MEMORIAL SERVICES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1910, Page 6

MEMORIAL SERVICES.

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[PEll' PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, May 20,

The memorial services at the Anglican Churches on the Continent were attended by numbers of influential persons in European capitals. Many services were held in other places on the Continent and also in the colonies. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. Yesterday afternoon proved a truly typical day on which to celebrate the solemn function of holding a memorial service to celebrate the burial of the late King Edward which was fixed to take place at 2.30 p.m. in London but which had to be held here some thirteen hours previously owing to the difference in lime.

The day was celebrated in Greymouth as a day of mourning and it may safely be said that every one was present, not a single shop or hotel in the whole district being open from the hour of noon to mark the nation’s lamentation at the death of the illustrious Monarch who had gone to reign in another sphere than the British Empire. All the members of Ihe various friendly societies, schools, volunteers and other organisations had made provision for being represented in the procession ?md Mr James Ring soon had them all marshalled and a start made promtply at 2 p.m. The order of procession was as follows : Grey Bille Volunteers (Capt. Sotheran 48 Battalion Band (Mr W. Garth) 20 State School Cadets (Capt. Wilson) 100 Cobden Cadets (Capt L. F. do Berry) Baden Powell Scouts .. •• 12 Fire Brigade. (Supt. Ryan) .. 20 Police (Sergt. Egan 4 Revs R. Stewart, T. N. Griffin and A. Hislop 5 Salvation Army (Adit. Dixon) .. 55 Oddfellows '.. .' 42 Druids 80 Dennis!on Band 20 State Scholars and Teachers .. 400 Cobden 150 Citizens Band (Mr T. Clooda.il) .. 18 Hospital patients 14 The followed the general public on foot and in vehicles or on horseback.

During the procession the bells of the Fire lowers, Trinity Church and the Fir.* Brigade Station wore lolled at intervals and on arrival at "Victoria Park the largo crowd amounting it is estimated to over four thousand men, women and children listened respect fully to a solemn service of prayer and hymns conductd by the various clergymen present. The hymns comprised “All people that on earth do dwell,” ■'‘Nearer my God to Thee,” “For ever with the Lord” and “Abide, with me,' all of which were led by the bauds and joined in by the vast crowd. Adjutant Dixon read the 90th Psalm, the Rev. T. Griffin offered up prayer, the Yen Archdeacon York and the Rev. R. Stewart delivered eloquent panegyrics on the late King and tin* service concluded with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem.

AT RUNANGA. A united memorial service was held in the iMiners’ Hall, Rnnanga, on Friday afternoon and was very largely attended by the residents. The school children and cadets, also a number of Buy Scouts, assembled at the school and under the charge of Mr O’Flynn marched to the Hall were the memorial service was held. The Rev. Air Taylor was in the chair and proceedings were commenby the audience singing “All people that. on. Ea.ith do dwell.” The Rev. Harris offered up an appropriate prayer Then the Hymn “Nearer my God to Thee” was sung. The Captain of the Salvation Army read a chapter from thu Bible I Coiinthians V. chapter commencing X verse. The hymn “For ever with the Lord” was sung. Tho Rev. Taylor delivered a very telling and forcible address pointing out the uncertainty of life. Tho Queen, through her position, was alone in her grief and she could not lay her head on anyone’s breasf and be soothed although she was a bereaved one. Still in Whitehaven and even in our own mist there were bereaved ones who had our sympathy. In the great calamity that had befallen the miners : n Whitehaven we should show our sympathy in a practical manner and raise subscriptions to alleviate the distress that must exist amongst the widow*and orphans. Tho audience than sang the hymn “Abide with Me.”

The proceedings were brought-, to a close by the rendering of the National Anthem, The Free Masons held a Lodge of Sorrow last evening in tho Masonic Hall, Tainui Street at which a very large number of the craft were present. The late King was a past worshipful Grand Master of the Order and up to the time of his death was a Royal protector of tho Craft. Tho ceremony was a mos.t solemn and impressive one and will not soon be forgotten by those who were privileged to witness it. IN OTHER PARTS. Cables and telegrams received today' indicate that memorial services were lu Id yesterday in practically every hamlet, town and city throughout the Empire. Immense concourse? of people attended these impressive gatherings.