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The Diss Express, and Norfolk and Suffolk Journal Friday 31 Mar 1899
EYE.
MISSIONARY SERMONS – On Sunday last sermons were preached in the Baptist Chapel – in the morning by the Rev. F. D. WALDOCK?, of Ceylon, and in the evening by the Rev. R. SMATHERS (pastor), on behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society.
APPOINTMENT OF OVERSEERS. - A meeting of the Town Council was held on Wednesday morning, when the following were elected Overseers of the Poor for the ensuing year:- Messrs. H. WARNES, H. W. CULLUM, H. ROWLING, H. RUSH, sen., G. ROSE, and A. GOODERHAM.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. HENRY GEDNY. - The mortal remains of this much respected gentleman were interred in the Cemetery on Saturday, when despite the bitterly cold weather hundreds of persons attended the funeral. Business in the town was suspended for two hours, and signs of mourning were to be observed on every hand. As the deceased was for many years an Alderman of the borough, the Mayor (Charles TACON, Esq.) invited the members of the Corporation and the Town Clerk (Mr. F. WOOLNOUGH?) to meet at the Cemetery. The Council, with the Church choir attired in surplices, awaited the arrival of the cortege from the Laurels (deceased's residence) and at two o'clock the open hearse conveying the coffin, which was covered with lovely wreaths, arrived at the Cemetery. Preceding the hearse was a carriage containing Dr. E. G. BARNES and Dr. HETHERINGTON (medical attendants), and following were carriages conveying members of the family and friends, including: the widow, Miss GEDNY, Mr Chaston GEDNY, Mr Harry GEDNY; Mr R. GEDNY and Miss GRAY (Fressingfield), Mr. A. CHASTON and Mrs GEDNY (Occold); Mr and Mrs B. GEDNY, Mr Albert CHUCH, Mrs WELLS; Mr and Mrs Walter BETTS, Mr T. W. GAZE, Mr COBBOLD; and Mr Harold WARNES (the family solicitor). The “Hartismere” Lodge of Freemasons was represented by the principal officers and members, as was also the “Montgomerie” (Diss) lodge. Representatives were also present from the Hartismere Board of Guardians, Eye Grammar School, Court “Pride of the Forest,”, the Volunteers, Eye Colt Show, and other institutions. In addition to the leading inhabitants of Eye, the company at the Cemetery also included the Rev. T Holt WILSON (Redgrave), Rev. T. L. FRENCH (Thrandeston), Mr G. SYMONDS (Burgate Hall), Mr W. FISHER (Yaxley), Mr E. MANN and Mr NEAVE (Brome) and many others. The Rev. A. J. SPENCER (Vicar) impressively conducted the service, and the choir sand the hymns commencing “Now the labourer's task is o'er,” and “On the Resurrection Morning,” the former in the chapel and the latter at the graveside. The body was enclosed in a massive oak coffin, and the plate bore the following inscription:-
“HENRY GEDNY,
Died March 21st, 1899,
Aged 70 Years.”
The bearers were six labourers on deceased's farms. Many of the wreaths were of exquisite beauty. In the evening a muffled peal was rung on the bells of the Parish Church. The sacred edifice was well filled on Sunday morning, when the Rev. A. J. SPENCER preached an appropriate sermon, taking for his text Acts xiii. 36, “After he had served his generation, by the will of God, fell on sleep.” At the conclusion of the service the organist (Mr. F. BRAY) played the “Dead March” in Saul – At the Borough Petty Sessions on Saturday, the Mayor feelingly alluded to the loss the Bench had sustained by the death of Alderman GEDNY, who had occupied the chair for many years as Chief Magistrate for the borough. Mr. H. W. CULLUM and Mr. W. SHORT endorsed the Mayor's remarks. - At the Braiseworth Parish Meeting held on Saturday evening, the Chairman (Mr. C. H. A. BINGLEY) proposed a vote of condolence with the widow and family of their late Guardian and friend, Mr. Henry GEDNY, who for so many years was a supporter of the interests of the parish, as well as a Guardian of the Poor, and offered to Mrs. GEDNY and her family their sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement. Before the commencement of the business at a meeting of the Eye Council on Wednesday, the Mayor proposed a vote of condolence be forwarded to the widow and family of the late Alderman GEDNY in their bereavement, and that such be entered on the minutes.