OBSERVANCE AT NELSON.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12654, 27 September 1909, Page 2

OBSERVANCE AT NELSON.

MILITARY CHUHCH PARADE. Dominion Day was celebrated yesterday by the holding of church'parades. In die city there was a particularly good muster of volunteers, and the parade was an. imposing one. every unit bting represented. According to a pre-arrangenient the force was so divided as to give the chaplains of the. corps at headquarters an equaJ representation.. Lieuteiiiant-Colonol Jos'ce, O.C D commanded the brigade, which niarolieil hum tiiie Drill Shed and detached ifcsolf without orders to tihe several churches.. A-t tlio Oa,thodriU the Gbaplaiir-CoJ-or.el, Bishop Mules, . officiated, being assisted by the Rev. J. P. K© m p! thome. Bishop Mules took for his text, Matt, viii, 9: "The centurion. answered and said: 'For I am a man. under authority, having soldiers under me ' " etc. The very words of tiiie text, said the preacher, proved that obedience aaul discipline must he- both expected in and practised by a soldier. This was characteristic of the Romaji. Army, but this high statewas the growth of many years, and only attained to by degrees. Individual courage and physical strength are wortJi much, but' they do not equal obedience, discipline of mind amd body, constant exercise for and confidence in the comma aider. It was this making, as it were, a profession cf arms, which made Rome mistress ot the world. This constant drill and. practice cf warlike exercise had been aptly described as "exercises that were battles without bloodshed, whilst to the soldier the bloodiest battJ? was but an exercise." It was when Rome became, neglectful and given over to every social evil and vice that she fell a prey to the invaders. The preacher then passed on to show how the Christian man was likened to a soldier. How obedience, training and experience in Christian v.irtue, abstaining from vice, love and confidence in the Great Commandrir, or in otlier words faith, and a cbse study of the book of rules (the Bible) was necessary. Vice in both taie soldier and the Christian was fatal. In the soldier it lead to failure hi the day of battle, and disease, so that more soldiers died in war from disease, either directly or indirectly the outeoino- of vice, than were killed by the bullets of the enemy. The preacher concluded with an. earnest appeal for all to become good soldiers of the Loid Jesus Christ; to be a better C'iuistian was to be a better man, and sanely he must be a better soldier who was a better man. The surplus offertory was given to the funds of St. Andrew's Orphanage. The recessional hymn was '.'On.ward, Christian Soldiers." At the Presbyterian Church. Chaplain Lu'iit.-Col. the Rev. J. H Mackenzie was the preacher, and at All Saints Chaplain Captain the Rev. W. S. Lucas preached an. appropriate sermon. There were large con"reo- - ations. D The parade states in the city wero as follows :— District Staff 2, H Battery 28, Battalion Staff 2, Stoke Rifles (ton-n section) 20, Nelson Rifles <10, Defence Cadets: Staff 1 No 1 Company College Cadets 25 No 2 Company College Cadets 34, No 3 Company College Cadets 26, unattached officers 9, Defence Rifle Club lo Garrison Band 27, Public School Cadets 67, Bugle Baud 17; total, ot all ranks, 318. After service the brigade marched to the upper end of Trafalgar street, where prior to dismissal the Garrison band played the National Anthem. Lieut piiia.nt-Colo.ncl Joyce, in addressiing the officers, expressed his appreciation of the fine muster and general appearance of the- parade.