FUNERAL OF MR. BEVERIDGE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1780, 16 September 1874, Page 2

FUNERAL OF MR. BEVERIDGE.

The funeral of the late Provincial Solicitor, Mr. Andrew Beveridge, took place yesterday afternoon. The prominent position which the deceased gentleman held during his life in the Provincial Government, in society, and in the Order of Masons (Mr. Beveridge wasD.P.G.M. of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Scotland) imparted to the burial the features of a public funeral. Its publicity was further augmented by the wide spread respect and e?teem in which Mr. Beveridge was held. At a quarter-past eleven the Golden Crown arrived from the Thames>, which was left at halfcpast seven, bringing up a large crowd of passengers from the goldfields. , Forming a conspicuous part of these were 91 members of the, Masonic order, who came to assist. at the funeral, and to evince by their attendance in such largo numbers the general respect they bore, for their deceased brother. These consisted of 56 brethren of tho Sir "Walter Scott Loige (S.C.), under W. MeCullough, master, and 35 members of Lodge of Light (S.C.) under S. Young, master. . . The following were the office-bearers of the Thames brethren :—Sir Walter Scott Lodge — Win. ' MeCullough, E. W.M.; A. Dewar, P.M.; A. Brodie, P.M.; Jfi. H. Power, P.M.; M. H. Airey, 8.M.; J. Frater, D.M.; E. Lowe, S.W. ; Wm. Carpenter, J.W.; Eev. J. Hill,. Chaplain; J. M. Cowell, Bible Bearer; W. C. Wright, Musical Director ; J. Cassidy, S.D.; J. Watson, J.D.,. T. Dunlop. I.G. ; T. Eawdon, Tyler ; Stewards, Bros. Plutnridge, Turtle, Swan : son, Beeche, Fotheringham and Kneebone ; Marshall, H. Goldsmith. Lodge of Light, I.C.—S. Young, W.M.; P.M., W. Clymo; S.W., O. Garrett; J.W-, M. Hyams; S.D., G. Blott; J.D., S. Mills; Stewards, W. Drake andT. Mills; P.M.'s, Dayies, Mitchell, Lipsey and Wildman (i'.G. Marshall); Bible Bearer, T. Horsbrugh; 1.G., F. Last; Tyler, T. Eoss; '! There were about forty other members of the Lodge of Light, and a number of visitors who joined them in Auckland. ! The Auckland members of the brotherhood met at ihe Star Hotel Albert-street, to the number of about 150 under Worshipful Grand Master M. Niccol. These marched in procession to the railway station, where a special train was awaiting them, by which they went out to Eemuera. The following was the Masonic ceremonial employed on the occasion : THE MASONIC CEREMONIAL. The brethren of fc't. Andrew's, 418, S.C, and of the Thames Lodges assembled at the Lodge Epom, Star Hotel; tha brethren of Lodges under English and Irish Constitutions at tha Lodge Eoom, Masonic Hotel, at a quarter .befoie two o'clock." ... The brethero, having assembled, the R.W.M. opened the Lodge in the Third Degree. After the object of th/ 1 meeting had been stated, the Chaplain or Master began the service as follows, — SERVICE IN THE LODGE BOQM. I. If a man die, shall he live again P Eesponse.—The dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the Spirit to God who gave it. 11. When he dieth, shall he carry anything away with him ?

Eesponso.—Ho brought nothing into the world, and it is certain-lib can carry nothing out. 111. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken sway; blessed be the name of the Lord. Response.— God is our God for ever. He will be our guide and support through the dark valley of the show of death. GRAND "HONORS. PRAYER BY THE R.W.M. OB CHAPLAIN. The brethren assembled at St. Andrew's then proceeded to Princes-street, and there joined with the othdr lodges in the following order :—- Junior lodges in front, Scotch lodges taking precedence. Tyler with a drawn sword. Master Masons. r Senior and Junior Deacons. Secretary and Treasurer. Senior and Junior Wardens. Past Masters. Bible Bearers. The Master. On arriving at the grave the following service was performed :— ADDRESS BY THE R.W.M. OR CHAPLAIN. Master.—May we be true and faithful, live and die in love, for the memory of the just is blessed. Response.—So mote it be. Master.—The Lord bless us and keep vs —the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto vs —the Lord lift upon us the light of His countenance, and give us peace. Response.—So mote it be. All.—Glory be to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men. PRAYER BY THE CHAPLAIN. The brethren then passed round the grave.and dropped the evergreen. The brethren returned to their Lodges in reversed order, and closed the Lodge. The funeral cortege left the Louse of the deceased gentleman shortly after three o'clock, the procession being a very long one and swelling in its proportions as it moved forward. By the time that it had arrived near the cemetery it consisted of over a thousand mpurnors—some in carriages, some on horseback, and sosae foot. The Masons made an imposing show. Some of the officers carried drawn swords with sprigs of acasia ornamenting the hilts. The cemetery itself was densely crowded about the entrance. The Rev. D. Bruce performed the burial service, in which the simple ritual of the Presbyterian Church and the ample ceremonial of the Masonic order intermingled. His Honor the Superintendent, and the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer followed the corpse to the grave. The late hour at which the sad ceremony took place precludes us giving more than this brief outline of the obsequies of a good citizen and a kind-hearted sympathetic man. We notice that the principal offices and houses of business in the city were closed, or partly closed, out of respect to the deceased. The flags of the vessels in harbour were half-mast high.