EMPIRE DAY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11582, 24 May 1916, Page 5

EMPIRE DAY.

KIPLING’S MESSAGE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, May 33, Kipling’s message for Empire Day is as follows:—• When Germany challenged us to hold up with our lives the ideals by which we professed to live, w» accepted the challenge, not out of madness nor for glory or gain, but to make good those professions. Since then our Allies and our Empire have fought that they may bo free and that all the world may be free of the intolerable domination of German ideals. Wo did not foresee the size of the task when it opened. We do not flinch from it now. Long months have schooled us to full knowledge and tempered us nationally and indidvidually to meetit. The nations within the Empire have created, maintained and reinforced from their best great armies which they devote without question to this issue. They have emerged one by 7 one as powers clothed with power through discipline and sacrifice, strong for good, by the bitter,4mowledge of the evil they are and wise in the nnpurchasabie wisdom of actual achievement. Knowing as nations what it is we fight for, realising as men and women the resolve that has been added to us by what each endured, we go forward now under the proud banner oi our griefs and losses to great effort, endurance and, if need be heavier sacrifice, equal sponsors for the deliverance of mankind.

OBSERVANCE IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, May 23. There will be a modified observance of Empire Day. No public holiday or entertainments will take place. Schools will be restricted to an hour’s lesson on patriotic subjects. Intercessory services will be held in the churches.

IMPERIAL BRITAIN. Oh glorious sun of Britain never j set, i Of Britain now new born to Empire I great, : In noonday splendour of Imperial t light &hiue shall the majesty of Britain’s might. It was not yesterday Britannia rose, To-morrow shall not see her Empire close; Lo ! generations pass and yet shall stand The power and name of Britain — wondrous laud. Pass on oh sous of men to destined lot, But be the fame of Britain ne'er forgot: Outlast all Empires stand through ages sure, Great name, great land that ever shall endure. Day unto day that utter tho wondrous speech, Shall glory of our British Empire preach; Night unto night that starry knowledge shows Proclaim it shall Britannia’s greatness grows, Lo ! ancient Tyre and Sidon Where are they? And Greece and Rome so famous in their day? Passed aie they lienee, but Britain always stay, The rule of Britain shall not pass away. Girdling wide Earth iis circling track along, Dwell Britain’s sous and daughters, what vast throng, Where is the laud, the sea that knows not them? Far flung their Empire, what iis course shall stem? Greatest of Empires sines Time’s race began, Extended East and West in widest span, The light ne’er sets on myriad lands thine own. Day lives for ever through thy wondrous zone. Oh glorious sun of Britain neverjset* Imperial Britain rise still higher yet: The destined hour has come, go lead the way, Sbino bright thy sun, great symbol of true day. A . L, Marton, N.Z,, May 22nd, DU?,