CHURCH PARADE AT THE CAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1900, Page 3

CHURCH PARADE AT THE CAMP.

A farewell church parade was held at Potter's Paddock yesterday. The Rough Riders and members of the Reserve were marched from the camp to the Pavilion, sitting in the middle portion of the structure. A number of volunteer officers and privates also attended, while there was also a large number of civilians present. Their Excellencies Lord Ranfurly and Earl Beauchamp, accompanied by their private secretaries, were also present, as were the .Premier and Mrs Seddon, and the Hons. Ward and Carroll. The service was conducted by the Rev. W. E. Gillam, hon. chaplain to the Auckland Mounted Rifles. After the singing of "Our God, Our Help," followed by prayer and "Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow" the lessons were read by His Excellency Lord Ranfurly. The lessons were 1 Sam, xiv., and Ephesians vi. Mr Gillam preached from 1 Samuel, xiv, 6 and 7, *And Jonathan said to tUie young man that bore his armour, come and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for ns, for there is no restraint for the Lord to save by many or by few. And his armourbearer said unto him, do all that is in thine'heart. Turn thee, behold 1 am with you according to thy heart.

The preacher compared the struggle between the Israelites to that now proceeding. He doubted not that the spirit inspired by Jonathan inspired the Auckland' Rough Riders. There might be some who. at the beiginn|ing- of .the war doubted its justice, .but he questioned if there were many in the community who had now any doubt on the point. The story of the long and bitter oppression of our people was now known; the story of the wrongs suffered by the native races was undf-r----stoed; and the .secret history of the Afrikander Bond had been revealed. At the start England was unprepared, but her reverses, had proved hermeitle and had brought out the patriotism of her people in an undreamt of manner. Jealous nations looked with surprise on these colonies, but they would not have seen this splendid display of patriotism but for the deep-rooted conviction that England's cause was just. The service closed with the singing of the first verse of the National Anthem.