Abbey Burial Declined

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 281, 17 February 1928, Page 9

Abbey Burial Declined

EARL OF OXFORD’S OBSEQUIES To Rest in Village Churchyard By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON, Wednesday. THE Dean of Westminster, Dr. Poxley Norris, offered burial in the Abbey for the late Earl of Oxford, but, in accordance with Lord Oxford’s expressed wish, the burial will be private. A memorial service will be held in the Abbey on February 21. A British official wireless message announces that he will be buried in the churchj’ard of All Saints’, Sutton Courtney, a village on the Thames which was his country home for many years.

rpHE public was taken aback at the decision against burial at Westminster. It is also understood that Lady Oxford and the other members of his family are deeply disappointed, but Lord Oxford left a precise written statement that his funeral should be private, which was only known today, when the Dean, upon the Government’s suggestion, proposed an Abbey funeral, in recognition of the ex-Prime Minister’s leadership in the great crisis of the national history. Sir Maurice Bonham-Carter, Lord Oxford’s son-in-law, >vent to Sutton Courtney, the family’s country .home, to' consult the family. They decided that Lord Oxford’s wishes must be carried out. The body 'will lie in state for two days in All Saints’ Church, Sutton Courtney, where for many years Lord Oxford read the lessons on Sunday evening. The place of burial has not yet been decided upon. A NOBLE FIGURE The Belgian Foreign Minister, M Hymans, has instructed the Belgian Ambassador in London to represent the King and the Government at the funeral, and to lay a wreath on the grave. -He also sent the following message to Lady Oxford: “Lord Oxford’s loyal character and immutable determination in 1914 make him one of the noblest figures in contemporary history.” Messages were also received from the French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, and from the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. W. L. McKenzie King. SPEAKER’S TRIBUTE The Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr. J. Hv Whitley, presiding at a dinner to Mr. L. S. Amery, said that the first thoughts and the first words of members of the House of Commons must refer to the loss of Lord Oxford. When the history of their own time came to be written he would be classed as one of Britain’s greatest men. It could not be forgotten how he represented Britain in the dark days of 1914. It was no small factor in the ultimate victory of the Allies. —A. and N.Z.-Sun. BLAMED FOR WAR

GERMANY CANNOT FORGET BERLIN, Wednesday. The German newspapers mostly lay stress on Lord Oxford’s career as Parliamentarian, scholar and domestic statesman. Some of them allude to the part he played in the war, and blame him for having caused the war, alleging that he desired to destroy the German Empire.—A. and N.Z.Sun. ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD EARL JACK HORNER’S DESCENDANT LONDON, Wednesday. The new Earl of Oxford and Asquith, is an 11-years-old schoolboy. He is descended on his mother’s side from Little Jack Horner, of nursery rhyme fame. He will eventually inherit Mells Manor in Somerset, where, according to the legend, the pie incident happened. His mother has adopted the Roman Catholic faith and the new peer is being educated at a Catholic school. There are now 30 minors in the peerage, their ages ranging from four to 16 years.—Sun. 3$ * * 3$ * iK % * * * W'Zi *

“PASSED INTO HISTORY PARLIAMENT’S RESPECTS OXFORD’S FRAGRANT MEMORY By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 1.15 p.m. LONDON, Thurs. Referring in the House of Commons to the late Lord Oxford, the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin said that his was a nature large and magnanimous, which had never harboured a mean thought. He was always ready to let others have the credit, while being always ready to take on his shoulders the blame belonging to others. Referring to the bitter controversies in the years immediately preceding the war, Mr. Baldwin declared that he could remember no instance in which the dead statesman spoke words that were false, or words plat could wound. Throughout his life he conferred distinction on the public life of this country. Concluding, Mr. Baldwin said: “May it be our lot to leave behind as fragrant a memory as that of Lord Oxford.” The Leader of the Liberal Party, Mr. Lloyd George, said that while Lord Oxford during the last three years had been a member of the Upper Chamber, he would always be remembered as “Mr. Asquith.” He was essentially a House of Commons man. It was generally recognised that no more perfect or finished debater had ever taken part in the discussions of the House of Commons. He always gave the impression, not of an advocate pleading a cause with earnestness and passion, but of a judge summing up facts and delivering judg ment. Temperamentally, and as far as his mental equipment was concerned, he was essentially judicial. “PLACID, CALM SPIRIT” Mr. Lloyd George concluded: “He died on the banks of the Thames. His spirit was akin to the river, placid and calm, moving with a steady flow, never boisterous nor turbulent, even in the very worst weather. He has passed into history and will fill his place there with impressive distinction.” In the House of Lords, the Marquess of Salisbury, leader of the Conservative Party, said that Lord Oxford was a great party leader, statesman, and administrator. He would hold a tremendous position in English history. As Prime Minister in 1914 he had the moral courage to accept arbitrament of war, though no man was more opposed to war. Lord Haldane, for the Labour Party, and Lord Grey (Liberal) joined in the tributes. Lord Grey, who was Foreign Secretary at the outbreak of war in 1914, declared that the fact that this country came into war as it did with prac tical unanimity, was due, he believed to the effect of the qualities displayed by Mr. Asquith cn both Houses of Parliament. After these speeches, Parliament adjourned as a mark of respect to the deceased statesman.—A. and N.Z.