BERESFORD STREET CONGREGATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Issue 23, 28 January 1901, Page 2

BERESFORD STREET CONGREGATIONAL.

The memorial service at the Tieres-I ford-street Congregational Church* was held in the evening-, and was well, attended. Black streamers were| twined round the pillars on each sidej of the or?an, and the front, was alsoS draped, as was also the seml-circlel of rails enclosing the rostrum. Ihe| reading desk was similarly covered,! and on the front the word "Vic-g toria " was done in white letters. Jie- ; « low was a beautiful white wreath, and| on1 the communion was an epergne olj white flowers. The front of the tables was likewise draped with black, re-| lieved with the letter V, made with| broad red, white and blue ribbons. At| the morning service the "Deadg March" was played. In the evening? the Rev. A. J. Griffiths, M.A., fromif Sydney, delivered an address on "Vie-j? toria "the Beloved," from Matthews xxv. chapter, 20 and 21 verses. The* preacher referred to the fact that the| Queen had been the ruler. of one-| fourth of the human race. The vast-| ness of Victoria's Empire was shown| by the fact that 25 out of every 100| oil the globe owned her as Sovereign ;£ or, leaving out the yellow race, 33 out| of every 100. Her Empire covered;] eleven million square miles ofl the earth's surface, and dur-g ing her long reign had been| added to at the rate of two acres per^ second. The many virtues of the£ Queen were referred to at length, thej preacher claiming that her personal! influence for good had been the| great feature of her long reignJ lit had purified national l'lfe| and the greatest charm of th&g Queen was her natural humanity.! combined with strong religious spirit.g Refined by suffering, her very sor-| rows still more endeared her to hers people. She had fought a s'ood flpht.l jliad the dear old Queen, she had fin-i ished her course, she had kept thejj faith, and Victoria had now reccivedg the victor's crown. f During the service the requiem,! "Sleep Thy Last Sleep," was sung;| also the' anthem, "The Radiant! JMorn," "Days and Moments Quiekly| Flying," and "A Few More Years Shall? Roll." At the offertory Miss Harpers sang "Crossing the Ear." and at the! conclusion of the service the organist,! Mr. Hookey, played the "Dead* March," the congregation remaining! standing. F