MR BALLANCE'S BURIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 138, 13 June 1893, Page 5

MR BALLANCE'S BURIAL.

(BY TELEGRAM.— OWtf CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, Hub day. A PASSAGE in Sir R. Stout's noticn of the Jato Premier in the last "Review of Reviews " to hand, has caused a good deal of comraenb in various circles, and its having been written is much regretted by many persons. The sentence referred to is no doubt but a loose statement of a fact, which tfir Robert Stout wished to mention, but did so unhappily. What he probably wished to say was that tho late Mr Bailance had oxpreasod a wish that there would bo no denominational Bervico at his burial, but he used the word "religious" instead of "denominational" in his article, and thus convoyed a wrong impression of fact. Freemasons of courso know, and almost everyono else knows that the Masonic burial service is in the highest and best sense religious, and this was the service that Mr Bailanco wished to be conducted at his grave. The "Post," referring to this matter, says: "No sect or' denomination has a more impressivo or more beautiful funprat service than bhab which was conducted ab the grave of the late Premior, at hi? own requesb, or a service more thoroughly religious iv overy word and thought from first to last. 1b acknowledges tho existence of a Divine Omuipresent Creator, confesses the dependonce and insignificance of man, and breathes a spirit of faith, and hope in tho life hereafter. We are sure that those who stood round Mr Ballance's grave were deeply impressed with tho religious character of tho ceremony thero performed, and the significance of that coremouy was increased by the knowledge that it was performed at the direct request of the deceased statesman,"