MEMORTAL SERVICE AT SYDNEY.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11668, 2 July 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

MEMORTAL SERVICE AT SYDNEY.

Sydney, June 21. The flags were half-masted at thf Admiralty depot,. Garden Island, on all the public buildigs and the shipping. At noon a large congregation assembled in St. Andrews' Cathodral to pay, in unison with those taking part in the funeral rites at Wellington, a last tribute to the late Mr Seddon. The building wa< draped in purple and black, and thf altar was decked in white flowers, while Union Jacks were suspended from the arching pillars. The sdtvice was a choral one. As the congregation gathered the organist played ' ' I know that My Redeemer Livetb. " The opening hymn was "Brief Life is Uere Our Portion," and then followed the service for the dead, impressively sung by the choir, concluding with the anlihem "Crossing the Bar," to "Woodward's music. The solemn service terminated with the singing of the hymn "Ten Thousand- Times Ten thousand." The organ played the "Dead March from Saul," and Beethoven's "Funeral March." Archdeacon Gunther officiated, and was assisted by Canons Langley, Sharpe, and Boyce. Among those present were Lord Northcote, Mr Harry Rawson, Mr Hogue (the Chief Secretary), the Lord Mayor, Captain Stoke Kees (representing the Navy), Mr O'Sullivan, Mr Donne Jcckson (of the Union Company), Mr Pike (of Bank of New Zealand), and a largo number of Now Zealanders. The "Sydney MorniDg Herald," referring to the honors to New Zealand's dead statesman, says:—" He won a reputation as a representative citizen of Greater Britain. Me was more than a citizen : he was a spokesman of the Empire, acknowledged as such not only in England, but in Canada and South Africa. It was in recognition of this that the honor paid to his memory at the seat of Empire by a national service at St. Paul's. Mr Seddon never minced his words nor chastened his expressions when he brought his views on questions affecting the welfare of Greater Britain under the notice of the Mother Country. He. spoke straightforwardly from his head and heart. Many tributes of his influence and to his memory are paid by Royalty, and public men and the British Press acknowledge this soundness and fearlessness of intent and act. There waa a time when such qualities in a citizen of the outer Empire would have been misunderstood, perhaps resented : but. men like Mr Seddon have broken through the old crust of officialism, and brought warm and breathing human nature into Imperial and colonial relations."