"IN MEMORIAM"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2314, 23 November 1914, Page 7

"IN MEMORIAM"

THE LATE EARL' ROBERTS, V.C.

CITY'S TRIBUTE TO A GREAT SOLDIER IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT THE TOWN HALL. The seating accommodation provided at the Town Hall was too restricted for all who wished to be present at the memorial service to the,late Field-Mar-shal Earl Roberts, arranged for yesterday afternoon by the Wellington Patriotic Society. The doors were openedat 2.15 p.m., and a quarter of an hour later nearly all; the accommodation 6&ve that reserved for the military and naval representatives was occupied, and by the time the service commenced even standing room was scarce. Among those present ,in the front seats were a squad of veterans, wearing the medals and ribbons of their service in many an old campaign. The body of the hall .was filled with members of the Senior i Cadets, Territorials, Boy Scouts, naval men, members of local- bodies, Consular representatives, etc. . His Excellency the Governor, received by a guard of honour furnished by the Senior Cadets, was accompanied by the Countess of Liverpool,; the Hon. Ja-meß Allen (Minister of Defence), Colonel A. iW. Robin (Acting-Commandant of the Forces), Colonel Gibbon, and SurgeonOolonel Purdy. There were also present: The Hons.H. D. Bell and F. M. B. Fisher, the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), the Mayor (Mr. J. P'. Luke), members of the City Council, and other local bodies, and representatives of the clergy and Salvation Army. . "A Thousand Shall Fall." The service was profoundly impressive throughout. Everyone attended in a spirit of reverence and devotion, and the function, which probably gained in significance owing to the national stress of the times, was permeated with a rare /.solemnity. It commenced with the playing of Chopin's "Funeral March" by Dr. W. Kington Fyffe, prior to the arrival of His Majesty's representative. After His Excellency had taken his seat the Rev. J. G. Chapman announced . the first hymn, "O God Our Help in (Ages Past," whioh was surely never so devoutly sung. The Rev. A.'E. Hunt offered up prayer. After the hymn, "Thy Will Be Done," the Rev. Mr! Chapman read the 91st Psalm,, which was ■wonderfully appropriat9 to the occasion. Then followed! the. singing of the fine old hymn, "Peace, Perfect.. Peace," which was succeeded by, a notably able discourse by the Rev. Mr. C. F., Askew on the life and character of the late Earl-.Roberts, delivered with ■' earnest :mpressivencss.

An Impressive Panegyric. Mr. Askew, said that they Had assembled to pay a tribute of respect to a great and good soldier, who had gone to his eternal rest. They could not but agree with Field Marshal Sir John French' when he .said in'the message conveying the news of the death of the late Earl Roberts that it was a fitting ending for a great soldier, that he had passed away among the troops he loved so well> and within sound of the guns. The memory he left behind should encourage'every one'of them to strive to faithfully serve our God, our country, end our King. Who'could forget,the last phase of his life, when he''strove so energetically to. save England from !fche impending danger which he had foreseen with the eye of a prophet? But as the\Bishop of-Salisbury I had said, his voice was as one crying in. the wilderness. Yet when the storm broke he had Uttered no word of reproach, but at a . crucial moment had said, "I must go. to 'France to see my Indian troops. . I can •do nothing more useful at present." Earl Roberts was a great soldierj a •brilliant strategist, and' a great organiser; a man who. while dashing and dauntless, and- with the heart of a ; lion, had all the guilelessness and simplic- ' ity of a child. He was not only great - as a soldier, but he was great as a man, quiet in manner,' unostentatious -in habit, tolerant in judgment. , They knew that the late Earl Roberts was a man of. prayer, who daily conducted prayer in his own household, and who was never . absent from the House of God- save through ill-health'. Mr. Askew said that he made no apology for quoting the message that only a few weeks ago Earl Roberts had sent to every soldier and sailor on service, enclosed with a copy of the New Testament.' Thiß message asked them to put jtheir trust in God and He would watch over them and eivo them strength. Now. he had gone to sleep with the great dead, to be remom- - bered by the nation, with Earl Nelson and.Duke of Wellington, . and.whilst they mourned tis loss, they thanked bod for his life. . Following this impressiie( and very Beautiful epitome, the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee" was sung. The Benediction was pronounced by the Rev Mr Chapman, after which Dr. Fvffe played the "Dead March" in "Saul," whilst the vast audience stood with bowed heads. Finally, the assemblage sang the National Anthem, which concluded one nf the most memorable services ever held on the city. . , INDIAN MEMORIAL SERVICES. Bj Telegraph-Press ABsodation-Oosyrigtit (Rec. November 22, 10.30 a.m.) Delhi, November 21. J ■ Memorial services for the late FieldMarshal Earl Roberts have been held throughout India. .