THE LATE HON. W. D. STEWART.

Evening Star, Issue 10791, 28 November 1898, Page 4

THE LATE HON. W. D. STEWART.

At the close of an impressive sermon in Knox Church yesterday morning the Rev. W. Hewitson made reference to the death of the Hon. \v. D. Stewart Mv Stewart was, said the rev. gentleman, first of all a public-spirited man, and that fact might br illustrated by his last interview with the deceased. On that occasion ho found Mi Stewart reading Dr A. It. Wallace's new book. 'The Wo'iidcrftd Century.' His read ing that lio"k was sullh-ient to indicate hh ink-rest in the poli'ieaL,and social movement: of Ids time. Iktt'ng his life amongst then' their late othVedv.ror had tcU-u ])art in various social, educational, philanthropic, and political movements. There was, unfor tunatcly, too great reluctance on the par: of church people to cuter upon political 01 municipal work, but that charge could neve: be laid against Mr Stewart, whose life waa noble example of what true citizenshij meant. The second thing that he would mention was that deceased was a man o catholic religious sentiment. In their las; conversation two subjects were- introduced : one vas the deatli of Dr John Hall, late o! New York; and the other was the activity of the Salvation Army. There was a wid. ddf-'rence betwien Dr Hall and the Salvation Army, yet Mr Stewart said he had beer drawn to Mr Hall more than to any othei man, and at the. same time was interested in the Army, and gave both of his time am' substance to further their work, especially their rescue operations. One of his regret: in connection with his recent illness wa: that he could not bo present and preside ovei the great meetings that have just been heh in connection with the Salvation Army He was a member of the Presbyterian C'hurcl of Otago and Southland. He was inter estcd in the church generally. When In had criticised the defects of the church's life he felt- that he had not discharged al! his duties to that church. He served on it: committees, and was frequently in attend a.noe at the Synod meetings, and time am again he (Mr Hewitson) had heard bin speak with warmest admiration of the higl standard of literary excellence attained In their religious organ under its able editor He was interested in the schemes of tin church, and was one of the most liberal contributors to the sustentation fund. Hi believed he was correct, in saying that then was no contributor more liberal than M; Stewart, and he had frequently manifesto! that he took a deep interest in the sustenta Hon fund, which was the ehiefest point o unity of the Presbyterian Church of Otagc and' Southland. It was twenty-nine year ago, in this mouth of November, since thei: departed friend, then a young man twenty eight rears of age, was elected to the (lia conatc, and some years afterwards ho wa: made an elder. For hall of his lifetime therefore, he had not only been a mc-mla i of \\\wx Church, but an ol'ii-e-lieurer also Almost every Smulay when he was at horn' he might have been found visiting the chil dr.'M in the hospital, and afterwards tie ehildicu in the primary room at the Sunday school, to the latter of whom he never for got to send prizes. He (Mr Hewitson) too! it that one of the chief features of M - Stewart's life was his deep attachment folk' late Dr Sitter;, his old minister; an. one of the great phasuivs of the last yearof Id-. liiV was the kcouhdge th-t to hill ;,!! !1 : ,,. i.u-.or of |>iv-a.ding at the unvcilin; h' the menu-rial >u>tue. From the death o Mr S;e\\arl these cam" to ail of lin-m th call of Chrsl to "work the wo'ks of Hill who sunt Me while it is day. for the nigh comes v hen no man can work." V i In- clo.-c of the service the > rgatii-' ,\!., Barth) pla.,d 111" Head Ma:,!; fi-.... •Saul.' the large con-reganm st..■!. 1::■-g rev: ieu:ly while t!te solemn composition wa, m I>rc -siveiv rendered. The fmur.il took place vesierday after noon, ami was very largely attendrl, al ..-'asses of the community bcug represented '! i-e services at the leui-e ami in th.e eemeter ■■<, :■< impressively conducted by the Rev. M :! - -i, ■„.. of Knox Church, and the I'ev. D >-'.c!'V;!. of St. Andrew's. The S"-!on am !) t ;-,-oi:.' Court of Knox Church aif ended hj .. lio-b-, a" ! i'oilowed next to the chit ~ oc-ieis. th." relatives of the deceased •;„„• :■■■') pcoph '..lh.v.c! on foot, an-!h--:v ~-,-;. a'.oat th : ; v vehicles. hi tie >',,.,,• ,!, t-i.-htneiii of til" carriage-: were M • iirii.-e iVioicfiit'ier. the Crown I'm-cento lMr ,|. !•'. M. Fra-er). and ihe ('mined o ihc I,a\v S.-ietv Manic!-.-, Me-srs .1. M. (I'd !.,;:,-, W. C.'\;.: "irego,-, ]•'. Sf'llin-. \Y it 'dike. .\. C. ilanlon, W. A. Sim, d. F WoollioliM.. S. P.i-cnl, F. Calvert, ami J. A Cook. The o'her members of the log a piofessiiei in Ihiuelin were alnio-t till rue s--,u. The Salvation Army were ;d.-<> re in-e.-eiiteil in the procession, and amongst th m--m!iers of the Legislature and the genera piddle | re-cut were th. • lions. P.. ('liver Oeopm M'he...!i, Y \'. M. P.olt, A. ia-c Smitl and F>. Pii kcriou (M.h.C.s), Me:-is M. .! S. Maek'-nzie. J. A. Millar, J. Aden, an A. Morrison (M.H.1!.-), Mr K. H. iMavorof Puned.in), Mr K. H. Carer.-, S.M. aud'Revs. W. Hewitson, d. Gibb, Dr Wardell. W. Saunders, Dr Fulton, Dr Davie--Pvo'css.n- Sale, Professor Oilrtvv, Dr Hislo; Dr Shawl. Messrc R. filcwlinini;, T. Brown A. Wilson, D. A. M'Nicoll, A. Stewart, A Burt, H. Guthrie, G. L. Denniston, W Swan, C. R. Chapman, H. Oourlev, J. H Morrison, M. Cohen, R. Wilson. A. C. Begp .T. Armstrong, W. L. Simpson, T. W. Kemp thorne, A. Reverie W. We.rdrop, J. Robin .T. T. Mackerras. '.T. Ha/.lett. W. B. VigerV/. P. Watson, J. TFslop, A. Robin, P. Wa' son, C. W. Ktir. John Roberts, A. IWb man. James Kdgar. J. Davie, J. Knox, W I), dlanh.n. d. Maefarlane. A. J. Bunn. H F. Hard-. W. Wrigh.t, P. Rarr, A. S. Patei son 'P. P.rown. C. ('. Graham, P. C. Neil! K. V. Smith.-F. Smith. A. Burt, J. Molonev and P. C. Corli--.