FUNERAL HONOURS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1940, Page 6

FUNERAL HONOURS

REQUIEM MASS FOR LATE PRIME MINISTER CELEBRATED BY ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA. LARGE AND REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLAGE. iP.y Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated today for the repose of the soul of the late Prime Minister (Mr Savage). The Basilica of the Sacred Heart was crowded with representatives of all branches of the Legislature and State Departments, and of every walk of life. All public organisations were represented. Sir 11. Batterbee. High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, was present, together with foreign consuls and overseas distinguished visitors. The scene within the Basilica was probably the most impressive since the obsequies of the late Archbishop Redwood. . In front of the church, at. a special priendicu knelt Viscount Galway, representative of the Crown. About 30 priests from various parts of the city and district formed a procession. The celebrant. Archbishop O'Shea, had as his assistant priest the Very Rev T. Robinson. The Deacon of the Mass was Father J. Buist and the Sub-Deacon Father Uhlenberg. The Deacons of the Throne were the Very Rev V. Geaney, and the Very Rev J. J. Kennedy. The Rev J. A. Higgins performed the services of Master of Ceremonies, assisted by the Rev F. L. Dignan. The Moderator Chori was the Rev D. G. Bourkc. The music of Iho mass was sung by the Basilica male choir, under the Rev F. H. Walsh.

Archbishop O’Shea delivered an address. Thon, following the obsequies around the casket, performed by the Archbishop with appropriate ritual, the majestic strains of Handel's “Dead March" rose as n final salute Io die leader who had pone. Women wept openly, and many male eyes were also dimmed.

Many stayed afterwards In view die casket whore lay a man who had run his race worthily and well, and who will bo remembered for his sincerity, pentlenes.s and Christ inn courage.

ROTARY TRIBUTE MEMORY OF LIFE OF SERVICE. "Although Rotary as an institution takes no part in politics. Rotary is concerned with the ideal of service and in the character of public men," stated Rotarian the Venerable Archdeacon E. J. Rich at today’s luncheon of lhe Maslerton Rotary Club, "and so today Rotary shares the sorrow of lhe Empire in the passing of Mr Savage. He was a man of character. inspired by ideals of service and sought to put his ideals into practice. His passing is a great loss. New Zealand has lost a leader who .has left behind the memory of a life of service."

Mr T. R. Toovey, representing the Port of London Authority, associated himself with Rotarian Rich’s remarks, observing that Mr Savage was a man whose primary thought was for the under-dog.