Simple Ceremony

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 284, 21 February 1928, Page 13

Simple Ceremony

EARL OF OXFORD’S BURIAL VILLAGERS PAY LAST RESPECTS British IViretcss — Press A Sin. —Copyright Reed. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Monday. The remains of the Earl of Oxford and Asquith were interred to-day in the churchyard of Sutton Courtney, in Berkshire, with ceremony as simple as has ever attended the funeral eof a great statesman.

Members of the family, personal friends, and humble servants of the deceased were mourners, and the rest of the congregation consisted of people of the village, In whose midst the Earl of Oxford had spent his days of leisure for many years. Personal friends included Sir James Barrie, Augustine Birrell, Lord Reading and Lord Buckmaster.

The many floral tributes which lay around the coffin, however, betokened the wide acknowledgment of the late earl’s public services. There were wreaths from the King- of the Belgians; from the Dominions; from Liberal organisations and from former political adversaries, including Mr. Stanley Baldwin, tlie Prime Minister. Lord Oxford was buried near a soldier, wffiose grave was marked only by a wooden cross. The Bishop of Oxford conducted the service, and hymns were sung by the choir of the New College, Oxford. The late earl’s men-servants carried his coffin to All Saints’ Church, Sutton Courtney, on Sunday evening, preceded by the village choir and men bearing torches. The Countess of Oxford and her four sons followed the coffin. After a simple service the local people filed past the coffin, which was almost concealed beneath flowers. The wreaths stretched from the doorway to the altar. —A. and N.Z.-Sun.