The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-06-02 00:00:00

DEATH OF ALDERMAN HARKER.

The midden death of Mr. Alderman flatter on Wednesday
eeciilii" last has coot a deep gloom over the born of Pool.
At abott halfiast eight o'clock when the noes first got abroad,
people hurried wand fro lei the ebeitcnient of grief and anxiety,
scarcely capable of realising the stern fact that their "gukle,
philosopher, and frienii" hal so quietly laMeil from them. The
demand gentleman wail at his office, and having written to
Mr. Waring, was about to .Imm:flee a letter to the Deify
Strain reference to some statement-sir. the Sf•ttpiartf con•
e:rniisg the election. Mr. G. Curtis. who was with him,
had left to obtain the paper containing the Inaccurate reisirt
but hls son, accomianiel by Mr. Ilarker's little boy, hal
returned before him, and on entering the odic: found Mr.
Harker, as they exprassod it, "sleeping on the door." Inter.
! motto was at once fonrardal to Supt. fluid, who, with some
police, was quickly on the slut. Fr.inl the first the worst
naulta wore anticipated, and medical aid an. promptly
obtained. Mtwara. Philpids, Turner, and Miller, of Poole, and
Dr. Fails, ii lkiumeniouth, sere quickly in attendance ; but
their servkes were of no .31111, and without MA effort or a
sound, their patient " died in icare." The utmost sorrow as,
expremal on all aides, and all feeling in restart of the
previous excitement was chacd to lament for the family if
the deceasel.

Mr. Harker was a mime .1 York, w hick city he left in PAS,
and tame to Poole, being articled to Mr. Aldridge, the father
of Mr. u. 11. Aldridge; no.l in 1103, an the retirement of Mr.
AWridge, war, from liusino,.. Mr. Harker was admitted Into
partnership, aisl the fires ..f Aldrid4c and Harker lucerne
among the bot known and respected in the county of Dorset.
Mr. Joseph Marker Wee a gentleman respected in every
circle of soziety, end the wont that even his oparunente all say
of him Is, "That a belt, non never used in Poole." Mr.
Harker hae been for upsards of a quarto oi • century a pris
militia man in the again of the town Ile has twice filled the
°Maid Mayor In Is7o-71 .72, was an Aklennan, deputy coroner,
and Clerk of the Burial Hord. He warn II van Superintendent
of the Skiiinerstrot I...Mgr...Lionel Sunday et-hot; and for tO
years president of the Temperance Society, and Vice-Proident
of the Mechanics' Institute if which he was also Secretary, and
One of the chief promoters. lie MN also connected with the
South Hants Sunday School Union. In all thoe °Mos he
discharved his dells with a zealousness and tutaiiity that won
for him universal estoni.
During the Peet 12 months. however, II diseaso wiliegat first
caused the gravest alarm, set in; and his inedleal advisers
counsellol rest from business for a time ; but the bae election
and the unfortunate aubsequent pros...Mingo, ompled ii ith the
ne ore mem( cvnduet, ennipellul his retuni to the public dis-
charge of duty, the eseitemeut attending chick has had such
need and Sorrowful end
Mr. Harker was In In the prime if life, and his untimely
death has left • gap in Poole society which will not easily tic
replaced. The utuset ...trio is felt for Mrs. Harker and her
bereaved and numerous family.
The public tnoUrnbr, ir Very general. and the shutters of
11111nernUe slope bidoan the unircnol esteem in which the
decamped was held.

The funeral of the hunentel deemed was fixed for
Saturday afternoon, the mini cortege to leave the
house in Western's Lane at three o'clock. People of all
classes were desirous of evincing the esteem they enter-
taineil for Mr. Harker and his fpuoily, end long before
the tune stated a large crowd hail gathered in the vicinity.
The shops were closed, with few exceptions, throughout
High-street and along the entire node, and the blinds oi
'private houses were draws. In the harbour there were
numerous vessels with flags hoisted half-mast, and
similarly at the t.:usWiti House, St. James's church, and
the Town Hall ; indeed, the general mourning proclaimed
the universal sorrow which the untimely event hail
created • and sad in many cases appeared to be the
rememl:ranoes of thaw for one whom all delighted to call
their " companion, guile, and own familiar friend," upon
whom be4th had no *dual) &int unoxpeote.lly laid his
"icy hauls'; and who was so soon to lie committed
To the tomb:
%lac only the actions of the Just
Smell aunt anti H...,1 0, the dust."
. .

No death that wo have chronicled of late has been
locally more dimply or more widely lamented than that of
Mr. Joseph Harker. In the course of an active life he
appears to bare won and carried with him the mteem of
all parties, and never to have laid himself ..pen to reproach
for a single act which might give rise to doubt, of the up-
rightues, of hi, intentions, or the independence of his
character. He was estimable alike in public and private
life, and the Mars that bedewed his grave on Saturday
showed how strong was the hold he Mel on the affection,
of those who were there to mourn their lose; and who,
lamenting the removal of a constant friend, could recipro-
cate the sorrow of that family circle from whom &devoted
husband and an affectionate father had been no suddenly
taken; and where
The 'friendly band nu more will ;rect
helents familiar woe sial sweet
No runic the well-keen features trace,
Ni more renew the fond embrace.'
. . .

r.
The respe;.itiN:Olinn-e-ral details were entreated to Menir4
M. Rabitood. it. Curtis, and E. Farwell, whose duties
were discharged in the moat complete and satisfactory
manner; and we are pleaseil to my that notwithstandinn
the large number id. persons who joined in the funeral
throng, not all accident or hitch of any kind I.,urred.
Much credit is due to the admirable ItMilner in which the
police, under Superintendent Runt, saaisted by Sergeant
Ileaken, discharged their duty in the preservation of
order.

The arrangement of the proression wat am follows, and
it will be been that all eLl.e4 or society were repreiented
in the long line of iliJuarlsing friends, whose nuailiers, if
the desire of all had been consulted, would have been
doubled ;--

.
Meier& J. Buckle), 1.. (;ra;en, J. Jenkins, W Waterman, .1.
Goff, Mal J. Hayman,
The Chapel beacons.
MOWS. K. Ilabl;ool puidertaker), G. Curtis, and W. E.
Farwell.
The Hearse.
First Mourning Coach, omit-titling
Mr. T. P. Harker, Master lierakl Harker, Masters Bernard and
Oswald Harker, and Bev. T. Orr (of Windsor).
Second Mourning Coach, containing
Mr. T. Neirawl (son-in-law), Mr. 0. B. Aldddge,
Starke, and Mr. PuLdngton.
Thinl Mourning Coach, andel ' g
Hon. E. Ashley, M P., the Mayor ( J. S. nudism), Alderman
F. T. Rogers, and Mr. M. Kemp Welch.
The mourning macho, wore followed by twenty earriagus, In
which we tioUced, amongst others, the following mentbers
the Town Council sod friends of the decoded; ok, Alderman
0. it. Penney, Councillors T. Mien, J. Buckley, E Conway,
H. Farmer, J. Hayman, H. Hamilton, O. Green, F. Mi 11,., and
Mr. H. W. Dickineun (Town Clerk); Mr. A. K. Witt, Mr. E. B.
Kemp-Welch, Mr. K. P. Aylee, Mr. .t. Balaton, J.P., Mr. E.
Jennings, Sr. n. Miller Mundy medical atlmidant), Mr. U.
1011 s, Mr. H. M. Aldrid;:e (Bouniemoutl), Mr. F. Travers, Mr.
A. A. Allen, Mr. Tribbett, Mr. Mate, Mr. J. H. Mundell, Mr.
Atkins, K. Mr. Cantwell (priest of Hainan (..tholie chapel),
Yr. W. Hunt, Mr. G.IV Norton, k.c., Sc. After these came
Kr. J. W. Buckley, Secretary .1 Sklutteretroet Congregatienal
Sunday School, and
Mies WHET, the Girls' School Superintendent,
follmbed by
The Seiner Scholars of eight eLuees,
ILINI then
The Teachers .4 both Schools
(Ai Make, 2.1 Females),
Members of the Teniperance Society
end

Cm4ain

Delegate. from the " Bud of /lope' Tent of Beehabites
(of which body Mr. Harker was an honorary member).
Mr. eleWllliain (flounaemouth), and
Beputattion trete the ,outh Banta Sunda) School Union ;
The prucisision clotting With a number of the rsindpal trades-
men of rook and nchbourhood.
l'unctuallY it three iivi;)ck tins i,,rtryt left the house ;
while
" Prom the steeple
Tolled the bell,
Deep and heat)
The death•knell !
Golding with dlrimmot,--...,1emn, sal, and slow,
To the last house earth's woozy wanderers know."
The procesalon, as we have stated, was IA great length.
It was followed to the cemetery by a large and well-
behaved crowd ; the roadsides being alAu thronged, and
along the whole distance. AA far as tho houses extended,
the manifestations of respect were continued. The after-
noon was beautifully tine: but for the pedestrian followers
the road was not b 0 pleasant, the clouds of dust, raised by
the Meese and the tread of the vast crowd, being at times
almost blinding.
Arrived at the Cemetery, the preliminary services were
conducted in the chapel, the Inc. T. Orr (formerly ).astor
at Skinner-street chapel, but now of Windsor) othciating,
there being a crowdml assemblage of friends and relative+
to take part in the last sad of the burial of their
" departed brother." After the usual prayers and read-
ings of Scripture, the rev. gentleman delivered an &fee-
thmata and earnest address, which was ludened to with
impressive interebt, the sympathim of (Inc hearers being
visibly affected.
tie service in the chapel.lsing concluded, the proem-
sion re-formed, and tic: body was taken to the grave.
where the vast wise:Liddy cungr_ge-ateil round, largely aug-
mented bk the outer rowd. Here the well-known hymn
(No. 721 New Congregational Hymn Book) was stunt -
•• • • • - -• • - -

_ -
" Haar what the Wu trout beaten pn.elahas
• For all the pi.•us dead,
Sweet Is the aav•Aur of their names,
Awl volt their eleepin,; bed."
And then the coffin Wl4l lowered Intuits last resting place,
and all that was mortal of the beloved departed Was con-
signed "to Use dark grave's uneharufing night"—" earth
to earth, ashen, dust tO dust.
. . . .

The "last foml look, and the family and friends re.
turned to town in the same order as before, while many
on lookers remained behind, lingering mound the grave.
The cottio was of p,lisheil oak, containing an Inner
shell. Oa the lid were placed some floral wreaths, and a
large floral eras in the centre formed of choice flowers
executed in the iuust tasteful manner. The Inscription
on the name•plate was Very siluele: "Joseph Harker,
died May 27th, 1,71, age.l Its >cam
Tu many who took part in the proconlinp of Saturday
the exquisite lines 01 Ileber must have involuntarily
recurred. ISo appropriate are they that we make no
excuse fur repeatinz theui here AS a tittitig finish to our
report:— . .

° Death ridt, on every passing breeze,
lie lurks in every Newer;
Each sessou has Its own dhow,
pent every hour
our eyes this seen the rosy light
Of youth's soft chock ththy.
And lit.to: descend In sudden night
On met.he,Js naltialle day "
-

•
Yesterday (Sunday) isiurniug there wee& special service
at the Congregational Chapel to reference to the mourn-
ful event; indeed, thill service, throughout the day were
devoted to it. At the morning 'anion the hymn 'AI,
"God Hwy.'s in a mysterious way, was first sung. and
altar the tirst " Behold, I show you a mystery,"
was selected, and rendered most, effectively, to Yeltoo•,,
well-known siu‘le chant, by the ringer, •• To thee, oh
dear, dear country:: the next hymn, and at the con-
demon of the ;ten'', Itehree "Thin art gone to the
grave, but we will not deplore thee.- The Itev. 1. urr
preached the amnion, choosing for his text the 2nd verse
of John xiv., nay lather'u house are many mansion" ;
if it W.. 1.0 uot so I would have told sou. Igo to prepare
a place for you.- Tile roe. gentletuan preached an
apu,iaaat di„,,,uese, duelling Oil Uil! 11.111.1001 aseociations
of home, and Owlet* promise of a heavenly home here-
after to those that loved hliio. flow ~woet and compre-
!mesa Ve are the Wonlsof the text, "in my Father'. I se!"
imer *Odium: the pn 111 l bed home. l'euldi they but 4013
th.se ineusluns, like Paul the would wish to depart and
In with Christ, whaw muds., never fajtal. None but Ile
could open the g.'lle; lie was there as an adtwate pre-
letting Heaven tor their atception —Christ prepared to
rueuite the &meet ; and the Iluly Spirit prepared the gucet
for the hone. I 'lnlet knew their names and rliaractere.
hOW many had their hopes fixed on thaw heavenly
mansions. Were they then ready, if at once called 4114 y,
like their departed litetheil Woubl they feel at home
Would they be welconse f Death might mine now, amiss.'
would it be, if is hen he came a dark cluud shadetted them.
Their fricad whale lose they mournaL was well-known to
all of thesis ,• none could love hini more than he (the
preacher) did. Their thoughts ran in the awe channel.