The announcement of peace was made at the evening service at St. Paul╒s Cathedral to a fairly large congregation. Apparently the message came as a surprise, as evensong had commenced before the gratifying tidings were generally known even in the central parts of the City. There was an audible murmur of satisfaction when the telegram from Pretoria was read by the Bishop of Stepney. The number of worshippers was not so large as usual, owing doubtless to the inclemency of the weather. The preacher was the Rev.
E.J. Kennedy, vicar of St. John╒s, Boscombe, who during his sermon incidentally referred to the blessings of peace ╥of which we hear to-night.╙ This was the only intimation made in the sermon. The Bishop of Stepney then ascended the pulpit and said: ╥I desire to announce to the congregation that God has been pleased to answer our prayers and to give us the blessings of peace.╙ He added: ╥I will read to you the telegram which has been sent by the Commander-in-Chief to the Secretary of State for War.╙ Having done this he proceeded: ╥Comment is needless, but I ask you to offer your heartfelt thanks to Almighty God by singing instead of the hymn on the paper another hymn suitable to the occasion, and to follow that by singing to the occasion, and to follow that by singing two verses of the National Anthem. The hymn referred to was ╥Now thank we all our God,╙ and the congregation sang it with much feeling and impressiveness. The worshippers then knelt for the Benediction, and the general thanksgiving prayer was read by the Bishop of Stepney, who interpolated the words ╥for Thy late mercies vouchsafed to us in restoring peace.╙ The congregation then quickly left the Cathedral. On reaching the street the fact that the news had become widespread was manifest by thousands of people shouting patriotic songs and flags being waved in hundreds. No arrangements have yet been made for a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, though it may be taken for granted that such a service will be held to-morrow. The bells of the Cathedral will be pealed, and at the conclusion of the afternoon service the ╥Te Deum╙ will be sung.
To the majority of the congregation, which, despite the inclemency of the weather, practically filled St. Margaret╒s, Westminster, Canon Hensley Henson╒s announcement of the official news when he entered the pulpit was the first intelligence. A subdued murmur of satisfaction having died away, the Canon made the following remarks:╤ ╥It is perhaps a happy circumstances that the glad news of peace, which we have waited for so long and desired so earnestly, should happen to be first publicly announced in church, for the aspects of the war, now at last ended, which is best worth remembering is that which can most fitly be dwelt on here. This war, let our enemies say what they will, has been a high-toned war, worthily fought out on both sides, and a high-toned war properly leads to a generous and equitable settlement. It has left behind a legacy of mutual respect, and there could be no better guarantee of genuine and lasting harmony. But we cannot forget that this peace has been dearly purchased. The very greatness of the price we have had to pay in suffering and sorrow indicates the special responsibilities attached to it. Be it our task as Christian citizens to heal the resentments of this long conflict and to join hands with our gallant opponents, now become our fellow-subjects, in order to build a Christian civilisation in the land which has been for so many months ravaged by war. South Africa was once a land without traditions, without history, one of the blanks in the moral geography of mankind. It is now a land rich in memories of sacrifice and heroism, and able to provide a worthy environment for a manly and high-minded society. South Africa has had its baptism of blood, and has become by virtue of its immense suffering historic. We have, indeed, much to thank God for.╙ The ╥Te Deum╙ was then sung with great heartiness, and after the benediction the congregation with great fervour sang a verse of the National Anthem. As they slowly filed out of the building the bells of St. Margaret╒s rang out a joyous peal.
The despatch from Lord Kitchener giving the definite news of the signing of the peace documents at Pretoria, sustained some delay owing to telegraphic faults on the long cable and land lines. It reached the War Office about half-past twelve o╒clock this afternoon, and as soon as it had been recorded a copy was sent by a King╒s messenger to His Majesty at Buckingham Palace. That preliminary indispensable duty having been done, copies were sent by messenger or telegraph to the various members of the Cabinet and to the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House. The King had been led to expect that the all-important news might reach him in the course of the afternoon, and there was consequently no delay in the delivery of the despatch into the Royal hands. At three o╒clock His Majesty left Buckingham palace, by the gates leading into Grosvenor Gardens, in a covered motor car. The King, who wore a light brown coat and a light felt hat, was immediately recognised by a small crowd which had assembled directly the police stopped the ordinary traffic, and he smilingly acknowledged the salutations.
