LOSS TO THE CHURCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 886, 1 February 1930, Page 9

LOSS TO THE CHURCH

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MR. NORMAN BURTON “FAITHFUL AND NOBLE” “Th© Church on earth has lost a. faithful, a noble, and in many senses a unique son in Norman E. Burton. . . This eloquent tribute to the prominent New Zealand journalist and adherent of the Anglican Church was paid by Archbishop Averill in a preburial service at St. George’s Church, Epsom, yesterday afternoon. The interment took place at. Purewa. Th© archbishop said that the late Mr. Burton’s success as a journalist M-as due to his own ability, to the depth of his reading and study, to his real broadmindedness and ability to see all sides of a question. “Norman Burton was never known to hit below the belt,” said the archbishop ; “he had definite opinions M’hich he w r as not afraid to express, but he never did anything ungenerous.” The archbishop M-ent on to refer to the late Mr. Burton’s deep knowledge of theological literature, on M’hich many envied him, and also to his •svonderful service as editor of “The Church Gazette,” M'hich he had raised to a standard that made it almost a model for such papers in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr. Burton had placed his great gifts and powers at the disposal of the Church and had displayed M’onderful ! pluck in continuing the M’-ork in spite ; of his physical disability. “Perhaps i th© greatest thing in his life was the M’onderfully calm resignation M’ith M'hich he faced his end,” remarked the archbishop. “He placed himself in the hands of God perfectly happy and contented.” The deepest sympathy M*as conveyed by the archbishop to the M'idoW hna members of the family. He also expressed thankfulness to God it had been their privilege to know and work with Mr. Burton for many years past. “A great standard-bearer of the Church has fallen, but his ideals will live. I do not think there is any prayer I should like to offer more than this: ‘Grant that my end be like his,’ ” added ! the archbishop. Th© Rev. J. L. Litt, vicar of St. George's, the Rev. John Cable, vicar of Henderson, and the Rev. G. C. Cruickshank, vicar of St. Mark’s, Remit era, assisted in the service. Mr. G. H. Hardy was at the organ.