LATE MRS ABBOTT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 258, 5 October 1925, Page 7

LATE MRS ABBOTT.

TRIBUTES TO HER MEMORY,

Striking tributes to the memory of tho late Mrs Abbott, wife of Rev. J. C Abbott, Vicar of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, and deep sympathy with the latter in his irreparable loss, were evidenced in the special services yesterday and again this morning prior to the funeral.

Speaking to a largo congregation at the communion service at St. Peter’s yesterday morning, Canon Fancourt, vicar of All Saints’, eloquently and feelingly referred to the splendid practical Christianity which, permeated the life of the deceased lady, whose supreme faith and fortitude had never wavered throughout her long illness. At tho usual morning service Mr G; G. Priest, lay reader, spoke of the patient manner in which Mrs Abbott had borne her sufferings and the great loss “ sustained by the vicar through her death. The sympathy of All Saints’ parish and of the whole diocese, said Rev. G. W. Dent, when speaking at St. Peter’s in the evening, would bo extended to Rev. Abbott whose late wife’s cheerful Christian service had commanded tho recognition of all with whom she came in contact. Her devotion to tho cause of tho Church had been no less pronounced ever/, when her health was at a low ebb, and by her death the Church had indeed lost a valued servant.

The Sunday services at St. Peter’s were further featured by the singing of appropriate hymns, and the organist, Mr Porteous, played tho “Dead March” at the close of the evening service.

At All Saints’ Church yesterday evening Canon Fancourt made reference to the Christian attributes of tho deceased lady and her magnificent service to the Church over a period of years. As a mark of respect to the late Mrs Abbott Mendelssohn's “Funeral March” was played by the organist at All Saints’, Mr J. Holmes Runnicles.

the casket containing the mortal remains of the late Mrs Abbott was last evening placed in 'St. Peter’s Church where a fully choral service was conducted this morning prior to the funeral. The officiating ministers were Carious Pancourt (All Saints’) and Petrie (St. John’s, Feilding) and Rev. G. W. Dent, while the great number present included Anglican clergy from Bulls, Foxton and Ashhurst; ministers of various denominations in Palmerston North and representatives of the Salvation Army. The laymen who attended also to pay their respects to the memory of a devoted Church worker included residents of many quarters of the district. It was a most impressive and beautiful service to which the choir, under Mr G. G. Priest, made a valuable contribution. The hymns “For Ever With the Lord,” “Saints of God” and Psalm DO were sung bv the choir, which, after the playing of the “Dead March” (Saul) by the organist, Mr Porteous, rendered" beautifully the “Nunc Diniit tis,” as the casket was borne out of the church' by the pall bearers—members of the vestry of St. Peter's. The cortege was a lengthy one, and the wealth of beautiful floral tributes was a silent witness to the deep regard in which the minister’s wife was hold throughout the district. The service at the graveside was performed by Canon Fancourt.