THE LAST RITES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19979, 14 July 1930, Page 11

THE LAST RITES.

BURIAL OF SIR JOSEPH WARD. i IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL. BISHOP WHYTE'S PANEGYRIC. C?SZ«S ASSOCIATION TILEGSAM.) INVEBCARGILL, July 13. Sir Joseph Ward sleeps where he would have chosen, beside his loved ones in the picturesque little cemetery on Bluff Hill. Ho was buried this afternoon with full military honours, in the presence of the greatest and lowliest in the land. All day Saturday his body lay in state beforo the altar of St. Mary's Basilica, where many hundreds came silently and reverently to do him homago. This morning the Bishop of Dunedin, his clergy, and people offered prayers for the repose of his soul in the majestic ceremonial of the Catholic Church. In tho afternoon he fared forth to his last resting place on Bluff Hill. As his body was lowered (into the) grave the low descending Eun caused every colour to come into the sea and sky until it seemed that the hillside must ever be bathed in the glory of him who Jay buried there. Thousands of mourners thronging the streets of Invercargill and Bluff, and watching the last rites testified to tho affection and esteem in which the dead leadei was held and made it impossible not to realise that though he has passed away his name will ever stand in the forefront of the immortals of New Zealand's story. Pontifical Bequiem Mass. Never has there been a more impressive service in Invercargill than that in the Basilica this morning, when solemn pontifical requiem High Mass waß celebrated for Sir Joseph Ward. Tho Governor-General was represented by Sir John Hanham. The Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, the Leaders of the Opposition and of the Labour Party, members of Parliament, and representatives of local bodies were present. In the reverent hush preceding the service all eyes turned towards the casket which lay before the altar, and many in the congregation were devoutly kneeling offering prayers for the soul of him who lay in his coffin before them. Dr. Whyte, Bishop of Dunedin, was celebrant, and delivered a panegyric. "We are assembled this morning around the mortal remains of a great statesman, and an earnest Christian, 1 ' he said. "We are here to pray for the immortal part of him, his soul, which has already appeared before the judgment seat of its Creator. The mortal part will eventually put on immortality. Prayers alone, especially the Holy Mass, will avail him now. Praise will be of no benefit to him, but it may help and encourage others to imitate his noble example. During the past few days one harmonious chorus of praise has sounded throughout the Dominion, from Auckland to the town ho lifted out of obscurity in the morning of his public life. Maori and pakeha, Pressmen and politicians, civil and military, and chufch authorities, all have lamented the loss sustained by our young country through the death of its renowned citizen. All have lauded his ability, his integrity, and his courtesy. At the Council Chambers of the Empire hie opinions were listened to with attention and New Zealand acquired, through him, fame out of all proportion to the size and population of the country. In the progressive, nay, daring legislation which also contributed to the fame of this country, Sir Joseph Ward took a conspicuous part. It is no wonder then that New Zealand is, to-day bowed down with brief on losing a aon who has written his name so large on our history of the past half century.

Perseverance and Industry. "His life teaches many important lessons. If he belonged to the aristocracy it was the higher aristocracy of character and ability. As happen* in nearly all cases in history, he became great by industry. Ho went on from height to height until he reached the alpine height of the Premiership. To very few is given the ability by which he achieved success, but perseverance and industry are within the reach of everybody. Hia example cannot fail to influence many young men of to-day. "'He was a groat Imperialist' say many members of the worldwide Dominions of Empire. Lovers of discipline in every sphere of life are to-day shocked by the unwholesome spirit of independence that asserts itself in many civilised countries. Church and State are attacked by this unthinking spirit. Disorder raises its head against every form of government, and the twin demons of anarchy and irreligion are here and there let loose. The example of a man who stood for order and discipline, who loved and served his country unselfishly, will protect us, let us hope, against the encroachment of ideas that would destroy State and Church, and trampling upon tho King's crown and the Pope s tiara, would vainly strive to make every subject his own ruler and to tear away from human nature its God implanted longing for religion. A Christian Gentleman. "Sir Joseph Ward has been on all sides acclaimed as a gentleman. More than that, Sir Joseph was a Christian gentleman, and still more he was a fervent Catholic. It is because he was a Catholic who believed in his religion and practised it that we are here today celebrating these solemn and venerable rites. A more appropriate Church could not have been chosen than this Basilica in which he so frequently worshipped. He took his place here with the humblest parishioner, and listened to the explanation of Christian doctrine with as much docility as would the youngest of his constituents. The man was truly great in whom fame and modesty were so beautifully blended. Very many people nowadays sadly need the silent rebuke that is administered to the irroligious by men who are at once Christian believers, and men of renown. Sir Joseph's Christian life offers such reproof to those who are carried away by every wind of scientific doctrine. "Our chief concern this morning, however, Is not to praise him but to pray for him, hence the Church brings out of her rich treasury of prayers petitions for the welfare of his soul. She sprinkles his corpse with holy water, asking that his soul be cleansed from sin and be mado ready for that Kingdom into which nothing stained is admitted. The fragrance of floating incense is symbolic of prayer rising in its sweetness to the Throne of God. As incense will not send up its pleasant odour if it rests not on burning coal, neither will our prayers ascend unless they come from a heart glowing with God's love. Ancient prayers, majestic music, stately ceremonies are plentifully employed as a beautiful garment to adorn the great act of sacrifice, the

Holy Mass. Though the solemn Requiem Mass is stripped of evety element of joyousness, yet there is a vein of confidence in God's mercy running through it. Peace and Best. "The holy sacrifice of which prayers and ceremonies are but adornments, recalls the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel with the marvellous promise it contained. It recalls also the Last Supper, when our Lord fulfilled his promise. The mind is carried back to the catacombs and its numerous petitions there found for peace and rest for the dead. In a later century (the fifth) St. Augustine tells us in his Book of Confessions that his mother Monica was buried with an offering of sacrifice of our redemption according to custom before her body was laid in the ground. It is in accordance with that venerable custom that the Mass has now been celebrated before the body of the deceased statesman be taken to its resting place in the cemetery. "While we mourn the loss of so worthy a man, we can thank God for having given him to this young country as a model of patriotism and uprightness. His reputation as a gentleman who bore his honours meekly, and who never failed in courtesy or generosity to the poor, will be recalled even after his political triumphs have been forgotten. By Catholics he will bo remembered where remembrance is sweetest, at the altar rails and within the sanctuary. Many aged people whom he assisted will raise their withered hands to heaven appealing for mercy on his soul, and orphans up and down through the land will lisp their simple prayers for him. Our religious communities of men and of women, praying in their little oratories when the world is still abed, will put him on their list of benefactors. We bishops and priests of Now Zealand, grateful to him that his edifying life and death will serve as a lamp to the feet of our people, will bear him in mind when every morning at the altar we ask our Lord to be merciful to those who are gone before us with the sign of faith and who rest in the sleep of peace." Bishop Whyte concluded by offering a prayer for the sorrowing family and friends. A Great Concourse. Long before mid-day residents from country districts commenced to arrive in Invercargill, the main roads carrying a constant stream of people anxious to pay their last tribute to the great man who, from humble beginnings in the most southerly province of his adopted country, bad risen to the greatest heights of statesmanship. The presence at the final obsequies of such a huge crowd of people representing all interests and communities was eloquent testimony to the high sense of esteem and gratitude held by everyone. Their attendance was a public acknowledgment of the great benefits which their departed chief had conferred upon his people by his political efforts and an indication that by very many spread widely through the country he was regarded as a close friend. So it was that those who gathered to pay homage to a great statesman numbered many who reckoned his personal worth greater than his political achievements and on the occasion of his funeral felt it their duty to pay a final tribute to his memory. It was a reverent assemblage, a crowd which felt too deeply the national loss in the death of an outstanding personality to be merely curious to witness the pomp and ceremony following his passing. A Fitting Besting Place. It was most fitting that he should find his resting place surrounded by his people overlooking the port of Bluff; where he first trod New Zealand soil, and where he lived the greater par* of his life. A district which nourished and fostered him in the earlier activities which led to higher things had claimed its most famous son. Although two large trains, which left for Port before the procession through the city commenced, had been packed, and hundreds of cars had already left Invercargill, the entire route from the. Basilica to the station was crowded with a dense throng of people, which had commenced to form np a considerable time before the cortege left the church. At both Basilica and railway station the number* were greatest, and at either terminal there must have been several thousands gathered. Cortege Leaves Basilica. A softly tolling bell at the. Convent beside the Basilica heralded the departure of the cortege for the station. A parade of returned soldiers formed a guard of honour from the portals of the church to the hearse. The Prime Min-ister-and his colleagues, who acted as pall-bearers, walked beside the coffin, which was followed by Captain Sir John Hanham, Bart., who represented the Governor-General. Then came Sir Cyril and Lady Ward, Mr and Mrs B. B. Wood, Mr and Mrs Vincent Ward, Mr and Mrs Gladstone Ward, Mr Awarua Pat Ward, Messrs Joseph G. Ward, and Cyril J. Ward (sons of Sir Cyril Ward), Mr 0. A. Tipping, Miss Kathleen Tipping, Miss Eileen Tipping, Mr Walter Henderson, Miss Lulu Henderson, Sir Francis and Lady Boys, and Mr lan Boys. The procession leaving the Basilica was led.by the Civic Band and an escort of returned soldiers. Upon arrival at the railway station the casket was placed in the mortuary van, and was conveyed to the little town of Bluff, which had witnessed the triumphs that had been Sir Joseph Ward's. Along the route at each station were crowds of mourners, who bared their heads in tribute as the train passed. At more distant spots isolated groups had assembled, but everywhere was there apparent profound sorrow. No pen picture could do justice to the account of the return of the body to the soil of Bluff, whence the zeal, courage, and vaulting faith of Sir Joseph had so many years ago spurred him on to great endeavours. A Maori Lament. The main street and precincts of the station were thronged as the train steamed quietly in. As the casket was brought forth to the station platform a woman's voice raised in the opening cries of tangi wail was heard, and a compact body of Maoris appropriately garlanded, with their' heads bowed, approached. Two chieftainesses of the Ngahuirapa tribe broke into plaintive laments, in whteh their companions joined in a resounding chant. Subsiding into respectful silence again the Maoris formed up in line and followed to the cemetery. At the Cemetery. The casket was placed on a gun carriage and the last solemn journey was commenced. The entire route to the cemetery was lined with spectators. The majestic pillars of Bluff granite in the vicinity of the cemetery were points of vantage from which many people watched the ceremony. At the gates of the cemetery the cortege was met by a procession of acolytes, clergy, and the Bishop of Dunedin. . The casket was removed from the gun carriage, and carried to the graveside by residents of Bluff who had been personal friends of tho late statesman, the cortege passing between the guard of honour at the grave. The solemn funeral rites were performed by the Bishop of Dunedin, and the casket was lowered into the grave. A firing party fired three volleys and the plaintive notes of Last Post rang out, followed by the Reveille, j A quartette of pipers played "Flowers of the Forest." The military escort then filed past the grave, depositing a i

huge number of floral tributes -which had been received, and soon thoy were piled high on the grave. Floral Tributes. Among & large number of floral tributes were wreaths from the GovernorGeneral and Lady Bledisloe, Dominion Executive United Party, Directors and secretary British Standard Portland Cement Go., Ltd., messengers and orderlies of the House of Representatives, Hansard staff, Huddart, Parker, Ltd., the Mayor, Councillors, and citizens of Wellington, Mr and Mrs T. E. Y. Seddon, Directors and staff of Canadian Knight Whippet Motor Co., employees River Shingle and Sand Co., Prime Minister and his colleagues of the Ministry, his Excellency the Govemor-Gen-cral'a staff, Mrs R. J. Seddon, UnderSecretary and officers of the Lands and Survey Department, N.Z. Educational Institute, Rt. Hon. J. G. and Mrs Coates, President, members, and secretary of the National Council of Licensed Trade, manager and staff of Bellamy's, cleaning staff and nightwatchman, O'tago Executive of the United Party, members of the Reform Party, private secretaries of Ministers of the Crown, Sir Francis and Lady Boys, Union Steam Ship Company (Wellington), Director, Manager, and staff, 3ST.Z- Guarantee Corporation, Directors of the Southern Cross Assurance Company (Melbourne), Wellington Theatrical Sick and Benefit Society, Mount Cook Tourist Company, Law-Drafting Office, Directors and staff N.Z. Shipping Company, chairman and members Wellington Harbour Board, Franklin Agriculture Society, officers of G.P.0., Speaker and Staff House of Representatives, the Hon. Sir Francis and Lady Bell, the Hon. Sir Thomas and Lady Sidey, members of Palmerstou North United Political Society, Census and Statistics Office, N.Z. Employers' Federation, staff of Prime Minister's Office, South African War Veterans' Association. The family received a message of sympathy from Sir Charles Fergusson, a former Governor-General.

PERSEVERANCE AND PATRIOTISM. GOVERNOR-GENERAL»S TRIBUTE The life and achievement of Sir Joseph Ward was cited as an example / to all young New Zealanders by the Governor-General (Lord BlediBloe) when addressing the students of Lincoln College on Saturday. His Excellency remarked that he would not have been able to pay inch an early visit to the College had it not been that a calamity had befallen.the country in the death of one of its greatest men. "In the person of Sir Joseph Ward," he said, "one of the outstanding public men of this country. has passed to hia rest. Rom humble beginnings he rose-to become New Zealand's best known statesman. His life is a splendid example of wji**; young New Zealanders can do, and I s JMSpe that you who are his juniors, atttfjwho have more opportunity than he£ will. try to emulate him. "What were the outstanding qualities of his character! I should say thai-he was pre-eminently a straightforward, just, patriotic, and persevering man. That last quality is important beeause I imagine that there are-many otherwise successful citizens who; fail to achieve what they aim for just because of lack of perseverance. There is no better example of the presence of this quality in the veteran statesman than his final entry into politics at the head of the Administration of this country. Of him it could be said as Wordsworth said of 'The Happy Warrior': Who, not conttfnf that former Worth. v stand fast,." Looks forward, persevering to "the last, Prom well to better, daily self ;*urpast.* "What are the secrets of such adman's life!" enquired his Excellency. "One was bis. high ideals with 310 deviation-into anything sordid or unwortbjC jjLnother was self-discipline. There is no quality more desirable among those' who wish to serve their country well than self-discipline. During the" wax years we were all trader intense self-disdplins and were we any the worse .for itf Since then there has been a tendency to relax that hold over self."

LESSON FROM JOSHUA. SERMON BY THE REV. B. WARNOCK. Speaking at the St. Albans Yresby-. terian Church yesterday morning, the Rev. B. Warnock made reference to the loss the Dominion had suffered." in the death of Sir Joseph Ward. His text was from Joshua i., verses 1 and 2 and 6. and 7: "Now after, the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua, the 'son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying: Moses, my servant, is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all thia people into the land which I do give to them even to the children of Israel. Be strong and of a good courage; for unto this people shaft thou divide for an inheritance the land, which.l sware unto their fathers to give them. Only bo thoa strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses, my servant, commanded thee. Turn, not from it to the right hand or to thee. left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. "'" For 40 years the children of Israel had known Moses as their leader, commander and guide, said Mr Warnock. Later on he became the law-giver and the very voice of God. He was the one indispensable man in the nation. In their service Moses had grown old and grey. Before they entered the strange land that lav in front pf them, Moses went up' into the mountain solitude and died. Then the voice of the Lord came to Joshua in .the camp, giving a promise that as He had been with Moses, so He would be with him. To-day our nation mourned the loss of a great statesman and many hearts were filled with sorrow. It was a lesson of spiritual import for every age; no man was indispensable in God's work. His purposes would ripen, fast and the loss of one leader did not paralyse the arm of God. This thought was apt to be overlooked by many, and some people were speculating, as to what had become of the nation since the leader had passed. Doubtless.. God would raise up other men to be leaders in our midst: He saw that thi time produced the man. . The commission entrusted ,*o Joshua had been described as the Magna Charta given to the conunosplace man, for Be was only a soldier.. All could not be leaders, but all could be good men. "A good man is thejbest gift that God can give to a nation," said the speaker. ....-„. ,-> If history Js read aright it would give inspiration, and so while hearts were softened the noble examples of the past should not be forgotten..

A motion of eendolenee witb the relatives of Sir Joseph W«rd . ;»as passed *t the meeting Pioneer Sports dab on Saturday erenfng.