The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1925. THE PASSING OF MR MASSEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 11 May 1925, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1925. THE PASSING OF MR MASSEY.

Yesterday evening the Angel of Death paused at the chief Ministerial residence in Wellington, silently lifted the veil-worn harness from the tired, brave shoulders of the stricken Prime Minister, and Mr Massey passed from the warfare of j the world into the peace of God. | Although the gravity of the Prime | Minister’s illness wa3 realised by ] every thoughtful citizen, the passing • of an Empire statesman who, for thirty-one years, with notable distinction and world-wide credit, served his country and tire British Commonwealth of Nations in the high and perilous position Democracy assigns its leaders, docs not leave the community unmoved, nor soften the shock the people inevitably feel at the death of a great leader. But,, now that the prison gates of the flesh have been broken open and the shackled soul has gone free; now that the tenant of the human abiding place, has entered into the inheritance of the temples of immortality, all sections of the community will mourn the death of New Zealand’s revered and honoured Prime Minister and offer consolation to the bereaved: It is not true! Great Sire, it cannot be That this bright ray of life we call

the Soul — This quenchless flame of immortality Emblazoned on thy grand eternal

scroll — Was kindled in its mortal lamp by

Thee, To And within the grave its final goal! When Thomas Bracken, the New Zealand.poet, wrote this verse in his glorious poem “Annihilation,” he voiced a magnificent confession of faith in the immortality of the soul, which offers a healing salve ■to wounded hearts in the presence of Death:

O Death, what art thou? Nurse of dreamless slumbers, Freshening the fevered flesh to a wakefulness eternal: O Death, what art thou? Strange and solemn Alchemist, Elaborating life’s elixir from the clayey crucibles; The calm safe anchorage for the shattered hulls of men, — Then silent waiting hall, where Adam meeteth with his children, — How full of dread, how full of hope. . . .

The dread is drowned in joy, the hope is filled with immortality! A year ago, Mr Massey’s powerful frame, bis robust air, his infectious optimism, his physical strength, and mental vigour, gave the impression that though be might this year decide to throw off the long-endured cares of the high office he had carried for nearly thirteen years, there were many years of honoured retirement assured him at the close of his distinguished public career. But to-day, after prolonged and painful illness, comes the announcement that

In honour wrapped, he sleeps Hi 3 life work o’er. Early in his career, Mr Massey showed himself imbued with a high sense of public duty. Unflagging industry and undoubted disinterestedness were outstanding qualities of his service to the Stale. In those stirring days of thirty-one years ago, Mr Massey’s thoroughness, sincerity and integrity deeply impressed his fellow citizens. The future Prime Minister, however, had no false illusions regarding the almost insurmountable hurdles besetting the path of young and ambitious aspirants for honour in public life. He had not failed to realise that personal qualities, unrelenting zeal, loyalty to colleagues, and unswerving devotion to the country’s cause should be the possessions of the chosen representative of the people. His keen perception and lofty idealism convinced him that He who would serve the State, himself must be From selfish aims immune, from envy free; A man of vision who afar can see.

Rich in the saving virtues—justice, truth, Reverence and courage, gentleness and ruth, A loyal friend, a noble foe in sooth. Of high or low estate, that man Is wise Whose affluent heart the miser’s wealth outvies, Whoso life is rooted in self-sacrifice.

He serves his fellows of a certitude, Whose cherished ideals aye are pure and good, Who holds mankind a world-wide brotherhood. Who lives and works for peace and equity, He lights a flaming torch for all to see, He guides, inspires a nation’s destiny! In Annie Woodcock’s moving lines wc have the fundamental principles upon which Mr Massey raised a superstructure of an outstanding public career. He flung out Trafalgar’s deathless message that the State expects every man to do his duty. His love of country was as steadfast as the stars. His dauntless courage and faith in the cause of freedom and righteousness enabled him to “ look with fearless eyes beyond the tragedy of a world at strife,” to the dawning of a nobler and freer life. Mr Massey’s unshakable confidence in the destiny of the Empire and his abiding faith in things eternal, are fittingly described in the glowing words of the

last epilogue Browning wrote, without doubt, one of the noblest retrospects of life ever written of brave men by a brave man:

Ono who never turned his back, but marched breast forward, Hover doubted clouds would break, Ncvor droameil, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph. Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better; Sleep to wake.

Mr Masse) vas rich in the faith

that moves mountains; ho was j buoyed up and supported by the j hope that springs eternal; he pos- . sessed the heaven-given gift of tiro charity that suffereth long and is kind. Stout-hearted in the face of , a succession of world crises, Mr : Massey’s never-failing optimism • gave renewed courage to his compatriots and inspired this fair conn- , try to tread the blood-splashed trail with unfaltering feet and heads erect, to the dignity of full nationhood. He breaihe,! a new spirit of determination into the souls of the people in the darkest hours of unparalleled , national stress and calamity. Un- j afraid, in face of the greatest mili- | tary plot in history, he led this coun- | try to accept the challenge of insol- i ent Prussia, and he remained in of- ! fice to see the proud, merciless auto- j cracies of the world crumble, and the j world made safer for Democracy. J For eighteen years in the political j sphere, Mr Massey fought valiantly, j fairly and tenaciously, at the head j of a small but resolute Party which faced the cohorts of a popular and ; powerfully-entrenched Government, 1 led by a lion-hearted Liberal leader. As Prime Minister he displayed those invaluable qualities of statesmanship which placed his name high on the scroll of Empire-builders. He was ever a stalwart champion of the cause he had at heart; withal an ardent and inspiring Imperialist, a , staunch friend, a passionate lover of humanity, and a fair fighter. In ihe political battles right through a parliamentary career stretching across thirty-one years of vicissitudes inseparably associated with the national life of a young and developing country, Mr Massey was ever a courageous Crusader who won the friendship and the admiration of his political foes; a Leonidas in the cause of Empire; a Joshua in the faithful discharge of duties to the country he served with such rare distinction I and unswerving fidelity. In the words of Antony’s eloquent tribute to the 1 memory of warm-hearted Brutus, we 1 might say of Mr Massey:

the elements So mix’d, in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world ‘.This was a man!’

Big-hearted and patriotic, Mr Massey spent himself ungrudgingly in the service of the people. Ho rose to a place of distinction in public affairs, and lived to become the senior Prime Minister of the British Empire, not because of any advantages of birth, but by his own efforts, —inspired by his faithful partner in life’s many problems his undoubted merit, his noble aspirations anti: Lolf-sacrificing ideals. His diligence public-spiritedness qualified him to stand before Kings, and his real gifts of character won for him the affection of the people, the respect of his political opponents, the admiration and esteem of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the high regard of his friends, and the love of his colleagues. And now that Mr Massey has passed over to the other side, the sincere sympathy of all sections of the community will go out to the bereaved family and sorrowing colleagues. But if the Prime Minister lias been called to higher service, ne leaves the people of New Zealand a rich heritage of remembrance and inspiration, and the lesson taught the appreciative and enlightened people, not only of New Zealand, hut of the \vhole Empire, by the lofty idealism which inspired Mr Massey’s life work, and the nobility and unselfishness of the distinguished service lie rendered his day and generation, will live in the light -of the future with a reverence not to be bought, and a tenderness deeper than tears.