FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV. E. BEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 5

FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV. E. BEST.

The funeral of the late Rev. E. Best took place yesterday afternoon, and was very largely attended. A short mortuary service was held in Pitt-street Wesleyan Church at half-past two o'clock, when the church was filled with friends of deceased. As the coffin was borne into the church (by officers of the Union Free Church) covered, with wreaths, the choir rendered a chant, under choirmaster and organist, Mr. Forbes. After it had been placed in front of the communion rails and the relatives had taken their places in the two front seats, the service commenced by the singing of the hymn " Give Me the Wings of Faith to Rise," after which the Rev. W. Ready read the Ninetieth Psalm. The Rev. C. E. Reecroft engaged in prayer. The Rev. H. R. Dewsbury then briefly addressed the assemblage. He- said that they were met under circumstances which were sad, and yet strangely intermingled with that sadness was a note of triumph, for the deceased had died in harness, as lie wished to die, in God's House, on God's Day, and engaged in His work at the post of duty. He trusted that God would send many such pastors and preachers. That was not the place to judge deceased's work, or to delineate and analyse his character. His great feature was consistency. He had no doubts as to his faith. It was not so much what he believed, but what he was, and his life was his supreme eulogy; his courtesy was proverbial, and his ear was ever open to the cry of the distressed and the sorrowful. In his whole career his sympathies were with " whatever things were lovely and of good report." Their sympathies would go out to the bereaved widow and children, with the hope that the children might grow up in their father's footsteps. The hymn " Brief Life is Here Our Portion" having been sung, the Rev. W. J. Williams pronounced the Benediction. .As the coffin was borne back up the aisle by the officers of the Union Free Church, the organist played the " Dead March" in " Saul," the congregation standing until it was placed in the hearse. The chief mourners were: —First carriage: Mrs. Best, Miss Best, Mr. H. Wilson (son-in-law), Mr. A. Best (son). Second carriage: Miss Cassie Best, Miss Ada Best, Mr. W. R. Wilson (son-in-law), Mrs. Bellow. Then followed a number of carriages occupied by the general public. Among (hose at the service in the church in addition to the clergy already named, were:—The Revs. W. Gittos, J. T. Pinfold. Henry La wry. Frost (Warkworth), Law, J. G. Chapman, C. C. Harrison, Beckett, Griffin, (Wesleyan). R. F. Macnicol, Hugh Kelly, M.A., G. B. Monro, R. Ferguson. Gray Dixon, M.A. (Presbyterian), Laycock, W. S. Potter (Primitive Methodist), Dr. Hosking (Free Methodist Church), Geo. Aldridge (Church of Christ). The Baptist ministers were away at Christchurch at the New Zealand Baptist Union, but the Tabernacle was represented by two of the officers, Messrs. R. B. Shalders and Gaze. Among others present were Messrs. R. Hobbs, F. A. White. E. White, Cox, Jones, James, Benton, Rigg. J. Kdson, J. Gittos, Hanson, J. Caradus, Booth, A. C. Caughey, M. Somerville, Thos. Buddie, W. Hutchinson, sen., A. Rosser, McAuley, W. Winstone, Geo. Winstone, S. J. Ambury, J. W. Shackelford, T. McMaster, Findley Hay, R. H. 'Swales. Coad. Lincoln, Duncan, W. Thome, sen., C. E. Button, WaJlis, Haselden, Willoughby, J. Goodson, Patterson, Walker, etc.

At Purewa the service was conducted by the Revs. W. J. Williams, W. Ready, and W. S. Potter. A hymn was also sung at the grave. The members of L.O.L. No. 2 held their annual meeting on Monday evening in the Protestant Hall, Newton. Prior to commencing business the W.M., in feeling terms, referred to the sudden death of an esteemed and honoured friend, the Rev. E. Best, and it was resolved that a letter of condolence be forwarded to his relatives.

Our Paeroa correspondent writes: There are at the present time quite a large number of people residing in different parts of Ohinemuri who were resident at the Thames, and attended the Wesleyan Church there during the Rev. E. Bert's superintendeacy of that circuit. Tt is needless to say, therefore, that the news of their former pastor's death cam? as a great shock to them, and on all sides the deepest sympathy is felt for (he bereaved widow and family. All who have worked, or in any way come in contact with the deceased gentleman, speak of the lovableness of his disposition and the greatness of his heart. [BY telegraph.—TßESS association.] Dunedjn, Tuesday. At a convention of Wesleyan ministers, a resolution was passed expressing deep sympathy with the family of the Rev. Edward Best in their sudden bereavement, and bearing testimony to the valuable services of deceased.