THE KING'S PEOPLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 11

THE KING'S PEOPLE

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DEDICATION TO GOD ARCHBISHOP'S APPEAL "It is impossible for Christian people who realise that they are being consecrated in the person of the King to be satisfied with the outward show, the trappings and pageantry.which are necessary parts of the Coronation," said Archbishop Averill, preaching in St. Mary's Cathedral'last night in the course of a sen ice of prayer and dedication. The archbishop began his address by quoting the appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of last year: "Let not the King come alone to his hallowing. Tho august ceremony will be bereft of its full meaning, it will be a mere splendid spectacle, unless the nation, with and through its King, consecrates itself to the remembrance and service of God." It was the duty of Christians, he said, not only to pray for the King, but to face honestly their own attitude to the King of Kings and the kingshop of His Christ, and to dedicate themselves, in union with the King, to the service of the Most High. A Sacramental Rite In the words of the Bishop of Worcester, tho Coronation was not a mere public spectacle which concerned the King only, but one in which the whole j nation was concerned through the King | as its representative before God. The Coronation was a sacramental rite in which one man, standing before his people, consecrated himself to Christ as his Lord and Master. In older times it had been known as the "consecration service," and in substance it had remained the same for 1100 years. It was a religious, not a secular, ceremony. "If we aro concerned with the trappings alone," continued the archbishop, "the King, so far as we are concerned, will 'come alone to his hallowing,' and we shall miss 011 c of the great opportunities of our lives." Gall to Young People Personally, 110 was somewhat appalled at the extent to which the Coronation could be commercialised and its sacramental nature overlooked, said Archbishop Averill. He would appeal to all Christian people to put first things first and not allow its saeredness to bo overshadowed by the surroundings. They must do more than praise or flatter, criticise or blame; it was their duty to pray. An earthly king was human, and his life and ideals could not be separated from those of his people. The Throne would stand so long as its occupant lived and ruled in tho fear of God, and 110 longer. In conclusion, the archbishop made a special appeal to young people to dedicate themselves to the service of God in emulation of the young King and Queen' who would do so on Coronation Day. There was need to-day, ho said, for a more definite life of service and witness, and a call to the young to face the implications of the two great words, service and duty. PARADE CANCELLED DECISION AT MATAMATA [from our own correspondent] MATAMATA, Saturday Owing to the prevalence of infantile paralysis in the Matamata district, the parade and celebrations arranged for Coronation Day have been cancelled. The ball to be held on Tuesday night and the Boy Scouts' Association dinner on Wednesday will be held. WHANGAREI OBSERVANCE REQUEST FROM CHAMBER [from our own correspondent] WH'ANGAREI. Saturday The Citizens' Coronation Committee has approved a programme for the observance of the Coronation in Whangarei. On May 12 short addresses will be given from the steps of the Town Hall by the Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, and Messrs. J. G. Barclay, M.P., and J. A. S. Mackay, chairman of the Whangarei County Council. A guard will be mounted by cadets from the Whangarei High School. Returned soldiers will parade and march past. The Whangarei Chamber of Commerce last night decided to a>;k the general retailers of Whangarei to observe a close holiday on Coronation Day. This course will be adopted by all members of the chamber. SUGGESTIONS AT WHAKATANE LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] WHAKATANE. Saturday Apathy at Whakatane over the celebration 'of Coronation Day was reflected bv the very small attendance at a public meeting called to consider arrangements. Reference was made by several speakers to the lack of interest. Plans for a procession, sports meeting and decorations in the town were discussed, but the Mayor, Mr. Vi. Sullivan, said that since the day was not a statutory holiday there . might be difficulty in arranging functions of tins It was decided to support a suggestion for a fireworks display on the tar side of the Whakatane River, and also to organise a ceremony at the schools in the morning.