FLAGS OF THE HOOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18706, 12 May 1924, Page 11

FLAGS OF THE HOOD.

SIGNIFICATION OF RANK. ~ VICE-REGAL SYMBOL. UNION JACK AND ■ WHITE ENSIGN. The flags flown by the incoming Hood aroused a good deal of interest; among the onlookers. From.the -foremast, floated the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir. Frederick ■; L. Field, ,i a square of white, bearing ,a ; red cross and one 'red ball. As the 'vessel came to her berth' she had under this flag the No. . 1 pennant, and for a while, a three-flag signal. From the main truck the breeze . expanded the GovernorGeneral's flag, • a Union Jack, a crown • in the centre. When, upon arrival at the wharf, Lord Jellicoe ; left the -Hood , to visit the Delhi, his flag was hauled down, and- as he boarded the light cruiser a similar vice-regal flag was broken out from the masthead of ' the latter ship, where it flew alongside the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Hubert G. Brand. This latter ' flag is similar in design to Vice-Admiral Field's, but bears two red balls. All the vessels came into port with the white ensign flying from the ensign staff aft. Yesterday, when thousands visited the Hood, she flew the Admiral's flag at the fore, with the Union Jack at the bows, and the white ensign aft. ■ •■'•'•'*•■; SAILORS ATTEND CHURCH. SPECIAL PARADE SERVICES. OFFICIAL : PARTY AT ST. MARY Special services were held yesterday at all the principal city churches, large contingents of officers and men being present from the squadron. , St. Mary's Cathedral Church, where the official service was held, was like a temple of youth. The nave was completely filled by the very young sailors and marines from the fleet, while the. side aisles and choir were largely filled with groups, of school boys and girls. The sailors joined whole-heartedly in the

hymns, and even without prayer books were ready with the responses and . psalms. - } The parade state numbered about 400, the i men arriving in special tramcars from the foot of Queen .Street., :,'.; ;•; The; official party included the GovernorGeneral, Lord Jellicoe, * Lady Jellicoe, the lions. Prudence and George Jellicoe, the Prime Minister, Mr. ' Massey, ViceAdmiral Sir Frederick Field, RearAdmiral Sir ; Hubert • Brand, | and \ officers,: the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, the Minister for Education, the ■■ Hon. C. J. Parr, and , the chairman of > the Harbour Board, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie. Bishop Averill delivered the sermon, . Canon Percival James conducting the service. Lord Jellicoe read the lesson. ■_"■■'• Bishop Averill took as his text, "What shall: it profit a man if he gain the whole world. and lose his own soul?" He asked his hearers to substitute "nation" for "man," and . went on to emphasise that progress should be measured in moral and spiritual qualities, not in terms of material gain. The word "progress" had been, and still was, a word to conjure with, but its interpretation in a material sense .had produced; a one-sided development. That was the real danger—leaving out the things of the spirit. A nation might progress on material lines and still be morally and spiritually bankrupt. That could not be an enduring condition, and Bishop Averill concluded that the surest rock' which to build a nation was character. Headed by. the Ponsonby Boys' Band, 250 officers and men attended solemn High Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the church being crowded. The cejobrant was Father Alink, '. while Bishop Cleary presided, assisted by two naval chaplains. The bishop's sermon was one of welcome to the fleet and acknowledgment of its services in war.. Addressing the sailors, he said: "As our protectors, we thank you. As guardians of peace, we salute and honour you. As our brothers in the faith, we give you a warm welcome to our beautiful land. May your stay with us give to each" of you a store of happy memories." Vespers were held in the evening, Father Martin, chaplain of the Adelaide, preaching. Parades , also took place at other rhurcheSj the principal being at St. Andrew's Presbyterian and Pitt Street Methodist churches. Fleet chaplains took the sermons last evening at St. Matthew's and St. Paul's Anglican churches.