PATRIOTIC SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 28 February 1916, Page 6

PATRIOTIC SERVICE.

TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN. An\ impressive and; largely-attended memorial and intercessory service was held in connection with the New Zealand Methodist Conference,proceedings in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. 7 A repiavsentative gathering of public men suppo%Dd the President of the Conference (tht Rev.-A. G. Lawryj, Amongst those present were the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) and Miss Massey, the Minister for Munitions and Supplies (the Hon. A. M. Myers), the Hon. F. W. Lang (Speaker' of the House), their Honors the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr. Justice Cooper, and Mr. Justice Hoskirig, ajid many military, clefical and local body representatives. Apologies were received from the. Mayor, the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the officer commanding the Auckland district. A. choir, drawn from the Methodist churches throughout "tie city and suburbs, and conducted by Mr. E. J. Gatland, led the singing, and Mr. Edgar Randal officiated at the organ." ■ <■■----'■■ The sermon was preached by the secretary of the Conference (the Rev.'-W. ASinclair, of Christehurch), who,.' declared that Britain's sacrificial act for Belgium's sake -would bring new life to her. She would emerge;from the conflict witji a cleansed spirit, ennobled. ideals,::. and • a more glorious destiny. And out duty at thJB time of crisis was defined by- the words of Admiral Beatty, "Until Britain is stirred out of her stupor of self-satis-faction and complacency and a religious revival occurs, just 60 long will the war continue. When she looks to_ the future with humbler eyes and a prayer on her lips' we can begin to. count the days towards the end." The blood of pur soldier sons" would be'the seed of a" better and purer nation, and the duty of those who remained was to live seriously, each doing his bit "and gladly . making any sacrifices demanded." Patriotism and religion were two of the mightiest forces that, influenced and moulded men and they had joined hands to-day. "Let us continue to keep them joined, and be not only loyal to King and country, >ut loyal to the highest and best in national life', loyal to God and his every requirement " continued the preacher. "Then the future of our far-flung Empire will be grander and more glorious than the past ha s ever been, and we shall have the joy of knowing that we have assisted in ushering in that day when peace shall cpver the earth." The pronouncing of tie Benediction by the Rev., J. Dawson, the playing of ■the "Dead March" in "Saul- and the soundinn of the "Last Poet" by two boy scout buglers, concluded the service.