KING'S BIRTHDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 8

KING'S BIRTHDAY.

SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP. EMPIRE RESPONSIBILITIES. The King's Birthday service at St. Matthew's Church yesterday morning was attended by a very large congregation when Archbishop Averill enunciated the meaning of loyalty to the faith and the King. The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe attended, their Excellencies being welcomed at the church entrance by the Rev. M. G. Sullivan and the Rev. H. K. Vickery. Outside the church were assembled members of tho Legion of Frontiersmen, accompanied by the St. Andrew's Pipe Band. Commander J. Bosati, of the Savoignan de Brazza, with 51. Edonard .Toubert. French Consul, and representatives of the Auckland Consular Corps, Northern Military Command, Air Force, Fire Brigades Old Boys' Association, the Navy League, Returned Soldiers' Association. St. .lohn Ambulance Association and local bodies, attended the service. The lessons were read by his Excellency.

Archbishop Averill said that King George had never swerved in his loyalty to the onj God. Loyalty was better expressed in deeds than in words, and it was right and fitting that his loyal subjects should offer their praise . and thanksgiving for his beneficcnt reign, and that they should pray for the continuance of a life so precious to the world. Tho outward expression of loyalty .was all the more, necessary when there was a danger of disintegration, and there were subversive forces striving in the world. God was here to bring order out of chaos when given His rightful place in every sphere of human life. The evils of politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without chara?ter, industry without morality, science without humanity and worship without sacrifice, had been rightly named. Whether the people realised it or not, world civilisation was in the melting pot. Men and women of the present generation were building up a new social order, and what was done to-day would be reflected in future generations. Confidence would never be restored till the people got back to the right idea of God, and it should be realised the British Empire never had more responsibilities than to-day.