ST. GEORGE'S DAY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 178, 26 April 1938, Page 4

ST. GEORGE'S DAY

English County Societies Hold Dance The English Counties Society, of Wellington, combined to hold a dance on Saturday night in honour of St. George’s Day. The concert chamber of the Town Hall, where the dance was held, was decorated with the badges and coats of arms of the various societies. These were the work of Mr. Conroy, of the Cheshire Society, whose coat of arms he had surmounted with a large cheese and a smiling black cat. The platform, from which the orchestra played, was hung with blue curtains. There was a large crowd of dancers, and many people watched from the gallery. During the evening the Hon. W. Nash, who is the patron of the Birmingham and Midlands Society, addressed the gathering. He was introduced by Mr. Karl Atkinson, chairman of the combined societies, who thanked him for his encouragement and support, and for giving up so much of his valuable time. Mr. Nash spoke of the significance of St. George’s Day. “St. George is the patron saint of chivalry,” he said, “and we must fight in his name to overcome the dragons of poverty, depression, and international ill-feeling.” He referred to love of country as a eupremewirtue to which a supreme danger attached, and pointed out that if we loved our own country in the right way it jvould give us a deeper understanding of other countries. Mr. Nash referred to political and religious freedom which had attained its fullest expression in England, and he said that our contribution to the ideal of liberty might be economic freedom, and this was the goal toward which the colonies were working. A vote of thanks to Mr. Nash was moved by the Rev. F. J, Usher, president of the Men of Dorset Society, this being seconded by Mr. J. Meltzer, president of the Northumberland Society. Also on the platform with the speakers were Mr.- James Whittaker, of the Birmingham Society, Mr. H. J. Poole, of the Dorset Society, Mr. W. Appleton, of the Yorkshire Society, Mrs. Fuller, of the Cheshire Society, and Mr, J. Tullock, of the Kentish Society. After his address, Mr. Nash went upstairs and watched the dancing from the gallery.. Later in the evening a buffet supper was served. The committee consisted of Messrs.. Karl Atkinson, J. Tullock, W. W. Marshall, Conroy, Gray, G. Colledge, H. A. Askew, J. Hemingway, H. Poole, A. Parsons, J. H. Whittaker, J. Morton Murray, J. Meltzer, the Rev. F. J. Usher, and Mr. A. G. Parsons.