Thursday, 25 July 2024

Alexander Wilkie, (1851-11/1/1876). "the lamp of life went suddenly out"


Mr Alexander Wilkie, one of the Nelson representatives to the Good Templar Grand Lodge Session held here last week, died in the Dunedin Hospital last night of typhoid fever.  -Cromwell Argus, 12/1/1876.


The funeral of Mr Alexander Wilkie, who lately came from Nelson as a representative to the Grand Lodge Session of Good Templars, and who died here, took place yesterday. About 60 brethren of the Order followed the deceased to his last resting place, and a number of sisters assembled at the grave. The Rev. Dr Stuart offered up prayers prior to the starting of the procession, and the Rev. Dr Roseby acted as Grand Chaplain at the grave. Among those present at the funeral were G.W.O.T.. Bro. Adams, G.W.S. Bro. Cameron, G.W.T. Bro. Carr, and Bro. Jago. The Good Templars formed in a ring around the grave while the Chaplain read the burial service. Mr Wilkie, though a young man, had for some years taken an active interest in Good Templar matters, and contributed assiduously to the Temperance literature of the Colony. He was an only son, and leaves three sisters and his mother to mourn their loss.  -Otago Daily Times, 13/1/1876.


It is our sorrowful duty to record the death of Alexander, the youngest son of Mr William Wilkie, one of our oldest and much-respected citizens. Deceased was elected as one of the representatives from the Nelson district to the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars for New Zealand South, which met at Dunedin, on December 28th. He arrived at that city on Christmas night, and on the following Monday complained of being so unwell that he could not leave his room. Dr Brown was speedily called in, and some few days afterwards declared Mr Wilkie was suffering from typhoid fever (not scarlet fever, as has been stated in a local print.) We have reason to believe that all that possibly could be done to alleviate the sufferings of his patient was done by Dr Brown, his colleagues and assistants; but all their efforts were vain, and on Tuesday morning his father received by telegraph the mournful intelligence that his son had passed away. His mother had arrived at Dunedin on the 5th instant, but as a telegram from her dated Monday last, spoke of her son as being a little better, there is no doubt that at the last the lamp of life went suddenly out. It is hardly necessary for us to say that we sympathise with the bereaved family, — their grief is to a considerable extent felt by all who were (like ourselves) intimately acquainted with their deceased relative. The late Mr Alexander Wilkie was an affectionate son; up to nearly the close of his life his anxiety appeared to be not to trouble those at home, and particularly his mother, with concern for himself. As a Good Templar there was not a harder, yet unostentatious, worker in the Order, and his services were eulogised in the Grand Lodge of New Zealand South by Mr Jago, the editor of the Temperance Advocate in terms of which his friends may well he proud, and which were true to the letter. As a friend he was true to the last. He was, in a word, a promising and rising young man, who was respected and beloved by his numerous friends, acquaintances, and fellow-citizens.  -Colonist, 13/1/1876.

Alexander Wilkie's remains lie in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.


Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.

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