MEMORIAL SERVICES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 39

MEMORIAL SERVICES

PROCEEDINGS AT THE CHURCHES/

SPECIAL ADDRESSES. 8

At all places of worship in the city on Sunday, being the Sunday after the death of Queen Victoria, reference was made to tihe nation's bereavement. ST. PAUL’S PRO-CATHEDRAL.

The services held at St, Paul's Pro-' Cathedral were of a memorial character. . The bells were muffled, and the interior ©f the buildiihg was draped to signify mourning for the departed Sovereign. On the chancel steps a large crown of white flowers; chiefly dahlia.*, with; a crimson cap, reposed on a violet cushion, set on a pedestal. Above burg a banneret of black, which bore the name “ Victoria,” in white letters. cn .a violet field, surmounted by a white and crimson crown. The four adjacent pillars were- enveloped in. national flags— Union Jacks and ensigns—of the largest size. The walls of the sanctuary had black hangings, and the altar fadings • were draped in harmony, while the sita? itself carried vases of white flowers. As a relief to the black drapery which covered the pulpit there were deep fes • toons of white flowers. Flags were sus- ( pended in folds near the entrance doors. The congregations at each service wore either full mourning, or .bands or badges of black.

Special lessons and. a special Psalm (“ Lord,; Thou hast been our refuge ’) were used at matins. The hymn before the sermon was “ Call it not death; it is but, life beginning.” The Rev A. W. H. Compton was the preacher, and he took as nis text the words “ Consider the lilies Low they grow” from St. Matthew, vi., 28. He spoke of the great shadow' which was now lying across the world. Referring to the beginning of Queen Victoria's raign, he pointed out how like the life of a flower was the life of her whom they remembered that day, when in Lcr simple and innocent youth she undertook the reins of power. After all the years of responsibility and care and trouble,

when .she was at last crowned with riches and honour and 1 glory, in the fulness of her years, she had now laid aside her earthly crown to take a heavenly one, which would not fade away. He doubted not that at the end she committed her soul to God, who had sustained her throughout her long life. After reading from one of Lord Beaconsfield’s famous novels his noble and prophetic description of the Queen's accession, Mr Compton said that her late Majesty nobly and royally fulfilled her duty with_ out fear and without reproach. They thanked God she was so good a ruler, and still more that she was so good & woman, an example to all women of what a wife and mother should be, and a friend to many who otherwise would have been friendless. During the offer.! tory the air “Oh, rest in the Lord” (Mendelssohn) was played, and after the service a funeral march by Beethoven. The Pro-Cathedfltl was quite inadequate for the accommodation of the people who wished to attend the speck*! memorial service held there in the afternoon. Every seat in the building was occupied, and people stood in the aisles and porches. Quite as many as were admitted were turned away. Seats were reserved for persons holding official positions, but all the other seats were free. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Ranfurly) was present, and was attended by Captain Alexander, A.D.C., and the Hon O. Hill-Trevor. The Chief Justice was unable to attend

but Lady Stout was present. Mr Justice Edwards, the Hons W. C. Walker. W. Hall-Jones and C. H. Mills, Messrs J. Hutcheson, A. R. Atkinson, G. Fisher, M’s.H.R., the Mayor (Mr J. G. W.

Aitkeri) and Councillors of the city, were also among the congregation, which in addition, included Captain Baynes and the officers and men of H.M.S. Mileum the Commandant (Colonel Penton) and other officers of the Defence Force, the consuls and consular agents, members of the public service, and numerous other prominent citizens. The Governor and his staff, the naval and military officers, and some of the of other nations, were in uniform. The Bishop of Wellington conducted the se® 1 - vice, which was taken part in by the clergy of the city and suburbs, who robed in the Diocesan Chambers, antf walked in procession to ! and from the church. At the opening of the service. “When Our Heads are Bowed With Woe ” was sung as a processional hymn. Mr John Pro use gave a devotional rendering of the solo, “I Am the Resurrection and rthe Life,” one of the compositions of Mr Robert Parker, the, church organist. The 90th Psalm was sung, and the Rev T. H. Sprott read, ■the lesson, 1 Corinthians, xv., 20. The quartet and chorus, “Blest are the Departed,” from. Spohris oratorio, “The Last Judgment,” was sung by the choir Mrs Re veil, Miss Pownallj Mr Douglas Jackson, and Mr John, Proiise being the leading vocalists. The Bishop recited a bidding prayer, and then delivered an eloquent address. The hymn, “Ob the Resurrection Morning/’ was folic wed by a. thanksgiving for the blessings which had signalised the QueeiTiß reign, and a prayer for his Majesty tlw. King. Mr James Searle sang with fin* effect the tenor solo, “Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth,” from Mendelssohn’s oratorio, “Elijah.” After the he nediietion had been pronounced tie “Dead March” in “Saul” (Handel) wsii played the choir and congregation w& verently standing till its complebioa. Many of the congregation remained ir the church for some time, inspecting iW very complete draping of the chancel. Bishop Wallis’s address® was based oat the text “And like Unto Him was no king before Him, that turned to th* Lord with all his heart, and with all his. sou!, and with all hie might” (Q. ~ Kings, xxiii., 25). After referring td vie sorrow which filled all hearts in tin community, he said that, sixty-thrah years was a long period in a natioarVr history. It was a long crpaoe in. the life' of an individual, long, indeed, thog there were possibly none, and very few. amongst the congregation whe could look back tp the days, before Victoria came to the throne. Those were days before the city of Wellington had begun to be. ; So they felt that a. link had been broken in the chain that bound,: them to, the.past, one of the strongest of shose links that grew more precious to them aa their day* increased. They, could no longer sing “God Save, .the Queen v as it was sung in Newtown.. Park on the previous Sunday. Tfcay 1 could no longer greet their soldiers as •“Soldiers of the Queen..” Thai had passed away. It was th* meaning of their Borrow and their bitterness of heart. Yet for tiba Queen o .*? womanly life they thanked Almighty God with all their hearts. thanked Him for the life which she ha<i lived among them, a pure, holy, imseJrL fish life. He supposed that the greatest' power, the most constraining motive*' next to the love of God, that promptbeß ; men to do and to bear, was the loved! a good woman. They had read how strong soldiers kissed the shadow <j£ '] Florence Nightingale as she through a hospital. They had knowhi; themselves how some dull, clod-hlrfcfU man had been transformed by the lov© A of some woman, and had shown himsblf under that influence to be capable wi : fdeeds and words that seemed to themutterly strange coming from such man. The Queen was a pure, noble; tr tender-hearted woman. They mourned. for her because ah© lived a mother t# * 1 their nation, and was never throughowtfU

her long reign indifferent to any joy or any sorrow of her people. They had loved her as no ether Sovereign had been ' loved since the English nation began. He heard the other day of a, woman who said she had never seen the Queen ; she had been throe times to see her, but every time a mist came over her eyes, and she was unable to see the Queen’s face. They knew what thatmeant; they had ail felt it—that love for the Queen, that ardent devotion for her—they all knew what it was. History .presented no parallel to the love that was felt for Victoria. At the beginning of her reign, the great Irish orator, O’Connell, said that he could bring 500,000 Irishmen to defend the person, life and honour of “the beloved young lady who now sits on the throne of England.” So it came to pass that in 1848. when all the thrones of Europe were shaken, that of England stood secure. That was not, he need not assure the representatives -of mighty peoples which in a generous self-forgetfulness could claim to share England’s.sorrow that day —that was ■ not because of any virtue that Englishmen could claim to possess exclusively, but because they had learnt to lore and trust their ruler. They knew that she cared for all her people, that although so young at that time she had a wise, statesmanlike instinct and marvellous self-repression. The crash of other thrones and the conflict between the mighty hosts of other nations had only emphasised the all-but unbroken peace which prevailed throughout the Queen’s reign. For . these things they thanked God that day. They thanked Him because the spirit of brotherhood now reigned ■among Englishmen all over the world. He remembered well how in England at the time of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee i-von were saying of the colonic... “ There is no doubt of the sincerity of the devotion of these lands but will they spend one shilling or send one man to help the Empire when it is threatened by an enemy and their own interests are not immediately affected?” And these men added, “We must be careful, not merely to give the colonies independence of government, but also not to impose any burden upon them, for directly Qie connection calls for sacrifice they will want to break it.” Those fore_ bodings had been proved untrue. God in His mercy had. sent them a trial. There had been a call on the. colonies for a sacrifice greater than the men he had referred to ever dreamed of. The sacrifice had been made, and now the colonies and the Mother Country were nearer one another than they had ever been. The British people were also now nearer to the citizens of the great United States of America. The Queen had prayed that ’her reign might close in peace. God had not granted the prayer. But it seined to him that something far better had been granted, and that was the linking together of all countries and

■all parties in the Empire in the closest bonds of brotherhood. They trusted their rulers with the same unfailing hope and the same unswerving loyalty which the Jews showed to Joshua after the death of Moses. They faced the future with hope because they trusted they had learnt one of the great lessons of their late Queen’s life. That lesson was that a good deed and a good life was a stimulus to noble action in others, and had consequences which could not be measured. What

the pure, tender, loving, noble life of ' the Queen had done for their nat'oii V eon Id not be told in words. She had, for one thing, tau-ght them to think less, of their privileges than of their duties. She had taught them the spirit of service, of sacrifice —the spirit of Jesus . Christ. And because she had taught that, God grant that they might learn V -it more and more. And because he who was to be their new ruler had learnt it, and because he had for many years given himself up to the conscientious performance of the duties of a high po- : : sition, they should say with sorrowful, yet thankful hearts, “ God save the King!” In the evening there was again a crowded congregation, many standing .. throughout the service, and many others being unable to obtain admission to the church. The musical part of the service was very beautifully and impressively rendered, the notable features being Sullivan’s touching setting of “Wreaths for our graves the Lord has „ given;” the quartet, “Yea though I Walk," from the same oomposer’s ora--7; torio, “The Light of the World,” sung i. with devotional feeling by Miss TJpham r Miss Warren, Mr D. Jackson and Mr W Prouse; and Mr Parker’s setting of thr sentence from the burial service “I am ■y the Resurrection and the Life,” which was again impressively sung by Mr John Pro use. Mr Parker played ar voluntaries Chopin’s B minor prelude - and the same composer’s pathetic “Funera! March,” the congregation and choir standing during the performance, as at the other services of the day. The prayers were intoned by the Rev A. W.H. Compton, and a masterly and eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev T. H. Sprott from the text “He loved righteousness- and - hated iniquity.” The Misses Williams made themselves responsible for the draping of the church .7 which was done with great taste.

ST. PETER’S CHTXttGjti. Very large congregations attended the memorial services held at St. Peters Church. At morning prayer the preacher was the Rev W. Hooper, D.D., from India, who is at present on a visit to

Wellington. ITe took as his text, '•'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” After dwelling upon the Queen’s noble life as an example to ali, he said the fact that she had lived such a life made her death a joyful cr f e. At the close of the service the “Dead March” in “Saul” was played, and the National Anthem afterwards. The Rev G. P. Dav.ys preached in the evening, his subject - being “The Crown of Righteousness.” He said their late noble mistress—noble in r far higher sense than that of mere rani? —had so endeared herself to them ad as the mother of her people, thud though personally known to but. few .o' her subjects, there could have been few right-minded men who did not feel a lump rising in their throats when tin. news came that she wa,s gene. Two things, amongst others, had enhancer' the Empire’s sorrow. One erias the suddenness of it all. And the other thing was that somehow they bad come unconsciously to think that their Queer bore a charmed life. In conclusion, Mr Da-vys said the Queen wore well th crown she inherited ; she accepted with* a high grace the burden of her dignified office, with ail its privileges and its responsibilities; yet she did not- permit those -things so to absorb her care and attention as to make her forget that after all the crown of righteousness was the only thing really worth aiming for The anthem in the evening was “Crossing the Bar,” Woodward's setting of Tciniyson’a words being used . Miss Randell sang f T know that my Redeemer Li vethi” The choir also sans kneeling an anthem by Lloyd, “Lie still. Beloved, Lie Still.” Dr Kington Fyffe the organist, played the “Dead March,” “Gcd Save the King,” and ‘“The Las'j Post-,” at t-lie conclusion of a length; and impressive service. A muffled pea? was rung on the bells after the service had ended.

ST. MARK’S. There was a large congregation at St. Mark’s Church last Sunday, when the Rev R. Coffey preached a special In Memor-iam sermon, which, was listened to with profound interest by all present. The preacher took for his text Revelations xiv., 13. He made touching re ferences to the holy life led by the late Queen, and its effect on her guidance of the vast Empire which had been so widely extended during her reign. Special hymns and anthems were sung, and at the close of the service the “Dead March” from “Saul” was played, the congregation standing.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH. A special memorial servioe was hold at St. Joseph’s Church,which was draped in black, on Sunday morning. His Grace the Archbishop (Dr Redwood) presided at the High Mass, which was sung by tbe Rev Father Hills, S.M. The ciioir, under Mr M. C. Howe, sang an appropriate mass. As an offertory piece the “Dies Xrae” was given, the Rev Father Mahoney and Mr Rowe taking the solos. His Grace addressed the large congregation at some length. He said they were there to associate themselves with their fellow citizens in giving expression to the very great grief that filled all hearts at the present time of mourning. Their less was a great one; not only had they to mourn the death of an illustrious Sovereign, but of one who as maid, wife, mother and widow was a noble example to every Christian family. He enlarged upon the admirable qualities and virtues of the deceased lady. The world had lost a great factor for the maintenance of peace. It was an undoubted fact that Queen Victoria’s love of peace and her vast experience in the ways of European Governments had prevented many bloody wars. Viewed from that point alone, her loss was a great one. He hoped and earnestly prayed that the. King, her successor, would follow in her footsteps, and that he would he long spared to reign over the great British Empire.. At the conclusion of the sei> vice the organist (Mr Ennis) played the “Dead March” in ““Saul.”

ST. MARY’S (HILL STREET). At the memorial service at St. Mary’s, which was draped in black, on Sunday morning, the Rev Father Holley, S.M., referred to the great loss the nation had sustained in the death of the Queen. She had fulfilled the duties cf her great role nobly and well. Catholics had special reason to grieve over her loss. Towards them she had ever been kindly disposed. It was only in 1829 that the Emancipation Act was passed. Bigotry was rampant wheh she ascended the throne. They could not fail to remember some of her utterances, in which she declared that all religions should have full liberty. Victoria was a good Queen and an able one. Kind and indulgent, yet always firm, she had a holy horror of impropriety. She had always striven within her limited powers to do what she considered her duty. He concluded by expressing a well-founded hope that their Queen was now in the enjoyment of the reward of her many good deeds, and with a prayer that her successor, King Edward VII., would follow in her steps. Mr Cimino plaved the. “Dead March)” in “Saul” at the close of the service.

At the early mass for the children th© Rev Father Lewis Referred in feeling terms to the death of her Majesty, and impressed upon the children the obligation resting on them of loyalty to their sovereign. He hoped the Queen would

be nobly and adequately replaced by her son, who, he trusted, would follow in the footsteps of his mother, and be a model to his subjects, as Queen Victoria had been.

ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS. A special memorial service was hold at St. Mary of the Angels at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The church was -draped in black. High Mass was sung by the Rev Father Moloney, S.M., the choir, under Mr F. J- Oakes, rendering marie appr. - priate to such an occasion. The Rev Father Goggan was the preacher, and bo feelingly of the great less the nation had sustained by the death of her Majesty. She had throughout a. long life endeared herself to her subjects by her many great qualities and her aamirable virtues. Her acts of kindness in individual cases were enlarged upon. The Empire mourned the loss of a great and illustrious Sovereign, and whije. olfering their allegiance to the new King, the highest tribute they could pay him was to say they felt sure he would emulate the acts and virtues of his noble parent and be all, in word and work, that the King of a great nation should he. As ail offertory the choir gave the “Dios Irae.” At the conclusion of the service the. large congregation stood while the organ and orchestra played the solemn dirge “The Garland of Flowers.”

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

Mr Ogg occupied the pulpit in the morning. The church, was appropriately and tastefully draped. The preacher took for his text Matthew xxiv., 45, 46. He began by saying, “ We are met this day in He church as in. a house of mourning, tv e are in deep sorrow at the removal by death of the head of the Empire; of the illustrious Queen who, during the life of almost all living men, has swayed, the sceptre in wisdom, justice and benevolence, over on Empire vaster, more populous, more enlightened and more distinguished by great works of civilisation than any dominion that Ins preceded it upon the surface of thi earth We cannot but feel the disruption of t-ne bonds that have for so many years, we might- say all our life-time, bound us in admiration, homage and love to tbe noble lady whom we were delighted and proud to call our Sovereign. We- cannot, o-f course, permit ourselves to indulge in immoderate grief. Queen Victoria Had attained an age considerably beyond the span cf the three-score years and ten allotted to man. As an intel_ ligent citizen of this town said to me, she has had a very long and prosperous reign. She lived to see her dominions •consolidated in a manner that the most far-sighted and penetrating statesman could never have expected. Canada in the far-distant north-west and Australia in the distant south-east feel that they are kin, and glorying in being portions of the same potent and civilising Empire, hold out their hands to each other, and testify their devotion to their common mother; and we cannot estimate how much the virtues of the de_ parted Queen tended to develop this feeling of loyaltv and -brotherhood.” Speaking of her love for Scotland, th© preacher said, “ As Scotchmen, we remember with pride and pleasure how much our departed Queen loved our land, how she was attracted to it, how she visited it; how she delighted to dwell far away from the pomp of hew palaces and the noise and stir of the vavt capital of the world; how she delighted to dwell for weeks together near the great mountains that enclose the valley of the Northern Dee, and by the clear, rushing, swift waters of that beautiful and romantic river. We remember, too. how like a true descendant of the Scottish Kings, she joined in the worship of tlie kirk, and received the Communion according to the simple rite of the Reformed Church. She was, indeed, the first Sovereign of the Hanoverian dynasty who understood the people of Scotland.” “ The Victorian era,” the preacher said. “ will occupy a very prominent place in history. More progress haa been made in the Queen’s reign than in 500 years that preceded it.” Then, referring to his text, Mr Ogg went on to say, “ If time permitted, and my ability were equal to the task, I would like to bring up before your sympathetic minds a clear and vivid idea of that prudent and careful servant of which th® text speaks. God, in the person of our late Queen, has pqt before us an example far more capable of instructing! and eeh_ tying you than any words of mine. That great Princess whom w© had reigning over us for so long, but who passed away eo suddenly and, we might almost say, unexpectedly; t-liat noble Queen, an honour to her age and the ornament of her royal condition; a model of probity and purity, who made herself so thoroughly beloved by all good men; who was recommended to our affection and confidence, not only by tbe excellent qualities with which nature had enriched her, but by her attachment to th® principles of pure and undefiled religion ; that great monarch who knew so well how to associate grace and condescension with the dignity befitting her lofty position; who, -during her whole reign, knew how to join mildness with firmness; who to qualities that made lier to be admired and reverenced, united virtues that caused her t-o be loved; that Queen whose name will never die, and who has come to her end amid the •benedictions of her people; I may well present her to you as a proper type of that faithful and wise servant, whom his

Lord hath made ruler ever his honso_ held, for I am persuaded that regard., ing the world as the property of the -herd, iro wiser and more prudent stc-w----«<rd could have been found of our portion of the inheritance than the Soverejgn La ay who lias just departed. Sh«j de.servf d the commendation, ’’ eJ acne, good and faithful servant.’ Alter referring to the scene at the deatn-bod of the dying monarch., and. pay in v a warm tribute to the filial’piety of the Emperor of Germany the preaco or proceeded thus, ‘‘The monarch dies' but tiie monarchy is permanent Edward VII. has ascended the throne ‘ Long Live the King!’ The Empire, under the new Bailer, will progress, we believe,. as heretofore, making happy under its protection, the many millions that own its authority. We will stand around the throne of our Wing a valiant and united people. We will work - for the triumph of truth and goodness. We win wow-c ror tne expansion and development of that Kingdom of God which comech not with observation, but is within.’'

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH. St John’s Church was filled to overflowing on Sunday morning, on tho occasion of the memorial service held to commemorate the death of the Queen Amongst tiie congregation were hi<= Excellency tho Governor the Mayo--and several City Councillors, and rom . sent&tives of the Ministry. The Rev J. Paterson preached an eloauent sermon taking for his text Itev xiV, 13. ‘‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord fi om henceforth ,1-h.at tliey may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.” Mr Paterson said, in fiart: —We are met here tc-day in the House of God in sad and solemn circumstances. "We are met as mourners mourning the death of our late be loved Queen, and we have come into God’s house to worship Him who is the King of Kings, to pay our_ homage ts; Him, and to seek of Him comfort- in our sorrow, and grace to enable us to make a wise improvement of this great national affliction. We feel that as a- nation we have suffered a great loss, and the sense of our loss comes to us personally, individually. It touches deeply every heart. Our Queen’s name was a household word in every home throughout her vast dominions. She was a. great Queen, and we w T ere proud of her. She was an able woman, and all loved and revered her. Of all our Sovereigns, her reign was the longest, as it was the- most illustrious. It marks the noblest period of British history. In the arts of peace and the achievements of war; in the advancement of tho sciences and in the marvels of invention ; in literature and philosophy; in statesmanship; in commerce and philan-t-hropy; in the discovery of new lands, in the founding of new colonies; and in the extension of the Empire with a[’ its wealth and power and prestige—-the period of her long reign has indeed been illustrious. In after ages it will be spoken of as the Augustan age of Queen Victoria . . . Holding the sceptre of British rule, right nobly she filled the position. She adorned it with her many great and good qualities, and she sought ever to wield the influence, which it gave her for the glory of God, for the welfare and happiness of her people, and for the good of humanity . . . Our prayer is that he who has succeeded to the throne. King Edward VII., with his good and’ beautiful consort, may long be spared to rule our great Empire that he. too, may rule in the fear of God and in accordance with the spirit and principles of the British Constitution; that God may give to him wisdom and strength, and establish the throne in righteousness and peace; that h-e may retain to the end the confidence and affection of all the people ; and that with the Divine blessing his reign may be happy and prosperous.

WESLEY CHURCH. There was a large congregation at the Wesley Church, Taranaki street, at the memorial service on Sunday morning. The service was read by the Rev W. C. Oliver, and the Rev F. W. Isitt preached from the text “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. ix., 15). In the course of his address, Queen Victoria, he said, died honoured and loved, while Elizabeth, her greatest predecessor, died in wretchedness. The preacher also referred to the many traits of the late Queen which are reflected in the characters of the King and other members of the Royal Family. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the “Dead March” was . played at the end of the service. At the evening service, when the Rev W. C. Oliver was the preacher, the sole ‘'Crossing the Bar” was sung by Mr E. J. Hill. The church was appropriately draped.

Rev W. C. Oliver writes as follows, to the Editor of the “ Times —Kindly allow me to state that Rev Isitt made no refei*ence whatever to the death of Queen Elizabeth in the sermon h& preached from my pulpit on Sunday mornmg, and. no such, invidious comparison as your report implies.”—We gladly allow Mr Oliver’s disclaimer; but would remark that it is, to say the least, not a little peculiar that both our reporter and that of our evening contemporary have reported Mr Isitt as instituting a contrast between Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Readers may well be left to draw their own conclusions as to whether Mr Oliver was guilty of inafc-

tention or whether two independent reporters conspired to misrepresent cue utterances of the preacher.

THE SYNAGOGUE

An impreessive “In Memoriam” service was held on Saturday at the Synagogue, the interior of which was heavily ' draped and festooned with crepe. After the ordinary service Rabbi Van Staveren took up a- position on the steps before the Ark and addressed the . congregation in the following words: .“The Crown of our Head has Fallen; Woe be unto us.” These words, he said, were uttered by the Prophet Jeremiah at a time of trouble and sorrow. A nation had seen all that -was beloved lost. So that day came they there tc mourn. The Crown of their head had fallen: the beloved mother called tc rest. They mourned the most beloved ‘ of Sovereigns, the best of women. Hei virtue and her goodness would for evex be treasured in the memories of hei people. In all ages she would be remembered as ‘"Victoria the Good.” Thi dignity and simplicity of character she showed in her youth "remained with her to the end . On her deathbed she showed all her usual thoughtfulness and consideration for others Such characteristics inspired love for the departed. The speaker then went on to enlarge on the many virtues and graces of the late Queen. All creeds and classes ap- : predated her influence for good, an>. were united in mourning the loss of a Sovereign and mother. How much; was owed to the influence of her gentle Sympathetic ■ nature would never probably be known. The filial piety, the • open and unrestrained grief of the crowd of 'illustrious princes and princesses surrounding her death-bed, was sui’ely the . highest testimony of the personal worth of the departed one. .Turning to the Empire, where was universal lamentation, well might it be said “The Crown of our head has fallen, woe be unto us," for surely never was the like before. Placed on a pinnacle with the searchlight of the public gaze continuously fixed" upon her for over sixty years, she had emerged unscathed and stood iu memory to-day a pattern for all ages The Rabbi concluded by asking his con gregation to emulate the example o: the noble life they all mourned. Let the. example of her actions strengthen them through their lives until they, too, wer*. called hence to appear 'before theii Lord, before whom she now stands to receive the reward of her devotion to all that was good and peaceful. The service concluded with an invocation of God’s blessings on the head of Edward VII.

SERVICES AT PETONE. At St. Augustine’s Church, Petone, on Sundav, the Rev J. D. Russell preached an eloquent and touching sermon, taking for his text Proverbs xxxi., 27, ‘•'Many daughters have dene virtuously but thou excelleth them all.” The church was crowded to excess. Appropriate hymns were sung. At St. David’s, which was also very crowded, the Rev Alex. Thomson took for his text Ecclesiastes vii., 1, “A good name is better than precious ointment: the day of death than the day of birth.” Special anthems were sung, including the beautiful composition “Blest are the Departed/’ Special services were, held at all_ the Cfther churches, which . were specially draped for the occasion.

At the Salvation Army Citadel on Sunday night a memorial service was held uConnection with the death of Queen Victoria. The Army band marched from Cuba street to the citadel playing the ‘‘Dead March” in “Saul,” the instruments being covered in black and white and •very soldier carrying an emblem of mourning.: The route of the march was fairly ’crowded wisth people. At ; the citadel- hymns appropriate to the oeca«icin were; sung during, the service, and

- addressee on.-The Progress of, the World tinder the Queen,” “The Queen as a ' Woman/’ and “The .Queen as a Ruler” were I delivered by Adjutant Hatcher, . Brother Gardiner and Adjutant Rowley respectively. The “Dead .March” .<• was • ejgain played during the meeting, all the •aggregation standing, as a token of •• wsapeet to: their late ruler. The epeak- { mnf- deak boro a pictorial representation r M her Majesty, appropriately covered.

The Missions to Seamen, at the raeaaemorial service on Sunday morning, was ftlll to overflowing, and the reading of r of the burial • service, together . with the . sermon and the hymns, selected i for the occasion, made the service a Very solemn one. Mr James Moore, the . missioner, preaching on the, text 1 Cor. . xv,,'54, referred in eloquent-terms to the .. model life of the late Queen, .-whose do- ' mestic and public conduct were.sans ra- • , WK>che, and whose whole life at Balmoral fifed Osborne was occupied in unostenhatious consideration and kindness displayed towards, the humble and the poor. Prayers were offered for the King and Qaeen, and the “Dead March” waS play- . n before the benediction. The hymns ! were “A Few More Years Shall Roll,” f fiafe Home in Port/’ “Gathering Home” •fed “Sleep, 0,- Beloved.” At the even■sg service there .was an overflowing attendance, numbers being unable to gain •admittance. The service opened 1 with . lijmns appropriate to the occasion, and at .this conclusion of the sermon the . *Nunc Dimittis” was sung and the “Dead - Jftarqh” played, all standing. The pray- : era authorised by the Bishop then followaft. All the visiting sailors wore erepe.