A TRAGIC END.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 47, 7 February 1920, Page 5

A TRAGIC END.

DEATH OF DR. GILRAY. The following article from thtf “Otago Daily Times” will have a melancholy interest for those who knew the late Dr. Gilray, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at' j Otago University, and father of Dr. Gilray, Medical Superintendent at the Napier Hospital—- “ Life struck sharp on death makes ; awful lightning.” It was a flash of this “awful lightning” that struck across the stately service of rejoic-*’ ■> ling with ■ which the University of Otago began to celebrate its jubilee in First Church on Tuesday, forenoon. The tons of the service was grave, becoming, with a note erf reverent thanksgiving for the past and proud hope for the future. Hie .. centre of the church was filled with university officials and graduates clad in their brilliant robes, and the side seats and gallery held hundreds - > of interested spectators. Professor Thompson, chairman of the Professorial Board, read with fine feeling the great 103rd Psalm of praise, and his reading was followed nythe ; hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Then * Professor Guray, the senior professor of the university, came forward and took his place by the readingstand at the side of the pulpit to read Paul’s immortal hymn to love ' in the thirteenth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. It was . noticed by some that Dr. Gilray ap- • i j peared ashly pale. He read from the loved familiar Words of the J? Authorised Version, in a low voice ■■■ at first, but gathering strength and clearness as he proceeded, he reach- > ‘ ed the fourth verse, and , read '.’i “Charity suffereth long, • and ill’, kind.” Then he hesitated and stop- "■ ped, cleared his throat, and, as Mi , « eyes were fastened upon him, he '■ heavily forward, knocking down tne J reading-desk and chairs, and belli* caught just as he reached the flopT ' M by the Mayor, who was sitting im- ■; mediately in front. A shudder, passed through the audience many at the back stood up. Dr. Ferguson, Dr. Colquhoun, and others ' ' were quickly at the stricken mMr’jp 5 side. He was carried through to tShfr ' vestry at the back. At that; timjl < only a few knew what had* actuaßjr C happened, but the words of tha grand national hymn next on the - printed programme , “Our God,- « Our Help in Agest Past,” chimed ittN with the emotions of everyone. The Rev. G. H. Balfour, who presided, ’ announced the hymn, and nothing \ could have proved more fitting to i the moment than the verse:

Time, like an ever rolling stream* Bears all its.sons away; ' They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.'

The dignified service went, on to . the close some threequarters .of an hour later, but though it was evident that Dr. Gilray had had a serious , seizure, only one here and there ■’ guessed or knew that he had uttered his last message. -, . It was only after Archdeacon ;> Woodthqrpe had pronounced thh - benediction that the Rev.' Dr. 4 Cameron stepped to the railing, and - in a voice trembling, with emotion said : “It is my painful duty to announce that owing to the sudden death of' Dr. Gilray the reception of ' delegates will not take place this . afternoon. lam sure we all feel deeply moved by the sudden' call of ■ > oiie who has been, so well known in our community and who ha» dene such faithful service for the university through a whole generation.” It' seemed so fitting as to be inevitable that at the moment the first thrilling notes of Handel’s “Dead March” should sound out from the great organ. The audience. rose as. one. Mr. Victor Galway, the organist, had not the music with him* but the spirit of the tragic hour came upon him, and he interpreted that ' awful masterpiece with a power of pathos that few of the listeners had ever felt in it before. Some finding the emotions stirred by the music too painfully intense to bear escaped outside, and others would have done* so had they dared. Afterwards the congregation slowly left the building and gathered into little awe-stricken groups outside. It seems clear that Dr. Gilray had a heart seizure, and at any rate he passed away almost as soon # as he fell. His dramatic end, before a large audience, in full harness to the last moment, and with the words of Scripture on his lips, recalls- the passing of Sir Henry Irving, who expired on the stage reciting the words, “Lord into Thy hands r commend my spirit.” Thinking of the Professor himself one might well echo the words: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his”; but for those who remain the suddenness of th® event makes the blow doubly severe. The whole tone and character of the university celebrations has been, altered, and a tinge of sadness given ‘to them that cannot be shaken off.