|
 We
are met here to-day to pay our last respects to Richard R Harpur who
was a life long member of this Congregation. To express
to his sons Russell and Ernest, his daughters-in-law Barbara
and Pat, his grand-children, his sister Bessie, his niece Pat
and her husband Roy and the whole family circle - and his many
friends - our sincere sympathy and assure them of our prayers
and support at this time. We commit them to the Grace - to the
comfort of our Heavenly Father.
There are certain
experiences of life whether of deep joy or deep sorrow that are
better felt than expressed and I am sure that is how we feel to-day.
Richard Harpur gone, it almost seems impossible, unreal; for he has
been such a vital part of all our lives - of the life of his own
family and friends - of this Congregation and community - that we
find it difficult to believe that the place that knew him once
shall know him no more.
Born in Co Donegal
he spent his early years in Donaghmore. His parents came to
Londonderry when Richard was still a school boy. They joined Carlisle
Road Church. On leaving school Richard pursued further study while
working for the late Mr Dale (Dale's Chemist), eventually qualifying
as a chemist and subsequently taking over Dale's Chemist Shop where
he continued to work until his retirement a few years ago. Through
his work as a chemist he met many people and was a friend to all.
Nothing was ever too much bother for Richard Harpur and often he
would work late into the evening making sure that prescriptions were
delivered to those most in need.
Outside his work
he had a life time interest in the work of the St Johns Ambulance
Brigade. A recent photograph in one of our papers showed him as
a young man standing with others in the uniform of that organisation.
I understand he joined officially in 1934, came through the
ranks to become Superintendent of the Londonderry Ambulance Division.
In 1982 at the age of 70 he had to retire from active rank and became
Area Vice President. In 1987 he became the first chairman of the
newly created Fellowship Branch for retired and non-active members.
He served as Duty Officer for many years and organised the flag
days from the early 50's up to and including 1993. He was much
honoured for his services and indeed was the longest serving officer
in Northern Ireland. In 1991 he received the British Empire Medal in
the New Years Honours.
But it is as a
churchman he is best remembered. Serving at one time or another in
most of the organisations within the Congregation. For many years he
was the Congregational Treasurer. On 7th October 1951 he was elected
by the people and ordained by the Presbytery of Derry as a
ruling Elder in this Congregation and in May 1962 he was
appointed by his brethren in the Kirk Session as their Clerk; a post
he filled with quiet dignity until his death. Personally I can never
thank Richard Harpur too much - instrumental in my coming to Carlisle
Road he has been a tower of strength and source of wisdom over the
past 29 years. In all that time I never had a serious
disagreement with him. His support was always 100%. For many years
(and I take some credit in encouraging him to do this) he occupied
the pulpit most acceptably in my absence. Recently on 23rd November
1993 he preached what was to be his last sermon at the Elders
Service. He was a widely read man - that was evident in his preaching
and conversation. A man who had travelled quite a lot with a great
love for the Holy Land and for it's history and it's people.
He will be greatly
missed. Firstly in his own family and by his friends. I will not
presume to speak of him as a father except to say he was a good
father, strict and loving, ever seeking (as he had promised
God) to bring up his boys within the Christian faith and by prayer,
precept and example to lead them to the Saviour - and give to them a
love for the things of God. Outside the family circle he will be
missed most in this Congregation that he loved and served. How
faithful he was as an elder, in his visitation and concern for his
district. How fine an example he set in Church attendance, in the
place of prayer and Bible Study. How faithfully, over many years he
taught the young teen-agers in the Sunday Morning Bible Class. He
also served the interests of our own Primary Day School on the Board
of Governors. He involved himself in the local Presbytery being
Convener of the Divine Healing Committee. He represented the
Congregation on many occasions at the Synod and General Assembly and
served for some years as a member of the Union Commission. For
a life time he was involved in the local Temperance Council -
served for a time on the Young Peoples' Convention Committee and more
recently he involved himself with the Gideons. This became a work
dear to his heart, seeking to place the Scriptures in the hands,
hearts and minds of young and old.
But his first
commitment was to his Master, Jesus Christ. As a young man he had
come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus and having put his hand to the
plough he did not look back. A man of integrity, he was a man I would
have trusted with my life. He gave encouragement to his fellow elders
and especially was this so to me, and many were the occasions, when
he spoke a timely word of encouragement and help.
A gentleman
and a generous man who never paraded his generosity, yet there
have been those who testified to me of the help given to them by
Richard Harpur. He gave help according to Christ's injunction in
Matthew Ch 6 v 1-4. What we was, (and he was many things to many
people), he was by the Grace of God - that Sovereign Grace in Christ
that sought and redeemed him and that kept him over all the years.
That faith did not fail him during his recent and prolonged illness.
How conscious he was of God's goodness and grace towards him and his
own courage, his determination, his quiet endurance set an example to
all of us - strengthened us in our own faith.
Knowing Richard as
we did we are all well aware that he would not wish any fulsome
eulogy to be pronounced over him today, for his life was utterly
devoid of self advertisement and he abhorred self display - content
to fill a little place if Christ be glorified. I know that he would
wish us to give all the glory to God - whose he was and whom he
served. That he would wish this service to be one of praise and
thanksgiving to God who, in providence and grace, blessed him
abundantly - that such a service would be above all things a reminder
of those eternal verities upon which he sought to build his own life,
and a pointer directing our thoughts to Christ.
He was a glad and
happy Christian, shedding around his path the sunshine of kind words,
kind deeds and kind looks. He made goodness attractive. He adorned
the Gospel of God our Saviour. He walked with God and he is not, for
God has taken him home. May we who knew him cherish his memory, be
given grace to trust his Saviour, emulate his virtues and continue
his testimony till by God's Grace we share His triumph.
"Were a star quenched on high, for ages would it's light
Still travelling downward from the sky, shine on our earthly sight."
"So
when a good man dies, for years beyond our ken
The light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men."
And now unto
Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you
faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding Joy, to the
only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power
both now and ever - Amen. |