SERVICE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 6

SERVICE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(By Telegraph—Press A.ssociatioii.l Christchurch, August 6. The Christchurch Prohibition League held an in memoriam service to the late Mr. T. E. Taylor ,in " His Majesty's Theatre this afternoon. The building was filled in every part and numbers were unable to gain admission. The proceedings were marked by great feeling and reverence an especial feature bemfc the unanimity with which the audience joined ill singing the hvrnns, including one of Mr. Taylor's favourites, "0 Lord Who by Thy Presence." The Rev. L. M. Isilt presided, and said the ruthless but' kindlv hand, of death tore away the veil between Mr. Taylor's heart and purpose and the judgment, bf the people. It was always tho lot of' tho strugglcr for reform to have his mistakes . exaggerated and his purposes disguised by those whose interests were opposed to him, but he (the speaker). firmly believed that hundreds and thousands of people ill tho Dominion whose judgment was in suspense, who wondered if Mr. Taylor was really the man that they declared him to be. after reading of his joyous departure from this life had every doubt swept away and they recognised the man to be the man lie was, and reverence and love displaced all distrust, the carelessness, and indifference manifested by the masses. Mrs. 11. Cole spoke on. behalf of tho women of New Zealand and of tho W.C.T.U., and paid a high tribute to Mr. Taylor for tho work done by him for the women of the Dominion,-and nlso to him as a husband and father.

Mr. J. M'Combs, in an eulogistic speech dwelt on Mr. Taylor's sacrifices for the good of the people and the furtherance of No-License and concluded by saying that the monument Mr. Taylor would have desired would have been the worldinspiring monument of National Prohibition. (Applause.)

The Rev. Dawsou also eulogised the life and work of ill'. Taylor, faying; that ho was no mean citizen of Clmstcburch. In his intense zeal for reform Mr. Taylor, in his attacks upon wrong, was vehement, hut the peoplo generally did not know how gentle and tender and kindly and loval the real man was in his home and private life. A member of the police force had said to him'last week: "Mr. Dawson, the policemen of this country havo lost their best friend." There hail been insinuations during last year that Mr. Taylor was joining the Labour party in the hope that' ho might get a lead, lie (the speaker) .wanted to say it was the Labour party that had joiiiod' Mr. Taylor (Applause.) He had been a worker and the workers' friend, and advocate all the time he was in Parliament.

In many city churches to-night memorial services were held, and in the evening the Labour party held a memorial meeting in His Majesty's Theatre.