SIGNIFICANCE OF ST. GEORGE’S DAY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 178, 26 April 1938, Page 8

SIGNIFICANCE OF ST. GEORGE’S DAY

English Heritage WELLINGTON SOCIETY’S CELEBRATION The significance of St. George’s Day and the close bonds of friendship and patriotism linking New Zealand with England were stressed by several speakers when the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of St. George celebrated the feast of England’s patron saint with its first annual dinner on Saturday night. The Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, M.A., patron of the Wellington branch, and Mrs. Holland were the guests of honour. Mr. J. E. Hunt, JJ?., presided, and nearly 100 members and guests, including the mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, C.M.G., and Mrs. Hislop were present. Many aspects of New Zealand life, particularly in rural areas, reminded him of England, said Bishop Holland, who declared that he had come from the finest county of all—Northumberland. To the majority of Englishmen, England meant the country. “It is the whole atmosphere of the country that makes you feel that England is the loveliest thing in your memory or experience,” he said. “The great, broad pasture lands, the magnificent avenues of elms, and all that blaze of flowers you get in England and nowhere else, make one go Home with the sense that one is proud to be an Englishman. And that is one of the reasons, but not the only one, why we are here to-night. Proud of Their Part. “It is not only the beauty of' the country that matters. There is another thing about an Englishman. He looks back and'knows he belongs to the ages because of those wonderful old buildings of stone we all love. There is something in them that tells of a past we cannot help' feeling proud about.” Bishop Holland added that since coming out to New Zealand he had found that people here were living very much along the lines of old English home life. A man coming to the Dominion from the Homeland felt that he was not only an .Englishman, but also a New Zealander. “I am glad that there is this body which keeps alive and fragrant the memories dear to us all,’’ said Bishop Holland, when referring to the work, .of the Royal Society of St. George. “It is helping us to feel that' we are part of this new country, still as English as when we camo out, yet retaining a loVe for England without being the least bit disloyal to New Zealand.”

Continental countries maintained their military forces by conscription, but. England lived for freedom and would not conscript, said Captain 8. K. Thompson, proposing the toast, “Imperial Forces.” He added that. Great Britain was built up on traditions without which it might cease, to function. Responding, Major E. Vine agreed that if ever the occasion arose, the far-flung British Empire would again come to England’s assistance, as it did in 11114. “An Englishman,” Major Vine added, “does not go to war because he loves going to war. He goes because he has to, and that is the difference between jingoism and patriotism.” Commander Lidgett, also responding, said people might read glowing accounts of other nations’ warships, but he could assure them the Royal Navy would not be left behind. “I am sure that if ever the Royal Navy is again called upon to light, it will do its job of work very well,” he added. England’s contribution in the interests of democracy was emphasised by Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., when replying to the toast, "Our Guests,” proposed by Mr. G. L. Rees. “England,” said ?>lr. Chapman, “possesses a democratic institution of which every man is proud. We hope that when all this turmoil ceases democracy will again come into its own. The British Constitution makes provision for orderly progress unaccompanied by violence.”

Personal Liberty. “The Royal Society of St. George has as its object the keeping alive of old English traditions and memories of England, and of extending and developing in New Zealand the traditions of. English people," said the mayor, when proposing tlie toast of the society. The main, basic essentials of freedom were based on the story of England. The parliamentary system, the ideal of personal liberty through the personal representation of its people, began in Englund. The present generation looked upon freedom of • thought, speech and religion as commonplace, and was apt to forget the patience, suffering and heroism it cost. It had well been said that the price of freedom was eternal vigilance. “It is good for us to remember that we come from British stock, and let us realise that a vigilant watch must be kept, to stop any attempt to destroy wjiat was gained in the past,” the mayor added. "England is old with the experience and the knowledge of the struggle through the centuries. She is old in wisdom, but young and vigorous in her fight for freedom.” In some extraordinary way England always emerged triumphantly from struggle and strife, the speaker added. The greater the difficulty, the stronger she emerged. She had given the world the greatest of all things, personal liberty and freedom.

“It is the opinion of many that. it. was never more necessary than now for Englishmen to consolidate their position and show the world their ability to uphold the traditions banded down through the ages,” said Mr. Hunt, responding to the toast. lie said the society was formed in London in 1894, and during its 40 years of existence had made marked progress throughout the Empire. Many promising men and women in England served on the society’s council. Australia had 40 branches, but New Zealand had only three. Branches had also been formed in many foreign countries. “It is at gatherings such as this that we can exhibit the sentiment and the glorious knowledge that the past made England truly great,” Mr. Hunt added.