ANGLICAN MEMORIAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6998, 3 December 1948, Page 6

ANGLICAN MEMORIAL

UNVEILING, DEDICATION, AND CONSECRATION IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT KAWHIA Blow out, you bugles, over the rich Dead ! There’s none of these so lonely and poor of old But, dying, has made us rarer gifts tthan gold. These laid the world away; poured out. the red Sweet wine of youth; gave up the years to be Of work and joy, and that unhoped serene /- That men call atre; and those who would have been Their sons, they pave their immortality. —Rupert Brooke. On Sunday last a crowded congregation assembled at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Kawhia, when a carved altar and Communion rails were dedicated as a memorial to those men who had made, the Supreme Sacrifice during the recent war. The ceremony was one moving in its simplicity, one in which the living mutely saluted the columns of the patient dead as they marched past along the way of Remembrance. The service was marked with all the fidelity that so deeply significant an occasion demanded. A Day of Thankfalness

After the singing of an appropriate hymn and the National Anthem, the vicar, Rev. W'. Bell, read the Gospel, the concluding verse being “ Greater Love hath no man than that he J lay down his life for his friend 1 ”

Thereafter, the Minister intoned: They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

Addressing the congregation, Mr Bell said that that was a great day of thankfulness in the history of Kawhia and the Church. Thanks to the hard work of the Vestry and the generosity of the people, they had built a memorial in memory of the men who had made the Supreme Sacrifice. He invited Mrs C. E. Aubin, as one of the oldest residents and as one who herself had suffered grievously, to unveil the memorial.

Mrs Aubin, in response, removed the drapings, revealing a beautifully carved altar, the work of Mir A. E. Chank, of Plimmerton, and nicely finished Communion rails. As she did so, she intoned clearly: “ I unveil this memorial to the Glory of God and in sad Remembrance of the men of Kawhia killed during the war.” Visibly affected by the trying ordeal, Mrs Aubin was escorted back to her pew by Mr L. Allen.

The dedication and consecration was then solemnly performed by the vicar who hoped that the altar and rails would be a constant reminder to them of the goodness of God. He trusted that they would look at 'them, not only as a fitful memorial to those who had made the Supreme Sacrifice, but as a symbol of God Almighty’s love. Impressive Silence

At the vicar’s invitation the congregation then reverently observed a two minutes’ silence. And into those brief, tense moments of stillness there came naturally a train of salutary meditation—a regretful sadness for the weary years of strife, a sense of relief that they had had an end, a moving gratitude for the heroism and

sacrifice of those who counted not their lives dear unto them, a deep resolve that’the way of Peace shall be trodden. Central in regard were those who went away from Kawhia and district to meet death that others might live in Freedom. ’ Inspiring Address

The Rev. Mt Bell took as the text for a short and inspiring sermon verse 24, chapter 6 of Joshua: “ What mean ye by these stones ? ” He recalled the Biblical record of how Joshua, after a miraculous crossing of a river, a feat which he ascribed to the goodness of God, had erected a cairn of stones to commemorate the great event which marked his progress from the wilderness into the Promised Land. So that day they should remember that God had been good to them and our Empire, a nation and a people. Great events in history had proved the truth of the assertion. The heroic evacuation of Dunkirk and the landing in Sicilyxjn recent years, and the dispersing of the Spanish Armada by a gale were but manifestations of the goodness of and the thanks due .to God Almighty. The memories of the days from 1940 to 1945 would last longer than the stars of life, so that that day theirs should be a thankful spirit. The question then came up: “ What mean ye by this altar 1 ” The answer was that it was there to perpetuate those who counted not lifedear but gave their all so that those who remained or came after them might live in freedom. After Dunkirk Britain had had to start and re-build, and in that, great task the true spirit of men and women was brought out. They worked as never before, and achieved wonderful results, a circumstance which was predominant, in all the Forces. They should therefore thank God for them, and, looking at the altar, resolve: “ Wle shall remember them.,” for their deeds which begat their love and gratitude and sympathy for relatives and friends who had suffered so grievously. They should all realise the price paid and should make statesmen realise their ardent desire for peace, though he realised the most difficult job to-day was peace finding. If they held to the high ideal in life to help one another, if they treated all men as one, they would have peace. They should all be patriots to the Empire, to New Zealand, to the world, and should pray for peace to. bring about their ideals of security so that they would leave behind something worth while. New Zealand could be a leader in these ideals. All should consecrate themselves to the service of mankind, based on high and mighty ideals.

Looking at the altar, the preacher said it would remind them that “ Greater Love hath no man than that he lay down his life for his friend,” and at the same time cause them to remember in thankfulness and gratitude those who had given their all in the cause of Freedom. The players and hymns were appropriate to the inspiring occasion, the organ music being played by Mjrs J. Dearlove.

Numerous members of the congregation remained for a Communion service which followed.