Armistice Day Observance

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 267, 12 November 1945, Page 8

Armistice Day Observance

Special Armistice Day services were held yesterday in all Palmerston North churches in commemoration of the dead of the two world wars. The service at All Saints’ Church was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. A. E. *Mansford), City Councillors and their wives, Mr. B. J. Jacobs (Dominion president of the Returned Services Association), and members of the Palmerston North K.S.A., also representatives of the Services including patients from the hospital. Following the x.ational Anthem the two minutes silence was observed and thcro were prayers and hymns in remembrance of the dead in tnc two great wars, the service being conducted by the Rev. H. W. Monaghan. The lessons were read by Mr. G. M. Rennie (member of the executive of the Palmerston North ILS.A.) and the Mayor. Ia the course of u thought-provoking address Rev. Monaghan based his remarks on the text * *To what purpose is this waste” from the gospel according to St. Matthew 2G eii. a v. The vicar recalled the incident of the woman with the alabaster box of precious ointment which sho poured on the head of Jesus Christ, which had brought the question frpin the disciples. Jesus understood the simple faith aud deep devotion of the woman aud replied ‘ * Verily 1 say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world thero aha!' also this, that this woman hath done, bo told lor a memorial of her.” Wherever British people were meeting that clay in church, in houses, streets or open spaces, thoughts of remembrance would pass and the seen world and tho unseen would be linked in remembrance of those who had died in the great wars. That remembrance was a memorial for over. The lives of those young men had been poured forth like the precious ointment, and whether tho sacrifice were wasted was up to you and me. There was a great tendency today’ for men to do less work, that the 40-hour week would prevent unemployment. This was a fallacy for unemployment was not want of work, but want of wealth. The world was impoverished because so many had been removed from productive pursuits to destructive. And the position was only made worse by strikes aud go slow tactics. What was needed was more work and less pay and what was truo of the individual was true of governments. High taxation was a sign of an unhealthy body politic. To make certain the lives of our young men had not been wasted ail had a job to do. The message the 'iear left was that wo must not take things easily, but work harder and better only not for more money in order to see what purpose is this waste. Wreaths of remembrance were placed on the Soldiers’ Memorial, the Mayor placing one for the City Council and another for the Manawatu Patriotic Society, other tributes being from the Palmerston North Returned Services Association and the Imperial ExServicemen's Club.