The Queen’s Death.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3003, 29 January 1901, Page 2

The Queen’s Death.

FUNERAL ON SATURDAY,

United Press Association —Per Electric

Telegraph—Copyright. Received 9.15 a.m., January 28th. MELBOURNE, January 28.

A movement is on foot to erect statuary to commemorate the reign of the Queen on the lines of that about to be erected at Lahore, India. The design of this shows the Queen seated on a canopied chair, with figures on either hand representative of Britannia and Australia. Already several large subscriptions have been offered.

Received 4.34 p.m., January 28th. SYDNEY, January 28.

Lord Hopetoun has received a cablegram that the Queen will be buried on Saturday next . Lord Hopetoun’s message commands the deepest mourning from to-day till after the funeral.

A further cablegram from Mr ChamberProclamation to take place to-day His Excellency decided that the order for mourning shall take effect from to-morrow. About twenty clergymen representing most of the religious denominations in the city, met mt the City Council Chambers to-day at the invitation of the Mayor, to take into consideration the question of holding an united service on the day of the Queen’s funeral. It was decided that such services should be held and a committee was appointed to make arrangements. ASHBURTON. January 28. Memorial services were held in all the churches' in Ashburton yesterday, and by

the Salvation Army. There was also united service in the Oddfellows Hall, excepting the Anglican and Catholic denominations.

Memorial services in connection with the death of our late beloved Queen were held in Kingsdown, both afternoon and evening. The school was dismantled of all school furniture, and suitably draped in black. The Dead March was played on both occasions.

There was a very large congregation present at the new Presbyterian Church, Temuka, on Sunday- morning last, when the Rev. Mr Grant, of Leeston, preached a beautiful sermon from the singularly appropriate text, Proverbs, 31 and 29, “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” The preacher eulogised her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria in her character, as a pure and good woman, a tender and affectionate wife and mother, and a loving and sympathetic Queen. Memorial services were held at all the churches in Temuka on Sunday last, and there were very large congregations. At the Presbyterian Church the Rev. Mr Grant, of Leeston, officiated. At St. Peter’s the vicar, Rev. T. Farley, officiated in the morning, and the Rev. Mr Hoggins in the evening. The service was attended by the Temuka. Rifles, who mustered well, under Captain Richardson, and the right division of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, under Captain Hayhurst. Other officers present were: —Major Young, V.D., Captain Cutten, Lieutenant Feilden, and Surgeon Hayes, S.C.M.R. The Rev. Mr Haslam preached at the Wesleyan Church, and the Rev. Mr Sharpe at the Primitive Methodist. An impressive address was delivered at the Roman Catholic Church by Father Fauvel. At the Maori Church the Rev. Mr Blathwayt officiated. At the morning service the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion were administered, and a memorial service was held in the ; afternoon.

At the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening the Rev. R. Mackie preached from Ezekiel, 21st chapter, verse 26 : “ Thus saith the Lord God : remove the diadem and take off the crown.” The rev. gentleman contrasted the wrathful command of the above text given to the monarch of the time with the same tender message that came to our much-beloved Queen but a few days ago. He said that some men attributed all passing events to fate, others to the evil one, and others again to the laws of nature, but the preacher held that behind the destiny of the world there was always a “ Thus saith the Lord God.” No one had recognised this more than Queen Victoria; there was behind her whole life a “ Thus saith the Lord God,” and it was this that made her a dutiful wife, a motherly mother, and a righteous Sovereign. The preacher took his hearers through the picture gallery of history and paused for a moment before many of the most prominent Sovereigns, illustrating how different had come - the call to them to “ Remove the diadem, and take off the crown ”; the lives of James IV., Mary Queen of Scots, and Napoleon being most conspicuously dwelt upon. The reverend gentleman paid a high tribute to the life and example of our esteemed Queen, surrounded as it was by all the temptations of Court life, and showed how universal had been the sorrow of friends and enemies alike at the news of her death. The above is only a summary of an able, well-delivered and impressive sermon. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the pulpit being draped in black added to the solemnity of the occasion. It was intimated that, unless further notice was given to the contrary, there would be a service in the church on the evening of the Queen’s funeral.