DECLARATION DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17860, 5 August 1918, Page 5

DECLARATION DAY.

THE CRISIS PAST.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S ORDER TO THE ARMY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A and N.Z. Cable Association and Eeuter.

(Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 3. Sir Douglas Haig has issued an order to his troops as follows: —

" The conclusion of the- fourth year of war marks the passing, of the period of crisis. We may now look with added confidence to the future. Russia's revolution set frco large hostile forces on the eastern front, which were transferred to the west. It was the enemy's intention to use the great numbers thus created to gain a decisive victory before the arrival of the Americans' should givo the Allies the superiority. The enemy made an effort to obtain a decision on tho western front, and failed. The steady stream of Americans arriving has already restored the balance. The enemy's first most powerful blows fell on the British. His superiority in men was three to one," but although pressed back in parts, the British line remained unbroken. After many davs of heroic fighting, the glory of which will live for all time, .the enemy was held. At the end of four years of war the magnificent fighting qualities of our troops remain of the highest order, I thank them and their devoted bravery and resolution. I know they will show like steadfastness and courage whatever task they may be called on to perform.

STATEMENTS IN AMERICA.

THE DAWN OF LIBERTY.

By Telegraph—Precs Association—Copyright,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, August 3.

Lord Reading, in an interview, said: —"The beginning of the fifth year fincls Britain stern and resolute. The spirit of her people has not been finer nor their confidence higher. The day of liberty is dawning, and a new era of peace will soon open to the world." The "Now York Times" in an editorial states:—""Four years of war shows the Germans baffled, defeated, and falling back before General Foch's great strategy. Tho ''fifth year commences with the Germans on the defensive and the Crown Prince's army trying to extricate itself from a position of great peril."

MR MASSEY'S MESSAGE.

EVERY REASON FOR CON-

FIDENCE

Australian and N.Z. Cable- Association. .;. LONDON. Augusts.

In compliance with a special request of the Primo Minister, Mr M*sey sent the following message on behalf-; of New Zealand to tho Central Committeo. of the National Patriotic organisation for delivery at tho London meeting on 'the anniversary of tho war: — , _." ."We are now entering upon the fifth year of the war, and aS 1 British citizens wo are no less determined than wo were four years ago to carry on until victory comes to those armies which are fighting for all that the free arid honour-loving nations of earth hold dear. 'Wo have had many disappointments, but wo have also had much to bo thankful for, and to-day wo can say confidently that the fighting forces, of tho Empire, both on land and water'anu in the air are stronger than they have been at anv time in our history. Ims also is true of our Allies, especially since our kinsmen of the United, States of America came into the war m support of tho same sacred cause as that which has brought tho bravest of Britain's sons from every quarter of the globe, and for which the best blood of the Emniro has been poured out. There is now no reason for pessimism, but _on. the contrary there is every reason tor confidence that with renewed determination tho Allies will press forward, facing without hesitation any difficulties or dangers which they may encounter but never stopping yr laying aside the weapons of war until ft decisive victory lias been won, bringing with it security and peace. IN THE CHURCHES. Special services in connection with the Siven,ary of the declaration of war were held in many of the churches n the cftv and suburbs yesterday, when appropriate sermons were preached and special hymns were sung.

. ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL. .' Intercessory services at tho'«gg Cathedral yesterday included holy com munSn at 8 a.m., morning prayer. *J ffj 15 o'clock, choral Eucharist a 11 a m at which the choir sang as an into! it. Brahma's setting of »<BejW*ag the Dead," and evensong at G.dU o'clock at which the chief contribution by the choir was Brahms s arrajigemen of the anthem, "All Mesh Doth Perish." The hymns, and ******-£* each service were specially chosen. Dean Carrington was tho preacher at the morning service, and Bishop Julius del*. vcred the address at evensong.* ' Dean Carrington's remarks were chiefly on the purposes of the war from a spiritual viewpoint. It made all the difference, ho said, whether a man trusted in the spiritual power. -Wheu powder and shot ran short, physical weakness set in. In tho case or the cause that was not spiritual,-there was nothing left but hopeless retreat- into spiritual fighter realised that he Was linked to an eternal throne, and that there was something much greater be- j hind tho cause for which he was fightin". This was the case with the peoplo of°tho British Empire. Britain had t thought it right to outer the war,, believing its causo was just. After, four years of war. the nation was convinced 'more than ever that it had done right. With it were allied the civilised nations. The peonies were learniue the lessons ot humility, but there was yet much to learn. Who would have dreamt four years ago of the nation being conserved, of any food shortage or of any of i the mauv'remarkablo changes that had taken place P Since then the nation had suffered, but it had learnt patience. The lessons were being learnt through humility, and the people were being chastened. One was helping another more than ever before. The peoplei knew they were lighting tho right cause and they wore carrying on cheerfully and determinedly. The purpose of God could be seen, and there was a confident feeling that the Unseen Power had created that great spirit of unity, and that the people were working on the side of tho Eternal- The sacrifice of human lifo was the chastening process. The very thing that mado life~beau£iful was the'knowledge that life belonged to the world eternal, and the things that made one pleased to live ins it were also those that made one glad to lay down one's lite for it. "Do not look on those who died in the war as having lost their lives, but rather in having gained

life, said Dean Carrington, to c'osuig his address. '"They have entensd tiie\ eternal life, which is the real life:"- In! the days to come all will meet "ag'aihv" v: Bishop Julius's sermon in the evening is printed in another column.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. ■ In the Roman Catholic churches of the city and diocese the fourth anni-: yersary of the declaration of war was 1 fittingly celebrated, At the Cathedral very large numbers, approached Holv Communion at the early masses.'* Throughout the day there "was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and'continuous prayer was kept up till the evening devotions. /' _ At tiio evening service his' Lordship Bishop Brodie preached' to a. very large ! congregation. "To-day," said Bishop Brodie, "the citizens of this Domirir ion, as of the Empire, are ca'lled, upon to celebrate the fourth anniversary: of the declaration of war. This/anhiver-r. J sary is to be marked by civic and re- : ligious celebrations. In the dvic>,cbni-»' lnemorations our public men will/'re-? view_ tho cause of the "great-, war,land* the ideals and motives of tliol beUigejiv. ent nations. Not without reason would v these anniversary celebrations.' be -in*' complete if God should bo forgotten,, and the Divine aid not invokeai'thus( we may all acknowledge the wi^dpuCof; our; Dominion authorities in asking the}, various religious bodies to mark tfiil : . day with appropriate "', religious cere-. monies. A noted English writer :truljf remarks: 'ln the progress of this grea't war never has it been clearer tjKat thoissue is in the hands of God, and that; it is in His name alone' we shall-coii-i quer; time and again victory seeriied; near,, but unexpected : events— a.\Rris? sian ' revolution, an Italian' put victory out of sight oncomore. Our suresti hope is a thorough purification of our war aims, so apt to be speciously overlaid by 'schemes- of ':terv' ritorial or commercial aggr-andiSemWiip. not worth the sacrifice of,,a singhvheroic life; arid then must come a cor*, responding purification of the hatioMtl soul, still so empty of .the spirit)." of; prayer, and so befouled by the demons'] of avarice arid lust.' The words, of St Peter should com© in earnest pleading', from the hearts of all: 'Lord, towhorn shall we go? Thou hast the wordsiot eternal life,' and with, equal self-dis-f:" trust can we say: "Save us,O,Lord,wo perish!' Sad indeed isHhe war; but; out of evil comes, good, arid it is <?ood to know that our Dominion publicly and as it were officiallv recognises its' allegiance to God, and the need of Divine help and blessing.. Our religious., celebrations will not onlv lead to '*> national blessing, but will bring to each heart much courage and great; corisoljH tion. How many 'amongst 'us' har<y' been made one in sorrow.by the. loss'' of one near and dear; and jiow many., hearts have been wrung with' sorrftw, we can understand by the "'millions of ■ noble and heroic men who have. laid, down their lives. To/those in sorrow our Saviour says in the conmassion v 6f His sacred h.eart; 'Come to'Me* all ymi' who labour and' are burdened, and I" will refresh you.' Again, in _the earnest pleading of the sorrowing heart praying for protection of the loved absent ones, exposed to the dangers <>f body and of soul incidental,to war. the fervent request has been mode more telling by the chastening influence of sorrow. As the terrible , calamities of" this war make us realise the snd vWmsequences of a departure from divine: ideals in national life, w« have to remember that nations are mndo ufibf individual lives and' it devolves upon each one of us to purify our livts. trv remember we are to live for. God i'rd" in God, and to resrulate our actions, words nad thoughts by, the divino maxims and "precept." ' • : " '-,■ ,; c

» ST PAUL'S CHURCH. : ,\ Intercession services held at St Paul's Presbyterian Church morning and evening yesterday, the pulpit being occupied by the Rev John Patereon. ■;. Preaching in the morning, Mr ,Patr • erson took as his text Matthew, 26, 8: "But when His disciples saw it, they; 4 ' had indignation r saying, To- what pur-; pose is this waste?" The war, he'Saidj had been costly beyond the wddest expectations of seers and prophets, and it that the cost was too big to realise that most people had not been '.< crushed beneath it. The world had been • impoverished in a way one hardly dared think of, and the men who would haye>; led the next generation had gone."iin*.? multitudes. To what purpose was. this.; waste, or was it a waste? If they .werei* fightinmr for commercial power, it had j been; if for Imperial supremacy, it bad*: been a cruel waste. If tlie return -tvas .' 'to. bo wealth and power, the war had been: too costly. All the commerce of ' the: world and. dominion over all the lands of the earth could not repay; the.. ■ Empire for what she had lost. But' 1 they were not fighting for these things':They were seeking . nothing tangible'. Tliey went to war for an ideal j in the: name of'a spiritual perception.' They • drew tho sword, not against Germany.:, but against a lie. They took up arms,*;' not against an army, but against •'._'«'.;; broken promise. They offered them- • selves-.ori the world's altar a for others. They oamo to the /rescue not so much of stricken peoples, but ; of outraged truth, of insulted justice and liberty made captive. In the world, of material things men might mise and buy. In wacs about territory";.-; and in domestic struggles for power it* had been tho obvious issue that:;'after 7 '-' a time the combat-ants should get to^.. gether and effect some kind'of coinpromise. The nation-was being asked-' to-day to do-this, and they were: being - told that it was the only common-; sense thing to do—that it was necessary for the retention of what at least" reriiained that men should give up-'c6h-Y flict and get round a table a spirit of compromise and national conimon-* sense to settle their differences. But.in the world of the spirit, .-rigWi\was, right,■■■; truth was truth, and justice; justice. • In the world of the spirit .and of idealsg there could be no compromise.; The nwri > who compromised with truth and ju>-. tice was either a charlatan.or a cG'ward. •;, li they reallv believed that they enter-;, ed the war for an ideal, and. if they { " prayed to God to help them.h'ecaiiso. thev were warring for spiritual ideals. \ then the nature of the conflict and th<*' issues involved compelled theiri ib:wnr< to the bitter end. An ideal that was : beaten in the material world could still riso in power to its old position; but an idea! betrayed by the cowardice, laziness and unwovthiness of the" men, and women who cherished it was lost ; to humanity. He who put his hand to' the ploiifhand looked back was not fit, for the Kingdom of God. That was first fact tp keep in mind if the"spin<;. should prow war woary. Tho very n;;s " turo of tho conflict lifted it out of ordi- . narv. battles. t \ In the eveninn- Mr Taterson took lis v his subject, -"Christ or Odin," an ex-; amination of two conflicting systems of ? civilisation, in the course of which he;'; dealt verv interestingly with.the .b00k,.. "The Science of Power." Intercessory • prayers and hymns marked both, services. , k ".'

DURHAM STREET METHODIST;..,.church.- ■ ' =r Thero was a large congregation at'..' the Durham Street Methodist Ctoch last night, when the Rev Percy 'Knight - conducted a patriotic service.-. . fhp. Mayor of. Ohristchurch (Mr H. Hoi- ; land), tho Town Clerk (Mr H. Jui Smith) and several members, 0f.... tn.eChristchurch City Council were present/:' ■ by invitation. Appropriate hymns wen*. • sung and special prayers on behalf; of"' the Empire and her Allies at ttfis time: of war were offered. During the, ser-V vice the choir sana .tho.aathem . I : -.; Am the Way" (Wheeler), ; ancl Millicent Jennings sang the .:;S9cred. solos "O for the Wings of a Doyo; ~ (Mendelssohn) and " Entreat. Me -N0t...... to Leave Thee" (Gounod). "'. ". -..- The Rev P. Knight; took as his sub- •-- ject "The Wild Beast of., the Sear -,; basing his remarks on the thirteenth...: chapter of „ Revelation. _ Ho; said 'that the beast referred to in this chapter was the Emperor Nero of Rome,- but' v Germany by her atrocities had ou£-" Neroed Nero. The speaker said that Germany had coolly and deliberately prepared for war, and be cited ex*-

JBnp.cs of the unspeakable atrocities - fcliab tJ»e Huns had committed. Germany' by her actions gave an answer to tiie question asked in Revelation, '•'Who is like unto the Beast?" In fact such a tale of horrors had never been known in history, and yet, while her crimes called for vengeance, Germany remained unrepentant. The question for the Aliles was what were they to do with a people of this description. A people of insane mind could be nursed back to sanity, but here was a, people quite sane and yet deliberately planning all manner of atrocities. The duty of the Allies was -lo'capture this Beast in Germany and utterlv destroy it. They must therefore at this time withstand the poison of the ill-balanced mind that said all nations were equally to hlame for the war. That type of mind* wanted to ■get out of unpleasant situations, not to set wrong right. Neither must they be deeply concerned with the person •who asked, "Could ,not the whole business'have been settled in another way?" Perhaps it could., but he had never heard of the Prussian militarist who could understand any language but that of screaming shojt and shell. But especially must the Allies guard against a premature peace. They must remember that every German peace overture, came from Germany's high military command and that it was a carefully planned portion of the military plan with the object of sowing euspicion amongst the Allies. Russia was an example of the results of these overtures.' In conclusion the speaker said that, : the Allies must put their 1 'trust in God. Whatever else they lost' they must not lose faith that' God would, in His own time, give victory to the' cause of liberty. During the bourse of the service the 'Empire resolution was carried, the congregation giving their assent by standing.- ■ •■■'",'v-

Hi WESLEY CHURCH. FITZGERALD AVEN.UE. C. At! Wesley Church, Fitzgerald N Avenue,' special services of intercession were held yesterday, conducted hy tho Rev E. R. Blainires. Speaking on the subject of the conflict of ideas he said the Allied nations were prepared to 'fight and die for certain ideas which ' had become convictions and principles more precious than life. The British "Commonwealth of nations was an object ,lesson of the power of moral ideas as -against material force and made it ; natural for them to anticipate _ a League of Nations with a community ■of interest as against the dominance of the ..world by a military Power.

ST ALRANS METHODIST CHURCH. ; Speaking at St Albans Methodist fCHurcli" kst night the Rev A. C. ' Lawrv -took as his subject, " The Divine Hand in History." After a brief reference, to the great peril with which Prussian militarism had threatened the tvorld four years ago. Mr Lawry dwelt upon the providential influences that had saved civilisation from the Hun. The hew spirit infused into the nations of the Entente, and the courage, cheer-, fulness and patience imparted to our soldiers and sailors was a Divine work. The/forces of Nature were evidently ; .controlled by the hand of Providence on such critical occasions as the defeat of.the Armada, the battles of Crecv and Plassy, and the retreat: from Moscow, sulci; tho world is so governed as to show the, Divine antagonism to wrong and falsity.- The upraising of men and women fitted to occupy special positions ;of responsibility and power at each great world crisis was another indication of the Divine hand in history. President Wilson had stated that the last year of war has done more to knit ' together the. nations of the Alliance 'ban a hundred years of peace could have done. The choir, with Mr W. Simpson as conductor, and with Miss E. Smith at the organ, sang the anthem " We Come Unto. Our Fathers' God." The Roll of Honour was read, and patriotic hymns \vcre sung.

DURHAM STREKT SOUTH . ' • METHODIST CHURCH. \ ;fn the course of his address at the Durham Street South Methodist,Church ■the Rev C. E. Ward said the yar must go on to a. righteous and victorious end. For the Allies to yield would be a blunder, a crime. Britons were more. • than proud of their own nation, and ;nf the valour of the Australian, Canadian' and New Zealand soldiers. Tht> Methodist Church had willingly done .its part in Ihe great struggle. From Canhdii there were 493 ministers wearing khaki, and quite a number.; \of young ministers wero in the ranks-with the men fiom New Zealand. '.

; OXFORD TERRACE CHURCH. ' • At the Oxford Terrace Church,the Rev J.:J- North couducted two services .01 intercession. At the evening service the names of those connected with "the church who had fallen on the different* battle fronts were read, also the names or those who had been wounded and of .those at present in the service. Special - prayer was offered in each connection. In the course of his evening sermon ■ Mr North, referred to the striking confirmation of the British view which the iJchhowsky memoirs had offered, and the glorious confirmation which the Americans had offered, and the 1 self • revelation which Germany, through her. maltreatment of Russia,, .had offered. At tho . end: of four years with many records leaping, into light Britain stood unashamed where she stood at first. "Emphasis was laid on the tantalising character of the events of the past four years—seemingly indicating that Britain was as yet unfit for. victory. An easy victory would, kavo endorsed too much in national life which ought not to be. The • immediate need of such a decision us wilt, make war impossible was urged. The-probability was stressed that in twenty years.there will be no frontiers' nnd .tliat no forts will be able to secure imy. city in the world from annihilation froni'.the air. Unless a League of Nations is reached the end of humaSi history/may be in a sort of savage suicide! . The grand international is Jesus and the solution lay in His hands. His doctrine of non-intercourse would be the copestone of The Hague ' arid the spirit which He in all human history has sent forth from the unseen will make what the nations now dimly see in_ this dark night possible. Jesus, the faith of the universal church cried, is the invisible king of the world and its one hope. .

LINWOOD. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Special services in connection -with the fourth anniversary of the war M'ere . heid yesterday in the Limvood Congregational Church. There were good attendances and the choir, under Mr J. Richards, sang suitable anthems. At the evening service Miss U. Priestly sang Liddl<?s " Abide With Me." The Rev H. Allen Job occupied the pulpit at both services. ' At the morning service Mr Job spoke on " Our High Altars." The high altars of the ancients were places where they >with their dim light offered sacrifices, often their dearest, to secure peace! On Calwiry stood the great'high altar of ,alTChristendom, where Christ made his 'sacrifice to save the world from sin. Whatever its unfathomable meaning might be this story had proved the gioiitest inspiration to men and.the mightiest power for good. To-day, on the battlefields of Europe humanity ' was rendering another great sacrifice to save The world from Woe. Gallipoli, Messines, etc., were our high altars. In jtlie evening Mr Job preached on Luke 20, 18,' taking as his subject "Flowers of the. I>ust," "The mills of GqiL grind slowly, but they grind' exceeding small." Retribution was sure, for nil evil carried with ifc the germs of its own destruction. Modern civilisation had gone astray and was i now being ground in the great wheels of., providence. Some fewed that alls would be destroyed; but the world was based on moral principle, and only the evi! was utterly doomed. God's great delight was to create and build up. And even the (lust of his mills was pregnant with new life. From it both weeds and flowers would grow. They

thanked God that faith revealed Him as a creator and that this great grinding meant new life and not destruction.

NEW BRIGHTON

The fourth anniversary of the war was fittingly celebrated at New Brighton -yesterday. The Mayor and councillors attended tlio service at the Methodist Church in the morning, where the Rev W. Walker, a returned chaplain, preached a powerful sermon. During the service Miss W. E. Roberts sang "Let Us Have Peace" and the choir sang the anthem " Give Peace in Our Tune, O Miss A. •Spratt being the soloist. The New Brighton Marine Band under Bandmaster Sullivan accompanied the hymns, which were appropriate to the occasion.

The Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster G. W. Bishop, and the Peace Scouts, in charge of Sooutmistress Ward, attended the Beach Church at 11 a.m.., where the Rev H. H. Matliias preached and special hymns were sung. A special intercession service was held in the Beach Church in the evening, the Mayor and councillors being present:. The Rev H. H. Mathias preached an appropriate sermon and special hymns were sung.

RANGIORA

At most of the churches in liangipra yesterday the fourth anniversary ot the declaration of war was marked by special services in which patriotic sentiment was predominant in both discourses and hymns. In the afternoon a combined borough and county patriotic demonstration was held in the Institute Hall, which was crowded to overflowing. The local Territorials and the High'School and No. 25 Company Senior Cadets paraded under their officers at the drillshed and were played to the hail by the Rangiora Brass Band.

The Mayor (Mr C. I. Jennings) presided and moved the Empire resolution. The motion was seconded by Mr F. Horrcll (enmity chairman), supported by the Hon D. Buddo, M.P., and enthusiastically carried by the audience. A patriotic address was 'then given by the Rev Val Trigge, of Melbourne, who is conducting a mission in the town. In his address he sought to remove a prevalent misconception of the attitude of Australia towards the war, pointing out that although conscription was not carried no fewer than 410,000 young men had volunteered for service out of a population of just over 4,000,000. He also .eloquently commended the action of the churches in giving whole-hearted support to the prosecution of the war against a foe devoid of all humane instincts and sense of justice. During the meeting hymns for wartime were sung.and sacred solos were contributed by Mrs—E. Trollope and Miss It. Horrell to pianoforte accompaniments by Misses Rogers and Hammond respectively. The proceedings closed with the singing of the- National Anthem. A collection in aid of the fund to provide Christmas parcels for New Zealand bluejackets realised £lO.

,; KAlAi'ttl. A united service to commemorate the fourth anniversary was held in the Oddfellows' Hall. Kaiapci, yesterday afternoon. The Rev W. Ready presided, and on the platform were ministers of various denominations, the Mayor and councillors, and Mr T. W. Rowe, of Ghristclnirch. The hall was crowded Appropriate hymns were sung and' a/ patriotic address 'was delivered by Mr Rowe. The Mayor moved, the Empire ©resolution, which was carried unanimously. A collection in aid ,of the Kaiapoi Soldiers' Christmas Parcels Funcj realised 1 £9 4s Od. The proceedings, concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

: : ASHBURTON. There.was a big muster at the AshInirton drillshed yesterday morning of men of the Second Regiment Mounted Rifles, the 35th and 36th • Defence Cadets, the . Ashburton High School Cadets, returned vsoldiers, officers of the retired list, members of the Bth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band, members of the Ashburton Scottish Pipe Band and members of the Ashburton Fire Brigade to attend a religious service held in the Theatre Royal in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war with Germany. Lieutenant Blatlnvayt was in command. The theatre was packed in everj' part and considerable numbers of the general public had to be content with standing room outside. The service was conducted by Chaplain G. Miller, of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, who preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. Scripture lessons were read by Lieutenants Harper and Christian. Several thoughtful citizens provided mprniijg tea at the drill hall and this was appreciated by numbers who had come in from the country districts. , • ' v T?ic services at the various churches during the day were also of a commemorative ,chhraeter.

TO-DAY'S MEETINGS. , A public meeting will be held in Cathedral Square at 12.15 p.m. to-day to pass the Empire resolution in connection with the war anniversary. The Mayor has requested all citizens .to close their places of business between noon and 1 p.m. Should the weather be wet, the fathering will bo held in the Theatre Royal. r

; A united intercessors' service will be held at Joyland Theatre. New Brighton, at 8 p.m. to-day, when a resolution in connection with the war anniversary will be proposed.

A meeting of residents of Wnimairi Countv will be held at the Council Chambers. Papanui, at 12.30 p.m. today to submit a resolution in connection with the war anniversary.