[From Manx Quarterly, #21, 1920]

ROBERT MOUGHTIN.

Died July 22nd, 1919.

The death of Capt. Robert Moughtin, H.K., which took place at his residence, infield Hey, Victoria-road, Douglas, on Tuesday, July 22nd, was not unexpected. Since the early spring, Capt. Moughtin had been in a serious condition as regards health — so serious that he was unable to leave his house for performance of public or private business. A man of great courage and strong will power, he fought illness with fierce determination, but bodily infirmity was too much for him, and eventually proved the conqueror. Capt. Moughtin was a Douglas man, born and bred. The second son of the late Mr Thomas Moughtin, joiner and builder, Douglas, he was born 72 years ago in a dwelling-house in New Bond-street, formerly used as the Douglas Grammar school. A boy of great natural ability, in the course of his attendance at school in Douglas, became soundly grounded in mathematics, for which he had a singular aptitude, and he otherwise acquired such scholastic education as was avilable to boys of his age and station in the Isle of Man in mid-Victorian days. Living practically on the quayside, he in his boyhood developed a passion for shipping and the sea. At the age of 14 was apprenticed as a mariner, and first went to sea in the barque Skibbereen. In course of his first voyage on her, this vessel was lost in the Atlantic. Rescued from the wreck, he was by no means discouraged by the unpleasant experience. He continued his apprenticeship, and in course of it he acquired a thorough knowledge of theoretical and practical seamanship. In those days sail was still king over steam so far as sea-borne commerce was concerned. The old "windjammer" was the best of schools for the training of sea dogs, and during the whole of his pupilage, and for long years after, Moughtin sailed the seas on vessels which depended only upon sail for motive power. While still a very young man, he earned his mate's " ticket," and afterwards he made such rapid progress in his education that he was able to gain the certificate of " extra master " — the blue riband of navigation before he was very far advanced in his twenties. He was quickly entrusted with the command of a merchant ship, and from that time until his retirement from active life on shipboard, he was supreme on his own quarter deck. He sailed all the oceans and seas of the world, and many were the exciting experiences and strange and stirring adventures which he encountered. On several occasions he was upon the verge of death from shipwreck or accident, or from violent outbreaks by crews not very amenable to discipline. While tarrying at a South American port — he was an apprentice at the time — his disposition for seeing things landed him into serious trouble. One of the wars which in those days were almost constantly happening between the Latin Republics was on, and young Moughtin, accompanied by certain youthful shipmates, took one of the boats belonging to their ship and proceeded to investigate at very close quarters a warship of one of the belligerents, which was lying in a roadstead under her control. The officer in command of the warship regarded the movements of the British sailor boys with considerable suspicion, and in the end he sent out one of his own boats, the crew of which captured the curious ones and conveyed them on to the warship. The captain of the craft proceeded to question the young mariners in somewhat hectoring fashion, and anybody who had any close acquaintance with the late Capt. Moughtin will not be surprised to learn that the irate naval officer got back from the Manxman as good as he gave. In the end, the man-of-war captain expressed the conviction that Moughtin and his companions were spies, and issued an order that they be accorded the summary treatment usually meted to spies. Fortunately, the plight of the sailor boys had been observed from their own ship, and the aid of a British naval officer, whose vessel was lying in the port, was, hurriedly invoked. The officer promptly went to the rescue, and the representations he made to the foreigner were so persuasive or otherwise effective that the imperilled Britons were released, but before they were permitted to return to their own ship, they, and particularly young Moughtin, were subjected to a severe reprimand from their naval rescuer in respect of the temerarious behaviour they had indulged in. The Captain was wont to relate with much gusto and considerable wealth of imagery this story of how he escaped by a hairbreadth from being either shot or hanged. Perhaps his most famous command was that of a, beautiful barque, by name Glanamara, which was built to the order of a syndicate in a Cumberland port. Capt. Moughtin was himself a shareholder in the barque to considerable extent, and at his persuasion many Douglas gentlemen adventured money in her. In charge of Capt. Moughtin, she made several prosperous voyages, for the most part to Australian ports. She was a quick sailer, and being smartly handled by her accomplished master, her voyages were very speedy. Eventually, however, disaster overtook her, and she was wrecked off the Irish coast. Soon afterwards, Capt. Moughtin retired from the sea while he was still in the prime of life. He, however, retained a great interest in maritime affairs — an interest which remained with him until overtaken by his fatal illness. For some years he held the post of second harbour-master at Douglas — a post for which he was well qualified by attainments and experience. While he was harbour-master, a peculiarity of Manx law almost landed him in a serious financial predicament. A harbour-master is responsible for any damage sustained by a ship by reason of the faulty condition of a harbour berth into which he may have ordered her. On this particular occasion there was only one berth available in Douglas harbour at the time for a somewhat lengthy steamer, and Capt. Moughtin had no option but to direct that the ship should be put into it. The harbour bottom at the berth was very stony and uneven, with the result that, as the ship took the bottom, she became rather seriously strained. The owners brought an action against the harbour-master; who was in law responsible, to recover damages, and after long hearing, a special jury found for the owners, and returned a verdict which made the Captain in financial responsible amounting to over one thousand pounds But the Harbour Commissioners realised that the fault was not with their servant and accordingly they made representation to the Tynwald Court, which resulted in a grant being voted to Capt. Moughtin by way of indemnifying him in amount of the damages and the attendant costs. In connection with this vote, transpired in Tynwald that the jury which had found against Capt. Moughtin subsequently forwarded to him a document, signed by all the members, to the effect that at the time of their finding they believed that he would not have find the money they declared him liable for — they were under the impression that it would come out of public sources. The production of this document in Tynwald afforded that able but cynical legislator, the late Sir Alured Dumbell, Clerk of the Rolls, opportunity for indulging in caustic comment at the expense of the jury — opportunity of which Sir Alured Dumbell availed himself to the full. After relinquishing his harbour-mastership, Capt. Moughtin became proprietor of the Albany Private Hotel, Loch Promenade, and he conducted that establishment up to about eighteen years ago. He then entered the coal business, which he carried on up to his death, on the North-quay, under the style of the Douglas Coal Company. Capt. Moughtin always had a penchant for public life. He was elected a member of the Douglas Town Council, as one of the representatives of St. George's Ward, in 1897, but retired after serving a term. He again sought election, this time for Victoria Ward, in 1907, and being successful, he retained membership until 1913, when he retired. His terms of office were principally remarkable for uncompromising criticism of the Douglas Gas Light Company, whose policy he always contended was prejudicial to the Douglas community. He also took a deep interest in the water supply of the town, and never wearied of proclaiming the great advantage which had accrued not only to Douglas, but to the whole Island, as a consequence of the construction of the West Baldwin reservoir. He for one year served as chairman of the Water Committee, and he was also chairman of the Health Committee for a year. The aldermanic bench had no admirer in Capt. Moughtin, who constantly and successfully advocated that no alderman should, on the expiry of his term, be re-appointed to the bench unless he was previously elected a member of the Council by the ratepayers. At the General Election of 1908, be sought election in South Douglas to the House of Keys, and was returned at the head of the poll, the other successful candidate being; Mr W. M. Kerruish. Between the political views held by the two gentlemen there was, however, no sympathy, and in the House they were keen opponents. At the General Election in 1913, Capt. Moughtin stood for election once more, being associated in candidature with Mr Robert Clucas. A third candidate — there were two seats — was Mr W. M. Kerruish, who, though he warmly championed the aspirations of the working class electors of the division — a pronounced majority of the electorate — for Old Age Pensions and other reforms in the interests of the proletariat, was decisively defeated after a memorable contest. Mr Kerruish's defeat, there can be no doubt, was in large measure due to the skillful and unmerciful fashion in which Capt. Moughtin criticised his (Mr Kerruish's) hostile attitude, in the course of a bill brought before the House with the object of suppressing gambling, towards betting at race meetings. A more effective, platform orator than Capt. Moughtin never stood in the Isle of Man. Though but short of stature, he had a tremendously powerful voice, and ha was also gifted with a never failing flow of language — he could talk for any length of time demanded upon any subject under the sun. He was regarded in the House of Keys as an authority upon harbours, yet was he decisively defeated in the House in connection with an effort made by him to secure that Douglas harbour should be improved by constructing a system of docks at the upper end of the inner harbour rather than by extending protective works in the outer harbour. An element in his defeat was undoubtedly the merciless criticism to which his proposals were subjected by Mr W. M. Kerruish, his then colleague in the representation of South Douglas. Capt. Moughtin, by the way, was the author of the docks scheme which he advocated, and unquestionably the scheme is an ably-devised one, and has much to commend it. In politics Capt. Moughtin was a Tory, yet was his Toryism tempered by sympathy with the more downtrodden section of the democracy. But he could never bring himself to translate his sympathy into support of such democratic aspirations as Old Age Pensions and other schemes fraught with tangible benefit to the masses of the people. At one time the popular idol in South Douglas, his attitude in connection with what is known as the bread strike of July, 1918, undoubtedly brought him into utter detestation with his quondam admirers. The proprietors of most of the places of business in Douglas prudently complied with the suggestion of the Labour organisations of the town that the establishments should be closed pending the result of the agitation for the restoration of the flour subsidy. But Capt. Moughtin, who was independence personified, opened his coal yard, and for a long time stood in the gateway, passively, and at times orally, defying the mob which demanded the closing of the, gates. In the end the yard was attacked, and notwithstanding the protective efforts of a number of police constables and strike leaders, the Captain was somewhat roughly handled. It is highly probable that his experience on the occasion had a detrimental effect upon his health, though he was at business again in the course of two or three days. Another unfortunate experience befell him when he ventured to Peel, at the General Election of 1913, in support of Mr G. B. Kermode's candidature for the " City." The Peel fishermen resented what they regarded as a reflection by the Captain upon their industry, and a mob made things very unpleasant for him at Peel Railway Station as he was leaving for Douglas. Indeed, there can be no doubt that upon occasions Capt. Moughtin was indiscreet in his bearing; nevertheless he had the courage of his convictions, and he never hesitated to give stalwart support to what he believed was the side of right and truth — he would never trim for anybody, whatever the temptation. It should be mentioned that Capt. Moughtin was appointed by Tynwald to the Asylums and Assessment Board, and in that capacity he rendered very useful public service. In private life Capt. Moughtin was bluff and hearty of manner. He was a well-read. and well-informed man on many subjects, and he had the knack of conveying his information to others in interesting and pleasant fashion. A most admirable raconteur, he told sea yarns in manner that occasioned at times excitement, at others laughter, and always induced a demand for more on the part of his hearers. Close upon forty years ago, Capt. Moughtin married Miss Margaret Curphey, elder daughter of the late Alderman John Curphey, of Douglas. Mrs Moughtin survives her husband. There are three children of the marriage alive — Messrs Robert and Stanley Moughtin, and Miss Marguerite Moughtin. Two daughters, both of them married, predeceased their father.

The funeral took place yesterday (Friday) morning, and was largely attended by representatives of all classes of the community. After the first portion of the service for the Burial of the Dead bad been conducted in St. Matthew's Church. the coffin containing the remains was conveyed to Kirk Braddan Cemetery for interment.

THOMAS QUALTROUGH.

Died August 13th, 1919.

The death took place at Primrose-terrace, Port St. Mary, on Wednesday August 13th, of Mr Thomas Qualtrough, P.P.G.M., retired harbour master of Douglas and Port St. Mary, at the advanced age of 91 years. Deceased was widely known throughout the Island and by thousands of holiday-makers from the mainland. During declining years, since the death of his wife in the fall of 1916 — the union extending over 65 years — the late Mr Qualtrough has had several apoplectic seizures, but the ultimate cause of death was a general breakup. He was confined to the house about a fortnight. A detailed and interesting biography, from the pen of Mr J. J. Qualtrough, P P.P.G.M , C.T.G., appeared in the " Oddfellows' Magazine," the official organ of the Manchester Unity, in Aug. 1916 an honour conferred only upon brethren who have rendered distinguished service to the Order. The Harbourmaster was No. 1 on the books of the Harbour of Peace Lodge for many years. On the occasion of the recent visit of the A.M.C. to the Island, he was visited by a number of prominent brethren, including the Grand Master of the Order, Mr W. H. Haves.

LIEUT. COL. GEORGE MOORE.

Died August 1st, 1919.

Lieut.-Colonel George Moore, J.P., H.K., of Great Meadow, near Castletown, a very courteous and gallant Manx gentleman, passed peacefully away at his beautiful residence on Friday evening, August 1st. The Colonel had suffered patiently and with great fortitude, illness extending over eighteen months; nevertheless his death came as a great shook to the people of the Island and to many whose residence is outside the Island. Born almost 66 years ago, Lieut.-Col. Moore was the younger of the sons of the late Mr Thomas Moore, of Billown, Malew. He was educated at King William's College, and on completing his school course he interested himself in agriculture, but he always had military aspirations, and in 1875 he was gazetted a subaltern in the Royal Westmorland Militia, being subsequently transferred to the Royal Cheshire Militia. He gained various steps in rank, until in 1893 he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. Though he had ceased active connection with the forces, he, when the South African War broke out in the closing year of the least century, volunteered his services, and these being accepted, he was attached to the Imperial Yeomanry, and proceeded to the front, where he distinguished himself by this zeal and courage. During the course of the war he became second in command of the 5th Middlesex Regiment. At the termination of hostilities he returned to his home in the Isle of Man and devoted himself to peaceful pursuits, more especially to stock breeding. bough of retiring disposition, he felt it is duty when requested to enter the political arena to yield consent. Mr James Mylchreest, the representative of Castletown in the House of Keys when the general election of 1903 came about, decided that he would not again seek the suffrages of the electors. Accordingly Col. Moore came out as a candidate. He as opposed by Mr D. D. Rees, a Welsh gentleman, who had settled in Castletown, Col. Moore secured election by 287 votes to 152. He was returned unopposed the General Elections in 1908 and 1913, and continued his membership up to the time of his death. In politics the Colonel gave allegiance to no particular party; he was independent in connection with his legislative career, and in this independence he much resembled another military gentleman, namely, Colonel Thomas Newcome, Thackeray's inimitable embodiment in fiction of all that was lovable in an ex-officer. Colonel Moore was certainly not a Tory, while he would probably have resented any application to him of the term Radical. Yet he was in many respects a democrat full of sympathy with the proletariat and sincerely desirous that the political aspirations of the working-classes should be realised. Upon certain questions he held very strong convictions. Assuredly he would have scorned any suggestion that he was a Socialist; nevertheless he was a firm and constant advocate of the nationalisation of the liquor traffic, which is going a considerable stay in the direction of Socialism. He was strong in the belief that in liquor traffic nationalisation lay the panacea for all the ills to which the State is subject. He was convinced that with the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor under popular control, the abuse of strong drink would cease, and that the national purse would be replenished to such purpose that many social reforms for which there is clamant demand could be conceded without the imposition of additional taxation upon any class of the community. He constantly advocated a measure of nationalisation, and at his own expense brought to the Island on an educative campaign distinguished gentlemen from England whose views coincided with his own. On at least two occasions he introduced a bill into the House of Keys providing for nationalisation of the traffic, but though his efforts met with sympathetic consideration from this fellow legislators, consideration stopped at sympathy and the bills were decisively defeated. But having the courage of his convictions, and being possessed of great tenacity of purpose, the Colonel never abandoned his project, and but for failure of health it is quite certain that once peace came about he would have afforded the House opportunity of reviewing their decisions on the bill. Another pet project advocated by Colonel Moore had a better fate. He introduced a bill providing for the compulsory carrying of lights on stiff-carts. Though he met with strenuous opposition, he stuck to his guns, and eventually persuaded the Legislature to adopt the measure — a measure, by the way, which has been largely instrumental in securing the public safety. Another Act of Tynwald fraught with great benefit to the community, were it only properly put into operation by the local authorities, which was initiated by Colonel Moore, is the Act providing for the Extermination of rats. which, by the way, was renewed for a term of five years about a month ago. No Member of the House of Keys was held in greater affection and respect by his follows than was Colonel Moore. His kindly disposition, his unfailing courtesy, and his constant consideration for all with whom he came into political contact won for him a host of friends in the legislature; indeed he was loved by all and had not an enemy. At times, too, his humour — generally of the unconscious variety — promoted gaiety in the Councils of the Manx nation, and frequently so reacted as to effectually suppress tendency to any recrimination. Undoubtedly he will be far more missed in the Legislature than would many a man far mere richly endowed in the matter of natural ability and trained intelligence. He was just a simple gentleman in the truest sense of the term. and it was his simplicity, combined with his earnest striving for the good of his fellowmen which rendered him persona grata, not only with his fellow parliamentarians, but with the people of all classes. Colonel Moore took a deep interest in agricultural operations, more especially in the improvement of live stock. He was a most excellent horseman, and the thoroughbred light horse was almost an obsession with shim. He had a remarkably fine stud of blood horses at Grant Meadow, and be never tired in his efforts to persuade his countrymen to pay more attention to the raising of thoroughbreds, thought it must he confessed that his efforts were not crowned with very much success. Also he devoted considerable attention to sheep breeding, and generally he was exceedingly zealous in impressing — both by precept and example — the possibilities of science as applied to agriculture. He frequently exhibited thoroughbred horses at agricultural shows both in the Isle of Man and further afield — he was a past-president of the Isle of Man Agricultural Society. At Manx shows he delighted in riding his own horses in connection with jumping competitions. He had a superb seat on horseback, and as his hands were perfect, he on many occasions secured winning honours. The Colonel, too, was an expert yachtsman. He at one time owned a schooner yacht of beautiful lines, in which he frequently went cruising. To revert for a moment to his political career, it should be said that he very often sat on committees of the House of Keys and the Tynwald Court, and he was a member of the Harbour Board and the Fisheries Board. A loyal member of the Church of England, he was a deeply religious man, and he never hesitated to proclaim his convictions. He regularly attended the Parish Church of Malew, and frequently acted as lay-reader. During the great war, Colonel Moore acted as one of the military representatives at sittings of the Local and Appeal Tribunals, and in other ways he did his best to bring about the triumph of what be believed was right over might. Colonel Moore married Miss M. Douglas, of Orbiston, who was his devoted and very admirable helpmeet during a long wedded career. Mrs Moore survives her husband. as do the two children of the marriage, Mrs Riggall and Mrs Laurence Handley.

THE FUNERAL.

The funeral of the late Colonel Moore took place on August 5th, amid great manifestations of regret. All places of business in Castletown were closed during, the period of burial. The coffin was borne from Great Meadow to Malew Parish Church on the shoulders of the employees on the estate. The service in the Church was conducted by the Lord Bishop. assisted by the Vicar, Canon Spicer. As the coffin was borne from the church, the Dead March in " Saul" was feeling, rendered by the organist. The committal portion of the service in Malew Churchyard was performed by the Bishop and Canon Spicer. The mourners were Mr T. H. Moore, C.P. (brother), Master T. Moore (nephew), and Lieut. Riggall (son in-law). Amongst those present wore:Deemster Callow, Col. Madoc, G.B.E., Messrs Jos. Qualtrough, A. Qualtrough, T. F. Quine, M. Carine, G. F. Clucas, A. H Teare, W. F. Cowell, W. H. Kitto, E. Callister, J. Cunningham, Jos. Garside, and William Christian-members of the House of Keys; Mr R. D. Gelling, Secretary to the House of Keys; Rev D. Quayle (Bridge House), Messrs D. Murray, H. H. Mellor, Capt. Karran, Capt. Clague, Rev E. H. Locke, Rev E. T. ,Shepherd, Rev R. Jones, Dr. Jones, Messrs E. B. Gawne, J. T, Cooil, R. Cain, L. Kaneen, A. F. Christian, E, Cooper, J. Cannell, R. Qualtrough, T. A. Sayle, Richard Gawne (Ballawoods), C. E. Watterson, W. C. Cubbon, J. T. Gell, J. J. Clague, F. Backwell, R. Moore, W. H. Kermode, F. K. Collister, R. Kneale, G. Thomson, R. Pollock, James Taggart, J. F. Kermode, W. B. Cubbon, J. Cubbon, Edw. Martin, Albert Craine, Edw. Craine, Godfrey Greene, W. Taylor, A. Coole, W. Kennaugh, Inspector R. Kelly, and many other prominent southside people.

PULPIT REFERENCES. Preaching at St. -Mary's Chapel, Castletown, on Sunday moaning, the Rev E. H. Leatham Locke, H.M. Chaplain, made touching reference to the death of Col. Moore. The Dead March in " Saul" was feelingly played at the close of the service by- the organist, Miss Abbott, the congregation standing the while.

A sermon by Canon Spicer preached in Malew Church, on Sunday morning, Aug. 3rd, 1919.

The Canon prefaced his sermon by saying: " I am quite sure the warshippers in this church will expect me to say something about the departure of Colonel Moore, and have chosen for a text, Acts vii, 60: 'He fell asleep.' "

These words describe the death of our lamented brother Churchman, Colonel Moore, who passed away last Friday. His daughter, who watched him, could not tell for some time whether he was really dead or only asleep, and his quiet departure from this world brings to mind the Psalmist's words, " So God giveth His beloved sleep."

Like St. Stephen, to whom our text refers, Colonel Moore had much bodily suffering before he fell asleep. Far upwards of 18 months he was unable to lie down and rest in bed, having always to be in a sitting position, and often in great discomfort through his bodily ailments. Why God's :people have to suffer is a great mystery, but God's ways are always right, mud what ivc do not know now we shall know hereafter. By and bye we shall realise the truth of the, Bible, " That all things work together for good to them that love God," and a light affliction worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

In the prayers we are offoring today there is this sentence: " O Lord, we bless Thy Holy Name for all T'hy servants doparted this life in Thy faith and fear, beseeching Thee to give us grace to follow their good examples." In several things we shall do well to follow Colonel Moore's example. In several things Colonel Moore was like St. Stephon. St. Stephen was elected by his fellows to a public office to represent them on the first elected public body that we read of to deal with the social welfare of the people.

Colonel -loose was elected by the people of Castletown to represent them in the House of Keys, where he took a real in-terest in everything which was likely to benefit his fellow Manxmen. Several Acts of Tynwald were initiated and promoted by him, and he made a great effort to introduce the. National Control of the Drink Traffic into the Isle of Man, spending a good deal of money and time in procuring information by visiting Norway to study the Gothenberg system and holding consultations with leading men in England. The bill the introduced in the House of Keys, if adopted, would do much to suppress intemperance and make it more easy and pleasant for publicans to carry on their difficult trade; and it is to be hoped that some other Manx legislator will carry on this work so ably begun by Colonel Moore, and that gentlemen of his sort will offer themselves as representatives in the Manx Parliament and on other public bodies.

Like St. Stephen, Colonel Moore took a keen interest in the work of the Church and the progress of Christianity. For upwards of 20 years he acted as Superintendent of the Sunday-school and taught the Young Men's Class. For about the same period he read the lessons in Malew Parish Church, and as a Lay Reader he occasionally preached at Derbyhaven Mission -Church ; and by this example as a regular attendant at the church services on Sunday morning and evening, and on week-days, and .his presence at Holy Communion, he exerted an influence for good which can never be adequately estimated. Oh, that more men in similar positions would go and do likewise.

Outside his own church, Colonel Moore rendered service in many ways by personal effort and financial support, as members of the several denominations in the Isle of Man will readily acknowledge; while the London Society for the Promotion of Christianity amongst the Jews owes the considerable support it received each year from the Isle of Man mainly to his efforts as treasurer of the Isle of Man Auxiliary.

Like St. Stephen, Colonel Moore had a definite and certain hope of meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ in person when he left this world. St. Stephen's hope found expression in his dying prayer, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Colonel Moore, in season end out of season, made it clear to his friends and acquaintances that he was looking for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He made the subject of the Lord's second coming a special study, one of his favourite passages of Scripture being I. Thess. iv., 14 to 17: -

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus wilt God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

The mysteries of the Bible had a special attraction for our departed brother, and I question if anyone in the Isle of Man was a more diligent student of God's Word than he, as his Bible marked so freely with red ink abundantly proves.

Colonel Moore, as a soldier, passed through some shirring and thrilling adventures when on active service in the Boer War; and as I think of his experiences there I am reminded of the saying of one of our great Generals of a past generation. He had been relating some of his hair-breadth escapes and startling adventures in India, to which his audience, listened with awestruck attention, when be amazed his hearers by saying " Although I am a man over 70 years of ago, I expect to have a more startling and thrilling experience than any of these."

" When and where," cried they?

" Five minutes after death," he replied. " Then I expect to take a part in more startling and thrilling experiences than human beings on earth ever knew or dreamed of."

So now Colonel Moore, who left us last Friday, will have solved many of the problems which puzzle the Bible student while in the human body.

We sometimes sing

Death is but to slumber in Christ's sweet embrace,
And we shall awaken to behold his face.

Here is a picture far contemplation about those who fall asleep in death.

A Manx boy returning to the Isle of Man has a bad passage - rough seas and cloudy sky. Eventually he goes to sleep and wakes up to find the has reached the Island in lovely sunshine. Then he is heard to exclaim: " Dear me, I was asleep, and here I am at the Isle of Man, soon to be at home; and there are my father and mother and brother and sister waiting for me on the pier."

So to sleep in death for the Christian who dies in the Lord is to wake to see the morning break on Heaven's golden shore, where father, mother, brother, and sister meet to part no more.

When we gaze at the lifeless body of a loved friend, when we see the coffin containing the remains of a loved one covered in the cold, cold grave, we shudder andweep over our loss, and are ready to say how :sad and miserable it all is. But if we could follow the soul into the spirit world we should view things in a different light. The poet's imagination may help rrs somewhat:

Vital spark of Heavenly flame
Quit, O quit this mortal frame;
Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying:
Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife
And let me languish into life.
Hark, they whisper, angels say,
"Sister Spirit, come away!'."
What is this absorbs me quite,
Steals my senses, shuts my bight,
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath,
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?
The world recedes: it disappears;
Heaven opens on my eyes, my' ears
With sounds seraphic ring,
Lend, lend, your wings, I mount, I fly
O grave, where is thy victory,
O death, where is thy sting.

When we lose our loved ones, when they tall asleop in death, let the Word of God cheer us where it says; " Blessed are the dead whi.h die in the Lord; even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours.'.

REV. CANON SPICER.

died August 12th, 1919.

Canon John Morris Spicer, Vicar of Malew, died suddenly at Malew Vicarage on August 12th, in his sixty - ninth year. It will doubtless be remembered that some few years ago Canon Spicer had a rather severe illness, and though he made a good recovery, the trial had a. serious effect upon his general health. He, however, carried on the duties attendant upon his cure of souls earnestly and energetically--he was probably the hardest working clergyman in the Isle of Man, Indeed, throughout his ministerial career Canon Spicer rendered most excellent service to the Church as by law established in the Island. Ordained deacon by Bishop Hill in St. George's Churoh, Douglas, on May 31st, 1885, .he was at once appointed curate to the Rev William Hawley, then Vicar of Michael. Priest's orders were conferred upon him in 1887, in which year he was preferred to the Chaplaincy of Laxey, a position which he retained until 1895, when he wars presented to the Vicarage of Malew, rendered vacant by the appointment of the Rev Hugh S. Gill to the rectorship of Andreas and as Archdeacon of Man. Canon Spicer at once made himself very popular in Malew and district, and the retained the respect and esteem of his parishioners, and indeed of Manx people generally, to the day of his death. Of decidedly evangelical leanings, he was popular not only with Manx Church folk, but with Manx Nonconformists--in fact he was ever willing to render aid to or welcome assistance from the Free Churches in connection with work associated with religion. A pronounced Temperance man, the late Canon all through his clerical career strove strenuously to combat the evils which he was convinced were attendant upon the use of alcoholic liquors. He took a very deep and abiding interest in the Church of England Temperance Society. In 1885 he was appointed secretary of the Sodor and Man Diocesan Branch of the Society, a position which he held to the end. To the work of the Society he devoted great ability, fervent earnestness, and, a big proportion of his time, and under his fostering care the Society made great progress in the Island. In 1895 he was appointed a surrogate for the granting of marriage licenses. From 1903 to 1912 he acted as one of the Chaplains to the Bishop of Sodor and Man, and in the latter year he became Canon of St. Columba. He was also Proctor in the York Convocation for the Chapter of Man. In conjunction with Mr F. W. Briscoe, he fulfilled the secretarial duties connected with the Church of England Manx Society. Other posts which he held were the secretaryship of the Halsall Trust, the treasurer-ship of the Police Court Mission, and the agency for Mrs Quilliam's trust. Altogether he was one of the busiest men in the Isle of Man, and what is more, he was always faithful in his discharge of all his multifarious duties. His parish, by the way, was a very large and scattered one. It extended from the sea on the South-east coast of the Island to Foxdale, several miles inland, and included for several ecclesiastical purposes the town of Castletown. The parish contains four chapels of ease in addition to the parish church, and all of these were regularly visited by Canon Spicer. An excellent preacher, his sermons were ever practical of character, and in connection with them he had a happy knack of making timely allusion to, and pointing the moral associated with, national and local happenings of importance. One of his last sermons had reference to the death of his very old friend and parishioner, Lieut.-Colonel Moore, H.K., of Great Meadow. The sermon in question is reproduced in this number of the " Examiner," and it is a somewhat curious and melancholy coincidence that the proofs of it wore despatched to Canon Spicer for correction on the, very day of his death. The Canon was much interested in social and other public affairs, and never shirked taking part in them. He was a member of the Malew Board of Guardians, of the School Board of Malew, and of the Southern District Higher Education Board. He was one of the founders of the World Manx Association, and as aecently as July 5th presided at the annual gathering in the Nunnery Grounds. He took a great interest in debating societies, and often lectured at the Douglas DebatingSociety. Canon Spicer is survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter, to all of whom the sincere sympathy of the Manx community goes out.

FUNERAL.

The funeral of the late Canon J. M. Spicer, Vicar of Malew, took place on Friday, August 15th, conducted by the Lord Bishop, when a 'large gathering, representing the church and public life of the Island, assembled to pay a last tribute to the work and character of the deceased. The clergy present were the Revs R. Wakeford (Onchan), H. T. Devall (Michael), F. W. Stubbs (Arbory), R. Jones (Santon), A. Kenyon (St. Mark's), R. Fergusson (The Dhoon), W. A. Rushworth, M.A. (Braddan), Canon Leece (Rusher), E. H. L. Locke (Castletown), E. T. Shepherd (Castletown), A. H. Betts (St. Johns), F. A. Rawcliffe (Foxdale), T. Maunder (Curate, of Malew), T. Gordon (former Curate of Malew), and R. B. Jolly (Douglas), Chaplain to the Bishop. The Rev T. Maunder read the first part of the burial service, the lesson being read by the Rev. T. Gordon. The committal at the graveside was pronounced by the Bishop.

THE LORD BISHOP'S REFERENCES TO COL. MOORE AND CANON SPICER.

The anniversary services in connection with the Sunday-school were held on Aug. 17th, sand were well attended. Tbo Lord Bishop -preached in the morning, and the Rev Percy Gordon, M.A., in the evening. A flower service ivas held at three o'clock in the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, when the Rev A. Kenyon, of St. Mark's, gave the address. The anthems, "The Lord is King " and " Send out thy light" were nicely rendered by a large choir, Miss Abbott presiding at the organ.

The services were conducted with a subdued and extremely reverent manner owing to the deaths, within a fortnight, of the Rev Canon Spicer and Cod. Moore. We give below his Lordship's sermon.

Preaching at Malew Church on Sunday morning, from the text, " To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," the Lord Bishop, afteir an exposition of the meaning of the words, said: The parish of Malew has recently suffered irreparable loss in the passing of, first, the gallant Colonel, and now of its honoured Vicar. We shall all sorely miss the stately form, the noble character, and the gracious personality of Colonel Moore. One of the leading residents in the district he was held in universal respect for his kindly spirit, this genial manner, and his public service. Whenever he could speak a kind word, he did not hold his peace; whenever he could do a kindly act, he did not stay his hand.

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