced cro*s told of his living the life of the cruciSod, whose communion with God renlered him strong to endure; in whom •11 earthly ideas and virtues are transfigured into nobler things, and whose presence is as an angel coming into our iaily life from a higher sphere. He knows what is the despair of humanity, the burden of sin, and the philosophy ;f life. Ho is the man to deal with he world's problems and solve the head soch! questions, because ha has diviee wisdom, Such, then, is the man in Christ wise, helpfu', and strong, This man whose is the future, for whom sin-burdened humanity lifts up hands of hop*?—this is the man worth following, 0:' such were the late Henry Govatt, William Oraed, William B:l----land, Henry Handley Brown, John Whiteley, Francis Tresaliet, and many othets, as well as laymen, who are now in the Paradise of God. The supreme question that arises if, " What; wilt thou do in the dwellings of Jordan '(" The man in Christ replies, '• My duty is to make the world better, com? what may, I will trust God and leave the \ issue in Hfe hinds'? So was it wii.h Archdeacon G-vtttas.i wkh a niulfi tudo that no man can number. Lastly, "the man in Christ" is helpful in doing goad. In his pulses throbs the syiup.thy, in hu corves thiills the compassion of the world's Redeemer. It will over bo that in measure as Ken I are partakers of the spirit of Christ they will be helpful and precbus to humanity. With all his poor human weaknes 1 , with a!i his faults and shortcomings, this highest type of manhood was represented as a living epistle to bis people in the life of Henry Govett -pries' 1 , scholar, gentleman, i. WOJCfHY IJEMOHIAI,. t

The question suggest itubjf. What are you goi-g to do to perpetuate such a type, which would be the best inomoiisl to him. His mantle has fallen upon uf. Will you take it up? Will you do what-he did in Taranaki ? There are noble empire builders here, men and womea in the country parts of! your province, who are the true Im-! periahVs, who do more towards civilisation and humanity than all the armies of the world put together. Men and women of the best type of our own glorious rac:', whose noble and heroic work puts to ebame the men and women of this age who give themselves j to ease and luxury, and the demagogue 1 who prates about his hours of labour in em towns, What are you going to do

to help ihnni .'rhoy hnvo tio perns', to hip:izd !,li-ir iii.Vil-.-: miO', i.iioy luvii u.i on') to bury tli'iir li.avil Mil, th >y hivo no o'iG to m'ii'cy thoir youn<; man find maiiier.n, thoy have no ono to toll of Uio Wo :u:J oonsi:! ition of a mu'oii'ul .S'Viout' —tho earpntor of Nazatw'u. What are you s; >ir>;» tod>? Oh, fr

:ho si ! :o of all tha'; is firuo and boauti-1 i-'nl, for fhosiko of ournohl • »n^i';o;H, ', fir the fculco of Go), if you wish to p<irp:)Uu.to tbe memory of your diiar utistor ami the Honry Brow;jK, i'o not jiarpotnate it only in mort.'ir anc' stotio which will crumble into decay, i-.ut also by Huino me.uis which will bring light and comfort and consolation into okn lonely h unlets of the back W >cta? of the province--in doinjj pometbiiigthiit vill help build tiiinph.a of livti:.; uton s r<> Guii, of firiti.-ui unci Maori, which will be :m beaenfl- of li<ht t!ir.ns;.;hi!iis t! o Archdeaconry h Ipirig ami ':nidinx 'othow t) live tho Lfa of '• I'he M.iii iu IChrsi."

This, indoi-d, would b) a worthy mrj;;uiai».t of di;: life of such man as tho fchroo moil who buiit so nobly us William Bo'dand, Homy Gove':t, and Henry Handliy Brown, men in Christ." During tho offertory tho hymn "P«saco, perfect; peieo" was most feelingly sung. This was followed by tho hymn " Fight the good fight," the stirring stroma of which rang out with telling force. Then the whole congregation joined in the "Te Deu«n," a veritable outpouring of praise, which, after the Benediction, cloaad a service memorable in the annals of the church and peculiarly appropriate to the occasion.