Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1905. EMPIRE DAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10365, 24 May 1905, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1905. EMPIRE DAY.

It is an appropriate thing that the celebration of Empire Day should be observed on the anniversary of the natal day of England's dearly loved Queen, Victoria, under whose beneficent rule occurred the vast expansion of Britain's colonial possessions, and the establishment m noble proportions of the great worldwide Empire to which we are all proud to belong. Owing to the close proximity of the holiday consequent on the birthday of tlie Prince of Wales, it is probable Empire Day will not bo observed, m tiiese colonies at anyrate, where we are glad to note a general feeling of revolt against tlie excessive number of interruptions to business, as a day for the suspension of work. This, however, is liardly necessary, nor is it expected by the nobleman who has been instrumental m bringing about tlie universal observance of the national day. "It is specially desirable," says the Earl of Meath, m a recently written letter, "that tlie day should be kept m schools, so that the rising generation may be associated with their elders m tlie hymns of praise and of thanksgiving which should on that day rise to Him m whose hands rests tlie fate of all Empire.* und of all peoples." Far more good will, m our opinion, bo accomplished by an observance of the day hi the manner and spirit indicated than by proclaiming it one for idkii"ss and thoughtless jollification. It is a good tiling to inculcate m the minds of the young the spirit, of patriotism and national pride-, and the opportunity js a splendid one to impart to them "knowledge of the great extent and varied characteristics of the Empire on which the sun never sets and of the many glori"ous deeds that have been associated with its establishment. The day is one «*- --pecially for lessons on the flag, for inculcating respect and reverence for our British institutions, a. feeling of security under the folds of our Union Jack, and a spirit of love for the great Commonwealth to which we all belong. Lord Meath has pointed out that not only on "Empire Day," but S3*.stematically, ' day by day, throughout the year, instruction m all matters which are of common interest to the subjects of King Edward VII. should be given to tlve. scholars of the Empire, and stress should be laid upon the duties and responsibilities which attach to British, citizenship. Furthermore he has suggested that tlie national Hag be hoisted on May 24 on public buildings throughout the Empire and that clergy should be invited on the nearest Sunday to allude to tlie celebrations m their sermons, and to impress on their ctoMferegations..- tliat righteousness alone exaltetli a nation, that no empty boasting should enter into the programme of the day. but that every effort should be made to quicken the public sense of Imperial, of national, of civic, and of private duty. With lofty sentiments of this kind, the observance of Empire Day will do much to establish a true patriotism and to weld together the scattered portions of the Empire m one common bond of sympathy.