METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 10

METHODIST CHURCH.

There was a very large- attendance at the Durham street Methodist Church last evening, when a united memorial service was held. Tim Lessons were read by the Rev. .H. Bull and the Rev. S. Griffith, and a prayer was offered up by the Rev. R. Taylor. Tbe Rev. W. C. Oliver, in tho course of his address, said that there had never been

such wide and deep sorrow at tho death of a King. Tnc* sorrow in connection with the death of (Jueon Victoria Was largely restricted to the Empire. On th»' prevent occasion all the nations of h'nropt- were in mourning, and all reiitrioiis were united in an expression of <orroiv, and. perhaps, wore equally sincere in their prayers that the new King would be adequately furnished for the Throne. Queen Victoria wa,s n model mother, strong in her homo rule and a liiotleJ Jfovereijjii. They would expect the son of Micti a woman to have associated with his death sicpis of heartfelt sorrow, lie was v mode] Kiny, and jierhaps no who li;;d on the Hi rone had dono so nmeh for the Krunire as he had done. The laU» King wn.s endowed with .splendid common-sense, which could not. ho bought, but must be inherited, for lie made no mistakes. Then he was .1 man who look n great interest in tie hospitals of Great Britain. Ide was remarkable for his personality, for his personal influence carried nearly all before him. He might be said to be the Prince of Pcaco, and a titting op'itaph i'ov grave would be "'Blessed are tlio peacemakers, for they shall hv called the children of God." He w;is a moker of peace, and if fifty Dn?a:'noughts had been launched nine yeans n'j.o they would not have done anything like the good in__ conserving the peace that tlie late lying's personality did. It appeared during his rei;;;n that the. period was a]vvi caching wlien "swords would be turned into ploughshares anc! .spears into pruning-hooks, and war would h.° no msre." Appropriate hymns were sung, and at the conclusion of the service the <- I>?ad Match' , in '"•Saul" was .v'ayed. .ST. PAUL'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. There \ias a crowded congregation at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church last evening, whr?n a united Presbyterian memorial service was held, the Hcv. the Moderator of the Presbytery (Dr. jinvin) proM'.ling. Tho seri-ice (which wn,s a most iml.Ti'ssivt' one), in addition tv an adorers by the iJcv. 'J. 'lV.it, consisted of ;> voluntary piuyod t>y tiie organist, .Mr W . Ooult,o:i, :i prayer hy i?r. lirwin, tlu read ing ol lessons by tli<»<ev.s. T. AlcDonalu and J. Ji. iitfiig, aim the at i'salm i:c. (".Loru, i Jiou Hast licen Our Dwelling i'iace in Generations AIT j, "'lo Oeum Jiaudaiims - ' !>y tlio choir, and the .specially hymns "I'c-.ice, I'crlect J'eacc," ••.Nearer, .Ajy God, to lliee." and '"For All the fcaiitts \Vho trom Tluir Labours Kest."' The j'ev. Mr J riit, in the course of his addiv>», snid tiiai. niU'iise as iuigiit he tlieir yrini', lot their word* bo .i tiutli and it was tlie two sympiitliios Ot life and dentil that brougut tliein together in a most reiiiai'Kjbic unanimity nnd spuntaneity of moiirniiiji. Mc could not believe tluit tiiis great expression of mourning was mere Jorm, ior, 'lliaiik God, it was no 1-fiit of 'heir national character to b: x lovers of mere form and ceremony. As J'resbyterruis they leit dra-.vn very near to tlie (Jrow:i, for not only was he the dead of hipi.scopahanisiu in England, but of Presbyterianiam in iScotJand'. Tlio people rejoiced ;it the wiiicii existed between the Church and .State, and their great traditions voic brought into existence through their loyalty to God and loyalty to conscience, a loyalty thiit had mount many sacririces on the part of ihoso laitnfai men and women who lovtU God rather thrin man. ]t ironl<l bo a sad day "n the history of the* i'hppiro when' the name of Almighty God would pass''jut of the documents of the State. fhev rejoiced to look back ou the revered mother of the late Xung. because she had ahvays called on God for guidance in the burdens of rulersliip and Empire. .She ever looked to HSm for ilis grace and His wisdom, and in days o' deep sorrow she stayed her ■weariness upon Him, and found peace in' Him. They tvere r ;lad to liear across tlm ?e<is of her .\jjiesty the Quoon-Mother begging them to find a place in thc: r prayers for her ailing and bereaved heart. -The new King Jiad also called upDii the Almighty to be his guide. There -was something deeper than more ceremony even in the heart of a king, and they felt at a time like this the humanness of tlie kingly and queenly hrnrts. Thcro was unanimity throughout the Empire, not only in the expression of grief, but in 'deep sympathy with those enduring this fcreat trial. So many references had been made about the lato King Edward at memorial services and other gatherings that it would suffice to say that ho was a king and a man who they would mourn the loss of. In the King they found oil the scattered traditions and glories of their fathers; in him they found embodied their 3iopes and tlieir ideals, and in Lim they seeiofd to see the gleams and hopes of thejr national future. It meant much to them what kind of a man the King, was ami how far he was true to the programme that lay clearly before him. Aud, thank God, tin? glorious traditions of Queen Victoria had been closely followed by King Edward. They sometimes forgot that thu King lived in an atmosphere and environment of temptation, and they thanked God that, on ascending the Throne, he had endeavoured to be true to his promise, and that not only had ho shown businesslike qualities and diplomatic skill, but he'had given himself with remarkable assiduity, courage and strength of will on the one hand to resist tho temptations peculiar to his office, but he hud done his utmost, with tho power and wealth placed- in his hands, to be a true servant of the Empire. These qualities, even in our sadness, called for thanksgiving. Slight Cod sustain tho Queen-Mother and the Royal Family in their hour of trial. At tho clofcc- of Mr Tait's address, the congregation stood while the- organist played the T>ead March in "Saul." THE CHRISTCHURCH SYNAGOGUE. A solemn service in memory of tho late King was held at 11 a.m. yesterday by the Canterbury Jewish congregation in the Christ-church Synagogue, the in the Christchurch Synagogue, the service being conducted by the Rabbi, the Rev. I. A. Bernstein. The service was partly in English and partly in Hebrew-, and included a ;- 'Beflection" on tho transience and mutability of life, P.salm xvi. (chanted), "Prayer for the Repose of Soul," "Adoim Owlom" (choir), "Elolia Xeshomo" (the Rabbi), •'"Yicdol"' (choir), and tho solo ■ 'Rest in tin; ■Lord' , (Madame Elvira Bernstein). At the conclusion of the service- the Dead March in "Saul" was played by Miss Macli'od.sTiiith. tho organist. Tn his address tho Rabbi said:—"'A sorrow of sorrows overwhelms the great British nation, and our eoitls to-day are filled with sadness. Almost all the machinery of the great Empire has called a halt while the populace is paying the bit sad offices of rcepect to a dearly-beloved but dead Sovereign. Tho people of Greater Britain have voiced in uo tuicertain tone their entire sympathy and condolence with the berenVcd CHiecn-Mother and the Royal House, and the.*' universal expressions have found a responsive chord in tlie hearts of the bereaved relatives of the illustrious fkparted one, and their grief has been greatly assuage-.! thereby. The noble and lilial sentiment* expressed by the lute monaich's dutiful son. King George, that he would ■strive to follow in tlie fcotsteps of his lather., and aln) 'the heartfelt message of the bereaved Queen-Mother that she confides to the 'care" and lore of the nation her dear son. have been so forceful and yet %o truly siDjplo and affectionate, and appeal to us with such earnestness as to dispel any fear of. the future.-welfare of the British ndtion_frcm the standpoint of its Kin^. , The late King carried out hh duties to the Empire faithfully and , zealously and in Mich a manner that the title oi Peace-

maker he earned will live for over. Is there .1 greater God-given attribute than -this cultivation of peace, whether it be peace of mind, wace'in tbe community, peace in the m»lm, or peace in ih<~ world* Can time and effort be n.crr profitably expended? Could we not then take the lesson of his life as a Itrncon to euicle u>, right? Could vro .strive after this with anything like the earnestness -nnr late Sovereign displayed in the affairs of State? Tile gracious Queen-Mother further r.sks us to pray that God may grant her strength to bear her loss. Lot this evidence of her faith in the Deity urge m to look to Him and Him alone for help in all our works. :uid to bear His decrees in .'il! tilings. Ood is our rctutje and our strength in all things As no flower arrives at perfection through sunshine alone, mi -with us: if we were always in prosperity, no should become wrapped lin in ourselves, selfish and unfeeling; !mt as the waters of affliction pass over v", our heart* are opened to sympathy iiii.l drawn Heavenward.. Let us iv the presence of a great national j calamity learn the lesson of pious j resignation.*' i IIOMAX CATHOLIC! CATHEDKAL. i Tin. , service at the Roman Catholic Cathedral last nijrht commenced with Chopin's "Funeral March."' after which suitable prayers- were offered, lv his sermon the Rev. Father A. J. McDonald eulogised the late King, and commended his soul to the prayers of, the people, and at the conclusion of the tervice the ''Dead March" in •\Saul" was played by the organist MEMORIAL OKGAN RECITAL. The solemn throbbing of the organ, and the vast assemblage of a reverent audience with heads i bowed, formed a fitting introductory ceremonial to the contribution of the city to the mourning of tins part of the Dominion on the occasion of the funeral of our departed Monarch. Though tbo programme selected by Dr. iJradshaw was naturally of a character befitting the occasion, the items were such as to fiuiy I express the feeling that .we.are not like I those who mourned without hope. TTie bountiful sentiment of trust in Divine pr.Yi-or so exquisitely expressed in Mendelssohn's "O Host in the Lord,' , i>nd the equally lovely setting of Dean Milman's hopeful words in '"Brother Thou Art Gone: Before Us," relieved as it Avero tho funereal gloom which from the very character of the ceremonial re.stod on the gathering. Equally so in Sullivan's groat "In ilomoriam,' , which i.; a musical embodiment of tho words of the funeral service, "0 Death Wli£re is Thy Stiny : O Grave Whore is 'my Victory.'"' thp same sentiments of trust and hope were illustrated, -ill these numbers were played by Dr. Bradsha.iv with a thoroughly artistic conception of tho true character of tho sentiments the items were intended to interpret, viz., thofco of suljdued triumph over ttie power of Death, mingled with grief at tlio !oss sustained by the nation. . The differing characteristics of Ghopiu and Hajidel as composers are most strongly marked in the two most impressive numbers in the programme selected. The beautifully delicate harmonics' modulated in the minor ltfelody of Chopin's ''Funeral March" contrasting finely with the wailing notes of sorrow of tho opening and final' passages, reflect most truly the character of tho compose - : , , wlio has been truly called tho fiiiesc j tone poet of our age. So also in 'he "Dead March", in '"Saul," tho massivor ness of Handel (the sorrow expressed' being, so to speak, more aggressively accentuated) is strongly impressed upon the work. Both in their way are wonderful expositions of the appropriate application of music to th© -\'- pression of deep and solemn emotion. Sullivan's "In Memoriam," -justly "described as the finest orchestral work of tho composer, -was perhaps the number j of all:-which stood , out distinctively in trhat was a magnificently pkyed programme. Altogether tlio ceremonial, deeply impressive as it was, will long remain as a moniory on the minds of j those present, and the public .owe a : debt , of gratitude to tho Organ Committee for having provided .so thoroughly fitting a commencement to tho mournful, ceremonies of tbo day. His Majesty's Theatre was packed in. every part, and a large number of people had to go away, being unablo to obtain admission. Prior to the of the doors, the vast assemblage of neople formed ' themselves, without any official interference, into queues which extended on the north past the Municipal Baths, and on 'th© south as fer as Worcester street.

A memorial service was held at All Saints' Church, Burwood, yesterday, at 2.30 p.m., and the bell, was tolled from 12 noon. The Rev W. F. Knowles officiated at the service.

At St. Saviour's Church, Sydenham, yesterday morning, the Rev. J. Cocks conducted the service for tho Burial of the Dead in a very impressive manner. Tl.o Psalms beginning with, "I said I will take heed to my ways," and "Lord, Thou has been our refuge from ono generation to another," were chanted, and specially selected hymns were also sung, the congregation standing while Mr Macleodsmith, the organist and choirmaster, played Chopin's "Funeral March."

The special memorial service conducted by the Rev. H. Purchas at New Brighten last evening was attended by some 400 of the residents, as well as by the. Cadets, Boy Scouts, and Firo Brigade. Tho Municipal Band led fhe singing. A day. of general mourning was observed lit Lyttelton yesterday. All the ships in port were idle, with their flagp at half-maet, and all shops and offices were closed. From 1 p.m. till 6 p.m. all the hotels closed and drew their blinds. Church bells and several of tho ships 1 belis wero tolled, aud at the Anglican Churches the funeral service was read. In the afternoon the companies of the Lyttelton Artillery Division and cadets paraded, there being a 'muster of shout 150 of all ranks. Tho service was held in the driUshod, which was packed to the doors, while a large number steed outoide. It is estimated that there were from 1200 to 1300 people present inside, and the service was followed with reverent attention by tho large gathering, which was led by sevcrnl church choirs in the singing of suitable hymns. .Those assisting in the service were the Rev. A. Peters, Rev. E. Eliot Chambers, and tho Rev. Canon Coates. The last-named gave an impressive address, at the conclusion of which ho asked for-the prayers of the people tor King George. The Benediction was pronounced by tho Rev. K. Eliot Chambers, and tho people, led by the band, joined heartily in the singing of the National Anthem. A largely-attended memorial service was held in the Kaiapoi drillshed yesterday afternoon, the interior of the bmldjng bein<_ draped with black and purple. _ There was a large muster of Territorials under Captain T. A. Gates, Defence Cadets under Captain H. Oram, 'Scouts under Scoutmaster Mallasch, and St. John Ambulance members under Lieut. A. L. Gray. The Veterans and South African Contihccnt were also represented. Upon tho platform were Mr W. E. Bate (deputyMayor), with several councillors and ex-Mayors, the Rev. J. Holland, Rev. J. S. Reid. Rev. A. Mitchell, Rev. A. Ager, and Rev. H. Roberts, with two officers of the Salvation Army and the representatives of various local bodies in the electorate. Addresses were given by Mr Bate and the Rev. J. Holland, and ft the conclusion of the service the band played the Dead March, the buglers sounding the""Last-Post.'* At Rangiora a close holiday was observed. During the afternoon the Rangiora Territorials, thc North Canier- •• • ■ .- _ if^Cx-^r—.-

bury Mounted Rifles and cadets,' held a parade, and attended a service at which Colonel-Chaplain I'endall gave a short address. 'Alforwards the flag at tho Drill Hall was hoisted and saluted. In the evening, at nine o'clock, tse-'t*-vices- wero held in tho Church of England and Methodist' Church- The service at St. John's was attended by tho Rangiora Territorials, and tbe members oi, the Borough Council in a body, and the service was conducted by the Rev. I*. P. Fendall. The Roy*. C. Abornetiiv gave the address at the Methodist Church, tbe service being attended by the members of the Orange-Lodge in a body. Both services were well attended.

A religious service was held in the Ea_st Oxford Town Hall, which was quite filled with about 500 or t_oo people. Tho Cust Mounted Rifles, under Major E. B. Millton and Lieut. Hunter, with the cadet, of the .public school, assembled in Pearson Park and marched to the hall. The ministers of the various denominations and the head officer of the Salvation Army took part, the Rev. R. .1. Garbett delivering an address upon the life and reign of King Edward. A olo.se holiday was observed at Akaroa yesterday, tbo shops being closed all day, and the hotels from one o clock to six. A united memorial service was held in tho Oddfellows' Hall, conducted by the Rev. Messrs Julius and Ilayward, the building being crowded to excess. A special service was held in the Auclican Church in the cverun-r.

A largely attended memorial service ' was held in tho Drillshcd at Temuka yesterday. Tho Rev. Messrs W. Beckett, E. Edwards. C, Macdonald. T. Coatsw-orth, and C.-oitain Uuirhson i (•salvation Army), assisted. All business places and hotels wore closed. , Tbo Ashburton united memorial scr- ' vice was held in tho Domain. There was a large attendance of the- nublio ■ and military forces. The three* local ' bands assisted iv the musical portion of tho service. Among those .present were the local clergymen, the Mayor and Borough Councillors, representatives of the district local ivodie.s, Messrs W. Nosrvorthy and C. A. C. Hardy, M.P.'s.