SERVICES AT SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 179, 26 April 1941, Page 4

SERVICES AT SCHOOLS

Parade At Wellington College

The students of Wellington College paraded for the Anzac. Service at 10 a.m. yesterday, the vicar of St. Mark’s Church officiating. Addressing the pupils, Dr. G. H. Scholefield said that they had held this solemn and dignified ceremony for a quarter of a century/ Some might think it tedious and meaningless, but it was now not an empty memorial, but a practical example of conduct for the much greater struggle in which the Empire was engaged. Crimes were being committed against men and women and against nations which one would have thought were only possible in the middle ages. It was unthinkable that the democratic way of life should give way to the rule of force and the law of the bully and. the gangster. It was very appropriate that two small nations—Greece, in which democracy was born thousands of years ago, and Britain, in which personal liberty had been nurtured for a thousand year’s —should take up the torch together, and pass it on to the new world. New Zealanders were fighting today where 2500 years ago Leonidas and his 300 ‘Spartans had held back another barbarous host trying to extinguish civilization-in Greece. Scots College.

A parade of the cadet corps and a special service were held at Scots College yesterday, attended, also by boys who are not cadets and by parents. The service was conducted by the school chaplain, Rev. D. M. Hercus, who in an address brought out the points that citizens must be prepared, to make sacrifices, that in that respect a standard had been set and a challenge thrown out 25 years ago and that Anzac Day brought the people of New Zealand to face with their memories in the presence of . God. A wreath was placed in the charge of three senior boys for laying atthe base of the Wellington Citizens’ War Memorial. Miramar South School. Upward of 600 people attended the Bervice at Miramar South School. The ehairman of the school committee, Mr. T K Moody, who presided, said that those who had made the supreme saen? fice in the last war bad laid down their lives in a fight; for freedom for all; today other New Zealanders had taken upi the torch Abuse of power by those in authority had led to the exploitation, victimization, and brutal treatment of peoples. It would appear that the page must be blotted with tears and stained with blood before a fresh leaf revealed itself. It would all be futile if. out of the welter Of blood andi sweat, tears and fears, that were again being endured there did not Spring up a better world. Captain V,. S. Birt, of the 10th Heavy Regiment, Fort Dorset, said. that. Anzac Day wag not a holiday, but a holy day of solemn remembrance and gratitude. Today again more men had donned uniforms and gone overseas to fight those brutes whose sole ambition was to rob people of all the principles for which the British Empire stood. “We pay homage to our glorious dead, and must be prepared to forgo many pleasures, thereby assisting our present fighting men to bear the burden resting on th.eir broad shoulders, said Captain of the Miramar Boys’ Brigade sounded the' “Last Post and “Reveille.” Hataitai School. Speaking at the Hataitai School yesterday morning Lieutenant-Colonel A. Cowles, president of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, said the duty of his juvenile listeners was to do their best to maintain happy homes and good homes, for homes were the foundation of a strong nation. The British people had been led by false prophets who talked peace when there was no peace, and as a result they were suffering from lack of preparedness. Mr. H. R. Searle, chairman of the school committee, presided, and the service was conducted by the Rev. O. Burnett. In addition to the school children, the gathering, which was in the school ground, included members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the National Military Reserve, the Home Guard, the Emergency Precautions Scheme personnel, and parents of the children. ' Thorndon School. Mr. A. L. Holloway, chairman of the Thorndon School, presided over an attendance of parents and children at Thorndon School. The Rev. R. B. Gosnell delivered the address, and the chairman read the roll of the honoured dead. Hymns appropriate to the occasion were Bung by thd children, conducted by Major M. R. Downey, and accompanied by Mrs. Downey. Mrs. W. Boardman sang the anthem, “Jerusalem,” and Pipe Major McPhee played’ the lament, “Flowers of the Forest.” The service concluded with the Binging of "There’ll Always Be An England.” ( Kilbiniie School. The march past the memorial tablet was impressive at the service at Kilbirnie School. The address was given by Wing Commander S. Wallingford, R.N.Z.A.F. The'“Last Post” was sounded by Bandsman Gould, and the “Reveille," by Trum-pet-Major F. C. Chegwin. Captain T. A. McKenzie, and Rev. W. Langston conducted the religious portion of the service, and the band of the Wellington South Corps of the Salvation Army supplied the music. Island Bay School. 4

The chairman of the school committee, Mr. D. Overbye, presided at the service at the Island Bay School. The address was given by Major Roy Sinel, and the religious portion of the service was conducted by the Revs. R. Thornley, P. J. Wainwright, G. T. Beilby, J. R. Neild, and Major Dutton. The “Last Post” was sounded by Mr. Crump. Wadestown School.

At the Wadestown School the Anzac ceremony was, held on Thursday morning. The Rev. W. H. P. McKenzie conducted the service, and Lieut.-Colonol R. McQuarrie gave an address, urging the children to follow the ideals of duty which motivated the soldier, and quoting Wordsworth’s “Happy Warrior,” Te Aro and Mitclielltown.

The Te Aro and Mitclielltown schools’ service was conducted at. the Mitcheltown war memorial by the Rev. T, F. Fags, the address being given by Private G. A.

Vincent, M.M., of the National Reserve. At the close of the service the ‘‘Last Post” was sounded by Bugler IV . R Boniface. Residents of the district attended the uarvice and wreaths were laict on the memorial.