TO THOSE WHO FELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20236, 22 April 1929, Page 13

TO THOSE WHO FELL.

SERVICE IN GREAT WAR.

CHURCH TABLET UNVEILED.

PRESBYTERIANS AT EDENDALE,

A tablet in memory of the men of Edendalo who fell in the Great War was unveiled at the Edendale Presbyterian Church yesterday morning in the presence of a large congregation. A special service was held, addresses being given by Sir Harry Lauder, who was present with his niece, Miss G. Lauder, Mr. L. E. Rhodes, Mayor of Mount Albert, and the Rev. W. Gilmour, minister at the church. A former minister, the Rev. J. D. McKenzie, conducted the service.

Welcoming the visitors, Mr. Gilmour said Sir Harry had preached the message of good cheer throughout his life, and his philosophy was known the world over. Mr. Rhodes had always shown interest in the activities of the church. The minister also welcomed members of the Borough Council and the representative of the Returned Soldiers' Association. The tablet, which is a gift from the congregation, was unveiled by Mr. J. Carrie, an elder of the church, who has taken a keen interest in its erection.

Mr. Rhodes said the unveiling of such, a beautiful tablet was one of the ways in which appreciation could be shown of those who had fought and given their lives in the war.

"I am very pleased to bava the opportunity of paying my tribute to tha memory of New Zealand soldiers who fell in the Great War," said Sir Harry Lauder. "I saw thern at the front and I was with tbem man}' a time. A braver nation never buckled on tiio sword nor shouldered a rifle than New Zealand. The memory of the men will go down in history for ever. They laid down their lives not impulsively nor recklessly, but knew what they were doing."

The spirit of the men who had fallen was hovering round the congregation at the present time, said Sir Harry. He would never forget the war. At the time he had been bitter toward the foe, but now that feeling was changed. Ho desired nothing more than peace. "My message to you is a message of peace," said Mr. Giimuur, stating that he, too, wished never to see war again. Peace came to nations, as to people, through goodwill. The Church knew her duty—God had sent His Son into the world not to condemn it, but so that it might be saved. It was a well-known fact that, the nations were trying to bring about peace, but with little avail. People were conscious of a feeling of uneasiness at the present time. It had been discovered that war could never kill war and that neither science nor education could abolish it. The more highly educated a nation became 111 scientific research and development, the mora dangerous it became, unless brought under the sway of tiie spirit of God. All people were gratified to see that since the close of the Great War so many nations had signed peaca treaties. This showed there was a spirit of goodwill existing. Referring to statements made by Mi - . Lloyd George and the late Earl Haig that the Church should be the j primary agent in bringing about peace, j Air. Gilmour said some people had made i bold to say that the Church couid have i prevented the Great War. It fras true that the Church had given out no one decided voice to the world, but had j spoken in several voices. It would be a i glorious day when the whole Church i would sneak with one voice.