ARTS / ROYAL Literature: Charles Dickens bicentenary celebrations: Service at Westminster Abbey

ARTS / ROYAL Literature: Charles Dickens bicentenary celebrations: Service at Westminster Abbey; Very Reverend Dr John Hall speaking SOT - His genius saw through our trappings, whether of want or wealth, andin life, as in death, his happiness was found in teaching usindependence of such externals. He left directions that he should be carriedto the grave as an ordinary man – nothing more and nothing less; and hiscareer has received this fitting completion. But his true place among usnone the less demanded acknowledgment, and we have now recognized itin the only public manner possible. The Abbey may be considered as thefamily grave of the nation. The mass of men play their part among a smallcircle of relatives and friends; they have their little time of influence, andthey rest most appropriately among those who knew them best and wherethey will be longest remembered. But there are some few who hold kindred with successive generations, whose friends are found in the greatof every age, and whose influence lives as long as there are Englishmen,or even men, to be influenced; and such as these are most fitly laid in thatwhich is to the nation ‘The Sepulchre of our “Fathers”’ Prince of Wales lays wreath on the grave of Dickens followed by others