MEMORIAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 5

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

the Late colonel oKEyj A special service in honor of the me* nwv, of the late Colonel E. N. L Okey, who died recently, was held in th a Whiteley Memorial Church yesterday morning There was a military parade, hold under llio command of Colonel El, Us. The units represented were the veterans, 30 of whom mustered and were i in charge of. Captain Black j the Terri* timls, under Lieutenants vThltcombe. ' Johnstone, Hownrth and Eeid: tire hemor Cadets, under Lieutenant Listeri and the Boy Scouts, under Commission- • er Snndford «nd Scoutmaster last. Tha parade was headed by the CStiame' Band, under Mr T. Hughes, ot Waitara. A large congregation attended the iteri vice, which was conducted by the Tier. A. B. Chappell. The service commenced with the singing of the hymn "O God Our Help in Ages Past," and the devotional exercises wero followed by "Lead Kindly Light" and "Now the Laborer'* I Task is O'er." The Band then rendered . .' "Garland of Flowers," which Mr Chap- ' pel! said was one of the la,te Oolonel'a ' favorite pieces. The offertory hymn WM * '•For All the Saints Who From Their ' Labors Rest." In his sermon, Mr Chappell made spw cial reference to the soldier whose name . the congregation had isome to honor. The ' preacher recalled the occasion on which New Plymouth's quota left to join the main Expeditionary Force. Colonel Okey was on the station, and. as the train drew out, lie said to the speaker: "I wish 1 was 20 years younger A. Could that wish have been fulfilled, «ie preached was sure nothing could have stopped Colonel Okey from offering his services to the country. In his home Colonel ■ Okey showed gentle lovo and control. His honor was irreproachable, and in his citizenship he manifested a qofcfc helpfulness. Proceeding, Mr Chappell Raid Colonel Okey was remarkable for '■ his outstanding military' virtues. Ha regarded himself as a authority, and was a great respecter of law and order. The great virtue of his life was obedience. Mr Chappell commended the late Colonel's life us an example to the Senior Cadets and Boy Scouts present, and quoted historical instances which illustrated the value of implicit' obedience, even in the faco of death. ' At the conclusion of tho sermon thi choir, under Mr A. Gray, sang "The; Radiant Mom Hath Passed Away." , A most impressive service eonchried with tho "Dead March/In Saul" by tho Band, tho Bounding of the Last Post by Bugler Walker, and the singing of, ttefc National Anthem. ■ .