ANZAC DAY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 2569, 26 April 1922, Page 3

ANZAC DAY

LOCAL OBSERVANCES

The anniversary of the landing of the New Zealand and Australian troops upon the Gallipoli Peninsula, which occurred yesterday, was marked by a close holiday. AH the business premises in the district were closed and the day was practically observed as a Sunday. The train service was suspended and all Government offices were closed. Services were held in several of the churches. A number of the churches held Anzac commemoration services on Sunday, when references to the great deeds performed at the Gallipoli landing were made by the preachers. \ There was a large congregation at St. John's Church of England, Leeston, yesterday morning #t 11, when a commemoration service was conducted by the vicar, the Eev. Dr. Holloway. Taking for his text Zechariah 4-6, '' Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts," Dr Holloway said that the day commemorated, and he hoped always would commemorate, first, the landing of our troops on Gallipoli, and second, the work of all our sons and daughters at the front during the Great War. Although Anzac Day was primarily commemora-

tiou of the landing at Gallipoli it would also be a symbol of all that had been done during the war. It was right; that we should keep in remembrance such things. It was right, too, that it should be kept as a day of solemn and holy thought, rather than as an ordinary holiday. The thing we commemorated most was the spirit of self-sacrifice which had been such an outstanding feature of the part played by our sons in the great struggle. The war, said Dr Holloway, was a terrible exhibition of what worldly might and power could do. Let them pause for a moment and think of the tremendous resources that had been thrown into the conflict—the armies, navies, munitions, and the brains that were organised to achieve victory. It sobered one down to think of what earthly might could bring about. The result of the great clash of arms had not been the peace that the people long ed for. There was as much chaos, confusion and hatred in the world as ever. The ingrained elements of suspicion

hate and class warfare were standing in the way of the peace the world longed for. It needed brave, courageous men nowadays to take the reins of government. Anzae Day should bring to all a spirit, of inspiration, for it told of self-sacrifice, the oniy key to real peace. In the men who had gone to fight for the Empire and freedom was born an ideal which those at home could not fully understand. Some of them were rough living men, yet they had sacrificed their lives for that ideal. It would be easier for all classes in the community and all nations in the world to understand each other if there was a spirit of self-sacrifice abroad. What the world needed was a brotherhood built upon the spirit of Jesus Christ.