SPREYDON BAPTIST CHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 9

SPREYDON BAPTIST CHURCH.

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED.

At the close of last evenings service | at Spreydon Baptist Church theEev John Laird unveiled a Roll of Honour, appropriately illuminated and framed, and containing the names of . tho old boys of the Sunday School who j have given their services to the Empire in the present historic struggle for right and liberty. The following thirteen names are on tho Roll of Honour at present, but further names have yet to be added :-W. R. B?wden, H. Bow- | den, L. H. Adcock, R. Adcock, W. Lloyd, Henry Dixon, W. Dixon, Harold Dixon, D. Handyside, H. M-'Nictioii,' W Cant Wi Jarman and W. snort. Of'these W. R. Bowden and £>.<■ Adcock have been killed in action, W. Lloyd is in an English hospital, whilst it. Adcock, who had returned from the front invalided, was present at last evening's service. Mr Laird in his sermon, said that the message to people in the present state-of affairs in the great war was to cultivate a better idea of th© relative value of things. In New Zealand they dwelt in safety and peace, in contrast to Belgium and other war-, stricken countries, and the security thov enjoyed was the price of the blood that had 'been shed for them. If conscription came that would teach them the value of righteousness and liberty. Mr Laird drew parallels between the struggles for civil and religious liberties by our forefathers and the present world struggle, and said that when people considered the enormous Sacrifices made to preserve peacs in New Zealand they should cultivate a sense of appreciation and gratitude. When the men at the front heard of the selfish way in which some men and women regarded the sacrifices made for them it was almost enough to make the soldiers declare "Are those people worth fighting for?" There sterneu a danger of the British peoples losing their moral fibre. v In unveiling the Roll of Honour, Mr Laird referred to the great pride and satisfaction members of the church felt in having so many of their young men answering the call of duty; The church was ghti to be aysocintcd with such brave and self-sacrificing men. Tho Roll of Honour will be hung in tho young men's room, attached to the' church.