SPIRIT OF ANZAC.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 125, 26 April 1927, Page 3

SPIRIT OF ANZAC.

THE NATIONS HEROES. COMMEMORATION SERVICES. BIG GATHERING AT SHOWGROUNDS. Anzac Day—commemorating he landing of the Australian and New Zealand troops on rallipoli, tlie occasion on which they, became parties to the i emb e loss of He that the Great War involved—was ceiebrt ted throughout the u ho.le of the Commonwealth and the ’ minion yesterday and in other parts of the world where t c memory ol the men ot the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is held sacred.

CITIZENS’ TRIBUTE. ] In Palmerston North, as in past! years, there were fitting services o, , commemoration, citizens paying rl " bute to the gallant dedes and sacrifices of those who fought for honour, liberty and all those principles w men Britishers hold sacred. . At the schools services were held in the morning and appropriate addresses given. A spirit of reverence permeated each of the ceremonies and much was done to give the children a fuller realisation of the sacrifice that had been made for them and the nation as a whole. The afternoon saw the customary mass service at the Showgrounds, with Padre C. Walls, M.C.—“Digger Walls to the men of tho AVellington Regiment—in charge. So many were present that the grandstand proved inadequate to seat the whole of the assemblage. - . , Members of the Returned Soldiers Association, veterans of the Maori and South African Wars, the Seventh and Eighth Batteries, N.Z.A., the Sixth Manawatu Mounted Rifles and all the local cadet companies paraded in the Square prior to the service, and, after proceeding past the War Memorial, headed by the Municipal Band, marched to the Showgrounds. WREATHS ON MEMORIAL.

pre ;ented in strength, moral and spi itual. Their infectious laughter fou id an answering echo in our bre ists, for were they not ourselves! T h ir high-souled expressions all pointed- -we concluded—to their high calling and future destiny. They were me t who lived, loved, and were at t n 35 moved by strange impulse. And be< tuse they were thus moved, they f.n ad themselves ranged behind the j hai ner of Right, and that—an addttio lal cause of separation—took them fre n us. Because they were still impel cd by unseen power, but by a posxtiv > force, which reflected the high id< ils of the environment of their chi dhoed days, and years of youth, th< y followed the path of hardness and sel -denial, and emptied their own liv s in streamlets and rivulets ox Vl< ad for the same high motive and pr aciple of right. ‘They will ever be to us revelations of itrength and sinew, with the warmth tif life, running flood-tide, in their ve as. Our men—my man —your man .arted from us with a benediction—‘a God-speed you and quick return. Hi b this return has not been in that loi ed and precious form we had hoped io . But they are closer now, for no s.n irch of honour separates the union of our souls. Still may we keep them oh sely, for their purpose shall he on -s. They went, but it was us who • lie t them with our blessing and bene<ll tion, and thus were our purposes in ]if ,as one, and are yet undivided. PROUD MEMORIES.

Many wreaths were in evidence during the day. At the schools, in the morning, goodly numbers wore placed on the rolls of honour and later in the day were taken by members of the R.S.A. to the cemetery and placed on the soldiers’ graves there. The memorial in the Square, towards the end of the afternoon, had upwards of one hundred floral tributes around its base, including one from the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of Palmerston North, placed there in the morning by Mr A. J. Graham, acting as Deputy-Mayor. In tli'e evening there was a very large attendance at the combined service at All Saints’ held under the auspices of the Council of Christian Congregations.

‘lf example counts for anything, th in they were examples of high ,v< rth, models dignified to a degree ,v. rthy of emulation by us who follow. B< reft of any undue self-advertise-m nt, never mentioning once to us th sir round of harnesses, they quietly Ji 1 the things required of them unto nplainingly ; even their passing was ai the setting of the sun, unheralded in any manner, but demanded from tl: >m as the price of ardour and ideal. ‘And so to-day is one of sorrowful re ninder and, yet of proud memories. T ere comes -as a compensation to us tl i thought that their country has not ft gotten the sacrifice of lives so dear. Si tferers of all „ descriptions take a fi 'sh grip on life, proud of the lierita. e of glory that we mutually share. V hile we face the remembrance of unit Ifilled hopes, we brace ourselves to ti ;ad the lonely future, pausing a time m :anwhile to-day to open the sacred ci diet containing the sweet longmg ol 01 r lives. We are the stronger beci use we have built upon the sacred 10 lgings—the firm purpose of their 11 es. TO END WAR. ‘The shouting and the tumult 91 war have passed away, and we have arrived at that period when we ask on -selves the question: ‘What profit eth all this sacrifice?’ We fought (such was the catchword) that future war ivould be impossible—that this i. 914-1918 war ivould end forever all war. Vain delusion —non fulfilled hope—the bubble has burst —and we find human nature none the better and actually less beautiful than we had pictured it would be. We find toils./ that one’s hopes of purer nationalism have not materialised. Our secret aspirations for a cleaner community, expressive of genuine love to others, and with selflessness the predominant note, have not apparently been realised.

SERVICE AT SHOAVGROUNDS.

ADDRESS BY PADRE WALLS.

The service at the Showgrounds proved most impressive, and the address by Padre Walls was one that • will not readily fade from the memory. Numerous hymns were sung in keeping with the occasion, and, following the “Dead March” (Saul) played by the Municipal Baiid and the pronouncing of the Benediction by Major Walls, the sounding of the Last Post by Trumpeter Vincent concluded a memorable gathering. “Anzac Day under the Southern Cross,” stated Padre Walls, “is becoming increasingly impressive. The day is provocative of thoughtful expression and sympathy. The hearts of colonials beat in unison and swell with pride, because of a past glory that becomes intensified with the progress of time. The surge of national pride is an outcome of the opportunity afforded us for contemplating through many years the heroic deeds pf those in whom we were personally interested and those who represneted our Dominion; and ever wo recognise the ascendency of an inward personal approbation for their self-denial. “On further consideration, we find that this pride, of achievement is not localised, but, reviewing the facts and happenings of years ago, this Dominion unites with sister Dominions and States of the Empire in adding its meed of praise to those who sacrificed, and through whoso sacrifice liberty and freedom are enjoyed. “This day will also be the opportunity for a wave of sympathy to encircle the Empire because of the irreparable loss that has been the common lot. The dread happenings of eventful days have touched the nation’s soul, and we. allow ourselves to co-mingle in thoughtful respect of those wlio were, and still are, models of expressed bravery. Our presence here is only similar to that which one may find in many other towns and communities throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. This country, to-day, lives in the spirit of ‘ln Memoriam.’ Unnumbered pilgrimages have been made to thousands of shrines and memorials by mothers whose hearts still breathe love to those now only a memory. Fathers whose steps are not so buoyant as formerly, with frames rather more bent by time, and aged through the passing of the years, have paid their tribute in silent affection to those who were, hut are not. Brothers have been strangely moved to-day, while sisters have sat silently reviewing the years that have so swiftly passed ■ and which, in the interim, have denied them the pleasure and circumstance of association and communion. Friends have bestowed upon the warm favourites of former days more than a passing thought; there has been a lingering of the memory upon scenes of beauty and matters • of interest in which ‘lie’ figured and ‘we’ for a few moments have lived. THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE. “Nearly 13 years have not denied that mental picture which has become strangely interwoven with our memory until it is now firmly set within us and forms a part of ourselves. _ The scene that slowly unfolds itself is the now long ago of budding manhood, wonderfully active and full of promise. Around our menfolk we allowed pleasing fancies to play, and caused to run riot our dream pictures of future days. We appreciated the approach of their manly step, for it spoke of vigorous maphood, and one’s blood ran warm in appreciation of what that manhood re-

"But, then, are we wishing to create out of a broken world a peace that the world is not yet ready to receive or appreciate? .Remember the Creator of al does not work hurriedly. His plan :s to unfold. In the ‘Hiding of His Power’ is His charm and peace, while tranquillity will assuredly follow the no ul, community, or nation that emor ices Him.

‘That nations are alive to iinjust n positions upon lesser powers is be:o ning increasingly evident. There i] pears to be anxiety each year to in ke full redress, which savours of a di .ire to see the brotherhood of man in re .firmly established universally. T e well-tended graveyards on Gallipi li, Europe and England speak eloqi ently of the hideousness and futility oi war as a final cause to settle disa( reements of the Powers. ‘Present happenings are not always d< finable. We cannot place in correct s< [uence or order present day movein uits. It is for the historian to revi sw, and tabulate, for we are perhaps U > close to the big things to determne accurately the sum total of all hi ppenings. But even as God moved u on the face of the waters in Creati m’s Days, producing concord, so m ist we accept that He is working an h; rmonious whole out of the segments oi a divided world.

H \ND OF SILENT FRIENDSHIP. “We claim that the Dominions’ g; ief is unquestionable. There is ai lple evidence that the present genei ition esteems very highly the sacrifij eof its fellows. From the Bluff to N irth Cape, and from west to east, ni ty be seen crosses of rememberance, b onzes, slabs, piles of masonry, or ci urts of mourning, bearing upon tl em the names'of those who figured a national heroes. The lie direct is g cen to the suggestion that we lack ii appreciation of those who spent all a d gave all. But crosses, bronzes a d slabs are cold in comparison to t’ e human touch, and this is the day fir you to extend the hand of silent fi llowship to the lonely, the suffering, aid the sorrowful. It is the human t. uch that makes life bearable, the h iman expression which endears true Si uls one to the other, and this is just t e time, the occasion, the moment, f r our highest inmost prompting to b i expressed in Christian-like action.

MEANING DE ANZAC.

“ ‘What does Anzac Day mean to you?’ I have asked half a dozen people recently. ‘Sacred memories,’ was the first answer; ‘commemoration of a supreme sacrifice ’ stated a second. ‘lt means to me/ ieplied a third person, ‘a deep senso of esteem for those who died for us, a profound feeling of inexpressible gratitude for sacrifice.’ A fourth query received the reply that it was a day of reverence —to others there will be the sentimental memory devoid of personal feelings. ‘Anzac Day,’ states another, ‘is to me a prayer.’ Yet another states: ‘lt is the spirit of Calvary.’ Now if Anzac Day is to speak to us in the future, if there is the suggestion that there will lapse into non-observance this day of rememberance, after those who have suffered personal loss through war’s imperious ravages have also passed, which is not denied, if we are only commemorating losses and not gains, one cannot hold out hope that Anzac Day will maintain that degree of willing observance so far accorded it in New Zealand. I claim that, set against the losses, there are gains or assets that have enriched our Dominion and vVill continue to do so. AN UNBROKEN SPIRIT.

“Already there is a deep-rooted veneration in the hearts of those who recognise the abundance of sacrifice made during the world war, and this spirit of veneration must be instilled into the generations immediately following and also those to come. And while so much has been said and written about sacrifice, there is one exquisite pearl that we must gaze upon for a few brief moments —that of an unbroken spirit. No matter what pain, inconvenience, suffering, even the hellish conditions that at times confronted our men, that intangible something we call spirit was ever outstanding. Above the loss that we have sustained, and far removed as we are from the days of battle and reek of bloodshed, we see in the setting of such surroundings this orb of- brilliant expression. Therefore, to-day is just such an occasion when one should enrich oneself by contemplation, desire and acquisition of that calm spirit of Anzac, which, despite passing vicissitudes, was super-abundant in optimism and redolent of Christian fortitude. THE TOLL EXACTED. “The increasing number of memorials will ever remain a constant reminder to future New Zealanders of tire toll exacted—a price •paid by their forefathers. The toll that humanity pays for colonisation, progress and liberty must ever be impressed and reiterated continually, so that against the sum total of losses may be’ placed certain of the gains. Yet another distinct gain is that tradition will be greatly enriched through events and circumstances that we commemorate to-day. “Our prayer to-day has been for those in retreat. What a sad and sorry spectacle are those who, through mental trouble, are forced away from the usual avocations of lifo and ways and means to employ themselves and interest others. This class of war veteran is particularly clamcirous of our sympathy. Their loss is incalculable. Of those men, it may well be said, ‘They have no memorial.’ This audience must face facts anc. face its own individual share of responsibility —not to make Anzac Day ore of remembrance only, but a day of mental resolve to find a means to effectively interest ourselves in either patients or dependants.” ■

“THE UNDYING MEMORY.” SERVICE AT ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH. In the evening, ;it 6.30 o'clock, a united Anzac commemoration service, convened by the Council of Christian Congregations, was lie Id in All Saints’ Church. There was a large attetndance and the service impressed by its simplicity and sincerity. The opening hymn, “O God our Help in Ages Past,” was followed by the Litany of Commemoration and the Lord’s Prayer, Kipling’s “llccessior al,” and the hymns, “Lead Kingly Light” and “For all Saints.”- The Scripture reading, Ecclesiastes 44, verses I to 15, was given by the Rev. J. C. Abbott: Rev. H. T. Peat led in the prayer of thanksgiving, and the blessing was pronounced by Rev. Canon Fancourt. All Saints’ choir was most effective in Hridge’s beautiful ar them, “He Giveth His beloved Sleep,’,’ and following these was the impressive playing by Mr J. H. Runnicles of the “Dead March” (Saul) and the National Anthem. The speaker was Captain, the Reverend J. Milburn Stewart. Rev. Stewart took for his text a verse from St. Mark’s gospel—- “ Throughout the whole world this which she has done shall be spoken of as a memorial to her.” “This was our Lord’s verdict on the Virgin Mary’s sacrificial deed,” stated Mr Stewart. “It is not, however, of Mary’s sacrificial deed that I wish to speak, but about the deeds those men who went forth and sacrificed themselves on the altar of freedom. If I searched the Scriptures I could not find a more appropriate text for such a service as this. For I seem to discover all sorts of analogies between what they did and what Mary did. It was sheer devotion to her Lord that Mary did her deed. Does the analogy break down here I do not think so.” Continuing, the speaker stated that our men felt that duty called them, and that they went out to maintain the cause of honour and justice and freedom because God willed it. Mary did her deed out of love to Christ; our men did their deed in obedience to God. “.Trace both deeds back to this source and they have a common root. They were both done in honour of the Divine. What these men did and dared, what they endured and achieved will form the theme of human speech, so long as the world lasts. It was a sound and true instinct that led ltudyard Kipling to choose as the inscription for the multitudinous graves of France —‘Their names shall live for evermore.’ So that without doing the slightest violence to the truth, 1 may take these words first spoken of Mary and apply them to those men of ours and say: ‘Throughout the whole world this also which these men of ours have done shall be spoken of as a memorial to them.’ “And now,” continued Mr Stewart, “I want to pay my simple tribute to all the men who went out on land and sea, and also to the women who so nobly served in the Nursing Division, and all who made the supreme sacri. fice, but at the same time remember ing those who served and had the good furtune to return. 1 know that the very thought of them brings us all peculiarly near the fountain of tears. But I do not wish you to weep over them, but rather to exalt and triumph at the remembrance of them; and what can one desire for one’s best beloved more than that.

“Come my brethren and though our eves be misty and the sob be m our throats, let us praise God. Lot us first of all praise God for what our soldiers were before the war. They were our

best. I know all about the tendency to idealise our dead. I know how, looking back through the haze of memory, the virtue of our dead stands out and glistens like mountain peaks in the sunrise, while faults and failings all lie hidden in shadow. We have a conspicuous and striking example of our human tendency to idealise the dead in David’s great elegy on the death of Saul and Jonathan. There were ugly things in the life of Saul. David himself had suffered at his hand. Yet when he was dead all those ugly things were forgotten and he, seeing as we might do in the case of our dead, said: ‘Lovely and pleasant were they in their lives. They served their generation by the will of God, although to some their life day was short.’ ” They gave up prospects and careers that they might go to war, continued Mr Stewart.. When tho call came those light-hearted, irresponsible, frivolous lads of ours soon shewed us that heroism and idealism ware not dead. In the great hour they declared by their actions, which spoke louder than words, that comfort, home, ay, even life itself, were as mere dross in the balance compared with honour, freedom and truth. “Those men of ours, the living and the dead, went forth to dare to suffer for justice, liherty and duty, and they have re-preached to us again the old lesson that the soul i 3 of more value than tho world,” added the speaker. “It was not simply nations that were in conflict during the great struggle of 1914-1918. Great spiritual ideals were also in conflict. Freedom was once again at grips with falsehood, and the spiritual was at death grapple with the material. And those men, our own sons, friends and comrades after four years of tremendous fighting nt last beat down the military, strength of Germany and thereby secured a just world for ourselves and our allies. They secured for us our enjoyment of freedom. But our British freedom has cost us agony, .blood and tears. Our British civilisation —everything about us—lias been purchased with a great price. Our Empire, our religion, our liberty—nothing has come to us without cost.”

In purpose and in spirit everyone of them, the living and tho dead, made that sacrifice, Mr Stewart went on to state. They knew what thy would have to face, when they got to the trenches; there was the lurking fear that they might never come back. But they went prepared to take the risks of wounds and of death. All with the same object in view—to redeem and uplift the world. Those sacrifices were in a very real and deep sense the continuation of the sacrifice of Christ. The men whose loss we mourned and to whom on this Anzac Day we paid tribute were paying the part of the world’s redemption; making up that which was lacking in the afflictions of Christ. There was no easier way. for God. There was no easier way for us. “But,” stated the speaker, “God thought it worth while to give His Son, and the blessing which I hope will come to the world some day, will make us feel that it was worth while to give ours. AVe call the land in which Christ lived and died for our salvation the Holy Land. We have other holy lands to-day. The fields of France; the heights of Gallipoli; tho sandy plains of Mesopotamia; the mountain regions of Italy and Palestine. Some day we may journey to those sacred shrines — not to weep over them, but to glory in them and to praise God, for what the men whose names they bear once did for the Empire and for the world. “Those boys of ours being dead yet speak. They summon us to cast our dreams of case away and to take up and complete the tasks to which they gave their lives. They died for the Empire; they died for the peace of the world. And the best that we can;honour them is by helping to mak£ our Dominion, as portion of the Empire, worthy of their sacrifices by helping to create a peace-loving world. It is our duty to begin where they left off, to ask for their courage and skill that we may serve the same Lord to labour for tho same great and holy ends. Then may we hope, as we in our turn pass over, that all the trumpets may sound for us on the other side.”

IN. THE SCHOOLS. IMPRESSIVE ADDRESSES. CENTRAL SCHOOL CELEBRATION. At Central School there was a very large attendance of pupils, parents and well-wishers, the assembly hall being packed. Mr L. F. de Berry, the headmaster, was in the chair. The proceedings commenced with the National Anthem and Kipling’s “Children’s Song,” following which Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the local branch, of the Retunred Soldiers’ Association,. addressed the gathering. Very few of the children present, stated Mr Jacobs, had any recollection of the close of the war; the majority, of them had not been born when it commenced. Fifty per cent., however, were the sons and daughters of the men who had fought. New Zealand had lost an average of 50 men a day, and April 25 had been chosen to hold sacred their memory because on that day the Dominion had really first become a party to the huge toll of life. On that day one of the school’s best masters (referring to Lieutenant Gray) had landed on the shores of Gallipoli and three weeks later had laid down his life. On that day also a past chairman of the school committee, Captain Harry Palmer, had landed on the peninsula. New Zealand had made an heroic sacrifice, and it depended on the boys and girls of today as to whether that great loss of life had been really worth while. Those who had died had shown a lesson of unselfishness, of true fearlessness and readiness to sacrifice their lives for the sake of others. “Remember,” Mr Jacobs concluded, “the sacrifice you are paying tribute to to-day is the same as that upon which your religion is founded. There is only one wgy in which you can make good those sacrifices—that is to carry out the pledges in the hymn you have just sung.” Representatives of the various classes then placed wreaths on the school roll s> f honour, and, following a prayer by Rev. Peat and a Scriptural reading by Mr H. F. Gabites, the school’s first assistant, the former addressed the gathering. * It had been on April 25, stated Mr Peat, that the New Zealanders had received their fateful bnptism of fire, and now that dny was kept sacred in memory of those splendid men and women who had laid down their lives for freedom and honour. ‘*We believe,” the speaker proceeded, “that Anzac Day will stand for generations in the hearts of the people. The wonder of that sacrifice must not be dimmed. Those men and women whoso memories we honour to-day, went forth as the knights of old—-to protect their homes and loved ones, for honour and liberty and for all those things men and women hold precious. They sacrificed their lives lest civilisation should perish from the earth. With their dving hands they handed tho torch on to us—to you and to me —and it is our privilege—ours is the task—to take up that torch and still hold it high. It is the torch of honour of freedom and of all the noblest things in life, for which our fellow men and women died. From Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, from Egypt and Palestine,

from He dum and France and from all the baff afields of the war there comes to us to lay a mute appeal—an appeal from th. se who, nobly striving, nobly fell. It vas for us they died.” With t lat appeal, proceeded Mr Peat, there w s an accompanying note of commam —that those iyho followed dedicate the r lives to those high ideals. “Boys i ad girls,” the speaker went on, “wt would have you remember that you • schooldays are the great advantage time of your life. At school you are prepared for the career that lies alier 1, and when you go out into the wcrl l wo want you to play your part. Lfe is a great adventure. Wo want yc i to play the game and do your ut aost; to do that you must learn to live nobly. All those things that ar mean and unworthy must have no place in your life. In your school r sver cheat, don’t copy, and never dc ;cend to the meanness of telling a lie in order that you may escape some pu lishment. If you tell a lie or do that which is mean or unworthy, your lif< will be partly spoiled, and, if you ontinue to do those things your lift will be a failure. Always let it b said of you boys and girls of Centi il School that you are trying to do y< ur part in life; we want you to be pr >ud of your school and always to upho 1 its honour.” The I oxology and the Benediction brought the proceedings to a close. TERRACE END.

At th( Terrace End Scliodl a largo number if pupils and parents assembled o pay a tribute to the glorious deat . The proceedings were commenced vith a prayer for the fallen offered 1 y Rev. J. H. Bredin. Ihe headmas er, Mr A. W. Thompson, then introduci I Mr W. B. Cameron, chairman of ;li© school committee, asking him to explain to th© childr©n th© meaning of Anzac. “I no ice that tho children are grouped in the words A.N.Z.A.C.,’ stated tl a speaker, “and it is indeed a wondei Ail thought.” Continuing, Mr Cameron explained that it was the twelfth : nniversary of the landing of the first troops from the Australian and Nev Zealand Army,. Corps upon th© ehor< 3 of th© Gallipoli Peninsula. The mov ment took place under trying condition . and our troops were met with dei Uy fire from the enemy. Against ;he Turkish forces the New Zealande s had held a stretch of beach by entre clung themselves, and the attack w; s continued until further reinforce nents arrived to assist the Anzacs <. uring tire four months siege. Thus hat the Dominion’s troops made a name* vhich would remain evergreen. hi >t onlv had th© Anzacs done their du ,y weil, hut the bravory of New Zei landers had been shown in the othei theatres of war. It was to remembe these glorious men that a name wf i sought-, and from tho title “Austral an and New Zealand Army Corps” ;hey were designated the Anzacs— he first letter of each word being af lised for the origination of that saci 2d word. “Then why do we hold Anzac Day as one o sacred remembrance?” said the spua cer. “Because of those men who foug it to prevent the enemy from invadirg our beautiful country and because ib s a day for prayer and sympathy fc * those who have lost loved ones and are feeling the losses occasioned throu ;h the Great War.” Throng lout the country cenotaphs had beei erected in memory of the soldiers - hose bodies lie elsewhere. It was fittii g then that they should hold a service at Terrace End School, for the IIOU6 holders had erected a beautiful menu rial gate and swimming baths where th scholars might gather to remember die day. In conclusion, Mr Cameron remarked that if there were a lesson to be learnt that came from the soldi rs it was service. The pupils in their nvn way could follow the example se and the older ones would do likewise. The speaker urged upon his listeners to help all returned soldiers and to a sist the country by taking no heed of ,he Communistic propaganda which wi 5 being circulated throughout the worl . , „ , . Prior 0 tho secretary of the school committc i, Rev. Mr Bredin, addressing tho -ssemblage, thro scholars sang the “Ne Zealand Anthem,” and a passage rom the Scriptures was read appropri te to the occasion. “We a e not hero to-day to mourn, comment d Mr Bredin. “If you were you wen d not be worthy, of those heroic in sn wlio liavo laid down their lives. It s a day of remembrance and we stand with bowed heads at the side of that i reat grave where 17,000 men the flo : er of New Zealand manhoodlie burit d.” Remembering this example, t ere would come a vision of a greater nd a more righteous world. The spei ter concluded liis remarks by advising the children to take home with the a thoughts of loyalty, service and sacr ace. Mastei Guthrie Milson, head prefect, tin n read the names from the school rll of honour and Master Bonnie 1 dwards recited “To tho I) alien.” lext the senior prefects collected tl 3 wreaths and floral emblems, placing hem nt the foot of the • memorial £ ite, while the children sang “Land < f Hope and Glory” .and the National Anthem. The “Last Post” W as tin a sounded by Bugler A. Craven, die flag being flown at halfmast while the assembly paid silent tribute. To conclude the service the children were marched through the memoria gates, each pupil bowing lus or her h ad as an individual token of sacred r< membrance.

WEST END SCHOOL. 4 ven impressive memorial service was huf< in the West End School, Canon V . Fancourt officiating. Many beautiful wreaths were brought by the children nd were laid with the Union Jack on . table at one end of the hall. After he children had saluted the flag the hymn, “0 God our Help in Age’s Pa; t,” was sung by the gathering. Ci.non .Fancourt then offered up a prayer for the souls of those who had made the supreme sacrifice for country and honour and following this Kipling’s “I ecessional” was sung by the children. • ~ _. Addrnsing the gathering Canon Fancourt told how when he was at school, and even when he was a young man’ the thought of another European conflict, like the Napoleonic wars, was regarde I as absurd. They all knew then, lie said, of that strange wild man, the Emperor of Germany, who did ’strut ge wild things, but no one suspected that even he could overcome the sanit of the 20th century. Even when the great European turmoil commenced ro cue thought that Britain would he dragged in. But, when there came the violation of Belgium’s neutrality there was but one honourable course for Britain to take and she had taken io. The speaker then touched briefly on the splendid way in which men from all parts of the Empire had flocked to the flag, but nowhere more willinglv than in New Zealand. He dwelt at some length upon the awful conditio is that these colonial recruits encountered in their first taste of fighting and the seeming impossibility of effecting a landing on the rugged shores of Gallipoli. He recounted the story of Brigadier-General Freyberg’s gallant t wim as an instance of the spirit whi h actuated our men.

In conclusion,. Canon Fanoourt pointed out what a great debt the congregation owed those gallant Anzacs who had died that others might live in peace, and he stressed the horrors German militaristic rule would have entailed. ' The senior pupils of the school recited Rupert Brooke’s great poem, “Blow out Your Bugles,” after which the solemn evening hymn, “Abide With Me,” was sung. The service closed with the Benediction and the singing of the National Anthem. COLLEGE STREET. Most of the school children and a large number of adults • attended the service at College Street School. Mr W. A. Swinbourn, headmaster, presided, and in his opening remarks stated that the ceremony was held to refresh the memories of those who were privileged to remain in the enjoyment of the freedom that had been safeguarded for them by the Anzacs. “With the pasing years we must not allow the feeling of sadness to dominate us,” added Mr Swinbourn, “but rather' take pride in did in that great fight for freedom and righteousness.” He stressed to the children the fact that they had a duty to perform in remembering all they owed to those who had made the supreme sacrifice, and added that such a duty was best performed by the moulding of a character as would be in keeping with such a sacrifice. Padre Walls, of the Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F., addressed the gathering, his theme being “History is written with the pen of sacrifice.” He asked all present to remember what a sacrifice these heroes had made, and in an interesting and instructive discourse. detailed the early events of the war. and the motives that had stirred Britain into taking part in such a world-wide conflict. “You have on your walls,” continued the Padre, “an old, frayed flag, yet many have died for it.” Padre Walls also mentioned the fact' that New Zealand’s sacrifice in the Great War was, in comparison with the population, greatest than that of any other country. In conclusion he stated that it was only fitting that we should revive and cherish the memory of our glorious dead by keeping one day of the year holy. During the proceedings those present joined in the singing of the National Anthem and the “Recessional (Kipling). * ■ ■ '' Many beautiful, wreaths were placed by the children on the memorial tablet, and one minute’s silence was observed. • The procedinegs were brought to a close by the singing of the Doxology. AT HOKOWHITU. i • . • ■ _/ Fitting observance of Anzac Day was made at the Hokowhitu School when a large company of pupus, parents and friends attended the service held in the interior of the .building. Proceedings opened ' with the singing of the hymn “0 God Our Help in Ages Past,” following which Rev. Parsons delivered a prayer. SOLDIER ON GALLIPOLI.

Mr J. Harvey, who served on the Peninsula as a member of the Australian Light Hqrse, in addressing the gathering, conveyed to his hearers a picture, of the life of a soldier on Anzac at the period following the landing, and which was entered upon by a transport stealing its way shorewards under shrapnel .fire. Then began stern reality in the climbing of the precipitous slopes, the soldiers being laden with their 601 b. packs, rifle and equipment containing 120 rounds of ammunition. Quinn’s _ Post bad been their objective —a point at which many of the finest deeds which stand to the credit of the Anzacs were performed. The scene was then changed to the attack of August 4, 1915, when the khaki garbed inhabitants of Quinn’s Post, Walker’s Ridge and the Catacombs went, forward with but the bare bayonet in what unhappily Eived to be an unsuccessful attack. e speaker described the underground trenches of the Catacombs which were connected with the outer world by 12 foot holes to the fire step, the living conditions being likened to rabbits in their burrows. The arrival of Lord Kitchener had, the speaker explained, proved a momentous occasion, for it had been the forerunner of the evacuation, a masterly retirement in which thousands had been taken off Gallipoli without loss on a dark night. While the life on the Peninsula had been a great adventure, the base hospital at Lemnos had furnished in its suffering humanity a pitiful side, of warfare, but it had aH taught the spirit of brotherhood and what was right and what I was wrong. War was not a matter of merely armed invasion, but could be traced back to school life and the resistance against discipline in the home, in the school and on the playing fields wherein wounds could be inflicted just as much as on the field of j bs.ttle. War was not right, but its j remedy jay in the hands of the chil- [ cl:er. of to-day. When the day of universal peace arrived then one could turn towards these white crosses on j Anzac and say “Anzacs, the job you [began is complete.” SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE.

Rev. Mr Parsons also addressed the children; conveying several little incidents of the sacrifice entailed by those men who had answered the call in order that those they loved might retain their freedom. The speaker related a story of a soldier of Bethnal Green, London, whb after 15 months’ service at the f ront had foregone his own leave in order that a comrade might get home to see his little daughter who was lying seriously ill—a sacrifice which had entailed the giving of his own life for, immediately following the receipt of the letter announcing his decision at his home m London had- come the official telegram from the War Office announcing his death in aotion. Such a spirit of service for others, concluded the speaker, was possible to one and all in their ordinary walks of lifd. The rendering of the recitation “For the Fallen,” the singing of ,the hymn, “God of Our Fathers,” the National Anthem, and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought a short but particularly fitting service to a close. SACRED CONCERT. There was not a vacant seat at the Opera House last' evening when the R.S.A. sacred concert, organised with the idea of raising funds for the care of soldiers’ graves and for ex-service men in necessitous circumstances, was held. The programme was as follows: —National Anthem (Elgar), Miss N. Whalley and clroir“Where’er You Walk” (Handel), Mr A. Coe, Wellington; “The Joyous Wayfarer” (Mendelssohn), the Aeolian Quartet Party (from tile Wellington Commercial

Travellers’ Club); “Requiem,” “The Birth of Morn/’ Miss N. McHardy; duet, “Watchman, What of the Night,” Messrs Mayell and Church; “The Trumpeter,” Mr W. i Church, Wellington; “Every Rustling Tree (Kuhler), Aeolian Quartet Party; “Slave Song” (del Riego), Miss N. Whalley; flute bolo, “Nocturne (Harmiston), Mr C. G. Swallow; Angels Guard Thee” (Godard), “Crossing the Bar,” Aeolian Quartet. Mrs J. K~ Paton was the accompaniste. Every item was encored and the whole entertainment was very pleasing. Towards the conclusion of the programme Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, thanked the Palmerston North publio for their whole-hearted support, stating that it was very encouraging to know that the association had nevej asked in vain for assistance for the many phases of its work. But last year the association had spent over £4OO on unemployment relief, and it was possible • that this _ sum would have to be spent again this year. It was a big amount, but the public had been generous. The collection at the Anzac service, stated Mr Jacobe^mounted to £35 6s Id, while -that at the sacred concert was £43, ,find a little over £203 had been raised on Poppy Day. Mr Jacobs concluded by thanking all who had assisted the association oyer the week-end, especially mentioning the Te Awe Awe Boy Scouts for their care of the soldiers’ graves, Miss Naomi Whalley, who was always proud and pleased to help the soldiers; Miss Nita McHardy, the daughter of the “father of the soldiers of Palmerston North”; the commercial travellers of Wellington, Mrs Paton, Father MacManus and Messrs Harrison and Swallow."'

IN THE COUNTRY. kopanFschool. 1 There was a short service at the Kopane School yesterday morning, when the scholars were addressed by the chairman and secretary of the 6chool committee. Each pupil brought a flower, and a wreath which was made was sent to Feilding for the memorial service there. Hymns and prayers appropriate to the occasion were sung and recited. CELEBRATION AT SHANNON. (From Our Own Correspondent.] SHANNON, April 26. The Anzac Day memorial service was held at the cenotaph yesterday morning. There was a large gathering of citizens, the Levin Band being in attendance. The hymns, “0 God Our Help in Ages Past,” “The Nameless Graves,” and “God of Our Fathers,” wore sung. Revs. Famell and Williamson conducted the service.

Rev. Mr Williamson, in his address, said: This day has been set aside to commemorate the heuoio landing Gallipoli of the first troops from Australia and New Zealand. The word Anzac is a composite word meaning Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The word shall ever be held sacred in our history and by the youth of our Dominion, telling of the priceless heritage won by them. They went with songs to battle, they were young, straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow; they were staunch to the end against odds uncounted. They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun in the morning we shall remember then,. They were the finest body of young men ever brought together in modem times. For physical beauty and nobility of bearing they surpassed any man I have ever seen. They walked and looked like kings. No event so great in sacrifice in our national life could pass without leaving its indelible mark upon tbe mind of the people, nor without teaching and impressing upon our generation some valuable lessonß. One such is devotion to duty. Where duty calls or danger be, let us never be wanting. Tbe call may not be to the field of battle—let us hope and pray that it may not be—but in the ordinary walks of life. 1

Mr Williamson also dealt with the spirit of brotherhood and unity of the human race, quoting a verse from the Acts of the Apostles—“ And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” After the address wreaths and flowers were laid on the cenotaph and the National Anthem sung and the Last Post sounded.

ASHHURST SERVICE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ASHHURST, April 26. A large gathering of residents of the township and district assembled at the school gfounds yesterday morning to join in the combined Anzac Day service. The impressive service, which opened with the singing of the National Anthem, was conducted by Rev. F. R. Kempthorne, and in an inspiring and stirring address Rev. F. J. Parker dwelt on the glorious traditions handed down by those never to be forgotten heroes of Gallipoli. “Ours is the task to gra6p the torch, the torch of honour, peace and liberty, hanled on by them, and wave it high so that those glorious dead died not in vain,” said the speaker. The service was brought to a close by the singing of “0, God, Our Help in Ages Past” and the pronouncing of the Benediction. SERVICES IN OTHER PLACES. Special Anzac Day services were held throughout the Dominion yesterday and were largely attended. At the Town Hall in Auckland, where the main service was held in the morning, thousands who were unable to gain admittance were enabled to hear the proceedings by means of a loud speaker outside the hall. At the service at the barracks in Christchurch the address was delivered by the Prime Minister. “All that waa hoped for was not accomplished, but all that brave men and stout hearts could do was done,” said Mr Coates. “There is inspiration to be drawn from the self-sacrifice and heroism of the men who so nobly embarked on that glorious defence of Empire, which will go down as an epic in military history.” The whole fabric of the world had been shaken, but now'that the Empire was recovering from the terrible sacrifice and strain and toll of conflict, he would ask all to do their utmost in this time of economic difficulty to show a brave face and keep a stout heart. If they did they would pull through. “Unity is strength,” said Mr Coates. “The future holds good trings for us, and I have complete confidence in the pluck and determination of the people of New Zealand.” Mr Coates spoke of his visit to the battlefields of France and Flanders and of the splendid work being done by the Imperial War Graves Commission.