The funeral of the late Rev. Andrew Mitchell Ramsay, minister of St. Enoch's Church, Melbourne, took place today. Shortly before 2 o'clock the coffin was conveyed into the church, the reading-desk and communion-table of which were draped with black. Soon after the bell began its solemn warning the church was completely filled, chiefly with members of the deceased's congregation. Several of the leading clergymen of various denominations were present, as also Mr. McGregor, M.L.A., and the Hon. George Harker.

The Rev. Robert Hamilton opened the ceremony with prayer, after which the hymn "Jerusalem my happy home" was sung. The Rev. Mr. Robert T. Walker, of Ballarat, read a portion of the New testament, and the Rev. Daniel McKenzie, of Geelong repeated an expressive prayer fitting to the occasion. Many of those present were visibly affected. The Rev. Mr. Hamilton then gave a short sketch of the deceased's life, after which the coffin was conveyed to the hearse, and the funeral cortege, consisting of three mourning coaches for the accommodation of the deceased's nearest relatives, and a number of private carriages, proceeding on its way to the cemetery.

Several of the shops in the neighbourhood were partially closed out of respect to the late Mr. Ramsay's memory. The pall-bearers were Mr. Robert Ramsay and Master James Ramsay, sons of the deceased; Mr. James Ramsay, brother; the Rev. John Garlick and Rev. Robert Hamilton, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Anderson, and Master Anderson. The deceased was born in 1809, ordained in 1833, arrived in Melbourne 4th January, 1847, and died on 31st December, 1869.

Yesterday the remains of the Rev. Andrew Mitchell Ramsay, of St. Enoch's United Presbyterian Church, Collins Street, were interred in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The funeral ceremony began at two o'clock in the church, where a solemn service was performed in the presence of a large number of persons, including the greater portion of the deceased minister's congregation. There were also present many clergymen of the Presbyterian and other denominations, besides citizens belonging to other churches who had known and respected Mr. Ramsay during life.

The coffin having been carried into the church, was placed in front of the communion table, which was covered, like the reading-desk, with black drapery. The service was opened by the Rev. Robert Hamilton, of Fitzroy, with prayer, which was followed by the first five verses of the hymn commencing "Jerusalem, my happy home." A portion of Scripture was then read by the Rev. Robert T. Walker, of Ballarat, and another earnest prayer was delivered by the Rev. Daniel Mackenzie, of Geelong. Before the proceedings in the church terminated, the Rev. Robert Hamilton read a brief history which he had prepared of the deceased clergyman's life, which was listened to with much attention.

The coffin having been carried from the church to the hearse, the funeral cortege was formed. It included three mourning coaches for the chief mourners and the immediate friends of the deceased, and about 30 or 40 private carriages and other vehicles.

On arriving at the cemetery, all but those in the mourning coaches alighted, and accompanied the hearse to within a short distance of the grave, situated in the northern portion of the Presbyterian compartment. The body was carried to its last resting-place by eight pall-bearers, viz.: - Mr. Robert Ramsay and Mr. James Ramsay (sons of the deceased), Mr. James Ramsay (brother), the Rev. Robert Hamilton, the Rev. John Garlick (Church of England), Mr. W. Hamilton, Mr. A. Anderson, and Mr. A. Anderson, junior. Around the grave were grouped a large number of gentlemen, amongst whom were the Rev. Irving Hetherington, the Rev. D. McDonald, the Rev. A. D. Kinninmont, the Rev. James Mirams, the Rev. Septimus Lloyd Chase (Church of England), Dr. Ferdinand Von Mueller, the Hon. J. McGregor, and many of the clergy of different denominations. After singing and prayer, the simple but impressive burial service for the dead was performed, and a concluding prayer by the Rev. Irving Hetherington brought the solemnities to a close.

From the statement read in the church by the Rev. Robert Hamilton, we learn that the deceased minister, the Rev. Andrew Mitchell Ramsay, was born at Shettlestone, near Glasgow, on the 5th March, 1809. In 1825 he entered the Glasgow University, and went through the usual curriculum of study in the classics, philosophy, and science, in which he acquired honourable distinction. In 1832 he was licensed to preach by the Glasgow Relief Presbytery, and in the following year, on the 29th May, he was ordained by the presbytery of Kelso, as pastor of the congregation of Hawick. The most notable circumstance in connexion with his ministerial work in the south of Scotland was a remarkable religious revival, which commenced in Denholm in 1839, and spread over a great portion of Roxburghshire, and even beyond.

In the year 1846 he resigned his charge, and emigrated to this colony, arriving in Melbourne on the 4th January, 1847, with his wife and two children. His first ministerial duties were discharged in the Scots Church, Collins Street, where he officiated by special request for three months, the pulpit having recently become vacant through the disruption in the Church of Scotland; but on account of his decided views against all establishments of Religion by the civil power, he could not accept the pressing invitation which he received to assume the pastorate of the church.

Those who were willing to join him in the formation of a Presbyterian Church, which should be voluntary both in theory and practice, commenced religious worship in a schoolroom in Little Collins Street. After a time they removed to the Temperance Hall, and thence to the Protestant Hall, a church having been duly organised on the basis of the United Presbyterian body in Scotland. Strenuous efforts were made by his congregation to secure a site, and commence a building, and the present St. Enoch's Church, built upon purchased land, was opened on the 30th March, 1851, though it was not finally completed until 1864.

In proof of the important part which he had taken in promoting the spiritual interests of the colony, it was mentioned that in the course of 12 years from the time of his arrival, he was more or less intimately concerned in the formation of 15 churches, having all the same voluntary constitution. He had also done good service to the cause of temperance, and in many other ways benefited the community. "His life was adorned," said the writer of the sketch, "by many eminent features of Christian character, and whether he was viewed as a father, a pastor, or a patriot, a friend to all in need who came within his reach, or a Christian who felt and acted as a citizen of the world, he was equally entitled to praise and emulation."