NURSE CAVELL, MARTYR.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1915, Page 3

NURSE CAVELL, MARTYR.

.MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S. A TOUCHING TRIBUTE. By Cable —Kress Association—Copyright. London, Oct. 29. The memorial service to Miss Cavell at St. Paul's at 1 o'clock to-day was one of great beauty and solemnity. There was no striving after effect, not even a sermon extolling the brave woman's sacrifice. Yet the simplicity of the service and the dignity of the music thrilled the vast congregation. No one privileged to join in this act of worship will forget the picture of the great cathedral with a few struggling sunbeams aslant the soft mist in the dome and thousands of worshippers paying their homage to a noble life. Although the doors were not opened till 10 o'clock, crowds gathered outside in an enormous queue long before dawn. By mid-day there was no standing-room in the cathedral.

Queen Alexandra was in a pew beneath the dome. Sir E. W. Wallington represented the King and Queen. Mr. Asquith aiul other members of the Cabinet, the Lord Mayor, Sir George Reld, and : 9ie Agents-General occupied the front seats. Near them, in deep mourning, were Miss Cavell's relatives, witht a vacant seat for her aged mother, who was unable to _bear the ordeal of the service. Underneath the dome and in the transept were over a thousand nurses, young girls and grerhaired women in distinctive ifniforms of blue and white, some wearing coats, their red bassards relieving the sombreness of the scene. Among them were mtiny Australians. The Ist Life Guards Band assisted at the service. Sir George Martin, organist, opened' the service with Chopin's Funeral Mtrch and this was followed by the congregation impressively singing Miss Cavell's favourite hymn, "Abide With Mc," which she recited just before her death. The Lord's Prayer was followed by the Psalms and the De Profundis, 'The Lord is my Shepherd" and the Litany of Saint C'hrysostom sung by the choir. The playing of Handel's Dead March and the recital of the words of the burial service, "We give thanks that it hath pleased Thee to deliver Sister Edith out of the miseries of this sinful world," called to mind the fleeting picture of the awful scene of Miss Cavell's death.

Although there was no sermon the prayers included the following allusion to the war: "Look, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, upon the people of this land at this time of anxiety and stress and grant that, laying aside divisions, we may be united to bear the burdens of war laid upon us; help us to respond to the call of the country according to our powers, putting away selfish indifference to the needs of others without uncharitableness in word or deed." The Benediction was pronounced by the Bishop of London, and then the swelling note 3 of the National Anthem closed a memorable service.

"NEVER!" 'ALL HUMANENESS FORGOTTEN, A GERMAN SENTIMENT. Received Oct. 30, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, Out. 29. The Hamburger Nachrichten, in a vulgar article, says: "The men who were required to take and bridle Belgium will not allow any Englishwoman to shelter under the cover of charity, or in the costume of a nurse, to assist our enemies behind the backs of our warriors, fn the Chancellor's words, 'We have forgotten all sentimentality,' and our Kaiser, recently, referring to forgiveness for English malice, exclaimed, 'Never!'" A FRENCH TRIBUTE. GERMAN CHALLENGE TO AMERICA. Paris, Oct. '29, M. Clemenceau, in delivering an appreciation of Miss Cavell's work, said he would like to see a statue in each of the Allies' capitals. Berlin, Oct. 20, The Vossische Zeitung challenges the German Government to demand the recall of Mr Brand Whitlock, the United States Ambassador.