"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." is a quote from Psalm 37:37 of the King James version of the Bible. (
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The quote appears at the foot of the dedication of a memorial plaque for Charles Hamilton Edmonds Cowle.
The brass plaque is on a wooden block and mounted on an interior wall of the Church.
The full inscription on the plaque is as follows:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CHARLES HAMILTON EDMONDS COWLE
OF BALLAGHAUE
JUSTICE OF PEACE FOR THIS ISLAND
AND SEVENTEEN YEARS
CAPTAIN OF THIS PARISH.
HE WS A MEMBER OF THE ANCIENT
HOUSE OF KEYS
WHICH WAS DISSOLVED A.D.1866
BORN AUGUST 21ST 1821
ENTERED INTO REST AUGUST 18 1895.
"Mark the perfect man and behold the upright
for the end of that man is peace"
PS XXXVII 37
As mentioned in the inscription Charles was Captain of the Parish of Andreas for 17 years (1878-1895).
The origins of the office of Captain of the Parish can be traced back to the Viking days. A flavour of the role can be gained from the Oath taken on being appointed Captain of the Parish which is reproduced below:
Oath of Captain of the Parish
(as at present administered)
By Virtue of the Power and Authority in me vested by HER MAJESTY and out of the confidence I have in the courage, conduct, and fidelity of you the said [FULL NAME] have nominated, authorised and appointed and by these Presents do nominate, authorise and appoint you the said [FULL NAME] to be Captain of the Militia of and belonging to the Parish of [PARISH] in the place of [FULL NAME] thereby giving and granting to you full power and authority to train up and exercise the said Militia in the best manner for the defence of the said Isle of any emergency, or in any time of danger. And I do hereby empower, authorise and strictly require you to quell and suppress all Riots, apprehend and secure all Rioters and generally, to the utmost of your ability, to preserve The Queen’s Peace within the said Parish; and at all times when necessity requires, to be aiding and assisting in having due obedience paid to all Judgements, Sentences, Orders and Decrees of all the Civil Magistrates of the said Isle, for carrying the Laws thereof into execution, and for the due administration of Justice throughout the same. Hereby requiring and strictly ordering all your inferior officers, and all others Her Majesty’s subjects within the said Parish, to be aiding and assisting to you in the several matters aforesaid, and to yield due obedience to all your lawful commands in and about the same. And you are also to observe and perform all such Orders, Directions and Instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from Her Majesty, the Governor, or Lieutenant Governor of the said Isle for the time being, and other Superior Officers empowered in that behalf.”
Charles was also a Justice of the Peace and during his public service an M.H.K. 1864 -1867
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