THE AUCKLAND CEMETERY DISTURBANCE.

Freethought Review, Volume II, Issue 18, 1 March 1885, Page 11

THE AUCKLAND CEMETERY DISTURBANCE.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS. As the Press Association agent, at Auckland, industriously circulated a wrong report of the circumstances attaching to the burial of Henry Holmes, we take the following statement of facts as published in the ‘ N.Z. Herald’:— The conduct of Mr. MacKinlay and other Freethinkers at the burial of the late Henry Holmes has been so grossly misrepresented, and the slanders have been so widely circulated, that it is deemed necessary to make some effort to clear their characters from the stigma that has been placed upon them. It appears that the best, if not the only way in which this object can be attained is by publishing a clear and connected account of the interment, and the circumstances surrounding it. The following are the facts ; For four years prior to the decease of Henry Holmes, scenic artist, Mr. John MacKinlay had been intimately accquainted with him. About fifteen months ago Mr. MacKinlay became aware that Holmes was not only in destitute circumstances, but that he was actually homeless, and had been compelled to sleep for several nights in the Domain and other exposed places. He therefore offered the deceased the free use of a room on the premises occupied by him in Elliott-Street. This offer was gratefully accepted by Holmes, and he continued to avail himself of the accommodation thus afforded up to the time of his death.' During this period Holmes’ earnings were very small, and Mr. MacKinlay frequently supplied him with money necessary to obtain food, and on Mr. MacKinlay representing Holmes’ circumstances to Mr. Meade, butcher, that gentleman, who is also a Freethinker, often presented him with meat. Mr. MacKinlay’s intimacy with Holmes enabled him to discover in the course of many long conversations, that he was an Atheist, and the evidence of Christians can be obtained to corroborate this. During the whole of this time the Rev. William Tebbs, who claimed Holmes as a parishioner and a son albeit an erring one, of his Church, made not the smallest effort cither to

relieve the temporal wants or “ minister to the spiritual needs” of this wayward member of his flock. On January 23rd, a fire occured on Mr. MacKinlay’s premises, and Holmes who still resided there, was suffocated. Mr. MacKinlay, who dwells in the suburbs came to town as usual the following (Saturday) morning, and during the early part of the day several undertakers sought to obtain from him the order for the coffin. Understanding that one of these (Mr. Leaning) inclined somewhat towards Freethought, and also professed to have been greatly interested in Holmes, Mr. MacKinlay instructed him to make the coffin, and arrange for the burial, ho becoming responsible to Leaning for the expense. Shortly after Mr Patrick Doran met Mr. MacKinlay and Mr. Ross (another Freethinker,) and suggested that a subscription should be raised to defray the cost of the funeral. A paper was prepared Messrs. Doran, Ross, and MacKinlay, starting it with their donations, and the list was then handed to Messrs. Ross and Martinthe latter, also, being a Freethinker. These two gentlemen collected the remainder of the money. After the inquest on Saturday, the body remained on Mr. MacKinlay’s premises. He received from one of the constables the certificate of death, and relieved from duty the constable who had been left in charge of the body. During Saturday afternoon Mr. MacKinlay and some Freethought friends arranged that the funeral should take place on the following (Sunday) afternoon that the body should be interred according to Freethought custom; that Dr. York or Mr. Ellis should officiate at the grave, and that as a matter of convenience, the procession should start from Mr. Leaning’s premises, in Wellesley-street. The body AA’as delivered to Leaning by Mr, MacKinlay’s instructions, and the funeral advertised for Sunday afternoon, but the certificate of death Avas retained by Mr. MacKinlay till shortly before the funeral started. On Mr. MacKinlay coming to town the following afternoon to attend the funeral he ascertained that a few minutes before Frank 1 errott and Orlando Mazzolini, two of the Opera House employes, had intervieAved the Rev. Mr. Tebbs, and had requested him to read the Church of England Burial Service at the graA r e. Mr. Tebbs had a baptism to perform, and he therefore urged that the starting of the funeral should be delayed, so that he might be able to reach the cemetery in time. It appears, hoAvever, that this little intrigue Avas unnecessary, as a slight delay Avas caused by other circumstances. Mr. Tebbs having performed Avith commendable despatch the holy ordinance of baptism, proceeded to the cemetery and arrived there before the funeral. While waiting at the gate he Avas overheard making some remarks Avhich proved that he Avas fully aAvare that the Freethinkers had made arrangements for the interment. hen the cortege reached the gate, Mr. MacKinlay approached Mr. Tebbs, informed him that Holmes, having been a Freethinker, no religious ceremony was to be performed, that his services were, therefore, not required, and politely requested him to retire. Mr. Tebbs replied that he had been desired to officiate, but that if the relative or friend who had charge of the body desired him to retire he Avould do so. Mr. MacKinlay informed him that he had been Holmes’ most intimate friend for the last three or four years, that he had charge of the body from the coroner, and consequently he called upon Mr. Tebbs to fulfil his promise. Mr. Tebbs declined to do this unless the undertaker joined in the request. Mr. Leaning, upon being appealed to, said, “ 1 have nothing to do with it; you must settle it amongst yourselves. ” Some of the bystanders insisted that Holmes had been a member of the Church of England others maintained that he Avas an Atheist. Mr. Tebbs accepted the former as correct, and announced his determination to read the service. Some persons took the coffin from the hearse, and the procession started from the gate for the grave. Mr. Tebbs Avalked in front, and commenced reciting the service. The protests by Messrs. MacKinlay, Cox, Ross, Roper, and others were so loud and emphatic that he Avas for a time compelled to desist; but no language of a profane or indecent character Avas used by any of the Freethinkers. The procession reached the grave, Avhich AA r as outside the Church of England Cemetery, being situated in that portion of the public cemetery set apart for the burial of persons of no particular denomination or sect. This fact sho\A r s Mr. Tebbs’ interference in a still stronger light, and suggests the question, lioav far he Avas justified by the rules of his Church in burying a person in Avhat the Church Avould call “ unconsecrated ground.” Mr. Tebbs attempted to take his place at the head of the grave, but Messrs. MacKinlay and Cox having secured that position, refused to give Avay to him, and he Avent to the foot, where he continued and concluded the service, going through the solemn farce of burying a pronounced Atheist, in the “ sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection,” thus giving what the Christians call a “decent burial” to a man about Avhose eternal Avelfare he Avas so anxious, after he AA’as dead. The service Avas not concluded Avithout some further interruptions. Mr. MacKinlay requested Mr. Tebbs to “ cut it short,” and some other Freethinkers characterised the ceremony and service as “ Bosh,” “ Fudge,” &c., but these Avere the strongest expressions used. Mr. Ellis Avas invited to make an address after Mr. Tebbs had concluded, but fearing an outburst of Christian zeal he deemed discretion to be the better part of valour, and declined. The assemblage then dispersed. During the following Aveek Mr. Leaning industriously circulated the report that he had not been paid for his work, and the statement AA’as published in the evening papers of Saturday, 31st January. It was not till that very Saturday afternoon that he sent in his account to Mr. MacKinlay! It Avas settled on the following Monday morning. Mr. MacKinlay has a balance in hand of a little more than £2, and it is intended Avith this to procure a suitable tablet for the grave. The above statement is published Avith the hope of exposing the deliberate falsehoods and malignant slanders that have been circulated throughout the length and breadth of the colony, and it is confidently anticipated that those Avho have been misled by false

reports will in a spirit of fairness excuse, if they do not entirely approve, the conduct of men whose religious views may be unpopular, but who nevertheless are honest, upright, and withal law-abiding citizens. Wm. Cooper. We vouch for the correctness of the above statement. J. MacKinlay. R. R. Martin. J. Goodwin Cox. At a business meeting of the Association this resolution was passed. That the Association, while sincerely regretting the disturbance in the Cemetery last Sunday, cordially sympathises with the struggle made by Mr. MacKinlay and his supporters, approve of their action, and strongly condemns the priestly arrogance and interference which were the cause of the disorder.” Mr. Campbell, President of the Association in a letter to the ‘ Star ’ points out that the council were not consulted as to the funeral, and further as far as he knew, Holmes was not a member. He concludes by saying : “It was a profound mistake connecting the Association in any way with Holmes’ funeral, and some time will elapse before the mistake is repaired.”