THE ROYAL FAMILY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 127, 31 May 1935, Page 9

THE ROYAL FAMILY

A SERVICE OF UNITY

UNIVERSAL GOOD WILL

(From /"The Post's" 'Representative.)

LONDON, May 11.

The Duke of Kent, speaking at the Jubilee Thanksgiving service at the Albert Hall, quoted the famous saying of the King that "the foundations of national, glory are set in the homes of the people." . ''• '<What could be a truer saying?" asked the Duke, "or one better fitted to this special occasion? There is a passage in the Act of Homage (administered by- the Archbishop at the Coronation) which sums up these memories, and which I should like to quote:

" 'It is everything for our country that at its head stand the King and Queen showing forth in then? own family life ideals which come within the range of high and low, rich and poor.'

"There are thousands—l might even say millions—-in this country who have ties with the most distant parts of the Empire that are closer and more personal than those of the ordinary Englishman. I am sure that to them it must be a great joy to realise that the prayers (they are offering tonight are also being offered by those near and dear to them in the four corners of the world."

A great outburst of enthusiasm greeted the Duke, ss he read a telegram from the King replying to a loyal message.

This united service of thanksgiving and intercession was arranged by the World's Evangelical Alliance (British Organisation). The Bishop of Norwich presided over a gathering, of 8000 people, who sang the National Anthem with a fervour and enthusiasm that were almost overpowering. They were led by a choir of 1000 voices.

Among those who were present were j Field-Marshal Sir W. Birdwood, Bishop! Taylor-Smith, the Earl of Stradbroke, the Bishop of Stepney, Lord Bledisloe, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, the Bishop of Portsmouth, Mr. Isaac Foot, M.P., Mr. H. E. Wood (president of the Baptist Union), Lord Clwyd, Sir E. Bennett, Admiral Sir G. F. King-Hall, Sir J. Haslam, Sir John Reith, Commissioner Lamb (Salvation Army), Prebendary Carlile (Church Army), Dr. R. C. Gillie.

The lesson was read by Field-Mar-shall Sir William Birdwood, and the service, which opened and concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, contained also an Act of Homage, in which the Bishop of Norwich presented an Empire call to thanksgiving and prayer, as was done by the Council of the Alliance at the time of the King's Coronation. The words were repeated aloud by the vast con- | gregation. In thanking the Duke of I Kent for attending, the chairman said that then: service was a part of the family festival of the Empire. History had never before seen such a worldwide commemoration of any event; there was a spirit abroad of universal good will and of |oy and homage to the King.

Lord Bledisloe said that during the King's reign Empire solidity, confidence, and idealism had grown within the British Commonwealth of Nations to a degree that was probably unparalleled in the world's history. That had been due to the consciousness that the British Tlirone was established in righteousness, and that there flowed from it an example of character and I conduct based on the Christian ethic.