DIVINE SERVICE

Northern Advocate, 26 December 1934, Page 5

DIVINE SERVICE

DUKE AT CATHEDRAL SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP. MARSDEN’S INFLUENCE. [Special to “Northern Advocate .”l AUCKLAND, This Day. , Prince Henry and Lord and Lady Bledisloe attended the morning service at St. Mary’s Cathedral yesterday. The Duke of Gloucester was welcomed at the gate by the Primate, Archbishop Averill. The edifice was crowded. Archbishop Averill who was the preacher, took the text Hebrews 1,1; “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past, under the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.” “One hundred and twenty-seven years ago today,” he said, “the Rev. Samuel Marsden, the ‘Apostle to New Zealand,’ preached his first sermon from the text: • “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,” and that event is generally accepted as the commencement of Christianity and civilisation in New Zealand. It must have been a strange scene when the intrepid European, true to the noblest traditions of his race, landed at the- little, bay of Oihi in the Bay of Islands, and preached to the then heathen and cannibal Maoris of New Zealand the glorious news that was to transform their life. It was the dawn of the dayspring for the native race, which now has become an integral part of the Empire and- has contributed to the comprehensiveness and catholicity of the Church of God. “Twenty years ago today I celebrated the Holy Communion at a temporary altar at the foot of the Marsden Cross, erected to commemmorate that event. There, under the canopy of heaven, Maori and Pakeha gathered like one Christian family, and knelt at a communion rail made of tree-fern trunks to partake of the Bread of Life. In the service I was assisted by ten Maori clergy, in addition to the Europeans. That indicated, surely, that Marsden’s work had brought forth good fruit. It was an example of all oneness in Christ which transcends all the limitations of race and colour.” The Only Solution. The Christmas message, the Archbishop continued, constituted the only real and permanent solution of world problems. It provided a method of unity, peace and concord in a distracted world. National and racial loyalties needed to be overshadowed by the supreme loyalty to the “message of peace to' men of good will.” The familiar Christmas greeting was surely more than the survival of an old custom. It was the sign Of the new spirit which Christmas brought of a new relation between man ' and man on earth.

“The various parts of our Empire are welded by an intangible bond, not of legal enactment, but of the stronger and more inspiring strands of love, sympathy and, good will which are associated with the presence of our beloved King,” said the Archbishop. “The hope of the world is a fuller realisation of the love and sympathy of the Father, the King of Kings, who sent His son that through Him men might have an authoritative answer to the question: ‘What is God like?’ The coming of the Child of Bethlehem has enabled men to say: ‘God is like Christ.’” The Archbishop ended by appealing for greater Christian witness, without which, he said, Christmas Day was robbed of its meaning. Loyalty implied responsibility. New Zealand had never turned a deaf ear toward her responsibilities to the Empire. In the same way, professions of Christianity without public witness of duty to God and one’s neighbour played into the hands of subversive forces which threatened the world with disintegration and chaos.

A REFRESHING DIP. CREST OF THE COMBERS. PICNIC AT PIHA. [Special to “Northern Advocate.”} AUCKLAND, This Day. Shortly after attending service > at St. Mary’s Cathedral yesterday, the Duke, acompanied by Lord and Lady Bledisloe, left Government House by motor for Piha, where he indulged in surfing. The route to the beach was by way of the Waitakore ranges, and and the bush surroundings on the road to Piha and at the beach evoked the hearty admiration of His Royal Highness. He expressed himself as delighted* with what appealed to him as some of the most beautiful scenery he had passed through in New Zealand.

The party arrived at Piha about 2 o’clock and drove down the valley, turning along,. Garden Road toward the north end of the beach. A delightful picnic place awaited the Duke when he stepped from his car. It was on public ground, but was quiet and secluded—a grove of pohutukawa trees with a stream nearby. Native bii’ds were everywhere. There the party enjoyed a picnic lunch. There was not a particularly good surf running, but the Prince appeared to enjoy himself tremendously. He remained in the water for about half an hour, frequently laughing and joking with other bathers as they sped forward on the crest of foaming combers.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE DINNER, TYPICAL CHRISTMAS MENU. OFFICIAL BANQUET ON MONDAY. t Special to “Northern Advocate”! AUCKLAND, This Day. Prince Henry enjoyed a typical Christmas dinner at Government House last night. The dinner party was purely of a private nature. An official dinner party was given in honour of His Royal Highness by the Governor-General, Lord Bledis-

loe, and Lady Bledisloe at Government House on Monday night. The guests included a number of leading citizens.

HUNDRED BLIND FOLK. MET AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. HANDSHAKE FOR EACH ONE. [Special to **Northern Advocate"! AUCKLAND, This Day. With smiling face and warm handshakes, His Highness met upwards of 100 blind men, women and children in the grounds of Government House shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday. When the Royal procession arrived from the Town Hall functions, cheered by hundreds along the route, the blind people, including representatives of blind soldiers throughout the Dominion were lined up on the lawns in front of Government House.

After His Excellency, the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, had expressed a few words to the blind, and after he had praised the work of tire New Zealand Institute for the Blind in lavish terms, His Royal Highness went down the line and shook hands with them all. The blind were next met by Her Excellency, Lady Bledisloe. The official party was received by Mr A. J. Hutchison, chairman of the New Zealand, Institute for the Blind, and Mrs Hutchison, Mr Clutha McKenzie, Director of the Institution, and Mrs McKenzie, Mr J. E. Broadfoot, secretary, and Mrs Broadfoot and Mr Donald McPhee, a blinded soldier and a member of the Board of Trustees.

BRIEF CALL. AT THE AUCKLAND CLUB. [Special to “Northern Advocate"] AUCKLAND, This Day. Though the Duke’s visit to the Auckland Club, which followed the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Monday was quite an informal one, the public assembled outside the club’s premises in Shortland Street to take another opportunity of seeing him, and he was cheered heartily when he arrived with some of the members of his staff.

His Highness was met at the entrance by the president, Mr Harry Gilfillan, and the vice-president, Mr F. C. Buddie, who were presented to him by the Hon. J. A. Young, the Government representative. There was a large attendance of members in the lounge to greet their guest, and on their behalf Mr Gilfillan made a short speech of welcome, and then proposed their visitor’s health. When this had been drunk the members sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” The Duke chatted to several of the members before leaving, amidst cheers.

WAYSIDE GREETINGS ALMOST CONTINUOUS BREAKFAST AT PANMURE

[Special to “Northern Advocate”} AUCKLAND, This Day. If the Duke of Gloucester looked through the windows of his carriage at the rear of the Royal train which brought him from’Rotorua to Auckland he must have been much impressed by the display of loyalty and good will that . his mere passing through created. All along the metal way representatives of the province’s rural community waved the Royal visitor a welcome, even though many of them obviously had no idea in which coach he was travelling. The Royal train left Rotorua shortly before 4 o’clock this morning, when the thermal township was asleep. At Putaruru when a grey dawn was breaking, several women were on the station to wave their greetings, their enthusiasm apparently in no way damped by the fact that the curtains of the Royal coach were closely drawn. With the coming of daylight proper, the Duke’s welcome along the railroad became almost continuous, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters combining to wave the Royal train through. Every level crossing had its little handful of people and many a paddock gate was overloaded with the weight of country school children who normally would hardly turn their, heads to see a train go by. One little wayside station was deserted except for a woman, who waved a white handkerchief when the engine sped past and kept fluttering it until the train had left her half a mile behind. Her humble display of loyalty was typical of the many given all along the route. In a dingy backyard of a tiny home, built almost under the shadow of the railway embankment, a faded and tattered Union Jack fluttered proudly from a clothesprop stuck up in the fowlyard, while the family, a man. his wife and daughter, waved from the backdoor. A little further an old farmer leading a bull calf by a short length of rope stopped to wave until a bound by the startled calf almost jerked him off his feet. At Frankton, where the Royal train stopped for water, there was quite a crowd at the station, and thence to Auckland the wayside parties became more numerous as the city was approached. The children of Auckland’s outer suburbs were in force, climbing fences, stations and overhead bridges. A stop of 20 minutes was made at Panmure, where His Royal Highness had breakfast. It was a few minutes before 10 o’clock, when the Royal train, consisting of ten carriages and a van. and driven by two engines, from the first of which fluttered two Union Jacks, emerged from the Orakei tunnel to cross Hobson Bay.

SIX THOUSAND CHILDREN GRAND RALLY IN DOMAIN TO-MORROW’S FUNCTION (.Special to "Northern Advocate ” 3 AUCKLAND, This Day. Despite the fact that all schools are closed for the holidays and many families are out of town, it is expected that over 6000 children will take part in the province’s juvenile welcome to the Duke at the Domain at 10.30 tomorrow morning. A large attendance of adults is also anticipated.

Country children from as far north as Helensville and as far south as Mercer will come to Auckland by train and will disembark at Newmarket. They will assemble at the Pomain at a point marked by a red and yellow flag, where children over seven not accompanied by adults are also invited to. rally. Children will be formed into pai'ties of 54 and led into position in front of the grandstand, where a hollow square will be formed. The carrying of school banners will assist those arranging the display. The Duke will leave Government House at 10.20 and will proceed to the Dominion via Princess Street, O’Rorke Street, Symons Street, Grafton Bridge, Park Road and Domain Drive. On his arrival at the Domain he will be met by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and conducted to the official platform in front of the grandstand. After the National Anthem has been played by the Municipal Band and the Union Jack broken out from the stand flag pole, a 15 minutes’ display will be given by 120 members of the Girls’ Athletic Association. His Royal Highness will then inspect the children, walking right round the ranks. On his return-to the official platform he will be invited by the Mayor briefly to address the gathering.

At the conclusion of the function the children, who will carry small flags, will give three cheers for the Prince at the call of .the Mayor. When the Prince is in his car ready to drive off, six bands will play the National Anthem. The children will keep their positions until dismissed by loud speakers.

Leaving the Domain by way of the Carlton Gore Road exit, the Duke will return to Government House via Grafton Bridge and Symons Street. In order that no congestion may take place, as was the case when the Duke and Duchess of York attended a similar function, no traffic, pedestrian or vehicular, will be allowed on Grafton Bridge until the Prince has passed. After the rally is over country children will have lunch in marquees in the Domain and in the afternoon will visit the Zoo as the guests of the Auckland <City Council. They' will entrain for their homeward journey at the Auckland station.

IMMEDIATE PROGRAMME To-night. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. —Ball, Government House. Thursday. 10.30 a.m— Children’s Rally, Domain. 2 to 3 p.m.—Alexandra Park, Trotting Club’s meeting. 3.45 p.m. to 5.15 p.m.—Garden party, Government House. 8 p.m.—Dinner, Northern Club. Friday. 2 p.m.—Leave by train for Hamilton.