THE KING’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 22247, 27 January 1936, Page 6

THE KING’S DEATH

MEMORIAL TRIBUTES

Nation-wide Commemoration

Local Services and Addresses The universality of the tributes paid to the memory of His Majesty, King George V., at the memorial services held throughout the Dominion yesterday afforded further indication of the affection and regard in which the late King was held, many eulogies being made concerning the late King’s personality, life, and noble example to his people. Services of a most impressive nature were held in all the local churches, ahd wjere attended by large congregations.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL AN UNCONFINED INFLUENCE St. Paul's Cathedral was packed so that many people were unable to find seating accommodation last evening, when a special service was held to commemorate the death of King George ,V. A special form of service was arranged by Bishop Fitchett. The anthem, ‘ Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace,’ was sung, and Mr Heywobd was the organist, “ Daring the past few days throughout the Empire, and largely throughout the world, the predominant thoughts have been of our late King, »nd of his passing to his well-earned rest,'” said Bishop Fitchett. “ Throughout' the Empire, because he occupied a very special place in the hearts of Ws people; throughout the world because, not only by position, but by Character, he exercised an influence far too great to be limited to the confines of the Empire. During his illness the bulletins were awaited with a tense anxiety 'reminiscent of the time of His Majesty’s former serious illness of a few years ago, when it seemed almost certain that he would not be spared to us. The national anxiety of those days turned to a great and sincere rejoicing when it was made known that the King was regaining his health. The more recent anxiety, of shorter duration but none the less intense, terminated with the nows of His Majesty’s death; and the whole Empire was plunged into profound sorrow'. The passing of one Sovereign and the accession of another sometimes cause a nation great concern regarding its future. There are fears and forebodings as to what changes, political, social, and economic, may take place; but the anxiety of the time of waiting and the sorrow we now feel have in no way been caused by any concern as to the future of .the Empire, either in its international relationship or _in its internal affairs —political, social, or economic. Such is our confidence in the wisdom, experience, and high ideals of service for his peoples possessed by King Edward VIII.', that we know that the noble example set by the Sovereign we mourn will be nobly followed by his illustrious son. “This being' so,” continued the Bishop, “ the anxiety we experienced and the sorrow we now feel have relation solely to the late King’s person. We mourn the loss to ourselves of one who, for more than a quarter of a century, has been to us a noble example —an example tbat_ has been not merely a matter for admiration, but has also been a great source of inspiration. We of baser clay may have fallen far short of living up to that example; but there must be few r who have not been uplifted to higher ideals of the meaning and purpose of life as an opportunity of services for God and man by the intimate knowledge we have had of the lives of King George and Queen Mary. And never in previous history have a King and Queen been so intimately known by their subjects. Many well remember their visit to this country when Duke and Duchess - of Cornwall and York, and through the wonders of wireless it has been possible for us to receive messages from the King far more intimately than by reading them in cold print. In the tones of his own voice, in his own beautifully-enuncia-ted English, to which it was a delight to listen, ho has spoken to us; and we have been thrilled by the self-evident sincerity of his interest in us, and his care for us.

“ Fortunate indeed has this Empire been in having had the throne occupied in succession by three such mouarchs as Queen Victoria, King Edward VII., and King George V.,” said the Bishop. “It has been pointed out that during those three reigns the prerogatives and executive powers of the Crown have greatly diminished ; but at the same time the influence of the throne has enormously increased. During the reign of King George, in other countries thrones have perished and forms of government have changed—frequently as the result of disorder, revolution, and bloodshed; but the throne of the British Empire has become more and more secure, and it was never more firmly established than it is to-day. This is so, because during the troublous time through which the world passed in the years of the Great War, and has experienced since as a result of the war, the throne was occupied by one whose natural dignity, whose wise exercise of influence, whoso gentle and generous kindliness, whose courage and fortitude in times of national anxiety, whose readiness to use his position to serve the welfare, of his subjects, whose personal goodness, siirlple trust in God and unobtrusively religious life enthroned him in the hearts of,his people. As King and Emperor, he showed us how positions of influence should be used, not for selfaggrandisement or for personal profit of any sort, but as opportunities of service for the welfare of others. This is a high ideal, but King George lived up to it. ' In his family fife he set an example of simple living, sane_ discipline, and affectionate companionship. He demonstrated what family life should be. As a sportsman ne combined keenness with the will always to play the game. As a man he loved his fellow men and sought to serve them. King though be whs, he was a model husband and father, a man of men, and not only by virtue of his position

but by virtue of his personality and character h© was the first gentleman of England. As a Christian he had a sincere faith, he loved and served his Church, and he strove to walk in the steps of his Divine Master.

In that fierce light that beats upon a throne, And blackens every blot

King George lived and worked more than 25 years, and yet that light, infinitely fiercer to-day than when Tennyson penned those lines, has revealed to us no blot to lessen our reverence and affection for him. “ There have been monarchs who have been termed ‘ great,’ but have not been good,” added the bishop. “ Again, thrones have been occupied by good men who have been anything but great kings. King George was both great and good. As modern times do not offer opportunities to kings for great military exploits, ,or other conspicuous achievements, it is improbable that the term ‘ great ’ will be attached to a king’s name in the future. But for the difficult years of the reign of King George, it is highly improbable that we could have had a king who could have been greater than he proved himself to be in his ability to maintain_ the dignity and influence of his position, and to win the everincreasing love of his people; and that greatness arose from the fact that he himself was_ good. Our King has passed to his rest from arduous and anxious labours, performed with great devotion, frequently at great selfsacrifice when in ill-health. Our sorrow is not for him. but for his sorrowing Queen, the other members of the Royal Family, and for ourselves as members of his greater family. Our King has left us to appear before the King of Kings, the God whom he trusted and loved, and whom he strove to serve., His earthly crown he has left to be worn worthily by his son. He was gone to ‘ receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.’ ”

HOLY CROSS, ST. KILDA “ A CHRISTIAN MONARCH " Archdeacon W. Curzon-Siggers preached at a memorial service held at Holy Cross Church, St. Kilda, yesterday morning. “ The same divine power which healed the Centurion’s servant and cured the leper was that to which the Archbishop of Canterbury referred when, preaching at Canterbury Cathedral last Sunday morning, he expressed his belief that God’ would heal and cure our late beloved King George the Fifth of pious, blessed, and glorious memory, so that he might be preserved for many years to "rule over this world-wide Empire; yet, amid the prayers and deep sorrow of his people of all creeds and races throughout the Empire, he passed to paradise on Tuesday last,” said the preacher. “ His doctors tell us that had King George been less sympathetic and less unselfish and had taken their advice to go to a warmer climate during the winter months of the last five years he might have been alive to-day. He said that he could not go away for his own benefit while his people at home were suffering so much from loss of trade as well as from loss of employment. Hence, he died a victim and martyr to that high ideal of duty and of sympathy with distress which was so characteristic of him. Historians refer to the late Queen Victoria as Victoria the Good and to the late King Edward VII. as Edward the Peacemaker. I make bold to say that in years to come they will refer to the late King George as George the Compassionate or as George the Sympathetic. He was the most outstanding and most Christian monarch of his time, and, indeed, of any time in the world’s, as well as the Empire’s, history. From the age of 16, when his mother, the late Queen Alexandra, gave him a copy of the Bible, asking him to promise to read a chapter daily (which he always did), till he died he was a regular reader of the Bible and a devout worshipper at church and at home, not from a sense of duty, but because he loved God and loved to worship Him. He loved also to retire to his country home at Sandringham, as did his august father, and, after attending the morning service at the parish church there, he would in the afternoon take his friends and any visitors that might be staying at the house around his estate, showing them his cattle in pasture and in stall, and the agricultural produce of his fields on his farm. He loved farming and tried to improve the breed of cattle and the produce of the land, so as to encourage farmers to try and make England independent of foreign countries for supplies of meat and cereal foods. His favourite hymn was Hymn 298 of Hymns Ancient and Modern, which probably expressed his personal experiences of his faith and soul in the words:—‘Ransom’d, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing.’ And the assurance he felt that God was his loving Heavenly Father in the words:—‘Praise Him for His grace and favour to our fathers in distress, praise Him still the same as ever, slow to chide and swift to bless.’ And the comfort he felt that God docs sympathise with us in our weaknesses

in the words;—‘Father-like, He tends and spares us, well our feeble frame He knows, jn His hands He gently bears us, rescues usfrom all our foes.’ Whilst his hope of the future was expressed in the words: —‘ Angels in the height adoro Him, ye behold Him face to face, saints triumphant bow before Him, gather’d in from every race. Alleluia! Alleluia! Braise with us the God of grace.’ So we leave Him with God. _ Let us follow his life, and more especially in having that sympathy he had for all: Sympathy which is a gentle nature shown through gracious deeds,” concluded Archdeacon Curzon-Siggers.

ST. MATTHEW'S FAITH OF DEAD RULER The services at St. Matthew’s throughout the day were fully commemorative, special prayers being offered at all services and appropriate lessons and hymns chosen. The vicar, the Rev. W. A, Hamblett, officiated. In the morning, speaking from tho opening words of Psalm 72, “ Give the King Thy judgments, 0 God, and Thy righteousness unto the King’s son,” the preacher emphasised King George’s faith in and dependence upon God as the secret of his great influence. .It secured purity of home life and manifested itself in the character of the viceroys and governors whom he chose to represent him abroad. By His Majesty’s constant and unwearied efforts to promote peace and goodwill amongst men he had helped to secure for the nation and Empire the proud position of leadership in all that was best which it held to-day amongst the nations of the world. At the evening service the preacher chose as Iris text Galatians chapter 6, verse 10. “As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them of the household of faith.” This, said tho preacher, might oe taken as a motto for the King’s life. He attained greatness by becoming the servant of all.' Duty as he conceived it was expressed through loving sympathy with all the varied members of his great Empire, and especially during the Great War and in the difficult days that followed. By entering fully into their labours, sorrows, and sacrifices be won the love of all. The proof of this was amply demonstrated on many occasions—at the close of the war, during the serious illneSs of the King last year, at his silver jubilee, and in the anxious days of his last illness and death. Mr Baldwin’s statement that the King was “ the first gentleman in the land” found universal accepr/uico as a just tribute. Such was tho beneficent influence of his life that the King had no enemies at home or abroad, but was everywhere recognised and acclaimed as friend. The King and Queen had renderd great service to the Empire also by training the princes to follow in bis footsteps and by bequeathing a son who was recognised as the first ambassador of the Empire, and who was already proving himself possessed of that thoughtfulness for the welfare of his people which was so characteristic of King George. The evening service concluded with expressions of heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved Queen and the members of the Royal Family, and with prayers for the Divine consolation and guidance. Mr Axel Newton presided at the organ and played in the morning Beethoven’s ‘ Funeral March,’ and in the evening ‘ Garland of Flowers ’ (Oakes), the ‘ Dead March ’ in ‘ Saul ’ (Handel), and ‘Song of a Hero’ (Volkmann), besides leading in the National Anthem at both services.

FIRST CHURCH KINGLY IDEALS " Large congregations attended First Church yesterday when special services were held in memory of His Majesty, King George V. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the pulpit was draped in mourning. The preacher at both services was the Rev. Allen Stevely, and Mr R. D. Nimmo acted as organist. The subject at the morning diet of worship was ‘ Kingly Ideals. “ Our late monarch',” said the preacher, “was a noble King, and be cherished kingly ideals. It has been finely said that ideals are the heart of all true progress. In giving thanks to Almighty God for a noble reign and a gracious King, w© cannot fail to make mention of the splendid ideals King George envisioned. For these we owe our late sovereign a debt of love, and they are our hope for years to come. What were some of those kingly ideals that stirred that royal heart? Any cross-section of his notable reign reveals them. One was King George’s high ideal of kingship. Prior to his coronation in 1911, at the ceremony of unveiling the new Queen Victoria memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, His Majesty said, ‘ Her life was devoted to the discharge of her solemn public duty. Her authority was exercised on all occasions with sincere resipect for constitutional usage and tradition. No reign in this kingdom ever gathered up more carefully the treasures of the past or. prepared more hopefully the path of the future. No woman was ever held in higher honour. No Queen was ever loved so well.’ These words were indeed prophetic. They are not only a tribute to a great Queen; they are also a testimony to King George’s conception of -kingship. This, on the eve of his coronation, was the _ ideal of tho exalted position to which God was calling him. The best commentary on his“faithfulness to that high ideal is the measure in which these words are true of himself. That the vision splendid never faded is gathered. from one of his late broadcasts from Sandringham : ‘ May I add very simply and sincerely that if I may be regarded as-in some true sense the head of'this great and widespread family, sharing its life and sustained by its affection, this will be a full reward for the long and sometimes anxious labours of my reign of well-nigh five and twenty years.’ We find it in that last word to his secretary, ‘ How is tho Empire?’ Tho ideal was with him to the cud.

“ Then there was his vision of a better national and international life,” added the preacher. “ In November, 1918, in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster, in reply to the addresses of the two Houses of Parliament, King George spoke of the task before the nation and all peoples if a better world wore to be built out of the wreckage of the old. His words contain the challenge and inspiration of robust idealism: ‘ In what spirit shall we approach these great problems? How shall we seek to achieve tho victories of peace ? Can we do better than remember the lessons which the years of war have taught? In those years Britain and her traditions came to mean more to ns than they had ever meant before. It became a privilege to serve her in whatever wav one could, and we were all drawn by the sacrednoss of the cause into a comradeship which

fired oar zeal and nerved our efforts. This is the spirit we nuist try to preserve. It is on the sense of brotherhood and mutual goodwill, on a common devotion to the common interest of the nation as a whole, that the future prosperity and strength must be built up.’ The King set the nation an inspiring example by his unfailing sympathy and helpful interest in the need of others. On his deathbed at intervals of consciousness there was a kind inquiry or observation about someone. His ideal points the way along which mankind must travel to a better world. “ Both these ideas sprang from and were sustained by the King’s Christian faith and piety,” said Mr Stevely. “His grand ideal was personal loyalty to Christ. _ During a period when creeds were in solution and a certain languor fell upon belief King George lived with an unspoiled heart. He was a Christian gentleman. The note of Christian faith he often struck was not the mere convention of office. The spirit of love lie diffused and which profoundly affected the national temper was the fruit of fellowship with Christ. The motto of his life seems to have been, ‘To me to live is Christ.’ His gracious influence lay in what he was. He was a man of simple faith in Jesus Christ. With the Queen and his family to aid him, he made Britain not only a nation, hut a family. Majesty belongs to the royal office. To that King George added grace—a grace that flows from fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That was why the news of our beloved Sovereign’s death was received everywhere with personal grief, not only at Home, but throughout the Empire, and far beyond its bounds. We honour his memory. His life of kingly ideals points us to Him Who is King of Kings and King of Grace. As citizens of the Empire we extend our warmest sympathy to the bereaved Queen and members of the Royal Family. May God comfort and sustain them. Let us comply with the request contained in Mr Baldwin’s message of Wednesday: ‘We can best honour his noble memory by sustaining the young King who assumes exacting responsibilities. May God guide him aright, and God save the King.’ ” The subject of the address at the evening service was ‘ A King Loving and Beloved.’ “ King George,” said the preacher, “ will go down to history as the King loving and beloved. The sorrow at the passing of our gracious Monarch is worldwide. We can hardly realise that our friend, the King, is dead. He belonged to all in a special way. He was heloved. His sceptre was the mutual goodwill and affection of his far-flung Empire. The State funeral of King Edward VH. took place on May 20, 1910. Through crowded streets the solemn cortege passed in bright summer weather. Besides King George, eight kings followed the Royal casket—the German Emperor, the King of the Belgians, the Sovereigns of Norway, Greece, and Spain, of Bulgaria, Portugal, and Denmark. It was an impressive spectacle. But it was not given to any spectator to see the shadow of doom which hung over the glittering company, or to know what havoc the next decade would make with their thrones. Look at the above list and note how many thrones were swept away. The remarkable thing is that the British Empire, which seemed so lightly held together and whose very existence was in that decade so greatly imperilled, was preserved. Clearly there is something stronger than force. Love, faith, goodwill are stronger and more enduring. The Bible declares love to be the greatest thing in the world. Love was the sceptre His Majesty King George wielded. The significance of the fact has been well expressed by the Earl of Athlone in these words: ‘ Foreigners may note with wonder and admiration what ite take as a'matter of course, that while empires have crumbled and monarchies have been overset, the King of England remains more securely enthroned than ever before. The reason is not far to seek. The explanation is the King, the representative of his people, and the affection and respect with which his people regard him. It is not the empty word of idle rhetoric but the accomplished fact of history that our Empire is held together and has survived by the golden cords of friendship that converge at the throne of a King, loving and beloved.

“ In November, 1928, at the Armistice Day celebration,” continued Mr Stevely, “ His Majesty King George caught a chill which developed into a dangerous pleurisy. .At Christmas of that year a shadow hung over the Palace. People waited anxiously for news as if the sick man had been their closest kin. A little girl brought some violets to the Palace gates. Early in the new year the crisis had passed. In April the King issued a message which the Empire will never forget. There is a passage of surpassing beauty and. pathos in that Royal message; ‘ It has been an encouragement beyond description to find that my constant and earnest desire has been granted—the desire to gain the confidence and affection of my people.’ His Majesty declared that a very potent factor in his recovery was the widespread and loving solicitude with which the Queen and he were surrounded. His illness had evoked a passion of loyal concern which is without a parallel. It was a reflection of the sympathy the King himself always manifested in his people. His poorest subjects were deeply touched by his genuine fellow-feeling. A factory girl living in a street made desolate by a bomb was speaking about his visit to the East End of • London, and remarked : ‘ He’s got a nice mind. He couldn’t have minded more if it had been his own street.’ A writer to the London ‘ Times ’ said the expression ‘ bis own street ’ deserved to become historic. That will be so, for King George’s entire reign will be entered in history as that of a King loving and beloved. The tides of the affection between monarch and people were gathering to the full at the jubilee celebration in 1935. Listen again to King George’s broadcast to the Empire on that occasion : ‘ At the close of this memorable day I must speak to my people everywhere, yet how can I express what is in my mind? . . . How could I fail to be most deeply moved? Words cannot express my thoughts and feelings. 1 can only say to you, my very dear people, that the Queen and I Jdiank you from the depths of our hearts for all the loyalty, and may I say love, with which on this day and always you have surrounded us. I dedicate myself anew to your service for the years that may be still given to me.’ What are these but the words of a King, loving and beloved? King George was more than King. He was friend. The noblest patriotism in the last analysis is a spiritual thing. It is inspired and nourished by faith and hope and love; and these are spiritual things, and they are things that abide. Om , beloved King has passed from us; but the influence of his gracious personality remains to inspire our national and individual life. Of him it can bo said: ‘He being dead yet speaketh.’ May the consolation of the Heavenly Father visit the Royal home in its bereavement. And may we all answer the clarion call of King George’s life and death by dedicating ourselves anew to the Great King of Love Whose be was and Whom he faithfully and graciously sought to serve.”

At the conclusion of the morning service the ‘ Dead March ’ was played.

KNOX CHURCH

“ AS HE THAT SERVETH " An impressive memorial service, which was largely attended, was conducted at Knox Church yesterday morning by the Rev. 11. R. Grant Sutherland, a minister of the Church of Scotland, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand, and has occupied the Knox Church pulpit during the past month. Portions of the organ, pulpit, and communion table were suitably draped for the occasion, . and the effectiveness of the drapings was enhanced by flowers, which had been tastefully arranged. Mr Sutherland preached from the text “ I am among you as he that serveth.” “ One would almost suppose that by this time everything had been written and spoken that could be by way of tribute to the late beloved Monarch of the British Empire,” he said, “ but you expect me—and I would not wish it otherwise-—to say something from this historic pulpit on this occasion of your first meeting for worship since the Empire was plunged into mourning by his death and to pay, in your name and on your behalf as the congregation of Knox Church, a tribute of respect and affection for him who for the last 26 years has been our King. I have chosen as my text the same as that from which Dr Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury, then Archbishop of York, spoke at the King’s coronation. ‘ I am among you as he that serveth,’ or, as Dr Moffat translates it, even more simply, ‘ I am among you as a servant.’ No apter words could be found to describe the King’s life. All his life he was a servant of his people, and found his happiness in their service, and nothing gave him such joy as to discover, what in his modesty he had not apparently realised, on his Silver Jubilee Day, how. much his people loved him. I shall never forget the tremor in his voice as he spoke his memorable broadcast on the evening of that day. It is a truism to say that the House of Windsor was the only royal house in Europe that came through the war in a stronger position than it went into it, and for that the late King was responsible. In the days of Queen Victoria the monarchy was accepted by the bulk of the British people as a more or less divine institution for their government. But it could hardly be said that there was much enthusiasm for the throne. The, throne was too distant from the lives of the people. With King Edward VII. a change began tp work. The theory of the divine right of kings had come under severe fire, and was little set store by. There was a general feeling that the days of monarchy were hearing their end. As a boy I can recollect the prophecy being made that it had not many years to run. But as it has turned out they were quite wrong who thus prophesised. King Edward began the process, which King George carried on with conspicuous success, of making the monarchy beloved instead of accepted,” continued the preacher. “It is a matter of common knowledge to us how he began to do what probably hie grandmother would never have approved—went out and in among his people, not as a King on the old lines, a distant tyrant, but as a servant of the people. Ably supported by his wife and sons, he did so all his reigning life, with thp-'result iwe know, that while to-day we will have • nothing to do with the idea of the divine right of kings, we recognise the British monarchy as the best form of government for ns, as, a system of , government that'Works well and that is likely to work well so long as we are blessed with a. King - like George the Fifth of like his son, whom the whole Empire knows as the Prince of AVales. but must now think of as Edward the Eighth. And especially do we British people cling to the monarchy—as the bohd of ■union between the nations of the British Commonwealth. Ido not speak of the influence of the Crown in attracting the loyalty of the Indian peoples and the other coloured races of the Empire, although that influence is very great, and in the nature of things could not be exercised by any other form of government. I am thinking just now of the beautiful. loyalty of the selfgoverning dominions, such as New Zealand. I first came in contact with it on shipboard, when I observed some New Zealand girls insisting on standing up when they heard the strains of the National Anthem on a distant wireless. It rather made one smile, but thinking it over, it seemed very fine, and it made me think, what I have been thinking still more this week, that the throne is truly a God-given institution for our Empire, for nothing could take its place. Nothing could so bind together the peoples of such distant parts of the globe as loyalty to the throne so clearly does. At the time of the Silver Jubilee celebrations a good deal was said about the King as the father of his great family. It was he himself who had used that tender phrase in his Christmas broadcast a few months previously, and it was taken up by many speakers as 1 truly describing his role. The Speaker of the House of Commons, for example, said in addressing the King on behalf of the House: ‘ You are head of the family; and of a nation and an Empire you have made a household.’ While Mr John Buchan, in his book. ‘ The King’s Grace,* had written: ‘With the Queen and his ■family to aid him, he has made Britain not only a nation, but a household.’ That, we all feel at Home to be true, and its truth has become doubly clear to me since I have come aniong the warm-hearted people of this, the furthest distant of the King’s dominions. Especially has this become the case since the Statute of Westminster. Since that charter of independence for the dominions was passed into law the British Parliament, I take it, has had no control over the dominions, and the only remaining official link has been the Crown.

“ Listening on Wednesday evening to the proclamation of the new King being made in London,” said Mr Sutherland, “ my attention was caught by the old words ‘ Defender of the faith,’ and I thought how conspicuously his late Majesty carried out the implications of that title. He has truly been a defender of the faith. I recollect his letter to the British and Foreign Bible Society, in which he wrote of his love for the Bible, and said that all his life he had kept the promise made to his mother, Queen Alexandra, that he would read a chapter of the Bible every day. When. yon think of the King, just think of that, and think, too, whether the best remembrance of him wc could make would not be to follow his example in this. We cannot dissociate his character, the true gentlemanliness, consideration, devotion to duty, and love of his people that were his, from that chapter of the Bible every day. And it were a good thing indeed if we of this hurrying generation were to learn from the King this lesson and make resolve, in his memory, to take quiet refuge every day under tho shadow of the rock of Holy Scrip-

ture. How it would calm our fretfulness and dignify our lives! And it would be worth it if it did nothing more than influence us to speak and write the beautiful, unmatched English of the English Bible. A defender of the faith indeed! His very way of living was that. It is one-of the things that made the people love him, _ He took delight in simple things, enjoyed the people’s pleasures, and in his Christianity was typically English. Canon F. R. Barry in his book, ‘ The Relevance of Christianity,’ thus defines Christian humanism—‘ a vivid interest in all that is interesting, gladness in all the good things of life, a reverence for and trust in human nature, hallowed and controlled by faith, hope, love, and consecration enkindled by the vision of God in Christ.’ That is a true picture of English Christianity at its best, whore it has > not been atrophied either by Puritanism on the one hand or licentiousness on the other. And this was the Christianity of the King’s. But at times, and when he got the idea that it was his duty, he was capable of making any sacrifice. I remember during the war he made up his mind that it was his duty to do without wihe. _ It requires perhaps a little imagination to realise, just how much this was a sacrifice. The average English gentleman is accustomed to take his wine with his dinner every day; he is brought Up to it, just as the French peasant it—and to give it up, as the King did for the duration of the War, shows a strength of character that not many of Us Could boast of. ■ There was really rto rieed for him to do it.' It Wat just as if you who are regular smokers were to make up ybUr minds to do without tobacco for three years in. order that you might give the resultant saving of two or three shilling a week to missions. The King was a Christian humanist, but, I say, every npw and then he showed, as perhaps not many of us could show, that if he felt the call of duty he could give up anything, and his simple pleasures, the pleasures of the table, of His sport and his games, would weigh not one jot or tittle in the balance. It was i all that that made the people loVe him. One never heard of him missing a Sunday’s attendance at church. For himself and his Queen the Silver Jubilee celebrations centred in the service of thanksgiving in St. Paul’s. It was always by the grace of God that he was what he was. He pleased the Scottish people by always attending the parish church of Crathie when at Balmoral, and St. Giles’s Cathedral when in Edinburgh. There were those Who, to say the.truth, would have had him interpret the title Defender of the Faith as meaning Defender of the Church of, England. But, like his grandmother, Queen Victoria; he would. have nothing of it. He knew that, democratic though the Presbyterian system of church government is—and this has made kings in the past distrust it and prefer episco-pacy-—the Presbyterians are as loyal as any others of his subjects. Arid so, When in Scotland he was a member of the Church of Scotland, ahd, although an acrid correspondence once was conducted in the papers as to whether anyone can bo a member of the Church of England and of the Church of Scotland simultaneously, the fact remains that the King is so, and why not ? They are both only systems of church government, arid nothing more. A defender of the faith—by the grace of God—dei gratia. The words appear on every British coin, although they seem to have been dropped from the New Zealand currency. . By the grace of God, OUr beloved King of blessed and glorious memory, to use the sonorous wording of the Proclamation, has been called to higher service, to which as wo firmly believe, he has been ushered by the words—Well done, good , and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. And his son reigns in his stead—a son who has had a training for his responsibilities such as no one before him has ever had, a son frorii whom we may expect much. In, one sense we expect that he will follow in his father’s footsteps; in another we expect that he will blaze his owri trail and be himself, arid Who knows , what good work he will be enabled to do in the solving of the many problems that confront the world at this time, the Way having been pre-: pared at once by the tremendous influence his father, and mother have won for the Throne and the training they have given him?. The new King has a strong personality. That is the immediate impression he makes on those who come into coritact with hiirij and I believe that he Will that personality felt in ways beneficial to the great Empire over which lie reigns,” said the preacher, “His task, said Mr Baldwin in that deeply moving address of his on Wednesday evening, is the heaviest that is laid on the shoulders of any living mam and he has to bear his burden alone. Mr Baldwin reminded us that the King can have no confidant, no one with whom he can talk things over but his Queen. He has, of course, his counsellors and advisers in abundance-—in too great abundance, perhaps. But in a Very- real sense he stands. alone, the loneliest man in the World, With no one but his Queeri to share his troubles With. And King EdWord VIII. has no queeri. .He is alone, although his mother will doubtless be. his stand-by. But even a .mother cannot take the place of a wife in this. He Will have our loyalty. He mrist have also our prayers and pur support iri every way that as loyal citizens of the Empire We can give it. There is, 1 firmly believe, a greater future than ever before the British Empire. I believe it,is ordained of God to be his instrument in the ordered progress of the race. But it must prove itself a worthy instrument, or He will break it in His hands. This was what the great poet of the Empire, Rudyafd Kipling, who went to his account a few hours before his Kirig, was trying fo teach in his ‘ Recessional ’ written at the diamond _ jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, His words came as a challenge and a clarion call to the British people of his day, and they have their message still. Mr Baldwin told Us that thq King’s last Wqrds were a question—‘ How is it with the Bhlpire?’ He was proud of the Empire; he loved the Empire, and served the Empire all his life. It is so also with us, is it not? Arid the more one travels the riiore one loves the sight of the flag that is its symbol. I know that for myself I can never see a ship With the flag at, its stern without a vision of the far-flungness of the Empire of which I am humbly proud to be a citizen. But my pride is not that of the jingoist. It is always mingled with the chastening thought that to whom much has been given from them much will _ be required, and that our proud position is that of God’s instrument and God’s Servants, who must be faithful. So, in tender memory of the King who loved the Empire, we consecrate ourselves to its service under the leadership of his son, praying that during the years to come it may be possible for the answer still to be given, with more emplinSia arid truth than ever, the answer , that was given on his deathbed to the King, ‘ All’s well with the Empire.’ ” The service opened with the playing of the ‘ Dead March in Saul,’ and it closed with the singing of the National Anthem. The other niusic was appropriate to the occasion. Mr C. Roy Spackman was the organist.

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL

SOLEMN HIGH MASS Solemn High Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Cathedral yesterday morning to invoke the blessing of God upon the new King, and to pray for the peace and prosperity of all the King’s dominions. The Right Rev. Dr Whyte assisted on the throne, and the celebrant was Monsignor Morbane. The deacon of Mass was the Rev. Father M'Mahon,. and the subdeaeon the Rev. Father _ Hussey. The Rev. Father Gavin was master of ceremonies, and Mr Vernon Griffiths presided at the organ. The conductor was Mr H. Poppelwell. Turton’s Mass was beautifully rendered by the choir, and there was a large congregation. “ We wish to thank God for the favours He bestowed on the reign of King George and to beseech His blessing on the reign of the young King who has just ascended the throne,” said Bishop Whyte in His address. “ You have read with pleasure and approval a number of beautiful tributes paid to the late King. Many of them are from statesmen whose duties brought them into intimate touch with their royal master. The more intimate was their knowledge of the King, the greater was their reverence of his noble qualities. In his regal capacity—in virtue of which he strove to know the needs of the numerous races that owed him allegiance—and in his private capacity as a husband and a father; he is regarded_ by his intimates as a model. Catholic newspapers published clbSe to Buckingham Palace_ never missed an opportunity of inspiring their readers with loyalty to their supreme ruler. A year ago, oh the occasion of the King’s silver jubilee,” added Bishop Whyte, “ one of those papers closed its leading article with the words, ‘ Most earnestly do we pray that health and strength and success and happiness may be given in over-brimming measure to a royal pair whose domestic life puts to shame so many of us who profess to venerate the Christian family! ’ When men who see royalty at close quarters can speak so highly of them we can ignore the discordant notes occasionally introduced to spoil the chorus of praise,” said the bishop. “In recalling the past 25 years we must, with gratitude, think how the English throne remained unshaken while other thrones were crashing to the ground amidst turmoil and slaughter, royal blood splashing like water all around. We should recall the massacres of bishops in Russia in the vain effort of utterly destroying belief in God. Mexico, tbo, has drunk its fill of Catholic blood. Germany would make every citizen a slave of the State and would return to a 1 ar. barous belief in pagan deities, Even chivalrous Spain, iij its intoxication, revelled in the burning of churches and in fiendish cruelty against religious orders. During those orgies of bloodshed and brutality the English throne was immovable, religion was maintained in its due place of honour, and the King and QUeen of England maintained the highest standard of, modesty and virtue. We can, therefore, cheerfully join ill thanking God torday for His goodness to lis during the feign of the departed King. “To the young sovereign also tributes are being paid by the whole world,” continued Bishop Whyte. “ Through his thoughtfulness and condescension he has made friends in every country. _ His knowledge of nations has been gained by extensive travel,, and every tour made either within or without the British territories seem to have increased his 'popularity. That this intimate acquaintance with his own and foreign _ countries will tend to world peace is the firm conviction of the world’s rulers. Our duty to-day, however, is not so much to praise him as to pray for him. We pray for hini in the most efficacious way granted to humanity, we pray for him. in the Holy sacrifice of the Mass. The Catechism asks, ‘ For what ends is the sacrifice «.f the mass offered P ’ The answer is, ‘ The sacrifice of the mass is offered for four ends— first, to give supreme honour and glory to God ; secondly, to thank Him for all His benefits; thirdly, to obtain pardon for our sins; and fourthly, to obtain all other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ! In this mass we bear chiefly in mind the last named purpose, but we desire . dso to thank God for His benefits during the 26 years of King George’s reign. Left to, ourselves we could thank God only imperfectly, but our Redeemer takes our place and sanctifies our poor ..'-„aks and makes them something of stupendous value,” concluded Bishop Whyte.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH “ BEHOLD A KING " Services in memory of King George V. were . conducted by the Rev. Albert Mead, M.A., .at the Moray Place Congregational Church morning and evening yesterday. Each service concluded With ,the playing of Chopin’s ‘ Funeral March ’ by the organist, Mrs ,H. C. Campbell,, and the singing of the National Anthem. Mr Mead, in the course of his memorial tribute, said that it did-, not lower the dignified kingliness of the late King George V. to say that it was as a truly godly man that he would ever be remembered, and the grandson of Albert the Good would ever be cherished in human memory as a good man. Many centuries had passed and the world had seen many kings since. Isiah wrote: “ Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place frdih the wind . and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water iii a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in .a weary .land.” These descriptions could be aptly and amply applied to the late King. British people had been singularly blesSed by the gift of such a King. It was not always the wise, but always the good man who made a strong appeal to heartfelt admiration, for goodness always made an instinctive appeal to the human soul because of its intrinsic worth. We have seen the strength—even the solemnity of manhood —in the character and life of our beloved King exhibited in an air of geniality and stateliness combined. He walked with men and did not lose the kingly touch. In all matters. his quick, purposeful mind gave initiative and inspiration, and with unconscious righteousness of judgment his wisdom was exalted. The purity and simplicity of his, life within his family and within the nation was ever a model for his to emulate. His sympathetic friendship with all classes was without class distinction; his interest in all matters affecting our corporate life was keen; his self-forget-ful devotion to daily toil Was continuous.; his charity to all people of other nations was evident; and last, but not least, his tender solicitude for all suffering ones exemplified goodness and exhibited greatness. We cannot conclude this tribute to his memory without first remembering King Edward VIII., who succeeds him. Our love and

loyalty as well as our prayers and sympathy go out and up to him as tho people shout 1 God Save the King.’ And, secondly, we remember Mary, tlio Queen Mother, who through many years upheld and nourished King Georg© by her true affection and devotion. May, she be conscious of the presence of the ‘ God of all comfort.’ ”■ COMBINED SERVICES Combined Presbyterian andist services were held in the Maori Hill Presbyterian Church yesterday, and were largely attended. The address at the morning service was given, by the ReV. A. C. W. Standage, M.A., and the solo ‘ There Is No Death ’ . was sung by Mr Howie Andrew. . At the evening service the Rev. C. Duncan gave tne address. Misses R. and M. Shrimpton sang the duet ‘ Hold Thou My Hand.’ Appropriate hymns, including the late King’s favourite,; ‘ Abide With Me,’ were sung.- Mrs J. J. Bates was the organist, Handel’s Dead March in Saul and Chopin’s ‘ Funeral March ’ being played at the close of the morning and evening services respectively. CENTRAL MISSION “NOBLE KING AND CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN" “ To-day a great nation mourns the loss of a great King, and I am sure that every loyal heart throughout the British Empire was deeply stirred when the news of our monarch’s sudden death was flashed around the world,"' said the Rev. A. K. Petch ; who conducted the memorial service at the Methodist Central Mission last evening. There was a large attendance* and the service opened with the singing of the National An therm Continuing, Mr Fetch said .that to many it, seemed as though a shadow had been cast upon their lives. All the love and affection for the late King, which was inbred ,in every British subject, filled their souls* Throughout tho world, in. every nation, the hearts of the people were lifted in prayers for Queen Mary and all the members of the Royal Family as they sorrowed at the loss of one who was so dear to them. The nation, shared their grief. “ Death is no respecter of persons,” continued Mr Fetch. “He lays his mantle oven kings and peasants alike. So it is that the heart strings of our affections have' been struck, for w.e mourn the death of oho who Was not only a noble King, but also an intimate friend and_ Christian gentleman. Of him we might almost say, ‘Whom having not seen, wo love!’ Yet our sorrow is mingled with hope as we own, our allegiance to the new King Edward VIII;, who already, has won the affection, of his people. We pray that the same spirit which possessed and guided his father may also lead him.”

The address was followed by a solo, ‘ Nearer, My God, To Thee,’, which was siing by Mr E. Freeman. Appropriate hymns were sung. Mr Fetch took a| his text ” I am .He that liveth and was dead,. and behold I am alive for evermore.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH'

MESSAGE FROM GOVERNING BOARD At the Christian Science Church yesterday the following cablegram,, received from the Christian Science Board of Directors in Boston, was read :■— “King George V. of Great Britain, Ireland, and British dominions beyond the seas, Emperor of India, has passed away, greatly beloved of people of his Empire. When in 1901 our leader asked first members of the Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, to ‘ convene for the sdcred purpose of expressing our deep sympathy with the bereaved nation, its loss, and the world’s loss in the: sudden) departure of the late lamented Victoria,’ she spoke of the Queen as ‘.long honoured, fevered, beloved.’ (Miscellany). How aptly her words apply to the Sovereign Who has just passed away, from the scene of his earthly labours. The love of every Christian Scientist goes out to his Queen, greatly beloved as he himself was, to his family, and to the whole British people. And they pray for Edward ( Prince of Wales, who now reigns in his father’s stead, that as King Edward VIII. divine wisdom and love will pilgrimage with him and support him throughout all the year* of his reign.” MOSGIEL ST. LUKE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH A memorial service was held in St,Luke’s Church of England, Mosgiel, yesterday evening, when the Rev.- W, W. Ewart preached from Hebrew* chaper xi., versa 27, “He. endured a* seeing Him Who is invisible.” . Appropriate hymns were sung under-the leadership of Mr R. D. Rogers,. Mr L. B. Borrow being the soloist, ST. MARY'S CHURCH The Rev. Dr O’Neill, in expressing the sympathy of His Majesty’* Catholic subjects on the death of .* beloved sovereign, : recalled that, in these days of ‘ intensive persecution of the church in many lands, Catholics live in peace, and the Catholic Church is able to carry on her work in th* lands that comprise the British Commonwealth of Nations. The preachey urged his congregation to pray that the reign of Edward VIH. would b* blessed by God, so that peace and prosperity for the Empire: and particularly for the church, would be its predominant characteristic.

EAST TAIERI PRESBYTERIAN A largely-attended memorial service ■was held in East Taicri Presbyterian Church on Sunday forenoon. the church was tastefully decorated with white and lavender blooms along with carnations,' the late King’s favourite flower. The hymns were specially chosen and included 1 When the Day of Toil is Done,' ‘ O for the Peace Which Floweth as a River,’ and Dor All the Saints.’ In the absence of the Rev. D. C. Francis on holiday, the service was conducted, by the Rev. Professor Collie, who spoke on the influence exerted by the late King during his reign. At the close of the service the congregation stood in reverent silence while the organist, Air J. M'Bryde, played the _ Dead March,’ At the evening service, conducted by Mr J. B. Freeman, of the Theological Hall, the hymns chosen ■were those which had been favourites of the King, and the prayers had special reference to the sorrow of the Royal Family and_ of the nation. Mr Freeman made similar fitting _ reference to the common sorrow in the afternoon service at ■ Allanton. BAPTIST CHURCH Memorial services were held both morning and evening at the Mosgiel Baptist Church, the preacher on both occasions being the minister (the Rev. P. L. Smart). The Mosgiel Borough Council and the Taieri County Council were represented at the evening service. during which the Mosgiel Municipal Band, under the conductorship ot Mr L. B. Borrow, played the Dead March ’ in ‘ Saul.’ The soloist for the evening was Mr L. B. Borrow, who sang ‘ There is No Death,’ by. Geoffrey O’Hara. The organist was Miss M. Owens. Appropriate Scriptures, hymns, and prayers were used. During the course of his sermon Mr Smart said that the true greatness of His late Majesty’s life could be judged only as it was set against the background of the political, social, national, and international difficulties of his reign. Some of them, from the earliest years of the late King’s reign until his death, were canvassed; It was shown that through them all the late Sovereign proved to be a wise counsellor. a courageous leader, a gracious friend, and a true Christian gentleman. The inspiration of his noble life was traced to his vital religious faith which produced those qualities of heart and mind that had endeared him to all his subjects. . The service concluded with the hymn 1 Abide With Me.’ the National Anthem, and the benediction. METHODIST CHURCH An impressive memorial service was held in the Mosgiel Methodist Church. The preacher, the Rev. N. Challenger, stated that they were assembled in these days of national bereavement to pay their tribute of esteem and affection to the late King. A monarch beloved throughout the Empire and respected by all nations, the late King was a God-fearing man. The words . on many lips were, “ He was a good King.” He had the best interests of his subjects in view as he discharged the duties of his high and exalted office. The preacher said they might justly be pardoned for their pride that under the providence of God they had such a worthy Monarch. Loyalty deepened into affection as the King’s grace and high quality of character had been revealed. MOSGIEL PRESBYTERIAN Impressive memorial services • were lield iin the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church both morning and evening, conducted by the minister, the Rev. Hugh Graham. The pulpit and communion table were draped m royal mourning, and the flag was displayed at the front of the choir loft. Representatives from the Town Council , and Returned Soldiers’ Association were present. Speaking from Isaiah, chapter vi., verse 1, “For the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord,” Mr Graham said; “ This chapter records the vision that came to the prophet when the king died and when, for the first time in Israel’s life, the throne of Judah was vacant. The man who had symbolised order and authority had passed away. Then he saw the throne which is never vacant, and the King, the Lord, who rever dies. A similar vision, may come to us all—and_ to all the people of the Empire—in this time of national sorrow, in the year that King George V. has died. A vision of life’s true meaning and purpose and of the Lord high and lifted up—Who controls the destinies of men and nations. He was in. harness to the very end—giving strict attention to duty. He was a father and a friend to all his people as well as a King, and we are glad that he was spared to ns for three score years and ten, and that he was permitted to see the Silver Jubilee of his reign. He was a loyal and devoted member of the Church of Scotland, and stood for all that was good and pure and true. His last thoughts were about the great British Commonwealth of Nations, the Empire that has survived the rude shocks of the post-war years largely due to the personal influence of the King. Through all the years of the economic blizzard Britishers—whether at Home or abroad—have been able to look to one man, brave, sagacious, impartial, kindly, sympathetic, and modest—the King! The Crown has been the bond of Empire, and we should be nnfeignedly thankful for the simple religious faith of our late King and for the utter self-forgetful-ness with which he set about his daily task. Our hearts go out to-day to all the members of the Royal Family, especially to the Queen. She has set an example to her husband’s subjects which has been of incalculable value to the national life. We thank God for the King’s life_ and the King’s reign—and now he has passed into a larger kingdom, of which there is no end. SERVICES IN OAMARU Throughout the borough of Oamaru memorial services were conducted by all denominations, there being large attendances in every instance. ST. LUKE'S CHURCH A memorial service was held in St. Luke’s Anglican Church, the special form of service for the diocese of Dunedin being followed. The service was conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon J. D. Russell, and the lessons were read by Mr S. A. Grave. Mr F. C. Burry played Beethoven’s ‘ Euneral March.’ The choir sang 1 O Lord God Most Holy,’ and the hymns ‘ O God Our Help,’ ‘ Nearer My God to Thee,’ and ‘ For All the Saints,’ and Mr P. Linton •Hodge sang the solo, ‘ I Heard a Voice

From Heaven,’ set to music by Mr F. C. Burry on the occasion of the death of King Edward VII. In his address Archdeacon Russell referred to the great spirit of reverence and devotion shown to their King, and said that anything that could be said had already been said in beautiful and heartfelt language by people throughout the world. Through the wireless and newspapers wonderful tributes had been made to their gracious King, and there was none but would feel that they had been absolutely well deserved as eulogies of their great and noble King, whoso body was lying guarded by devoted and loyal soldiers ot the King in Westminster Hall. He had had the privilege of being there, and he could think of the scene as thousands after thousands would file past in one continuous queue in silent and reverent devotion. None could come out unmoved. The lame and sick would be wheeled past their beloved King. How they would all love to be there and pay that tribute to the King! Millions would like to do so, but they in New Zealand could do what was possible, and that was to respond to the appeal of the Government to go to their own churches and bow in silent homage in memory of the King. They were thankful to be able to do that. Archdeacon Russell said he had been thrilled with the tribute of ‘ The Times,’ which he read to the congregation. iHe felt that was the note that must be struck that morning. It was a glorious fact that the King realised he was head of the English Church as well as of the British nation, and he loved the church and gave himself for it. The Sabbath was honoured by his worship throughout, his life. They thanked God for that, and prayed and were sutg tlin'fc out of liis life "tliey would still have a man to carry out God’s Word, and who would m St. Paul’s words: “Fear God; honour the King.” ______ GOLUMBA CHURCH The congregation of Columba Church assembled in large numbers yesterday morning for the memorial service ivnicii was conducted by the Revs. P. C. Rennie and J. E. Adams. Drapings m black and purple, together with the Union Jack, provided a suitable setting, and appropriate hymns were sung Mr George Wilkinson (organist) played ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth ’ before the service, and Coronach ’ as a concluding voluntary. Hie anthem, ‘Crossing the Bar ’ was rendered by the choir( and the solo Eye Hath Not Seen ’ was sung by Miss Hinkley. The act of commemoration, which was taken by the Rev. J. E. Adams, began with a reading from the Scriptures, after which the congregation stood in silence. This was followed by prayers giving thanks for the life of King George, and asking consolation and strength for Queen Mary and all the members of the Royal Family. Prayer was also offered for King Edward and the British Empire. The Rev. P. C. Rennie, preaching from the words of Micah, C-B,' “ To do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with thy God,” said these words seemed to him to be an embodiment of their late King’s religion. He was so universally loved, so universally mourned. The world’s sorrow, the Empire’s poignant grief, the family sorrow, and the individual grief were all tokens of a universal love. To-day the sorrow was still keen, but they went_ on step by step facing the future with courage. It was well with the Empire. All was well. These words told them what a Christian should be. be he king or commoner, rich or poor. In their late King they were the fulfilment. “To do justly.’’ If they went back 25 years they would discover this,: principle carried throughout. Not for one monent would one think otherwise. To the great business of Empire he attended daily at his post, punctually and regularly ; working so many hours in the morning' he cleared it off, and always worked with a clean desk. He loved the justice of the British Empire. The British flag, wherever flown, was the symbol of justice between man and man and nation and nation. Just how much this justice was could not be gauged. Truly he carried a great load. He never wavered in his desire for justice. Ever valiant of ’ heart, he went forward. “To love mercy.” How many gracious acts of the King were unrecorded they could not say. The recorded ones were numerous. He had a heart that felt for other’s woes. His work among the wounded and his kindly words to them would not readily be forgotten. It was a talisman, a charm, and many had gone home with a smile, which bore witness of his gracious word. His visits to the hospitals, to institutions privately were many, and he ever strove to relieve pain, for these wounds were for the Empire’s cause. He visited the poor, the needy, and distressed. • He played many parts, for 1 the quality of mercy is not strained.’ Little children opened their eyes at his coming and wondered.

Their new King, King Edward VIII,, had endeared himself to his people and to the Empire. He had striven that they should be better housed, better clothed, better fed. He was deservedly popular. He had travelled the Empire’s domains, arid had seen the poverty and squalor, and had said such things shall not be in Christian England, and that they must have a brighter, better, and happier land. He was the son of a noble sire. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH The preacher for the memorial service to the late King in the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church yesterday morning was Professor S. E. Hunter, of Knox College, Dunedin. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the choir rendered the anthem ‘ What Are These That Are Arrayed In White Robes?’, Professor Hunter took his text from Isaiah vi., 1: “In the year that King Uzziah died i saw also the Lord, situpon a throne, high and lifted up.” After referring to the earlier training of King George, his world tours, and the influence of Queen Mary on his character and work, the preacher dealt with certain qualities of the King. He spoke of his simplicity—lie was an unostentatious English gentleman. His palaces were his home. He was free from those things that used to be associated with a monarchy—pride, pomp, and tyranny—and was truly the father and elder brother of his people. Akin to this was his humanity and sympathy. He was interested in the industries and sports of his people. Their troubles evoked his sympathy. His riding through the .East End of London during the Jubilee celebrations, receiving the frank loyalty of those classes, which in other capitals are associated with revolutions, was a tribute to his sincere humanity. The Great War in which all shared a common danger, sorrow, and victory, intensified attachment to the King. He became the symbol of Imperial unity. Continuing, Professor Hunter said the King also showed wisdom and common sense, both in the simple functions of his position, and in his work as a constitutional monarch. In this he compared favourably with some earlier British Kings and many con-

temporary sovereigns who lost their crowns.' King George was also a worker, interested in Home government and in the main movements of the dominions. A constitutional monarch might throw all responsibility on his Ministers, but he kept his office and office hours. Most important was the fact that the King was what his religion made him. His religion was personal and sincere. He acknowledged the Divine Sovereign as his King. He had said that obeying a request of Queen Alexandra he read a portion of the Bible every day. He loved Blake s ‘ Jerusalem,’ and made its closing lines his own. WESLEY CHURCH During the course of his address at the memorial service held in the Wesley Church yesterday morning in the presence of a large congregation, the Rev. J. F. Jack said that on that day they paid tribute to their dead monarch. The people in Oamaru and New Zealand formed a small section of those who paid their tribute to the King, who, by his sterling character, won the esteem and respect of peoples of every nationality the world round. Not only did the greatest Empire in the world mourn the passing of its leader, said Mr Jack, but all great nations joined with it in its sense of loss. In the life of the King as he had observed it three characteristics manifested themselves throughout his 25 years of reign—sincerity, courage, and loyalty. In closing, Mr Jack said that he believed that the life of the late King should be an inspiration to them all— Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us Footprints in the sands of time. BAPTIST CHURCH ( At the Baptist Church reference to the passing of King George V. was made by the preacher, the Rev. G. H. Bridgman. The lesson was Psalm 90, and appropriate hymns were sung. The whole Empire, said Mr Bridgman, was mourning. Never had there been in any land more sorrow and sympathy in the death of a ruler than was shown to-day. Theirs was a noble King who ruled wisely and well. At the request of the preacher the congregation stood in silent respect to the memory of his late Majesty. THE BASILICA At Mass at the Basilica, Reed street, yesterday morning feeling reference was made to the passing of King George V. by the Rev. Father Martin, who paid a high tribute to the char-, acter and worth of His Majesty, and asked for the prayers of the congregation. CHURCH OF CHRIST Pastor J. A. Tyrrel-Baxter conducted the memorial service to the late King at the Oamaru Church of Christ last evening, and he gave a very appropriate address. There was a fairly large congregation, including''members of the Oamaru group of Toe H. SALVATION ARMY In the memorial service at the Salvation Army Citadel yesterday morning Adjutant Duggan took as his text “ Mercy and truth preserve the King and his throne is upholden in mercy.” The King was a man of vision, and in righteousness he ruled over his people. The nation paid tribute without distinction of party or class, for the King was beloved by all. UNITED SERVICE A united memorial service is to be held in St. Luke’s Church on Tuesday night, at 7.30. The Rev. J. M. M‘Kenzie (St. Paul’s) will be the preacher, and the Revs. J. F. Jack (Wesley) and A. H. Nordmeyer will read the lessons. The mayor • and councillors, representatives of local bodies, and returned soldiers will attend the> service. I

DISTINGUISHED ASSEMBLAGE

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN WELLINGTON ATTENDED BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 26. 'A memorial service to the late King was held in St. Paul’s Pro-cathedral this morning. v The congregation included the Governor-General (Viscount Galway), the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage), the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb), the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry), the Minister of Lands (Mr F. Langstone), the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), Mr Justice Blair, Major-general Sir William Sinclair-Burgess, general officer commanding the New Zealand military forces, Captain L. Vaughan-Morgan, representing the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Wing-commnder T. M. Wilkes (Director of Air Services), and Sir Francis Frazer (chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture). The preacher was the Right Rev. Dr T H. Sprott (Bishop of Wellington). The lesson was read by Lord Galway. Memorial services were also held in all the other churches. The Rev. J. R. Blqnchnrd preached at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, and the Most Rev. Dr T. O’Shea (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand) presided and preached at the solemn high mass at the Church of St. Alary of the Angels. JEWISH TRIBUTE UNSWERVING LOYALTY TO THRONE [Per Ukited Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 25. There was a large atendance of the Jewish community at. the memorial service conducted at the Synagogue by the Rev. S Kantor. In the course of his address the preacher referred to the past history of the race, and said that to those who had found home under the British Constitution the King personified all that was noble and righteous.

They had looked to him for protection and guidance, and he had never failed them. By sponsoring that historic document, the Balfour Declaration, he had stirred the sentiments of Jewish people throughout the world. King Edward VIII. was no stranger to them. He had manifested 'goodwill towards their race, and their faith in him and in the House of Windsor was built upon the past. As Jewish subjects they pledged themselves to continue their loyalty for the benefit of the Empire. Mr 1). Markham (president of the Jewish community in Wellington) has received the following cable message in reply to a message of sympathy :—“ The King is touched by your kind message of sympathy, and will be glad if you will express his sincere thanks to all who joined in it.” MAORI LAMENTATIONS [Per United Press Association.! NEW PLYMOUTH, January 26. Four thousand people paid a remarkable tribute to the dead King at a combined memorial service at Pukekura Park to-day. The most touching feature of the service were the laments by Maoris, who wore headbands of greenery in token of their mourning. Many local "bodies were represented.

ST. JOHN’S, ROSLYN " A LOVING AND LOVED FATHER " Speaking last evening to a large congregation, which joined wholeheartedly fn the special form of service m commemoration of His late Majesty King George, the Rev. L. D. C. Groves V.. by the grace ofGod, King of all tho Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, ascended to the British Throne on May 6, 191 U. To-day his body lies .in state at tne heart of this great Empire . . - his soul has passed on into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We, his subjects for over 25 years, mourn his passing, and for this very reason we have gathered in this house of prayer to commend Ins soul into tne gracious keeping of the God whom he loved and served during his lifetime. Much has been written and spoken during the past week concerning our late King. As a people we are not given to the display of our emotions, but 1 am sure that each and all of us feel that with the passing of King George V. the nation has been bereft oi a loving and much loved father. What was the secret of his success as a king in the occupation of one of the most difficult offices it is possible for man to hold? I bring before you two independent estimates of the character and qualities of the late King and Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen M & ryBoth of these are by bishops of the church in the United States and were made at the time of the Juhdee last May. Dr W. T. Manning, Bishop or New York, said: . . “ The whole world at tins time is payin'' its tribute of admiration and honour to King George and Queen Mary, and we who are citizens ottnis Republic join in this tribute with all our hearts, for the ties are deep and sacred which link us to our brethren of the great. Commonwealth of Nations which bears the name of the British Empire. . Nowhere. 1 believe, are the King and Queen more truly held m honour and esteem than here in this land. “ As we look back oyer the 2o years of their service we think of the dignity, the wisdom, the simplicity, the ability and strength of purpose, and the unfailing devotion to duty with which they have discharged their great responsibility .• We think of the example which they have given in their own personal lives and conduct. “ Wo think of their great influence in illustrating and upholding the sacred ideals of marriage and the home. We think of their interest in good causes and in all that makes for social progress and ' human betterment. And, above all, wo think of their of their duty to God, of their faithfulness in upholding the principles of religion and of the church, and of the sincerity with which they have given expression to these principles in their own lives.

“We honour King George not only for what he has. done as Ruler of the British Empire, but for the influence which he has exerted for the good of the whole world.”

In Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, the great manufacturing city of the State of Pennsylvania, attended by the British Consul, the bishop, Dr Alexander Mann, said:— “ The King of England to-day stands as the symbol of the underlying unity of that great commonwealth of free peoples which we call the British Empire. He is the visible representative of those invisible, yet most real and potent, forces of tradition and loyalty and affection that like bands of steel bind the Einpjre together. He is not an absolute monarch, he is not a dictator; he is ,the father of a great family, and the methods he uses are the methods of a wise father, not arbitrary commands, not coercion, but Lise and'sympathetic reasoning and loyal appeal. \ “ And so he is a power, and a very great power, in the life of Britain. And that world-wide acclaim, the tremendous outpouring of unforced loyalty, of which we have all read during the past week, was paid not to a despot, not to a ruler who held the power oi life and death, but to a quiet, modest English gentleman, who, as a boy in the English Navy, learned the great lessons of loyalty, of obedience to authority, of honour, and of courtesy, and who through the past 2o years, during which the greatest catastrophe of history has taken place, and a series of shattering changes have shaken the very foundations of Vi estern civilisation, has gone on his quiet round of daily duty, and by his patience, his courage, his cheerfulness, his sympathy, as well as by his loya and ' stainless family life, has endeared himself to all sorts and conditions of men in his world-wide family* ' . i “ That is the man whom the people

of the United States, in common with his own countrymen, delight to honour to-day.” Such tributes, coming from two such eminent leaders of church life _in the United States, cannot fail to impress as with the esteem in which our beloved monarch was held, 1 even by men who owed him no allegiance whatever. The. passing of this great and good King has called forth a world-wide outburst . of. sympathy for the beloved Queen in her bereavement. The nation as a whole is proud to have had its ruler for over a quarter of a century in King George. 1 Truly he was the father of his people, rejoicing with them, sorrowing with them. And in return his people entered respectfully, but profoundly, into all that concerned the welfare-of *their sovereign lord. “ I serve ” has been the motto of the British monarchy, showing itself for 26 years in royalty of service and the dignity of conscientious effort. The special lesson (I. Cor. xv., 20) was read by Air J. T. Dawson, and at the close of the service the organist (Airs W. H. Allen) played Chopin s ‘ Funeral Alarch.’ TRINITY METHODIST “ HIS KIHGSHIP WAS A SACRED TRUST " • A large congregation attended the memorial service' at Trinity Church last evening. The preacher, the Rev. C. H. Olds, said that it was no formal observance in response to official instructions received, but a expression of genuine, spontaneous grief such as has seldom been felt for the passing of a king. Into it entered with real sympathy the rulers and peoples _ of the world, for the late King, by his noble qualities, not only won, as few kings have ever done, the deep love of his own subjects, but also gained the respect and admiration of people of all nations. Feeling reference was made to the grief of the Royal Family. So accustomed are we to think of the King as a public figure that we are apt to forget he was husband and father before he was king. In the touching picture of the Queen, walking late at,night to Sandringham Church, and there kneeling alone in silent prayer, we see a woman burdened with grief at the death of her life partner, and seeking the consolation oi.her Heavenly Father—-just as any God-fearing woman would do. For over '42 years she proved a loving wife and true helpmeet to her royal husband It is an open secret that on many difficult problems he sought her opinion, and time and again made touching public reference to her helpful comradeship. That comradeship death has for a while severed, and our hearts go out to Her Majesty, her royal son King Edward, and the other members of the Royal Family. . Speaking.of .our personal sense of loss, the preacher thanked God for the gift of so worthy a sovereign, of whom it might be truly said, “ He served his generation in the will of God. _ Hing George ' himself was ever conscious of the hand of God on his life, and regarded his kingship as a sacred trusty He had no early expectation of his high destiny, and this would seem to have been providential, resulting m his receiving a training unique in the history of kings. He occupied the throne during a period, in some respects, the most revolutionary in the world’s history, during which many thrones long and firmly established tottered and fell. Yet with him not only did the title of king survive—it acquired added prestige and lustre. He won his own way to the hearts of his people, behind the pomp and pageantry incidental to.kingmore significant than qualities of - statesmanship, and more endearing to his subjects,, was his genuine, downright manliness, his largeheartedness, his capacity for sympathy. Calamitous happenings during his reign served to call forth and display these qualities. We recall how, during the War, he and his Queen entered into, and shared the sufferings and privations of his people. He loved them, trusted them, served them, gave himself to them without stint. . - During the service Miss Dorothy M‘Kay sang ‘ Thy Will Be Done,’ and at the close, Miss'Hartley, the organist, played Chopin’s funeral march.