History of the Fife Pitcairns

322 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
and the widow may realise a Guest and a Comforter, in whose
presence they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and
suffering should flee away.
1 On Tuesday noon, the mortal remains of the late vicar were in-
terred in the north-east portion of the parish churchyard, in the
grave wherein lies Mrs Pitcairn's mother, and a daughter. The
grave is bricked in, and covered with a single slab on which stands
a stone cross. The upper portion, a few hours before the funeral,
was lined in with moss, ferns, and white flowers, and was visited by
hundreds of people during the forenoon.
Arrangements for the orderly conduct of the ceremony and the
control of the burial - ground were made by Mr Superintendent
Bent, who was present with Inspector O'Hara, and Sergeants
Green and Dutton, and twenty constables. Shortly before eleven
o'clock a great number of private carriages were drawn up near the
vicarage. The cortege left the vicarage gates about 12.10. Previous
to this, members of various societies and clubs had assembled at the
Town Hall, and from there proceeded to Ladywell, and walked in
procession in front of the carriages. The coffin, of polished oak
with brass mountings, was placed on a car drawn by four fine
horses. It bore a brass plate inscribed, "James Pelham Pitcairn,
died Thursday, December 15, 1892; aged 71," and was covered
with a large purple pall. Following the car came three carriages :
in the first Mrs Pitcairn (the widow), and her son, Mr W. D. Pit-
cairn ; the second carriage was occupied by Miss Pitcairn, Miss C.
Pitcairn, and Colonel Luard ; in the third Miss M. Pitcairn, Miss
Maud Pitcairn, and Mr Hepworth (the late vicar's friend and doctor).
Another carriage contained Mr W. C. Lord, Mr F. Leech, and Mr
J. B. Bindloss, J. P. The Mayor and Corporation of Eccles, with
various local bodies, walked in the procession.
On arrival at the church (the bells of which were ringing muffled
peals) the Revs. Canon Heywood, and F. Sardeson, priest in charge
(in the forefront of a long line of fifty clergy, the rear of whom was
brought up by the members of the choir, the whole extending the
full length of the nave), met the mournful procession, and the pall-
covered coffin was brought and deposited in the chancel of the
church. On the coffin was a wreath from his wife and children.
The clergy present were as follows : Revs. Archdeacon Anson ;
Canons Heywood, Davenport, Kelly, Birley, Tonge, and Woodhouse ;
Revs. H. Armstrong and J. J. Barnard, St Andrew's, Eccles ; A. E.
Francis, St Catherine's, Barton ; W. Crass and S. S. Sutcliffe, Christ
Church, Patricroft ; J. H. Carter, Weaste ; F. K. Hodgkinson,
Worsley; R. P. Willock, Hope; T. D. Harland, Davyhulme; Dr
1 From 'The Eccles Advertiser,' Friday, Dec. 23, 1892.