SERVICES IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 8

SERVICES IN SYDNEY.

GREAT OPEN-AIR GATHERING. \ > By TelegTaph.—Press Association.— "'-, (Received May 20, 7.45 p.m.) ■] Sydney,' May 20. .-.\i| The last tributes to the late King Edward were paid to-day by crowded 'con- ;; gregations in all the churches, and at ™ the State memorial service, which was held in Centennial Park,* at the historic spot where, ten years ago, the Australian Commonwealth was inaugurated. 7 The l'| day was beautifully fine. *; Business was entirely suspended and * the city during the forenoon was the citadel of silence.- All public buildings " 'j and business houses were draped in black and purple. " >At noon the tram traffic stopped for five minutes, and the silence in the city was profound. After that' the populace streamed in ,' from all suburbs, making its way to Cen- s tennial Park. Over, ,; 100,000 persons assembled round the dais, which was occu- -. .'. pied by the Governor (Lord Chelmsford), ''. members ofi the Ministry, the High Court '■ and Supreme Court, and . other notable men. Amid the soft rumbling of muffled S drums the Union Jack was hoisted to ' -> the mast-head, and as the massed bands -,: | opened with Chopin's funeral.march, tho flag was draped at half-mast, i . ■ > ■ The Primate delivered addresses, and the Liedertafel sang- -" The Long Day Closes," and '' In v Memoriam." u The ,ir| great concourse listened . with impressive ,ii ■ stillness. '" '-- : ' .■._''''■"'"'■.:.'_. ;■■■,.'_'- £ Then 400 children, clad in white, sang,' V; Nearer, My God, to Thee," and ' ; Abide With Me," with thrilling effect. The . Philharmonic Society rendered "Blest Are The Departed," and " Bro-. i ther, Thou Art Gone Before." After the religious service had concluded, the " Dead March" in' "Saul"- . was played, and the ceremony ended with the sounding of the " Last Post." *'.'-'