MEMORY OF THE DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 22 June 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

MEMORY OF THE DEAD

A MULTITUDE IN TEARS. On Friday, April 19, St. Paul's Cathedral in London was filled to the doors by a vast congregation which had gathered to join in the solemn service in memory of those who had perished in. the appalling tragedy of the Titanic . In a moving description of the scene Mr. H; Hamilton Fyfe, writing in the Daily Mail» Says:'— * ■'..'■■"' "It was not an impression of weakness that the service left upon the mind.: It J was an impression of strength. Faith triumphant sounded in the trumpet-note of the Ninetieth Psalm: 'Lord, Thou hast been our refuge; from one generation to another.' It sounded in the plaintive liturgy of St. Chrysostom. It sounded in the special prayer written to fit the.sadl circumstances of the hour: 'We humbly leave in Thy Fatherly .keeping the souhs of Thy servants who have now passed through the waters.' Above all, the assurance of salvation, the, glorious certainty of a life to come, of which' this life on earth is but the'prelude, thrilled through the crowded cathedral with the harmonies of the 'Dead March' in'Saui;' played with most exquisite understanding by the Kneller Hall Band. "First came the muffled thunder of the drums, the confused murmur of hearts breaking and souls doubting, the murmur arising from every land of human misery and pain. Then the piteous minor of the brass, a 'keening' of women, a bitter cry ascending to the Throne of « Grace. |' "And then, the bitter cry changes. The sob of despair gives way to the song of triumph. The notes of glad certainty rang out with magnificent effect. One felt one's whole soul quivering and all the elements Of one's nature fusing into an emotion which welled irresistibly into tears. "Up to this point the service had been one of chastened trust. The Psalms were sung to wailing simple chants. 'Rock of Ages,' taken very slowly, was a i desolate appeal to Divine *Mercy. The Dean read even the confident reasoning of St. Paul (in the lesson for the burial service) in a sorrowful voice. With the 'Dead March' the floodi-gates of emotion» were opened. I

"On every side, as one glanced round, women-nand men, too—were crying. Some broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. There were doubtless many in the cathedral who had lost friends, some who perhaps mourned dear ones. To. everyone nowadays a catastrophe of this kind means so much more than ship-1 wrecks did in past times when pnly a few \ crossed oceans. We all have either made 1 voyages ourselves, or some close to us-'j have claimed our prayers. Upon th« j whole congregation, therefore, the music, I familiar though it be, had an instant and' unmistakable effect. "How deeply they were moved appeared in their singing of,the final hymn—the! hymn for those at sea. In' the "opening hymn few had joined; 'Eternal Father,] strong to save,' was sung by everybody, j Many could hardly see the words fori tears. Some had their voices choked by J the tumult in their breasts. All sang ' with intense conviction. Up to the roof I the deep cadence rolled heartfully:— J 0 hear us, when we cry to Thee, j For those in peril on the sea. ' j It was a real prayer. 'lt-purified and J uplifted every heart. Out into the sun- ' shine we poured, but "not as men without hope.' We could look at the brightness andt the rush of life with eyes n6 longer resentful. 'Where sorrow and pain are no more, neither singing, but Life Everlasting,' was still ringing in our comforted ears."