IN MEMORIAM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7189, 6 January 1902, Page 2

IN MEMORIAM.

A service in memory oi' tho late Mr H. Leary was conducted at the liroa-1-strnet "Wesley an Church last night, Mr Leary having be on a regular worshipper and oliico bearer of the Church. The Rev. S. Lawry preached, taking la s text from Luke, 20th chapter, 38 verse, " For ho is not a Ood of the dead but of the.living, for all live unto him." Mr Liu'ry said he proposed lo preface his sermon with a few personal remarks in reference to their departed brother, though he had been so long among them that there was very little they did not know about him. Mr Lawry said h • did not regard memorial services as occasions for making eulogies on the dead so much as for pointing out to the living how near earth and heaven \ver.\ and thus to cause them to follow with quickened steps and greater zeal the example of those who had gone before. Their late friend had during the whole of- his 20 years' residence in the town identified himself with the Methodist Chuivli. When he (the speaker) Imd visited Pahnerston, twenty-!iw years' ago, Mr Leary was taking a prominent part in Church work, and ever since lie had been one of the most trusted, energetic, and zealous ollire bearers of the Church, giving generously to every good cause, not only in connection with the Church, but to everything that tended to the general wclfare'of. the community. lie did not intend to hold the late friend up as a paragon of perfection ; for, like everyone, he had his limitations. The speaker had been privileged to have several interesting conversations with Mr Leary, and had found that, like many another Christian man, he had doubts and difficulties in his religious belief, yet he could always find refuge in the blessed thought of tlio fatherhood of God. lie trusted that his hearers would find as much comfort in this thought as their late friend had done. Mr Lawry then proceeded to deal with several questions suggested by the lessons read and which had often formed the subject of deep heart-scan-hing. The state of the soul after the dissolution of the body, the resurrection of the dead, and the immortality of the soul were referred to and discussed in a thoughtful manner.

During the service the hymns, " For Ever with the Lord" and "God of Bethel," were sung, while the choir sang Dr. Callcott's elegy, "Forgive blest Shade." A most impressive service was brought to a close by the playing of tiie Dead March by the orgauist."

At the Cuba-street Church tlie llav. T. W. Newbold made reference to the work of Mr Leary in connection with the Church, and drew several lessons from his example. The orchestra played "The Vital Spark" during the collection of the offertory, and at the conclusion of the service" the " Dead March" (Saul) was played.