IN MEMORIAM SERVICE FOR THE LATE REV. E. BEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11539, 26 November 1900, Page 6

IN MEMORIAM SERVICE FOR THE LATE REV. E. BEST.

The Rev. W. J. Williams yesterday forenoon conducted an in memoriam service in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church for the late Rev. E. Best. He took as his text the passage from Daniel xii., 3, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." He said to-day he had to speak to them of one who was lately among them, to whom, as he reverently and devoutly believed, the magnificent promise of his text had been gloriously redeemed. They had known and loved Father Best, and had followed him close up to the point where the gates of glory suddenly opened, and he passed in to be for ever with the Lord. A presence had passed out of the circle of their lives that caused the sunshine of blessing wherever it moved. Instinctively that day their thoughts flew up to the heaven into which he had entered, and poorer as they were by the loss they had sustained, they could not help rejoicing to think what the difference between that Sunday and the Sunday previous meant to Father Best. On the Sunday morning previous he preached in the Wesleyan Mount Eden Church, with more than his usual fervour, from the text, " All we like sheep. have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, but the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." Last Sunday evening, with weary steps, but a willing heart, he had found his way to the Union Free Church, intending to preach on the inspiring theme. But it was from a dead man's lips that the sermon came to the people that met in that church that night, for before he could stand up to utter a word the vital cord had been suddenly snapped asunder, and without a struggle Father Best was set free. That was but one short week ago. As they dwelt on all that the translation meant to Father Best, and as they remembered the link of love and esteem and trust by which for years he had been bound to them, they could feel the perfect fitness of such a song as this upon their lips, "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victoiy through our Lord Jesus Christ." When Edward Best, in early life, gave his heart to God, when he responded to the call to devote his life to preaching the Gospel, when up to the last moment he sought as opportunity served to lead his fellow men into the light of God's countenance, he was earning the benediction with which his happy and useful life was crowned, " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Of all his characteristics he (the preacher) put this first—a passion for winning souls. There were indeed other qualities which endeared him to those who knew him. What a keen appreciation he had of all that was beautiful in nature and art! For > ears he, had many a study of entomology and botany, and a holiday with him in the open air was something" to be remembered. There would live long in his mind a happy day they spent together at Motutapu. The day was glorious, and Father Best was in his most rapturous mood. There was his magnifying glass, without which he never went abroad, used to bring out the exquisite beauty of the blossoms of the hawthorn and alder. As they climbed the hill together, and gazed on the magnificent sweep of land and sea, again and again Father Best broke out into rapture in being permitted to live in such a beautiful world. It was something of a shock to him (the preacher) when he received by post on Monday morning a letter written by Father Best, headed "Sunday evening," evidently the last thing he ever wrote. It was a shock, for he had seen him on Sunday night lying peaceful and beautiful in death. And as he gazed upon his face so calm and radiant, his thoughts went back to the long ago, and of his remembrances of Father Best. There was a large congregation, and the choir saner Sir Arthur Sullivan's " Hymn of the Hom£ land.