NOTABLE SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1921, Page 4

NOTABLE SERVICE.

THE LATE REV. W. CANSELL. TRIBUTE BY THE CHURCH. The funeral of the late Rev. W. Cannell, of New Plymouth, took place yesterday morning at nine o’clock, when a large concourse of people attended at the cemetery, where the last rites were performed by the Rev. W. J. Elliott (minister of Whiteley Church), Rev. W. Grigg (president of the New Zealand Met/hodist conference), Rev. J. Nixon, and Rev. J. F. Martin.

At 11 a an. a memorial service was conducted by the Rev. W. J. Ellidtt, assisted by the Rev. W. Grigg. The hymns were appropriate to the occasion, being favorite ones of the deceased minister, and the choir rendered in a fitting manner “What are These?” by Stainer. The congregation was large and representative from the standpoint of the church and civic aspects. The text of the sermon was Revelation xiv. 13: “And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me, write blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

During the course of the sermon, the Rev. W. J. Elliott said: “Blessed is the dear departed one in whose memory this holy service is held —our loving and highly esteemed brother Canneli. Born in Manchester in the year 1836, of Manx parentage, he lived on the Isle of Mann until he reached his twenty-first birthday. Then he emigrated to New Zealand, and' arriving at Auckland he resided there for some two years. His capacity for Christian service encouraged an Auckland quarterly meeting to recommend him as a candidate for the ministry of the church. He was accepted as a probationer, and appointed to New Plymouth, where he arrived about 1860. Here he labored for a brief period with much acceptance in comradeship with the Rev. John Whiteley, of heroic and historic fame. He com-

pleted his probationary course in th< city of Christchurch, and was ovdeineo in 1865. The inscription in his ordination bible is of more than ordinary interest, and it reads: ‘The Rev. William Cannoli was ordained to the office and work of the Christian ministry of the AVesleyan Church by the imposition of our hands. Christchurch, November 21. 1865.—James Buller (ex-president of the conference), Isaac Harding, John Aldred, George Stannard, William Kirk/ “From this time onward he gave himself hy word and deed to the service of liia Lord and church. His preaching was evangelical and practical, a happy combination, and he continued all his life a keen student and humble learner. He sampled many of the finest specimens of our literature, and was in sympathy with all sanely modern interpretation and exposition of religious problems and revealed truth. He prosecuted his ministry in a praiseworthy manner m all the districts of the Dominion, but the Taranaki—AVanganui, Canterbury, and Nelson districts claimed the greater part of his active work. In addition to lhe competent abilities required for our itinerant work, he united musical talent of no mean order, and his family being gifted in a similar way, he usually had. the stimulus and help of a good choir. During forty years of sendee he established a memorable record, and greatly endeared himself to his brethren by hie loyalty, hie devotion, his unselfishness, his hospitality, his fine tolerant spirit, and gentlemanly deportment. He never yearned after the honors and gifts of his church, and would have blushed to fume against her because of any supposed dereliction of duty. He was the secretary of his district in 1882, and the corresponding secretary of conference between 1880 and 1882. From year 1871 down to 1899, covering a period o’ thirty years, he consistently remained the full term in all his circuits—a very; excellent record. It would be unseemly to scan with undue boldness the gracious realm of hie home, save to say that there was no difficulty in seeing the transparent dignity, affectioh and filial duty so characteristic of the man. He was a faithful busband, a wise fath- r er, and ft trustworthy and honorable - " friend. The large and respectable fatt. ily he has left behind is a tangible proof of his godliness and goodness. “As a citizen he was large-hearted an<X loyal to all the claims of the locality where he dwelt. He was generous to a high degree; indeed, the grace of giving | was one of his finest traits, and this I community and church know that right I well. As long is Whiteley Church his I name will be honored and. his memory revered. Now the manly tread is still, the gracious and candid voice is the cheerful laugh will be heard no more, but the placid smile will not be forgotten, the prayer he offered for a sinner’s pardon will echo in our ear, and his pure and lovely life will linger as an undying fragrance. This morning we committed ' his mortal remains to the tongueless sil- i ence of the dreamless dust. But th ; a | is not all. It is not the closing scene. I It is only the beginning of Like all who depart this life in the faithW and fear of God’s dear Son, he willw emerge therefrom ir; a beauty which 1 man in his innocence never wore, in a | magnificence which angels in their greatness never displayed, and in a purity which shall fill even the mind of a holy god with exceeding joy. So the Christian is more than conqueror. Therefore, let us comfort one another with this hopeful assurance.”