A CHURCH OF ENGLAND FUNERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1336, 22 January 1881, Page 3

A CHURCH OF ENGLAND FUNERAL.

The following interesting account of the funeral of the Kov. Charles F. Lowder, vicar of S. Peter's London D.ocks, for 25 years, extracted from the Church Review, indicates in a marked degree, the spirit animating Churchmen in the old country, and will doubtless be read with interest :—: — The funeral of the Rev. Charles F. Lowder, vioar of S. Peter'a London Docks, was the most remarkable spectacle of the kiud ever witnessed in London. Arrangements had been made for bringing- over the body on Thursday, and for a series of Services in its presence during the night and oarly morning. It did not, however, arrive until 10 a.m. on Friday, and ten Low Celebrations, the first of which began at three, were performed in its absence. At these services the communicants numbered 165 ; 60 communicating with the Rev. Bryan King at 7 a.m. Tidings that the coffin was on its way being at last received, it was met by a solemn procession at the Old Gravel-lane "bridge. On its way to tho bridge — a, considerable distance — and back to the church befora the corpse, the choir sang tho funeral sentences and the followiug Psalws :— Domun nt ten a (xxiv.), Dohwihs illnininutio (xxvii.), Din rutto'liim xxxix.), and Domine, lb'fugltnn (xc). Several hymns also sung, such as "They whose eo*tf*e on earth is o'er," " Jerusalem, my happy home,'' "0, what their joy and their glory must be ;" &c. The pall-beaiers wore : — Rev. Fr. lienson, Rev. H. D. Nihill, Rev. A. H. Maokonochie, Rev. Harry Jones, Rev. Cosby White, Rev Bryan King, Rev. F. W. Kingsford, Rev. R. A. J. Suckling. The scene, once witnessed, can never be forgotten. The procession was headed by a cross-bearer and acolytes in albs. Then came thurifers swinging ceuseis. Next followed a strong surpliced choii, and about 100 priests in suiphces. After them followed a number of bisters, and finally a number of guilds and coufiateimrieu the Church of England Working Men's Society being especially prominent. The Btreets were lined with the most orderly crowd we have ever seen. Tho people •were mostly poor. Mothers held their babies in their arms. Strong men held the tobacco pipr> in one hand and the hat in the other. The window 6ashes were all tin own up, and were fillsd by sympathetic smht-seei.s Not a sound could bo heard; not mi indecoious or irreveient word ; while many of the poor weie not ashamed to ciy, and not a few altemited their singing with tears. All ti.iffic was suspended. The police weie in the streets to keep crJer, but their services were not needed for that purpose. Among the clergy present in tho procession, in the church, or in the oluuchyard (about 200 in all), were: — Fathei Benson, Rov«i. A. H. Mackonochie, F. W. Kinjrhford, Bryan King, R. A. J. Suckling, Cosby "White, H. D. Nihill, J. B. Wilkinsun, Dr. West, Dr. Belcher, W. H. Cleaver, A. H. Stanton, "W. R. H<-gg, H. M. Maxwell, A. Tooth, H. A. Walker, G Gieenwood, L. Alison, R. R. Bastow, C. J. E. Smith, H. Loehe'o, J. W. Kempe, J. E. Swallow, G Barnes, W. H. Luke, E. Hoskins, W. H Leeds. W. H. Browne, W. Crouch, J. Newton Smith, J. Oakley, Dr. Ross, T. Nowell, M. E. Ruddock, H. G Morse, E. P. Williams, J. P. Kaue, Harry Jones, C J. Fulior, S. Sproston, F. H. Murray, J. P. Paiker, C. S. Wallace, R. Porter, M. Atkinson, J. Jay, J. A. Bruce, J. E. Eldred, J. W. Bi^coe, L. S. Wainwright, Fr. Link! at or, Fr. Downman, John Downie, Tel fold M.iodonough, D. Elsdalc, C Crutch, E. Hoskins, A. Btinkman, S Buss, T. B Dover, C. J Smith, — Burrows R H ll.i wires R. D. Tyssen, — Crmk'-h.ink, Geo. Henn^-cv, >Ye. Amongst those more paiMculaily identified with the district weie Mr Biy.in King 1 , who w,is lector o f St. Georyes-in-the-East when Mi Lowder began his mission theic, <md Mr. Harry J >nes, Hie present rcotoi ; Mi. Kitto, lector of Stepni'v ', Mr. B. Jviugnfoid, rector of Nh.'idwell : Mr Septimus Buss, rfctoi of W.ipping, and Mr. J. M. Vaugh.m, cf J)oflbiooke, South Devon, foimcily vic.ir of St. John tho Evangelist, St. (xeorgoVm-the-Ecisfc. wlio had come to town for the purpose of .-howing his respect to his loimer neighbour. At the Hish Celebiation, the Rev. L. S. Wainwuglit was piie^t, the Rev. Fr. Liukluter deacon, and the Rev. Fr. Downham sub-deacon The Service -was M.irbeckc, except that tho (Jlorta at Jiuchit, was said in monotone. Tho famous sequence of Thomas do Cellano, " JJioi, iuc, iha ilia" was sung to the ancient plain^ong ; and as the chuich, a loft,}' and dignified edifice in the early French ptyle, lends it«elf to Midi music, the effect wasmo.-timi restive. The hermon was preached by the Rev. W. H. Cleaver. It was short, eloquent, earnest, and touched the hearts of the large congregation who heaid it. After tho Hiyrh Celebration and some additional Services, the coffin, in the case which enclosed it, was placed in a hearse, and was preceded by a pioccssion such as that which headed it into Ohurcli back ay;ain to the bridge, hinging hymus all the way. The body was accompanied •by a weeping multitude to the bounds of the pari-h, when the hear&eaud mourners set out for Chislehuist, whr-io the interment was to tike pl"ce. The cottlge having left it, took their places by the special train engaged for the occasion It •was thought that provision for six hundred would have been ample; but it proved wholly insufficient, and it is stated that at least two hundred more travelled by the train. Some who could not afford a shilling for the fare actu- . ally went on foot, though the distance Jbefcween St. Peter's and Chislehurst is '^twenty miles. The scene on Chislehurst oommoD, where trains from Londonbridge and Charing-oross had discharged many mourners, was most remarkable, for it is computed that at least ten thousand persons were present, including about 200 clergy. The whole of the Burial Service was used, Lie body having been proceeded into Chislelnirst Church by the Rev. F. H. Murray, rector, his curates, and sur- { diced choir. The church was crammed, lalf of it being occupied by surpliced priests ; and the Service was sung with much feeling and taste, both within the sacred edifice and in the beautiful churchyard outside. The arrangements for the accommodation of the clergy and the public were well designed and admirably carried out. As a processional was sung " Brief life is our portion. " After the lesson followed 2f,t()w Dumttus, and then, as the body was earned to the grave, " Light's abode, celestial Salem. ' The sun was just now setting at the close of a lovely day. When the body had been lowered into the grave, winch was lined with yew and moss, the coffin being overwhelmed with wreaths and flowers, was sung. " Brother, now thy toils are o'er ;" and when all was over, the rector solemnly 'committed to God's gracious mercy and protection his departed brother and friend. No such funeral as this has been seen in England in modern times — in fact, it •was like a triumphal procession. The thanksgiving and the voice of melody in the streets of East London on a working day, the populace turning out enmase, the church' adorned in white and beautified with lights and flowers—all this symbolized not the sorrow of those who had »o

hope, but the last and beat genuine earthly reward of a good man's love to his neighbour, and John Wesley's ideal, " Rejoice for a brother deceased."