The Death of Rev. J. McAra.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 409, 28 January 1890, Page 2

The Death of Rev. J. McAra.

Shobtly after half-past six on Saturday evening, the Rev. J. McAra (who was seriously injured by a buggy accident on Thursday evening), was relieved of the pain and breathed his last. From the time the accident took place there was not the slightest ground for believing other than that the result must be fatal; indeed ft recovery would probably have meant life* long misery and the dearest friends of the un« fortunate gentleman became resigned to the fact that ta him death would be a happy release. Still the sad announcement on Saturday evening came as a shook to the community. It seemed a hard thing to imagine that we must number with tbe things of the past the cheery face of that kindly disposed gentleman who had himself soothed so many sorrowing hearta and brought balm to homes stricken with sadness because of the loss of some loved one; that there had been taken from us an earnest worker in the cause of religion, and a true friend to all who were in need of a helping hand. The deceased gentleman was a mon who made the best use of his opportunities for doing good, and though he is now taken from ns his excellent works will long survive.

HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED. When the sad tidings were circulated in town on Saturday evening it appeared to throw a gloom over the community. Shutters, expressive of mourning, were at once put up on the shop windows, and the sorrowful news was a leading topic of conversation. Much sympathy was expressed for her by whom the blow would be most severely felt—the widow. The feeling of regret extended far and wide beyond the flock to whom it was tbe rev. gentleman‘s particular duty io minister. AU sectarian feeling was thrown aside and replaced by an universal feeling of respect for the memory of the deceased. Those of his own congregation might regard the bereavement as one of particular import to themselves, but members of other ohurch*« a true Christian had been cut off. Upon first hearing of the accident, the Bev, J. Ward (Wesleyan Churoh) offered to assist In any way that ho could in Ohurcb matters, and it was arranged that be should preach on flunday morning iu connection with the Presbyterian Churoh, but it was not then thought that tha service would be a memoriam one.

the oauacHEa. • The Presbyterian earvicss were held in tha Coneregatlonal Church.tha use of which was kindly allowed for the occasion, Aa stated, the Rav. J. Ward ocoii|tßd the pulpit in the morning, and ths ssrvioe was a most impressive one. The pulpit was drapod with black, and from the oountenanoea of the members who met in the pretty little Churoh, it was very easy to deteot the mournful feelings that were at work within, and many eyes were moist with the tears that could not bs restrained. The morning was beatitlfullv serene, and from the outside of the church there was an absence of all sound but the sweet chirping of the birds, the feathered ureatnres seeming to have united in a chorus which increased the impressiveness of tbs oooa.ion. In the ohuroh hymn, had bi.n specially ssleotsd for ths oooa.ion, but the riPRinR was .piritlesr, tbs ohoir appearing to labor linger tha «en«e of oppression which 1, aau.ed when tha heart is full of Mdosw. The prsaohor took for his text. “ The hand of God r hath touched me/’ and explained the d.ep meaninß conveyed by the word ‘ouo“. God had touched thair paetor into a better country. The reverend Rentleman went on to point nut how ths sad occurrence had touched the hearts of every one in the 00 ™™ lin ‘ 1 ?’’ Rometlmw God’e tonoh hrnught »"'* go in this case It had brought troub e to maoy a heart, but they must not think that it w*. a sien of God's di.pleasuro. Trouble had been brought to many of God a while striotlv in the path of duty. In soma parts of the highlands of S mtland parent, love to choose the twflight as a time for talking to their children on serious themes, heoanee it <« believed that in the gloaming the minds of the children ore more moeptive to gerioua thonghls. So God appeared now to be speaking to that congregation, a. it . were, in'.he twilight. Might God help them to n-.„ke a fitting response. Ho believed the event which had moved their hearw would •touch’ them into a higher life-many of them would recall to mind words of advise tendered by the g-mtleman whose lossl they now regretted. Tribulation sometimes mov«d oar weaknege of oharaoter, and enabled ns to eee how different we ere from what we ought to be. God's touch mads us rise into beings of true nobility, to live a higher.purer life than we have ever lived before. The rev. gentleman concluded by eloquently conveying the lesson to be learned from the sorrows that at times are visited upon us. In theoourse or the prevers, a fervent petition wae offered on behalf of the widow and fatherless children. In the course of his sermon on Bunday night, ths Rev. Canon Fox (Holy Trinity Church) made reference to the death of the Rev. J. McAra, and said:—He was one of the first to meet me hers with a most friendly greeting, and there has never since to the last time I saw him in health—a few days son—been anything to change that feeling. Hie last act was one which proved hia kindly feeling to me. for he crossed the road specially to assure me that he would readily allow tha use of the Churoh at Matawhero for a special purpose; he gave mo what I aaksd, in bis usual friandly way. It wa« only as it had been from ths very first. When we discussed »lot of little things in ennneotlon with ths Churches, or dwelt on still higher themes upon which Christians do not differ, ha would speak at times with great heartiness, with a readiness to admire what there was to admire. Often have I been impressed by his itaadinMs and thoroughness for the work, and wished that I was possessed of some of hie qnalifieations in which I fear I am weak. We have no fears for him, though out off so suddenly—we know that he ha, through the Cross found the Lord Jesus Chriit.” At the oonolusion of the service, Mr Airey played the Dead March in Saul. Mr J, T. Evans conducted the Pre.byte« rlan services in the evening, and made reference to the sad event. At the Wesleyan Churoh in the evening, Rev. J. Ward referred to the deceased gentl.man in a very touching manner, a number nf the congregation being visibly affected. Tbe news of the accident, he said, had oast gloom into nearly every household in the district, end everywhere he hsd been that day eon. ducting servioes, universal regret was ex. pressed, and every person spoke of Mr Mo Ara as a personal friend he bad lost.

DYING IN HtnNESI. Mr McAra had gone out on Thurelay— tha day when tbe fatal occurrence took place— to visit some of hie parishioners in the country. On his return, he drove round to Mr, Turn, bull's, on the Whatanpoko, where twn of h'» children were to stay to tea. The little girl was not vary well, and she wae to go home with her father, and littl. Edmund MoArs, who wu also in bad health, asked to be allowed to drive aa tar aa the bridge. Hit father brought him to the Wbat»upoko tide of tha Tsruheru bridge end there left him to walk back to Mr, Turnbull', for tea. Edmund stared a short time looking Into the water, and while doing so be heard the violent rattle of the trap, and wit. neread the accident which ha, reiulted in hi, father's death. It wa, while creeling the bridge that Mr McAra mat Mr Smaill, and to Mr Small! the last words that Mr McAra wae known to speak, were given. It ie a strong commentary on Mr McAra’s oharaoter that hl, last words were about one of hi, pariehlonere, thus showing that at the very moment when ho met hi, f»te he had the interests of otherl at heart, Mr McAra spoke of several whom ha had visited, but especially of * Granny’ Broingan, at whose failing health heexpreswd great concern, and aaid how much better and holier bs felt every time he saw ’Granny.' Mr Smaill says that as he said this he looked the picture of happiness, as if the vieit had really did him good—indeed, says Mr Smaill, ho never looked happier in hie life. Ths history of the remaining tew moment, ol oonsoiouanes, has already been written, c! how the horse took fright, of how Mr McAra, With Strong fatherly instinct, clutched hl, IPtle daughter inhi, arm,, and tbu, gave up their heat obanoo of Mfrty, and 0! th. Anal dreadful oatastrupb, whiob led to th, death

of one who wes a Rood servant of hie Master, a loving husband, a fond father, and a fast friend to all who sought his help. It is a remarkable thing that Mr Smaill knew nothing of the accident until next morning, and it is needless to say that he was dread, fully shocked. • THE FUNERAL. Shortly after 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon a short funeral service was held at the Manse, the Bev. J. Ward officiating. At about 3.80 the procession started—one of the largest funeral processions which has been seen in Gisborne. The funeral cortege was nearly half a mile in length, extending from Cobden street op to Roebuck road, and included about 70 carriages and nearly 100 horsemen, Bombers that were considerably augmented as the cortege moved towards the cemetery. Resides those who took pert several hundred men, women and children lined the Cobden Street footpath, and groups were assembled at several parts along the route of procession to show their respect to the deceased minister. At the cemetery a considerable number of people had already collected when the funeral cortege arrived, and on every hand there were signs of the respect and esteem in which the reverend gentleman had been held. The Venerable Archdeacon Williams read the funeral service in an impressive manner. Among those present were all the Ministers of other denominations as well as the Captain »nd officers of the Salvation Army and repre.wntatives of the Seventh Day Adventists, His Worship the Mayor, representatives of the Literary Societies, members of the legal imd medical professions, and a number of other representatives of town and country people were also present. Gisborne has seldom witnessed such an expression of universal regret as was exhibited yesterday when Mr MoAra’s body was conveyed to its last resting place.

A BEST WFS. John MeAra was born on March 93, 1841, and was therefore almost 49 years of ago when hi« death took place. His birthplace was Crieff, a town in Perthshire, Scotland. Ot Mr MeAra'* early life we can glean no 'Retails, except that ho appears to have been a eery energetic and pushing young man. He »ii educated at Edinburgh Univerity, under Professor Rlaekie and other men of note. Mr MeAra made good progress with his studies, but eirnnmstauMe prarented bis continuing item beyond a certain point. He then jook up the Home Missionary work, jo which fee displayed a great deal of energy, with very fair results. In 1879 Mr MeAra same to New Zealand and took up his abode at Balolutha, The deceased gentlemen used Himself to tell of how, when he had male up his mind to ocme to the Colony it was at first Intended that be should go to Poverty Bay, but that When hi» friends heard of the Infection thay were go impressed by the lugubrious name of the niece, and by events ihsn recent which had happened here, that ihey ijifsuadad him from coming Mrs in the first instance. At Batelutha be entered the regular ministry, and shortly afterwards married Miss Forsyth, with whose assistance he labored very successfully among the Batelutha people, It is a remarkable thing that two sisters cf Mrs MeAra also lost their husbands by violent deaths, one by drowning, and the other by a fall from a to. Mr end Mrs M»4ra remained at Bataiitha, where they were deservedly nopulsz. until 1879, when they left that ’district, to the gnat regret of the parishion, ays, and game to Gisborne. During the Marly eleven yaare of his ministry in Gisborne, Mr MeAra has been an assiduous worker both as ftgards preaching And the other work of hie office, and ha has visited almost every part of the district, winning the good opinion of both his own and other denominations wherever he went, ffr VoAre * practical man and did not «ODi ■> hie good services to Bis awn fiock, hut took a great interest in anything that concerned the general welfare. Thus we find him acting as Secretary of the Ladies Benevolent Society until that useful body’s jabots were assumed by the more pretentious fitted Charitable Aid Board, He war also for a considerable time a member of the Hospital Committee and devoted a considerable portion of his time to visiting the patients in that institution, and administering consolation where it was necessary. He was connected with the Public Library, and was one of the principal inauguators of the Bt Andrew’s Literary Association, ot which he acted as President from the date of its inauguration. Mr MeAra was also connected with several other good works, but hie con. petition with Gisborne began at such a comparatively recent date that it would only be going over well mown ground to give a full list ot every good work in which Mr MeAra has bean a moving spirit, even could we spare the ip ace to do so. He leaves * wife and four children to lament his loss, and it is at least gratifying to know that Mr MoAra’s foresight has left them fairly well providtd for, although that oan never reaompenia for their bereavement. The following are the ineorancee upon the deoeaaed geotleman'e life -Government Life Insurance, £5OO ; A. M. P.» £4OO ; Colonial Mutual Society, '£Boo. The widow ia, we believe, also entitled to a contribution from a fund specially raised. for the widows of deceased Presbyterian Ministers.