“PATTERN OF A KING”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 100, 22 January 1936, Page 16

“PATTERN OF A KING”

Tributes By Leading Clergymen

GRIEF OF THE CHURCHES

“To his son ami successor King George has left a pattern of what, by the grace of God, a king may be. lie has left to us all, and especially to ail who hold places of responsibility, an example of devoted, unselfish service to the confinon good,” said the Rt. Rev. Dr. T. 11. Sprott, Bishop of Wellington, when adding his tribute to those paid by leading clergy. “My words regarding the death of our beloved and revered King must be few; there may be other occasions when more can be said. The reign which has closed was indeed a troubled reign. When, 25 years ago, King George ascended the throne of this Empire, there was to all outward seeming peace. But there were some thoughtful and foreseeing men who discerned beneath the surface calm tendencies that were moving in- ] evitably toward war. I cannot but think that the King was from the firstcognisant of these forebodings and of the grounds on which they rested, and they must for him have darkened the future. War came and on a scale which the most far-sighted man could not have anticipated. “And now to the King—and I will add to the Queen also —came a period oi uttermost testing. We know how splendidly they stood the test, and, while monarchies great and small were being shaken to their foundations, their Majesties the King and Queen were more deeply rooted in the love and trust of their people. Peace did not come with the end of the war. Suspicion, fear and distrust were everywhere. The final futility of disarmament conferences must have awakened again in the King’s mind darkest forebodings. Then came the world-wide depression with its mass of hopeless unemployment. Truly, the King’s reign was a troubled reign. “And now for him the years of trouble have ended, and revered, beloved and mourned, he has ‘passed to where beyond these voices there is peace.’ ” Great Bereavement.

“The members of the Methodist Church associate themselves with the millions of folk who to-day feel deeply that they have suffered, a very great bereavement in the passing of King George,” said the Rev. Percy Paris, of the Taranaki Street Wesley Church, speaking in the absence from Wellington of the Rev. J. H. Haslam, president of the Methodist Church. “We humbly desire to add our sincere triLute to those which are being paid to the character, worth and work of him who was our beloved King. “There has never been a time when King George -was not honoured and respected, not only because he was our Sovereign, but because he was a man of deeply religious spirit, of a wise and thoughtful mind, and of a humble and generous heart, bringing to the duties of his high office habits and painstaking thoroughness which counted no work too difficult or too tedious, and no hours of labour too long. “It was the tender solicitude of the King for those bereaved in the Great War that revealed the kindness of his heart and awakened in our hearts affection, devotion and loyalty. It was noteworthy that in all the King’s features during his Jubilee the old phrase ‘My subjects’ gave place to the new terms ‘My people, my family, my children.’ “Everywhere Methodists join with their fellow citizens in giving thanks to God for the life and influence of the King, and pray that the Divine comfort and strength may be the portion er the Queen and members of the Royal Family in their great sorrow.” ' His Grace Archbishop O’Shea, Metropolitan of New Zealand, who is presiding oyer the annual retreat of the diocesan clergy at St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, has sent a message io the Governor-General expressing the grief of the Catholic people of New Zealand at the death of a great and good King, and also asking his Excellency to convey a message of sympathy from the Catholic people of New Zealand to the Royal Family.

“In this hour of universal mourning for the passing of our beloved monarch tlie Salvationists of New Zealand units with all loving and loyal hearts in recording their appreciation of the gracious personality and the distinguished reign of our late ruler,” said Commissioner Fred H. Adams, territorial commander. “We bow to Providence. which has permitted the Royal Family and the British Empire to sustain this heavy loss. In the time of darkness and sorrow we lift our hearts in gratitude to Almighty God for the nobility of his late Majesty’s'life and character.”

HEARD ON AIR-LINER News Received in Mid-Strait The news of the King’s death reached passengers of Cook Strait Airways machine bound from Nelson to Wellington while half-way over Cook Strait. Flight Lieutenant G. B. Bolt, chief pilot of the service, who was at the controls, heard the broadcast announcement over the machine's radio set and communicated it to his passengers. THIRTY-THREE CLUB Abandonment of Speeches On receipt of the news of his Majesty's death all speeches and ceremony were abandoned at the luncheon of the Thirty-Three Club, held at the Royal Oak Hotel yesterday. Mr. S. Craig, president of the club, briefly welcomed the guests, Mr. S. Crick, managing director for Australia and New Zealand of the Fox Film Corporation, and Mr. D. Lotberington, Sydney, general manager of R.K.O. Pictures. HALF-MASTING OF FLAGS The New Zealand Ensign will be flown at half-mast on Government offices and on public buildings, and on the half-yard, a foot above the Hag, will be flown a black pennant. This will be observed every day until the close of the day of the funeral, with the exception that on the day of the accession of Hie new King the Hag I will be hoisted until sunset.