THE LATE REV. DR. WEST.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 907, 19 July 1889, Page 24

THE LATE REV. DR. WEST.

FUNERAL SERVICES. The weather was in keeping with the occasion when-the mortal part of the Rev. Dr West received interment last Friday afternoon. It was wet overhead and under foot, and very cold. This, however, did not deter the late Dr West’s many friends from assembling to do honour to his memory. The funeral cortege was very long. The coffin, covered with wreaths, was borne from the late residence of the deceased to the Bowen.street Congregational Church, cf which he was pastor. The church was tilled with mourners, and a funeral service was conducted by the Revs. Messrs Moir (Congregationalist), Ogg (Presbyterian), Powell (Congregationalist), Driver (Baptist), Fell (Congregationalist). A select funeral hymn was sung. From the church the coffin was borne to the General Cemetery, and, as it passed through the aisles, the sweet mournful strains of the Dead March floated upward from the organ under the manipulation of Mr Haggett, who presided for the occasion. A short service was held at the grave by the Revs. Messrs Powell (Congregationalist) and Lee (WesleyaD), and the cortege then dispersed. It \vas a very representative one, men of all creeds and stations forming it. SeveraL ladies were also present. William Henry West has gone to his account. He will be missed and long remembered. His life had its fevers, but the supreme anodyne has been administered, and he is now pluming for a higher flight. There was a large congregation on Sunday morning atteuding the funeral eervioe at the Congregational Church, Bowen-street. The Rev J. Paterson preached an eloquent and feeling sarmon from the words “ I will not leave you comfortless,” at the close of which he, with much pathos, referred to the deceased as a fellow minister, pastor, and friend, and to the blank that had been occasioned in the home, the church, and the community. Mr Paterson then referred to the deceased’s love of truth, from whatever quarter it came; a liberalconservative in theology, liberal in his attitude to all new phasea <f truth, and yet strongly conservative in regard to all the great basal doctrines of the Christian faith. Manifesting a most catholic spirit to other ministers, he held with thorough conscientiousness and firmness the distinctive principles of his own denominatioii, and was always genial and brotherly. Helpful to all who sought his aid in difficulty, he was especially so to young men in their mental and spiritual culture, in the formation of character and in the guidance of their life. He was a faithful watchman, as one who must give an account, a true man, a true Christian, and to those who knew him intimately he was a warmhearted friend.

In the evening the ? Rev J. Dumbell preached from Job xxxviii, 21, “And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds.” His subject was tho mystery of providence, and was listened to with much attentive interest by a more than ordinarily large congregation. At Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, on Sunday morning the Rev J. Berry delivered a most touching address on the death of the late Dr West. He spoke of the great loss the city had sustained through his death. In referring to.the great kindness of heart possessed by the late Dr West, Mr Berry said:—“l was speaking of this feature of his character to a brother miniater a few months.ago. He told me that he began his life as a minister in this city (he has now removed) several years since, and began with too scanty an education. Dr West, of coarse, noticed this, and asked him one day in the kindest manuer- possible if he wou d like help in his studies, and the young man had the sense to say that he would. The young minister was accordingly invited to his house, and on fixed hours for mon th after month Dr West gave him the instruction he needed, keeping the matter private and accepting no reward. lam not sure that the community as a whole understand how much it' owes to a man like Dr West. I think if he had devoted his gifts to any of the learned professions,,whatever recognition in the way of income the world would have given him, it i 3 likely, I think, that he would have proved himself the equal of any professional man in the Colony if he had cared to try his chance in secular life, but he chose the better part.” Mr Berry submitted a resolution to hia congregation asking them if it was their wish that a copy be sent in their names to Mrs West and the Congregational Church, they would show this by standing up. The whole congregation rose with every manifestation of deep feeling. The resolution was as follows: —Tho congregation worshipping in Wesley Church desire to express their sense of the great loss which common Christianity of our city and Colony sustains in the death of the Rev Dr Weßt. They would also express their prayerful sympathy with the family bereaved of its head and the Church of its pastor. The occasional services tendered by our deceased brother through the pulpit and platform duiing many years have been greatly valued by this congregation, and we grieve to think that on earth we shall see his face and hear bis voice no more. While thus expressing our sorrow, we give thanks to God for the memory of a noble life, enriched by rare gifts, beautified by divine grace, and freely consecrated to the glory of God and the good of man.” At St Andrew’s and numerous other churches special sermons were preached appropriate to the sad event, which has deprived them all of a faithful minister of their common faith.