CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 9

CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM

CELEBRATIONS IN DUNEDIN. The capture of Jerusalem, news of which was received on the 11th ins't., was celebrated by a publio meeting in the King's Theatre in the evening. The gathering, which was convened at short notice by the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark), was very largely attended, practically every seat' in the building being occupied. After the Salvation Army Band had played a selection the proceedings were opened with the singing of the National Anthem. The Rev. Graham Balfour engaged in prayer, and addresses of thankfulness for the liberation of the Holy City were given by tho same gentleman, tho Mayor, Dr Bedford, and the Rev. R. S. Gray. The Mayor, in calling upon the Rev. Graham Balfour to lead ihe gathering in prayer, said there were two special features in connection with the news they had heard that day, and he thought it was only right that they should recognise the first of these. There was no place in the whole world around which so many fond memories and associations were linked. The ■ Holy City of Jerusalem was sacred to every one, and it was only fitting that the first thing they should do was to give thanks to the Great. Head of our Empire for this latest victory. (Applause.) „ PORT CHALMERS HIGH SCHOOL. The news of tlio capture of Jerusalem readied the High School, Port Chalmers, yesterday at 11 o'clock, when the children were in the playground. The rector (Mr Booth) reported the event to the Rev. Messrs Perym-an and Whyte, who are chaplains, and who were occupied that morning in the rector's office going over the registers of their daily Biblo class. Upon tho children being assembled, the Rev. A. Whyte addressed them, showing tho significance of tho success of this, the last of the crusades, and pointing out how King George had got what King Richard the Lion-hearted had fought for—the deliverance of the holiest city in Christendom from the infidel. . He enlarged upon tho fulfilment of the prophecies to the Jews that they -would bo restored to their own land and looked for their conversion as life to the world, life from the dead. The Rev. Mr Peryman offered a prayer of thanksgiving. The children sang par-t of thehymn "There is a green hill far away," as well as the Doxology. The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.