ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 3

ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED.

On Sunday evening, the Htb inst., au interesting ceremony was performed in St. Jauieb' Presbyterian Church, Pukekohe, by the Rev. 8. Nixon. The ceremony consisted of the unveiling of a Roll of Honour containing the names of over 60 young men who before enlisting had been members or adherents of the Pukekohe Presbyterian Charge. The evening was tine and the condition of the roads permitted people to come from a distance. Long before the hour uf service the ordinary seating accommodation was taxed to its utmost and when service began the Church was overcrowded, some beiug forced to sit in the vestibule. The appropriate hymns and anthems coupled with the sermon made the whole service, which was permeated with intense feeling, harmonious and reverential The music was particularly well rendered by the well-trained choir, with whom the congregation heartily joined. The Bev. S. Nixon chose as his subject the " Wastage and Crime of War " ; and in a telling sermon he portrayed in vivid language how war violated every principle of civilization and religion. After the close of the sermon Mr Nixon proceeded to unveil the memorial. He said : " I esteem it not only a great privilege but a high honour to be in the position of the one who is to unveil before your eyes this Roll of Uonour on behalf of our boys who have voluntarily gone forth to fight onr battles and if need be lay down their lives for us. This Roll contains no less than fifty honoured names of young men to whom it has been my privilege and pleasure to preach the Gospel of Christ—and not a few of whom have testified to their faith in God. These are the names of men, finer than whom, no soldier ever wore British uniform. Among them are the nameß of some who at Gallipoli had a share in addiujr such lustre and glory to the New Zealand Hag, that the name of this Dominion will go down to history honoured and revered as long as Britain lasts." The first four names were those of men who have already giveu their lives for their Empire. The rev. gentlemen having solumuly mentioned these : the quartette " Sleep ou Beloved " was reverently suug by Mrs H, JS. Smitb, Miss Ramsay, Mr J. Eoulstuu and Mr P. Rowo When the reading of the names was finished the congregation joined in singing Oxenham's hymn " For the Men at the Front." After the Benediction a most inspiring service was brought to a close by the singing of '• God Save the King." The Roll of Honour was designed aud executed by Mr D. Hird. Ou the left top comer is the New Zealand flag wh ; le ou the right is the Union Jack. Underneath aud mid-way betweeD the flags is the picture of an officer leading his men from tho trenches to an attack.