AN APPRECIATION

Evening Star, Issue 16661, 18 February 1918, Page 4

AN APPRECIATION

[By A Colleague.] Harry D./igshun Bedford is dead, "in his fortieth year." It has seldom fallen to my lot to write words with greater reluctance and a more conscious sense of personal and public loss, even in these days of universal heartbreak and sorrow. The oommuriitv as a whole, and far beyond our own immediate borders, arc the poorer to-day (because oi that brief message which shortly after midday yesterday flew from lip to lip - •Dr Bedford is dead." Perhaps the tonality, no less than the unexpectedness ot the catastrophe served, momentarily at least, to rob us of the ability adequately to comprehend what the message meant Here was a man in the pride and strength ol his manhood, in the best of health busily preparing, with characteristic energy and enthusiasm, for his University work during the coming autumn, winter ami spring, whom we last remember as looking forward with the zest of a boy—as he always was in heart-to his vacation trip in hitherto unvisited places in the far north of this Dominion, struck down in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and become a thing over which the raven flaps his funeral wing." One may well £tand amazed and helpless before the ST oi * ?"■.** Bedford's death apart from the tragic manner of it, is one' ot those happenings that bring home even to the most careless and indifferent amon* us_ something ol the. transitoriness ol tilings human. But the reality and uni versalityjDf the grief his death has aroS is not only the finest tribute to Dr Bed ords mental and moral worth, but also the surest attestation to the truth of the 10 leap. Character does count; and, in Lie memory of those who live after us above and beyond the applause of to multitude and the ephemeral success of wL, ■ dear Radian ma„" ous f ?°*°, ihm &! l ° V whidl manj of ns fret and spend ourselves have becomo mere dust and ««=he* Hany Dodgshun Bedford, though he ihft ii i for 20 years in the full gare ot that fierce, ruthless un spacing .-light" that beats pitiless - every man who, by way 0 / pnblic - $™ tion seeks to uplift the general mass of his fellow*. His was a wonderful careerso wonderful that, perhaps, the majority of us either ceased to marvel or did not l t o, to consider how wonderful it wa« It wv brilliant, meteoric, astonishing • but it was some hn.g far more. Beneath and at the back of all that the superficial and _ ignorant were pleased to term fanatical and evanescent—that he had risen into ken like the rocket, and like it would disappear-there was a solid _ foundation of hard studv, sound learning and consistent effort to fit himself for the path he had chosen. Many men—most men—would have been content with the constant exercise of those natural gilts that were his in bounteous measure the hue flow of language, the power to hold an audience silent and entranced the sheer ability of Ins platform deliverances (whether as debater of orator); his 'success as a were sifts upon which many men would have, been content to rest their chances of fame and fortune. Aot so Dr Bedford. Behind all these was the power of detachment: to shut himself nit from the noise and bluster of pubbc life, and to concentrate himself upon those things that really count. Hence his success as a scholar. Of Dr Bedford it may bo said, as Oliver Wendell Holmes said of Gladstone: "His recreations were paroxysms of learned labor." Whether he was travelling through :\merica.~oY callinrr at the White House to chat with President Jtoosevelt, or addrpssiiur suffragettes in Trafalgar square, Socialists in Hyde Park, or the reformers of the drink traffic in New Zealand, ho never forgot that a man must fit himself for his work if he is to make that work tell. And he did fit himself. The greatest honor of the many that will be paid Dr Bedford during those next few davs or weeks will _ be that which will live "longest— an abiding place in the memories and hearts of hundreds of young men who have found in him a Christian eentleman, a sure, helper, an unfailing inspiration! and a permanent source of encouragement. So regarded, a life, even though thus tragically closed, has not been lived in vain. Rather would we think of him as one who, In the prime Of life, with vigor nndimmed, With unspent mind, and a soul Unworn, undebased, undecayed, Mournfully grating, the gates Of the city of death have for ever closed— Him, 1 count well-starred. A REMARKABLE CAREER. Dr Bedford was born in the year 1877 atHunslett Hill, a suburb of Leeds, Yorkshire, and was eight years of age when brought to New Zealand with his parents and the rest of their family. His father was Mr Walter Scott Bedford. The familv settled at Invercargill. and vonng Harrv entered the South School, of which Mr Webber was the head master. Whilst a pupil in the Fifth Standard it was decided that he should be trained as a farmer, and to that end his father took up a farm of 30 acres .at Clifton, on the line of the Bluff Railway. Harry went to the school at Clifton, and in his spare time attended to as much as he could do of the outdoor work on the farm. Subsequently his father took a larger farm at Makarewa, and tried pony breeding. Harry went through the Sixth Standard at the Makarewa School, and then, to get a knowledge of blacksmithing, he worked for Mr A. Weir, of Thornbury. The idea at the time was that the lad should »veu-

tually take up a backblock of Crown lands. From the blacksmithy he went to_ the Southland Implement' Works, where he gained technical knowledge as to reapers and binders. Arrangements were then initiated to have him, placed for further experience on the farm of Mr Sutton, at Winton. About this time, however, his mind was attracted to the study of social and political questions, this coming about largely as the result of discussions in the family circle, and it was resolved that he should embark on. an academical career. The first step was to place the lad under the charge of Mr James Hain, and with that tutor's help Harry passed the matriculation examination in 1896. Part of the following year he spent as an assistant teacher at the Park Street School in Invercargill. At that time there was but little prospect of his pursuing a University course. But in 1897 Mr Bedford obtained a situation ah head cutter for Kirkcaldie and Stains, at Wellington, and Harry was thus able to give his undivided energies, to study. It was at Wellington that he made his first notable speech. The Wesleyan Literary and Debating •Society entered a team" for a big debating contest against teams from the TJniversitv College and other -debating societies. Sir Robert Stout was one of the judges. The members of the Wealoyan team were Mr J. B. Black {now private secretary to one of the Ministers of the Grown), Mr J. W. Collins (now secretary to the Board of Trade), Mr Burgess (who afterwards became a barrister at Wellington), and Mr H. D. Bedford. Subsequently the Bedford family moved to Auckland, and Harry entered a"s a graduate of the University College there. He attended for two sessions, and took the oratory prize in his second year. In 1899 the family came to Dunedin, and Harry entered the .University of Otago. In 1900 he gained a first class "certificate in mental science, also a first class certificate in political economy, and he carried off the Macandrew scholarship in the latter subject. At the English examinations in the ho won the senior scholarship for New Zealand in political science, and took second class honors in 1901. In 1900 lie was one of a team of three, the others being Mr Hercus and Mr E. Guthrie, that won for Otago University the debating contest, with Canterbury College; and in 1901 Mr. Guthrie and Mr Bedford rooresented Otago Universitv in the debating contest which resulted in their defeat of Auckland. Wellington, and Canterbury In 1906 Mr Bedford took his Bachelor of Laws degree, and in 1910 gained the degree of Master of Laws. For nine years ho practised as a solicitor, beinp a. member of the firm of Aslin and Bedford He lectured on political economy at the Otaoo University for several vears. until his appointment as .a professor in 1915. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature m 1916 for n- treatise on ' Banking Practice in isew Zealand.' The same year he wrote and had published in the 'Economic Journal a paper entitled ' The Monetary Difficulties of Early Colonisation in New Zealand. Twelve months ago, when the Otago University closed for the summer vacation, he joined the Y.M.C.A. staff, and went to England with one of the reinforcement drafts. He actively associated himself with the Dimcdin branch of the Workers' Educational Association, and lectured to classes during the winter months. He contributed, articles to the 'Evening Star' and other journals on war finance and economic questions. He fas an acceptable preacher, and frequently of late years came in from his residence at East Taieri to take the pulpit of leading city churches. His hobbv was gardening and field work. Many "a day he refreshed himself for bis day's teaching by getting up at davlight to plant or dis potatoes. Ho also had a nice taste in music, and more than once played in the cello section of the Dunedin Philharmonic Society. He married a daughter of Mr N. N. Brown, and his widow is left with four children.

-As to his political career, it was in 1901. at the by-election for Caversham caused by the death of Mr A. Morrison, that MiBedford first offered his sen-ices to the public, but lie was young, unsupported, and had no influence, and he polled only 149 rotes, Mr T. Iv. Sider heW at the head with 1,520, Mr W. Earnshaw nest With 1,515, and Mr P_ Hallr third with 1.120. At the General Election of 1902 he created a sensation. He stood as an Independent Liberal for the Citv of Dunedin, and topped the poll with 'the enormous vote- of 10,050 votes, nearly 2,000 more than the number gained br anv other candidate in New Zealand. Mr J. A. Millar polled 9,350, Mr J. F. Arnold 8,360. Mr A. R, Barclay 7,034, and Mi- R, Chisholm 4,600. Those, wcro tho figures announced on the night of the election. Ho was defeated at the 1905 election, when he contested Dunedin North with Mr A. R. Barclay, and did not stand asrain till ho challenged the Hon. J. A. Miliar for the Dunedin Central seat in 1911. Mr J. W. Munro was the Labor candidate in an exciting triangular contest, in which a. second ballot was necessary, Mr, Bedford being then defeated by 4,461 votes to 3,822. REFERENCES IN THE CHURCHES. MORAY PLACE. At the Moray Place Congregational Church the Rev. W. Saunders paid a warm tribute to Dr Bedford. 'The Hon. G. Fowlds, of Auckland, who was present, was invited by Mr vSaimders to say a- few words in regard to Dr Bedford. Mr Fowlds said the death of Dr Bedford was a great loss, not only to "the University of Otago.- the City.of *Duneeun, but also to the Dominion of New Zealand as a whole. He had the-privilege of knowing Dr Bedford intimately as a young student at the Auckland University College, was closely associated with him in the Parliament of New Zealand, and had watched with interest the development of his work as a professor of the Otago University. In all these positions he displayed the same splendid qualities of heart and head which endeared him to all who came into intimate relationship with him. He was gifted intellectually far above the average man. and, coupled with his mental ability and of ideal integrity," was a courage and fearlessness which never faltered in the discharge of what he deemed to be_ his duty. No though of self-interest ever influenced him in the slightest degree. 'He was filled with a burning passion for righteousness and justice. Every movement which had for its object the elevation of mankind on the mental, moral, and material plane had in him an enthusiastic and intelligent supporter. His last days had been occupied in strenuous service- in the interest of his fellow-men, and he had laid down his life in that service. Mr Fowlds went on to say that he met Dr Bedford in Auckfiind'a. few days before he (Mr Fowlds) left, and found him keen and enthusiastic iir his mission of education on the dangers to our country and Empire of the groat economic waste \vhich was still going on, in spite of the pressing need for economy and efficiency. Dr Bedford had a most pleasing and attractive personality, which compelled consideration and admiration even from those who were opposed to him. It would bo long before wo would look upon his like again. It was very sad to think of that towering intellect, that unbending fidelity to high principles and ideals, so suddenly and tragically brought to an end. They commended his sorrowing widow and little children to the loving care of the Heavenly Father, who specially earefch for the widow and the fatherless. A few davs ago he (Mr Fowlds) stood by the side "of a friend when he received the news of the death in action' of his only son. After the first staggering effects of the blow had passed away, his friend bravely resolved that the death of his son would compel him to struggle more resolutely than ever for tho furtherance of those movements of social and economic reform which wero so urgent for the welfare of man to-dav and in the future, when the war was'over Might the sad and early death of their friend Dr Bedford bring forth in them and in all lovers of their country the same heroic resolve to struggle more earnestly and energetically for the advancement o'f every good cause which lias lost so much by Ins untimely death. At the close of the service Mr D. Cooke, presiding at the organ, played Beethoven's Funeral March I ALL SAINTS'. j At All Saints' Fitchett made sympathetic reference to the late Professor Bedford, mentioning that he had at one time represented Dunedin iu Parliament,

and that he was at the time of his death a lecturer at Otago University. The whole community, said the Dean, would be saddened by the event. KNOX CHURCH. At Knox Church last evening the Rev. R. E. Davies referred in feeling terms to the sudden death of Dr Bedford. This, he said, was a great national loss. His death would be felt in a peculiar way by the congregation in Knox Church, as it was in church that he preached his last sermon in Dunedin before going north on his mission on a temperance crusade. Dr Bedford had come to the speakers assistance in the month of October during his illness, and ho had listened to his preaching with great delight. Dr Bedford had subsequently occupied that pulpit for a number of Sundays, and was well known to the congregation, who had learned .to appreciate the high character of his preaching. He was a man with a passion for righteousness, with a clear and definite ,vision, without being visionary. Ho had the gift of lucid speech and the possession of powers of exposition that were quite unusual. This enabled him to proclaim to the public those eternal principles which he found expressed on the pages of history, and which he endeavored to apply to the problems of our present day. Ho was a man of the people, a democrat risen from the ranks. He had attained to the chair of history in the University of Otago at, what might be thought an early age. He had, however, not retired into the seclusion of scholarship, but "still remained the peoples tribune. His study of history strengthened his faith in God and man", and deepened his convictions. He was a powerful exponent of evangelical truth, which enabled him to manifest a Tory rare combination—a man of undoubted scholarship and a keen appreciation of the evangel. ' He died at the beginning of his work. The hymn 'Now the laborers task is o'er' was sung by the congregation at the conclusion of these remarks. ST. ANDREWS. In iSt. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last night, prior to the 'singing of the hymn 'God moves in a mysterious wav.' Dr Waddell pointed ont that those words had had a very startling illustration. He deeply regretted to say that word had come through that Professor Bedford had been drowned at Whangarei. It surely was a mysterious thing that one in the prime of life, with such great possibilities of good in him, should thus bo carried away out of our midst so suddenly and so sadly. He did not wish to say anything ]ust ( then .relative to it. Professor Bedford's life was lived among them for many vears. They knew the position lie held m the community. Thev could only sav that every good cause in the community had lost one of its foremost and most eloquent advocates. The preacher also made feeling reference in his prayer to the grievous loss that has fallen on the community. METHODIST CENTRAL* MISSION. There was an audible catching of the breath throughout the congregation at the Octagon Hall last evening when the Rer. Clarence Eaton announced the death of Dr Bedford. It was difficult to realise said Mr Eaton, that death had overtaken so vital a man, and in the very prime of his manhood. Th© event meant the apparent withdrawal from the life of the Dominion and especially from our City, of a wealth ot intellectual and moral power. It was fitting that Dr Bedford had died on active service. Universally admired for his" sinning talents, there was in him something more admirable than the possession of talents—namely, the unselfish and pubiicspinted use of them. He was a servant ' of all good causes, and the uncompromising toe of all bad ones. A man who had enjoyed exceptional popularity, he never accepted it at the price of infidelity to things he counted as true, but in" the midst of crowded public gatherings denounced vices and indulgences which a more politic and calculating spirit would have spared. The City mourned the loss ot a citizen whose faithfulness was equal ft d Cy ' Wh ° WM aS good as ho vvas

With much feeling the congregation Xl/ 11 « h6 - h ?f n ' For aII *Se saints who from their labors rest.'

HANOVEROTBEET BAPTIST CHURCH a J^° nnc^? t ° J tho last mght the sudden death of Dr Bedford, the R«v. R. S. Gray made feeling reference to the event, which he described as a national loss He spoke of the energy and ability with which Dr Bedford O men from the ranks to occupy one of tho most important positions in the educational life of the community, of his msaonate fidelity to the Christian principles by winch, m his earliest days, he was TT* ° f hl > hi « h SOcial and moral ideals. Mr Gray dwelt upon his invaluable services to the great cause of Prohibition, in the interests of which he was spending himself at the time of his death' He was a man not only of pronounced principles, but of strong magnetic p e * onall y and possessed in a marked define hL ?♦ }°° i unc ?™ mo * Power of. imbui„ K his Students With his own lofty ideal, ft would be exceedingly difficult if „ n J impossible, to fill his ce in Cunh er sitv or the community, for there was pro bably no young man in the Dominion whose life was so full both of achievem-n and great promiso. ™""' TRINITY. In Trinity Methodist Church last even3&i V£ ter £ ID £ t0 the and sudden death of Dr Bedford, the Rev. W. Arthur lay said: There > only one thing I can say: the amazing mystery of it nil In presses. That a ma./as fully equipped £ posaible for Eer vice, and with a, Tpnar eiitiy long life before him ; should maturely removed is staggering. We take *P o n 6 attitude, the right 0I ? d ChrisSn one Let us a - ppeal tf) (Jod fm „ guidance and submission. l\f r Hay offered prayer for the bereaved family/ At the S U M n ,° f the , Service Beethoven's Dead March was played. EAST TATERI. The service last evening at the laieri Church was abandon!*, and a shot devotional service held bv the % 1 W. Kinmont who made feeling reference to Professor Bedford's li!e nndwork R s the intention to hold a Memorial 4 ice on Sunday next. Dr Bedford ifved h£ «?°°f Jf i]r * Eaat Tai6ri manse, »„d has supplied vacancies on several occasions »» nearly all the churches in the district

At this morning's meeting of the executive of tho Otago Patriotic and General Clark said they had all learned with deep doath , of Prof «^ *? * a *,*™* such, magnificent patriotic work m the City and Dominion, lias impassioned appeals throughout' the country on J>ehalf of tho association and for the men had been of incalculable serr+ If 18 tolT ] f d bcen * Priceless as. se to the Cily. and in company with the i„, R ," S - G ™F l le ]wd travelled manr hundreds of miles in a snlcndid campaign to convince the country of the imperative need for men and monev. All thev could do now was to express their deer/sorrow and sympathy with the widow and family. Jt was extremely sad to see a man at h'is very prime, and with magnificent prospects before him, called away so suddenly. Lieutenant-colonel Stoneham said it was an irreparable loss to the City and the Dominion. Without Dr Bedford's assistance the Recruiting Committee could never have attained the success thev had in th<» earlier days of the war. A motion of deep sympathy and of appreciation of the services of the deceased was passed, all standing.