Hebden Township Historical Data

Newspaper Cuttings

The following is a transcript of an article about the Oddfellows funeral of George Hudson published on Saturday, January 27th 1877, in the Craven Herald.

Oddfellows Funeral

Mr. George Hudson, after a long and serious illness, died at his residence here on the 11th inst., and was interred in Linton Churchyard on Monday last. A special meeting of the "Loyal Star of Hope" Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, M.U. (or which deceased had long been a member), was held in the lodge room at twelve o'clock, to make arrangements for conducting the funeral, etc. The following six were appointed as pall bearers, viz.: Brothers Wm. Baines, Robert Hebden, Miles Baines, snr., George Townson, Edward Wiggan, and Alexander McKay, after which they formed into procession, when, preceded by the office-bearers, bearing their wands of office, draped in crape, they marched to the residence of the deceased, where they, along with the other relatives and friends, sat down to a sumptuous repast, provided for them by Mrs. Hudson. Religious services were conducted by the Rev. J. Draker (Wesleyan), Grassington, after which, when the coffin had been carried to the door, a short service was read from the Oddfellows ritual by Brother Edward Wiggan, P.G. On the arrival of the cortege at this village the coffin was taken from the hearse, and borne on the shoulders of the stalwart pall bearers until they had passed their lodge room, when it was again deposited in the hearse. On arriving at Linton Church the Oddfellows (who had preceded the hearse) opened out their ranks in order to allow the officiating clergyman, the pall bearers bearing the coffin, and friends and friends of the deceased, to pass through on their way to the church, where Divine Service was gone through by the Rev. J. Walker, rector of the parish. After service had been gone through in the church, and the body deposited in the grave, Bro. E. Wiggan P.G. (by permission of Rev. Mr. Walker) read the Oddfellows Burial Service, which was listened to with marked attention. The Oddfellows, who all wore boquets of boxwood in their coats, deposited them in the grave s a last mark of respect to their deceased brother. The deceased was well known and respected in this district, and his loss will be long felt and his memory cherished in the minds of a large circle of sorrowing relatives and friends.