Henry HADWEN of Lancaster [2529]

  General Notes:

Henry of Ashfield House Lancaster, was a noted banker, philanthropist, and Quaker. He was aged 62 at his death.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE HENRY HADWEN
The remains of the late Henry Hadwen were interred on Tuesday morning last, in the burial ground adjoining the Friends Meeting House Lancaster. The time fixed for the burial was twelve o'clock, and by that hour a very great concourse of people had assembled in or about the Friends burial ground and along the road to Ashfield House, to pay the last mark of respect to the deceased gentleman. A little after twelve the solemn procession left Ashfield House. The coffin strewn thickly with choicest flowers was carried by six of the members of the Sunday School class of which Mr Hadwen had been for many years the beloved teacher. Preceding it walked two by two the members of the Bulk St Adult School; and following them came the clerks of the Lancaster Bank and the managers and clerks of the various branches of the company - next members of the Lancaster Corporation; representatives of the Royal Albert Asylum; many gentlemen of the deceased's circle of friends;and members of the Board of the Lancaster Banking Coy. Afterwards immediately following came carriages conveying relatives of the departed and several closed carriages. The procession from Ashfield House passed along a line of many hundreds of spectators and the west side of the burial ground where the grave lay was crowed with people.
On arriving at the gates members of the procession fell back on either and uncovered, while the coffin was borne on into the Chapel. For a few moments the remains of the deceased were rested in his old place of worship. Thence they were carried to the grave. Here a simple but most impressive service of prayer was conducted by several of the friends assembled. The burden of the prayers was tinged with a feeling of deep natural sorrow, but there found expression also a sublime thankfulness that the departed had passed "from death unto life"
All the Friends in Lancaster and the District that could attend now gathered around the grave, and, many among them and the general spectators were deeply moved. At the close of the prayers the coffin which bore the simple inscription "Henry Hadwen died Feb 19th 1880 aged 62 years" was lowered into the grave. Afterwards the Friends present assembled in the Meeting House for worship - Probably 2000 people were witnesses of the interment.

The Late Henry Hadwen.
The obituary of the Monthly Record contained last month the name of one who will long be missed from the ranks of our First-day school teachers. In the year 1844 hearing a sermon in an independent Chapel at Preston, on the duty of each follower of the Saviour to work in his vineyard, Henry Hadwen asked himself in what way he was called to serve his Lord, and this resulted in the re-establishment of a First-day school at Lancaster. A previous generation of Friends had bestowed such labour upon the ignorant in the town, that it was said they left no adult unable to read; this was followed by classes for Friends own children. But the school as revived thirty-six years ago, was entirely of a mission character, an old sergeant being employed to search up the neglected children from the lowest parts of the town, and rags and clogs abounded in the classes. Some of the little boys of that date, brought in from the lanes by Henry Hadwen and his coadjutors, are now members of our Society, and teachers for whom we can but desire that they may follow in his steps. Henry Hadwen was one of the small party of young men teachers who formed the first First-day school conference held in Birmingham in 1847. As years went on the children of his old scholars began to enter the school, while their parents, who, as might be expected, made marked advances both in material and spiritual welfare, had in several instances become Friends, and it was thought they might be doing something to help others. A large room belonging to Henry Hadwen, in a busy part of the town, was devoted by him to the reception of classes for men only, where, gathered by these old pupils of the meeting house, 100 men are often assembled.
Associated with this school are a sick benefit society, savings fund, temperance reform club, and winter Saturday night meetings, frequently attended by more than 300; in all these agencies our friend maintained a warm interest. This Christianity influenced his entire life, business relations and daily engagements; a wise counsellor, a liberal and discreet giver; our church had in him a sympathising elder and overseer, seeking to encourage and lead aright. To those who knew him no eulogy is required; the 2000 mourners who gathered in solemn stillness around the open grave, to which his mortal remains were born by the members of his class, as a last token of love, testified the regard in which he was held.
A Friend who knew him well writes: "we can but humble ourselves under of the mighty hand of God and when the word goes forth, the Lord shall take away thy master from thy head today, say I know it: hold ye your peace. But with all this, Elisha asked for a double portion of God's Spirit to rest upon him when his master was departed from him, and should it not be our prayer that when we are deprived of God's servants, he would shower down fresh supplies of His grace?"

  Research Notes:

Image courtesy of Anna Shuttleworth 2003.

Henry spouse unknown Elizabeth BARTON [18908] [MRIN: 828] 2nd Qtr 1856 in Lancaster LAN.