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Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 19, 24 January 1901, Page 4

[continued from inside page.] Her influence has been so magnificently exercised for that righteousness which exalteth a nation, that we can hardly believe it possible that anyone succeeding her can fully take her place. We mourn for ourselves, but do not mourn for her. One of her predecessors, whose life seemed to have a great fascination for Victoria, said, as he faced the sharp, shining axe on the block, “I go from an earthly to a heavenly crown.” So she has passed from that earthly crown which she has worn and graced so well to that heavenly crown never to be taken from her. We have again and’again sung “ God Save the Queen.” We shall never -—and I mourn when I say it—sing it more. But we will never sing it more, because Almighty God has saved the Queen. He has fulfilled the petition of her people sung for so many years. He has saved her from the griefs of life; He has saved her from the temptations given to us all; He has saved her from the cares of State and has uplifted her to a position where all these earthly things have passed .away. May God’s eternal peace be hers throughout the endloss ages of eternity! TESTIMONY FROM CANON WEBB. The Rev. Canon Webb said: Mr Mayor and dear friends, I feel that His Worship the Mayor and my dear friend, the Dean of Waiapu, struck exactly tho right key when they dwelt so eloquently on the goodness of the Queen. We all know how great and how good she was, not being merely an ordinary Monarch, but being the ruler of such a vast Empire as ours, which has expanded so enormously, and become so glorious during the period of the Queen’s reign; but the fact that comes near to us all is the fact that she was so good. And when life is over what does it matter whether a person has been a Queen if she lias not been a good woman ? Her influence, her whole life, has tended to uphold righteousness, and that has been the greatest glory of the life of our truly beloved Queen Victoria. We are taking part to-day in the sorrow of a great Empire, but in the midst of our sorrow we all feel a note of thanksgiving that we have been granted the sight of such a life and example in such an exalted position. Each one of us, in our smallest spheres, will surely say, “ Remember our exemplary Queen, how she sought Divine help to carry out her duties, let us follow her example ; go to the same source of strength, and seek help that we in our humbler sphere may be able to perform our duties as she did.”

CANON FOX’S TRIBUTE. Canon Fox said: Mr Mayor and friends, —I could not refuse your invitation to give my humble contribution to the tribute paid by others to the great and glorious Majesty Queen Victoria. It seems the same thought is in everybody’s mind at this time. When I came into town an hour or two ago, and saw the flags half-mast high, I guessed what had happened; the very first thought that came into my mind was “ How excellent a thing is goodness.” That seems to have been the very thought that struck others at the same moment, as the other speakers have each referred to it. I thought what a great force it was. It is not only that the whole Empire is mourning for the Queen, but people of foreign countries everywhere are showing their sympathetic feeling. There has been a good deal of irritation against England; there has been abuse and calumny, but it has been rarely indeed that one word has been said against our Queen — that force of goodness has been enough to break down all manifestation of national dislike. The nations of the world, the foreign nations, have been proud to honor her even as wehonorher; not only the civilised nations, but nations that have not yet attained civilisation. There will be one chorus of sorrow throughout the globe wdien the news of the death is spread. It is a great force that brings humanity together, and breaks down much that hinders peace, unity, and concord. We learn from science that a force is not lost, it is only transformed, and I am sure that this force, the Queen’s goodness, which has taken the form—and no better form could it take—of sympathy, that this force will not be lost.; it will reappear, not only in Her Majesty’s example, but in those who have been stimulated by that example. It is said that imitation is the sincere st form of flattery. The force of the goodness of the Queen will have the effect of making others try and be as good as she was; they would learn from her to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. His Worship said that that gathering had been very hurriedly arranged, word having been sent to those to whom it could be given. He thanked the City Band and members of the Fire Brigade for the assistance rendered.

After prayer by the • Very Eev. Dean, the band played the “ Vital Spark,” and then the mournful crowd dispersed. THE PRAYER OFFERED HP. The following is the prayer offered up by the Very Eev. Dean of Waiapu: “Let us pray. Ok, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, Who actest always for the good of men, and dost not trouble Thy people without due reason, we beseech Thee, oh our Heavenly Father, to comfort the hearts of those nearest and dearest to our beloved and departed Queen. We pray Thee, also,' that the State,[through the throne from which she in Thy providence has been removed, may be so guided and directed in the future as at all times to uplift before the nation the banner of righteousness, and of goodness, and of truth. We pray Thee that Thy people of the race to which we belong may ever be found fighting on the side of righteousness, and of freedom, and of truth. Forgive those many sins of which we are conscious, freeing us as a nation and as individuals from the stain of past transgressions with the precious blood cl Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Grant that as after the storm comes sunshine, and after trouble comes joy; grant to us, we pray Thee, that after this dispensation of Thy providence, which we all must take so much to heart, there may come a peace in which the present war clouds may be swept away—a peace which willendurelormanv ayearasfer as this nation is concerned. Lord, we can but commend ourselves as Thy servants to Thy care and direction th.o day. Be with us, our Father, our Saviour, and our Guide, throughout the remaining years of our earthly pilgrimage, and receive us, we pray Thee, through the Saviour's merits, into Thy kingdom, a kingdom of peace and joy. And may Thy blessing, the blessing of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with us this day and for ever, Amen!"