Funeral of the late Mr Stewart of Banchory
The Remains of the late Mr John Stewart of Banchory were yesterday interred in the cemetery connected with the Free Church of Banchory-Devenick. The ceremony was attended by a large and representative gathering of gentlemen from Aberdeen and the neighbourhood, as well as by the tenants on the estate of Banchory, numbering about 170, and fully that number of employes from the extensive comb factory in Aberdeen of which the deceased gentlemen was the founder.
A funeral service was conducted at Banchory house at half-past one, by the Rev. Mr Hagan, of Dunfermline; and the coffin was afterwards conveyed to Banchory-Devenick Free Church, where an impressive service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Hagan, assisted by the Rev. W. S. Chedburn, of Crown Terrace Baptist Church.
Several appropriate hymns were sung by a special choir, the harmonium accompaniments being played by Mr Mozart Atkins, Aberdeen. The church was crowded during the service. Shortly afterwards the remains, which were encased in a polished oak coffin, with brass mountings, were borne to the churchyard, the carrying party consisting of 12 of the tenantry and an equal number of men from the Combworks, in relays of eight. The chief mourners were – Mr David Stewart, Dean of Guild of the City of Aberdeen; Mr John Stewart and Mr Joseph Stewart, sons of the deceased; Mr Thomas Irvine, Liverpool (brother-in-law), Mr William Hall, shipbuilder, Aberdeen; Mr George Thompson, yst. Of Pitmedden (sons-in-law); Mr Douglas Stewart and Master Charles Stewart (grandsons); and Professor Niven, Aberdeen University. The coffin-plate bore the following inscription : –
JOHN STEWART OF BANCHORY,
Born, 22nd. Aug, 1810.
Died Jan 25th, 1887
A choir of girls from the Hutcheon Street Works sang appropriate hymns while the company were entering the church, and afterwards at the graveyard. The wreaths sent for the adornment of the coffin numbered 50, among them being one from the tenantry on the Banchory estate, on a polished granite pedestal, with marble base, on which was an appropriate inscription; one from the servants at Banchory house; four wreaths and four crosses from the four sons and four daughters of the deceased; one wreath from the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, London; four from Mrs Boissonnet and the Misses Boissonnet; one from Mr and Mrs Joseph Rowell, Malvern; one from Mr and Mrs Friend, Northdown, Margate; one from Mr Patrick Stewart; one from Mr and Mrs Irvine. A wreath sent from the male employes in Hutcheon Street Works was on a base of Aberdeen granite, on which was the inscription “In affectionate Remembrance of Mr John Stewart of Banchory, from his male employes”. A wreath was also sent by the female employes, the marble base on which it was placed bearing also a suitable inscription.
The order of the procession was as follows : – Workers, carrying party, the coffin, mourners, tenantry, general company, carriages.
Among those who attended the funeral were Baillies Kinghorn, Gordon Ogilvie, Pyper, Berry and Mearns; Treasurer Walker; Councillors Findlay, Curr, Maconnachie, Morgan, Collie, Byres, Craig, Crombie, Lyon and Maitland Moir; Principal Geddes, Professor Milligan, Professor Mathew Hay, Mr Ogaton of Ardoe, Mr Fortescue of Kincausie, Mr Alex Forbes, merchant; the Very Rev. Dean Stopani, Dr Stewart of Heathcot, Mr George Jamieson, merchant; Mr James Ross, Mr George Donald, Mr John D. Milne of Melgum, Mr Robert Walker, M.A. librarian, Aberdeen University; Mr James Walker, Mr James Chalmers of Westburn, Mr John Chalmers, Mr J. Murray Garden advocate; Mr Sinclair of Loirston, Rev. Mr Lawrence, Banchory-Devenick; Mr Crombie of Balgownie, Mr Crombie of Daneston, Rev. G. W. Thomson, Free West Church; Mr T. A. W. A. Youngson, advocate; Mr G. Cadenhead, Procurator-Fiscal for the country and city of Aberdeen; Mr Wm. Gordon, advocate, Town Clerk; Mr P. M. Cran, city chamberlain; Dr Will, Mr Wm. Smith, city architect; Mr Robert Gerard, Dr Gibbon, Mr Robert Lumsden, North of Scotland Bank; Mr John Findlater, Town and County Bank; Dr Alexander, Mr Wm. Lindsay, publisher; Dr Macregor, Dr Jamieson, Dr Urquhart, Mr Meffet, advocate; Mr Sutherland, commission agent; Mr A.W. Robertson, M.A., Public Library; Mr John S. Stuart, Great North of Scotland Railway; Mr Thomas Hector, School Board clerk; Mr John Clarke, Gymnasium, Old Aberdeen; Mr Andrew Murray, advocate; Mr Alexander H. Wilson (Messrs Hall, Russell, & Co.); Rev. Mr Still, Banchory-Devenick; Mr Allan, teacher; Mr Charles Shepherd, Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company; Mr S. G. Mitchell, advocate; Mr A. O. Barker, Mr Henry Worling, Mr M’Adam, contractor, &c. About 20 carriages followed the cortege, among them being those of Lord Provost Henderson and Mr George Thompson of Pitmedden. The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Messrs James Allen & Sons, Aberdeen, and were efficiently carried out under the superintendence of Mr Garden, of that firm.
At a meeting held on Monday of the Banchory-Devenick Mutual Improvement Society, Mr John J. Gray ( the president) moved, seconded by Mr James Webster, that the society desire to record their regret at the death of Mr John Stewart, Banchory House. Mr Stewart (the resolution said) was a man who, in many respects, possessed sterling qualities and much force of character, and at the same time displayed much kindliness of heart. His business capacities were of a very high order, and his conduct was always upright and straightforward. in not a few respects his character and conduct were such as might form a worthy example to all of them.
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