TRIBUTE TO A GREAT MAN

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 6

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT MAN

SHACKLETON MEMORIAL SERVICE CANON TAYLOR’S ADDRESS A simple and brief meinorial service organised by the Merchant Service Guild was held at mid-day yesterday in honour of the late Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose body has been committed to the earth in Georgia. The service was conducted by Canon T. Fielden Taylor in the Harbour Board’s shed 22 at the Taranaki Street Wharf. 1 Many attended, though heavy showers were falling. “We have mot together,” said Canon Taylor, “standing in thought round the open grave in far-away Georgia. In thought we watch his friends lower into the grave the remains of oue who proved himself a man. There are men and men. As we inarch along the road of life, you and I leave a greater or less impression upon the sands of time. We meet to-day to honour one who will be remembered through the ages of British history as one of the greatest of British heroes. The Empire of which you and I are privileged to be citizens has a proud record of sailormen —of those who go down to the sea in ships, of the men who do their business in great waters. Indeed, one almost expects to find that a great sailor is a Britisher, and the name of Sir Ernest Shackleton will be added to the long list of those who have earned their laurels on the tempestuous sea. “The late Sir Ernest Shackleton possessed the qualities which make a man immortal. He was essentially a leader. I would the time were long enough for . me to give you a fitting tribute to the memory of so great a man. With the limited time at our disposal, I shall have te content myself with mere statements of great truths on such a life. . I , . . , “What were the qualities which made the great Sir Ernest Shackleton a leader? There were three that stand out. One is dominant personality. Mark you, personality is never an accident. There was his terrific pel severance against mighty odds. I would 1 had time to tell you the story of the trip in the old wooden boat—a trip of 850 miles on the open seas in a mere rowing boat —of Sir Ernest Shackleton and four others. It is a mighty story of perseverance against tremendous odds. '• ■ . , ~ “It is fitting that his body should rest in Georgia, the scene of that terrific walk—a walk never previously done, and a walk never done since. I sav to you that the things which make a man a leader are Personality, perseverance, and determi nation. B in the case of the leader of such an enterprise there is another essential qualification, and Sir Ernest Shackleton possessed it to an amazing extent. Above all these essentials, there was his love of and his e a re for bis mem I think his men came first and bir Ernest Shackleton came last, it was always the comfort of his men he sought, always their safety be strove for That iourney in the open boat over the wild seas was taken because of his'men. When he might have sent s someone else back to rescue them, he went back himself. He was a man te whom fear and despair were unkn“He rose from humble beginnings. He lived his life in the conviction that God was with him. He lived it sure that God was his guide, and he had God as his goal. It is great to find that such a brave man, that such a clever man, that such a scientific man, in this ace of doubt, believed in GodAnd that when the end cams he passed away into the Unseen afraid te meet his Maker. “As we stand in thought at that uraWeside. as we leave another great Britisher lying miles away from h.mie, we must feel that Georgia will now have something British in its associa tions for to Georgia is committed the IXe all “V™ ns wc mav be as ready as he was to go’West; for to be ready te go > Ves iS During portion? of the bU “Eternal Father. Strong to Save and “Lead, Kindly Light” were» > h-rnd from the Salvation Army J rain ing College accompanied the bymns, md played a funeral piece at the conto be present.