NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE BROADCAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 22, 27 January 1936, Page 7

NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE BROADCAST.

DAY OF DEVOTIONS. Primate's Eulogy of King And Intimate Friend. a d "A TRULY HUMBLE MAN." .1 r ■ -» n United Press Association.—Copyright. e (Received 2 p.m.) S LONDON, January 26. J The note for to-day's devotions was set when the Queen Mother s attended the service in the private e chapel of Buckingham Palace, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of s Gloucester, the Duke ajid Duchess of I Kent, the Princess Royal, and the I Earl of Harewood and their two sons, and the King and Queen of y Norway, and heard two of King t George's favourite hymns. The . services of homage culminated ® with a national memorial from Broadcasting House, conducted by the ArchY bishop of Canterbury, testifying to ! King George's personality. He said ' this was simple; truly a humble man s who had drawn his people to himself by 1 real jfprsonal attachment. t 1 "Once, as I was walking with him in 3 the Highlands, he said, somewhat sadly, * that he seemed to be destined again and £ again to encounter national difficulties, : each more searching than any in Queen Victoria's reign. "He was not endowed with any conspicuous gifts of body or mind, though his memory was most accurate and lxis - judgment sound. His experience had j been ever-growing, and he always lamented coming to the Throne with no . education but that given to a sailor. r Thits was admirable in itself, but scarcely wide enough as an introduction to public affairs. He never possessed arts nor practised devices whereby popularity is often secured, yet despite all this his personality came through. Crisis After Crisis Met. As crisis after crisis passed, the people realised his quiet courage, coniident trust and unswerving devotion, and felt that the centre of national life was the man, ' strong, confident, steadfast, mindful of ' God. He gave a new significance to the ' name of King by the personal affection ho drew from the lieavts of his people. "Some of us will always remember , that the favourite ending of his personal letters was 'your old friend.' "His religion was simple but real. I appeal to his people to keep his j example before tnem by recovering the simplicity of life and remembrance of God. Queen's Wonderful Comradeship. "Queen Mary gave King George wonderful comradeship for over 40 years, showing a noble fortitude in these anxious days, giving all surrounding her an example of unbroken calmness and strength. I pray God she will be long with us to enjoy tTie full possession of the hearts of her people. "As to the Prince of Wales, no other monarch will ever come to the Throne so intimately knowing all classes of i his subjects. We pray his gifts may be j consecrated in the service of God and I his people." | Westminster Abbey exhibited unpre- j cedented scenes. Hundreds stood when | all the seats were occupied. They j streamed into the nave and besieged the choir gates until the entry of the choir compelled them to retire. Canon Foxley Norris recalled that the Abbey was the King's Church, and he loved it. ROYAL WREATHS. FROM DOORN AND JAPAN. • (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. The ex-Kaiser, who is celebrating his j 77th birthday on Monday with the greatest simplicity in view of British j mourning, is sending a wreath of 500 , golden Dutch tulips and arum lilies I with a white ribbon attached bearing his wife's and his initials. It is carried by Prince Frederick, his grandson. The Emperor of Japan's wreath consists of 500 white carnations and orchids with a ribbon of red and white.