CHILDREN'S SERVICE. SPEECH, PRAYER AND HYMN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1910, Page 9

CHILDREN'S SERVICE. SPEECH, PRAYER AND HYMN.

fiCJSNE IN THE BASIX RESERVE. .Reverence was the keynote of the children's memorial service in the Basin Reserve. The young folk were practically all Sunday school scholars, although all other children were invited to take paTt. There appeared, however, to be more adults than children present, for the pavilion, bandstand, and tho slopes were black with people, and they stretched from one angle of the green to the other. Just inside the iailings was a piatiorm hung with violet and black trimmings. Here the service was conducted, and among those who took part were the Prime Minister (Sir Joraph Ward) and Lady Ward, Hon. Dr. I'mdlay, Hon. Jas Mackenzie, Hon. Jas. Carroll, Hon. ±t M'Kenzie, Hon. G. Fowlde, the Mayoi (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), Hon. C M. Luke, and Mr. J. P. Luke. M.P. Most of the children were Sunday • »chool children, although a general invitation to all scholars, day or Sunday ohool was given. Incidentally it may be mentioned that ir one day school of 300 scholars, there were only eight who iwero unattached' to a Sunday school. The children formed up in schools around the platform, where the cadets and boy scouts were on duty lined up in ranks two deep. Tarpaulins were thoughtfully spread over a considerable *tea around the platform to prevent the little one 9 suffering from cold feet, the grass being naturally damp. Mr. W. HopkiTk, vice-president of the Sunday Schoo.l Union, gave out the liymn, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and in doing so reminded the- children that the service was a religious exercise, and, therefore, all should take part in tho singing. They were meeting together to acknowledge God and to worship Him. If this were borne to mind, then such a service would be acceptable to God. Ray. S. J. Serpell (Methodist) read the beautiful sentences from the Burial Service, beginning "I am the resurrection and the life." Rev. W. Shirer (Presbyterian) read from I. Cor. xv. 35-58. The hymns, "When Our Heads are- Bowed with Woe" (Rev. A. Dewdjiey, Bapttist), "Nearer, My God to Thee" (Rev. MD. Aspland, Congregationalist), and "Abide- With Me" (Rev. P. J. Cossum, Primitive Methodist), were given out and sung, the Central Mission Band (Mr. Harry Baker, conductor) supplying the accompaniments. Mr. G. Flux explained to the children the object of the gathering they */ere taking part in the sorrow of the Great Empire of which they, the boys and girls of New Zealand, formed a part. He held it to be incongruous to have to announce a holiday on the day that the news of the King's death was .eceived. Personally, he would have preferred there being no holiday on that day. It had been :aid that the King had 1 died in harness ; children, he found, had a vague idea of what that meant. One boy thought it meant that the King had died in uniform, and yet another boy thought th& King had died 'n armour From the fact that the King had died in harness he (Mr. Flux) drs-.v a lesson of industry, expressing tho wish that it would be the lot of •t^io young folk to die in harness. Parents, too, from the care taken by the lato King to instruct his successor in the duties that would devolve uoon him, might wsll take to heart King Edward's example. They should leave nothing to chance in tho training of their children. Of King George, he spoke with profound respect and loyalty, concluding — Maj lie dcfcr.J on." laws, And escr give us cause To sing with heart and voice, fiod &avc the King. "God t>l«ss the Queei Mother, God oless the Queen " Mr. H. N. Holmes (V.M.C.A.) said there- was but one message proclaimed by the tolling bell, the flag at halfias.l: "The King is dead !" From 'England, Ireland, Canada, Africa, Auc•.rafia, and Now Zealand came one sad cry : "The King is dead !" The British flag was lowered, and yet the people would not permit armed hosts to lower It to the position it had that day. But they stood in the presence of one whose

command could not be resisted, one who came into palace and cottage- alike. God's finger touched .the King when that flag was lowered, and a mighty Empire mourned. No English King that had ever lived had left such a glorious record as that left by Edward the Peacemaker. Every boy — every brown boy, black boy, and yellow boy wherever that flag then at half-mast was flying would weep for the Great White Father who had gone. The great quality in King Edward that endeared him to his people was bis manliness. He was a Kingly man, a King among Kings, and his personality had made his throne the greatest of all thrones. The boys nn-l girls should remember the- example of their King, and do their duty as he did it. England would be best served as those who sought to serve her would live and work for the Empire in the spirit and power of the late King and Emperor. The Lord's prayer was offered by Mr. S. J. Mathieson (Church of Christ-), and th& benediction was pronounced by Rev. J. Gibson Simtli (Presbyterian). The band played with gTeat expression "The Garland of Flowers," while all present stood uncovered, and with bowed heads. This concluded the service. ST. PAUL'S PRO-CATHEDRAL. A memorial service was held at fat. Paul's pro-Cathedral yesterday morning, the building being Tull to overflowing. Among those present was his Excellency the Governor. The interior of the Cathedral was suitably draped, and the proceedings were characterised throughout by great solemnity and impressiveness. Following the processional hymn, "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er," sung by the united congregation, was an appropriate bass solo, "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (Parker) by Mr. C. Clarkson, whose rendition was excellent. Sir Arthur Sullivan's anthem, "Wreaths for Our Graves" was sung by the choir and congregation. The Yen. Archdeacon T. Fancourt said that the day was one of great mourning and sorrow throughout the whole British Empire. The late King was held in the highest honour and love because of what he proved himself to be, and the whole wide world had learned to respect him. Words were utterly inadequate to express that which lay at the bottom of every heart, not only in New Zealand, but among the vast throngs that with bowed heads and reverential demeanour, would on that day be pacing the streets of London. Were* a testimony to his greatness and goodness required, it was found in the number of representative monarchs and statesmen who had gathered together to pay their last tokens of respect to him whom they admitted foromost among men. The primary and dearest object of his life was peace and goodwill among men. "Edward the Peacemaker" was no mere passing title conferred upon him ; he would be known by that name to history and to the long ages yet tc come. Ho strove earnestly for the peace, welfare, and happiness of his subjects, and thought of them as would a father. To the poor, the suffering and the sick he was a kindly friend. King Edward was a great and noble example — an example that would have effect in the years to come, as one who was gentle, kindly, loving, vOUiteous, and withal firm and strong. We had now a King who was well instructed by his father in the difficulties and tasks that lay before him, and who had a sympathetic knowledge of all parts of the Empire. He had given us an earnest that he would be a true, iaithiul, and wise King. A tenor solo waß sung by Mi I . «] fas. Searle, "Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth ' (Mendelssohn), and the rervice concluded with the playing of the Dead March in "Saul" (Handel), the congregation standing.