Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-22
BURIAL OF sHn ALLAN mACNAB.

Immediately after the death Of Sir Allan Mac
Nab, numerous Startling reports became cur
rent, of interference by the Catholic clergy du
ring his last moments, and also as to the dispo
sition of bis funeral. Il was said that Si
Ailah's clergyman, Rev. Mr. Geddes, Of Chris
Church, was excluded from bis bedside, ant
baptism, confirm alton and extreme JUNCTION sd
ministered by Bishop Farrell and his assistants
while Sir Allan was insensible. The informa-
J ton, confined to a few persons on Saturday
was on Sunday made known to the public.
The following remarks, were addressed by
/ Rev. J. G. Geddes to his congregation in Christ
Church, on Sunday last:
80 Having thus concluded the consideration oi
my text cannot allow this congregation to
disperse wiihou. dischsrging painful duty, bat
one which / feel to be Imperative upon me
Death, my brethren, has been unusually busy
among us-I mean my own peculiar ell arge-
/ during the last few days. No less than SIX in
| dividusls have been called away, of various
/ ages, from the bloom of eighteen to the SHOWS
of three score years and ten All other losses,
| however, seem to be absorbed at present in one
/ which falls heavily upon the province at large,
upon this community in particular, and espe-
cially upon this congregation. Our dear old
/ friend, Sr Allan MacNsb, is no more. You
/ have all heard the sad announcement, and it has
stirred the feelings and affections of your inmost
I
c0untenRnce, besming with kindness and benig-
nifty, have been long familiar to US. For seven
and twenty years he has worshipped with
this congregation. But a few short weeks
ago be knelt with Us at the table Of the
Lord. He was here present in his place the
last Sunday but one before his fatal illness. He
received my spiritual admistratons on Thurs
day. l was denied access 10 him, although
made three Intellectual attempts, at one, five and
halfpast nine a. NJ On Friday morning was
informed, on calling at bis residence, that be had
become q good Catholic, and bad been received
Into the bosom Of the ROmish church.
Had this been ths case, he who prided himself
upon his consistency in all his political life, is
made to be guilty Of the grossest inconsistency
at the most solemn period Of his existencei he,
who puded himself upon bis honest, manly,
straightforward, fearless expression Of his sent-
ments, is made to act the coward or hypocrite
Oh foul blot upon 8 fair escutcheon dark
stigma upon a dear and honOred being! For
the satisfaction, however OF bis old ana fsmlllar
friends-for the satisfaction Of this congregation
and Of the whole community, now solemnlY
declare to you, from this sacred place, that on
Friday morning about halfpast nine ocloch, in
his clear and lucid moments, IN the presence of
credible witnesses, our dear departed friend
solemnly expressed TO me, on his dying bed, his
desire to die in the pure and reformed faith of the
church of England; and yet, csn it be believed
that as efforts were made TO subyeTt bis soul, so
it is to be apprehended that attempts are being
made to secure for bis body Romsn burial
And / have been notified by q near relative Of
the deceased, that I am not 10 oficste at the iu-
neral Of my dear and valued parishOner and
friend. I say not these things my beloved
brethren, for hepuTpOse Of rouising in you any
feelings of unchristisn resentment Feelings of
honest and virtUou5 Indignation will rise uncslled
for from every ingenious heart. pray that we
may sl be governed aud guided by the spirit Of
peace. ] pray that we may have, IN these diff
cult circumstances, the wisdom of the serpent
and the harmlessness Of the dove. desire to
live pescesbly with all men, but truth is dearer
than peace; the religion Of Christ IS frs. pure
then pesceable, and we are e1horted to contend
earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
shall not eAter into further particulars at pres
ent, but conclude with the prayer-protect US,
Oh Lord, in al our doings with Thy most gra-
cious favor, and further us with Thy continual
help, that in all cur works, began continued and
ended in Thee, we msy glorify' Thy holy name
and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting
life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Yesterday, the greatest excitement prevailed
in Hamilton, and the most extraordinary rUmors
were current One among others generally be-
Geved, was that the body had been taken posses |
sion Of by the clergy Of the Roman Catholic
Church, and secretly conveyed to s.. Mary s
Church on the previous evening. The public
were agitated By the question whether the Pro
testant OF Roman Catholic relatives Of the de-
ceased would have control Of the body, and con-
seQuently of the management Of the funeral a
large crowd of persons hocked TO the railway de-
pot as II was anticipated that legal gentlemen
would arrive by the forenoon train, and it was
thought that they would be able to solve the
difficulty. a few minutes before the train ar
rived, rain began to descend in torrents, and at
- o'clock the train reached the depot, having
on board, among others, Chief Justice Mclean,
Chief Justice Draper, Chancellor Ysnkoughuet,
Msior-General Napier, Hon. W. Allan, Hon.
J. II. Cameron, Thomas Gslt, Esq, Col Jarvis,
7. II. Howard, Esq, LieutenantC Colonel Nc
Dougall, Christopher Robinson, Esq, Hon. w.
B Robinson L. Jones, Esq, and John CraW-
lord. The gentleman just named were met at
the depot BY the Rev Mr. Geddes, Rector of
Christ Church, who informed them that II was
proposed to bury Sir Allan MseNAb according
to the rites Of the Roman Catholic Church, and
that Bishop Farrell insisted that the late bsronet
had died a Roman Catholic. The party pro-
ceeded to the Royal Hotel, where they were met
by Hon David Christie, Hon. Mr. Alexander,
Hon W. Dickson, T. c. Street. Esq, NJ NJ p,
Col Gourley, John White Esq N. N. p, Jas.
Wester, Esq, Guelph, and other gentlemen.
Discussion took place as to the proper course to
be pursued under the circumstances. bat no
steps were taken for some time. Great excite
ment continued 10 prevail on the streets, and it
was currently reported that men were ready to
turn out and take possession of the body, in
case the Roman Catholic Bishop attempted to
bury it.
Mr.. Mayor McElroy was urged to swear in
special constables to prevent a breach Of the
peace, but he did not consider it necessary to do
so. About two o'clock, Mr. Hillyard Cameron
received message, asking him to 60 to Dun
durD, to ascertain on behalf Of the deceased
baronets three sisters whether there was = viii,
IN order that it might be ssceTtsined who were
the executors. Mr.. Cameron at once left fol
Dundurn, and on his arrival the will was placed
in his hands Il had been in possession Of Mrs.
David MacNsb, who was confined to her room
through sickness Meanwhile a large number
of persons were proceeding to Dundum on foot
and in carriages. A large crowd assembled in
front Of the castle, a great majority Of whom
were females. About three o'clock the common
council of Hamilton, headed by Mr.. Mayor Nc
ElroY and a detachment Of police, entered the
grounds The policemen took up position IN
front of the mansion 10 preserve order, IN the
event Of their services being required, but there
was no occasion foT their services, all present
conducting themselves in the most orderly ana
decorous manner. Parties Of gentlemen, inelud-
ing those we have mentioned, and many Of the
principal citizens OF Hamilton, began TO arrive
in carriages, among whom were Isaac Buchanan,
Esq h P. p, Rev. Mr.. Geddes, Rev Mr.
Inglis Rev. Mr.. Burnett, John O. HIATT ESQ,
A. Stuart, Esq, Il. Monro, Esq Arond Melon
aid, Esq, and II. Chase, Esq. The gentlemen
crowded into the hall and orawing-room where
animated conversations ware carried on in
whispers, one subject engTossing the attention
Of all The crowd Of persons outside were 10
less interested. The buzz Of conversation sud
denly ceased when the three aged sisters Of the
deceased walked through the sssemblage and pro-
ceeded up stairs, to see the viii opened and
hear it read by Hon. Mr.. Cameron