THE LATE PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 144, 18 June 1906, Page 3

THE LATE PREMIER.

MEMOBIAX SERVICES IN AUCKLAND. BISHOP NELIGAN'S TRIBUTE, Bisbop Neligan. in the course of his sermon yesterday morning at St. Alban'?, Mount Eden, referred briefly to the death of the late Premier. He said, however much one might have differed from him in their political opinions, the sterling worth of the dead statesman, his great and untiring earnestness of purpose, and his unremitting and steadfast efforts on behalf of his beloved country and her people, must appeal irresistibly as the life of a man who will e ver stand out ;i- one of the greatest characters the colony has ever had at her helm, arid a man whose name will be honoured among the Empire's great ones for all time.

"OXE OF TWO GREAT EMPIRE BUILDERS."' St. Mary's Cathedral. Parnell. \ras draped in mourning, and psalms and lesson? chosen in nt f old with the occasion. At the morning service Canon Mac Murray preached from the text, "For David. after he had. in his own generation. served the counsel of God. fell in sleep." In the evening the same preacher, in drawing attention tn the lives of great men. said the words of Cecil Rhodes, "So much to do. so little done." could not but be recalled when regarding the death of the late Premier of this colony, who had left his great unfinished work under such drama lie circumstances. Richard John Seddon had grown from humble circumstances to become, not only the first Minister of the Crown in New Zealand, but al<o a i»">u->nr influence in the larger policies of the Empire. He would be remembered sis one or' the nation's two great Empire-builders of the Victorian epoch, the other being Cecil Rhodes. The late Premier had played many part?, and in his persona! simplicity probably did not realise—few statesmen did —to which extent ha was being used to serve the counsel of God. He had failings and shortcomings, because he was human, hut they could not but recognise the strength of the man. bis in body, big in mind, big in his great heart, and all joined in assisting that great and wonderful capacity for work. He had worked, and worked lovingly, for "God's own country." for the people from «'hoFe rank.- he sprang, and whom he loved. They could not forget, either, ■jhat he taught the democracy of Australasia ro value the solidarity of the fSritish Empire ;i- a guarantee for the progress of humanity. And. above all, it would always be remembered that it was his almost superhuman efforts on behalf of New Zealand and the well-be-inu of the En-.p.r>-\ that brought about his premature decease. Let them, then, pray that the God of all comfort, who was the Father of the fatherless, and the God of the widow, would comfort the bereaved widow and family in their terrible ordeal. At the conclusion of the sermon the congregation stood while the organist played the "Dead March."

"AX OLD FRIEND.' , At St. Matthew's Church, the vicar. the Rev. W. E. Gillam, referred to the late Premier as to an old friend. Mr Seddon was liisiinctly a lovable man. insffncC wit a. Lmflari fgelitlg. Con-rprnm~ the repeated remarks made to the effect that Mr Seddon had died as he would have wished to die. Mr Gillam said that personally he thought that Mr Seddon would have been more ready to say "O bt God. tiikp m< , tint away in the midst of niv day>." But it hart been willed otherwise, and Rirhard John Seddon had gone to the mercy of the Merciful. The preacher that hU acquaintance with the late Premier extended back nearly a quarter of a century, and in those first far-off days no one dreamed that Mr Seddon would win world-wide fame. His fust parish in the colony was in Westland, and was 150 miles long. Mr Seddon was then the proprietor of the leading hotel in Kumara. and was churchwarden of his parish, and a regular communicant. One thing that had always impressed the speaker had been Mr Seddons : devotion to his family, and his regard for the sanctity of marriage relations. He bad always been most emphatic in raising his voice against loosening the bonds of Matrimony by increased facilities for divorce, and none of the changes in the divorce laws had originated with him. Mr Gillam also remarked Upon the late Premier's great efforts to remedy his defects in education, and his untiring energy generally in pushing forward any work he once undertook. After eulogising Mr Seddon's political measures for the benefit of humanity, Mr Gfllam expressed. f>n behalf of -the church, their genuine sympathy with the widow and her family in their sad and tragic bereavement.

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S. The Services yesterday nt St. Paul's Church were of a memorial nature, the lessons and choral portion ot the services being selected with respect to the mourning in whirh the PrPtnier's death '«as plunged the colony. The vicar, the Ber. Xelsou, invited the prayers and symPathy of the congregation for the bereav- ™ family. In the "evening Beethoveu'a Funeral March/ 7 -was played, while the Head March" in "Sanl" was rendered at Doth services.

"A STRENUOUS LIFE." Preaching to a crowded congregation at eresford-street font/relational Chucrh IT m ? ht - the Rev. JohnWilkins devoted r* whol e of his sermon in giving powerniand eloquent testimony lo the preat=s of the rieparted stafc-sman. and the sucKss wh lch had marko(l hig PSITeeT Aa minister, he had, ho said, no t atlon ln savins th.it honour was due ", l f, late Premier for what he was and r.™ did. Someone asked if Mr. SedSLi t not . made mistakes. Most astrho t ■ i bad ' but " vhere '"' as the man thino- t to make anything, say anyOtW- did not make mistakes? ere said he went too far—any man toinnt- ' ener W.- perseverance and deter«mation would be bound to go too far Ift someone. stol T of Mr. Seddoivs Wr I Sto,T of a str-nuoiu m?n. Ho t Q p t!^ c bottom, and reached the there' v B,rpaUse People put him deters- - : • his own fho ?r industrr. gm7^ UOn and P He b"e.«st ™-H- mina , r ' and fin " hed in the hi his countrymen could put tions nf T t S6Curc than ev - r i n the affe cWtLn , Pe °, plG - AS far as he cnuld teairn n u P° n a man's ambitions), tte-ateJ 8,, * Protect the weak against to J° ? re for those who needed leases tliP i,-?i Come down to the mtle l >*3SuS; ftf man who "^ iook

comforts possessed by all, no millionaxS and no paupers. Was there any other country where they could see the wealth Sth < d « mon ? * the people as ™ s the wealth of the colony:- The speaker referred to the terrible poverty of the poor and the tyranny of the rich in the Old Country-, he drew a pitiable icture of ± aged couple separated in their poverty through the English poor relief system! and spoke from personal experience of the hardship of strikes. "To realise that there 15 a Court to whica people can go to have industrial disputes settled he continued, "if that is not according to the teaching of J esus Christ, what is?" He reminded his hearers that the other evils he had pictured were absent from this favoured colony., and concluded by saymg that the message the late Premier's tragic death brought to all was Work while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work" The congregation stood while the organist at the conclusion of the service played the "Dead March" from '-'Saul "

OX>: WHO LOVED HIS FELLOW MEN. At sft. James" Presbyterian Church last evening, the minister, the Rev R l from 7h P f re " h fi an impressive sermon fiom the text. "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God. fell on sleep." He said: '"This is aQ age in which Imperialistic ideas have taken possession of men's minds, and by none more than by Mr. Seddon. who all through believed in the solidarity or unity of the British Empire. Thus he was marked up as a man of visions—a man of bi<r Imperial ideals. I believe he was. possessed of this, not because he wanted to. figuratively speakina-. paint the map of the world red, a firm belief that the British Empire has got a mission in the world, and that it is lor the world's good that this Empire should be strong, and should be united. His great capabilities., and the great affection in which be is held by so many, are not to be explained in any light and airy fashion. There is only one" factor that will adequately explain it because there is only one thing that will-bold men. and that is zeal for their welfare in some way that they can understand. The late Premier had a sincere love for the manual toiler, having wrought with his own hand, and his position and power were dedicated to their social and material welfare. He was a man who loved his fellow men. and endeavoured to serve them with his powers. Every New Zealander should be proud that in the annals of this colon}-, in its comparative youth, there should" be a record of one who from a humble station brought himself up to place and power and a worldwide reputation. The impressiveness of the service was heightened by the playing of the "Dead March" in "Saul,"' the congregation meanwhile standing.

THE STORY OF JOSEPH. Reference was made to the death of the Premier at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church yesterday morning by the Rev. Macaulay CaldwelL The whole service was most impressive, as. apart from the death of Mr Seddon, during the past week two maidens belonging to the Sun-day-school had also rinishedtheir earthly I career. The hymns sung were appropriate, and at the termination of the service the vfrngregatitm -atoori while ■ -Hr«— nrganist played the '"Dead March" in I ■"Saul." The preacher took for his text I "See. 1 have >et thee over all the Land lof Egypt." He said they thought of I Joseph as of or.c raised from a low conjdition to the very high pinnacle of Prime j Minister. The prenrher then emphasised the fact that when Joseph was ap- | pointed Prime Minister, he did not hesitate to assume the. ofiiee. he thought less of his honours than of his duties, being actuated by a desire to do something for the people, living a strenuous life in their service, always an optimist, for even at the last he was so sure his people would go to a land of their own. that he commanded them to take his bones with them. Optimism was a trait ■worth emulating, for how could they be pessimists with God on their side. That was hi<s prelude to remarks regarding their deported Premier and statesman. The facts of his life they all knew. ami they were impressed "with Mr Seddon"s foreefulness of character, for lie J was essentially a strong man. That ! forcefulness of character led him to make changes and do things for the betterment of men. Without strength of character, nothing could be accomplished. While some no doubt thought Mr Seddon's legislation one-sided, still they must admit that hie aim was to do good by seeking to make life's burdens for the mass of the people k-ss heavy. The preacher paid he liad n. few days airo stood in front of St. Helens Hospital, "in Pitt-street., and there thanked God for the man who so considered the interests of his fellows that he was prompted to inaugurate such institutions in Auck-' land and other parts of the colony. The lat° Premier was a. man in whom the j humanitarian instinct was very strong. He was summoned hence before he could open that institution, but it would remain a lasting tribute to the noble trait of seeking to relieve the distresses of others. His love of New Zealand was shown by his last message to Australia. Xo wonder he loved the country for which he had done so much, and which had also done so much for him. /They did not like to hear people ever grumbling at the land in which they lived. When in both England and Australia he was full of Xew Zealand, and -perhaps as he closed his eyes in death his thoughts were still with the land he loved so well. Personally, he had also been struck with Mr Seddon's sympathetic and reverent reference to things religious. Evidently he knew the value of religion, although he had none of the narrow sectarianism about him. Mr Seddon's cud was a fitting one for a life so strenuous. It -was better for the giant oak to be uprooted by the tornado at its prime rather than to remain until slow decay destroyed it. His sun went down without any setting with the startling suddenness of a tropical night. Let them all learn from such a life to do what they could for their country, and then when the summons came to go to "God's own country" they would go willingly to their reward, for there everything would be justly summed up. The preacher concluded, ''May God ; in His great mercy comfort the widow and family of our late Premier."

A BORN LEADER OF MEN. The Rev. H. B. Gray, speaking at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church yesterday, paid an eloquent tribute to Mr. Seddon, whom he referred to as the most commanding figure in our politics, and the most commanding figure in colonial politics ia any part of the Empire. In all parts of this land, and in, many other, .lands, withr RTbeolTlie-UpontMifSiyx^riwaae;

and opponents had united in recognising the Btnking qualities of this born leader of nien. From a humble position, Mr. Seddon had raised himself until he compelled the attention of the world, and this he had done by sheer force of character, strength of will, and great natural ability. It was altogether premature to estimate the moral influence of his political career. T<hey were too close to the great man to reach a true verdict. Such a verdict could only be reached after the lapse of time sufficient to allow men to consider his aims and methods with unprejudiced and impartial minds. But they could all unite in the sentiment that God in His strange providence had in a moment removed from the public life of our land its most conspicuous personality.

AN ENDURING MONUMENT. At St. John's Wesleyan Church. Ponsonby, the service partook of a memorial nature. Special hymns were .sung, and the prayers recited bore direct reference to the departed statesman. The pulpit was draped with black. The minister, the Rev. G. Bond, delivered a high eitlogium of the late Premier, referring to his many great works, and pointing out the lessons of his life. Whatever one's political feeling might be. he said, whatever one's shade of religious thought, whatever one' 3 rank in the social scale, one must admit that Mr Seddon was v man of princely gifts, he was a man of immense sympathy and of great mental endowments. His work in the cause of Imperialism and his political achievements, humane enactments and benevolent institutions would be an enduring monument to his memory. The present generation could not appraise him at his true worth, we were too near, but future generations would appreciate him at his true worth from the standpoint of what he had done. TV lessons of his life were that success was the reward of industry, that true fame was the rc*ult of a life spent in the service of others, and that humility was consistent with success in life. Success did not spoil Mr Seddon—lie was humble to the last. The preacher related several touching incidents in Mr Seddotrs life, nnd concluded that his death was a fitting close to his great career, dramatic, sudden, picturesque, its lesson being the limitation of human power and knowledge.

A STRIKING FIGURE IX THE EMPIRE. The Rev. J. A. Luxford preached a sympathetic sermon at the Mount Eden esleyan Church yesterday mornin.". Mr. Seddon was, he said., a striking figure in the Empire, and his was an eventful history. From one of the humblest walks of life he rose to bocoine the first of colonial statesmen., a man whose deeds would live in history, who would be known to future generations as a benefactor of I;'i people, a humane legislator, one who wrought greatly for the Empire and for the land of his adoption. To his personal friends he was one who reached the sunlit summit of success, popularity, and humour, but never forgot or slighted an old comrade., A characteristic virtue Avas his pure, affectionate, and simple home life, from which he received the inspiration which made him so strong to overcome the assaults and misunderstandings that he in common with all public men had to meet outside. The congregation extended ita Christian sympathy, and prayed that the great comforter might be near to heal their aching hearts.

"GOD'S OWX COUNTRY." The Rpt. Joseph Clark adopted for his text at the Baptist Tabernacle last evening the words '"God's 0-ivn Country."' which the late Premier had affectionately styled the country of his adoption. The departure of the great m.m had been full of pathos. Returning from a tour during which he had been received with the enthusiasm worthy of a crowned monarch. Mr. Seddon was to have been welcomed hack to his beloved land: but things "were ordered otherwise. Political opponents and admirers alike admitted that the dead Premier was a Napoleonic leader: strong-willed, bold, determined, a keen judge of character, far-seeing, and sensitive of the forces that moved the world.

"THE ABUNDANT ENTRANCE." The Rev. J. B. Russell, in the course of his sermon at Knox C'htirch, said: "Xot as a spent bullet he fell, falling softly and unregarded to earth; his fall was that of a falling mass which reaches its greatest momentum just when it strikes the ground. This made them think of his death not so much as an exit, but as an entrance. Ko much energy, disappearing so suddenly, could not have been destroyed. By his death, as never in his life, Mr. Seddon won hia entrance into all hearts. They were glad. now. to think of his many kind acts and genial words, his sympathy for the suffering.the bereaved, his fellow-feeling for the aged poor. This class of work, it pleases and consoles us to think, lay over near his heart. The moral of his life—and it was one they all might lay to heart—was the same as that which the Apostle inculcated, viz., that it was the strenuous life which won the abundant entrance.

HIS MARVELLOUS ADVANCEMENT. At St. David's Presbyterian Church last evening the Rev. W. Gray Dixon, M.A., referring to Mr. Seddon's marvellous advancement in his political career, said that it was in some respects even more remarkable in a democracy than in an autocracy. Joseph had only to gain the favour of Pharaoh to be ininiediafely exalted, but in our time and country a man had to gain the favour of the people, and retain it—no easy matter. Force was perhaps the most prominent characteristic of Puchard John Seddon. He was unmistakably a masterful personality, a born ruler of men. Accompanying this force was alertness of mind, fertility of resource, and genius in interpreting the current of events. But love was the character which gave enduring -worth to the capacity, "which they saw in his happy domestic life, in his fidelity to his friends, in his readiness to express sympathy with those in trouble, in his consideration for the poor and the aged and the overwrought, in his patriotic affection for "what vhe called '" God's ovrn country,"' in the geniality and joviality which kept him always a beloved man of the people. His career was a standing rebuke of sloth. He was habitually a man awake, and awake with all his powers. His expenditure of energy was tremendous. Nothing in his life became him better than his leaving of it. The day of death wa-s the master day, so calm, majestic, pathetic, poetic, as to singularly glorify his memory. The preacher then drew a parallel between the carrying of Joseph's bones into the Land of Promise and the voyage of the Oswestry fciranjja across the Taqman for Mfcftgp -COUSfcrT/'

AN IRREPARABLE LOSS.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday morning, at the 9 and 11 o'clock masses, feeling references were made to the late Premier. At the latter mass the Rev. Father Holbrook said he spoke iv the name of their good bishop, "who -was absent in the country, for the priests and people of the parish, -when he conveyed their sincere condolences to Mrs. Seddon and her family in their sorrowful bereavement, and as citizens of this colony they united with their fellowcitizens in lamenting the death of one who was an irreparable loss to us all. He was a great and a good man, and New Zealanders particularly had every reason to cherish his good works and memory in their hearts, because of his life-long labours for " God's own country." He fervently hoped that he -was fnjoring every otessing and happiness in '" God's own country" in heaven, before the bishop left."concluded Father Holbrook, he asked that at the conclusion of mass the organist, Mr. Harry Hiscocks, should play "'the Dead March." in " Saul," and the congregation should stand during its performance. This instruction • was carried out. The "Dead March' , was again played after the evening service. After the 10 o clock mass at the Sacred Heart Church yesterday moraine the orchestra played the " Dead March" from "Saul," the eoncrregation standing.

At both the morning and evening: services, conducted respactively by the Rev. H. E. Blarairea and Rev. G. VT. J. Spence, feeling reference was made to the death of the late jJr. Seddon in the prayers offered. The solemnity of the occasion was much enhanced at the. evening service by the choir singing the snthcm •'Vital Spark."' under the condiiptorship of Mr. E. J. Gatland. Mr. Taylor presided at the organ*. The pulpites draped in mourning, and a profusion of while lilies adorned the altar. Marching in slow procession to r;ioir meeting: place in Ponsonhy-road List night, the Xewion Salvation Army brass baud played "The Lost Chord." in memory of Mr. Soddon.

The Rev. YV\ Beatty. in his sermon •it St. Mark's, Eemuera, last (irew attention in the jsrreat temptntion that such a man as the late Premier was exposrcl to. and the almost nnsurmountablp difficulty that attended him in pursuing what' he believed to he right so as to combine always ju&tir-c with impartiality. The life of Mr Sedden, although not without fault?, was yet such rci cno as could be truly regarded as the life of a great and" honourable statesman. In his sermon last evening at M. •Sepulchre's Church, the Rev. (.;. A. Carver said that the aspirations of such various mea as Hood. Kingsley, Maurice. Dickens. and Bosunt had in a great measure b?en fulfilled by Mr His name would be an evergreen memorial in connection with improvements in social ;md industrial condition-. The passing away of this prroat man had evoked a sense of loss which had nrwr been hitherto expressed for a colonial statesman. He had been himself a man of toil, and had spent his political life in working for the benefit of the ma=se.-=. His efforts had created an epoch in the history of industrialism, and one that must evpr live with gratitude to its founder in the hearts of all workers.

At the Central Mission service in His Majesty , *! Theatre the building was crov.-ded in even- pnrt to hear an adfires* on the <lea<f Premier's last iup*sage to Australia. 'Im leaving f or food's own country.- by Mr. A. J. Black, who spoke for thirty minutes to n most attentive audience, directing attptuion to the lr.Tp i'remier's remarkable personality, his hmelicont iopisliUion in thinterests of the pooplr. He-pointed out the importance of seeking 'n hotter country" that men were apt to forget about in the rush for the tangible and material things of the present. Prior to the address, the orchestra played the '•Dead March.' , the vast congregation standing. Mrs. Black sane with great effect Behrend's fine composition. "'Crossing the Bar." and a quartette al*o sung, -The City Four Square."

■MEETING OF LANCASHIRE FOLK. A UNIQUE LANCASTRIAN. A large nurnb?r of Lancashire people attended the meeting in the Chamber of Commerce Hall on Saturday afternoon to give expression to their regret, at the death of their illustrious fiellow-Lan-castrian, the late Right Hon. R. J. Becldon. nnd sympathy with his widow and family. - Mr. C Gregory presided. A number of speakers referred to the rare and illustrious personality that Lancashire hail produced in the iate Premier. The chairman, in speaking of him. said that in the death of the late Premier they had to mourn the loss of a thorough, staunch, and unique Lancastrian. All Lancastrians must glow with pride when they hear the name of their great countryman referred to.

Mr. W. B. Leyland said 'that Lancashire had produced some great men, instancing John Bright and William Ewart Gladstone, but none greater tban Richard John Seddon.

The following resolutions were carried:—Proposed by I\lr. Leyland, and seconded by Dr. Stopford, "That this meeting of Lancastrians desires to place on record that the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., LXJD., a man of Lancashire birth, attained the highest honours this colony could give, and also held the full confidence of his Sovereign for his unswerving loyalty and devotion to the Thr6ne and the Empire." 4.

And, on the motion of Mr Miller. '"That this meeting of Lancashire men and women offer tbeir deepest sympathy and condolence to Mrs. Seddon and her family, -who h.ivp by the untimely death of theVGight Hon. R. J. Seddon bepn bereft of a great and noble husband and an illustrious father, whose ]oss is mourned by a whole nation."

Dr. Stopford further suggested that a memorial tablet should be placid in St. Matthew's Church, with the vicars permission. A greenstone tablet ISin. by 10in. could be put up at a cost of about £30, toward which he himself promised £3 3/. In furtherance of the suggestion a committee was set up, consisting of Messrs. Gregory. Leyland. Miller, and Dr. Stopford. Subscriptions were received in the room, also, for sending a wreath to the funeral in Wellington.