IN MEMORIAM

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8291, 21 September 1903, Page 1

IN MEMORIAM

The Rev. Wot. Wright, preaching last night in Columba Church- on "Death Conquered," made the following references to the death of the late R. W. P.enfold :—"Two years ago young Richard Penfold left- his native Oamaru for thei Empire city. He went away from his parents' home bent on playing his part in life nobly and well, and bent on not disappointing his .father's high hopes and his .mother's fond solicitude. He did his work so well as to gain the respect, of his fellow employees and the commendation of his superior officers. Then fatal accident came to him while acting as marker for the Post and Telegraph Rifles and Submarine Miners, of which.he was a member. For over five months he lingered in the Wellington Hospital, manifesting, a spirit of cheerfulness and patience, wonderful to behold, thus arousing a warm interest and sympathy on his behalf, manifested by doctors, nurses, and warders of the institution. Then the end suddenly came, as his father said, 'he .sank to rest Tike a tired and wearied child.' He was for some time a member of our Sunday School and of the choir connected with the Church. It was here., too, that he came to tEe great decision to trust and serve the livings Christ; and here, too, for the first time he sat down at the communion table. From that profession he never swerved. . Two years ago he left us, and two years to the very day was he borne back to his native town a corpse. His life's course ended, while hardly out of his 'teens.' He was. laid in his last resting-place last Thursday evening. The shades of darkness were stealing as the .young Volunteer was- laid to rest amid the reading of the Word, the accents of Jjrayer, and the melody of hymns so sweetly and sympathetically sung by his fellow choristers of Oolumba choir. Farewell, brave young disciple! Pleasant and lovely went thou in thy life, thy former minister bids thee for a. time farewell! We. deeply sympathise with the bereaved parents and sister, so sadly and suddenly bereaved-of an only son. and brother—one who was the very "hope and joy "of their hearts, and home. /We pray Fhat the allsufficient Jesns- may abound, towards them. Xet them and us leam-histead ot seeking the). living among,the. dead, ,look-"irfg--<>fily~ at the empty- * chqir,- the silent grave and the darkening ipast, let us live under the powers of the world* to come, and also looking forward to 'our gathering together unto Him' thus we shall be— -- " 'Assured that though we labor now,

We labor not in vain; But through the grace of Heaven's great Lord The Eternal Crown shall gain.'"