THE DAY OF MOURNING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 8

THE DAY OF MOURNING.

There was mvi*"h about the observance of the day of public njoijrpipg day to mgke the dtiy memorable. The vast pud reverept gathering at the ppon-gir servipp in Cranmer square, the crowded congregations at the piemorigl i.eryif.es in the evening, and the practically comp,* e t p - cessation of husincfcs of all kinds, proved that the mourning was no empty formality, hut a sincero and profound expression <jf Wik\)9 fo 6 !*Pg- fiJTen spph jjp occasion, no religious servjee could fail *o be impressive, but what rendered the fine service in the Cathedra} particularly noteworthy was. the ranarkably repier sontfitive character pf the grejit con r gregation, which included niep of all classed pf the pqnnnuni'ty and of all professions and pccui_atJQus. Thefo was, however, a. deeper significance* ill the open-air gathering, for there on one platfora were the leaders cf all

the Protestant churches, as if in the presence of J>eath all sectarian jealousy and strife had passed away, In mapy minds the thought must have obtruded itself that if the Churches could so unite on an occasion when common sorrow and sympathy linked all hr-arts together, why can they not do so at other times, and thus help to t>rin2 qbput a permanent bond. If they can mourn together,. why should it he ipippssiplc,for them tq work and fight together ? It is difficult to think that union wjll pqt como somo tjny.. and in that bpjief we may look qpon yesterday's service as a step in the journey. One could not forget yesterday that for the timo Christchurch was a reflection of the EpipirpWhat took place jn pqr midst also took place among our kin in every part of tbo world. East and West met in a community of sorrow, apd all thoughts turned to the great city whero, |even as we write, fhe sfljemp pageant of tuo King's funeral passes through the streets. Even London can have witnessed no moro impressive spectacle, and the mingling of majesty and pathos, which ha_j bepn so noteworthy in many of the incidents recorded during the last few days, must yesterday have reached a elinias that thrilled all hearts.