FAMOUS SOLDIER AND STATESMAN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 8

FAMOUS SOLDIER AND STATESMAN

Memorial Service To General Metaxas CHAMPION OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES History had few examples of famous soldiers becoming famous statesmen, but General Metaxas bad achieved this distinction because of his firm belief in and application of, the two fundamental principles of true democracyfreedom and order, said the Ven. Archdeacon Bullock, in his address at the memorial service for General Metaxas, Prime Minister of Greece, held in St. Peter’s Church, Wellington, last night. The Government was represented by Mr. AV. Nash, who read the first lesson. The secon'd lesson was read by the Consul for Greece, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon. When he became Prime Minister and virtual dictator of Greece, said the speaker, the general’s first act to bring about constitutional order had been tlie restoration of the monarchy. This had been followed by great social re. forms and increased building of schools and hospitals. Among the trade unions of his own country he was regarded as the workmen’s friend. Thus a man who was so close to the powers of a dictator was content to give back to the people their constitutional rights and freedom. This was of great significance, because it was so rare in political history. But General Metaxas was a dictator in the true sense. His dictatorship was aimed at the binding together of these two fundamental principles of true democracy, freedom and order. Life could not just be based on some economic theory. Those things had their day, and then ceased to be. Freedom and order were interwoven into the very texture of human existence—the movement of the stars, the seasons, the harvests, birth and death, the flow and ebb of the tides. All these spoke to us of that necessary freedom and order without which all human government would fail. Present-day Europe knew what interference with those principles of true government meant. Essential Watchwords. But freedom without order or order without freedom meant nothing, said Archdeacon Bullock, and they were problems which faced every statesman. Order and freedom should be the watchwords of all democratic life, and ho felt he could say that they were the two principles on which tlie British Empire, wilh all its faults and shortcomings, had been built, and it was for those same principles that they were now fighting alongside their Greek .‘lilies. When final victory came, those principles would again he the basis of human relationship, for they were tlie teachings of (lie Creator. Christ had come on earth to give mankind freedom and order, “and what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” During his address Archdeacon Bullock spoke of other ties that bound tlie British and Greek peoples, one of which was in their spiritual outlook. Though there was not yet full communion between the Church of England and the Greek Orthodox Church, no stone was being left unturned to make that communion and unity complete.

During the service a psalm and hymns .specially chosen for the occasion were sung. During the singing of the hymn after the address, the Greek flag was placed cm the altar. Rites of the Greek Orthodox Church were introduced and tapers were lit. (his act being symbolic of eternal life. The words “Kyrie Eleison” were also chanted and the funeral march was played. METAXAS HONOURED London Flags Half-Mast LONDON, January 31. Flags on Government buildings in London were flown at half-mast for the funeral of the late Greek Premier, General Metaxas. The only previous occasion ou which anyone, except the head of a State, has been thus honoured was the funeral of Marshal Foch.