Lauder, A. W. (Died)

DEATH OF A. W. LAUDER, M. P. P.

Sketch of His Life - A Tribute of Respect

From the World

The opposition in local legislature has sustained a serious loss in the unexpected demise of A. W. Lauder, M. P. P., for East Grey. The deceased occupied his seat in the legislature in the early part of last week, but had since then been confined to his house at Parkdale, by an affection of the kidneys. He leaves a wife and one son, Mr. W. Waugh Lander, the well known musician.

Mr. Lauder was the son of the late Thomas D. Lauder, of Durham, Ont., and grandson of the Rev. Wm. Lauder, late of Bewcastle, Cumberland, England. He was born at Bewcastle in 1834 and educated at Canobil and Laugholn, Scotland. In 1856 he was married to Miss M. E. Tort. In 1857 he became a student at law in the office of Ross, Crawford & Crombie, Toronto, an after being called to the bar entered into partnership with the Hon. John Ross, senior member of the firm. Since 1867 he has been a member of the Ontario Legislature , and with the exception of the Hon. T. B. Pardee and Dr. Baxter, is the only member who has continuously served since that time. He occupied several prominent and responsible positions during his life time in connection with public institutions, being a member of the senate of the university, of Victoria college, Coburg, and government trustee of the municipal bonus fund of the Toronto, Grey & Bruce railway in 1869.

After routine proceedings at the local legislature yesterday, Mr. Mowat rose and said – When I cam to this House this morning I was shocked and grieved to learn of the death of one of the members of this House – the hon. Member who had for so long represented one of the ridings of Grey. He had always been attentive to his Parliamentary duties, and when I heard of his illness I expected that in a few days he would be in his place, as he was apparently in the best of health, which promised him long life; but to-day he is numbered with the dead , and his family are mourning the loss of a loving husband and a affectionate father. He was an active member of this House, and while warm words have frequently passed between him and the gentlemen on our side of the House, we all recognized him as a man of ability, extended culture, a superior platform speaker, and an able debater in this House. He has been a member of this House ever since Confederation, which can be said of only two members now remaining. It is no small testimony to a man’s character to have passed through so many successful elections as Mr. Lauder has. In spite of the efforts of rivals and competitors he had passed through six contests in the ridings of Grey, never having once suffered defeat, and not having once lost a constituency, and so strongly was he entrenched in the public mind that during the twelve years we have occupied these benches he has always been regarded by the public as one who, in the event of a change of Government, would form one of the Cabinet. He has passed from this arena forever. Others can speak more fully of his personal qualities than I, for I had little acquaintance with him outside this House, but I rejoice to know that for many years he was a member of a Christian Church, and he held it in a position which shows that he had the high estimation of the religious body to which he belong. In view of all this I am sure that the feeling of the House will be not to proceed with business to-day and I therefore move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. Meredith, who was a considerable period before he could muster his emotions sufficiently well to proceed, said: - Mr. Speaker, my emotion will hardly permit me to utter on this occasion. I have to thank the leader of the Government for the kindly words which he has spoken of our deceased friend – words, I am sure, which every member of this house re-echoes. He has said that our deceased friend occupied a high position in this country. He entered public life a young man, and devoted the best year s of his life to the service of his Province; had he devoted these years to the practice of the profession to which he was brought up I am certain that his gains in a pecuniary point of view would have been much greater, but he gave, as I have said, the best years of his life to the service of his Province. The Attorney – General has well said the course of debate in this House and his public speeches throughout the country, but I know that there did not bear a warmer heart than that in the breast of Abram Lauder. I know, sir, from my own personal acquaintance with him, that while that was his course in debate, he had the warmest feelings towards his opponents, If, Sir, hon. Gentlemen opposite can speak in that manner of him, how much more warmly can we on this side of the House speak of him. There has not been a more self-sacrificing, earnest friend than our deceased friend, Mr. Lauder, who on all occasions was ready to go anywhere, ready to do anything in the service of his country; and not only was he an able servant of this House, but he was one of the most active members of his party. We feel that a great void has been created, and that we have lost not only a friend but a prominent fellow –worker from his place here, and it will be a long time before we can fill it. I cannot do justice to the subject, Mr. Speaker, in this state of mind, and in view of the stock I have received I will not detain the house any further, but second the motion for the adjournment of the House.

The motion was carried, and the House adjourned at 3:25.

FUNERAL CEREMONIES

From the Globe

The funeral of the late A. W. Lauder, M. P. P., took place on Saturday afternoon from Ardnacloich, Parkdale. The funeral procession to the Metropolitan Church was a very long one, and was participated in by all the members of the Ontario Legislature and the personal and public friends of the deceased. At the Metropolitan Church the galleries, the pulpit, and the family pew were draped with black hangings. Mr. Torrington played the “Dead March in Saul” as the remains were borne up the aisle by the pallbearers – Hon. T. B. Pardee, Mr. W. B. Meredith, leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Clarke, M. P. P., Dr. Baxter, M. P. P., Mr. John Chalesworth, Mr. Wm. Gooderham, Mr. Edward Gurney, and Mr. Walter S. Lee. Among the large congregation were Lieut.-Governor Robinson, Hon. A. S. Hardy and most of the city officials. The chief mourners were: - W. Waugh Lauder, son of the deceased; Thomas Lauder, Registrar of the County of Grey, John Lauder, Edward Lauder and James Lauder, all of the County of Grey, brothers of the deceased; G. W. Grote, of Toronto, and John W. Grote, of St. Catharines, brothers-in-law of deceased; Dr. Walter Chaffee of Toronto; William Perry, of Mt. Forest; Alfred Perry, of Calgary, N. W. T., and J. J. Copeland, of St. Catharines.

The casket was placed below the pulpit and was surrounded by floral tributes. Rev. Dr. Withrow and Rev. S. J. Hunter read appropriate parts of the Scripture, and.

Rev. Hugh Johnston, pastor of the church, said that all trusted the deceased had exchanged earth for Heaven, life of immortality. At another time he hoped to gather up the lessons to be drawn from the life and character of Mr. Lauder, but the event which had brought them together was a sermon of which God was the preacher. It was sunset here, but the dead man had gone to such a sunrise as never purpled the hills and lit up the sky viewed by mortal eyes. He had followed many others of the Trustee Board of the Church, and no man knew who would go next. Friends would soon be doing for those who heard the preach the kind offices they were now doing for one whom they all revered. Riches and honours and the powers of this world passed away, but religion alone remained to comfort and strengthen man. Mr. Johnston was deeply affected during his remarks, and it was plain that he felt a person loss in Mr. Lauder’s death.

After the remains had been viewed by the congregation the journey was resumed, and the procession took its way to the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where the body was deposited in the vault.