THE LATE PREMIER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1906, Page 2

THE LATE PREMIER.

PULPIT REFERENCES. i In the majority of tho city churches yesterday reference was made to tho death of Mr. Seddon. ST. PAUL'S PRO-CATHEDRAL. ■ Dr. Wallis, Anglican Bishop of Wei- ', lineton, in course of his sermon at ( Matins in St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral yesterday took for his text Job xxix. • vbrses 24 and 25. His Lordship said ; that the purpose of the Book of Job was to treat of the demand pf the human heart for asolntion of the two kindred mysteries, of suffering and death His Lordship dealt interestingly . and learnedly Vvith the several aspects of the question, and said that if the problem was exhibited in tho book more clearly than the. solution, seeing that ] for the full solution the light of the ; Christian revelation was needed, tho record had a lesson ■ for all that was well worth the learning. . . . Job's ; chief glory— the last touch he put to the picture he painted of his former happiness — was that he used his great ■ power for the relief of the distressed. His Lordship's hearers would know why he had chosen these words for his text, J on a day of mourning not only for New Zealand, but for every corner of tho British Empire — a mourning profounder and more widely spread than any they could remember except that which followed the death of their late beloved Queen ; when the solemn voices of guns and church bells had told of the bringing to our shores of the body of a truly great man who at £he zenith of his greatness had passed from this world \vithout pain, without a struggle, into the immediate presence of Almighty God. He was born to rule. . . and how diligently ho employed the gifts God gave him, how quickly the talents entrusted to him multiplied in his keeping, we had been forcibly reminded from one who knew him well — a political opponent who never failed > >n generous admiration of the sterling qualities of his great rival. After a reference to_ the Premier's hopefulness and promptitude of action in the early iagos of the Anglo-Boer War, when the hearts of most of us were full of gloomy forebodings. Dr. Wallis said it was not on that achievement Mr. Seddon would. have based his claim to our gratitude had he been alive and with us to-day ; but rather that he had made this country a poor man's home and that he had helped to save him and his family at a financial crisis in our history from irretrievable ruin ; that he had provided a simple method for adjusting those disputes between employer and employed which, whatever might be the issues, rarely failed aforetime to bequeath a legacy pf bitterness and suspicion ; ' that by legislation, which at almost .the last moment of his life he was striving to make more perfect, he had saved the .working man in this land from the dread that haunts his brother in the Home land, of the workhouse in his old age and at his death a pauper's grave' He was a true friend to the distrcsscd>. European and Maori alike. Many families could tell of helpful messages of comfort received in their hour of sorrow ; many a miner on the West Coast, many an ex-Govern-ment servant who had fallen on evil days* gratefully remembered words and deeds of kindness unrecorded and unknown. Having regard to those things, and the beauty and purity of that home life known to all, they reverently commended him m the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the tender mercies of God, certain that all the good they bad seen and " prized in any one of ■ out fellow-servants .was more plainly seen by the Master and prized of him more dearly ; humbly trusting that those last messages of "going to God's own country" and "coming home at last would prove to bo true though unconscious prophecies of rest in that "sweet and j blessed country, \the homo of God's eiecfc," which was bright with the sunshine of God's unending peace. SACRED HEART BASTLICA. Feding reference' to the death of Mr. Seddon was made by the Rev Father Hoi- ■ ley at the Sacred Heart Church, Hill-, street, yesterday morning. Let them hope, he said, that the Premier's last message wae prophetic, and that he was leaving for "Qod's Own Country," that he left for the Kingdom of Heaven, that his soul was such in the sight of Almighty God at that time as to win his admittance into His Kingdom. On that occasion it might be as well to remind Catholics of what they could do in regard to those who without any fault of their own were separated f?om them in what they called the Body of the Church. Could they pray for Richard John Seddon, that he might be at rest with Almighty God! Privately, yes; not publicly, because he did not publicly belong to what they called the Body of the Church, although they hoped and trussed and had every ropson to believe that he did belong to whiit they called the Sou) of the Chinch. Their doctrine regarding exclmiveness of i*iL\\ition only referred to those who knowingly and wilfully remained outside the fold of the Church. Of such was not. they believed, Richard John Seddon, and he advised the congregation to pruy, jiiiyately, fdr the repose-of his soul; that was one of the greatest acts of charity they could perform; and it would he giute. consistent with their strictest notious of what was allowed, and but for the fact that the Church was that day celebrating the Feast of tho Bleesed Sacrament (when, no emblem 6f mourn ing could appear) the church would have been draped as a symbol of the grief they felt at the death pf the great Premier of New Zealand. His Qrace Archbishop Redwood had cabled to Mrs. Seddon at Sydney, on behalf- of himself and the clergy and laity in the archdiocese of Wellington, expressing their sorrow and condoling with her and her family. They Catholics felt perhaps particularly keen sorrow at the death of one who was, ns far, as ho could be, their friend. Hie friendship was translated into acts on one occasion in a very emphatic manner. It was when the spark of bigoury had put in an appearance in the House of Representatives, and when sectarian jealousy and strife and c.alutnny and detraction rose in regard to a certain section of the community.;.. when fiery speeches arid dramatic acting on the floor of the House fanned that . spark into a flame, that promised at the time to 'bring with it more serious consequences. It was then that the manliness, the courage, the justice of the Premier abetted itself, and he. proclaimed that he personally would be no party to any injustice being inflicted on any member or section of the community, no matter whau his religion might be, for religious purposes. His influence and wciglity woids carried an amendment by a naerow majority, to what was regarded, "aa a Bill that would bring about tho : extinction in the colony ot one of the religious orders of the Church. Therefore they expressed publicly that day their gratitude to the great one who was now dead, and again assured liia widow and children of their sincere sympathy ir> the great loss which they and the colony had sustained. At tho service in St. Mary of the Angels yesterday morning the Rev. Father Kimbell made special reference, before beginning his sermon, to the life, works, and personal character of the late Premier. He also referred to Mr. Seddon's domestic trials, and eulogised his personal and patriotic services to tho polony. A.t the close, of the. Ma/s»<

the "Dead March" -was played by Father Kitpbell, the congregation standing. Kuchner's "Dead March" -was played afc the evening seryice. ST. JOHN'S. An In Memoriam service to the late Mr. Seddon was conducted in St. John's Presbyterian Church last, evening by the Rev. Dr. Gibb. Ihe preacher said the man whose deat.h they were commemorating was one of th© strongest, most capable, mast 6trenuous men who had served a State in the colonies. Men like the deceased statesman appeared once in a generation. That was neither the time nor the place to estimate the value of his politics or the quality of his oharacter, for they stood too near to both to make it possible to pass a wise sentence on either. He spoke of the huge budgets of condolences sent to deceased's family from all quarters of the world, and eaid he was sorry to see in so few references made to the Supreme Disposer of Events. The late statebman was never afraid to name the name of God, and many times of 'ate he indicated his belief that the work he was doing was in accordance with his conception of the Divine will for the people of New Zealand. The nation had lost n great man ; his family had lost a devoted husband, a loving and tender father. 6T. JAMES'S. fn the course of an impressive sermon from the- text., "Bo yo also ready," Hie Rev. W. Shirer, in the course of his discourse at St. James's Church, Adelaide-road, last evening, took occasion to refer to the subject which he said was engaging all men's thoughts-— the sudden removal of th© most prominent man in the community. Ho referred to 'Mr. Seddon as one who by energy and force of character had risen superior to his environment. He was one irreproachable in his family life, loyal in his friendships,' and with a profound lovn for his country. Us had proved by the measures ha had initialed, his sympathy for the toiler, the aged, and Infirm, the woman and the child. Incidentally the preacher mentioned that most v ouching of all tho tributes to Mr iSoddon s memory vvliieli lincl^ yet appeared — an anonymous, '■'reverie" in üba previous evening's Post, entitled " Hja Last Voyago" — which for sympathetic appreciation, and high and tender thought felicitously expressed, stood out conspicuously amid the mass of mattei that had been published on the subject. AT WESLEY CHURCH*. The Rev. P. W. Fairclough, at Wesley Church, took for his text 1. Samuel, xx.. l 8: "Thou shalt be missed because thy seat shall be empty." The preacher dwelt upon the universality of the regret that had been expressed for Mr. Seddon'e decease. In this there was element of comfort for those most nearly bereaved, and to the citizens of New Zealand there was an clement of qualification, and pride that the world did not think that duriiig ■*Ul those years we had suffered ourselves to do governed by a mere pigmy, but that our great citizen was great beyond the narrow limits of our own affairs. We had been contemporaries and fellow-citi-zens with an extraordinary man wbc would perhaps give his name to the period in which he lived — a milestone oi history. CONGREGATIONAL. Incorporated with the regular servicf in the Congiegatfional Church at New. town last night was a short special memorial s&rvice. Mr. Callaghan sang "Thou art Passing Hence." after which the Rev. W. A. Evans delivered an impressive eulogy upon the late Premier. He spoke of the strong and vigorous personality of Mr. Seddon tlhe ma# and his great courage as a statesman. ' An imposing and striking leader of men had gone, and the Empire as well as the colony would miss him. The .preacher prayed that a leader as good as Mr. Seddon might be found to guide the colony, and tlinb the politics of New Zealand might be still further uplifted. The "Dead Maxch in Saul" was played on the organ by Mr. Hayes, the congregation standing throughout the playing oi the composition. Mr. Granville Hunt, who "illed .the pulpit in the Courtenay-place Congregational Chinch last night (the Rev. Ut. Aspland being in Nelson), preached n memorial sermon on the text " I have fought." The Dead March was played on the organ at the morning and evening services. •At the Terrace Congregational Church the Rev. J. R. Glasson refered to Mr. Seddon as a great statesman, and said that from what he knew of Mr. Seddon he was convinced that he had a profound reverence for God. His family and home life were-such as we could .remember with gratitude, and his loyalty to his old friends was very touching; he had a great, warm, human heart. PRIMITIVE METHODIST. A memorial service was conducted last evening in the Donald M'Lean-street Primitive Methodist Church by the Rev. J. Cocker and Mr. C. M. Luke. The Rev. J. Cocker spoke on the subject of "The Passing of a Great Man," and Dook for his text, "And thou ehalt be missed, for thy seat will be ■ empty." The preacher 6aid Air. Seddon would not only leave a great vacancy in his home and in the Legislature, but he would be missed Imperially, because tihe late Premier was an Imperial patriot and a true Briton. Mr. C. M. Lnke spoke of the personal side of the late Premier's life, referring to his good nature, strong sympathy, and readiness' to help those who were in trouble. Standing in silence, the congregation adopted a motion of sympathy with the bereaved family. Th« Rev. C. E. Ward made- speoial reference in the courso of his service in the Sydney-street Primitive. Methodist Church, lost night to the passing away of Mr. Seddon. Tho proaoher said Mr. Seddon was a great public leader. He entered into the, lives of the people,'eepscinlly tho toilers, in a manner unparallelled by our^public men. Hence he enjoyed the sfneere popularity of the people over whom he ruled and whom he served, [p the best sense he was a great piiblic servant, the mind and wishes of tho people being much to him. Friends and foe. acknowledged his worth as it man, a colonist, and a constructive statesman, and his personality loomed large. Tho Australian States, Great Britain, and even Franco had felt and acknowledged his great influence. He .fas a great 'Englishman, a man after tho Btamp of the early Empire-builders, and a groat citizen of the Empire, yet first anu last and always a Now Zealandcr. 1 Loyalty to hi 3 own was a proat feature in his character. At the cloeo of Mr. Ward's oddross the congregation rose to : show sympathy to Mrs. Seddon and family in their sudden great but honoured ' loss. The Dead -March was played. VIVIAN-STREET BAPTIST. At the Vivian-street Baptist Church, tho Roy. J. J. North spoke of the death 1 of tho Hon. R. J. Seddon. He instanced his rise from lowly rank, his great capacity for work, and his patriotism, < and concludod with a sympathetic refer- > once to tho widow and family of the de- • ceased statesman. The largo audience I rose while- tho church organist, Mr. C. ► Collins, played the- Dead March from