IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT TRENTHAM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2794, 12 June 1916, Page 6

IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT TRENTHAM

BISHOP ADDRESSES CHURCH PAEADE, The special church parade, which was held at Trentham Camp yesterday is n memorial of the death, of Field-Marshal Earl Kitchoner, was a most impressed one. Chaplain-Colonel Tracey conducted the service, assisted by Chaplain-Cap-tains Gray, Walker, and Herron, and Dr T. H. Sprott, Anglican Bishop of Wellington, delivered a short and tolling address. There were about 4000 of all ranks present, seated on chairs and forms arranged in a hollow square on tie eastern parade ground. In the inner lines of the sides of the square were the officers' places, while the space opposite tho chaplain's pulpit was reserved for the distinguished visitors. At eleven o'clock, the Trentham Camp Band, under Bandmaster Fox, heralded the approach of the Governor, by placing the National Anthem, and tho Camp Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel H. E. Pot-

ter, called the parade to attention. His Excellency and the Countess of Liverpool on entering the square wero attended by Brigadicr-Ueiieral Sir A. W. Itobin, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand I'orces, Colonel Tate, Ad-jutant-General, Surgeon-General Henderson, Director-General of Aledieal Services, and Colonel Collins, A.D.'J. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Massoy were present;, Tho service opened with the singing of the liyimt, "Oh God Our Help in Ages Past," the effect of the thousands of voices blending with tho music of the band being magnificent. Chaplain-Col-onel Tracey read appropriate verses from St. John, Timothy, and Job, and Chaplain-Captain Gray read Psalm 30. Chaplain-Captain .Walker rend the Les ! son, which was from Cor. xv, from verso 20 to tlie end. Once more the parade joined in the singing of a hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," with tno same stirring effect. The Bishop's address was from the text, taken trom the 36th verso of the 13th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles: "David after be hod served his owu generation, by tho will of God, fell on sleep." In these modern times, said Bishop Sprott, shock had followed shoot, blow had i'ullcn after blow. We were learning that life had another side than smoothness and calm. Scarcely had we realised the great naval battle, with its glory and terror and filial victory, when there came the news that tlie great lead' er, to whom the Empire and our Allies looked with trust, had suddenly and tragically fallen. In all great crises, there were, finally, only two alternatives. Some men said, in the face of awful happenings, "Let us cat, drink and be merry, for to-morrow we die," Others would find, the deepest and strongest parts of their natures called forth. Lord Kitchener had followed the second course and filled liis life with, strenuous service. When the greatest crisis it had ever faced came the whole Empire looked to this one man. And a sigh of relief went through the Empire Then the people learned that the. Imperial Government liad entrusted to this man the task of making the nation ready. Kitchener had gifts beyond most men. But, before tno trust of nations could be won, there must bo something more than great gifts. What was needed was character in a mail, whicli would make his power trusted. Will, unshaken by fear or hope, by pleasure or pain, and the sense of duty at all costs. •• , ~ The foundation of Earl Kitchener 5 character lay in 6elf-control. We hadheard wliat an iron man_he was. Selfcontrol was the secret of it. But even •Kitchener had been criticised. \\e British people were totally unprepared for war. We knew our Navy could not be beaten. But we were not prepared to win on land. We did not understand that it was necessary to do so. Wo became impatient when victory was dolayed and criticised Kitchener. "So far as I know," said Bishop Sprott, "he never uttered one word oi complaint or justification. When he din speak in the Lords, it was a brief and honourable statement concerning tho business, of the war."

Earl Kitchener was one wlio, in praiso or disparagement-, remained the same. His was magnificent self-control, the result of a long life of 6elf-discipline. But. if that were all a man had . he would pe but an efficient machine, to be respected and admired, from afar. Wc knew' that Kitchener did inspire fear. But there was another side to l'is character. Sidney Brooks, in a pen-picture of Kitchener, mentioned two very simple things. One was that children took to him. That was a wonderful uvelation of character.' There were no eucli infallible judges of human character as little children with their fresh, unspoiled hearts. The heart of a child instinctively' turned from a man with a bad heart or with no heart at all, whilo it turned to the man with a' good heart. The other thing mentioned by Sidney Brooks was that while Kitchener exacted from men the utmost strenuousness in their work, he was the tenderest and most considerate, nurse of the wounded and 6ick. Another, .feature of the man's character was that during the war, Kitchener, in the midst of exacting work,. was wont to step into - a church near his-office,' to attend the ser. vices- of intercession held there.

"Does it strike you as funny P" said the Bishop, "that a man of his Dower, character, and -nerve .should- turn in prayer to God? It is the i man o. strength and wisdom who feels most thai he is in need of help. Kitchener" knew there was a future before the Empiro, which no human foresight could penetrate. To come into living: contact with infinite strength and wisdom, he prayed, to God,. I think/that, though his bodily presence is gone, his example and spirit will long live in our hearts." Bishop Sprott told of a young artist who stood before a picture by a supreni" master and said: "I, too, am an artist." What every soldier of the Empire should feel to-day, as he thought of the great soldier, was: "I, too, am a soldier. There were not likely to be many Kit chener's in this world; but all men could have the samo spirit of faithfully doing their duty. At the conclusion of the address the hymn "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er" was sung, after which ChaplainCaptain Herron read a prayer for compassion upon those on whom the shadow of death had fallen. Chaplain-Colonol Tracey pronounced the Blessing, and Chopin's Funeral March was played. When the last notes had died away, Ser-geant-Major Fox 6tepped forward, bugle in hand, saluted, and sounded the Last Post. It was a moving' military touch to a service which had made a deep impression, and the last notes of farewell had a sad significance. The singing of the National Anthem concluded the parade. -

A special service was also held in the Roman Catholic Hall by the camp chaDlain. The troops were in charge of Gaptain Columb, and amongst those nresent vere fiir Joseph and Lady Ward. Reference was made to the national loss in the death of Earl -Kitchener, and the Dead March was played.