Mourning for King George

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11933, 27 January 1936, Page 3

Mourning for King George

THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN

LAST RITES AT WINDSOR

London, Jan. 25

For 1« hours to-day, until mirt■r[it the slow and sombre tide of humanity flowed through Westminster Hall, where King George lies in «tate. As on the occasion of the death of King Kdward VII., to-day was children’s day. Thousands accompanied by their teachers, many t f r om convent schools, escorted by nuns figured in the queue which mustered at 8 a.m. in drizzling rain. By g. 30 a.m. the wailing line again extended almost to Lambeth Bridge. Officials say that the crowd far excceds yesterday’s. They estimate that 35.000 passed the catafalque bv if a.m. As soon as business

oiiices closed at noon there was an appreciable increase in the queue. Queen Mary sent a cruciform wreath of white chrysanthemums to replace her own flowers on the Royal coffin.

Among the crowd were many music hall artists, including a man eight feet in height and a woman of three feet, both dressed in complete mourning. Visitors to London for the Cup tie removed their gaudy football favours before entering the hall.

Steady rain transformed the queue, now two miles long and ten abreast, into a vast arcade of umbrellas. Still the dead march of London's citizens continued, 8009 passing the coffin hourly. People fainted, but resumed their positions on recovering. The procession after nightfall was allowed to enter the hall only four instead of eight abreast. The Duke and Duchess of Kent entered the hall at 5.30 p.m. and walked round the catafalque. They stood with heads bowed for a few minutes and then departed by motor-car. Between four and five hundred diplomats, defying the dismal drizzle, arrived at 10 p.m. and stood in groups before joining the concourse. * At 9.30 the police prevented further additions to ttie queue, which, swollen by charabanc passengers and vast numbers arriving on foot, was over a mile long. Many advanced as in a dream. < The last files did not reach the hall before midnight. To-morrow’s queue will therefore he permitted to remain open until 1 a.m. on Monday. As they departed from the hail many went to pray in Westminster Abbey. The total number of visitors to-day was 150,000. Throughout the evening they traversed the hall at the rate of 12,000 an hour.

Rugby, Jan. 24. Arrangements for the last stage of the funeral of the late King George at' Windsor on Tuesday are nearing completion, and tiers of * scats, to extend the accommodation in the nave of St. George’s Chapel to 1000, are being erected. The choir, where the banners of the Knights , of the Garter hang, will have seating capacity for about 200. The form of the service, in which the Archbishop of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of Winchester,

who is prelate of the Order of the Garter, the Dean of Windsor, canons and minor canons will take part, will be simple, and will include singing by the choir of the King’s favourite hymn. “Abide With Me.” There will be special memorial services for the late King on Tuesday at St. Paul's Cathedral and in Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Connaught will attend a memorial service £t’Bath. King Edward has approved a special order of service

■in commemoration of his father for

use in all churcfies. In the prayers Queen Mary is referred to as "Mary, the Queen mother.’’

It lias been decided that two Minutes’ silence, which will be observed throughout the United Kingdom on Tuesday, will begin at 1.30 P.m. Although Tuesday has not been proclaimed a day of public mournmg, in view of the King’s and Queen Mary s wish that hardship and loss t'hlch a compulsory suspension of business activity might involve

Throngs Visit Westminster Hall

should be spared, all Government Departments will be closed. The Law Courts will not sit and many shops and businesses will not open. The banks and the money market, however, will remain open. The newspapers recall that the two minutes’ silence was first associated with Queen Victoria’s funeral, when national silence was introduced in Australia.

New Zealand’s wreath is of white stocks and orchids, and shears the inscription: ‘‘The Dominion of New Zealand mourns its beloved Monarch.” Australia’s wreath is 3 6in. in diameter, is of dark red carnations and bears the inscription: “With heartfelt sympathy and loyal devotion from the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Australia.” London, Jan. 25. Sailors of the naval trawler Excellent at Portsmouth are preparing a gun-carriage for the Royal coffin, while throughout London workmen are erecting and draping stands and barriers for the Royal funeral on Tuesday. Troops, including the Welsh Guards at the Tower, the King’s Company of Grenadier Guards, whose average height is 6ft. 3in., at the AVellington Barracks and the Marines at Portsmouth are rehearsing ’ with measured tread, arms reversed, for the procession in the mightiest and most solemn spectacle the City has ever seen. More than 5000 wreaths an hour are increasing the spread of the fragrance and beauty of the cloisters in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The floral tributes range from an enormous chaplet of white lilies and tulips from Mustapha Kemal, President of Turkey, to a tiny bunch of artificial flowers from a little country girl. MEMORIAL SERVICES. Impressive memorial services were held in all local churches yesterday, there being large congregations at all services.

At the Church of England the Rev. O. S. O. Gibson extolled the virtues of the late King, making special reference to the title “Defender of the Faith,” which held a depth of meaning. He regretted that Individuals had not devoted the day to mourning although the nation as a whole had done so. At the conclusion of the service, the organist, Mr Herbert Webb, played Chopin’s Funeral March, the congregation standing, and then after a moment’s silence, he played Coronach, a Highland lament, as a Recessional. At the Roman Catholic Church Mass was said and prayers offered as directed by Bishop Liston. At the Baptist Church, the Girl Guides and the South African Veterans paraded, and after an appropriate service conducted by the Rev. D. H. Stewart, the Last was sounded by Mr Lacey.

The Rev. G. P. Blunt in his sermon at the Methodist Church evening service, referred especially to his late Majesty as a good King, a broad minded churchman and a good Christian. Suitable hymns were sung and Miss Greenwood, of New Plymouth, sang the sacred solo “Beside Still Waters.” The services at the Presbyterian Church were largely attended and an appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. J. W. Smyth.

Church Service Cancelled. In view of the expressed wish of the King regarding the holding of services to-morrow, Mass will not be said in the Roman Catholic Church to-morrow morning as announced on Saturday. TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE. The two minutes’ silence to-mor-row, as the nation’s mark of respect to the deceased King, will be observed at 11 a.m. The fire siren will be sounded at 11, and the two minutes’ silence will follow.