Perth, 4-3-1934

On the 13th of February, 1934 a party of members of the Liberal Catholic Church, Theosophical Society and the Co-Masonic Brotherhood met the R.M.S. "Mooltan" at Freemantle, Western Australia, to welcome Bishop Leadbeater, who was to stay a week in the State. The party learnt from Miss H. Kellett that the Bishop, on account of the state of his health, would have continued the journey straight to Sydney, but the ship's doctor stated he would never be able to cross the bight alive. He had been confined to his bed on ship for a good part of the voyage. The Bishop was removed in an ambulance to St. Omer's Hospital in Perth. He was attended by Dr. Nelson.

At first, the Doctor considered he would be fit to travel to Sydney in about three weeks. He was suffering from dropsy, his heart was in a bad state, and there was some fluid in the right lung. The weather was much against him, being exceedingly hot wich much humidity. For some days there was a cool change, and his condition improved and there was hope that he would recover sufficiently to travel. The weather, however, again became trying and his condition from Sunday the 25th of February became weaker. He retained the full use of his faculties up to the last day of his illness. Mr. Harold Morton came from Sydney at the Bishop's request arriving on Sunday the 18th of February, coming by air from Adelaide. Miss Kellett and Mr. Morton took down much that he said and will no doubt pass this information on in due course.

Everything possible was done. He had a special day nurse and a special night nurse. Dr Nelson had a consultation with another doctor, but all was in vain.

About Monday the 26th February the doctor and the nurse abandoned hope of his recovery, and as already mensioned, he gradually became weaker. Miss Kellett and Mr. Morton saw him on the 28th February and he spoke to them for about three quarters of an hour. As they were leaving his room, he waved his hand saying: "Well, if I do not see you again in this body - carry on." These were his last words to them and are a fitting message to us all.

On Thursday morning he lapsed into unconsciousness and passed away at 4:15 p.m.

With the exception of Miss Killett and Mr. Morton, none of us saw him alive. We knew he would indicate when he felt able to see any of us.

I viewed his body at 5 p.m. on the day of his death and again at 8:30 p.m. when a party consisting of Mesdames Fisher, Chase, Van der Hell, Poignant and Parkes, Misses Kellett and King, and Messrs. Fisher, Poignant and Morton attended at the Hospital. He was robed in his alb and white stole and looked majestic.

The body has been embalmed and will be sent to Sydney for cremation by inter-State steamer on Thursday, 8th March. It was not possible to cremate the body in this State, because there is no crematorium, although a Cremation Act was recently passed by the Legislature.

Today, Sunday, 4th March, a Requiem Eucharist was held at the Church of St. John the Divine, Perth. The Casket containing the Bishop's remains was brought to the Church and placed in the Sanctuary, en plano, on the Gospel side with the head facing the Altar. The Bishop's white cope and stole were placed near the Casket. The Miter stood on the head of the Casket and a Cross of flowers on the foot. The Bishop's 33^o Regalia of the C0-Masonic Order was laid out on a table also near the Casket. The Church was full. I deputed the Rev. Harold Morton to act as Celebrant and Preacher on the account of his close association with the Bishop. The whole ceremony was most impressive and declared by all to be a majestic triumph. After the recessional hymn, which was sung with the Celebrant and his Assistants and the priests and servers in their respective positions in the Sanctuary, we processed out in silence round the Church during the playing of Chopin's Funeral March. Various photos have been taken of the Casket, Regalia and Altar, and I have already seen proofs of some, which are quite successful.

I have received a cable request from the President of the Theosophical Society, Adyar, for some of the ashes of the Bishop for Adyar. I am sending this cable to Bishop Tweedie, Sydney, for the necessary actions.

At a public meeting at the Theosophical Society to-night (Sunday) five speakers referred to the work of the Bishop in all its aspects. There was a splendid attendance, the hall being full. The meeting was a great success.

I forward the above for your information, as Priest in Charge of the work in Western Australia.

S.FISHER Priest in charge, W.A.