ON THE DEATH OF BISHOP PATTESON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3342, 10 November 1871, Page 3

ON THE DEATH OF BISHOP PATTESON.

Ekquiesoat in Pace. Peace to the dead, the noble hearted dead, He who has fallen victim fco the ire Of strange barbarians, in a fur off land, For whom he toiled, and labored in the cause Of Christ the Crucified. His mien was sweet, His teaching gentle as a white robed saint ; No taints of earthly passion swept his brow, No unkind word to tempt tho direful act Could from his kind lips fall ! They lower'd the boat, the Bishop sped With kind intent to speak the savage horde, And o'er the waters camo no sound of woo, Only his followers, who the Saint adored, Fretted, and feared that evil might befal, And co they followed, all alas too late. The mangled body greeted their sad eyes, The form co loved a shapeless fearful mass Before their vision lay — Then a long wail Came o'er the breeze across the watore clear, And strong men wept, and shook with frenzied grief, Men who had gladly faced tho sternest foe, To see him dead, all mangled, dead, and cold, Peace to the dead — he followed but the steps Of his Great Master, who laid down his life In painful agony, for sinful man. Peace to his memory — no word of scorn Can blot the tablet to that mem'ry raised Within our hearts — his was that noble end The which can fill us but with love sublime. Tried eoldier, faithful, steady to the last, Like to his Master Buffers for the sins Of others, not his own. Peace to the dead ; still now and evermore, Fixed is his memory on the hearts of those Who having loved him in his early prime, Mourn now, and weep for this his early doom. Too pure for earth, his Master spared a life Of further toil, and as to show his love Gave him the martyr's death by which he too Had won for ever the eternal life at the right hand of God. •— -SiiiTßß Pen.