LATE MR TIMSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 33

LATE MR TIMSON.

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT FIRST CHURCH. Ihe service at First Church on Sunday evening was in memory of Mr Jesse I prison, who was for many years the church organist. There was a crowded congregation. The church choir, sang “Comes at Times a Stillness,” and Mr Timson’s favourite hymns were also sung. The Dunedin Male Choir was accommodated with seats in the transept, and sang “The Long Dav doses” just prior to the Benediction. Dr Y. E. Galway, the organist, played Handel’s ‘‘Dead March” in “Saul,” the congregation standing. In tile course of his sermon the Rev. Dr | Merrington said that during the piast few days they had said farewell to one whose life exemplified many of the principles set forth in the parable of the com of wheat. Ihe late Mr Jesse Timson was a man who freely gave all his unusual abilities to the service of God and his fellow-men. His beloved art of music was a talent entrusted to him by the. great Giver, to be used in the service of the Kingdom of God. It was a sacred task and a. labour of love to employ all bis skill and taste in the practice of his chosen vocation, with a single eye to the glory of his Maker. His range was wide a« music itself: but the shrine of noblest service was the organ cf the church, for the existence of which he himself was largely responsible. The speaker outlined the deceased's musical career, and mentioned that in 1907 Mr Timson started a fund for a new organ—the present magnificent instrument —for First Church, and successfully carried through the great achievement which left the church with an organ worthy of its place and name, and a monument to the work and worth of their departed friend. "Tiie last thoughts and words of the departed maestro,” concluded the preacher, “were of music, and he was in fancy conducting the choir which for 31 years it was his privilege and iov to lead in the praise of his God. It was always a pleasure to me to visit Mr Timson as his bodily strength grew weaker. I found in him a friend in the twilight of his earthly day; and I know that he responded with a like feeling to his new minister. The last time I saw him—tile day before he died—as he awoke and knew me in his fancy he asked, ‘Shall I close?’ meaning, ‘Bring the service in First Church to its termination, at the end of life's little dav—the gateway to a larger life.’ His wish was for the triumphant note, sounded as it is this night in the service, and the closing chords of Handel’s great 'Dead March' in ‘Saul,’ and in the Apostle’s fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians, and the noble words of tbe book of Revelation: ‘And T heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the Voice of mighty thunderings, saying. Hallelujah !. for the Lord God omnipotent reignefh !' ” At the first practice of First Church choir after the death of Mr Timson reference was made by the vice-president (Mr E. Sunderland) to the work of the late musician as organist and choirmaster for a lengthy period, and to the high regard in which he was held bv. all'who fame under his influence. A motion of condolence with his widow, daughter, arid relatives was passed by all members standing in silence.