END OF EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1302, 4 December 1911, Page 10

END OF EMPIRE.

adoress by sir g, king-hau. at tiii; iikotiu;iuiooi). Yesterday wan n. "l'lecl; Day" til the Centra) Mission Urotborhood meotiny. The principal hanker was Sir Goo. KingIlall, Vice-Admiral Coinnniirllng (lie Australian Squinli-on, and members of Ihe r.iw of bis llngship assisted in tho fervico. A number of Now /nnliinil Veterans occupied a front Sent, and a congregation a-'omblcd which 'comfortably filled tlio building, Mr. A. R. Atkinson presided. Sir Geo. KiiiK-Hull staled in opening his address thai; he would avoid speaking yf anything which was a subject of controversy in local politics. He went on to fpealc of reli/ion in its bearing upon Imperial development. As a naliou or Empire acted righteously or unrighteously, he declared, so -would it bo judged in the future, lie believed that God bad blessed the British Empire in its development with a definite purpose—that it might show forth His righteousness throughout, the world. So far ag Great Britain bad done this .by means of her Hi bio and .Mission Societies, and by sending forth citizens and officials to maintain righteousness.throughout tho world, not only with their lips, but by their lives, the Empire had been justified. Very few people sufficiently, realised this or what it entailed. A nation was made up of families, and families of' units. He asked every individual, man and woman, what they were doing to' advanco tho Kingdom of ■ Christ, (.treat opportunities bad been given to the British nation to upliold the righteousness of Christ, and a groat responsibility was laid on each individual, forming part- of the nation. "This great Empire of ours,"-, said the Admiral, "does not depend for its future welfare upon its wealth and power, but only upon its realisation of God's purpose in raising it up."- • ' At the close of his address, which evidently made a marked impression upon his hearers, Sir Geo; King-Hall took bis leave. ■ , Mr. Atkinson remarked that although the Admiral had abstained on this occasion from any reference .to the-subject of •No-License," bo had given utterance to a very helpful message on that topic in a speech at. ■Auckland. Ho "had then stated.that he-'was one .of the teetotal Admirals of- tho British fleet, and that he regarded total'abstinence''as'an invaluable asset to the, Navy, and therefore to the'-Empire: Sir Geo. King-Hall had also attributed SO per'cent, of the trouble that arose, in the'liritish' Navy" to. the use of alcohol. . Mr. Atkiuson .spoke-.with gratification, of the"converging attacks that were .'being, made from', many quarters upon the use of alcoholi and,expressed a hope'that, the electors - of-New Zealand would act with decision at the coming Poll. - .' ■A. brief address was delivered by Sergeant-Major Durham, who • described some ; of bis religious experiences since joining the Navy, and -Petty-Officer Ousley sang two.solos. .■ A ■ vote ■ of- thanks to those who had assisted during.tho afternoon, was passed on the-motion of Mr.' E. Arnold, Mr. E. A. Wright seconding. -Next Sunday, at the Brotherhood meeting, -an address will- be delivered by Sir John Kirk, vice-president of the Brotherhood, movement in England. Each member of the congregation is.to.be asked to :provide'a gift;:in'money 'or in kind. The idea.'is to miike a collection of gifts,- to •be; distributed among'poor-people by the ''mission workers. •;'•.•- '