As Clay in the Potter’s Hands
Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, pp 16-17:

(See contributed article: As Clay in the Potter’s Hands, by Sister Dominica McEwen RGS, Footprints Vol. 3 No. 6)
b. Lancashire 1831; ed. Ampleforth, Yorkshire, Subiaco, Italy, Rome; ord. 1856; founder of Ramsgate OSB community (a reformed Cassinese congregation); first mitred Abbot in England since the Reformation; when deposed as Abbot he came to Adelaide in 1876, and served at Gawler; served New Zealand at Newtown (Auckland Diocese); in Melb. for medical treatment 1881. d. 11.8.1882; age 51; interred in Symonds St. Catholic Cemetery; re-interred in Grafton.

Ref.:
Special File M.D.H.C.(Torquay), a collection made through courtesy of many helpers.

Obsequies of Lord Abbot Alcock, O.S.B.
New Zealand Herald, 14 August 1882, p 5, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18820814.2.47:

The obsequies of the Lord Abbot Alcock, O.S.B., were completed yesterday at the Church of St. Benedict, Newton. The remains of the deceased prelate were laid in state in the church from the time of his decease. The catafalque was erected in front of the altar outside the sanctuary, and on it were the coffin containing the remains of the Lord Abbot, together with his mitre, crozier, and other emblems of his rank and spiritual profession. On Saturday evening there was a very large gathering, when a dirge was chanted in the church by the clergy and choir, and up to midnight great numbers poured into the church to take a last look of one who, although his residence amongst us has been short, had made himself revered and respected by all classes of the community. Lord Abbot Alcock will be finally interred in the church, at the laying of the foundation stone of which he took a prominent part, and when his elegant address was listened to by thousands of people. A crypt is to be built for the reception of the remains, but in the meantime a vault was constructed by Mr. J.J. Holland at the back of the Church of St. Francis de Sales in the space set apart for the Benedictine brethren, and this was prepared for the temporary reception of the remains yesterday. The obsequies yesterday were of a most solemn and imposing character. The church was crowded at the 11 o'clock service until there was scarcely standing room available, and hundreds had to remain outside for want of room. The choir to sing the solemn requiem mass was largely strengthened from the cathedral and other Catholic choirs. The altar was draped in black and white, and the clergymen were appareled in the same mourning. The most striking and prominent feature of course was the catafalque and coffin of the Lord Abbot. The Very Rev. Father Fynes, Vicar Capitular, was the celebrant of the solemn mass, assisted by the Rev. Father Walter Macdonald, and the Rev. Father Fox, O.S.B., as deacons. The other clergy in the sanctuary were the Rev. Father Luck, O.S.B., Waikato, the Rev. Father Downey, O.S.B., priest of Newton, the Very Rev. Father O'Sullivan, the principal of the Benedictine order in Auckland, and the Rev. Father O'Gara. Father Golden, of Pukekohe, also arrived in time to take part in the obsequies at the grave. The choral portion of the mass was rendered with the deepest solemnity, and with faultless effect, creating a deep impression on the vast congregation.

At the proper time, the Rev. Father Downey, O.S.B., ascended the rostrum, and announced that the offertory that day would be for the construction of a crypt in the church, to be called Lord Abbot Alcock's crypt, and into which his remains would be put when it was completed, but in the meantime they would be interred in the cemetery in the space set apart for the brethren of the Order of St. Benedict. He then read the , Epistle for the day—1st Cor. xv., verses 1 to 10, and the Gospel of St. Mark vii., verses 13 to 37, after which the Rev. Father addressed the congregation, taking for his text the 8th verse of the 10th chapter of the Book of Job—"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me round about, and yet dost Thou thus cast me down on a sudden." Man, he said, is a mystery, a mystery in his origin, a mystery in his progress through life, a mystery in his end, and a mystery in the object of his creation, for if on the one hand we look at God's infinite goodness, His infinite love, to man, that He was love in all perfection, and that He loves His creatures with infinite love, we are lost to understand how it is that man so loved of God, who, as the Scriptures tell us, He made a little lower than the angels, should have in this world to suffer so much internally and externally, to be tried so much in soul and body, that from his childhood to old age he should have so much to endure and suffer, and yet at the same time be loved of God. That he should be subject to constant conflict between nature and grace, and that they should still be told he was loved by God, was a mystery. Yet such is the case. The solution is to be found in Divine revelation, in the Word of God, that man, having fallen from his innocence, must make atonement to Divine justice. Then we must look to the future of man in the next world. This life soon passes away, and these sufferings will be gems in our crowns in eternity. As so many steps to attain happiness in the hereafter, man has to pass to his Creator through suffering. Jesus Christ had to suffer for the atonement of man. Since man could not suffer sufficiently, Jesus Christ became man in order to sanctify the suffering of mankind, and purchase for us redemption. Thus we are able to look forward to a glorious eternity, and we know that the end of all suffering sanctified by the suffering of Christ is to bring us to eternal happiness. This brings me to the subject on which I have to-day to address you. Here before you are the remains of one who was well known to you all, but especially to us who have known him for the last 30 years, and since Death has struck him down in the summer of his life, we may therefore ask, in the words of the text, "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me round about, and dost Thou thus cast me down?" In his youth he entered the college of Amplethorpe, and there learning the spirit of St. Benedict, and captivated by the holy lives of those, whom he met, he longed to dedicate himself to God. Leaving his native country, he went to the shores of the Mediterranean, to a Benedictine monastery near Savano. After a few years he was sent to the protomonastery of St. Scholastics, at Subiaco, the first monastery of the Benedictine order, and there, between Subiaco and Rome, he completed his studies, and was promoted to the priesthood. He was then sent to Ramsgate, where he founded a monastery, and was afterward appointed abbot of Belgium and England. He was then sent to Adelaide, South Australia, where he laboured for three or four years, and when the Benedictine brethren came to Auckland, he came with them. His health failing, he went to Melbourne, and seemed to grow better. He was on his way home when he was seized with congestion of the lungs, which eventually caused his death. On his arrival, when I met him at the wharf, I saw he was a wreck, and said to myself that he had come to lay his bones amongst us, and I told the Superior the same. Unfortunately my words have been realised. His illness scarcely extended over a month, and his life was most edifying. He suffered with patience and resignation. He constantly asked God to send him his purgatory here, and said that he was not afraid to die. When reminded of what he had done for the Church, he said all his hopes were in Jesus Christ. Every night before midnight he made his confession, and after midnight received the Holy Communion. He told them he would never say mass in this church, that he would be carried into it by his brethren, but that he would never see it. He thought of his friends to the last, and gave me many messages for them. On the night preceding his death I was called to the hospital to a dying man, and although he was then suffering severely, when I asked him should I call the Father Superior, he said no, but to call one of the brethren, as Father O'Sullivan had too much to do. I did, however, call the Superior, and he then told me to go to that poor man who required my services. This was his character, forgetful of himself and thoughtful of others. After midnight he took the Holy Communion, and held the crucifix which they had seen on his bier, and a picture of our Lady, and held them in his hands, recommending himself to the intercession of our Lady, and praying to our Lord to have mercy on him. In his greatest paroxysms he would not let them go, and even in death they were grasped in his hand. Just before his death he kissed them, begged pardon of his Superior, and the brethren, and asked them to pray for him. He asked us to write to his friends, and beg them not to forget him at the altar, and when in heaven he would ever pray for them. He was then silent, and by direction of the Superior I gave him absolution, and he quietly breathed his soul away to God. Thus passed away one whom they all loved—loved as a companion, as an equal, as a superior, and an inferior, beloved by people of all creeds. All loved and respected him for his genuine character. He hated shams, and was one who would go through fire and water to do his duty, and though in the performance of his duty he might pain others, he did it in the gentlest manner. I have known him for 33 years, since he came to the monastery a bright eyed boy, and began as a giant to run his course in Godliness, and in the ways of Christ. His great virtue was obedience. He was always obedient to his superiors, and this he enforced on others, encouraging them with the hope of reward hereafter. This spirit was manifested in death, for his last act was one of obedience to his Superior. He felt a choking sensation, and when he was offered his medicine, he said if he took it it might choke him, but Father O'Sullivan said the doctor has said you are to take the medicine at this time. He at once made the sign of the cross, and drank it. It did not do him any harm, but his last act was one of obedience. Another virtue he practiced was a lively faith. He saw God in all things. I have been under his care many years, and he inculcated the same in others. At times he might have hurt the feelings of some, but what he said he said from conviction, and where religion was concerned, his principles were fixed. He knew the Catholic religion was the revealed religion, and accepted everything the Church taught, for he knew that God could not err nor the Church which was under His guidance. He could give reasons, so far as reasons could be given, but he submitted to the teaching of the Church. Outside of religion he was the most genial of men, and I hope you will not forget him in your prayers. God does not need any of us, and although the Lord Abbot was an eloquent orator, though he had touched the souls of men, and caused the conversion of hundreds of Protestants and indifferent Catholics, yet God, by calling him away has shown that he does not require any one. Remember the words, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." The rev. Father then proceeded to exhort his hearers to exercise the virtue of humility, to exercise a lively faith, to obey the laws of the Church, so that they might be partakers of the same reward which, he trusted, the deceased Abbot now attained.

At the conclusion of the eloquent address, which was listened to with the deepest attention, the mass was continued. At its conclusion, the procession was formed, the Rev. Father Fox leading with the upraised crucifix, followed by the acolytes dressed in white robes, and bearing lighted wax candles. Then came the lay brethren of the order, each bearing candles. The clergy and the Very Rev. Father Fynes followed the remains, which were borne to their temporary resting place by the church committee. The service during the procession, and at the tomb, chanted by the Benedictine and other priests, the Very Rev. Father Fynes officiating. The proceedings were watched with deep interest by an assemblage of about 300 people.