MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 May 1925, Page 11

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

FOR TELE LATE PRIME MINISTER. AT HAWERA THIS AFTERNOON. There wiis an air of profound reverence pervading the large congregation at St. John’s Pres byte rain Church for the memorial service held to-day out of respect for the memory of the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, the. Premier of the Dominion. A very fitting opening part' of the. service was the . sublime “Funeral Marc]]’’ of Chopin, played bv the organist, Mr Clement Hove. Rev. R. E. Evans, the pastor of the church, took for the text for a brief address the epistle of St. James, Chapter IV., verse 14: “What is vour life? For ye are a vapour that appeareth for a little while and then vanisheth iiwav.”

(n the course of a short hut very impressive address, Mr Evans stressed the fact that Mr Massey had always put before himself the ideal of service for his country and an outstanding earnestness in all Iris life. He said the Dominion had been deeply stirred with profound sorrow at the passing of one who had been eminently a great man in every way, showing his great qualities of mind and his wonderful capacity for -work from early manhood till the end of his life. He said he- was imbued with the spirit of making the very best use of every moment of his life, believing it was given to him as a sacred trust, and that therefore lie gave liis very best for the service of bis country. He showed how Mr Mas-; sey had gained the confidence first of the people of his own district, then of his party, and again twelve years ago, of the whole Dominion, and lie sketched briefly the thoroughness and zen’ with which lie had carried on the tremendous responsibilities thrown upon him by the war and the problems that followed, and how well he had fulfilled the ‘trust committed to him. In all that the bite Prime Minister did he saw his objective very clearly, and set himself to do what he considered his duty with that wholeheartedness that marked his whole life and actions. Now, he said in conclusion, qt the end of a strenuous life. tlieV great man had passed to his rest, now the labourer’s task was' o’er.

“Father in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping.” The choir and congregation sang the hymns “Lead Kindly Light,’’ “Forever with the Lord,” and “Now the day of toil is o’er.” At the conclusion the organist played the “Dead March in Saul,” and the preacher pronounced the Benediction. And thus concluded a service of beautiful simplicity and reverence. “TEN MINUTES’ SILENCE.” ITS OBSERVANCE IN HAWERA. Although ample notice was given that the Government requested 10 minutes’ silence from 1 p.m. until 1.10 p.m. to-day, the wishes of the leaders of the country were not carried out by numbers of people in. Hawera. At I p.m. in the chief town of South Taranaki the little traffic there was in ; the streets continued to proceed on its way, and throughout the 10 minutes agreed upon for silence motor cars and motor cycles continued to come and go. One motor cyclist in particular rode down the main street on a machine that for noise could have put a Gatling gun in the shade, while from nearby premises a pianist contributed spirited jazz music. Not to he outdone, two Maori wahines sitting in the doorway of a tobacconist’s shop commenced a heated debate, and gave vent to their feelings in tones which could be heard 100 yards away. And so to all outward appearances passed the “10 minutes of respectful silence” in Hawera, hut 07) the other; hand there was the majority of .the people who, mindful of the services rendered to their country by the late Prime Minister, honoured his memory during the appointed time.