THE MARTYRED NURSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2607, 1 November 1915, Page 6

THE MARTYRED NURSE

IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL SERVICE SCENE AT ST, PAUL'S By Telejraph—Presc Association—Copyrilflit London, October 29. The memorial service to Nurstf Cavell at St. Paul's Cathedral was one of great beauty and solemnity. There was no striving after effect, not even a sermon extolling the brave woman's sacrifice; yet the simplicity pf the service and the dignity of the music thrilled the vast congregation. No one who was privileged to join in this act of worship will forget the picture—the great Cathedral, with a few struggling sunbeams aslant the soft mist m the dome, and t'he thousands of worshippers paying* their hoinago to a noble life. . Although the doors were not opened till 10 o'clock, crowds gathered outside, and there was an enormous queuo long before, dawn. By midday thoro was no standing room in the Cathedral.

Queen Alexandra occupied a pew beneath the dome.' The Duke of Wellington represented the King and Queen. ' Mr. Asqnith and other members of the the Lord Mayor, Sir \G. H. Reid (High Commissioner for Australia), and the representatives of other oversea Dominions wore in front seats. Near them, in deep mourning, wero Nurse Cavell's relatives, one vacant seat being that of her aged mother, who'was unable to bear the ordeal of the service.

i Underneath the dome and in the transept wero over 1000 nurses, young girls and grey-haired women, their'distinctive uniforms of blue and white, some coated, with red brassards, relieving the sombreness of the scene. Among them were many Australians. The band of the Ist Life Guards assisted in the service.

Sir George Clemont Marl in, organist of St. Paul's, opened the service with Chopin's "Funeral March." This was followed by the congregation impressively singing Miss Cavell's favourite hymn, "Abide With Me," which she recited just beforo her death.

The Lord's Prayer was then recited by clergy, and congregation. This was followed by the Psalms "De Profundis," "The. Lord is My Shepherd," and the litany of St. Chrysostom, sung by the choir, the playing of Handel's "Dead March," and the recital of words from the burial service—"We give thanks that it hatli pleased Theo to deliver Sister Editli out of the miseries of this sinful world"—calling to mind a fleeting picture of the awful scene of Miss Cavell's death. Although no sermon was delivered, the prayers included the following allusion to the war: "Look, we boseecli Thee, Lord, upon tho people of tliis land in' this timo of anxiety and stress, and grant that, laying aside divisions, we may united bear the burdens of war laid upon us; help us to respond to the call of our country according to our powers, putting away selfish indifference to tlie needs of others, without uncharitableness of word or deed." The Benediction was pronounced by the Bishop of London (the Right Rev. Dr. Ingram). Then tlie swelling notes of the National Anthem closed a memorable service.