EMPIRE DAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10699, 24 May 1906, Page 2

EMPIRE DAY.

CELEBRATION AT MANGAPAPA SCHOOL.

May 24, good Queen Victoria's Biitli- ' day, lor many years a universal holiday, is not now generally recognised as a public release from the diurnal labor, i'erhaps it is because of the leeling that holi. days for various reasons are becoming too . | frequent. In some places May 24 is be- j ing commemorated as Empire Day, and it was with this laudable purpose that this morning a gathering took place at Mangapapa School, and the children were addressed on the deep significance of the occasion, and the scope and aims of the Empire under which they live. Th© speaiceiß were -the Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Mr W. L. Rees, and Colonel Sorter, who 6poke from the religious, political, and military standpoints respectively. ! Mesdames Chatterton, Rees, and Porter were also present. On arrival at the pretty, well-cared for school grounds they were met by Mr M. McLeod; Chairman of the School Committee, and Mr W. J Hunter, headmaster. Twenty of the school cadets, looking rieat m their Jerseys and. Glengarry caps, were exercised before Colonel Porter, who expressed his (pleasure at being afforded the opportunity i of inspecting them. The whole of the children were assembled m front of the school, with the flag flying from the staff, and tli© ceremony of saluting the flag was gone through. They were then marched into the main schoolroom, and were addressed by various speakers. •Mr McLeod, who presided, referred to the object of the .gathering, and told the children they were to hear addresses from three 'gentlemen on different phaas of the great British Empire. He explained Mr Chatterton's position as 'a clergymen and teacher, Mr Rees 1 wide acquaintance with politics and the statesmanship of the Empire, and Colonel Porter's military experience. Mr Chatterton was of that call* ing m life whose disciples were the salt of the earth, and were it not for the Empire being salted with such men it would (nave gone down long ago like other Em." pireg. Mr Rees had been a colleague and friend of Sir Gee. Grey;' and Mr McLeod could speak of Mr Rees m regard to the many little kindnesses of life which he had performed. Colonel Porter was one who had won his way up to the most honoraible position he could take m New Zealand, fighting for the Empire m the early days m this colony, and afterwards m South Africa. Mr McLeod concluded by calling on the Rev. Mr Chatterton to speak. Mr Chatterton said the idea of having a gathering on Empire Day was an admirable one, and thig~was the second held at Mangapapa he understood. The Empire under which they lived had been 'built up like a house, little by little, and they were all proud of belonging to the greatest Empire the world had seen. Certainly it was an extraordinary Empire. "You don't always know where it isn't," remarked Mr Chatterton, "and you don't know where it is sometimes, for you are always stumbling around a bit of the British Empire. People of other* nations going round the world don't seem to be able to get away from it. The British Empire is scattered broadcast throughout the world. There have been other great Empires, but they have been concentrated." Continuing, the rev. gentleman said they m New Zealand felt that they were a part of this great united Empire, and knew if they were attacked or m trouble, they would have other parts, of the Empire rushing to their assistance. .The Empire had been built up by a variety of. causes, and it had taken a long time. Three of the causes would be spoken t»f that day. The Empire had been built up by statesmanship, and protected by tht military, but behind all that peopl® folt that there was another force. They believed that God had been silently, invisibly working, and if He had not been at work the Empire would not have been what it was. God should therefore be honored by them as a nation, and Rud. yard Kipling had written a great hymn on this, called "The •Recessional," or "Lest we Forget." They must not forget- Who was behind them. Good' and noble men of character and courage had built up the -Empire, and it was desired that th© young peopl© growing up, besides cleverness and bravery, should have goodness too, go that they would have strong characters. They must not forget God m their' daily lives, and that He provided them with the things they enjoyed m their daily lives, Health and strength and this glorious country. Mr Seddon was fond of calling New Zealand "God's own country," and it did seem that He had wondrously blessed it, and given New Zealand many things which other countries had not. People should thank Him for. these gifts, and be like Him m hating all God hated, and loving all He loved, -/.they had an example oi what the^ should do m the life and character of the Saviour. In the Pacific Ocean a great many of the islands were built up hy the tiny coral insect. Millions of these had died and gone to make up islands, and every one, though so small, had done its part. In such way the Empire was built up by tiny units of people, and, like\ the coral insect. ' they could do something to aid the Empire. Children should not be., like the boy who got a packet of cigarettes and thought that was life. They should be. unselfish and help one another, and by doing that they would be doing their part, m helping the Empire to be as great and .prosperous as it had. been/ m tbe past. Mr Rees 6aid it always gave him great pleasure to. address an . assemblage of children, and m, the 140 scholars he saw before him was tlie material out of which the fathers and mothers of a future generation were to come. When the present men and women had passed away, these boys would have to guard' the country from invasion, and take their work m the world on farm or m office, while the girls would have to cany on the households. He wished to speak to them of tbe part that statesmen like Mr Seddon m New Zealand and Mi' Deaktn m Australia took m, building, up the Empire. In this Empire there were about 160 million children, or a million for every child there that day. Mr Rees epoke of the progress made m New Zealand since the first colonists landed, not very many years ago. He pointed out that statesmen had often risen from small beginnings, and instanced Abraham Lincoln, America's great President. From Alfred the~Great statesmen could 'be traced down who had help, ed to give character to the nation, men who had'asaiated to carry its flag to every, sea, and haying obtained' the greatest victory of all, a victory over themselves, had served their country and their God. Children should speak tbe truth,, and honor their fathers and mothers be generous, but' never foolish, and strive to do each day's work well. If they were called to positions of influence they would thus be prepared by discipline to fill them. AJtho&gh;,many could not be called to high positions, they could still do their part iai helping to build up the, Empire. In Russia a man's life M-as not ealfe from day to day, but m the British. Empire people were free to 6ay and do what they chose, Boys andi crirls could not get rid of the great responsibility placed on them as subjects of the greatest Crowp that existed, and they should govern themselves by the lignt of truth arid justice. Mr Rees. m conclusion, hoped the Mam. gapapa school would have many Empire days. The senior children then sang brightly a military song* written by Mr A. Hill for. the New Zealand school cadets., Colonel Porter said it was tHe first time he had 6poken to a gathering of children, and therefore he felt he was speak.ing at a disadvantage, and hoped they would forgive him. He reminded them that May 24th was the birthday of the noble lady Queen Victoria, the first Empress of Inijia, ana the founder of the Empire. After referring "to the ecclesiastical and political pillars of the Empire, the Colonel pointed out that when the statesmen were usable to settle their differences th© aid of the soldier was sought. It was the duty of the soldier to fight for what' was right, although very of ten be had to fight for what was wrong. In fighting for the Empire soldiers knew that they hafl to 'sacrifice their lives to maintain it, because if it no longer existed they would become slaves to others. . It was the statesmen who had to be careful that they did not bring about the destruction' of the Empire by the mrongful use of the soldier. People should avoid becoming the aggressors, and as a rule Britain had not done that. In the early days of the Empire even ministers of the Church became soldiers, and went off into foreign countries on crusades to fight for th© laws of God. .The Knights of St. John, and the Knights of Malta, •religious bodies, fought tor tbe good against the bad. Colonel Porter spoke oi the life of Lord Wolseley, Gene, ral Gordon, and Lords Roberts and Kit* chener. Speaking of the latter two, Colonel Porter said he had the opportunity of meeting them, and beneath Lord. Kitchener's stern exterior there was a kind, considerate heart, but be , had to look to the general good, and not allow himself to be diverted by small things. Lord Kitchener was a .strict general, and would not swerve from bis, duty to the ; Empire. Children: should bear m mind that they should not think too much of j their own troubles, but §hould be obedient to their parents and those placed above -them. Thfey should ignore the bad., and emulate th© a good. He, as a senior officer thought it no wrong to acknowledge his superiors, and to pay deference to those officers placed above him. If' was a duty and' there was no one more sensible: to duty's demands than Himself. People though* that jo drilling boys, they were making aoldiers of them for the pHirpose of killing others, but this was not so. Only one hoy m ten would m all likelihood become a soldier. By drilling boys they were teaching themi obedience j and' reverence for those above them. Those boys would then be ready to take arms when necessary to defend their . country. The army' and navy should never wish to become the aggressors, but ' should be the support of the Church and j State. ' I Mr McXeod 6aidi children would learn . / from Colonel Porter's remarks about Lord |

Kitchener, that the teachers' stem facet only hid kindly hearts, and their wish was to see the dfilldren ppcovr up obedient ativd good. He wished Empire Day cam© on a warm and sunny day, and then they coulfl Have a picnic. Mi* Hunter, headmaster, said the school were fortunate m getting such gentlemen to speak to them, and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Colonel Porter, Mr Rees, and tl»e Rev. Mr Chatterton. Mr Levy, woodwork instructor, seconded the motion, and the children gave three hearty cheers for the speechmakers. Cheers were given for th© ladies present and 'for the school teachers. It was announced that a holiday would be granted, and "God Save the King" brought the proceedings to a close.