Obituary.

encomiums forthe zeal and skill which he displayed . In surgical operations he was considered to have but few equals in the district ; and as a physician his advice was often sought in cases difficult of treatment . The first meeting of the Dewsbury Local Board of Health was held on the 22 nd December , 1851 , and amongst the names of members entered in the book , we find'that of George Fearnley ,

M . D . Many of our readers are aware that he was one of the first to broach the question of a supply of water to the Dewsbury district ; and it may interest them to know that on the 22 nd December , 1851 , he moved that Mr . Ranger be appointed to inspect the neighbourhood of Dewsbury , with a view to his pointing out the best means of obtaining a supply of water for the district . After an animated and lengthy discussion , the resolution was

carried ; and this was the foundation for the water scheme ; and he lived to see the works brought to completion . In the years 1859 and 18 H 0 , the Dewsbury Incorporation movement was inaugurated , to which the Doctor at once accorded his support and influence ; and the clear and forcible manner in wliich he gave evidence at the official inquiry before Captain Donelly , — notwithstanding the attempts of the opposing advocate to browbeat himwill long be remembered . The result ofthe investigation

, before the commissioner was tbe granting of a charter which elevated Dewsbury into a municipal borough for ever . The first election under the charter came on it the month of July , 1 S 62 ; and the scenes then enacted constitute an important portion of the annals of the town . The councillors assembled together on the 21 st of the same month , and held their first meeting as a corporate body . They unanimously elected Dr . Fearnley to the

honourable and distinguished office of chief magistrate of the borough , the resolution being proposed by Alderman Marriott , * nd seconded by Councillor Walker . On the 10 th of November following , he was proposed for re-election by Alderman Scholes , and the motion having been seconded by Councillor Tolson , it was carried , there being neither a dissentient voice nor vote . Again was lie re-elected last November , Alderman Marriottbeing the mover of the resolution on this occasion , and Councillor Chn-kson the seconder ; and it will be generally admitted that this mark of continued and increased confidence could not have been more worthily bestowed .

It is allowed by all , that in his administration of justice , he invariably acted with the strictest impartiality and fairness ; and that whilst enforcing the law of the land , and upholding the dignity of our Sovereign Lady the Queen , he did not overlook the claims of the prisoner at the bar . Feeling that his health was fast failing , on the 14 th December , 1863 , he appointed E . Day , Esq ., to serve as Deputy-Major during his illnessor absence ; and the official document ratifying the

, appointment was read in the Council a short time before his death—this being , we believe , the last official document which he signed , for scarcely had he made this provision than he found himself unable to take any further part in town matters . AVe have now only to allude to the honours conferred upon the deceased as a Freemason . He was initiated into the Lodge of the Three Grand Princiles 251 Dewsburyon the 20 th

p , , , January , 1842 ; served the office of Warden in 1843 , anil was installed AVorshipful Master of the lodge on the 20 th December , 1844 , which office he held for two consecutive years— an unusual thing . He was made Royal Arch Mason on the 18 th December , 1843 ; was appointed Provincial Grand Steward in 1847 ; Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1848 ; and on November 17 th , 1856 , he was installed Deputy Provincial Grand Master for

West Yorkshire , under the Right Hon . Earl of Mexborough . In 1858 he was re-appointed to tnat distinguished office , under the Right Honourable Earl de Grey and Ripon ; and held it up to his death ; and in April last , Senior Grand Deacon of England . He was also Provincial Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons in West Yorkshire ; and Provincial Grand Commander—he being the first appointed to that office . In I 860 an Encampment of Knights Templar was established in

Dewsbury , and called after his name . Another tribute of respect was paid to him at Halifax , by honouring a lodge there with his name . He was also Grand Master of the Order of Bolton Unity Odd Fellows .

THE FUNERAL . The sad duty of conveying the remains of the lamented Dr . Fearnley to their last resting place on earth took place on Friday , the 15 th inst—exactly a week after his decease—in the

presence of a vast assemblage of spectators , who were visibly affected by the ceremony . On Monday a circular was forwarded to the members of the Masonic body , residing within the province of West Yorkshire by command of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , requesting the attendance at a Provincial Grand Lodge of Emergency , to be holden in the Church of England School-roomDewsburyon

, , Friday , the 15 th inst ., at eleven o ' clock in the forenoon , for the purpose of attending to its last resting-place the remains of the lamented brother . In compliance with this request , a numerous gathering of " Ancient Free and Accepted Freemasons" met at the appointed place , and held a Provincial Grand Lodge of Emergency . Intelligence of the death of the Deputy Grand Master was

forwarded to the Right Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , who was also invited to be present at the funeral , but pressing engagements prevented his lordship from following to the grave one whom he so highly esteemed . Friday opened damp , gloomy , and miserable . There was no rain ; but a heavy shroud-like mist pervaded over all . The roads were heavy with mud , and altogether the clay was as uncomfortable and forbidding as could possiblbe conceived . Every

y shop , every mill , was closed , with but one or two exceptions , and very mournful was tbe aspect of tbe town . There could be no mistaking the fact that this mark of respect from the inhabitants was spontaneous and genuine . Even the houses opened for the sale of refreshments remained closed until the ceremony was over . Gradually the streets became crowded , and every balcony , window , and indeed any elevated spot where

a footing could be secured , was occupied by persons anxious to have a view of the procession . At length the hour arrived when it was announced that visitors and friends were to muster in the Railway Station Yard , but the magnitude of the arrangement caused the preliminaries of the funeral to be somewhat delayed , and in the meantime the police were busily engaged in keeping the approaches to Grove House clear from bystanders . About half-past eleven , however , those who had been invited by the public programme to be present , began to assemble at the appointed place , and , with

considerable willingness , the immense groups which had congregated within the station yard , withdrew to the open thoroughfares and the adjacent sidings . The procession soon assumed a definite shape , and , thanks to the indefatigable exertions of Supt . Thomas , of the Borough Force , and Inspector Nicholson , of the AVest Riding Constabulary , there was scarcely any confusion or delay . First in the scene came the Dewsbury Old Brass Band , with muffled drum draped in mourning , and the

members stood in silence while the gentlemen and friends of the deceased marshalled together in the rear , four abreast . The members of the town council attired in mourning and wearing black scarfs followed . The Mayor ( C . R . Scholes , Esq . ) was supported on the right by Alderman Whittles , and on the left by Alderman Marriot , after whom came Aldermen Day and Blakeley , Councillors Tweedale , Thompson , Blakeley , Fletcher , ClarksonGreenwoodHunterWalkerHowroydHaighLee

, , , , , , Howroyd , Rawsthorne , M'Donagh , Bates , and Field . Mr . Atkinson , the Deputy Town Clerk , was also in attendance . The Town Clerk and F . Ledgard , Esq ., Clerk to the Justices of the Peace , were unavoidably prevented from being present , in consequence of indisposition . Ministers of various denominations came next in order . The Rifle Corps mustered in the Police Station Yard , and from thence marched down Bond-street , under the command of

Lieutenant Gill , with arms reversed , and the entire procession then moved off at a solemn pace , until it reached the vicinity of the Grove House , when it awaited the arrival of the funeral cortege . The Freemasons assembled in the Church of England Schoolroom , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . Bro . W . Rothwell presided as Provincial Grand Master . The names of the principal brethren present will follow in the order of

procession . A patent from the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Ripon , appointing Bro . R . R . Nelson , P . M . of the lodge of the Three Grand Principles , P . M . of St . John ' s Lodge , P . Prov . G . S . B . and Prov . G . Sec , as D . Prov . G . M ., was read . The brethren then formed in procession , the organ playing as they left the building " The Dead March in Saul . " The body of Freemasons , who numbered nearly 400 , passed along Schoolstreet , through Westgate , to the late Mayor ' s residence , where they formed in front of the house . The pall bearers received