ACCOUNT OF THE DEPARTURE TO BE WITH CHRIST AND THE BURIAL SERVICE OF MR. JAMES TAYLOR
[p. 566] ACCOUNT OF THE DEPARTURE TO BE WITH CHRIST AND THE BURIAL SERVICE OF MR. JAMES TAYLOR
Our beloved brother fell asleep through Jesus at about 6.10 p.m. on Lord’s day, March 29, 1953, at his home in Brooklyn, New York. He was 83 years old. He had been happily free among the brethren during the preceding week, especially so at the city reading on Thursday evening and the care meeting on Saturday evening. During Saturday night, however, he complained of pain and on Lord’s day morning he was noticeably unwell. The doctor was called and he indicated that Mr. Taylor’s condition was serious. During the day his condition worsened and breathing became difficult. In the afternoon he seemed more comfortable and lapsed into sleep at times. It was while asleep that the Lord gently took him to Himself. Mrs. Taylor and members of the immediate family who were available were present at the time.
The burial service was held in the Nostrand Avenue meeting room at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1st. By noon all seats were filled. There were probably 750 present, many standing round the perimeter of the room, while others stood in the vestibule or were seated in the basement. Many were present from distant meetings.
The meeting commenced with the singing of 238:1: “When peace like a river attendeth my way”, given out by Mr. E. A. Lyons; Mr. V. C. Lock, of Summit, followed in prayer; Mr. S. McCallum, of Detroit, then spoke, followed by Mr. E. E. Hoyte, a local brother. (Text of what these two brothers said follows this report.) Mr. A. N. Walker then gave out Mr. Taylor’s own hymn — 350:1 — and the [p. 567] meeting was closed with prayer by Dr. R. W. Stollery.
About 75 cars proceeded to the cemetery. The number of brethren assembled at the graveside was quite large. (Mr. Taylor’s grave is in the Bethany section of Evergreen Cemetery in the plot purchased by him in 1901.) A number of brothers were privileged to participate in carrying the body of our beloved brother to its resting place. The service at the grave commenced with the singing of verses 1 - 3 and 8 - 10 of 160:1, given out by Mr. R. H. Smith, of Cranford. Mr. C. A. Markham, of Cranford, then prayed; Mr. C. H. Howell, of Boston, gave out hymn 113; Mr. A. Robertson gave out hymn 105 next, and then Mr. Wragge, of Victoria, gave out hymn 311. Mr. E. A. Lyons then spoke from Genesis 18:17 - 19; Genesis 49:33 and Genesis 50:1,10. Verses 4 and 5 of hymn 294 were then sung, being given out by Mr. M. Coulter and Mr. L. Wilkinson; then Mr. A. Robertson read John 1:38; Mr. James Taylor, Jr., committed the precious remains to the Lord’s keeping, in prayer, and the occasion was concluded by singing verses 4 to 6 of hymn 179, given out by Mr. P. Case, of Flemington. The service at the grave was more extensive than is usual, but the brethren seemed loth to leave, being deeply affected by all that had taken place.