King Alfred & Queen Victoria.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

King Alfred & Queen Victoria.

Sir Theodore Martin recently unveiled a 1 memorial in the Chur-cb of St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey, to King Alfred the Great. The monument is a raised bronze mounted on alabaster, and it is recorded on the top that it was presented "in memory of our beloved Queen Victoria" by Mr Richard C. Jackson, F.S.A. Beneath is a representation of the head of King Alfred, surrounded by laurel leaves. Then come the words," "Alfred the Great, born 849, died 901," and the following quotation from the King's sayings:—"l desire to live worthily all my days, that after death I may leave to my successors a memory of gc-ad work done." At the base is " The Millenary of Alfred, 1901." / Dr Richard Garnett said that one thing that had frequently struck him was how completely King Alfred seemed, in his person, to have reconciled two types of characters, such as those of Ulysses and Telemachus—one always full of work and ambition, and at the same time enjoying useful homely tasks.. If they thought over the matter there were many kings who might be compared with him. Frederick the Great was, for instance, unlike him in character, but like him in the work he did. He was like Charlemagne, who was so keen in learning, literature, and culture. He also compared him to Marcus Aurelius and to the great Mogul-Emperor Acbar. They all honoured the memory of King Alfred, 'and his millenary had called forth a great deal of literature, but the lectures delivered by Mr Plummer at Oxford would give those who wished to obtain them the clearest views of what they ought to believe and what they ought not to believe in connection with the great King. Sir Theodore Martin said it was a fine thought of the donor of the monument to offer it as a memorial to the late Queen. In the spirit which guided Queen Victoria and King Alfred as Sovereigns, they were both one. In the circumstances of their lives they were strongly contrasted. Alfred

had to wrest his kingdom from invaders by his personal prowess and great courage, with which he inspired his followers. It was a little kingdom, only a section of the British Isles, but he laid the foundation of the greater kingdom. He did this by -the example of his own life, and by carrying out his words, " My people must >be as free as their own thoughts." Queen Victoria was the heiress of a great kingdom, and it was to her glory that during her long reign an infinite addition had been made to the realms to which she succeeded. While other kingdoms had been shaken and convulsed, England had remained true to its Constitution and loyal to her rule. Year by year Queen Victoria won the admiration, not of her own people only, but that of all the principalities and Powers throughout the world —an admiration which they testified by following her to her grave with such a tribute of admiring homage. Therefore it was well to couple the names of Alfred and Victoria—the founder of our State, as he might well be called, and her who so worthily represented and maintained the Imperial greatness to which, since Alfred's death in 901, that State had grown. Sir Theodore then uncovered the memorial, which was decorated with garlands of poets' bay, sent specially from Kew Gardens, and the ceremony concluded by the recitation of prayers by the Rev. C. N. I Kelly, rector.