not for mortals to question the great and mysterious designs of an allwise and ever-ruling Providence, but rather to confide in His mercy and goodness, and bow with humble submission to the Divine will.
Funeral Solemnities
The unanimous token of respect paid to the memory of the late Prince Consort on the day of the funeral, Monday, Dec. 23rd was such as not to be easily effaced from the memory of those who took part in the local solemnities. Agreeably to the expressed wish of the Mayor, the shops of both towns were closed till two o’clock in the afternoon, and a solemn assembly of men, civil and military, with the insignia of mourning, marched in procession to the church of the Holy Trinity in the following order:-The Mace (covered with crepe) and Macebearers.
The Mayor, with robes in mourning, supported on his right by the Town Clerk
and on his left by the Clerk of the Peace.
The clergy of the borough in their black gowns, walking three abreast.
Borough and County Magistrates.
The Town Council and borough officials, walking four abreast.
Major Harcourt and Lieut. Rock.
Artillery Band.
Rifle Band – Herr Kluckner’s.
Rifle Drum and Fife Band.
Artillery Volunteers.
Marine Artillery Volunteers.
Rifle Volunteers.
Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Borough Police.
The church being insufficient to accommodate the vast number of people who joined the solemn throng, it was arranged to admit only by ticket, the central seats being exclusively set apart for the officials. Special lessons for the occasion were read by the Rev. G. D. St. Quintin, and the service for morning prayer was conducted by the Rev. T. Vores. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Crosse, whose text was selected from Job l, XXI. The words said the preacher were at the beginning of the service for the burial of the dead, and they were also, perhaps, from the earliest pages of revelation. They had been enlarged on, but never improved, and they were still the manual of Christian mourners. They neither speculated on the cause of bereavement nor calculated its result. In three short sentences they defined our knowledge and expressed our sentiments of him who was dear to us. The Lord gave him, the Lord hath taken him away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” On that occasion he would indulge no vain regrets, and draw no gloomy horoscope, but keep himself within the limits of the Patriarch’s thoughts, of which it was written “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Years ago, but within the memory of some persons present, the nation was-
