THE SACRIFICE OF ANZAC

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 28

THE SACRIFICE OF ANZAC

COMMEMORATION IN DUNEDIN.

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES

Anzac ]>ay, an anniversary of poignant | but proud remembrance, was observed in Dunedin on Sunday with ceremonies befitting the nature of the occasion and with appropriate tributes to those who laid down their lives in the tragic adventure of Callipoli. It was a typical autumn day in Dunedin a day which provided a fitting atmosphere for the solemn and impressive ceremonies marking the sad but glorious occasion upon which New Zealand achieved her nationhood on the rugged slopes of Gallipoit. The celebrations were on a larger and more imposing scale than has been the case ia previous years, and in addition co the thousands who lined the route of the march from the City to I.ogan Dark, the seating capacity of the Festival Hal! was taxed to its utmost to accommodate those who attended the memorial service. In addition to the official ceremony memorial services were held in the city and suburban chnrehs of all denominations and in some of the schools, the parade. At 1 50 p m. returned soldiers and South African veterans, headed by the Dunedin pipe Band, marched by way of Princes nnd Stuart streets to Ansae square, where they were joined by the military section of the parade, which marched down the lliehway to the Exhibition Sports Ground. After the soldiers end the veterans came detachments from the sth New Zealnnrt Mounted Kifles and the 12th and 14th Batteries aad the Ist Battalion Otago Beg.meat, led by the ArtiHry Bend, and followed hv t' * 4th Kegimentnl Band, whose se-irle* cc- lent n touch of colour to the drab line ", khaki. After these came the High School uad Technical College Cadets, and a detachment of Territorials in that ri*v?r. At (he Sports Ground the "General 3*lute” was played by the Cadets Bugle h.ind, the Hag was broken, and the Kev. Hr R. S. Mcrrrington, C.F., led in prayer, ifuir which the “Last Post” was sounded. volley by the firing party and the “Reveille” brought this part of the service to a close. the service. Rome 3000 persons attended the memorial #e*-vice at the Festival Hall. lhe Mayor iMr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) was m attend.cce. and representatives of the various pub bodies and the commissioners oi the British, Canadian, Australian, Queensland, New Zealand, and Fijian Courts at the Exhibition were also present. The music was provided by the band of the Second Battabon and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, v.’ho opened the proceedings with an inn pressive • rendering of Chopin s funeral March. The assembly then joined in the singing of Kipling’s “Recessional. lhe religious portion of the service was in the hands of -ho Revs. Dr E N. Merrington, C.F., and YV. YValker, C.F., and the address was delivered by the Rev. E. J. Tip !er, C.F. The Rev. Dr J. R. Mott also briefly addressed those present. The hymns “O Valiant Hearts” and “0 God Our Help in Agei Past*' were sung to the accompaniment of the band, which i ,™y*° piayed “Symphonic Pathetique” and “lhe Vanished Army” as a voluntary. lhe effect of 3000 voices singing in unison to such an accompaniment was inexpressibly moving, and will not be readily forgotten nv those who were present. With the hall darkened and a spotlight only illuminat-, ing the stag* wreaths from local and public bodies and ethers were laid on the minia lure cenotaph which had been ererted on (he stage «nd at the conclusion of this ceie meny Bugler Sergeant-major Napier played the “last Post.” Among those who '•ontribufced wienths were the following:— Returned Soldiers’ Association, Returned Sisters, the South African veterans, the Argyll and Southerland Highlanders’ Band the British commissioners, the Canadian commissioners, the Australian cornmisvonors, the Queensland commissioners, the New Zealand commissioners, the Fijian commissioners, the Dunedin City Council, the St. Kilda Borough Council, the West Harbour Borough Council, the Otago Harbour Board, the Directors of. the Kxbibitior, the Navv League, the Patriotic Association, the Early Settlers* Association, the Bed Cross Society. St. John Ambulance, the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A., the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Service liodare. the Rover Scouts, the Boy Scouts’ Wolf Cubs, the Returned Soldiers’ Association’s Choir, the Throp family, the American nation. After th<j Benediction had been pronounced by Dr Merrington, the service was brought to a close by the “Reveille*’ and the massed singing of 4 ‘God Save the King.” PRESIDENT’S REMARKS.

The President of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr E. J. Anderson), in addressing those present, said the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and his own association desired to extend to all a sincere welcome to the service. He particularly desired to weloome the official and business representatives of the Mother Country and sister dominions overseas. It was with pleasure, too. thst he mentioned

that they had with them a famous son of the great American republic—Dr John R. Mott. His association desired him to acknowledge the debt of gratitude which they were under to the Exhibition directors for the use of the commodious hall and for sanctioning the co-operation with the Returned Soldiers’ Association of the band of the 2nd Battalion of the 93rd (Argyll and Sutherland) Highlanders. Their recollection of sturdy assistance in the days of active service from the Scottish regiments wa6 now enhanced by the thought that they had at their 1926 Anzac Day Service the musicianly assistance of the distinguished band of an equally distinguished Scottish regiment. Anzac Day, as they wore doubtless aware, had been initiated at the instigation of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the public of the Dominion. That had been done not to glorify war or to endeavour to set up a state of thing*, martini. It had been done so that we might respect and fully mark the day when New Zealand stepped into the responsibility of nationhood, and to give thanks to Providence that during the years 1914-1918 her sons could fairly claim to be set upon the same plane as that occupied by the sons of the. Old Land, in the days of Drake and Raleigh; of Wellington and Nelson. And particularly had il been set apart so that the coming generations of the Dominion would learn to kno\v what a heritage they had in their citizenship of this country, and what they owed to those who had so dearly bought it for them. The hope of the N.Z.R.S.A. in this respect was just this—to transpose the words of a Dunedin poet—“We trust, when we are voiceless in the dust, New’ Zealand’s children wise and strong will guard this day from wrong.” Anzac Dav did not commemorate exclusively the sacrifice of the immortal Australian and New Zealand Army Corp* on the barren shores of Gallipoli. It was just as much commemorative of those who fell on other Gelds. That day they remembered all the nurses and men who lost their lives in the cause of Empire on land, or sea, or in the air. And on the present occasion they must not forget those of our soldiers who returned incapacitated for life, and those who still lay on beds of sickness and pain. As returned soldier* thev embraced the onportunity of pausing in their resumed civilian occupations to do honour to those splendid men who were their comrades, and whose bravery hail shed lustre on the name of “The Silent Division” in all its branches, and upon the countrv which sent it forth. To I hose who had brought them up, and to those who were near and dear to them, they that day paid a tribute. ADDRESS BY REV. E. J. TIPLER.

The Rev. E. J. Tipler took as his text the words “My God forbid it me that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they bought it” (1 Chronicles, xi, 19). The speaker said that great inspiration lay in an heroic deed. It lay in the quality of spirit revealed by that deed, a quality that invested the deed with immortality, and that lifted it out of the realm of material things into the rarer atmosphere of the undying spirit. “ Wheresoever the Gospel is preached this shall be spoken of for a memorial,” were words that could he applied to other undying deeds than that of Mary Magdalene. On that day of great and sacred memories they were gathered together to commemorate the heroism of the men who fell in the past Great War, and whose names were inscribed on the roll of honour of the nation, there to be held in grateful remembrance. If they w’ere free and happy that day, if their most cherished institutions still were theirs, and their homes and honour preserved inviolate, it was because of those men who went into a Gethsemane of suffering for them, and some, alas, did not come back. They dared not forget them. No, they would never forget. But for the sake of their children and those who came after them, to w’hom past events were only hearsay, a tale that was told, they needed to recall who these men were, and what the quality of their deeds, so that they and their children might gather some inspiration from them. They were not greater than their race, those men who, at the call of danger, went from town and country, from farm and shop anti office, to do their bit. They were of the same stuff as the men of old, who in the days of Alfred and of Edward, of Marlborough and of Wellington, brought the nation through every crisis. Their thought was for their homes and for their country, and because it was not for their own safety, but for realities greater far than self, it was sacrificial as well as heroic. They could be thankful that in the long glorious roll of their history they were not lacking in such an inspiration. Their men who had passed on the torch of their glory, in turn received it from the heroes of the past. The lads who fell at Passchendaele were not unworthy to be mentioned with those who led forlorn hopes at the breach of Badajos in the Peninsular war, or the gallant six hundred who, “stormed at with shot and shell,” rode “into the valley of death, into the gates of hell.” They were the same quiet, unassuming, but courageous men as their elder brothers who, at Magersfontein, or at Spion Kop, upheld the great tradition of British arms on

stricken fields. They inherited a great tradition, and they had passed on that tradition undimmed by any breath of shame.

He had said that there was something sacrificial in their heroism, and because of it their deeds would live. For one thing, it was entirely unselfish. They thought not of their own comfort and safety. They thought not of glory. They struck no attitudes. They took the bitter with the sweet. They endured the unspeakable misery of the trenches, the continually dazing shell fire, the suffering of wounds and death, because it was all in the day’s work. In the same spirit they left their farms, businesses, trades, and professions, in some- cases losing everything, that they might be obedient to the call duty. There was a glorious unselfishness in this, the more because they did not think of it as a sacrifice. It was part of the game. Entirely natural and unconscious, it was like the unconscious heroism of those three men, who, in loyalty to their leader, broke through their enemies to save him from the torments of thirst. He recognised their deed as a sacrifice. How did they recognise the deeds of the men whose memory was hi their minds that day? For another thing, too. they gave their lives in the same sublimely natural way as part of the day’s work. Because these men were so entirely selfless we counted their deeds as sacrificial, and because they were faithful unto death we counted their deaths as their crowning act of sacrifice. They could give no more than that. Those who went away had lived for us those terrible days and months in GallipoV Palestine, and France, and they ha o’ crowned their lives with their deaths. Out of the suffering of the past we drew lessons of hope. Under God, the present was in our hands, and the truest homage we could render to the memory of our dead was to consecrate ourselves to the cause of truth and righteousness and follow after the things that made for peace.* DR MOTT’S ADDRESS. The Rev. Dr J. R. Mott also spoke and in the course of his brief remarks said that it was a sacred privilege, as a representative of the American people, to enter into fellowship with the people of New Zealand in profound, heart felt appreciation of the most highly-multiplying and enduring sacrifice made by the sons of this Dominion. “Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth by itsetf alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit ” On the rugged, scarred slopes of Gallipoli, on the sands and hills of Palestine, and on the blood-drenched fields of France and Belgium these sons and brothers and fathers of yours laid down their lives. But not in vain. Already, in less than a decade, what u'harvest begins to appear! As a world traveller, whose journeys take one over all the world, what does one see? A new world. Old things are passiricr away; ail things arc becoming new. 'lhe only language which adequately describes what one sees is that which represents Christ as saying. "Behold I am recreating all things.” A new hope planted in the breast of every backward nation, every oppressed race, every depressed stratum of society of a freer, fairer, nobler future. A League of Nations which already lias the adhesion or allegiance of over 50 nations. A YY’orld Court universally accepted. A drawing together of the Christian and of other forces of righteousness and unselfishness all over the world for aggressive, constructive work to make forever secure the liberties and the peace of the world. A rising up and mobilizing of the new generation to wage, as never before, warfare . against the age-long enemies of mankind; ignorance, poverty, disease and sin; against crime and lawless ness; against prejudice and intolerancesocial, national, racial, or religious; against misunderstanding, bitterness and strife; against war, and. therefore, against the causes of war. In the last conversation the speaker had with President Wilson, not long before his death, he told Mr Wilson of the determination of so many of the new generation, whom he had met in the different countries, to devote themselves to ensuring the realisation of the high ideals and purposes for which the great sacrifice had been made. While he was speaking Mr \\ r ilson was huddled up in his chair, his body bent and broken from the stroke and the long illness, but he straightened up instantly and with great earnestness said, “I must get well and help them.” His attitude. Dr Mott was ylad to believe, was typical of all large souls of the older generation. They knew that they could not live long enough to effect the extensive and nrofound changes nPessary to bring in fully the new day, hut they were ready to spend and be spent in standing by the new generation who. God grant, might live long enough to see their vision realised.

As long as Anzac Day and corresponding days in other nations were observed and their sacred and deeply-moving associations were enshrined in memory, as long as monuments of granite and bronze stood and preserved their thrilling record, as long as tides of travel crossed the fields of Flapders. or moved through the waters bj Gallipoli, as long as lhe literature of the second nnd third of the twentieth century survived and spoke—so .on* would the heroism, the unselfish abandon, rnd the sacrifioal devotion even unto death, of the men whose expansive sacrifice they reverently honoured be preserved in grateful remembranoe. and serve as a touchstone of *onsecreation to high duty a 9 a bond of union among free peoples, and as a perennial fountain of inspiration to successive generation/? of youth to resist temptations to live lives of pleasure, ease, luxury, and softness, and to devote themselves to great unselfish causes. OBSERVANCE IN THE CHURCHES. FIRST CHURCH. The oflicial Anzac service was held io First Church in the evening under the control of the Council of Christian congregations. His Worship the Mayor and councillors attended officially, and members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Lieutenantcolonel Barrowclough, D. 5.0., Captain Hunt, and representatives of the military staff and regiments wero also present The musical section of the service was directed by Dr V. E. Galway, who presided at the organ, and the male voice choir sang Galcott’s “Peace to the Souls of Heroes." The First Church choir contributed “Comes at Times a Stillness.” The service was con-

ducted by the Rev. Dr K. N. Merrington, C.F., who spoke on ‘The Heritage of Anzac.”

Taking as his text Hebrews xi, -39-40 (R.V.): "And these all. having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Dr Merrington said that this was the text written tinder the Roll of Honour cf the Bible. Great and venerated names were inscribed there, patriarchs, leaders, and heroes of Israel's ancient 6tory. Today people gathered in thousands to remember their valiant dead. It was the day of solemn thanksgiving and national consecration. Eleven years ago their soldiers had received their baptism of fire nnd blood, and hs the years passed by the dread heroisms of the war tended to recede from the mind nnd memory, and people were able to reviw the experiences of that first trial as a mere matter of history. By taking up such an attitude, though losing much, they gained a calmer and more sober standpoint, and if their perspective was restored in some of its phases it was also liable to distortion in others. For * the half had never been told of valour unto death and of deeds wrought by young men

“of long enduring blood” in the midst of great trials. The scrub of Gallipoli, the mud of l’assehendaele, the sands of Palestine held secrets of devotion unto death beyond all description and almost beyond belief. That was no exaggeration, as those who had l>een eye-witnesses could testify. Nor should they indulge too much in a mood of disillusionment regarding the war itself. It had to lie fought to save the world from the domination of a military despotism. It must never be forgotten that the Empire owed its continuance under God to the unfaltering service of its soldiers and sailors, and also to the prayers and sacrifices of its noble women. It was faith that had won the war, preserved self-government on the earth, and secured for all time the integrity and progress of our national life. It was faith in the power of right, of liberty, and, above all, of God. The dead who were mourned that day died victoriously. They receive.! not the promise. For them the sacrifice and the great summons. But they had left an example of what young New Zealanders and Australians could do in the very presence of death; a spirit of self-sacrifice and faithful service. The vision of Anzac Day recalled to us our stern duties of loyalty to the King of kings and Lord ot lords. Our men had given their all for a cleaner and nobler civilisation with less of hatred and selfishness in it. In the trenches and dug-outs they spoke much of those things —their high hopes for their native dominions and the Old Country—even while the death-dealing sounds of screaming shells and quivering explosions were reverberating in their ears. Beneath their laughter and jest on the eve of action they thought musingly of a better world with the rule of God set up in the hearts of men, and the will of God being done upon earth more as it was done in Heaven. They loved their own, their native land, so well that they were willing to die for it. They dreamed of peace so slow of coming, and of comradeship like their own, hut wider. This was their heritage—the spirit of the Cross and the Kingdom of God and lesreneration of the world by love KNOX CHURCH.

The Rev. George Budd conducted the Anzac Day service at Knox Church. The speaker said that prior to 1915, the name Anzac was unknown; it was a new name —marking in the most definite way the beginning of not only a new chapter, but also a new’ era in their life and history. Till Anzac there was a feeling abroad that the people of this new land were not as their fathers. This young country, with its soft climate, its abounding prosperity, and its easy conditions, was enervating, and they were growing up soft and tender, and possibly delicate. The harder life and more severe climate of the old world had given their forbears an advantage. Then came Gallipoli. And with Gallip_oli the iron entered into their souls. The recruits after April 25, 1915, whatever may have been the case before that, knew what was ahead and w’ent. And like the men of Gallipoli, they revealed to all the world that the men in these southern isles had in them the stuff out of which heroes are made. It seemed almost incredible that 11 years had passed 'since Anzac. Thousands of the population had been born in the interval, and knew nothing at all of the tragedy of 1914-1918. Nearly a third of the population had seen not more than 20 summers, and most of them had little or no memory of those bitter years. They began to see. in the rapid rush of time, the wisdom of remembering Anzac Day and using it to emphasise the brave deeds of men who were their countrymen, and to remember the debt they owed them, who fought and won. Somewhere m the Exhibition, said the speaker, he remembered noting a placard rather prominently displayed. On it were the words: lo preserve peace, prepare for war! And so they were carrying a new burden of militarism. In New Zealand they had military camps and systems of training in full swing. Hot-lieads, old oftener than young, were urging the duty of preparedness, and from time to time dark forebodings were uttered about alleged hostile actions and intentions of tormer ally or recent foe. Ought they not to preach and practise: “To preserve peace, prepare for peace”? YVhat hypocrisy to pray, saying, “Grant us Thy peace m our time, O Lord,” while they were teaching their boys the business of war. Was that the true way to remember Anzac? Was it for that that millions died? They should on Anzac Day make high resolve—not to preserve peace by preparing for war, but to spread in every possible and practical way the Gospel of Him Who died for them, that the .rving live no longer for themselves* but for iliin, and, through Him, for others. A special musical service was also rendered. ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL. At St. Paul’s Cathedral the service and prayers were taken by the Rev. Canon Nevill, and the special lesson was read by the Rev. Archdeacon Curzon-Siggers. The Third Artillery Band provided the music, and accompanied the choral itema, besides playing the offertorium. The choir rendered the anthem, “Judge me not, Oh, God,” and the special Anzac sermon was preached by tho Rev. J. K. Rogers. The preacher took for his text Philippians iv, 13: “I can do all things through

Christ which stiengtheneth me.” He expressed sorrow for those whose pulses did not beat a little quicker at the return of the day when New Zealand and Australia showed the world that the seemingly impossible could be accomplished. How was it done? By having a clearly defined object—by fixed determination on the part of all—by self-abandoning effort on the part of every man—by absolute loyalty and unity. The heights were won, but the many bodies on the steep hillsides bequeath a legacy to the world, and especially to the Church. That legacy was to bring in the kingdom of peace—the Kingdom of God. There were heights to conquer, two special ones—the terrible height of selfishness, with its twin daughters, indifference and hostility, and the awful height of heathenism. It was impossible, people said, to conquer them# but so they said of Gallipoli, yet the heights were won. And the heights could be—must be—won in the same way, but alwavs depending on Christ. The object should be clear, and for this a strong lead was needed. They failed as a body to recognise the object. It was obscured by narrow’ parochialism, which was satisfied by good offertories, large congregations, and attractive services. This parochialism should be eliminated. There should be a fixed determinaiton. There should not be a mere vague hope and not a mere council of perfection, but a remembrance of the Lord’s definite command as to work and praver sealed with the blood of “the mighty dead.” There should also be real self-abandoned effort on the part of every member of the Church. The men at Gallipoli did not reave the work for others to do: they did it or died, and, dying, left their legacy. The preacher concluded with the words, “‘lf you cannot be in the firing line help to make roads for those who can by self-denial, selfsacrifice, and gifts, and if you cannot do that you can pull with all the strength of sympathy and prayer.” The “Last Post” and ‘“Reveille” were played by Bugler Sergeant-major Napier, and the service was concluded by the pronouncement of the benediction by the Bishop.

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH. Anzac Day was fittingly observed at St. Andrew’s Church, a special sermon being preached by the Rev. Hector Maclean. The speaker said that it was 10 years since tho first Anzac Day service was held and was easier to speak about what Anzac Day meant then than now. As each year passed it became harder and harder. It was not merely that there was nothing new to say. Where the real difficulty came in was in the change which had come over the world in its attitude to the Great War. We had coine now to ask questions which wero never dreamt of when the war was in active progress or when it had just been finished. In those days we were quite sure about what we were fighting for and w’e were full of hopes for the future. It was said that the men gave their lives and shed their blood to save the world from being overwhelmed by the evil forces which made men slaves. YVe could leave it at that if we were careful not to forget that what they did could avail nothing unless we were prepared to do our part. They had done all that they could. They had interposed their bodies against a danger that threatened the destruction of all that made life sweet and good. If there were failure or talk of failure now the blame for it would be upon us because we did not accent the offer of those who sacrificed their lives.

METHODIST CENTRAL MISSION. Both services at the Methodist Central Mission were conducted by the Rev. W. Walker At the morning service the subject chosen was “The Way of Sacrifice,’’ the sermon being based on John xii, 24. The preacher endeavoured to show how life springs from death, and that progress is the outcome of sacrifice. A strong plea was made for the abolition of war a/, the final arbiter of international differences. In the evening the hall wag packed to the doors. The text was Ecclesiastes xliv, 14, “Their bodies lie buried in peace, but their name liveth for evermore.” The preacher emphasised the fact that Anzac Day was a day of national remembrance, national thanksgiving, and national inspiration. Miss Molly Vickers sang “Crossing the Bar,” Mr W. Mitchell Tendered “Thou art passing hence,” and Miss Anita Winkel recited “Tho March of the Anzac Men.” The pipers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band plaved “The Flowers of the Forest,” and Sergeant Major D. Trainer sounded “The Last Post” and "Tho Reveille.” The choir anthem was “Morning and Evening.*’ anti Mr Chas. A. Martin presided at tlte organ and gave two organ solo*. “Coronach” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

TRINITY METHODIST. The Rev. E. JP. Blamires, of Auckland, preaching at Trinity Methodist, took for his subject “The Unknown Warrior.” The burial in Westminster Abbey of the Unknown Warrior, he said, must be regarded as one of the most, significant events in British history. After three thousand burials in the Abbev of Kings and statesmen and men of fame, there came this unprecedented happening—the whole nation honouring the memory of one who “might have been a crossing sweeper.” It was a tribute not to the select, but lo all that was noble j n the breast of the average man. The meaning of it all w»« that Christ’s valuation of human life bad come pf last to enter a nation’s consciousness. Ft signified a great, advance of Christ's kingdom among men. The choir rendered the *»nthem “Across the Bar” (Panipsor), and Mr F. C. Cooper contributed the solo “Beyond the Dawn'” (Sanderson). SALVATION ARMY. The Dowling Street Fortress was crowded for the Salvation Army’s Anzac celebration. The decoration was most artistically carried out. The Scriptural readings, etc., were carried through by returned soldiers, and the service con--ducted by Brigadier Burton, C.F., who also gave the address. The celebration, said the speaker, was not intended to extol the Idea of war, which the Army as an organic sation deplored. The ideals of the League of Nations appealed as being more sane than the horrors and bloodshed associated with war. The best form of patriotism was that which acted unselfishly. The surest stepping-stone to an ideal citizenship was the linking on of the human to the Divine. The Silver Band and orches* tra attended to the musical part of thef service and rendered effectively the Funeral March, while Bandsman Judd sounded tho “Last Post” A male quartet also rendered

an item. Captain Montgomery, who is in charge of the City Corps, assisted throughout. Ensign Coombs, assisted by Mrs Captain Montgomery, conducted an Anzac service at the Prison yesterday morning at 10.30.

CARGILL ROAD METHODIST CHURCH. Two commemorative services were held nt the Cargill Road Methodist Church. In the evening the church was filled, the Rev. W. B. Scott, C.P., conducting the service. The morning’s worship took the form of a memorial service, and the sermon, preached by Mr Scott, was based on David’s lament on the death of Jonathan. At night a collection of war views connected with religious work, at the front was shown by Mr Scott. Mr W. W. Ashley operated the lantern. A choir under Mr E. C. Service gave two appropriate anthems, Mr G. Anderson presided at the organ. DUNDAS STREET METHODIST CHURCH. A commemorative service at Dundas Street Methodist Church was conducted by the Rev. E. 0. Blajnires. The choir led the singing of appropriate hymns, and rendered the anthem “Let us have Peace.” Mr Ernest Drake sang a special solo suitable to the occasion. Mr Blamires took as his text Rev. v. 5 and 12, “Behold, the Lion” and “the Lamb that was Slain,” re. ferring to the sterner qualities in the character of Christ, and the other aspect of Hw sacrifice. In the men of Anzac. he said, were found the strong qualities of character evidenced by their bravery and endurance, but their memory was revered mainly on account of their service of sacrificial import. MORNINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Special Anzac services were conducted at Mornington Presbyterian Church at both diets of worship yesterday. The Rev. W. Trotter conducted the services. In the forenoon Mr James Paterson contributed the solo, “Arm, Arm Ye Brave,” and in the evening Mrs D. Cartv sang “Abide With Me” and Mr William Renton also contributed a solo. OTHER SERVICES. At the Moray Place Congregational Church the Rev. W. Saunders took for his morning subject “The Story of the Landing,” and in the evening told the “Story of the Hardships of the Landing.” The choir rendered appropriate music. Anzac Day wa3 fittingly observed at St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, when the Rev. J. M. Simpson gave an appropriate address. The choir rendered suitable music, and a solo was sung by Mrs Richardson. A solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Cathedral at 11 a.m. SERVICES AT THE SCHOOLS. A large number of pupils, ex-pupils, and residents assembled at the Musselburgh School, on Sunday morning for the Anzac service. Mr D. C. Cameron (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and the Revs. R. Scott Allan, A. Wingfield, and E. S. Harkness and Mr J. B. Grant (headmaster) took part in the service. An appropriate address was delivered hv Mr R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Hilda). the Union Jack was saluted, and the pupils marched past the school’s honour board. Suitable wreaths were placed on the honour board by the staff and ex-pupils and the manv tributes of flowers brought by the pupils were afterwards placed on the ex-soldiers’ graves in the Anderson’s Bay cemetery. Captain Hudson, representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association, briefly thanked the school authorities and the pupils for their very sincere service of remembrance of the fallen and wounded seMiers. A short but impressive service was held at the Norfh-Eost Valley School’s memorial arch. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr Hugh Beggl presided.. There was a good attendance of school children, and the Salvation Armv supplied the iru’sio for the hymns. Chief Betty Officer Masters ga v e a stirring address, dealing wi f h the landing at Gallnpoli. and the Rev. Mr George Miller spot® to the children on loyaltv. the Revs. Mr Anstise. Mr Baxter, and Major Hulnuist alsn taking part in the service. Mr Georg*' Christie c oundod the *T ast Post,” and the closed w’th the singing of a verse of the National Anthem. LECTURE BY MR HURST SEAGER An illustrated lantern lecture on the war memorials in Gallipoli and m France was delivered before a crowded audience in the Empire Theatre on Sunday night by Mr Hurst Seager, who visited the stricken areas especially for the purpose of designing some of these memorials. Mr E. J. Anderson (president of the R.S.A.) presided over the meeting. The slides were a magnificent series, and as the lecturer was not able to show them all he intends to give a series of five more lectures in the Government Kinema Hall at the Exhibition. MOSGIEL SERVICES. TRIBUTES FROM THE PULPIT. In addition to the services in the various churches morning and evening, a special memorial service was held m the Mosgiel Coronation Hall on Sunday afternoon. This was conducted by the Mosste! Ministers’ Association The Rev. D. M'Cosh presided and the service was opened by the singing of the National Anthem. The Rev. R. Robertson offered prayer. God of Our Fathers” was sung by the assemblage. and the Rev. O. A. Kennedy read the 90th Psalm. The Lord’s Prayer was recited in unison.

afi his text Joshua iv. 21 : “What mean these stones?” the Rev. D. MTntyre (North Tuieri) said that almost as ancient as the human race itself was the practice of commemorating hi torv’s great events? bv memorials. A reference to the memorial in their own Dominion. Further, in its wisdom, our Governmerit had set apart April 25 at a day of remembrance. It was our patriotic duty, as citizens of Now Zealand, to teach our children and to remind ourselves of the meaning of these memorials. These memorials told us that in a supreme crisis of our Imp ' ’ history the men of New Zealand wore not found wanting, and that true democracy and brotherhood rested upon tremendous sacrifices. These memorials rre a challenge to us to live nobly eo that the heritage saved by their sacrifice might be handed on untarnished to future generations. The Rev. J. Dunoan read from the Book of Revelation, chap. vii. verse 9. "O God. Our Help in Aares Past” was sung, after whioh Captain Watkin led in

prayer. The concluding hymn was “Abide With Me.” The band accompanied some of the hymns, Miss Logan supplying the remainder of the accompaniment. Prior to the service ir. the Coronation Hall, a military parade was held. The territorials, oadets. etc., marched from the drill ground to the park, headed by the Mosgiel Municipal Band. A halt was made at the Park, where wreaths were

placed on the fallen soldiers’ memorial by the local bodies, Returned Soldiers’. Association. schools, several local institutions, and townspeople. The band played the National Anthem. The flag on the Town Hall was then broken. The “Last Post” was sounded, the flag lowered to half mast, a volley was fired, the “Reveille” was sounded, and the flag run up to the truck again. The parade then marched to the Coronation Hall, where those composing it joined in the memorial service. At all the local churches the services, both morning and evening, were in keeping with the day’s observances, the respective pastors officiating. The Rev. R. Robertson preached a special Anzac Day sermon at the Mosgiel Baptist Church to a large congregation. He emphasised the example set by the men who laid down their lives* in the Great War, and mentioned the monument in the Park raised to their memories as a reminder of what had been done for us by their sacrifice. The choir rendered music appropriate to the day. The Rev. C. Kennedy conducted an Anzac service in the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church in the evening. The sermon and singing were very appropriate, and included in the service were “The Last Post” and the “Reveille.” At St. Luke’s Anglican Church the Rev. W. W. Ewart conducted a special service early in the forenoon. At the Mosgiel Roman Catholic Church the Rev. Father Finlay celebrated a requiem mass in the morning, when there was a large congregation present. The sermon was appropriate and at the conclusion the organist played the “Dead March” from “Saul.” The Rev. J. Duncan’s addresses at the Mosgiel Methodist Church, both morning and evening, touched on Anzac Day and all it stood for. He specially stressed the lessons to be derived from the sacrifices of the men of Anzac, and urged his hearers not to allow these sacrifices to harve been made in vain. OUTRAM.

The day was marked at Outram as in former years, by a procession and a united memorial service in the Oddfellows’ Halt. Those participating assembled from Outram. Momona, Maungatua, Woodside, and Lee Stream, and the service was in memory of the men who fell from these localities. Dr R. Hall was chairman, and the Outram orchestra supplied the music and accompaniments of the hymns. After the National Anthem, the Rev. D. Campbell led in prayer. Rev. W. VV. Ewart read from the Scriptures (I Corinthians, xv. 29 to end of chapter. Mr G. P. Cuttriss delivered the address. He detailed how the day came to be called Anzac Day, spoke of the terrible tragedy of that day, and concluded by pointing out our duty to the nation, to our own particular portion of it, and to our homes. Wreathes were placed on the soldiers’ memorial. The “Last Post” was sounded and the benediction was pronounced. . PORT CHALMERS. The attendance at the Anzac memorial service in the afternoon was unusually large. The Presbyterian Church was made available for the service, but the seating accommodation proved inadequate for the large attendance. A considerable number of people stood throughout the service, which took over an hour and a-half, exclusive of the subsequent solemn ceremony of placing wreaths at the base of the memorial cenotaph. Two new features were the unusual number of chaplains present wearing war decorations denoting service; and members of friendly societies attending in regalia. Returned soldiers and South African war veterans also participated. The Territorials and Cadets were in charge of Lieutenant L F. Smith. Falling in at the Garrison Hall, they marched to the church, headed by the Kaikorai Band, under Conductor J. Paterson, playing the “Dead March.” The service in the church was largely choral, interspersed with the reading of Scripture lessons and the offering of prayer. The Rev. J. W. M’Kenzie, minister of the church, was ably assisted by several other local ministers. The Rev. W. H. Roberts preached the memorial sermon. He said they had met once again to commemorate the historic landing on Gallipoli, where the New Zealand forces received their baptism of blood in the Great War. The bereaved relatives and the returned men also merited our esteem and regard. The high ideals for which so many suffered and died should be honoured. Noble ideals and the spirit of self-sacrifice won the war. The British Empire was now an instrument for the uplifting of the world. Since the war they seemed to have lost the glow of high ideals, and the vision which affected life and expressed itself in action. Ideals such as those of duty, service, and sacrifice were ideals that made ordinary life noble, and in pursuit of these we could every day commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. At the close of the church service wreaths were placed at the base of the centotaph, where the “Last Post” was sounded. KAITANGATA. A combined memorial service was held in the Presbyterian Church Hall, Knitangata. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Fenton) presided, and in his opening remarks said that the large attendance of citizens proved thta Kaitangata still held sacred to its memory those brave Anzacs who made the supreme sacrifice. The local branch of i --turned soldiers was well represented. Ministers assisting in the memorial service were Rev. A. Morton (Presbyterian), Rev. P. Bridge (Methodist), Captain F. A. Burton (Salvation Army). Pastor G. F. Ward (R.S.A.),of the Church of Christ, gave the address. At the close of the service the “Last Post” was sounded by Bandsman R. M'Auley. MACANDREW'S BAY. -A combined memorial service was held in the Mac&ndrew’s B&y Hall on Sunday morning, and was attended by a fair

number of returned men, who paraded at 10.45 and marched to the hall. The devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Dr Waddell and Mr L. D. Groves. The Macandrew’s Bay Glee Club assisted in the musical portion of the service, and rendered the anthem “The Long Day Closes.”