LATE EARL KITCHENER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16253, 12 June 1916, Page 7

LATE EARL KITCHENER.

MEMORIAL SERVICES.

HIS WORK AND CHARACTER

APPRECIATION OF WORTH;

CIVIL AND MILITARY

TRIBUTES.

Memorial services in connection with the death of Earl Kitchener, also as a tribute to the officers and men of the navy who perished in the North Sea battle, were held in churches of all denominations in the city and suburbs yesterday. The very large congregations which attended almost all the services, was an indication of the realisation by every section of the community of the loss the Empire has sustained by the death of Earl Kitchener, and of the supreme sacrifice made by our sailors in the naval engagement. Parades of all arms of the military service were held, sections attending the morning services in churches throughout the city and suburbs. A citizens' memorial service, held at the Town Hall in the afternoon, attracted such large numbers that the accommodation proved insufficient. A special memorial service was conducted in the morning at the camp at Narrow Neck. This was attended by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, and a number of city councillors.

BISHOP AVERILL'S EULOGIUM.

" A TOWER OF STRENGTH."

The memorial service held at St. Mary's Cathedral in the 1 morning, was most solemn and impressive. The bishop, Dr. A. W. Averill, preached to a congregation which filled the cathedral to overflowing, a large number being compelled to stand, while many more were unable to gain admittance. Among those present were Colonel G. W. S. Patterson, officer commanding the district, and the headquarters staff, about 40 members of the Motor Service Corps, the band of the 3rd, Auckland, Mounted Rifles, members of the Army Service Corps, a number of men of the National Reserve, and the 21st, St. Stephen's College, senior cadets. The Grammar School cadets, the Parnell senior cadets, and St. Mary's boy scouts also paraded, but, owing to the crowded state of the cathedral, attended an overflow service held in the parish hall. In a sermon, intense in power and feeling, Dr. Averill first made reference to those who had laid down their lives in the North Sea battle. "The spirit of Nelson, he said, " still lives in our glorious fleet, and the brave men who have gone have died gloriously, doing their part in the herculean task of crushing the satanic octopus which is seeking to deprive the nations of the world of their vital power and liberty. Do not let us forget that the British Navy is the guardian of all that we hold most dear in this la.nd, and that every man who goes down into a watery grave is dying for us and our security. In the death of Earl Kitchener," continued Dr. Averill, " the Empire has lost one who l was pre-eminently worthy to be called a man. In him were summed up the best traditions of the British army, and from his striking personality and devotion to duty will go down to the future the untarnished traditions of the past, together with the traditions which he himself has created. His reputation, his personality, his mana, his entire devotion to duty are, perhaps the greatest factors in the wonderful work, lie accomplishedthe raising of over 4,000,000 voluntary soldiers in Great Britain alone in the space of a few months." Referring, in conclusion, to the effect of Earl Kitchener's life on the nation, Dr. Averill said _ that much of the Empire's quiet determination to see the war through to a successful issue was but the reflection of the great leader's spirit and reasoned optimism. If he could have sent a last message to the Empire, it would, he thought, have been on the lines of David's message to Solomon : "I go the way of all the earth, be ye strong therefore and play the man.' At the conclusion of the sermon the " Dead March" in " Saul" was played by the 3rd Mounted Rifles Band, and two buglers of the Army Service Corps sounded the " Last Post."

SERVICE AT ST. MATTHEW'S.

LAST MILITARY HONOURS.

A touch of realism was introduced into the military service held in memory of the lata Earl Kitchener at St. Matthew's Church yesterday morning, when the ceremony was concluded with the firing of three volleys, the sounding of the "Last Post " by a territorial trumpeter, and the playing of the " Dead March " in " Saul " by the 3rd, Auckland, Regimental Band. The service was one of the series arranged to be held in the city and suburban churches by the military authorities, and was attended by approximately 900 members of territorial units, the principal of which were the 3rd, Auckland, Regiment of infantry and the Garrison Artillery Division, yirith their bands. Civilians filled the portions of the church not re served for soldiers, but many were unable to gain admission, and some territorials were marched on and attended service at St. James's Church.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Jasper Calder, who, in his address to the soldiers, emphasised the need for discipline. As a man by his keenness and obedience impressed his officers, so was he likely to impress his subordinates when he rose from the ranks. Earl Kitchener's iron discipline and austere manner were referred to by the preacher, who, however, gave instances of kindliness of, action which showed that the severity of the famous general's manner covered a heart of gold. Earl Kitchener, said Mr. Calder, gave his whole timeand his life —fgr his country,, and although we now mourned the loss of a national hero, there would arise a spirit of reprisal, and, even as the Canadians at Neuve C'hapelle had cried as they charged the German trenches, . "Remember the Lusitania!" so would the army Kitchener had created cry in the days to dime, " Remember the Hampshire!" The spirit of Kitchener would live for ever in the British Army. The address deeply stirred the large congregation. *

CITIZENS' SERVICE.

LARGE GATHERING AT TOWN HALL

A citizens' memorial service was held under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, presided over a gathering which occupied every available space in the hall. Among those on the platform were Colonel G. W. S. Patterson, officer commanding the Auckland military district, Mr. W. E. Bush, president of the Y.M.C.A., military officers, clergymen, and Consuls of the allies.

The Rev. W. G. Monckton, of Takapuna, dealing with some of the moral aspects of Earl Kitchener's life, said he taught one outstanding lesson—that we had a duty to perform. On Earl Kitchener coming into prominence, Britain lost the aspect of a national bully and assumed that of a nation working for the betterment of mankind and for the introduction in other countries of better and juster laws. Mr. Bush acknowledged the deep debt of srratitude which the Y.M.C.A. owed to Earl Kitchener for affording the institution opportunities of extending its field service work. The Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, of St. John's Methodist Church, said, much as we mourned the loss of a great statesman and national hero, all tendency to

pessimism and panic should be lost in the knowledge that the late earl's work had been done, and that Sir William Robertson and other strong men whom Kitchener had imbued with his spirit would carry on the work. Dealing with the necessity for national and individual self-examination, Mr. Bellhouse asked : Why was the Ellerslie race meeting continued on the day the news of Earl Kitchener's death was received ? (Applause). As a nation we had failed to realise the gravity of things. In spite of adversity, God was not an absentee, and as we had espoused the cause of righteousness, so would God reward us. A collection of £61 7s 4d was taken up in aid of the North Sea Relief Fund. The sacred song, " 0 Divine Redeemer," was sijpg by Mr. H. Piper. A recital of Kipling's " Recessional was given by Mr. T. Harris. Appropriate hymns were sung. An impressive service concluded with the organ recital, Chopin's "Funebre Marche," by Mr. Edgar Randal, and the singing of the National Anthem.

OBEDIENT TO THE CALL OF DUTY.

THE REV. W. BEATTY'S ADDRESS. A very large congregation attended^the memorial service held at St. Mark's Church yesterday afternoon, the Remuera unit of the National Reserve and the Dilworth Institute Senior Cadet Corps also assembling in full force. The service was very brief and simple in character, consisting of special hymns, psalms, prayers, and a short address by the Rev. W. Beatty. "On an occasion of such deep and awful solemnity, a multitude of words is needless," said the preacher. " Nothing could be more inappropriate than to use diffuse and laboured rhetoric in honouring the memory of those who talked little, but did and endured much, who made no loud protestations, but were obedient to the call of duty, even unto death. This only will I say, while we deplore the loss of men who have rendered inestimable service to the Empire and to mankind, let us thank God who gave them strength, courage, and endurance to fight the good fight, and let us seek to imitate their example. I am sure that if Earl Kitchener could send us a message from the unseen the purport of it would be this: Bridle your tongues severely, do your work honestly and thoroughly, bear your burden bravely, and leave the result to God." The service concluded with the " Dead March," played by the organist, Mr Maughan Barnett.

SERVICE AT ST. ANDREW'S.

"A MAN OF GREAT DEEDS."

The service at St. Andrew's Church was attended by members of the Scottish Rifles.

The Rev. A. A. Murray said: " Since General Gordon's day, Earl Kitchener had made himself indispensable to the augmentation, organisation, and efficiency of the British Army. He had made it one of the greatest in the world. A man of iron will and unbounded determination, what he took in hand he carried through to a successful issue. A just and fair man, he recognised merit wherever he saw it. We are glad he lived to see a great deal of the fruit of his tireless energy."

ROMAN CATHOLIC SORROW.

" REMEMBER KITCHENER, THE MAN."

"I have a sad duty to perform," said Dean Van Dyk, at the Solemn High Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. " Millions of British subjects prqfess a faith of the Catholic Church, and the Church, through her representatives, publicly expresses her sorrow at the sudden demise of one who was looked upon by all of us as the one soldier able to defend successfully the interior of the Empire against an aggressive enemy. To the thoughtful Catholic Earl Kitchener's death emphasises wellknown truths too often lost sight — the uncertainty of life and the vanity of human greatness. " Let us to-day," concluded the dean, remember, not Kitchener, the general, but rather Kitchener, the man, and pray that he, who was like a brilliant star in the fermament of the British Empire, may continue to shine, although be it in a more modest way, in the empire of souls created by God."

" THE ONE MAN NEEDED."

REV. C- H. LAWS'S TRIBUTE.

The Rev. _ C. H. Laws, in his sermon at the Pitt • Street Methodist Church last evening, said Earl Kitchener belonged to the strong men of the English race. He was a great clean-living, duty-doing Briton. No breath of scandal .had ever touched him. He was silent in temperament, clear in judgment, strong in will, and farseeing in his policies. He was the one man England needed when the present storm broke. He had left strong men of his own sort to complete the work he had begun, and maybe his death would give just the final impetus needed to carry our cause to victory. He spent himself without reserve for his Empire, and the vision that inspired and nerved him should shine in the eyes of every Englishman to-day.

SERVICES AT OTHER PLACES.

CEREMONY AT TRENTHAM.

According to the Press Association memorial services for Earl Kitchener were held in various parts of the Dominion. An impressive service was held at Trentham camp yesterday in memory of Earl Kitchener. The Governor and Lady ■Liverpool were present, also General Robin and General Henderson and staff, the Hon. Colonel A. M. Myers, the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, and Mrs. Luke, with a .sprinkling of the general public. The troops formed three sides of a square, the official visitors and the public making up the fourth.

Chaplain-Colonel Tracey conducted the service, Bishop Sprott preaching the sermon. The Trentham camp band accompanied the hymns, which included "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er." The service concluded with Chopin's "Funeral March," followed by the National Anthem. Bandmaster Fox sounded the "Last Post."

SERVICES AT THAMES.

[CT TELEGRAPH.—OWN

Thames, Sunday.

A memorial service and combined church parade took place to-day at which there was a good muster, including a number of returned soldiers and soldiers on leave. The local territorials, boy scouts, veterans, and the National Reserve were on parade. The company mustered at the Drill Hall, and headed by the Regimental Band, under Bandmaster Clarke,- marched through the town to the Mary Street corner, where detachments belonging to the. various denominations broke off. They marched to their respective churches, wher* memorial services were held for Earl Kitchener and his men, and the heroes of the North Sea I fight.