THERE was a time when memorial services were little more than appeals to sentiment. Tennyson’s poem, “Crossing the Bar”, was the most prominent feature, and represented the maximum of definitely Christian thought, a few extracts from the Order for the Burial of the Dead were recited, some favourite hymns of the deceased were sung, and all was brought to a close by the Dead March in Saul. There are still places where no more is desired, but on the whole we have ceased to be content with this rather colourless and hesitating type of service. In fact, popular demand has outstripped the standard of the Book of Common Prayer, for though the Prayer Book includes the departed in our prayers, it arrives at its end by by-paths and implications. To-day we have no hesitation in offering prayers for the dead in a direct and explicit form. At Queen Alexandra’s funeral service in Westminster Abbey a prayer was said which contained the words, “Vouchsafe her light and rest, peace and refreshment, joy and consolation in the ample folds of Thy great love”; in St. Paul’s Cathedral was sung the great Orthodox prayer, “Give rest, O Christ, to Thy servant with Thy saints,” which is fast winning its way into the hearts of English people, and all over the country similar petitions were offered.
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