NEWMARKET WESLEYAN

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

NEWMARKET WESLEYAN

A memorial service was held laaj evening in this church, conducted by, iltev .IT. Pinfold, I'li.li. The church Kvas draped in mourning, relieved by, *a wreath of white flowers, me hymns Iwsre" suitable to the occasion, and were earnestly sung by the congregation. Miss Keatley presided at the organ, and near the close, of the service played the "Dead March in! "Saul," the congregation standing. The text was Proverbs xxxr., 31. lhe {preacher said they met under the [shadow of a great national sorrow. The rejoicings of the opening century • !had scarcely ceased before they were fcalled to take part in the unique experience of an Empire in tears. Their, I sorrow was reverent and real* for. ;they mourned the death of Victoria 'the Gracious and the Good, who, as 'maiden, wife, mother, Queen and EmIpress, had no peer; whose reign has fnot only been the longest, but the best . land most illustrious of. ail Englisli Imonarchs. They mourned for one fwhom they had learned to revere, aye, |to love, and whose memory they cherish long as reason held hep fsway. And now she had gone, as their 'new King (whom may God preserve) |said, "to her rest." The whole Eng-glish-speaking race grieves ovc- her floss. They gratefully remembered t'the purity of her life, her continuous Idevotion to duty, and her tender sympathy with all in trouble. In closing ,; Ithe preacher said: The work of our ; 'great and good Queen is done, and |has been done well; God has called Sher home to Himself, and she i~ now her reward. The place that jjjknew her on earth will know her no [more for ever, and we shall long miss hhe familiar sound of her name. But |her influence will remain with us^ and |we shall constantly have reason to gjthattk God that we have been privileged to live during her reign. "She- ■ Ibeing dead, yet speaketh." As we lonce more remember her recent | Ideath, let us determine, with God's |help, to learn the lessons of her life, sand so to copy her example that when |the summons comes for us we shall |be as ready as she was to go hence, land as prepared to yield up the acicount of our earthly stewardship. i " : I