SOLDIERS' SACRIFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 8

SOLDIERS' SACRIFICE.

"IN HIS STEPS THEY TROD." DUTY OF THE UVIBO, HIS EXCELLENCY'S APPEAL

"My friends,", said his .Excellency, Sir Charles Fergusson, "I want you to c 'arr r back your minds with me to a period of some two thousand years; It was ' ancient Greece,: and we are told that after the battle it was the custom for the inhabitants to assemble on a stated day at some beautiful spot outside the city. There were brought in caskets th! remains of those who had died in battle with other caskets representing those who had died on the field, and whose remains had not been brought back to the native city.

His Excellency said some , citizen, were called upon to assemble together and pay a tribute to the men of their country who had died, and after that the people went away quielty to their homes. T ow, on the doorway of this great Museum, or rather, about the doorway, there could be seen imprinted certain words. Those words were spoken on one of those occasions to which ha had referred. They wemspoken by the great Athenian soldier and- statesman Pericles, and it would not be out of glace to recall something of that speech fn which the words occurred. Pericles had begun by saying that these men had voluntarily resigned all hopes of happi. riess in the determination to do their duty. They ran away from the word dishonour, but 011 the battlefield their feet stood fast, and at the height and hour of their misfortune they passed away, not from fear, but from glory.

"Glory Surrounds Their Memory." *

His Excellency said that the full tenor of his speech that they, could not do too much for those who died fa* their country, and people should turn their eyes to the glory surrounding their memory. It was easy to talk of brave defence and fighting, and they should fix their eyes day by day on the greatness of their country. The Empire had been acquired by men who were used to their duty and had the courage to' carry it out.

"The sacrifice they made to us was paid by each individual," said hie Excellency, whey went on to refer to the memorials, not only in our own country, but also in foreign countries; erected to the names of famous men. "You should make -them your . example," he said. "Now to-day we are exactly in a similar scene here. This Cenotaph does not represent the graves in which these men are interred, but it does represent the glory which survives them. Who shall say that these lives were given in vain? "Lost All Enmities." . "And now we come to the Cenotaph, as the representation of rest and peace. I would like to remind you of some lines which illustrate the contrast -which the Cenotaph conveys. 11: , I dreamed that overhead I saw In twilight grey, The army of the dead marching on Its Tray. So still and passionless, with faces so serene, That scarcely would one think such men war had seen. Ng mark of hurt they bore, nor smoke, nor bloocjy stain, / Nor suffering, nor hunger; no distress or pain. ... Nor any lust of hate now lingers In their eyes, Who have achieved through faith, have lost all enmities.

"That, my friends, is the picture of the ideal whieli we all long to see. ,The lesson of the war learnt by all was that the love and sacrifice so freely ~ given in the wat should now inspire us with feellings of love and service for our fellow men, so that war can be a thing no more. "It is appropriate that I should remind you of the words spoken by the Bishop of London when lie unveiled the great memorial at - the Menin Gate at Ypres, which many of you know so well The Bishop said that for the fulfilment of the hopes which helped us in the first days of our country's need, a great revival of religion was necessary. It is Christ the Lord Who stands to-day at the Menin G&t.e, as it is He Who stands to-day at this Cenotaph, and bids us to follow Him if the full victory of those who went out to battle is to be won. "And so my friends, we leave them here. It is not that we do not realise their glory, not ungrudgingly ae though we did not appreciate to the full the sacrifice they made to mankind; not sorrowfully; not without hope. In His steps they trod. They followed through death the Martyred Son of God. Victorious, too, they will rise and drink His cup of sacrifice." Addressing the Mayor his Excellency added: "For all time this will he an object of loving care to you and your successors."