RECHABIIE HONORS BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14596, 4 May 1918, Page 5

RECHABI IE HONORS BOARD.

THE UNVEILING CEREMONY

At the Masonic Hall last night the unveiling took place of an honors board, containing the names of those of the Rechabite Qrder, Gisborne Tent, who Jiad been accepted for service. ' Bro. D. W. Coleman, P.C.R., presided, and introduced Bro. T. Fathers, district^ secretary, who performed the ceremony. Bro. mentioned , that 130,000 members of the order had' been accepted for service, and 5000 had made the suoi'sme sacrifice. Of the membership of 78i>fbr Gisborne, 19 had left New Zeaj land, of whom two had returned, and ! two had "gone West." Others had oifered their services but had not bean accepted. Referring to the definition of the word, "duty," it had, he remarked, been well said "that whatever we could do m jife that would make us noble or help others to become noble, was our duty; but the War had made the call of duty sound m every ear. The call had bean definite and clear, and on the whole the response had been noble. The answer had cost the lives of many of our bravest and our best. They; now rested iv graves far away from thos^e, who had lost them, but still lovingly cherished their memory. And the great sacrifice had not been m vain. They had done their duty and God could be trusted to sea to the res^. He was very pleased to have the opportunity and the honor, m the namie of the New Zealand Tent of the Gisborne Order of Rechabites, to^ unveil the honors board. As tliay would ,ses, it bore on its face the emblem of '■•tHfeir Order- and the names of those who had been accepted for service and had been sent out to fight against the, enemies of our country. Those who had made' the supreme sacrifice, he' added, had died the noblest 'death that man could die, fighting for God and for King and liberty. (Applause). The, board, which was designed and executed by . Mr. Johns, is of rimu, with the sijm of the Order above tl>« names, which- are inscribed m gold 'lettering. ■ Following are the names on the honors board : — R." J. Newton (killed m action), H. Johns (returned). J. A. Wolstenljolme. F. J. Bu'rge, A: F. Bird, «T. Sawyer, R. D. Hodgson f return-ad), C. .Wilson, E. Vowles (killed m action), J. A. Booth (returned). J. Mcllwraith, F. V. Nielson, P. T. Walker, J. Smale, R. Nielson.^

After the unveiling, the closing ode was sung, and the company, including the representatives of the various lodges and friendly societies, adjourned to the lower hall, where a plentiful supper was prpvided, and' enjoyed by all.. After the toast of the "Kinor." the following were proposed :. "The Boys •at the IFront," by Mis L. Clayton-ftesporided to by Bro. Serjrt. H. Johns): !'Recliabite Order," by Bro. R. Robb (responded to by Bro. T. Fathers) ; kindred societies, Bro. R. H. Clark (responded to by Bros, 0. Ambridge, W. L. File, Clare, J. Bradley, and H. Drummondj) ; "Juvenile Rechabites," Bro. F. Lancnster. P.'C.R.- (responded to by Bro. D. W. Coleman. P.C.R.): "The Ladies." Bro. Campbell (responded to 'by Sister Coleman, P.ft.R.) ' ■ ' . ' During the evening a short musical 'programme was given by the following contributors : Cornet duet, by Bros. Sftwyer ; song* by Messrs, R. Thompson, E. Sharpies, and Harvey Johns; piano and cornet duet, Ensign and Mrs. Sawyer. The singing of the National Anthem brought to a close a cheery and pleasant gathering. The Order is to be congratulated on its effort to preserve the memory of its soldiers, and the honors board, m itself a handsome piece of work, will always serve as' a. reminder of those who went away. Before closing Bro. Coleman tendered his thanks to' Mrs. R. Thompson, who kindly presided at the piano. , ,'-,