"ABIDE WITH ME!"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 59, 14 June 1916, Page 5

"ABIDE WITH ME!"

The Kitchener Mema ia!.

! SERVICE IN ST. PAUL'S

R3UNSPH, THE KEYNOTE.

THANKSGIVING FOR GREAT MAN

; CONGREGATION CONSPICUOUS AND REPRESENTATIVE. I j I | "'THE LAST POST I" I 1 OmXttD l'*Ht>*> a.a»ociATJO»f.j ' ! Received 9 0 a.m.) j London. June 13. j Despite heavy showers, enormous 'crowds filled the western approaches in St. Paul's two hours before the service in memory of Lord Kitchener. : Flags'were every v.-here ii.'df-masted. j The King and Queen drove from Buckingham Palace, Qdeeii Aiercandra joining the royal party at I'ha-r.ng f Cross. j There was a large diplomatic, assembly at the Cathedral, the Army and Navy being very fully represented. Nearly all the members of the Cabinet, with their wives were present, and also the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. j There were four thousand ticket-, 'holders, and every available part was crowded. , The early arrivals included many ! wounded Australians and New Zea- • landers and nurses. > During the service, the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom was sung to the Kieff ! chant. The band of the Royal Enginioers, of whom Kitchener was colonel and commandant, played the Dead March, and the buglers of the regiment sounded "The >Last Post." Triumph was the keynote of the | Kitchener service, almost reaching a ! note of thanksgiving for the great irinn whose memory was being hon-i I cured. j The King, having called his' people [to him, sat at their head beneath the j dome,' between the Queen and the S .Queen-Mother, the Ministers of StateJ !on his left hand and the representa- ] tives of the Overseas on l}is right,; jyi.th j the Ambassadors of the Allies behind j him. The group of Royalties included theGrand Duke Michael. It was a conspicuous congregation in sombre black and khaki, brightened by the red and blue gowns of the sheriffs and aldermen, and the brilliant uniforms of,a few retired officers of the Army, with a sprinkling of naval officers.

A youthful naval cqmmander, destined to bear his late 'uncle's great name, sat near the King. The service opened with what is now knqwn as Kitchener's favourite hymn, '"Abide With Me!" followed by the triumphant note.of Psalms 130 to 133.' ~, ,/;.••,.'.-''=jf '

Tlie priest, standiug on the altarsteps, face to face with the Sovereign; read the Lesson, and at its close the organ, together with the Engineers' Band and the drummer's of the Irish Guards played "The Dead March."

As the roll of the drums became audible the minds of the great congregation were transported to a northern sea, where ttie master-engineer of the campaigns of armies lay sleeping.

This first note of lament was sustained in sorrowful strains by St. Clirysostom's 'Liturgy, but its "Alleluia" resumed as a note of triumph, and in tho ;'';;;;i hymn "For All Saints Who From Their Labours Rest."

After "The Last Post" "tin- third verse of the National 4Ptheni" was sang fortissimo, with the full power of the band and organ, and this closed the service.

SYDNEY'S MEMORIAL SERVICE.

CONTSNUINC THE KITCHENER WORK.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) Sydney, June 14

An impressive Kitchener memorial service was held at St. Andrew's Cathedral, which was packed, hundreds

; waiting outside until the conclusion. Archbishop Wright, in the sermon, the text of which was: "He being dead yet speaketh," said Kitchener | had passed from us suddenly, but the | Kitchener spirit bad burst forth a • tliousand-fold, nerving the feeblest. ! arm in an endeavor to help to com- ! plete the work Kitchener began.