IN MEMORIAM

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 282, 2 November 1925, Page 14

IN MEMORIAM

LATE JAMES MITCHELL STAINED GLASS WINDOW UNVEILED. A fitting service, largely attended, and of which the musical portion was most beautiful, was held at All Saints’ Church yesterday morning, the occasion being tho unveiling of tho stained glass window presented by the members of tho family of the late James Mitchell in memory of that devoted church worker. Tho choral section of the service was a splendid feature. Tho anthem was “What aro These that are Arrayed in White Robes?” and the service “Dyke’s in I<\” The hymns, in which the choir led to such advantage, were: The processional, “The Son of God Goes Eortli to War,” and at the unveiling “Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing,” while after the sermon “Saints of God” was rendered and the Twe.nty-third Psalm, “Tho Lord is My Shepherd.” Mr J. Holnrfes liunnicles presided at the organ. Prior to unveiling tho new window in tho chapel—a beautiful panel on the subject of Saint Columba, Mr A. Sherman addressed tho congregation. It was, he said, with very great pleasure that he unveiled tho window in memory of his late friend and colleague, James Mitchell, a faithful servant of the Church whose example turned the thoughts abovo the Church militant here below to tho Church in Heaven. Fittingly enough, tho subject of the work was Saint Columba, who had carried Christianity to England in past ages. The late Mr Mitchell was an Irishman and an Ulsterman, and all knew what that represented—steadfastness and devotion to duty. In matters of religion ho was trustworthy, upright, faithful and true, a record which Mr Skerman traced from the days when Mr Mitchell was associated with Church work at Colyton to tho period when lie so ably audited the vestry accounts of All Saints, assisted the chair and officiated as vicar’s churchwarden. Tho late Mr Mitchell was always ready to do moro than his share of church work, but over stoutly denied that his willingness was being taken advantage of —he possessed the into Christian spirit of whole-hearted service and his true memorial would be found in the hoarts of liis many friends. Much more did the speaker say in praise of the sterling qualities of the deceased gentleman before he drew aside the covering from the window in the beautiful little chapel on the eastern corner of the church. CANON FANCOUKT’S TRIBUTE. Canon Fancourt, in tho course of a colourful and beautifully eloquent sermon, paid a magnificent tribute to the late Mr Mitchell. History, lie said, showed how things were built on what was left by those who had gone before. Life was made up of a history akin to that of the coral reef, where millions and trillions of tiny creatures built up their cells and died, leaving small formations of coral behind them. Their successors built upon these in turn, and gradually the reef overcame the depth of tho waters and rose above them. So with us. Each was here to do his little work, and the value of our life was found in what we loft behind. Generation after generation lifted the world a little nearer heaven, and it could truly be said that the man whose memory they were perpetuating had played his part. The late Mr Mitchell was an Irishman, and so was Saint Columba, who had the faults and virtues of his race, was a man of his age, but yet was devoted wholly to the service of Cod. Tho speaker dealt with the history of the Saint, his work in Ireland, his banishment owing to the part he played in inaugurating a battle in which many were killed, and his ultimate founding of a wonderful religious and educational centre on the Island of lona, off Scotland, whence emanated the influence which converted much of Britain. The life of a saint was not a faultless one, but one devoted to the service of Cod, and generation after generation of people would come into the church and look at the window ill memory of one who had so faithfully served his Church, said Canon Fanoourt. In conclusion, he dwelt inspirationally upon the theme of the service of Christ, stating that after all what mattered was what survived the last momentous change. Each had his duty to perform—to leave behind him something on which those coming after could build in the years to come The lettering 'at tho foot of the window reads: ‘/To the glory of God and in memory of James Mitchell, a churchwarden of tho parish who entered into rest on October G, 1923. This window was erected by members of his family and others in the parish.”