In the funeral sermon the Vicar said: " If his civil record was distinguished, what shall we say of his devotion to his God and of his regularity in His house?... He has not missed Sunday morning or evening service, or the Holy Communion when it was celebrated late either on Sunday or week-day, or one of the Wednesday or Friday morning services, except when absolutely compelled to do so by ill-health or absence from home; and often of late we have seen him walk across the park in the cold and rain. His intense devotion in church was most remarkable. He has often told me how dear have been to him the quiet morning services on Wednesdays and Fridays, at which his face would shine as if lit up by some heavenly light. His favourite verse, I am told, was George Herbert's
' Find out men's wants and will, And meet them there. All worldly joys go less To the one joy of doing kindnesses.'
** I regard Sir William Stephenson as one of the most holy, God-fearing men with whom it has been my pleasure to be associated. He always acted from the highest motives, and was quite fearless in his opinions."
Another tribute to his memory is delightfully expressed in a letter from one of his neighbours, which was printed in the Uxbridge Gazette of March 12, 1898: —
" Sir, — As I had not the honour of being mentioned in your paper as amongst the clergy attending the funeral of the late Sir William Stephenson, I venture to trouble you with a few lines. My own profound esteem, respect, and admiration for him make me unduly sensitive perhaps at this omission. At the same time, it gives me the opportunity to express what so many of us feel concerning personal loss. Your excellent notice of his public honours, his national services, and his deserved renown is now before me; but the man himself in his charm of personal kindliness and thoughtfulness — who can describe him? There was such intellectual freshness, such quick instinct, such inspiring power in his conversation, and such courteous welcome ever given to his friends, that he will be missed indeed. To watch him in his familiar place in church at St. Andrew's was to feel how truly the hearer helps to make the preacher; he was not of those who think it good taste to be unenthusiastic, nor was there any of the modern intellectual indifferentism about him. A great reader, a clear thinker, and a devout student, he was one of the most lovely and lovable characters I have ever known. Aged he might be so far as years are concerned, but in thought and heart he was young to the very last. He rests now; peace be with his memory! All classes respected and loved him, and the grief at his funeral was evidently deep and real. After this little record of personal sentiments about him, you will understand why, this once, I was not content to be included in your reporter's sentence, * and many others,' at his funeral. — Yours truly, W. Mann Statham.
--The Rectory, Ivor Heath, March 5, 1898."
No more appropriate close to the sketch of this life can be found than the following words from a letter written to his eldest daughter by his brother: —
■'83 St. George's Square, March 1898.