THE PEACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10331, 14 July 1919, Page 3

THE PEACE

CHILDREN’S THANKSGIVING

SERVICE. - The Town Hall was again crowded to the doors yesterday afternoon, when a Peace thanksgiving service for children was held, especially for tho benefit of tho Boy Scouts of Wellington. Scouts assembled in their different companies, and marched to tho Town Hall, each headed by its flag, and led by tho Scout band. In tho hall tho downstairs seats were reserved for the boys and other school children, several schools being represented, and the public were accommodated in tho gallery. Tho Rev. S. Robertson-Orr presided, and on the platform also wore the Mayor and Mayoress, General and Miss Robin, Colonel Campbell, Captain Printer, Rev. A. E. Hunt, and the various scoutmasters. Mr Parker presided at the organ. The service opened with the hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” followed by the reading of the lesson by District Commander W. Mason. After Scoutmaster N. Cowio had led tho assembly in prayer, an address was delivered by Scoutmaster the Rov. G. W. Dent. Ho spoko chiefly to the Boy Scouts, telling them that tho Son of God came into tho world to minister to men and to give His life, not to bo ministered to. This was the ideal ot tho Boy Scout. Now that wo were relieved from tho rule of force, we were threatened with another evil, that of public opinion. Germany had built up a bad public opinion, and tho war was tho consequence. Vve had to seo that a good public opinion waa built up, and the best way to do this was to help tho Soout movement, for tho ideals of tho Sc/atworo honour, truthfulness, and service. The speaker stressed tho point that all were servants, and must become efficient servants in thoir different capacities. Be exhorted all Scouts to work for others, to spend their Jives in service, even if it meant laying down their lives for their felldwmon. This was the Scouts’ ideal. All thanked God for the great victory, and the host way to express thanks was in efficient service to God and humanity. The Rev. A. E. Hunt also addressed tho gathering as one of tho citizens of the present and tho citizens of the future. This was a thanksgiving service, and they thanked God, not only for victory, but for tho men wife made that victory possible, and for the parents, wives, sweethearts, and- sisters of thoso men. This victory was not a victory for the British Army, or for the armies of tho Allies; it was a victory for international righteousness. We won not because of arms, but because our cause was right. Because wo shared God’s cause wo could sharo in tho glory of victory. The Scout motto was: “Bo Prepared,” and all should follow this motto.’ All were proud of the British flag, not only because it was “our” flag, but because of tho ideals it stood for—purity, honour, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. Ho begged the Scouts to bo true to these ideals. They wore all proud of the Empire they belonged to, and now they must make tho Empire proud of thorn. Two other hymns were sung, “Eight tho Good Fight” and “Thanksgiving,” and the chairman pronounced the Benediction. Tho service concluded with tho singing of tho Doxology and tho National Antbom.