SACRIFICIAL LOVE.

Matamata Record, Volume VIII, Issue 624, 27 April 1925, Page 4

SACRIFICIAL LOVE.

ANZAC SPIRIT INTERPRETATION. Roll of Honour Unveiled. ( United Churches Service. Matamata Town Hall Filled. On Fame’s eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread, Anr Glory guards in solemn round, The bivouac of the dead.

The Matamata Town Hall was filled on the afternoon of Anzac Day, when a united churches service was held and a Roll of Honour unveiled. There was only ane unoccupied seat in the hall, that being a short form in front next the stage; otherwise there was no vacancy.

Prior to the opening time, the Matamata Boy Scouts’ Band (under Bandmaster H. Cleland) played several sacred compositions in a very creditable manner. The band was supposed to be more or less disorganised some time ago; however, that may be, they must have been training to some purpose lately. A large crowd of people stood round, in evident enjoyment of the music, and appreciation of the standard attained. The' service commenced with a hymn, “O, God, Our Help in Ages Past,” followed by a prayer reading by the Rev. W. E. Connolly (Anglican), a scripture reading by the Rtev. A. E. Hampton (Presbyterian), “I shall lift mine eyes to the hills,” and a hymn, “ Onwai’d, Christian Soldiers,” preceded the unveiling ceremony.

THE UNVEILING. Mx*. W. A. Gordon, chairman of the Matamata Town Board, performed the unveiling ceremony. Mr. Gordon said he regretted that something had evidently occurred to prevent Mr. C. E. Macmillan, M.P., from getting over from Tauranga, that afternoon, to perform the ceremony. It was a very solemn duty he had to perform in unveiling the Roll of Honour. The tablet had been handed over to the Town Board by the Matamata Merrymakers in trust for the people; it contained the names of all those from this district who had served in the Great War. Some of the names were of men who had made the supreme sacrifice, and each one had rendered service in the cause of liberty, and all those institutions and ideals constituting the heritage of the British people. Their names would inspire future generations to cherish the memory of those who had not hesitated to risk their all, even life itself, at the call of patriotic duty; our children’s’children would have before them a mute yet eloquent reminder that this present generation had been great and noble and valoupus enough to pay the price of malrytenance of British liberty, and chivalrous enough to take UP arms in defence of oppressed people.

The veil was di-awn aside, while the congregation sang the National Anthem. The Roll contained upwards of 130 names, the work being firiely executed and forming an imposing memorial. THE INWARD MEANING. Sti-aight is the line of Duty; Curved is the line of Beauty; Follow the first, and thou shalt see The second ever follow thee.

A searching address was delivered by the Rev. P. I. Cooke (Methodist), who dwelt upon the inward or spiritual meaning of the commemoration. On such an occasion, Mr. Cooke said, a speaker might be under the temptation to speak of the outward, gloi’ies only, and to say only those things which would please, such as references to the heroism and the self-sacri-fice of our soldiers. These qualities were admitted, and doubtless would remain imperishable memories in the annals of the Empire’s history. But he felt that the day imposed a great duty upon him, and duty was not always pleasing to perform. He felt compelled to say that we had yet to discover the true Spirit if Anzac; the spirit that would live long after we were dead. Greater days even than Anzac had been once honoured, but were now forgotten. Of a surety, if it was to live Anzac Day would have to be regarded otherwise than as a holiday; .he believed that every returned soldier thought it should be a sacred day; certainly, its spiritual meaning could be sustained only in an atmosphere of holiness. A decimating epidemic, had raged in the Dominion during the Great War, and we had lost in three months more lives than the whole war caused us in four years, and perhaps this visitation had been necessary to sober us into humility. We had not celebrated the victory after the manner of ruder timers, when the occasion was one for imposing the utmost humiliation on a fallen enemy;

we did not believe in putting the defeated gladiator to death as the Romans of old did. A new day had been ushered in, and it was in this higher outlook that the Spirit of Anzac would live. We had made a vow and a covenant with the men who fought that, provided they did their part, we would end war, but instruments of war more diabolical than even were being invented. It bad been well said that another such great war would end the western nations. There was pregnant meaning in the lines: If, drunk with sight of power, we

loose Wild tongues that have not Thee in

awe— Such boastings as the Gentiles use, Or lesser breeds, without the law, Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet Lest we forget, lest we forget... We must “ carry on ” towards higher and nobler ideals, for thus only could we discover and cherish the spirit of Anzac, hallowed by the sacrificial love of those who gave. THE LAST POST.; A short prayer was offeredNUp by the Rev. Cooke, after which the most impressive thing in all martial'music, “ The Last Post,” was sounded on the bugles by Bandmaster H. Cleland, Scouts W. Hitchcock and L. Robinson, the great congregation standing in silence. Mr. P. C. presided at the organ for the accompaniments. WALTON. A very largely attended combined service was held at Walton and was conducted by representatives of the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. A very fine address was delivered by Rev. F. A. Parry, of Morrinsville. Rev. A. C, Hampton, Matamata, gave a reading, and,Rev. Cooke offered up a prayer. The Walton Brass Band, conducted by Mr. H. Salter, played several i selections, which were greatly appreciated, as w r as also a fine solo by Miss Mapp, “ Sleep On Beloved.” The service concluded. with the sounding of the -Last Post and the singing of the National Anthem. I.

WAHAROA. The ■, Waharoa Y.M.C.A. meeting room was crowded to overflowing for the united service at 7.30 p.m. and conducted by representatives of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. An apology for absence, owing to indisposition, was I’eceived from Rev. Connolly (Anglican). Rev. Hampton gave an appropriate scripture reading- and Rev. Cooke delivered a stirring address. A solo, “The Holy City,” was sung by Mr. P. O. Ney, and the service concluded with the Last Post and the National Anthem.