CITY'S HOMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 11

CITY'S HOMAGE.

TO DEAD LEADER.

SOLEMN SYDNEY SCENE. MASS FOR LATE MR. LYONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 13. With a pomp and ceremony that contrasted with the simple style of living which ho had always preferred, Sydney on Tuesday paid homage to Australia's dead Prime Minister, Joeeph Aloyeius Lyons. All Monday the body of the late Prime Minister had lain in state in St. Mary'e Cathedral—an honour which has been accorded to the'dead on only a very few occasions. He had been clad in full evening dress. Rosary beads were twined round his gloved left hand and in hie right hand was a lock of Damo Enid Lyons' hair. A tall brass crucifix stood at the head of the catafalque and wae surrounded by six tii 11 candles. On top of the casket were tho late Prime Minister's numerous honours. Guards from the Air Force, Havy and Artillery maintained constant wiiteh all Monday from 10 a.m. till 10 o'clock that night.

The tolling of muffled bells from the cathedral announced ou Tuesday that the hour hnd come for the celebration of Solemn Pontifical Requiem Maps for the repose of the soul of the late Prime Minister. Flanked by tall yellow wax candles, burning in sconces' of ebony, tho rosewood casket containing the Prime Minister's body reposed on a dais of rosewood. When Dame Enid Lyons entered the cathedral, the vast congregation rose and stood while ehe was assisted to her place in a special pew bosido tihe casket, where she eank on her kneea in grief and prayer.

On the other side of the caeket were tho Governor-General (Lord Gowrie), the Governors of New South Walee, Queensland and Tasmania, and the LieutenantOovernor of New South Wales. All differences of creed were obliterated. In tho pewe reserved for clergymen were Anglicane, Presbyter iane, Methodists, Rabbie, priests of the Greek and Syrian Orthodox Churches, and Salvation Army officers, all there to join in the tribute with priests of the late Prim© Minister's own faith.

Crowded Cathedral. Leading citizens and their wivee who had been granted special tickets of admission numbered nearly a thousand, and within five mirfutes of the opening of the cathedral doors every available foot of -space in the big basilioa was occupied, An overflow of thousands of people assembled just across the street in Hyde Park, where arrangements had been made for the broadcasting of the service in the cathedral. As the sanctue bell began its slow tolling, the unusual spectaole was seen of people kneeling in public in the city paTk, crossing themselves and telling their rosaries, while all around the skyline of the city was marked by flags, which drooped at half-mast in the stJH air of an early autumn day, At the conclusion of the "Agnus Dei," as the words of the celebrant, "Lamb of God, who takes away the sine of the world, grant us peace," were prpnounced, a deep "Amen* from the vast crowd in the park sounded over, the city, where traffic had been stilled.'

Inside the cathedral, where the service was under way, the uniforms of military, naval) and air force officerg and aides, and medals gleaming Cabinet Ministers and members of the Consular Corps, contrasted with the mourning suits worn by ail the rest except the clergy. Judges, barristers and doctor*, were well represented. The Mother Superior of St. Vincent's Hospital where Mr. Lyons had been tended and where he died, had to assist in comforting Dame Enid Lyons, who several tunes was given a sedative by her late husbands medical adviser. Organ notes thundered as the Apoetohc Delegate (Archbishop Panico) entered the cathedral to begin the celebration of the Mass. He was preceded to the sanctuary by 100 monsignori in purple, prieste in black cassocks and lace surplices, and 50 theological students in black soutanes . and surplices with scarlet sashes. Acolytes held up the long train of his scarlet cloak, and he was accompanied by four bishops in purple and Franciscan friars in cassocks and rope girdles. He took hie seat on the Archiepiscopal Throne with its canopy of rose-coloured silk and swathing of purple. The altar was draped in purple and black silk.

Example of Family Life.

The panegyric was delivered bv Monsignor King, who concluded with these words: "His life was humble, as was the manner of his death on Good Friday, the nnniversary~of our Saviour's passion and life's sacrifice for man's redemption. Such a coincidence bespeaks, we pray, a happy eternity for the eoul of our lamented leader. I give to Australia the example of the family life of the lato Prime Minister and his wife as the sovereign remedy for those ills which, unless they are cured, will yet destroy even this the youngest of the nations."

Many people in the great congregation wept openly during Monsignor Kind's tribute. Then, wearing a white cape and black and gold vestments, ArchJiishop Panico came down from the altar, attended by deacons, and knelt a few moments in silent prayer before the casket. • He then rose and chanted the Prayers for the" Dead, the responses to which were chanted by the theological students' choir. The whole congregation stood as the Archbishop twice walked mound the casket and incense smoke arose in a white cloud ntrainst the flames of the candles. A tfcie ensign was placed around the casket and the Apostolic delegate led the way to the main Cathedral doors, where a six-horse gun carriage was waiting with a guard" of honour from the R.A.A.F. The casket was borne from the Cathedral by the Prime Minister, Sir Earle Page, the Attorney-General, Mr. Hughes, the treasurer, Mr. Casey, the Chief Justice, Sir John Latham, the New South Wales Premier, Mr. Stevens, the deputyLeader of the Federal Opposition, Mr. Forde, and Messrs. T. G. Murray, M.L.C. V and Kingsley Henderson.

In the procession through the city to East Circular Quay, the Royal Australian Artillery Band and mounted police took a prominent part. Nine cars were piled high with flowers and 136 cars were required to convey the principal mourners. At the head of the gangway on the destroyer Vendetta the coffin was received by Dean Haydon, of Canberra, who was assisted by four robed altar Ijoya. Again it was sprinkled with holy water, while naval ratings quickly and silently took the wreathe from the cars APd piled them high upon the after torpedo and gun platform and quarter deck.

The Vendetta's crew wore a full ceremonial white drees and the officers black arm bands. Dean Haydon accompanied the casket on the voyage to the Prime -Vumster's home town, Devonport, for burial. As the Vendetta eteamed slowly down the harbour, with the flowerdraped coffin on the quarter-deck, sailor guards stood with bowed heads and reversed rifles at each end of the coffin while three nights of Air Force 'planes roared overhead in a farewell salute.