Perhaps a more pathetic sight has never been witnessed in this district than that presented on Monday in connection with the last sad rites over the remains of the late Rev. William Moss; and those who could have looked upon it without recognising the great work in which the deceased was engaged up to the hour of his death must, indeed, have been callous to the proceedings.

There, at the church, with its mournful assemblage, and subsequently at the graveside surrounded by the solemn concourse of mourners, including those who had never heard the voice of their kind and beloved benefactor, and those who had never been privileged to look upon his happy face, the scene was a peculiarly sad one, and must have touched the chord of sympathy in the heart of even the most indifferent spectator. The eager attention shown by his unfortunate deaf and dumb friends to the interpretation of the words of eulogy uttered by the reverend gentlemen who assisted in the burial ceremony, and the sweet singing of his even more afflicted blind friends made the surroundings unusually solemn, and the scene will long be remembered. The deceased gentleman who was the first clergyman to set foot in Prahran was for some time single-handed in his great work, being generally known as Bishop Moss in the early days.

Since severing himself from the active work of the church, now a quarter of a century ago, he had devoted untiring attention to the interests of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind Institutions, and under his care they occupied exceptional positions among charitable institutions as contributing very largely to their own support. The manual dexterity and musical proficiency attained by many of the inmates of the asylum for the blind, in particular, have yielded a very substantial revenue, and it was largely due to Mr. Moss's excellent supervision, and to the attention which he devoted not merely to their work within the asylum, but to their periodical concert tours and the display of their proficiency in handicrafts which they made at various exhibitions from time to time, that such good results were secured in this respect. By his death, the colony loses a benefactor whose place it will be extremely difficult to fill.

From "Representative Men" we take the following biography of the deceased, which will be read with interest:

"The Rev. William Moss was born at Farnham, Surrey, England, on the 23rd July, 1828. He was the second son of George and Sarah Leah Moss. His parents were originally members of the Church of England, but at the time of his birth were connected with the Farnham Independent Church. During his boyhood and youth he attended the day school which had been established by the Nonconformists of the town.

After leaving school he devoted himself earnestly to the work of self-improvement, giving all his leisure hours to reading and study. He early became an active member of the local Mechanics' Institute, in the hall of which he, when about 28 years of age, delivered his first public lecture, the subject being 'The Crusades.' The attendance on the occasion was large, and the maiden effort pronounced a great success.

About the same period he began to conduct religious services in the villages around his native place, both on Sundays and week evenings, and was elected superintendent of the Tilford Sunday-school. On the 4th February, 1848, he was duly appointed a preacher of the Gospel by a meeting of the Farnham Independent Church, of which he had become a member two years previously. For a considerable time he regularly attended a class for instruction in theology homiletics conducted by his pastor, the Rev. John Fernie. Two of his fellow students in this class were the late Rev. Charles Vince, of Birmingham, and the Rev. Charles Williams, President of the Baptist Union of England and Wales. These two intimate friends, who were a few years his seniors, entered a Nonconformist college, and he fully intended to follow their example, but instead of doing so emigrated to America.

A friend (the late Mr. Browning, of Melbourne), having determined to come to Port Phillip for the purpose of engaging in squatting pursuits, invited Mr. Moss to accompany him mainly with the view of assisting in the education of his sons, and of conducting religious services in the locality of the intended settlement. This invitation was accepted, and, in company with his eldest sister, Mr. Browning and family, he reached Melbourne - after a long and trying voyage of nearly seven months - on August 2nd, 1850.

A few weeks after his arrival, he was admitted to the membership of the Collins Street Congregational Church then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Alexander Morison, for whom he preached the second Sunday after his arrival, having also preached for the Rev. Thomas Odell, of the West Melbourne Congregational Church. He was invited to take a Sunday afternoon service at Prahran (where a congregation had been gathered by the joint efforts of the Melbourne churches), and, on the fourth Sunday in August, 1850, he commenced his ministry in that locality. Having been unanimously requested by the committee to take the entire charge of the infant congregation, he consented to do so, Mr. Browning having in the meantime settled in Melbourne. It was arranged that Mr. Moss should, in connection with his labors in Prahran, continue his studies under the joint tutorship of the Revs. A. Morison and T. Odell. This arrangement continued for about two years.

In July, 1852, the Prahran church was, in accordance with the usages of the Independents, duly constituted; and, on the 5th October following, Mr. Moss, having been unanimously elected by the church and congregation, was publicly ordained as pastor. This was the first ceremony of the kind that was held in Victoria, and its novelty attracted a large assembly. Two Presbyterian, a Baptist, and two Independent ministers conducted the service. The brick chapel in which Mr. Moss first carried on his ministry was the only place of worship in Prahran for two years, and gave to the busiest street of that city the name of Chapel Street.

At the beginning of 1853 the chapel was considerably enlarged, at a cost of £2000, the whole, of which sum was paid off a few weeks after the re-opening.

On the 10th of April, 1857, the congregation removed to the much larger and more handsome Gothic structure erected by them in Malvern Road. The memorial stone of this church was laid by the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., on the 22nd November, 1858, on which occasion the Rev. Thomas Binney, of London gave the address. In this church Mr, Moss continued his ministry for nearly twenty years to a large and intelligent congregation, He did not, however, confine his labors to his own people, but endeavored to help on every good work having for its aim the social, intellectual, and spiritual welfare of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood generally.

In conjunction with a few others he was mainly instrumental in establishing the Prahran Mechanics' Institute, and when the present building was opened by Sir Henry Barkly, Mr. Moss delivered the inaugural address. He was also one of the originators of the Prahran and South Yarra Ladies' Benevolent Society, as well as of the Prahran Town Mission, of which he was for some time Secretary. About 1853 he was appointed the corresponding patron of the Prahran National School, and continued to act in that capacity until the two Boards (Denominational and National) were amalgamated by the passing of the Common Schools Act, 1862.

He was then chosen Secretary to the Prahran local committee of Common Schools which position he held until the Common Schools Act gave place to the Education Act of 1872. When the latter came into operation the local committees were superseded by the boards of advice. Mr. Moss became a candidate for election to the Prahran board. The election took place on 13th June, 1873. There were twenty-three aspirants for the honor. Mr. Moss polled 813 votes, only six below the gentleman (Mr. R. Murray Smith) who headed the list. This was a noteworthy result, especially considering the strong feeling existing in the public mind at the time in regard to the clergy having any voice in the management of State Schools. The election was also an evidence that Mr. Moss's past services in connection with the education of the young were appreciated, and that he was believed to be in thorough sympathy with the principles and objects of the new Act.

In the general movements and institutions of the denominations of which he was a minister, Mr. Moss also took a lively interest. In 1857 he and the Rev. Richard Fletcher were appointed delegates for Victoria to attend and take part in a general conference of representatives of all the Australian Congregational Churches, held in Sydney in February of that year. The occasion was one of considerable importance, and without doubt exercised a beneficial influence on the history of independency in all the Australian colonies.

For a short time Mr. Moss was secretary of the first Congregational Home Mission, and took an active part in the establishment of the present Congregational Union and Mission of Victoria, of which body he was elected Chairman in 1862, that being the highest honor the Congregationalists can confer on any one of their ministers. For many years he was Secretary of the Independent Ministers' Fraternal Association, and from February, 1870, until February, 1879, be held the office and discharged the duties of Honorary Secretary to the Victorian Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society. He also assisted in the founding of the Congregational College, and was annually elected to serve on its committee from its commencement, and a few years ago was appointed one of its Trustees.

The public charities with which the subject of this memoir has been more especially identified are the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution and the Victorian Asylum and School for the Blind. Of the former Mr. Moss may be said to have been the founder, in conjunction with his friend, Mr. F. J. Rose, the Superintendent of the Institution. This latter gentleman, who is himself deaf and dumb, was educated in the London Institution. He returned to Victoria after visiting England towards the close of I860 with the intention of opening a school for deaf mutes in Melbourne.

On his arrival he was introduced to Mr. Moss, with a view of enlisting his sympathy and help, by Mrs. Lewis, a member of his congregation, who had a stepdaughter deaf and dumb. Mr. Moss readily responded to the appeal, and strongly advised that the school be commenced forthwith. Premises were therefore taken up by Mr. Rose in Prahran, and the school was opened in the beginning of 1861. For a short time there were only two pupils. It was ascertained, however, that a considerable number of deaf mute children existed whose parents were unable to pay for their maintenance and education, whereupon Mr. Moss summoned a meeting of gentlemen likely to be interested in the matter. The meeting was held in the vestry of the Scot's Church, Collins Street, Melbourne, on the 6th May, 1861, and was attended by the Honorable George Rolfe, the Revs. Dr. Donald Macdonald, James Bickford, and William Moss. Mr. Moss was elected Honorary Secretary, and it was resolved to form a 'provisional committee, and to take immediate steps for the establishment of a public institution for the mental and moral training of the deaf and dumb.'

Many and great difficulties had at first to be encountered, but the project gradually assumed a definite shape, and in August, 1862, the Institution was fairly launched at a public meeting held in the hall of the Melbourne Athenaeum, and presided over by the then Governor, His Excellency, Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B. From that time the course of the institution became one of increasing prosperity, and generous support was accorded to it from the Government, the Press, the Boards of Education, and the charitably disposed throughout the colony. As the institution continued to advance, several houses of increased dimensions were occupied one after another, until the beginning of 1863, when it was decided to erect a permanent structure.

Application was made by the Honorary Secretary to Government for a block of land, consisting of about 6 acres, situated at the corner of St. Kilda Road and High Street. After a little delay this most eligible site was granted, Honorable J. M. Grant being at that time Minister of Lands. Plans of the proposed building were prepared by Messrs. Crouch and Wilson, architects, Melbourne. These, proving satisfactory, were adopted by the committee. The memorial stone was laid by His Excellency Sir Charles Darling, K.C.B., in the presence of a large assembly, on 6th March, I866, and on the 13th of the following October that portion of the building first erected, viz., the centre and the south wing, was opened by His Excellency Sir Henry Manners-Sutton, K.C.B. The northern wing of the building was erected in 1871, thus completing the original plan, and in 1878 the committee was able to announce in the 16th annual report that the premises were entirely free of debt. Towards the realisation of this result, so long devoutly desired, the Honorary Secretary and the Superintendent, by their earnest and persevering efforts, largely contributed. For many years it was their custom to spend their yearly holidays in holding meetings throughout the country districts. These meetings were the means of adding a large sum to the building fund, and also of creating an intelligent interest in the objects of the institution, and secured for it, in many instances, permanent supporters. The total number admitted into this institution since its establishment amounted in the first half of 1886 to 260.

The necessity of a school for the blind in Victoria was first brought under public notice by the provisional committee of the proposed deaf and dumb institution, the intention being to establish a combined institution for the education of both classes of unfortunates. This intention was announced in the first prospectus issued by the Honorary Secretary. After due consideration, however, it was thought more desirable that efforts should in the first instance be directed to providing for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, especially as a well-qualified teacher of such was at once available. It therefore fell to the lot of others to take the first practical steps towards founding a school for the blind.

In the beginning of 1866 a meeting was called - by the Rev. James Mirams - of gentlemen interested in the education of the blind. About 30 gentlemen responded to the invitation, and it was unanimously resolved to establish an asylum and school for the blind. Melbourne was canvassed for subscriptions in aid of a building fund. Application was made to Government for a site, and a block of land situated in Moubray Street, opposite Wesley College, was granted. The site was subsequently increased on two occasions by the purchase of two allotments of land fronting St. Kilda Road, making a total of about four and a half acres.

Only a portion of the building was at first erected, which was formally opened on the 21st of August. 1868, by His Excellency the Governor Viscount Canterbury, K.C.B. In 1870, additional buildings were erected, and in 1872 the McPherson wing was added, mainly owing to the liberality and efforts of Thomas McPherson, Esq., Mayor of Melbourne, after whom the new portion was named. Mr. Moss, who had taken a lively interest in the institution from its commencement, at the urgent solicitation of many of his friends, became a member of the committee in January, 1871. In the following year he was appointed school correspondent in connection with the Board of Education, under whose auspices and support the school for the blind was for a number of years carried on, At the annual meeting of subscribers held on January 26th, 1874, Mr. Moss was elected Honorary Secretary, a position he willingly accepted, which, in this case, as in the case of the deaf and dumb institution, was not simply a post of honor, but one of active and gratuitous service.

At a special meeting of the committee held on 27th September, 1878, Major and Mrs. Lovell resigned their positions as Superintendent and Matron of the Institution, in consequence of important matters requiring their immediate presence in London. At the same meeting the vacated positions were offered to Mr. and Mrs. Moss, It was not without much serious thought and trepidation that Mr. Moss finally decided to accept the position offered to and pressed upon him, for although the doing so did not involve the giving up of the ministerial vocation, it necessitated the rending of the pastoral tie which had existed for so many years, and which he had fondly hoped would have remained unbroken until his day of work should be done. However, circumstances seemed clearly to indicate that the path of duty led to the acceptance of the position.

Therefore, on the 2nd October, 1878, Mr. Moss resigned his pastorate of the Prahran Independent Church. His resignation was accepted with regret, and not until it had been ascertained that it was his fixed purpose to adhere to it. At a meeting of the committee of the Blind Asylum held on the 4th October Mr. Moss was appointed Secretary and Superintendent; Mrs. Moss was also appointed Matron. On tbe following Sunday, October 6th, Mr. Moss officiated morning and evening in the Prahran Church for the last time as pastor. At both services there was a crowded congregation, especially in the evening, when a large number were unable to obtain seats, although the aisles of the church were filled up with forms.

On Saturday, 12th October Mr. and Mrs. Moss commenced their duties at the asylum and school for the blind. A valedictory meeting of the members of his late church and congregation was held to take a public farewell of Mr. Moss in the Prahran Town Hall in November, 1878. Sir James McCulloch, K.C.B., presided, and the following gentlemen took part in the proceedings, viz., Revs. Alexander Gosman, Jacob John Halley, Thomas James; Messrs. James Wisewould, J. Reid, and George William Taylor. On behalf of the deacons and congregation, Mr. G. W. Taylor presented to Mr. Moss a handsome illuminated address, and Mr. J. Reid presented to him a purse of 125 sovereigns. A copy of the address bearing the signature of 233 members of the congregation, a number of whom signed on behalf of their households, was also presented. During the evening grateful allusions to Mr. Moss's identification with the rise and progress of Prahran, and his endeavours to the promotion of social and public movements which had tended to advance the popularity of the city, were made, and Mr. Moss, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Moss, suitably acknowledged the encomiums pronounced.

The Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission is quite a distinct society from the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution, and is intended to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of those who have left that institution, and other adult mutes resident in Melbourne and its vicinity. The first religious service in connection with this mission was conducted by the Rev. W. Moss in the Baptist Lecture Hall, Little Collins Street East on the 24th June, l883, and for the following seventeen months the service was held every Lord's day, with the assistance of Messrs. Rose and Johnson, under the auspices of a provisional committee. The method of communication employed by the teachers is that known as the manual, or sign system.

In December, 1883, a mutual improvement society for deaf and dumb young men was established in connection with the provisional committee's operations. The members meet periodically for readings, lectures, discussions, and social intercourse, and the meetings are generally conducted by one of the mutes. In August, 1884, a missionary (Mr. Holt) was appointed to visit the mutes in their homes, and to conduct the Sunday services. The mission was inaugurated as a public institution at a meeting held in the Baptist Lecture Hall, on the 28th February, 1885, on which occaslon Sir James MacBain occupied the chair, and was elected the first Presldent of the mission. The Rev. Henry Archdall Langley was appointed Vice-President; Edward Newbegin, Esq., Honorary Treasurer; and the Rev. W. Moss, Honorary Secretary. There are over eighty deaf mutes connected with the mission, many of. whom have been greatly benefited through its instrumentality. The mission is supported entirely by voluntary contributions."

The Rev. W. Moss had been twice married. His first wife was the second daughter of the late Mr. Andrew McClure, and his widow is the third daughter of Mr. Samuel Richard Herdsman. His first family consisted of three daughters and four sons; two daughters and one son, however, died in infancy. His second family consists of two daughters, a third, the eldest, having died in infancy.