The Barrier Miner, Thursday 4 November 1909
(Broken Hill, New South Wales)

THE LATE MR. J. D. STEVENS
THE FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Mr. John D. Stevens, whose death occurred yesterday, took place this afternoon, the cortege, comprising some 20 vehicles, leaving the deceased’s late residence at 3 o’clock. The chief mourners were Mrs. Stevens (widow), Mrs. J. Vivian (daughter), Messrs. J. W. and L. A. Stevens (sons), Mrs. E. J. Thomas (niece), Mesdames W. Northey and W. Brown (sisters-in-law), Mesdames J. W. and L. A. Stevens (daughters-in-law), and Mr. J. Vivian (son-in-law). The services at the graveside were conducted by the Revs. C. F. Schafer and A. W. Wellington, while the service of the Rechabite Order was read by Bro. S. Townsend, a past district chief ruler of New South Wales. Messrs. Joshua Bunney, I. and J. Jones, Harris, Dyer, and Rosenberg (representing the Methodist Church and the Rechabite Order) were the pallbearers.

The Barrier Miner, Tuesday 9 November 1909
(Broken Hill, New South Wales)

THE LATE MR. J. D. STEVENS
IN MEMORIAM SERVICE
An in memoriam service to the late Mr. J. D. Stevens was held in the Blende-street Methodist Church Sunday evening. The attendance was good, though somewhat marred by the heat which prevailed. The Rev. C. E. Schafer was the preacher, and took his text from John, xiv, 14-28: "If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice," and from II Peter, 1, 14: "Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle." In the course of his remarks the preacher stated that the deceased was a native of Cornwall, and was 75 years of age. At the age of 21 he left for America. After spending three years there he returned to his native town, and subsequently came to Australia. He settled at Inglewood (Victoria), where he married 46 years ago. Two years afterwards he migrated to Moonta, and resided at that place for 23 years. He first followed the occupation of a miner, and afterward became an engine driver. He was converted to God in Moonta, and for many years conducted the choir in the Moonta Mines Primitive Methodist Church. Twenty-two years ago the deceased migrated to the Barrier. For 37 years the deceased gentleman was a stanch Rechabite, and his five sons and two daughters, who are all grown up, have been life long abstainers. People who knew their late brother for a number of years all bore testimony to his having been a man of character, and as he lived so he died. No greater testimony, the preacher remarked, could he bear to his character than to say that his children believed in him. It was a sad day for a father if his children disbelieved in him. For a son to be convinced that his father was not genuine was a shock to a boy’s soul that years would not efface. Mr. Schafer then said that the Christian idea of death was that of a change of vesture or a change of dwelling. The real man remained untouched. The church was draped in white, and a vase of white flowers was placed in the seat usually occupied by deceased. Remarking upon that fact, the preacher said that he hoped that the time would come when white would be considered more appropriate for mourning than black.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho