HONOR TO THE BRAVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13785, 10 September 1915, Page 7

HONOR TO THE BRAVE.

MEMORIAL TO CHATI.AIX- MAJOR

GRANT,

The high esteem iib which the late Chaplain-Major W. Grant was held m Gisborne was evidenced yesterday afternoon, when a, large and representative fathering of citizens assembled m 'ownley's hall to attend a meeting convened for the purpose of considering the establishment of a, memorial to perpetuate. ,the name of they late chaplain. Mr Townley, who was voted to the chair, said that they met on a very sad occasion. The ssadness around 'them just now was apareait to all. They exSected to lose some of their young soliers, but they ne£er expected to lose a minister. He was a gentleman of the city, and the meeting was to consider what they could do to perpetmate his memory. They all knew the good work, Mr Grant had done m Gisborne, and at the seat of war. Mr Grant, he was sure, had notV an. enemy m Gisborne. (Applause.) He fulfilled his duties hero as a minister and a citizen, and when war broke out he considered it his duty to go to the front. He could not stay, and he told him (the Chairman) so. The meeting was to decide m wlrnt way they could best commemorate one of their greatest townsmen. It was open to anyone to suggest what would be a proper course to pursue. Tin's was the first time they had a. meeting m connection, with heroes who had fallen m Uie war.

The Chairman then called on Mr Kells to readi a number of apologies. The Yen. Archdeacon Williams forwarded with his apology a cheque for £5. - v

Tho Chairman tlien. called on Mr J. W. Bright, who ss^d it was needless to nay they were all sad m meeting on s-uch 'an occasion,* but they must do something practical. Continuing, Mr Bright offered suggestions for perpetuating the memory of their esteemed citi?eri. He was opposed to spending all tho money on a statue If the response was as liberal as". they expected they might erect a small monument. The- llev. It. Baane suggested having a gathering of citizens, and a memorial service, say m the Garrison Hall. There were to be special services at St. Andrew's Church oh the 19th, but mariy citizens would not bo able to attend, and it might be Y arranged to have a citizen's gathering' on the afternoon of tho 19th. He had spoken to Mrs Grant and Mr 'Grant's sister, Mrs Smale, and they were agreeable to the proposal. Major Beere had also thought it would b«? a fitting course. Mr J. B. Kells considered that was a matter the clergymen of the town could arrange. He moved that a committee be set up to go into the subject of collecting subscriptions for a suitable memorial to the late Chaplain-Major Grant. He proposed the following committee: Yen. Archdeacon Packe, Rev. Father I#ane, Adjutant Avenell, Dr. Scott, Messrs J. Townley, J. W. Bright, V. Tyke. D. J. Barry, Wm. Bruce, H. Kenway, W. Webb, G. Witters, T. Jex-Blake, G. Stock, li. Boland, and J. B. Kells.

Mr Wachsmann seconded Ml 1 Kells' motion.

Mr W. F. J. Anderson thought they should first of all "decide on a scheme for the memorial. He thought if they got say £1000 they might endow a cot at the hospital, should the subscriptions not be devoted to other purposes; Mr H. Kenway agreed with Mr Aiv derson tliat it would be no use going to the public for subscriptions until they decided on what form the memorial would take. A cot at the hospital had his approval. ! \ Mrs A. Graham, supported the endowment of a cot at the -hospital after other provisions had been made. Mr Bright concurred. Mr C. Taylor suggested a statue monument m a public place would be a fitting memorial, and he thought this would be accepted by the public. Air J. H. Kane supported Mr Kells' motion. They could safely go ahead and Collect the money, which, if it was not required, could be devoted towards some fitting memorial such as had been suggested. , Mr Kells pointed, out that m fortniiig a' committee- they wished to. make it as broad as possible. It. was not a 1 sectarian or church affair, but a citizens' monument. (Applause.) Ivl f V". Pyke suggested as an alternative to the hospital cot proposal, the (•rection of a home for returning disabled soldiers, to be called "Grant's Memorial Home for Soldiers." This he believed, would have met with the wishes of Chaplain Grant.

Mr G. J. Black pointed out that already a considerable sum had been subscribed -for wounded soldiers, The present movement was for a Grant Memorial — (Hear, hear.) — a,nd the money should be devoted to this purpose alone. The wounded soldiers would bo looked after all right. • In reply to Mr Mann. Mr Kells said his motion was to appoint a, committee to collect subscriptiont-. The question as to what form the memorial should lake, could be decided later.

Tlie Rev. F. W. Chatterton said lie hoped the piotion would be. carried. It was, m his opinion, premature to decide oii any- form- -of memorial at that meetr ing.

Mr A. Graham said the souirce of iinformation of the death of ChaplainMajor Grant was from Chaplain-Major McDonald, of Cairo. Tho Chairman "said they wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and a scheme could be propounded later. The motion carried, and the following names were added to t<he Committee : Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Messrs A. Graham, (1. T. Bull, W. G. Sherratt, ,L R. Ifyric, and J. H. Kane.' At the instance of Mr Mann, a vote of sympathy was passed to Mrs. Grant and family, Mr CedevtvaH suggested that some recommendation should ko to the Committee from that meeting as to what purpose tho money should be used for. Dr. Williams thought the best memorial they could provide was to see that the Rev. Mr Grant's boys s got a. chance iti the world. (Applause.) They should have something that applied particularly to their late esteemed friend. There were plenty of scholarships and. beds at the hospital. The Chairman, said ho took it the feeling of the meeting was that the scheme should be for a "Grant Memorial Fund," the. first object being\to make provision for tlie family, Mr. G. J. Black proposed: "That it be an instruction to the Committee that trustees be appointed, and the whole of the funds collected be handed over to the trustees for the Avidow and family." Mr Mann seconded the motion.

Mr Bright thought their effort shouid go further, and he moved: "That this meeting approves of the attempt to collect auch a fund that the inoome will provide assistance for Mrs Grant and family if necessary} thereafter to commemorate the late Mr Grant's memory by N Bome permanent scheme, of relief or public benefit; the Committee to report to a future meeting."

Mr Anderson seconded the amendment, which was carried. Mr F. T. Robinson suggested the Committee might take into consideration the establishment of a theological scholarship. A vote ol tljanks to the Chairman concluded tho meeting. A number of subscription lists were Issued,