SCENE AT A FUNERAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7460, 27 January 1885, Page 5

SCENE AT A FUNERAL.

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Jan. 2G. An extraordinary scene occurred yesterday at the funeral of Holmes, the scenic artist, who was burned to death on Friday night. Mackingly, the deceased’s landlord and a Freethinker, had arranged with Dr York, the Freethought lecturer, to conduct the obsequies, while other friends forwarded a similar request to the Rev Mr Tebbs, an Anglican minister. The funeral was largely attended, and the Freethought section began to complain at seeing Mr Tebbs present. At the gate of the cemetery .a parley took place, during which time the coffin was left in the hearse. Mr Mackingly told Mr Tebbs that his services were not required, but Mr Tebbs insisted on conducting the service. He said that there was not a single relative of the deceased present, and there was no proof that he had abjured the faith of the Church of England : he would do his duty. A number of churchmen then went to the hearse and removed the coffin. As the procession moved down the path to the open grave, the rev gentleman began to read the passage, “I am the resurrection and the life,” which was greeted by a portion of the Freethought section by interruptions of “ Cut it short,” “ Bosh,” “ We have had enough of that rot,” “ Shut up,” &c. At the grave, just before the clergyman pronounced the words “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Mackingly jumped on the side of the grave, and cried out “We have had enough of that stuff,” or words to that effect, but was greeted with cries of “ Shame ” from the crowd. Mr Tebbs, however, proceeded with the service to its close. As soon as he had finished it, the sexton and his assistants commenced to shovel in earth upon the coffin. A call was made by the Freethought people for Mr Ellis to proceed with his service, but that gentleman declined. At the conclusion of the proceedings, persons of every denomination, including Catholics and Jews, shook hands with Mr Tebbs and thanked him for carrying out his duty in the manner he had done under such trying circumstances. As a fitting finale to the above extraordinary funeral, the driver of the hearse in returning to his house accidentally fell down a staircase and broke his ankle. Holmes was not a member of the Freethought Association, but had attended several of their lectures. He was a son of Holmes, Court painter to George IV.