FALLEN SOLDIERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8280, 27 October 1915, Page 3

FALLEN SOLDIERS.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED AT RAKAIA. At St. Mark's Church (Rakaia) on Sunday evening, a Roll of Honour to fallen soldiers from the Rakaia district was unveiled by tho vicar (Rev. H. N. i Wright) in the presence of a .large con.gregatioii; including members .of the various Rakaia Friendly Societies, numbering about 40, who paraded to the church in regalia.

The preacber delivered a stirring sermon from the text: "Awake thou that sleepest and arise, and Christ shall give the-e light': (Eph. .v/ 14). After paying a tribute to the men who had laid down their lives for King and Country, and extending heartfelt sympathy to the relatives, he made an earnest appeal to all young men eligible to enlist. He dealt with the unI preparedness of the British nation, both from a military and spiritual view, and asked what we were doing to remedy it. Ho deplored the gambling and carnival methods of raising I money for our wounded and sick. If [ sufficient was not forthcoming from direct giving, then the Government should tax for what was required.^ i Spiritually the churches had been v asleep, and instead of them being filled with prayerful people, wo found them 'practically empty and the people given up to pleasure. Seeing that such con[ditions existed, by what right did we expect God to bo on our side. Could •we look back and say. that we had. been a prayerful people, at all times seeking tlie Lord? No, we had been just as much asleep in our spiritual needs as the nation was in its military needs, and until we awoke from our sleep and sought Christ in prayer and -service; we could not expect His help. Tho church was tastefully decorated with the national flags, and, special hymns were .sung' and special sprayers for the nation, and our Allies were offered. The names of the soldiers on the Roll of Honour were: — Private Broach. Private Smith. Private Miles. Private Bottle.