DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS AT A FUNERAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5466, 26 January 1885, Page 3

DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS AT A FUNERAL.

Burial of the Victim of tho Elliot-streoi Flro.

Onk of tho most extraordinary and disgraceful occurcnces ever witnessed in Auckland happened yesterday afternoon, at the burial of John Henry Holme?, sconic artist, the victim of tbo firo in Elliot-street. Briefly stated, the circumstances that led up to tho affair are as follow :—Some theatrical friontls, including Mr P. Dornn, hearing on Saturday afternoon that the lx?dy would be giver a pauper's burial, decided to make a collection to defray tho cost of a decent funeral. Mr Doran saw Mr Leaning, undertaker, and having informed ht"u of their intention, asked what would bo tho cost. Mr Inning, who had known Holn.es, said he intended to bury tho body himself; but it was eventually decided that the subscription should bo raised 50 that Leaning should not havo to bear the whole cost. Doran collected about £1, and handed tho list ovor to Mr Mackinlay, with whom Holmes had resided, and he (Mr Mackinlay) oollootod a sufficient amount to defray tho whole cost of the funeral, tho principal subscribers being members of tho Freethought Association. According to one statement It was arranged that tho deceased should have Christian burial, but this is denied by Mackinlay and others, two members of tho EYeethought Association having on Saturday afternoon made arrangements that Dr York, ft Freethought leoturer,(orMr Ellis, a member of the Psychological Association ghotild deliver a secular oration at the grave. On Sunday afternoon, shortly after 2 o'clock, an hour bofoie the timo fixed for the funeral) the Rev. Mr Tobbs was requested by Mr Orlando Mozzole'ii to eouduct the burial service, and Mr Tebbs proceeded to tho general cemetery, Syraonds-streot, with that intention. A disgraceful scone ocourod hore. The Froethoughtmournors objected to Mr Tobbs presence, but that gentleman maintaining that tho deceased was a member of the Church of England, and that there was no proof that he had abjured that faith, said he was determined to give the deceased Christian burial. The Freethinkers, on the other hand, maintained that Holmes had always been a Freethinker. While the wrangle was proceeding, the body was left in the hoarse fully 20 minute?, and when it was conveyed to tho grave, 'and the reverend gentleman commenced the burial servico, he was interrupted by interjections such as "Shut up," " You'll be persecuted for this," " Cut it short," "Bosh," &c Two members of the Freethought Association stood at the head of the grave, and so prevonted Mr Tebbs from taking that position. Mr Tobbs, howover, proceeded to read the burial service, standing at the foot of the grave, despite many interruptions. When ho came to the words "Ashes to nahes" Mr Mackinlay, who had been standing at the head of tho grave, said hotly, " We've had enough of that bosh. He was silenced by loud cric3 of "Shame I" from the largo crowd, which by tills time had collected. Mr Tebbs having concluded the service the sexton proceeded to Oil up the grove, when the Freethinkers Invited Mr Ellis to proceed with his oration. That gentleman, however, being actuated by a desire to prevent further indecency, declined, and the crowd soon dispersed. A reporter from thi3 office interviewed the principal persons engaged, and found that while there is a general agreement on the main facts, as briefly narrated, there i i a dispute as to the religious belief of the deceased, and the circumstances attending the arrangements for his funeral. Mr Mackinlay, sign writer, of Elliott street, says he had known the deceased 3 or 4 yoars, and for the past 15 or IS months he had allowed him the use of a room over his workshop without payment. He was a decided and thorough Freethinker. He did not think he ever was an Episcopalian. His father was a Roman Catholic, but died an atheist. The deceased married a Catholic, but he allowed his children to be baptised in that faith. On Saturday he arranged with Mr Loaning that ho would make a collection among his friends, the Freethinkers, todefraythooxpensesof burial. He deputed Mr Boss and Mr Martin, two Freethinkers, to see Dr. York to arrange with him for the service at the grave. These gentlemen subsequently informed me that they had made arrangements that Mr Ellis, a member of the Psychological Society would conduct the service, and if he was unable to get away, Dr. York would do so. We told Mr Learning of this, and he made no demur, and nothing was said about Mr Tebbs being requested to attend the funeral. We as Free-Thinkers thought that Mr Tebbs's presence in Ids sacerdotal capacity was an outrage, and the remarks we made duringtheservice were intended as protests against his action. We have a right to bury our dead in our own way, and a church of England clergyman has no right to interfere- Mr Ellis having loft the grave we were in a dilemma, but if* 1 had had a secular sermon with me, I s'ould hare read it

Mr Orlando Mazzolini states that on Saturday evening, hearing that Mr Holmes was to be buried with a service by Dr. York, a Freethinker, and knowing woll that deceased belonged to the Church of England, besides being a Freemason, he had a conversation with Mr McGowan on the subject. Weagreedtbatit wouldbeproper tohivejhim buried according to the rites of the Church, and.l undertook to arrange the matter. I-'MW Mr Tebbs, who received me most kindly: and after hearing my statement, said, he would be glad to officiate; but as he bad a christening at tbroe o'clock (thehour fixed for the funeral), he asked me to get tbe departure of tbe proceesion delayed By a quarter of an hour, when he would be on the ground in good time. Returning to Mr Leaning, I arranged with him about the hour of leaving. I went with the funeral procession, and at the gate of the cemetery found Rev. Tebbs, in his surplice, ready to commence the ceremony. SomeFreethinkew who were in the procession began to object— Messrs McKinlay and Ross being the moat prominent. The altercation was animated, and at Jtiinos' heated ; indeed there was danger at times of blows being resorted to, which would have resulted in a diegraceful riot. However, I did my very best to control my own feelings, as well as. those of some excitable-friends. The statement cf Mr George H. Leaning, funeral undertaker, was to the effect that ha had resolved that deceased should have a decent burial. On Saturday forenoon, I saw Mr McKinlay, the owner of the house m which deceased lived, and told him of this intention, and also said that a clergyman should be got to perform the funeral ceremony. Mr McKinlay offered no objection at tha k time, but in the evening he called with Mr Ross and others, and said ha had arranged that deceased should be bnried in accordance with Freethinking wage. He (Mr Leaning) then said he was wilhng'to arrange for having Roy. Mr Hill, but if they took the matter out of his nanda he would take no furthor stops with regard to getting a clergyman. Beforethe procession started, Mr Ellis, (referring to a large bouquet of flowers on the coffin of deceased) asked if he could have them, as it was customary at Freethought funerals to scatter flowers on the grave. _ He (Mr Leaning) said he must be labouring under a mistake, as this was not "> be aFreethought but a Christian funeral —Rev. Mr Tebbs being engaged to conduct the service. The flowers had been got by his children for the coffin. The scene at the cemetery gate was a disgraceful one. He heard the word Liar ("shouted in a loud voice by some one in tin crowd. Hot words were used in argument, but the only approach to violence that he observed was in tho case of an elderly lady, who seized a man by tho collar. She said she was. an atheist, but he could not say whether she wa3 so or not. me Rev. Mr Tebbs through all preserved ™ coolness, and performed the ceremony Without a falter-earning the thanks and comtnendations of a number of gentlemen ot different denominations. Mr Tebbs who was also seen by our rePorter says that the stand he took was this i ~hAv was led t0 beliove that Hotaeß «? nu a m6mDer of the communion of I_?j urch of England, and there being no fjMenoe that he had abjured his faith, he vr'Tebb'sJfeltbound to conducttheservice. 5 j 8 waa l°ware fof tbo fact that we deceased had been educated at Harrow, wnicn is pretty conclusive proof that he was 8. member of the Church ',at England. ~ MrP, Doran, who initiated the subscrip«on to defray the deceased's burial expense, ™yj that when he saw Mr Mackinlay wat gentleman had no objection to tbe soi♦kVS,o' a "'iuiirtor beinp procured, but fttttlMloMStron-Iyobfsctk

■ SlrDayfa, saddler, Elliott-street, whose .°P waa injured by the tire on Friday "got last, informs us that lie is a loser to xj™ «J»ent, r.f fco. Two sets of harness wat he had just finished are completely owtroyed, and many of his tools and patterns rendered useless. Ho is a poor rS2?.' ,■ his losa iis not covered by one penny of insurance. .-••■, .-*, ■■•