SCOTS’ MEMORIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1935, Page 4

SCOTS’ MEMORIAL

OPENING OF NEW CHURCH.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED

Seating accommodation was taxed to its utmost, and many were obliged to stand when the official opening of the new Scots’ Memorial Church and unveiling of the roll of honour took place yesterday afternoon.

• The conditions, which were unpleasant during the morning, cleared in the early afternoon, enabling the first part of the service, which took plate in the open in front of the church, to be held in sunshine.

Over twenty returned soldiers paraded under Captain F. McGregor anti marched to the church.

The initial service comprised a psalm sung by the congregation, a passage of Scripture and a prayer by the lfev. Murray Feist. Mr Feist then asked Mrs Urquhart, one of the oldest members of tlie congregation, to unlock and open the side door of the church, after which she was the first person to enter the building. The large congregation then passed inside, and extra seating accommodation was provided, but was insufficient to meet the demand.

The service was opened by the Rev. L. S. Dewar of Ross, after which the congregation was addressed by the Rev. H. R. Fell, of Greymouth. Mr Fell himself a padre during the war, paid high tribute to the services rendered by the Empire’s manhood during the war period. He said the feats and heroism of many men had been recorded, hut there were countless thousands who had remained unknown, but it was our duty that they, too, should ever lie remembered. He told how they had been immortalised by the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” the symbol of which was revered throughout the Empire. Mr Fell spoke of the attittide of Christianity to warfare, and the ideal of loyalty to God, the King, and the Empire.

The Roll of Honour at the back of the church was then unveiled by Mrs H. Wilson, of Humphreys, whose three sons’ names are inscribed on the Roll. The “last Post” and “Reveille” were sounded by Bandsman L. Ross. Mr Feist recited a verse of Lawrence Vinyon’s poem: “For the Fallen”:— They shall grow Tint old, as we that are left grow old ; Age shall rot, weary them, nor the years condemn. At the goimr down of the sun and in the morning W<» will remember them. The service was concluded by Mi 1 Feist, who earlier read several apologies for absence.

The architecture and interior f"rn : sh_ ins were warmly commented on by many.