MASSED PARADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 673, 27 May 1929, Page 14

MASSED PARADE

GIRL GUIDES' SERVICE ADDRESS BY GOVERNORGENERAL INSPIRING GATHERING "Every year the sight becomes more inspiring.’’ Thus the Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson, addressing the Girl Guides and Brownies of Auckland l at the Town Hall yesterday, adequately described the massed assemblage. Girlß of all troops, marshalled in the auditorium for the annual service, certainly presented a striking picture. The Vice-regal party, including the Cady Alice Fergusson and the Countess Thelma Metaxa, was welcomed on arrival by Dr. Buckley Turkington, and to the strains of the National Anthem was escorted into the hall between a guard of honour of various units with colours trooped. The ceremony was presided over by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Baildon, with whom was associated Archbishop Averill and the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, and representatives of other denominations. The assembled troops were addressed by the Governor-General who, in remarking upon the inspiring spectacle, expressed the wish that people could stand beside him and view the scene. This was the third occasion on which he had attended the Guides’ annual gathering, he said. “It is fine to think that so many girls belong to an organisation with such splendid ideals, and when we think that this gathering today represents only a fraction of the members of the Girl Guides, it is all the more wonderful,” added his Excellency. Impressing on the girls that he was talking, not preaching, Sir Charles urged the acceptance of the principle in the text: "For, whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, for ye serve Him.” This occasion demanded serious reflection on the past year’s work and thought for the future. Girl Guides were called upon to follow high ideals and to aim at service, and when so assembled should consider how they could render better service to their fellows. Sir Charles concluded his address by remarking that work in which they lacked interest or had no inspiration was a duty quickly performed and set aside. Interest must be present if the work was to be of any value. “To have the finest interest we have to bring God into our work,” he added. During the simple but impressive service prayers were offered up by the Rev. E. R. Harries arid special Guide hymns were sung. The lesson was read by Archbishop Averill.