KAPONGA COMMEMORATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 8

KAPONGA COMMEMORATION.

AX IMPRESSIVE SERVICE. The arrangements made- for keeping in solemn memory the great deeds ot the war and the heroism of the men of Anzac were made and kept in a most dignified and impressive manner at Ivaponga where, in the Town Hall, a large- company gathered for the combined service. The organiser was Mr G. P. Oook, town clerk, in collaboration with the ministers of the district, Rev. 3>. J. Davies (Anglican), and P. J. Co-ssum (Methodist). The hall was most appropriately clra-ped with flags, with the Union Jack at the centre cl the back of the stage. The choir and organist were placed on a low platform to the side and their good work served in no small degree to add to- the beauty and grandeur of the service. In an inspiring address Rev. P. J. Cossum reminded his hearers that they were met not to celebrate but to remember. There .should be no exultation, as though at the result of great battles, no waving of flags and blow ing of trumpets m military pride, but in a spirit of humble gratitude they should give thanks lor the precious privileges of freedom and right. They were met, lie said, to remember and recall a great deliverance and to record appreciation of tlie bravery of the men who suffered and died that their people might live and have preserved to them the inestimable benefits of freedom. He referred to the wonderful sacrifices made by the men during the war, and said that the remarkable importance of the events would not be truly recognised and valued until the historians of the future had weighed up the whtile story and given to those events their proper place in history. It was not until 191.5 that the nation realised its manhood until sorrow came and tears flowed and the people felt the pain of suffering and hardship. It was then that New Zealand took her place among the nations. In'that, time of testing, a. baptism of blood, the nation came to maturity, she gave her sons and brothers in the great cause. ,So it was fitting that on this Anzac Day they should ponder on the wondrous things, rich in meaning, that happened in those stirring times. He suggested that they only preserve life and honour by selfj sacrifice for t-Viere was no salvation by selfishness. Their men took their lives in their .hands and came at the call of country in their thousands for the sake of humanity. Tlheir magnificent sacrifice in the cause of right and truth gave their people a rich heritage and by their cleeds of valour saved the nation’s life. It was not the sword but the spirit of the men that stood to the country in the hour of. need and the war was won by the indomitable spirit of the- men of the armies. So it will ever be, he added, with nations, while ideals are high and inspiring and there is. a true and lofty spirit of sacrifice. But he said, a greater and nobler sacrifice, that of the mothers who gave their sons- to- the cause of country untj of ,

freedom, was wont to be -overlooked. He asked all liis bearers to specially remember the wonderful heroism and self-denial of the mothers of the country, typifying it by the text ‘-‘God so loved the world that Ho gave- His only begotten Son,”, and stressing it as the climax of self-sacrifice. In conclusion, lie thanked God on this great day for keeping all in ltis mercy and said that the lessons of the war would be lost if they did not teacli a horror of warfare and lead people to insist that by God’s help and their own _ endeavour there should be no repetition of the great tragedy of the war in the future. After the singing of the hymns “Onward Christian Soldiers,’.’. “O 1 God. O-m Help,’ ’and the .saying of the General Thanksgiving, a solemn ceremony was performed. The wreaths which were sent from the Bowling, Tennis, Amateur Athletic and Rugby Football Clubs the Kaponga Town Board, the Anglican and Methodist Church people, Girl Guides, Returned Soldiers, and many private people were then taken up to the stage by the Girl Guides and dedicated to the memory of the men who fell in the Great War.

Tii choir under the conductor, Mr P. Harding, sang with excellent effect and with a real appreciation of the significance of the words and music, Sir Frederick Budge’s beautiful setting of “Crossing the Bar.” ' A scripture reading by Rev. P. J. Cos sum-—part of the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews —and prayers by Rev. D. J. Davies and the concluding hymns “Rock of Ages” and “God o-f Our Fathers,” the benediction and the National Anthem closed a service which most fittingly commemorated the deeds of the suffering and theheroism of the Anzac Day of thirteen years ago.

The order of service was announced by Commissioner R. A. Law and the organist was Mrs R. G. Cook. The Girl Guides on parade were under the command of Miss A. Anderson and Miss I. Melville.