ORANGE CONCERT

Southland Times, Issue 20537, 13 July 1928, Page 7

ORANGE CONCERT

LAST NIGHT’S ENTERTAINMENT. LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE The Municipal Theatre was well filled and seating accommodation had to be sought on the steps of the dress circle on the occasion of the annual entertainment arranged by the Loyal Orange Institution last night. Consisting of pictures and concert items the programme provided an excellent and varied selection which was full of interest to the audience. The interesting feature of the picture programme was a film taken in Invercargill by the Government photographer during May Fair. Despite the bad weather conditions, the photography was very clear and a very fair representation of the week’s activities was given. After an hour’s pictures, the concert proper was begun. The Rev. A. Mcßean, who was chairman, in his introductory remarks, reminded those present that they were there in celebration of the great Protestant victory at the Battle of the Boyne. Most people had the idea that the chief business of a Protestant was to protest, but that prejudice was gained through mistaking the derivation—the word really came from the Latin “protestare”—“pro” for “testis,” a witness, and a Protestant was one who gave witness openly of the truth. An Orangeman stood for civil and religious liberty and for the open Bible; the Orange Lodge and Protestantism stood for liberty of conscience and the right of private judgment. There was need to watch over those principles. He referred to a sermon by Cardinal Bourne at Cambridge in which he looked forward to the time when the sovereign of England would be a Roman Catholic. Fortunately England had guarded against that possibility. Referring to the Prayer Book controversy, he said it often seemed that a church should be free to adapt its own prayer book, but it should never be forgotten that the Church of England was an established church and as such gained certain privileges and prestige. A certain section of the church was trying to reserve the sacraments for the purposes of adoration, believing it to be the actual flesh and blood of Christ. As a speaker in the House of Commons said: “If the clergy will not accept the teachings of the Church of England, then let them form a church of their own or join the Roman Catholics.” However, no great cause could be built up on enmity to another cause, and Protestantism stood for tolerance and charity. If any members of an Orange Lodge was guilty of active hostility to another denomination, he violated the qualifications of an Orangeman. What they should all do was to live up to their principles, remembering the Open Bible and Christ to which it lead.

Mr T. R. Pryde gave a rousing baritone solo “King Charles” and was loudly encored. His return piece “Drink to me only with Thine Eyes” was a delightful contrast. “Mifanwy,” sung by Miss B. M. Pryde, was a great success and as encore, she sang “O Western Wind.” That ever-popular fellow, Monty, was cleverly personified by Mr W. Buchan who discoursed on the foibles of women. This was followed by the amusing matrimonial adventures of “Nell” and her mother. A second recall brought the modern version of “The Green Eve of the Little Yellow God” —“The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog.” Miss R. Helm sang sweetly “Bird Songs at Eventide” and in response to loud applause, gave a vivacious rendering of “The Little Blue Sunbonnet.” Mr Rewi Kingsland was as popular as ever in his two items, “My Little Wee Hut on the Hill” and “Green Grow the Rashes, O.” A very good selection of airs was given by the Invercargill Scottish Pipe Band. “Sweet Maid of Glendaraul,” “Piob M’hor,” “The Rocking Stone of Inverness” and “Reel of Tulluch” were the airs selected. At conclusion of the concert section, a historical romance “Bonnie Prince Charlie” was thrown on the screen and delighted all.