OTAGO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 50

OTAGO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

PARADE AND MEMORIAL SERVICE.

The Otago Friendly Societies’ annual memorial church parade was held on Sunday evening, the assembling point being the Early Settlers’ Hall. The following societies, which comprised a muster of about 500, took part:—Sons and Daughters of Temperance, Independent Order of Rechabites, Ancient Order of Foresters, Alanchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, Independent Order of Oddfellows, Protestant Alliance, and the United Ancient Order of Druids. The procession marched to the Central Mission Octagon Hall to the music of the St. Kilda Band. The hall was well filled.

The Rev. W. .Walker took for his subject “ The Significance of Service,” basing his remarks on Exodus, chapter XII, and a portion of verse 26: “What mean ye by this service.” He explained that he wished to take the wr.rds from their context and apply them to the service then being held. Three points were emphasised by the speaker. The first was that the service was one of grateful remembrance. It was not an occasion for gloom or mourning, but for reverence and thanksgiving. To a large extent it was the spirit of brotherhood and unselfishness cultivated in friendly societies which enabled the heroes of the Great War to carry the spirit of true comradeshij) into the camps and battlefields. The service secondly, was one of inspiration. The need which called our comrades to a sacrificial death now called us to a sacrificial life, and the least that could be attempted was to carry on in peace what they had begun in war. The world would thus be made a brighter, happier, and safer place ter live in. Thirdly, the service was one of dedication. No thoughtnil person could look over the world today and feel that all was well when colossa! armaments were being built. World peace was an inspiring ideal to which all should dedicate their lives The League of Nations was realising the great Christian ideal at the present time and was the great bulwark against another Kfi j? ~gbv ’? ag ? ncy nations could be lifted to a higher plane and the people that dwelt m darkness could gain the hght of the Gospel. g e A solo was rendered by Aliss Grace Knowles, and Miss Anita Winkel recited In Flanders Fields.” Air W. B. Fowler sounded the “ Reveille ” and the “ Last Post. Mr C. A. Martin was the organist, _ . . .. .