ROYAL JUBILEE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24569, 13 May 1935, Page 10

ROYAL JUBILEE

CHILDREN THRONG LONDON THEIR MAJESTIES DRIVE THROUGH CITY CHEERING CROWDS LINE ROUTE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May U. (Received May 12, at 7 p.m.) Seventy thousand children, labelled with their names and addresses and the time of their homeward trains, swarmed over London accompanied by 4000 teachers. They were marshalled at Green Park and St- James’s Park, which were reserved for a n.assed picnic later.

The girls and younger children filled the stands in the Mall, and the boys crowded the pavements to see their Majesties’ first jubilee drive through the city escorted by the Life Guards. The route of the procession was packed with cheering crowds. Their Majesties halted at the Marylebone Town Hall, receiving the mayors and mayoresses of the northern councils. When a banner was unfurled from a nearby scaffolding bearing the inscription “ Twenty-five years of war and unemployment ” workmen immediately tore it down.

THE KING’S SONS LEADING CENTRES VISITED LONDON, May 11. (Received May 12, at 7 p.m.) The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Mr Lloyd George, arrived in beflagged Cardiff to attend the Welsh industries. The Prince of Wales said that the King faced greater troubles and anxieties than any other king of England, and certainly greater than any king who was not responsible for the trials with which he had had to contend. Britain, however, was passing through the tail of the hurricane and would weather the stormy days ahead with the aid of her Sailor King. The Duke and Duchess of York visited Edinburgh, where they were rapturously welcomed. They viewed the pageants and illuminations. The Duke addressed 15,000 children to whom he repeated his Majesty’s broadcast message. The Duchess released a flight of carrier pigeons bearing Scotland’s loyal greetings to the King in London.

The Duke of Gloucester arrived at Belfast to receive the freedom of the city and represent the King at the jubilee celebrations. He travelled in the warship Achilles and was escorted up the Lough by the bombing planes of the Ulster Air Force. Enormous crowds thronged the gaily decorated streets. The Duke of Gloucester, replying to the welcome, said that their Majesties rejoiced in Ulster’s loyalty and affection and added that the outstanding thing keeping the world sane during the past two years had been the stabilising effect of the British Empire.

LONDONERS’ ENTHUSIASM VAST CROWD AT PALACE LONDON, May 10. For the fifth night in succession their Majesties appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Such a vast concourse had gathered in expectation of seeing the King that by 9.30 the palace was unapproachable nearer than St, James’s Palace. It is estimated that 100,000 people were "present. They gave cheer after cheer as their Majesties stood waving for five minutes. UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE DRIVE THROUGH SOUTH LONDON LONDON, May 10. Their Majesties unexpectedly took an hour’s drive through the poorer quarters of South London, surprising shoppers. Even the Mayor was not informed that they were coming. Road menders, recognising their Majesties, dropped their shovels and cheered. The streets were soon lined with people shouting “ God bless their Majesties.” Their. Majesties travelled unobtrusively in a closed car. They did not disguise their pleasure at the warm and spontaneous welcome received from the people who thronged closely around the car. The visit had no relation to the four drives which it was announced the King and Queen would undertake to the outer districts of London, the first of which will take place to-morrow, when the northern parts of the cily will be visited.

Wales and Scotland will hold special jubilee celebrations. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Mr Lloyd George, will visit Cardiff as the King’s representative, while the Duke and Duchess of York will. represent their Majesties in Scotland’s capital. The Prime Minister of Canada (Mr R. B. Bennett) left for Canada to-day. POPE GRATIFIED KING’S REPLY TO MESSAGE VATICAN CITY, May 10. The Pope expressed pleasure in receiving a telegram from the King thanking his Holiness wholeheartedly for his prayers and good wishes. TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN WOMAN OF HIGHEST IDEALS LONDON, May 10. Addressing the Associated Country Women of the world, Lady Bledisloe said: “The Queen has set an example to the world, being, besides a Queen, a woman, and a mother of the highest ideals. She added that the five years spent in New Zealand were the happiest of her life. THANKSGIVING SERVICES EMPIRE-WIDE OBSERVANCE To mark the occasion of the King’s silver jubilee, special services were held in a large number of city churches yesterday. This action was taken in conformity with an arrangement by which churches throughout the Empire should hold on May 12 thanksgiving services for the protection afforded to his Majesty the King during the 25 years of his reign.

FIRST CHURCH INFLUENCE OF THE QUEENMOTHER. At the morning service at First Church yesterday the Rev. W. Allen Stevely based his remarks on the words of II Kings chapter xx, verses 1 and 2: “And his (King Josiah’s) mother’s name was Jedidah (Beloved) . . . and he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.” This was the testimony to a good mother’s influence on her royal son, the preacher said. Was there not a striking parallel to this in the gracious influence of Queen Alexandra on the life and character of our noble King? His Majesty King George was beloved by the Empire. In his broadcast message of Monday last he .thanked his peoples for their loyalty and love. In his memorable message of April, 1929, he declared that it had been his constant and earnest desire to win the confidence and affection of his people. Mr John Buchan in his latest book writes: “ When on Christmas Day in recent years the King has spoken to his people . . . he is not a sovereign or symbol, but the head of a family who summons his household round the hearth.”

In the early days of girlhood. Queen Alexandra had one supreme wish —"Above everything else, I should like to be loved.” Assuredly that wish was fulfilled in the life of the Queen-Mother. She was not only one of the best-known women in the world; she was one of the most beloved. That wish so dear to her heart was her prayer for her son, our King. Writing from Buckingham Palace on May 10, 1910, she addressed the nation in words that went direct to the national heart. “ I confide my dear son into your care, begging you to show him the same loyalty and devotion you showed his dear father. I know he will do his utmost to merit and keep it.” The Queen-Mother’s influence has been graciously seen in her son. Alexandra, the beloved, inspired our King with that quality which men fittingly call "the King’s grace.” On Mothers’ Day, while thanking God for our King and his reign, we shall not forget our debt of gratitude to the Queen-Mother. Moreover, Mr Stevely continued, the Empire had learned to appreciate the King’s swift sympathy and kindly understanding. In hie latest message he said, “ In the midst of this day’s rejoicing I grieve to think of the numbers of my people who are still without work.” His fellow-feeling with the troubles and toils of his people Lad made the nation a family. “We give thanks to God for our King’s faith and piety. He has often sounded the note of Christian trust and hope. The Queen-Mother was a woman of simple faith in God. Behind the King’s piety lie a mother’s faith and influence. We can well believe that on Mothers’ Day the King will not forget her to whom hp owes so much. If she can know how her prayer that her son might merit and keep the loyalty and love of his people has been abundantly answered she will see of the travail of her soul and be satisfied.” ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON WHITEHEAD. Preaching at All Saints’ Church yesterday morning Archdeacon Whitehead said that one of the greatest tragedies of history was the inability of mankind to solve the problem of how to create and stabilise good government. In the nineteenth century men thought that that problem was well on the way to solution, and that democracy would be universally satisfactory. Dictatorships of one kind or another had taken a place in presentday Europe that would have astounded their Victorian ancestors. The evils of democracy which those dictatorships had abolished had been succeeded by greater' evils still. No governments the world had ever known could be more ruthless and savage than those of present-day Germany and Russia. In all this chaos, Great Britain showed remarkable stability. This was no doubt largely due to her monarchy and the whole social structure involved in it. The English social state, however misunderstood, rested on an essentially Christian idea—that each man should have a vocation and in this find his worth and happiness. The King’s office was not a privilege, but a burden. He who was first in the earthly kingdom was the servant of all. Unlike an elected president, he was above all party, and represented the interests of all his subjects. The monarchy provided before all, in the centre of the nation’s life, a circle of persons who were there to represent and •übodv the people’s national traditions. It was of this great tradition that King George V was the most conspicuous living representative. The House of Windsor had always set a noble example of nublic service, and in the present King had given them a prince who might well bo called one of the best among the world’s rulers. “A REGAL TESTIMONY” MORAY PLACE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Special services were conducted by the Rev. Albert Mead at Moray Place Congregational Church yesterday. In the morning, addressing- himself to the Sunday school and Young .People’s Departments, he dwelt on the fine attributes of character manifest in the King’s life and reign which all should try to emulate. In the evening the order of service as used- in the special thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, was followed. Taking as his subject “A Regal Christian Testimony,” Mr Mead showed how King George had always striven with faith and devotion to rule “by the grace of God.” “We surely ought to accept this silver jubilee of kingship as a challenge to our citizenship,” he said. “ We, too, ought to seek to obtain the same deep devotion to God and seek to sustain that devotion through the strengthening words of the Bible, and the sublime act of Divine worship. There is a -danger lest, whilst emotionally exalting the grace of kingliness and of queenliness, we should fail to emulate their royal example and exhortation. Should we not penetrate beneath the surface of things, and, finding the richer treasures of their grace—the grace of godliness and goodness—seek tp make those graces our own? Acquire righteousness of life, achieve justice in living, and then we shall bring into being those personal and social qualities of character and conduct which make a people great.”

LOYALTY OF THE JEWS SERVICE AT THE SYNAGOGUE. In accordance with the request of the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, Dr Hertz, of London, a special service of prayer and thanksgiving was held in Dunedin on Saturday morning, when there was a large attendance at the Synagogue. A special prayer, as arranged by the chief Rabbi, was offered up as follows; — Almighty God, —By Thee Kings reign and princes rule. Thou establishest their throne, and in Thy hand is their glory and majesty. Thou didst set Thy servant King George upon the throne of his father, high among the monarchs of the earth. Many peoples, from sea to sea and from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof, hast Thou placed under his sceptre, a sceptre of righteousness, freedom, and humanity. His everpresent care is that justice be accorded to every creed, race, and tongue under his dominion. Ho remembereth the sacred words: “ He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” And now the day we hoped for hath come. Five and twenty years have passed since our King ascended the throne. Songs of rejoicing resound from his loyal subjects throughout the world. And we, the Children of Israel, that dwell in safely under his shadow, join in thanksgiving unto Thee, Who hast cast our lot in these lands, and hast kept us in life, preserved us, and enabled us to reach this day. We extol and exalt Thy Holy Name for all the good which Thou hast bestowed upon our King. In sickness. Thou didst cause the sun of healing to arise for him: Thou hast widened the borders of his dominion; and his sway extends over the Holy Land, the Land of Israel. Verily, Thou didst enlarge the Commonwealth; Thou didst shield it amid the dangers and terrors of devastating war, so that it has become fair in its greatness and in its pursuit of peace and 'righteousness. 0 our Heavenly Father, continue Thy loving kindness to our Sovereign Lord: send forth Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead him. May Thy gracious promise be realised in him, “When ho ealleth upon Mo, 1 will answer him; 1 will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With

length of days will I satisfy him, and 1 will let him see My salvation.” Pour out the riches of Thy heavenly goodness upon our gracious Queen Mary, and bestow Thy choicest blessings on the Heir to the Throne, and upon all the members of the Royal House. Grant unto all the counsellors of our Sovereign a spirit of wisdom and understanding; prosper their deliberations, so that they lead to lasting and beneficent results. Hold our beloved country in Thy keeping; exalt her honour and glory. Hasten the days when the children of men understand that they have One Father, that the One God created us all. Then shall the light of universal justice flood the world, and the knowledge ot God cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. , Amen. A Press Association message from Auckland states that in the course of an address at the Synagogue on Saturday when a service of thanksgiving was held on the occasion of the King’s jubilee, the Rev. A. Astornsaid; —

.“ We recognise in the person of his Majesty the keystone which binds together the British Constitution, under whose aegis we all live in safety Slid security. Judaism has always enjoined loyalty as a sacred duty. Loyalty, patriotism, and love of the country in which the Jew has his home have become ingrained into the nature of the Jew. The interests of the place in which he has lived become hie own, and no appeal on behalf of his own city has ever been made to a Jew in vain.” SERVICE AT ST. KILDA ADDRESS BY THE REV. T. SKUSE. A warm and loyal tribute to King George V was paid by the Rev. T. Skuse, who delivered the address at a special service held in the St. Kilda Coronation Hall yesterday afternoon. The Rev. A. Wingfield presided, and there was a large attendance of the public. Mr Skuse spoke of the tragedies, the victories, the discoveries, and the progress of the past quarter of a century, But had anyone counted the kingdoms that had fallen, he asked, the Governments that had crashed, and the surge of movements that had come to nothing? It was 1000 years since England had been ruled by such a king as the present monarch, for he might well be compared with Alfred the Great —a king, a counsellor, a soldier, and a Christian. Our present King was a great Christian, and for that the people were thankful. No reference to the King’s reign would be complete, said Mr Skuse, without also thinking of the people whom be had ruled during the past 25 years, with dignity, wisdom, and remarkable distinction. History could offer no parallel with the scene presented in St. James's Palace last week, when the King met the Prime Ministers of the Empire in what might be called a family gathering. This was indicative of the feeling that should exist among the people of the Empire. Future history, Mr Skuse continued, would associate the Great War with the reign of King George V, for among all the happenings of the quarter-century of his kingship nothing had burned itself into the minds and imagination of the British people like that war and the colossal price paid for it in the nation's blood. Although a great many people had suffered during those four years of war no one carried a greater burden than the King, who knew more than most persons just how close Britain sailed to disaster. To-day he was firmly established in the love and loyalty of the Empire, because at the beginning of his reign he had consecrated himself to the task of ruling his people, who comprised the mightiest Empire the world had ever known. Just before his end, Mr Skuse continued. John Wesley had been heard to whisper, “The best of all is, God is with us.’’ It was a great claim to make, but he felt, in spite of gross wrongs .and injustices, unrighteous inequalities, and great sin, that claim could be made today. Everybody would not agree, he was sure, but he would ask where in the world to-day would there be found more concern for the poor, the broken-hearted, the blind and the bruised than in the British Empire. And in the great struggle for alleviation from suffering and in the great fight against poverty, disease, and injustice, the King and his sons, the Queen and the leading ladies in the land took a most active part. The Rev. T. R. Page and the Rev. R. G. M'Dowall also took part in the service, and music was provided by a combined choir and by the St. Kilda Band.