NATIONAL HOMAGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 24 November 1925, Page 9

NATIONAL HOMAGE.

Passing of Dowager Queen. EXPRESSIONS OF ENGLAND'S LOVE. Royal Lying-In-State. The unique position held by the late Queen Alexandra in the affections of the British people is strikingly exemplified by the scenes at the village church at Sandringham, where the first lying-in-state took place. The Royal Family, the household servants, and thousands of the public filed past the bier. A sease of loss and grief at the passing of a personality beloved of the nation has been made manifest by the expressions of regret which have flowed into England from all parts of the Empire. Messages conveying sympathy to the Royal Family and extolling the high influence exerted by the late Dowager Queen have been received in England from foreign countries, . and amongst these that of Germany is said to be one of the most glowing. New Zealand has felt in scarcely less degree than England that the Queen Mother was an outstanding figure in the nation's life, and the people of the Dominion have not been behind other subjects of the Empire in giving expression to their sense of loss.

(B3T Cljil.E- PSBSS ASSOCIATION— COPTRIUHT.) (aesthalian and k.z. cable association.) LONDON, November 22. Among the inmimerable Empire-wide and world-wide messages oxtolling the late Queen Alexandra's domestic life'and charity, none is more glowing than those of the German newspapers and President von Hindenburg's, which are couched in the most sympathetic terms. Addressing Welsh miners, Mr A. J. Cook, secretary of the Miners' Federation, said: Our Queen Mother, whose loss is. universally' mourned, hail., many traits of character that we might emulate, especially her human side. Her practical sympathy towards suffering and her desire for peace wero virtue* very necessary in high places, and beneficial to the nation. In deference to the King's wish, sport was not interrupted. Footballers wore crepe bands., London shops in a few hours changed from a blaze of bright, shimmering colours to a mass' of black and white and mauve. Bradford was inundated with orders for Mack fabrics. THE ROYAL BIER. SERVICE AT SANDRINGHAM GREAT CROWDS VISIT VILLAGE CHURCH.

Final Besting Place. Though. Queen Alexandra will be intoned close to King Edward on Saturday, when the work of restoration of the chapel is completed the bodies will be removed to their final resting plaeft. This will be a specially-constructed sarcophagus adjoining the altar where Queen Alexandra and King Edward knelt at their wedding. In the sarcophagus they will be plaeed- side by side, the coffins practically touching. Only the Royal Family and intimate friends will bo present at the- actual committal; the public will be excluded. After the service the body will be lowered through the floor and then carried to the Eoyal tomb house. Route of the Procession. Already the shops and hotels on the short route from the statioa to the Castle Lave been inundated with requests for accommodation. Forty pounds was asked for a single room in one hotel with a window overlooking the route. Thiu far all the hotels are booked out.

NATION'S MOURNING

REFERENCES IN THE CHURCHES (AVSTJULIAK A*» X.Z. CABLX A3SOCIATIOK.) LONDON", November 32. Touching references to the-lato Queen Alexandra were made in &U the churches to-day. Rev. A. H. Grant, of SandringEam, said that the nation bowed its head in loyal homage—remembering with gratitude her never-dying love —before such a woman, such a Queen, as Alexandra. The Bishop of Woolwich (Dr. Hough), speaking in the Abbey, said that the ever-deepening affection of the people for Royalty was largely due to the charming woman who came to England and immediately captured the nation's heart. The stability of the Throne was stronger because of Queen Alexandra, who had increased its strength, not by physical or despotic power, but by love. ' The Dean of Windsor (the Very Rev.. A. V. Baillie), at St. George's Chapel, declared that the late Queen might not have been a woman who initiated great ideas or. movements, but she won the love. of England from the beginning, and held it to the end as few ever held the love of any nation. N.Z. TRIBUTES. "UNIVERSALLY v BELOVED." TIMARU COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION (special to "thb ra«ss. - ') TIMARU, November 23. At- last night's meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, before proceeding with the ordinary business, the-Mayor (Mr G. J. Wallace) briefly referred to the death of Queen Alexandra. He said there was no woman in the British Empire who had endeared herself more to the people of the Empire and the world, for she had been universally beloved from the time when she had become the Princess of Wales until her death at the age of 81. The late Queen had devoted the whole of her energies to the welfare of her people. The Mayor moved the following resolution, which was carried in silence: ' : That this Council joins with the people of the Dominion in sympathetic recognition of the great loss which the nation and his Majesty the King and the Royal Family have sustained in the death of her late Majesty Queen Alexandra.''

(REVTEJ&'S TIUCRAUS.) (Rcjftivod November 23rd, 7.5 n.m.) LONDON, November 22. The first part of the obsequies for Queen Alexandra were held in Sandringham Church, this morning, quietly. Only those intimately connected with the Royal Household were allowed to be present. All the Royalties at Sandringham attended. The Royal coffin was taken to church early in the morning. After a moving service, .at which many of the congregation were in tears, the public was allowed to file pant the hier, which Mas covered with wreaths from members of the Royal Family and Eoyal Household, bearing ! affectionate inscriptions. ! Soyal Family's Tribnte. [ Many who waited from early morning near the tiny church at SandrLnglriu were excluded from the service. The only sound which disturbed the quiet solemnity of the countryside Mas the tolling of the church bell when the King, Queen, and Princes walked slowly from the house towards the church. Their Majesties entered the church alone and walked towards the coffin, \\hich was covered by Queen Alexandra's own standard .and lying on the ordinary' bier used at village funerals. They stood in silence :i few moments, and then bowed. The King placed a sixfoot floral cross, composed of pink and white carnation?, chrysanthemums; and violets, upon the coffin. Family wreaths were touching!y inscribed. Rev. A. E. H. Grant, Domestic Chaplain to her Majesty, delivered an eloquent address, the closing sentences of which were spoken with considerable emotion. Most of the congregation were in tears.

Lying in State After the service two old servants of King Edward guarded the coffin, Throughout the afternoon, great crowds, who arrived in buses :t:ul motors iind afoot, filed past the bier. Every grade of servant at the Sandringham Estate solemnly passed the bier, many pausing to touch Queen Alexandra' 3 hand. They saw her as she was known twenty years ago. The marks of time were obliterated and replaced by a sweet serenity. Around her were flowers from her own garden and upon her breast there was a silver cross. The jewelled hands were folded in an attitude of rest.

DAY OF ROYAL FUNERAL

BUSINESS PREMISES TO CLOSE.

The City Council last night decided to arrange for a memorial service in the Cathedral on the day of Queen Alexandra's funeral.

A request will also be made to business places to close on that day. The Mayor stated that the Council would fall" into line with any reqnesfc made concerning the observance of the occasion by thg Government,

FAMILY TIES. QUEEN MOTHER'S INFLUENCE. (PRBBB ASSOOUi'IOV TEUeORAM.) WELLINGTON, November 23. Feeling references to the death of Qneen Alexandra were made in all the churches yesterday. Preaching in St. Paul's. Pro-Cathe-dral, Archdeacon Johnson said that the title of Queen Mother would live in history, for it reflected the glory she shed on family ties and on the freatness of brotherhood and parentood. No one could question the" fact that Queen Alexandra's life depended on her loyalty to God and her maintenance of the great ideate of which she was such an honourable exponent. LOCAL BODIES' SYMPATHY. Local bodies which met yesterday adopted resolutions expressing regret at the passing of Queen Alexandra and offering sympathy with their Majesties the King and Qneen and the Royal Family in their bereavement. The. bodies which adopted such resolutions included the . Chriatchurch City Council, lyttelton Borough Council, New Brighton Borough Council, Christchurch Tramways Board, and Selwyn Plantations Board. TO THE CHILDREN. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADDRESS (SPECIAL to "thb pmss.") DUNEDEV, November 23. This morning the Governor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson visited some of the Duuedin schools :ind Knox College. Addressing the children, his Excellency said that Lady Fergusson and himself were nearly not going to the schools, nfter being informed of the death of Queen Alexandra, and, strictly speaking, it was not usual for anything to go on for a few days after such an event, but her Excellency and himself talked the mattor over, and came to the conclusion that the visits ought to be made as arranged. They knew that if they asked the King what he would like them to do, he would tell them to go on and see the children. He would try to tell the children something about Queen Alexandra and what she looked like. She was a very tall and beautiful woman, one of the prettiest that could be seen or even imagined. She went to England more than sixty years ago to marry the Prince, who. in due course became King Edward the Seventh. She became quite English in her ways, though she never forgot her own countrv, Denmark. All her life lon* it eoul'd be said of her, if it could be "said of any mortal, that she went about doing good, and in England there was not ono person who did not feel the poorer because of her death. Wherever she went, as she often did, even when quite old, people of all ranks were always delighted to see her. No one in all those long sixty years and more ever had an unkind word to say about Queen Alexandra. Hers was a fine and beautiful life for all lo try and copy.