THE FUNERAL.

Manawatu Herald, 31 May 1898, Page 2

THE FUNERAL.

At ab.iut 10 o'clock on Saturday the hovds and Commoners were marshalled at Parliament House, each division being preceded by its Spoaker and Chancellor. Tha funeral procession was then fumed.. After the Lords came the Privy Councillors, the members of ihe late Ministry, representatives of foreign sovereigns (including Prince Chii-iian of Schleswig-Holstein), the Dukes of Cambridge and Con* nuight and Earl of Penbroke representing the Queen. Then came the coffin on a high platform, drawn by two horses without feathers or decorations of any kind. Tbi; pall bearers were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Bight Hon A. J. Bilfour, the Earl of R JStbary, the Earl of Kimberley, Sir William Harcourt, the Duke of Rutland, Mr George Armitstead (formerly M.P. for Dundee), and Mr fcL Baron Randell (whose daughter is married to Mr Gladstone's third son). Following the coffin was a group of chief mourners, relations, private friend?, physicians, household sefe vants. and a deputation of the tenantry of Hawarden. There were many Herald Pursuivants in the procession, which crossed the Palace Yard of Parliament pqnare in the presence of 50,000 spectators. Volunteers lined the route. The Duke of Norfolk (heredity Earl Marshal of England) diretJa* the entire function. The procession entered Westminster by the west door. The congregation included Mrs Gladstone, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of York, ambassadors, representatives of the learned societies and universities, very many clergy^ from the nonconformist bodies, . members of the Trades Union Congress, Freemasons, Oddfellows, Foresters, corporations and Young Men's Christian Associations. The / Peers in the procession numbered 50, while 400 Commoners of all sections, except Parnelliteo. took part. One hundred and fifty villagers ! from Hawarden were brought by a special train. The choir and clergy recsivtd the body at the nave. The Dean of Westminster (Very Rev Geo. Granville Bradley) conducted the service, the Archbishop • -..

of Canterbury assisting. Is w*s a magnificent musical service, inclucl iDg three of Mr Gladstone's favourite hymns. Six thousand persons were witbin the Abbey, and it was a deeply .impressive, picturesque and sombre ecene. Everybody within and without the Abbey wore black. When the funeral Eervices were over Mrs Gladstone, supported by two son?, sat at tbe foot of the tomb weeping. The Prince of Wales approach: a her gently and kissed her hand.