The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

FUNERAL OF THE LATE DUKE OF CLARENCE. A DAY OF NATIONAL MOURNINC. In accordance with the arrangements made shortly atter the death of the lamented Prince, the funeral took place on Wednesday last amidst genuine and widespread signs of deep and profound sorrow. The people of Norfolk flocked into Dersingham from dawn, and as the day grew on visitors poured in in greater and increasing numbers, all bearing sable signs of sorrow. The gun carriage, which was to convey the mortal remains, from Sandring- ham to Walferton Station, whence they were, to be conveyed by special train to Windsor, arrived at Sandringham at 9 o'clock, and was placed outside the Church. As the clock 1 struck ten the Chnrch bell began to toll, and immediately afterwards Sir Francis Knollys and Sir Dighton Probyn arrived to prepare for the coming of the Royal family. A quarter of an hour later three close carriages and pairs, containing all the members of the family, drove up to this Church, where a special service for the Royal Family and the household was held. The service lasted only a quarter of an hour, and at half-past ten the Church bell again began to toll. The coffin containing the remains ef the Duke of Clarence was then taken from the Church and placed on the un carriage outside the lych-gate. This duty was performed by the employes on the estate. The procession was then formed, headed by the Royal Artillerymen. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and rest- ing on that were two crosses of lilies of the valley and a wreath of violets. The procession passed out of the park gates precisely at 20 minutes to eleven, the Prince of Wales following im- mediately after the gun carriage, and it was obvious that his Royal Highness was very deeply affected. On reaching the hill overlooking Wolferton Station, which lies at the foot, there was an immense concourse, nearly every person be- ing clothed in deep mourning. Drawn up on the north side were the Mayor and Corporation "f Lynn. It was just half-past eleven when the head of the procession passed through these lines. The guard of honour presented arms, and then, as the cortege entered the private part of the station yard, reversed arms. In this position they stool until the special train moved away. The route by which the train was taken was lined with spectators throughout the entire distance, and the most respectful sympathy was shown. The railway carriage into which the coffin had been put was transferred into a mortuary chamber beautifully titted up. The inside was draped in festoons with purple and white, and the outside with purple velvet suspended. On either side of the exterior was a large wreath of white silver laurel leaves with the letters C and" A" in the centre The Prince and the other male members of the family travelled in one saloon, while the Princess of Wales and her daughters and the Duchess of Teck and Princess May travelled in another. The members of the household, the tenantry, and others who were going t > Windsor were accom- modated in other carriages. The train was com- posed altogether of eleven coaches, the mortuary carriage being the fifth from the engine. Pre- cisely at 20 minutes to twelve the signal was given, and the special steamed away in the presence of a vast assemblage of people, who were deeply mo;ed with the sadness of the occasion. Punctually at three o'clock the train from Sandringham steamed into Windsor Station. All heads were uncovered, and the Royal and other personages in waiting at once advanced to the carriage windows to receive the Prince and Princess of Wales. Amongst those who had assembled on the platform for this purpose were the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Connaught, Prince Christian, and the Duke of Teck. The Prince of Wales, wearing the uniform of the 10th Hussars, was one of the first to alight from the train, and amongst the others seen immediately afterwards were Prince (leorge of Wales, in naval uniform and looking in very good health, and the Duke of Fife, dressed as a colonel of Scotch Artillery. The company of the 10th Hussars who ac'ed as bearers next ad- vanced to the funeral car, and the coffin con- taining the remains of the deceased Prince was tenderly lifted on to their shoulders, whilst the various Riyal personages and others grouped themselves about the waiting-i\>om through which the bearers would have to pass to the gun carriage in waiting outside. As the collin; passed the Prince of Wales his Royal Highness saluted. Following the remains down the plat- form came various military officers carrying mag- nificent floral devices, some of which took the form of wreaths and oilier crosses. The coffin having been placel upon the all carriage, a pro- cession was formed, an escort of the 2nd Life Guards heading the cort-eye. Next came the bands of the Guards and a party of the 10:h Hussars. The gun carriage bearing the coffiu occupied the succeeding place, it being drawn by eight horses. Floral tribute3 from the Princess of Wales and Princess May were placed on the coffin, as well as a beautiful wreath from the Queen with the following inscription in gold and white silk :— A mark of the tenderest affection and love from his mast devoted, loving, and sorrowing grand- mother. VICTORIA." Following the coffi i were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Fife, Prince George, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Connaught, and the Crown Prince of Denmark, all in military or naval uniform;. They were succeeded by a host of Royal and other personages. The Princess of Wales and her daughters and the Duchess of Teck and the Princess May, after witnessing the departure of the cortege; drove to St. George's Ch ireh. It was nearly half-past three o'clock bAore the subdued tones of Chopin's Marche Funebre," majestic in its solemnity, announced the approach of the massed ban is of the three battahous of Guards at the head of the approaching proces- sion. As the stately cortege drew near, the troops who lined the route reversed arms. Almost immediately they had done so the procession, L advanced, and a magnificent, although pathetic, scene it presented. As a mere spectacle, it may be said to have been brilliant owing to the bright uniforms worn by most of the principal person- ages who formed it. These included not only the scarlet familiar in parade to British eyes, bur also the other colours m >re characteristic of the foreign nations represented by magnates of rank. The spectators, however, could not gaze upon the sad yet splendid pageant, especially upon the bowed hands of the chief mourners, without feel- ing that no courtly pomp or grandour could dis- guise or subordinate the deep natural emotions of those more immediately bereaved. It was obviously no mere form, but spontaneous sympa- thy, which led outsiders who could take no other part in the impressive cererronial to raise their hats when the bereaved Royalties came, and remain uncovered until it had passed. Whilst the procession was slowly wending its way up the gentle slope of the Castle Hill the Princess of Wales aud her daughters were almost unobserved as they drove in a carriage drawn by grey horses from the Castle by way of the Deanery to St. George's Chapel. As soon as the procession 1011 reached the Castle yard, the massed bauds filed round behind the Blue Jackets. They there re- mained whilst the body of the procession passed between the lines of sailors and soldiers through the gateway opposite, into what is known as the Horse-shoe Cloister. There the coffin was re- moved frum the gun carriage and carried then to the western entrance to St. George's Chapel, where the remains were received with befitting state. Arrived at the Chapel the gun carriage was w heeled round to the foot of the steps, and the bearers from the 10th Hussars drew near to carry in their burden. The door was thrown open, aud there were seen standing within the porch the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward, wand in hand, b. usher in the sad procession, while behind them in long rows on either hand were the clergy and white-robed choristers. The nave y and aisles were occupied by ladies and gentlemen in deep mourning. Beyond the transepts the Knights' fetal I in the chancel were filled by Ministers of the Queen, and other representa- tives and distinguished men Among them were o the L)rd Chancellor, the Home Secretary, the Secretary for War, the First Lord of the dmiralty, the President of the Board of Agricul- ture, General Lord Wolseley, Sir William Harcourt, Earl Spencer, Sir Frederick Leighton, and many military men. Screened as the chan- eel is by the great oak-carved stalls from the light of its aisle windows, the little daylight that penetrated through its clerestory and through the stained glass of its great eastern window would have done little to relieve the prevailing gloom of this mid-winter's day had not the candles been lit on the Communion table and in front of the Knights' stalls as well as in the great brass candelabra on each side of the altar steps After some delay the coffin was lifted off the gun carriage by the men of the Hussars, who, led by their colonel, Viscount Downe, bore it into the sacred edifice, the organ playing meanwhile Chopin s "Funeral March.' The funeral service was fully choral, and its opening sentences, so reminiscent of sorrow as they arc to all who have buried friends, were rendered doubly so by the plaintive minor key in which, unaccompanied, they were sung by the choristers. It was at this moment that the spectacle reached its utmost impressiveness, with the congregation standing reverently on either hand, the mourners with bowed heads advancing up in the midst, and the coffin with a great white floral cross on its breast, and with (perhaps more touching than all) the busby and sword of the dead soldier lying on its lid borne slowly before them. The glittering arms and uniforms of the military seemed rather to relieve the prevailing gloom. Yet there was no mourning drapery in the chapel, the banners of the Knights of the Garter, with their heraldic appurtenances, depending untouched from the roof. Now the twilight began to deepen the shadows in the building, and the caudles were throwing a Rembrandtlike light on the counten- ances of the mourners. The scene must, indeed, have deeply touched the bereaved mother and sisters who looked down upon it from the Royal closet, and who were themselves unrecognisable in the gloom. When the coffin reached the eastern end of the chancel it was laid on a couple of trestles. A great violet pall was throwu over it, and a floral tribute in colours, and showing the emblem of the Prince's regiment, was laid upon it by his comrades. The Prince's insignia was attached to the sides of the pall, and his coronet was laid on the head of the coffin, the Prince of Wales stretching forward his hands and adjust- ing it there with as much care as if its owner had been sensible of his tenderness. The choir con- tinued the service, singing still in thrilling minor mode the 90th Psalm, "Lord, thou hasi been our refuge," and this being ended, the Dean of Windsor reaa the lesson from 1st Corinthians, 15;h chapter, beginning Now is Christ risen from the dead." The mourners stood in the centre of the chancel just as they had arrived in the procession while St. Paul's exhortations and i assurances of consolation were read to them. When the committal was read by the Bishop of Rochester, and earth was consigned to earth, ashes to ashes and dust to dust," Canon Dalton besprinkled the coffin with consecrated earth, and the choir sang "I heard a voice from Heaven very quietly. On the Lord's Prayer being reached the Prince of Wales knelt down at the head of the coffin alone. The remainder of the service was soon over. The Bishop of Rochester read the concluding prayers. Then Garter King-at-Arms stepped forth and proclaimed the style of the late Prince with all due formality. Sir Arthur Sullivan's anthem, "Brother, thou hast gone before us," from the Marty of was sung, and then came the Benediction, at which the Prince of Wales again knelt down, his son and son-in-law following this time his example, while all the rest of the congregation stood. Lastly, the Prince of Wales placed another wreath on the c >ffin, and then with his fellow-mourners he sadly left. When the chapel had been cleared of all spec- tators the coffin was privately removed into the adjoining Albert Memorial Chapel, and deposited on a marble slab, where it is to rest. The Prin- cess of Wales, Princess May, the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales, the Duchess of Fife and the Duchess of Teck were present with the Princes and the other mourners and friends when this was done. The party after this passed through the Dean's house to ths Castle. There the Prince and Princess of Wales will remain till to-morrow (Saturday). WA fER-STREET CHAPEL, CARMARTHEN. At the close of the morning service on Sunday, the Rev. J. Wyndham Lewis made the following references to the demise of the Duke of Clarence. The Duke, who peaceably passed away on Thurs- day last, was the eldest son of their R >ya! High- nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. The sad news of his death has cast a gloom over the whole country, and every subject from the highest to the humblest in the realm shares the s .rrow of our aged Queen, and the Prince and I Princess of Wales, and also her serene Highness the Princess May of Teck, who had but a few weeks ago been betrothed to the late Prince. Tne lamented Duke, we are glad to say, was virtuous, amiable, and very courteous in his demeanour and had a pittiness and naicette of his own. The reason he was not better known to the general public was his extreme modesty and goodness he was modest to a fault. Haughtiness and wickedness are always noisy but modesty and goodness do not strive nor cry. The lightning and thunder of heaven attract universal notice by their glare and roaring but the sun moves quietly on his course, and diffuses blessings in silence. The life Duke of Clarence was modest, virtuous, and good and our hope is that he who would, had he been spared, wear the crown of England, and added lustre to the Throne already made illustrous by o ir Sovereign Lady the Queen, has received a far better crown—an imperishable crown—and "an inheritance incorruptible and undetiled, and that fadeh not away." But for this h"pe, the overwhelming grief of the Royal parents and their household to-day would be unendurable; for grief unalloyed with hope kills the soul. To the good and virtuous the array of the death-bed has more terrors than death itself but they are never brought to a non- }ll, and a way of escape from their distresses is quickly shown them. The great calamity that has befallen the Royal family has brought the future King and Queen of these realms and their loyal subjects more closely together for adversity unites and makes brothers of us all. And to-day we are brought to see in how many respects the great are liKe ourselves and how pleasing and consoling that is. It would be well for us to remember that even the bitterest and severest trials of life are not judgments, but blessings in disguise. A great philosopher has said The good things that belong to prosperity should only be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity should be coveted and admired. The dispensations and dealings of God with meivshould be studied in the light of those lines of the poet:— r "Theuuiversal cause Acts not by partial but general laws, Ani makes what happiness we justly call, Subsist not in the good of one but all," PENBRYN. < )n Sunday last, the Rev T. Jones, vicar, made seme feeling allusions to the death of the Duke of Clarence and offered special prayers on behalf of the Royal mourners. He said that since the death of the Prince Consort there had not been witnessed a sorrow so deep, so universal, so over- powering, every part of this vast Empire partici- pating in the general grief. This feeling of sor- row intensified by the fact that the solemn event occurred in the midst of much rejoicing over the Duke's approaching marriage, and when such high expectations were entertained of his future, but God willed it otherwise, and we must bow with submission to His Divine decree. Appro- priate hymns were also sung, and the Dead March" in Haul was played on the harmonium at the conclusion of the service. LLANYBYTHER Last Sunday evening, at 6 p.m., the Rev. B. P. Griftitht, M.A., our respected vicar, preached an eloquent and impressive sermon from the words, hy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps aie not known," and in the course of irs delivery he very feelingly referred to the sudden and untimely leath of the Duke of Clarence. • ST. DAVID'S CHURCH, CARMARTHEN. I' THE Rev J. N. Evans, B.A., Curate of St. David's, Carmarthen, preaching at Christ Church, on Sunday morning, on the Presence of Jesus Christ at the Marriage Feast at Cana of Galilee," made the following reference to the death of the late Duke :1 As of old, Jesus still makes His presence felt m social life. Until a few days ago, elaborate preparations were made for a "marriage"—preparations in which a whole kingdom was-more or Jess-interested. And, again, as at Cana of Galilee, Jesus, the Lord of nature and of life, appears on the Beeiie.Ile takes au,'Cty the b)-i(legi-ooiit-Foiidest hopes are crushed, the goblet of life is dashed to the ground and he, who was destined to be not I only a husband, but the ruler of a mighty king- dom, is called to another sphere and another Kingdom. We, who are left, mourn his loss, not only from a social, but also from a national standpoint. Why did Jesus, the kind, the ben- evolent, ast thus ? Why ? The reason is hid with God's fore-knowledge in the clouds of heaven." These are but "parts of His ways, and of those parts we know only in part." We rec gti 'zc His power, but we do not sea His If we could see His faee: but in the dark That is the one last trial-be it so." But as far as we are permitted to know, we may safely say that one important result of this manifestation of God will un- duubtedly be to bend more closely the bond uf union between high and low, rich and poor. The toiliug and struggling masses must see in this calamity that others as well as themselves h-ve their bitter trials and their keen disappointments. And on the other hand the stern fact of human suffering in all its forms will be brought down mure closely than ever to those who rule over us. and another fact will shine forth clear as tho day —that God in Heaven rules over all. One com- forting and consoling thought cannot but strike us when dealing with this subject:— He who was present at a house of feasting, will not be absent from a house of mourning, &c." REFERENCE BY THE BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S. On Sunday morning a letter sent by the Bishop of St. David's to the Bishop of Swansea was read at St. Peter's Church, Carmarthen. In che letter his lordship, alluding to the death of the Duke of Clarence, says In a life which has now become a long one, I do not remember any public occurrence which has so keenly touched the heart of this great nation, or which was in itself so deeply pathetic as that which has just taken place. Most of us remember the effect produced 30 years ago by the lamented death of the late Prince Consort, and still more among us recollect the thrill of anxiety which ran through- out the country in connection with the imminent peril of the heir apparent to the Throne. S'me few are left who call even recall the universal feeling of regret which pervaded the Kingdom on the death of the Princess Charlotte, a regret which was, doubtless, aggravated by circum stances of which it is not necessary to speak. But, although in the cases referred to, or in some of them, graver public consequences may have been apprehended from the events which occurred or which were feared, I doubt if the sense of persona! affliction was quite so deep as on tht present occasion. For just let us consider the position. A man in the very prime of youth, the heir, not only of an illustrious house, but of all the traditional observance which surrounded a venerable monarchy, destined (as we had all hoped) to be the constitutional ruler of a vast Empire, of popular manners, and of gentle aac domestic disposition, and one in whose.charactet not even the fierce light that beats upon a throne had (so far as we have ever heard) revealed ,) flaw, is snatched away after little more than a week's illness, within a very short time of th date fixed for the solemnisation of his marriac —a marriage which had received the enthu- siastic approval of the nation, and was looked forward to with intense and sympathetic interest. Unless I greatly mistake the nature of my coun- trymen, it is this last circumstance of all which will have given its sharpest sting to that which I do not scruple to call a national bereavement. Alas there appears to me to be the saddest irony imaginable in the manner in which public journal- which but a few days since announced the arrangements for the Royal marriage, now speak of those which are being made for the melancholy ceremony shortly to take place in the same venerable building. I earnestly call for th prayers of your people, that it may please our Heavenly Father to support and comfort those on whom this heavy blow has most heavily fallen -our Queen, the R 'yal parents of the deceased Prince, with others who stood nearest to him, and, above all, on the chief sufferer, the lady for whom it was hoped that she would share his high position for many happy years. LLA EG WAD. On Sunday last, at Holy Trinity Church, the Vicar, in taking his text from the 22nd chapter of Revelations, part of 16th verse, I am the bright and morning star," feelingly alluded to the death of the Duke of Clarence, and hoped that the Divine Being, who was our bright and morning star, would pierce through the dark veil that hung chiefly around Sandringham, and assist the Royal family to bear up in this great loss —-a loss that was felt throughout the length and breadth of the country. Hymn No. 400 of Ancient and Modern Hymn Book was sung very impressively by the choir and congregation, and Mrs Thomas, the organist, played two volun- taries appropriate to the occasion. BORTH. At St. Matthew's Church on Sunday, a very touching allusion was made by the Rev J. D. Timothy to the death of the Duke of Clarence, at the Welsh and English services. Mr Timothy taking his text from the third chapter of Exodus, "For I know their sorrows" spoke of the simple manly nature of the Prince, of the Princess whose life has been so completely blighted at the moment when her marriage was expected to exalt her to the highest earthly 11 y dignity, and of our sorrowing Royal family, and he then spoke of the universal mourning of th^ country. The Dead March in Saul was well played by the organist, and the whole congre- gation stood aa a mark of respect during the time the music was playing. LLANDOVERY. A special meeting of the Llandovery Town Council was convened on Monday afternoon for the purpose of passing a vote of condolence with the Royal family on the death of the Duke of Clarence. The Mayor (Mr T Watkins) presided, and there were also present Alderman T. Jones, Councillors Rees Jones, C. P. Lewis, J. R. Price, T. X. Jones, T. Rees, and at the close the ex- Mayor (Mr J. Watkins, Old Bank). The last named gentleman, who was very unwell, was unable to put in an appearance earlier.—The Mayor said that the meeting had been convened in consequence of the sad and sudden death of the Duke of Clarence for the purpose of expressing their sympathy with the Royal family in their great affliction. When they took into account the surrounding circumstances, he did not think a sadder event had ever happened in connection with the Royal family. He was very glad in reading the local papers to see how healthy people's sentiments were with regard to the Royal family (Aid. Jones Hear, hear). He did not suppose there was a church or chapel in Wales where reference was not made on the pre- vious day to the sad event. At his usual place of worship he had heard a sermon bearing on this lamentable occurrence, and, to his mind, he had never heard anything better in his life. He understood that at the other places of worship in the town also references were made. To his knowledge, everybody in the town or neighbour- hood sympathised with the Royal family in this great calamity. Whether in the town or through- out the whole of Wales, if there were any who be rudged this sympathy he pitied them. In conclusion the Mayor called upon Ald. Jones, as the senior member, to move the vote of condo lence.-Ald. Jones said I rise in response to the call of the Mayor to propose a humble vote of condolence and sympathy with her Gracious Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Princess May Victoria of Teck upon the sad and melan clioly death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence and Avondale. It is difficult to know what to say with respect to such a melancholy occurrence but I agree with the Mayor iu believing that there is no member of the Coun- cil, no inhabitant of this borough, whose feeling J are worth respecting, who does not in his heart of hearts sympathise m st deeply with the Royal personages I have mentioned in the great sorrow they are called upon to endure. The cloud that n I\V hangs over them, and indeed over the whole of Her Majesty's dominions, is at this moment a gloomy one, but as it is said that every cloud has a silver lining, let us hope that in the pre- sent expression of sorrow that emanates from all classes throughout these dominions, showing, as it does, the loyalty and affection of her people, Her Majesty and their Royal Highnesses may find some source of alleviation in their great affliction. The Mayor has said that the circum- stances attendant upon this event are excep- tional. That certainly is so, and though the death of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort carried most deservedly the deepest regret, still nothing, I believe, like this event has happened since the death in child birth of the Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1817. I do not know whether it is right to distinguish in the present case between any of them who have to mourn the great loss they have suffered, but it seems to me that if one of them is to be pitied more than tnother it is her Royal Highness the Princess May Victoria of Teck, the affianced bride of the Royal Duke. She, one may almost say, has become a widow before she was a wife. A week ago her prospects were most brilliant. She, no doubt, looked forward to a bright and happy wedded life with the husband of her choice, and probably to filling at some distant period an exalted position, second perhaps to none in the Universe. Her cup of happiness seemed full to overflowing. Suddenly, from some inscrutable ¡ reason, Divine Providence has seen fit to dash it from her hands, and to call upon her to drink to the dregs the bitter cup of affliction. Let us hope that the Almighty Power which dealt the blow may see fit in His mercy in this, to her, the dark hour of bitterness to cheer her spirit, and to enable her to check the grief. In conclusion, Alderman Jones moved that a copy of the vote be sent to the proper quarter, and that the same be also entered on the minute book.—In the absence at the moment of the ex-Mayor (Mr J. Watkins), Mr T. Rees, in feeling terms, seconded the vote, and the same was agreed to.—Mr C. P. Lewis suggested that the tradesmen of the town be asked to put up their shutter, and that blinds be drawn between the hours of one and three on Wednesday.—This was agreed to, and the Coun- cil rose. LLANWNEN. On Sunday last, in the course of his sermon at the parish Church, the Rev. D. Morris, vicar, touchingly referred to the lamentable death of the illustrious young Duke of Clarence and Avondale, who by his modesty and virtue had endeared himself to all the nation. ABERYSTWYTH. The sad news of the death of the Duke of Clarence reached this town on the same morning by telegram despatched to Mr Alderman C. I. Williams from the "Central Telegraph" at 10.10 a,id reaching here at 10 37. It was exhibited in Mr Williams's shop window in Pier-street, and attracted crowds of eager spectators, who read the few words with consternation. The mournful occurrence was afterwards the chief subject that occupied the thoughts and intercourse of people of all classes during the day, not so much as to the political and national bearings of the event, but with regard to the fatal results attending the fell scourge with which we are at present. afflicted, he painful effect of the tragedy in the arrange- ments of the Royal family and especially the terrible blow it inflicted both upon the Royal parents and the beloved betrothed of the deceased. It were almost needless to state that the un- expected intelligence created the deepest sympathy in the hearts of all riht-thinking rnotl10. The following vote of condolence was passed at a public meeting of the Primrose League, Aberystwyth Habitation, on the same night, Mr Thomas Griffiths in the chair. It was proposed by Mr B. E. Morgan, J.P., and seconded by Mr C. H. Powell- That this meeting held in connection with the Aberystwyth Habitation of the Primrose League desires to record the deepest sorrow at the very distressing intelligence of the death of the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Avondale, and to express its respect- ful sympathy with their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in their terrible bereavement." We may remark that this was the first declaration of condolence that emanated from any public body here with the bereaved Royal parents and betrothed of the lamented deceased Prince. On Sunday in St. Michael's and All Angels and in Holy Trimty Churches, both morning and evening, special services were held and prayers ottered, and also the prayers used in the time of any co union plague or sickness." The services were most solemn and impressive, The dead march" and Requiems being rendered, having deep effect. Most appro- priate and impressive sermons were delivered by the Rev J. H. Protheroe, vicar of St. Michael's, and the Rev Prebendary Williams at Holy Trinity, having reference to the unexpected and sad calamity. Reference was also made by Mr Protheroe to the loss of the great ecclesiastic who passed away just at the same hour, but he was in his ripe age and had completed his work, while the young Prince was called before he entered upon it. Solemn services, we understand, were also held at St. Winifred's and our Lady of the Ingels, and prayers offered for the repose of the eminent Cardinal. The feeling at St. Michael's was enhanced by the very beautiful reference made by Mr Protheroe to the death of the two chief head schoolmasters in the town during the past few days Mr Edward Jones of the Grammar School and Mr James Griffiths of the National Schools. Mr A. W. Parsons, M. B. the organist, rendering of the "Dead March" in "Saul," and Mendelssohn's Dead March." and the special hymns selected for the occasion was most effective and very much appreciated. LLANDILO. Pulpit references were made on Sunday to the lamentable death of the Duke of Clarence. At the parish Church at eleven a.m., the organist Mr Thomas Parry, played a funeral march, as an open- ing voluntary. Special hymns were sung, and at the conclusion of the service the congregation remained seated whilst the organist discoursed very effectively the "Dead March" in Saul. The sermon preached by the Rev. Lewis Price (vicar), was a very impressive and appropriate one and eloquently delivered. We append an extract of the rev. gentleman's remarksThere are times when occurrences take place which thrust aside all other questions, and such is the sad and lament. able occurrence which took place at Sandringham three days ago and which has deprived so myster- iously a Royal Home of its beloved heir, has plunged so suddenly the highest families in the land into the greatest grief and has overwhelmed them with a mighty sorrow, for truly that which has taken place is an event of such magnitude that at present we cannot fully realize it in its relation to all that which concerns us as a nation aud therefore, well may we regard it as an occur- rence which demands o-ir serious attention and consideration. And as such it has awakened the sympathy and sorrow of the nation and caused us to feel how applicable io their fullest exten are the direful words of our text to the present I occasion, But whilst this trying dispensation of our Heavenly Father is no ordinary calamity and has brought about such an extraordinary event as to thoroughly disarrange what had so joyously been looked forward to, yet it behoves us to acknowladge the grea.t Ruler of events in that which concerns individuals in the spheres of life in which God in His providence has placed them, as wall as in the great mysterious events in relation to the government of a nation. We naturally here to-day mourn at the event which has taken place, but we are not to murmur and question the right or the wisdom of God, who has called the beloved Prince so early from a position of such hopes, prospects, and expectations,to the rest and blessedness of Heaven. We admit that the ways of God are mysterious and that events like this startle our apprehensive fears and reverse our most cherished anticipations. But though "clouds and darkness are round about Him and though our feasts have been turned into mourning," who shall gainsay the Lord, or dare to murmur at our God. Hjavy indeed is the calamity that hath befallen ns. We are well nigh stunned by the blow. We sincerely perceive anything but dis- aster in the event, and under these impressions we now deplore it and long shall continue thus to deplore and lament it. But our righteous Father views the entire condition and circumstances both of the individual and community in all possible relations, contingences and cousecpieuces, and invoking all things after the counsel of His own Will, lie errs not. He commits no iniquity. W« therefore, in estimating divine dispensations should In endeavour to view them comprehensively, and dis- passionately, and not only take into account what may and must be felt as calamitous and afflictive in this overwhelming bereavement, by which the living, loving voice is bushed in the deep unbroken silence of death and the hopes and joys connected with the prospect of natural auticipation in the highest sphere of life amongst us-cease for ever here on earth, bat we should consider that the hereafter will unfold to us the, at present, uncom- prehensible doings of the great Ruler of the world. Instead of repining, we should, therefore, lift our eyes to Heaven and seek for the light and consola- tion, the support and guidance which He alone can render us under our bereavement and in the hour of our greatest distress and in the midst of our utmost perplexity. And this is the view it behoves us to take and dwell upon under the present heavy bereavement to us, as a nation, and if it doeB not turn our mourning into juy, it will at least temper aid chasten our sorrow, tor it furnishes no ordinary call f JJ a fu!l reliance on Him who does all things well according to His Eternal Counsel. It would thus be no unprofitable meditation to review in some aspects the life of him of whom it has been said" tbat. he was a Prince of blameless life and of amiable disposition." And in spite of many enticements, many distractions, he lived a life of holy virtues and died by the inscrutable will of the Almighty, who would have us fully to realize that duties are ours, but events are God's. If as christians we believe in God' 3 providential ruling of this lower world and had been taught that not a sparrow falls to the ground without His per- mission, much more should we recognise His hand in the removal of the beloved Prince and be ore- pared reverently to admit that He ordere'h all things as seemeth best to His godly wisdom. 1 be waves of the sea are mighty and rage horribly, but yet the Lord who dwelleth on high is mightier." Amid prevailing perplexity oor con- solation is that The Lord reigneth." ST. PETER'S CHURCH. A memorial service was held at the parish Church, a full account of which appears in the fourth page.