WRITTEN IN MARBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 68, 21 March 1910, Page 6

WRITTEN IN MARBLE.

- - EEDDON MEMORIAL UNVEILED IN ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. ...■;;....; SOLEMN SERVICE. DUKE OF ARGYLL'S ELOQUENT TRIBUTE. . 'THE* VISION MAJESTIC." $From Onr Special Corresironaent.) LONDON, February 11. "These were honoured in their generation, and were the glory of their times. There be of them that have left a name behind them, that their praises might, be reported aiieir bodies -are buried in peace, but their name liveth for evermore." The deep voice of the priest echoed through the cloisters of the Cathedral crypt, and a congregation clustered round a portrait of marble, inlaid in the broad pillar of one of the arches, gave reverent • response to the service. ' . Memorial and service were in honour of a famous Empire-builder, Richard John Seddon, New Zealand's greatest Premier. In St. Pauls Cathedral, in the heart of the Empire of which he was bo loyal a servant, this tribute to Mr. Sneddon's memory was unveiled yesterday by the Duke of Argyll. Down in the vaulted crypt, where the gas-lights threw deep shadows on the arches overhead, a large company, composed mainly of New Zealanders, gathered to do honour to Mr. Seddon's memory. A Cabinet , meeting of the greatest importance kept the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Earl of Crewe, from attending the memorial service, but the Colonial Office was. represented by Sir Charles Lucas, your recent visitor. Lord Banfurly could not attend, but the Countess of Eanfurly was present and Sir "Frederick Young, the "G>»£a Old Man" of the Royal Colonial Institute, and Lord Stratheona., of Canada. - The New Zealand Government was represented by the High Commissioner., the Hon. Wm Hall-Jones, and Mrs. Seddop. by one of her daughters,.. Mrs. Morice, and Dr. C. Morice. From St. Helens, Mr. Seddon's native town, came the Mayor and local member for Parliament, j and several Lancashire relatives of the : late Premier were present. Invitations lad been sent also to the members of the New-Zealand Association in London, and the company which assembled numbered between two and three hundred. CORNER RICH IN MEMORIES. The corner of the crypt in which the white marble -portrait was placed is rich in Imperial memories. Opposite is a tablet that records the services of ■ Sir George Grey, another Empire statesman whose ' memory is indlssolubly linked with New Zealand's history. Sir Bartle IFrere sleeps near, and the neighbouring walls,bear witness to the lifework" of many "soldiers, statesmen, and administrators of the Empire. The marble portrait, in high relief on a bronze setting and with a marble' background, is the work of Sir George Frampton, ILA. On each side are two figures, representing Administration and Justice, and on two bronze wreaths are written the names of New Zealand Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch. Dunedin, Westland, and Nelson. ' The. memorial .bears the following inscription.— -""■'■ To the Memory. of '-"•'■■ 'RICHARD' JOHN SEDDON,

"Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1593- ---," ;\ 1906. " Imperialist, Statesman, Reformer. ■ Bom June 22, 1845, at St. Helens, Lancashire. Died at sea, June 10, 190 G. Buried at Observatory Hill, Wellington, kr."'• -"-'■>' -.-.-'■ New - Zealand. - ' At the outset the Duke of Argyll announced that he had received the following cablegram from Mrs. Seddon:' "Revere ; deeply ' national honour to-day"; ' also this message from Sir Joseph Ward' ■."■ ■■■■'.. Prime Minister of New Zealand: "My thoughts are .with you to-day." " " The solemn service began-with Mr. • • - Seddon's favourite hymn, '-For ever with the Lord," sung by a choir of white-robed boys. Sir -George Martin was in charge of the musical nart of the service, and the -Archdeacon of London and Canon Alexander conducted the service : • After the hymn toe Duke of Argyll drew, aside . a. Union. Jack and a. New Zealand flas and unveiled the Seddon memorial His Grace then delivered an address on the - career of = the departed statesman. ■■■■ :%• DUKETS TRIBUTE. ' -- : ,33* Duke of Argyll said: "In unveil--.ing-Bus work of art to-day; representing our fcend and English' fellow-country-man, Eichard John -Seddon, we desire to marK our affection for this man, and our - respect for the statesman" of the islands which nave been called. the Britain of ,tne Southern. Hemisphere. '. ■' ' ■ • '•We place this monument ' here, and record thereby a very happy life.-'Mr ; Seddon . was like one ~of the heroic M - of Northern story who sailed forth, for-conquest and adventure on the ;, track ot-the rising sun. ; Away far down to the South and East there must still - foe •• Jands where good strokes might yet ■ be, struck for all noble aims—for manly endeavours mould nations in better shape -than is .possible in the Old World' great as many of its founders have -beenend 3O>leaving/his-iancastrian home, he .wrought a great work in the - Southern Seas, where" a young community possess- ; ing a glorious land was free, to try anew ■ —' how .its growth might be shaped to sworthy ends, and the blemishes and fail- • ores known by their fathers be only remembered that their cause might be avoided, aneu have more- equal ehanees of .{lavance. i,. : ;' ■■> '■.■ ; -.%: ./'•And hs did much to realise his ideal, and to cause New Zealand to be seen as '■ a gracious-/ hostess welcoming the weary and sorrow laden, and giving- all hope and ' ■ confidence and strengths And having done all man -could, he died, while the _ Vision he had created shone forth benignant and majestic! In Australia he had said, when leaving for his Island: 'I go to ;God's Own. Country. , His words had C higher meaning-.than he knew! •■ V A HAPPY LIFE. -f' Yes. his was-undoubtedly ""§,'. happy " life, and ;a ■ happy death. With ever brighter hopes, of yet more success, he wag ■ suddenly taken —without " pain— lovrd for himself and respected for his public,aehierenieuts. r-He wished or,; no praise for ■ himself " that was ; not : praise for li : .s adopted , country. We know that . • .his belief in its future will be justifieu "■r ?: under God's - ; blessing; : for the : progress ■ mede ias been comiriensurate with ~- the highest ■' hope. , Where we find : that the :nature race of. a ; country^is of fine stat- .. ./ _Lbold : and ;' able—there -we . may : know that car own people will keep their re- : for muscular and mental power. i--r " This it was that made the first great :■ 3 lestier of the young New. Zealand nation,

Sir George Grey, tell Britain that in the Islands they had so fortunately annexed the Old Country had founded a people •who would in time be the masters of the Southern Seas. The names of Grey and of Seddon will ever be jointly associated with their early history. SIR G. GREY'S MESSAGE. '•' It was to Seddon that Grey passed on the sceptre of power over the young nation's aiFections. When consulted by Seddon on the acceptance of the task of lorming a Ministry, Grey wrote to him-.— " ' You are acting in a. great crisis such ac makes a hero. Act, with your Maker, for the good of His cre-aturea. What anyone may cay or do, is nothing to yon. The millions of your fellow-men and their Maker". Let these be your thoughts! Be brave—unselfish—gentle —but resolute for good. Reflect well before acting. Gain time for thought. The good men will soon gather round you!" "'He followed bravely this brave advice, and became the most trusted leader in all Australasia. He gave no uncertain voice when the call came to prove the union of the Empire. ' Loyalty,' he said, 'is but kinship written large, and. every man and woman of the colony is proud of the crimson thread which makes the people of New- Zealand loyal sons and daughters of the British Empire. ■Whatever may be the sacrifice, we cheerfully take our stand beside the Mother Country for the maintenance of her honour and the integrity of the Empire. " And 'nobly New Zealand responded to the call;' sending, one after the other, ten contingents to South Africa. Our dear friend's spirit still guides her councils. She is foremost in her desires to be represented in our Fleets. And now, In the Imperial Cathedral —in the centre of the Empire he served —we honour his memory in -the land that gave him "birth, as they honour it in the land that gave him fame! We gratefully record his servicee for King and Country. " We Tevere his example, and we deplore his loss." A BUILDER OF THE EMPIRE. Following the address came the twentyfourth P=alm, and the Hon. W. HallJones, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, then committed, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, the memorial to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. The Archdeacon of London replied : "On behalf of the Dean and Chapter I accept the custody of this monument of one ot the builders of the Empire. In this central Church of the Imperial unity, opposite the memorial of his great predecessor, Sir George Grey, the monument will be an added treasure of our historical associations, and a reminder of all ho did out of his duty to King, country and Empire." A short service followed, and) after the benediction the congregation filed past the marble portrait, to gaze upon the strong rugged features of the man whom most of them had known in life, and whom generations yet unborn will know by this memorial in the midst of England's mighty dead.