LATE MR. W. HOPKIRK

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 100, 29 April 1936, Page 13

LATE MR. W. HOPKIRK

♦ FUNERAL SERVICE

The funeral of the late Mr. William Hopkirk, a well-known and highlyrespected citizen of "Wellington, took place today. The service at St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis Street, was attended by a large gathering, representative of the business community and of the .various charit-. able and church organisations with whose activities he had been associated for over half a century. The chief mourners were the widow, Messrs. J. A. D., W. A., J. J., and V. A. Hopkirk (sons), Mrs. J...W. Gendall, Mrs. D. C. E. Blake, and Miss Edna M Hopkirk (daughters), and Messrs. J., A., R., and J. B. Hopkirk (brothers), j The ipallbearers were the following elders of St. John's Church:—Messrs'. A. P. Smith, H. Glover, M. Fraser, A. Martin, D. S. Wilson, and A. L. Wall, At the Karori Cemetery the pallbearers were the four sons and two grandsons of the deceased. Amongst those present were Messrs. M. G. C. McCaul, A. E. Hislop, Charles W. Mack (Wellington Chamber of Commerce), C. M. Luke, A. Leigh Hunt, W. Simm, P. C. Watt, K. E. Evans, H. H. Cornish, K.C., A. R. Hislop, F. Ballinger, E. P. Hay, A. Falconer, A. Purdie, J. Jack, A. Wilson, A. Fletcher, C. Spratt, L. Greenberg, C. C. Odlin, A. H. Ivory, R. Fleming, D. McLeod, D. Hopkirk, J.H. Owen, G.-B. Stephenson, L. J. Watkin, J. S. Lomas, P. M. Cameron, W. A. Patterson,' W. McLay, A. G. Harper, J. L. Arcus, F. N. Petrie, J. L. Simpson, L. D. Moore, W. H. Whiting, Dr. J. S. Elliott, Dr. Hopkirk, and many others. "SIMPLICITY TOWARDS CHRIST." The service was conducted by the moderator (the Rev. D. M. Hercus) and members of the Wellington Presbytery. In the course of his address, the Rev. J. R. Blanchard said they were gathered to pay their respects to Mr. William Hopkirk, who for over 63 years lived and wrought in this city, during which he won the esteem of all sections of the community and the affection of more than it was possible to number. His commercial activities had already been publicly noticed. He trod the path of commercial endeavour with unquestioned rectitude, and kept himself unsullied by what was known ag the commercial spirit. Full though his life was in that direction, he always put first his activities as a Christian churchman and philanthropist. The preacher then outlined the work of the late Mr. Hopkirk for. the church and for charitable institutions. His life, said the Rev. Mr.- Blanchard, was secretly fed from those unseen sources where abide the things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard. Thence he drew the strength which sustained him amid his many labours, the serenity with which he faced all difficulties, the simple wisdom with which he threaded his way through any perplexity, and the charity with which he judged others. "If I were asked to sum up his life in a single, sentence, it would be this: I know of no man who more than he had that simplicity toward Christ which is enjoined upon Christian people. From that emanated those qualities which have endeared him to so many." On leaving the church the casket was preceded by the following senior elders of St. John's Church:—Messrs. G. A- Troup, H. Mainland, A. Johnston (representing the late Mount Cook Sunday School), J. Sclater, and A. Howitt. ' ■ Members of the Wellington Presbytery officiated at the graveside nt Karori.