THE LATE PRINCE BISMARCK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11658, 15 August 1898, Page 3

THE LATE PRINCE BISMARCK.

MEMORIAL SERVICE. A memorial service to commemorate the death of the late Prince Bismarck was held at the German Church yesterday morning. The peal of bells manufactured from the metal of French cannon taken during the Franco-Prussian war, and presented to the church by the Emperor William 1., was rung for an hour before the service, and by a curious coincidence one of the bells is named “Bismarck,” the other two deriving their names from The donor and the late Crown Prince Frederick. Both altar and pulpit were draped in black by Mr Fuhrmann, and above the altar was hung the German The orchestra played Mendelssohn’s “ Esist bestimmt in Gottes Rath ” as an introductory. The Rev T. A. Meyer, taking as his text Acts XIH., 36, preached a very impressive sermon, in the course of which he said that all Germans would gladly unite to do honour to the man who, in conjunction with the old Emperor, had done so much to consolidate the German Empire. The late Prince Bismarhk had been the means of giving Germany her liberty, ana her place among modem nations. Hand in hand with that newly-acquired liberty came the development of German manufactures and commerce, which now extended, from one end of the world to the other. Bismarck, possessed of all the qualities which went to make a great statesman, while yet a young man never lost sight of the goal on which he had set his heart, and which ho ultimately attained. While no timeserver, he worked always for the future, and his work, having been done thoroughly, would be lasting. Among the many anecdotes of the deceased statesman quoted by the pastor was the following :—Just before the declaration of war between Germany and Prance Bismarck was absent from Berlin, and chafing at the delay of France in declaring war, he at length lost all patience, and telegraphed to the Emperor the advisableness of declaring war himself, and of striking the first blow on that verynight. v Just, .however, before retiring to rest that evening, Bismarck, as was his invariable custom, took out his Testament, without which he never travelled, and began to :read. The first words on which his eyes fell were “Blessed are the peacemakers.” So convinced was, Bismarck that he had not lighted upon these words by accident that he was unable to sleep, and rising between two and three o’clock in the morning, sent another urgent telegram to the Emperor annulling his former message. Pastor Meyer concluded an eloquent sermon by exhorting his hearers to. hold steadfastly .to that faith in the Christian religion which was the mainspring of Bismarck’s life, and indeed,of the lives of all great men. On the conclusion of the address the played the Dead March in Saul. After the service Pastor Meyer read to the congregation the letter of condolence which is to be forwarded to Count Herbert Bismarck, and which bears the signatures of the pastor and his churchwardens.