THE IMPERIAL SPIRIT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 8

THE IMPERIAL SPIRIT

PRACTICALLY ILLUSTRATED BY SCHOLARS.' SCOTTISH FLAG UNFURLED AT ROSENEATH. A ceremony exemplifying the practical sentiment which binds the British Empire together took place at the Roseneath school on Saturday afternoon when there was unfurled the Royal standard of Scotland, which had been sent to the school by the scholars of the Rosneath school, near Glasgow, in return for a New Zealand flag which had been forwarded to them by the pupils of the Rosoneath school, Wellington, some months ago. This nag bad been unfurled by H.R.H. the Princess Louise, Duchess of ArgyllThe local ceremony was performed by their Excellencies Lord and Lady Liverpool, in the presence of about three or tour hundred pebple, and the scholars of the school. Among those on the dais were the Hon.. H. D. Bell (Minister of Internal Affairs, and acting-Min-ister of Education), the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes (Postmaster-General), Ma-jor-General Godley, the Mayor (Mr D. McLaren), and Mrs McLaren, Captain Hutton, A.D.C., and Messrs R. Lee (chairman of the Wellington Education Board), S. H. Jenkinson (chairman of Hie Roseneath school committee), R. Darroch (headmaster), and D. Robertson (chairman of the Clyde quay school committee). , • The Roseneath Boy Scouts formed a guard of honour. The following telegram, sent from Auckland by Mr Evelyn Wrench (organiser for the Overseas Club) and Alisa Winifred Wrench, was received by Mr Darroch: ‘“May your flag ever remind you of the glorious deeds of the Empire’s past and inspire yon to follow in the footsteps of those who, in living for others, are serving their country.” SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOURS. ■ Lord Liverpool said that in coming among them at the special request of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Argyll, he wished first to communicate the words of her letter: “The Rosneath school in Scotland, near Glasgow, sends this flag to Roseneath school, near Wellington, in New Zealand, with feelings of deep interest and friendship, rejoicing in their affection and loyalty for their King and the Old Country. We join with the Rosneath school in praying that - you may prosper, and for God’s blessing on you all. LOUISE ARGYLL.” “Both Lady Liverpool and myself are glad to perform this ceremony,” remarked his Excellency, “first, because we were anxious to carry out her Royal Highness’s wishes on the first available, oportumty, and secondly, because this ceremony is symbolical of the fee Eng that should, and does exist between the Mother Country and her children.” In the old days colours were always carried into battle—they were the rallying points and the emblems of a country’s honour. Did those present recollect with what veneration the Romans treated their eagles P The same spirit was displayed in Britan’s history from the earliest times. First, they found in feudal times the barons bringing their retainers for the King’s service, and mustering together and carrying their own pennons as rallying spots. Then as a new era evolved from feudal times the numbers of standards and colours were reduced as the army became the regular army, composed of permanent regiments of horse and foot, the colours of .the cavalry being called guidons, as distinctive to those of the infantry. Artillery, engineers, and rifle regiments dd not carry any flags, but carried their own battle honours on their accoutrements. Colours continued to be carried by British troops in European wars right down to the Crimea, but with the advent and conditions of modem weapons it became apparent that the colours could no longer be taken before the troops into battle, hut they remained to-day as the symbols of their country’s honour, and though no longer permitted to play their part in actual strife, they were still held in the deepest veneration as typical of all that was highest and .best in the annals of the British race. “The flag which her Royal Highness has asked us to present to yon today," continued his Excellency, “is the flag of a country that has sent many of her sons to fight the battles of the Empire. Whether exemplified in the charge of the Greys at Waterloo, or during the difficult days of the war in South Africa, the same undaunted valour has been the characteristic of her soldiers. On your part, keep and value the flag as a bond of union between the two Roseneaths, typical as it Is of a great united race.” Who could tell that those who sent them that flag from Scotland might not be their fel-low-subjects in some remote portion of the Empire, both of them proud to be doing something which would maintain unity and uprightness., thus enabling them to say when their time came to pass into the Great Unseen, “I have loved righteousness and hated iniquity” —righteousness, that they had worked well; iniquity, that they had abhorred everything which was not rght and fitting for the Empire to which they belonged. (Applause.) LOYALTY TO THE CROWN. “I hope that you children, who in time to come will be the rulers of this country, whether m the Parliament as members, or as voters, will remember this occasion,” said the Hon. H. D. Bell. He hoped they would bear like what their fathers had borne into this distant Dominion of the Empire, a spirit of devotion and loyalty to the Grown of England—that they, too, would remember the proud boast that the British hall in common with the Romans: “I am a citizen of the Empire.” (Hear, hear.) It was no small thing to have that boast, and it was no mean Empire of which they were citizens. Ho hoped that they would never surrender the great heritage and tradition which they possessed. Did they remember how the Scotch had always borne a love of their native land wherever they had gone ? The message from Rosneath, Scotland, was only one of the many records of the union between the Scotch branch of the British race abroad, wherever they had gone, and those at Home. As the scholars came to play their parts as men and women might they would ever feel happy in a united Empire and have the one flag flying above every part over which it flow to-day. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Lady Liverpool, amidst applause, then unfurled the flag, and a verse of the National Anthem was played by the City Band, which was under the baton of Lieutenant T. Herd. Mr R. Lee, on behalf of the Education Board, expressed pleasure at the manner in which the ceremony had been earned out. It was a great honour to the Roseneath school to have been paid a visit by their Excellencies. Moreover, in the ceremony they had had an object-lesson which was of value Imperially,

The Mayor said he rejoiced at being present at the gathering, and he trusted that it would be the forerunner of many others, which would again emphasise their close connection with the Motherland. He counselled the scholars to grow up with a high love for New Zealand, and to honour the flag which had been presented to them. Mr T. W. Ward (chairman of the Roseneath and Oriental Bay Ratepayers* Association) pointed out to the children that the flag from Rosneath was unsullied, and he trusted that they would keep it so by doing nothing which would bring disgrace on themselves, their school, or their nation. He advised the scholars as they grew up to take an interest in the civic and political life of the Dominion. Mr D. Robertson spoke on similar lines. During the afternoon Scottish songs were sung by the scholars, and a number of Highland dances were given.