Milford chronicle., 1888-03-02
THE LATE REv..A. h. MACKON
OCHIE.
THE FUNERAL.

ial Ground at the Woking Cemetery
Since the death Of Father Lowder nl
event has so stirred the hearts of Catho
l lies as has the pathetic close Of Fathe
Mackonochie's life; and as the deaths o
these two old friends and fellow worker.
strangely resembled each other in some
particulars, so the scene in Baldwin.
| Garden on Friday suggested reminis
cences of the crowd of sorrowing poor il
Old Gravel Lane and at Chislehurst Oh
the occasion of the funeral ofthe founder
of ST. Peters, London Docks. In one
respect, indeed, the ceremony of Friday
is unique. OF course, we refer to the pro-
cession which followed the body from the
church to the railway station. That a
crucifix should be borne through some OF
the busiest thoroughfares of Puritan Lon
don, followhd by some fifty priests in cas-
socks and surplices, with an acolyte bear
ing a hambeau OH either side of the
hearse, not merely without exciting hos
tile demonstration, but amid the quiet
and respectful demeanour of the crowds
that lined the streets, is surely an incident
unparalleled in the religious history Of the
capital since the Reformation. But
whether that be so or moi, those in tile pro-
cession who could look back to the riots
at St. George 's-in-the- East, and even to
that Sunday during the Hatcham riots on
which the Father had to be protected by
the police from the mob which was pur-
suing him down the New Cross-road, could
not help contrasting Then and Now, and
remarking to one another, "This would
have been impossible, thirty, twenty, aye,
and even ten years ago."
AT solemn Vespers for the Dead on
Thursday night, for which an immense
congregation had assembled, the body |
was removed to St. Sepulchre's chapel,
where it had remained since its arrival
from Scotland OH Wednesday morning.
and placed in the chancel of the church.
Before the service began, the choir and
clergy, headed by crucifer, proceeded to
the mortuary chapel. and there chanted
Psalm cxxx., and this antiphon-'If
what is done amiss Thou wilt be extreme
to mark, o Lord; o Lord, who may abide
it p The procession reformen, and fol-
lowed by the bier, Sisters, and mourners,
each one of whom carried a beautiful
floral wreath or cross, entered the church
chanting Psalm H., and the following
antiphon 1.-THE bones which Thou hast
broken shall rejoice in the Lord" On
the procession reaching the chancel, the l
coffin, now covered with wreaths, was c
placed in the centre of the space between c
the choir-stalls, with three large candles v
burning on either side of it. The Vespers I
were then sung, the Rev. A. H. Stanton I
and the Rev. G. R. Hogg, both vested in u
black copes, acting as cantors, and the o
Rev. r. A. J. Sucking, who also wore a Ii
black cope, as the principal oficiant. a
Psalms cxvi., cxxx., and cxxxviii., and C
the Magnjfoaf, with appropriate anti a
phons, were sung, and the Office con- Il
cluded as follows = q
Grant them, o Lord, eternal rest; aud let II
light perpetual shine upon them. a
Y. From the gates of He'll. W
r, Deliver their souls o Lord. h
Y May they rest in peace. V,
r. Amen. 10
T. o Lord, hear our prayer. b,
x. And let our cry come un to Thee. su
o God, the Creator and Redeemer of all n,
hem that believe, grant unto the souls of h,
Thy servants and handmaids the remission tn
t all their sins, that through devout suppli- I
atlons they may obtain the pardon they c,
ave always desired. Who iivest and reignest he
nth God the Father, in the unity Of the ba
Ioly Ghost, ever one Cod world without 70
nd. Amen. ~
y. Rest eternal grant to them, o Lord. - -.
r. And let light perpetual shine up on ni
lem. VIC
T. May they rest in peace. tu'
r. Amen. ev'
The Rev. f. F. Russell then mounted Ian
lie pulpit, and in simple and pathetic OF
nguage, gave an account of his mission fur
Scotland. He. first declairned any idea Ha
preaching that night, "for," said he, PIE
here is preacher amongst us tonight Dec
i'd it were almost an insolence for any 4
le to try to add anything to the words Dire
at are being said to us. Every spot in tina
is church speaks to us of him, and who hea
eak to you from this pulpit cannot but ane
member that from this very spot he has and
us with the word of life for so many disr
ars." AT the outset he wished to say bea
at he spoke only to those who had MAJ
red him; and if there were any present "
that church out of curiosity, or who out
l come shere simply as critics, he asked ofei
IN in pity to have no ear for him; for half
re were some things about which there at "
'uld be no public speech at all, and the cant
ngs he had to say that night came per ofic
isly near to that. He spoke only to from
Sc who loved Mr.. Mackonochie and to Din
pm the least detail of the close Of his the {
would be dear. Mr.. Russell then Req
ceeded to tell the story of his mission the {
ow there came late on Saturday night and
telegram which told so much and vet long
so little, and how it came at a time for Il
n they could not get the fuller details the
ch they craved for, nor could anyone vainl
for Scotland until the Sunday night. Arno
as given to him to go that journey, old "
for that great privilege he owed great come
ilzs to one who in the flesh stood near Besid
to Father Mackonochie, and who Mess
Id have gone, only all who knew him also !
that it should not be. Mr.. Russell corni
related how he stood upon the pier Of p,
ban at midday on Monday waiting prese
he steamer to take him up the Loeb, Unioi
he noticed that the fellow passengers deput
ared to be talking Of the sad event, the c.