SPIRIT OF ST. GEORGE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 11

SPIRIT OF ST. GEORGE

gT. GEORGE’S DAY (23rd April) is celebrated in many different ways in England each year. For instance, this year, clad in full-dress uniform and in gorgeous blue and crimson ceremonial robes, members of the Order of St. Michael and iSt. George held itlieir

annual service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The service included The commemoration of 4he members who have died during the past year and the removal from the Chapel of iSt. ‘George of the banners of three late Knights Grand Cross, the Marquess of Lincolnshire, ILord Tennyson, and Viscount Finlay. ■Since the last service six Knights Grand Cross, twenty-three Knights Commanders, and 63 Companions have died. The three Knights Grand Cross, who died during the year, in addition to those whose banners were removed, ■were Lord Carnoek, General ISarrail, and Abdel Khalek 'Saroit Pasha.

As the band of .the Irish Guards played the Dead March in “Saul” women in various parts of the church could be heard sobbing. Members of the order then escorted the three banners of the dead Knights Grand Cross as T-hey were placed reverently on the altar. The service was conducted by the prelate of the Order, the Right Rev. H. IT. Montgomery.

A lighter touch was given at other celebrations. Prince George was 4he guest of honour at the annual banquet of the Royal .Society of St. George at •the Hotel Cecil. The chief course was a baron of beef, which was cheered as i( was borne round the hall on the shoulders of four chefs, and escorted by men of the Royal Marines, dressed in the uniform of the Marines of the 1664 period.

PAGEANTRY IN ENGLAND

Prince George, Whose place at the banquet table was surrounded by red and white roses, said: “.St. George’s Day is the day above all others on •which Englishmen are entitled to recall the great stories of our race and to recall the glorious part played by England under the flag of its patron saint. When the Vindictive steamed to her deadly work beside the Mole at Zccbrugge, Admiral Sir Roger Keyes signalled her, ‘St. George.for England.’ The answer came spontaneously, ‘May wo give the dragon’s tail a damned good twist.’ The old spirit was there, notwithstanding that we are proverbially called a nation of shopkeepers, and will always remain so, provided we, individually and collectively, do all in our power to maintain that ‘sure shield’ which effectively guards our shores. ”

“If you do not fill up your country .with British folk, it will be filled up with someone you like less.” This sentence, spoken bv the late Lord Northcliffe in Australia many years ago, was quoted last St. George’s Day by Sir John Marriott, M.P., in supporting an emigration scheme which the Rev. A. G. B. West, vicar of Sr. Dun-stan’s-in-the-East, inaugurated a.t a luncheon at the iCannon Street Hotel. Among the supporters were the Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Pollock, who presided, the Assistant-Bishop of 'Canterbury, the Right Rev. Evre -Chatter ton, the Bishop of Wiliesden, the Right Rev. G. V. Smith. ’Canaji Alexander, and ‘Commissioner Lamb, of the Salvation Aim v.

Mr. West had -previously asked that all the churches throughout the country and in the Dominions should join on iSt. George’s Day, or the ‘Sunday nearest it, in services and collections to help emigration under the ‘Church of England Council of Empire settlement.