OBITUARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 3 August 1894, Page 18

OBITUARY.

ON Monday, 23rd inst, took place at Fountain Hall the death, at an early age, of Mr John M. O'Connor, of Wellington. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr Robert O'Connor and grandson of the late Hon John Martin. When in 1885 8i Patrick's College opened its doors to the Btndcnts of the Colony, John O'CoDnor was one of the rery first pupils to pnfit by the occasion. He remained a pupil of the College until 1892, at the close of which year be fioisbed his scholastic course by passing the matriculation examination of the New Zealand University. During his stay at tbe College the deceased endeared himself alike to masters and schoolfellow! by his mild, unassuming disposition ; he was an active member of the College Literary and Debating Society, an energetic member of the Collet* Brass Band, and ote of tbe most promising cricketers fiat bad pawed through the institution. On leaving school he took np a position in the Union Bank, and at once secured tbe esteem of all with whom he was brought into contact. With every prospect of ■access ia the world, while all lay bright before him, and on tbe verge of manhood, be was inddenly prostrated by a severe internal complaint, which it was feared from the outset would end fatally. Doctors Grace, Martin, and Meares (of Christchurcb) performed on him a critical operation, in the hope of saving his life, and nothing that tbe best medical tkill could suggest was left nndone, but all efforta were unavailing, and the young gentleman succumbed to the dueaae (appendicitis) on the evening of Monday, 23rd inst, He had been attended during bis illness by the Bey Father Goggan, 8.M.,

and edified all around him by his cheerfulness and resignation; When he felt that the end was approaching, be tenderly bada goodbye to his broken-hearted parents and to the dear friends at his bedside, and then joyfully yielded hia soul to his Creator. On Wednesday morning solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in the church attached to S> Patrick's College, in the presence of a large congregation. The Very Rev Dr Watters, 8.M., Hector of Bt Patrick's College, celebrated the Mass, with tbe Rev Father Hickson, 8.M., and the Rev Mr Tymons, 8.M., as deacon and sub-deacon. The Tery Rev Father Devoy, 8.M., V.G., Bey Father Goggan, S.M., and the College faculty were present in the saoctuary. The music, which was wholly Gregorian chant, was efficiently rendered by the College choir, led by the Rev Father Aubry, S.M. Immediately before the absolution, at the catafalque, the Very Rev Dr Watters, who was dttply moved, approached the altar railp, and said : —

"My dear boys-for it is you i have particular right to address this morning amid the emblems of death that mark this pathetic ceremony— we are taking to-day a last farewell of one who waa with us and of us for many years, from the first day that saw this college opened to the youth of this Colony, till fall of merit and honours, with the goodwill of his comrade?, and the affection of hia master?, he left the benches to take his place in the arena of life. la life we are in the midst of death. For now the second time in this year, you and I meet before God' 6 altar to commit to their parent dust the remains of those we love. la the noonday of his usefulness, being made perfect in a short space, you saw the master summoned from amongst you ; you saw him at the call of death lay down hia arms and leave the battle-field to receive the reward of the faithful servant. Now it is the youth, strong in muscle aad sinew, bright iathis world's promisee, just entered on the stage of life, woo is claimed by the universal destroyer, who leaves ua to receive, we may well hope, the crown of a short, bat pure, industrious, and dutiful life. Is it not brought home to us with urging proof that dtath is no respecter of person, that there is just one thing universal aad commoa ia life, and that is death ; that there is one sorrow that finds a home in every heart and that is sorrow for the dead ? •It has been appointed to all men once to die.' Neither human prudence, nor human power can stay the execution of that fell decree. Our lines may be cast in pleasant places, oar path in life may bt thickly strewn with every flower still l«ft us, bat on that path a grave is dug, and that grave, when we know not, shall by eternal decree one day claim us for its own. Who of us, taking part in this dread ceremonial, drinking ia the weird and loving chants of the Church does not feel his heart wholesomely struck by the fear of his own death f Yet the world rushes on its wild career, and little recks the all too near approach of that moment when slaves and sovereign, master and mao, shall inexorably be summoned to render an account of their stewardship. It ia a mercy of GoJ, a warning give l to all of us, when we are' rudely awakened from oar reckless cleaving to earth, by the call, the unexpected call, of on* who was close woven round our heart-strings, and whose absence fills us with woe, and makes our homes desolate. I cannot trust m 3 while still our grief is fresh ani sora oar hearts to speak of the boy thac is gone. He was with us oa the day years ago when first we opened the College, he climbed from class to class, he shared our hopes and fears, he owned the same principle* with us, our aspirations were his, his feelings and sympathies were oars'. When on his dying bed he held my hand in his, be asked was none of' those about him going to accompany him to Heaven. This ia not the hour to speak of his claims to our remembrance." Here the preacher pointed out the lawful extent of natural sorrow, but in contrast insisted that there was in this death much reason for Christian joy and he concluded by showing the duty imposed on the living of pray! ing for the dead " that they me be loosed from their sins." The conBolation still remained tint this is not a final parting, that this is not a last good-bye, that in a b3tter land, land of our faith and our hopes, we shall all share the blisa aßked for by tha yearning heart. " Requiem a'ernam dona ci, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ci." Eternal rest give to him, O Lord, and let perpetaal light shine on him.— Amen. As the body was being conveyed from the church to the hearse, the College brass band, as a tribute to its paßt member, played very feelingly the "Dead March in Baul." The funeral cortege was a large and representative one. Four of the deceased'! former companionp, Messrs Douglas Burnes, F Didsbury, William F*llon, and Bertie Smith acted as pall-bearers. Among those present were tha Very Rev Fathers Devoy, 8.M., V.G., Watters S.M., D.D., Lane, Bey Fathtrs Goggan, Bower, Bjwden, Molony, and Clancy, Hon Sir Patrick Buckley, Hon Walter Johnston, Hjn Dr Grac\ Doctor Martin and Messrs Martin (3) uncles of the deceased, Doctors Cahill, Mackin, and other members of the medical profession, Messrs John CurniD, Martin Kennedy, Nicholas Reid, the officials of the Government Audit Offloe, and the senior students of tit Patrick's Collage. Tbe interment took place at Karori, the Very Bey Father Devoy, V G conducting the service. When the grave had been fillad in, it was completely hidden with numerous wreaths and crosses, sent by Hon Sir Patrick and Lady Buckley, Hon Dr Grace and Mrs Grace, Mrs T. C. William*, Union Bank, Convent, Audit Ddpirtmeot, medic tl profesaioo, students of St Patrick's College, and others.— li.l P,