PATEA OBSERVANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 7

PATEA OBSERVANCE

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES. METHODIST AND ANGLICAN. A flag was flown at half-mast on the municipal buildings and special services were held at Patea yesterday in all churches to mark Armistice Day. Church times were advanced to permit the two minutes’ silence to occur during the early part of the service. A special morning service was held in the Methodist Church and repeated in the afternoon at Manutahi. Ex-servicemen paraded at the St. George Church last night, the Patea Municipal Band playing the hymn accompaniments, additional seating being provided for the large attendance. The choir sang the anthem “O, Taste and See.”

Taking for the text of his address “Our lamps have gone out,” the vicar, the Rev. W. H. Walton, based his appeal to keep the track of remembrance alight on the parable of the 10 virgins, of whom five failed to keep their lamps burning until the crisis of darkness was past. Though possessing intelligence, they were slack in maintaining vital interest. They lacked, he said, the fire and energy in their souls which was needed when the crisis came. They realised their folly when too late and cried “Our lamps are gone out.” The tide had turned, their opportunity had passed, the call of duty came but they failed. The parable had nothing to do with material things, but in the furnishing of souls with preparation to meet life’s crises and problems. The light was only real when its supply was from eternal source and religion was only real and vital when God occupied a vital place in it. When remembering those who by the sacrifice of their lives set a great example people should more than outwardly observe it. “What mean ye by this service?” asked the Rev. W. H. Wilson at the morning service at the Patea Methodist Church yesterday at which there was a large congregation. To-day, said Mr. Wilson, he had no hesitation in declaring that the 11th hour of the Uth day of the 11th month should never be forgotten. The World War, the greatest war in history, ended 16 years ago. There were two aspects of expenditure. In money it cost £196,000,000,000 but who could tabulate the sufferings of a million men of the Empire who gave their lives, and of the millions who were wounded, and came back with impaired health and ruined constitutions? They should not be forgotten.

They were met not merely to remember an event but to remember men who did something great and in doing it gav* their lives. What was there about these men to remember?

They were men of strength. They were the picked specimens of the nation’s manhood. They were remembered not only as men of splendid physique, but as men of superlative courage. They possessed the sterling quality of endurance. Experience had taught that men might lose what they won by strength and courage if they lacked the ability to endure. Great as these qualities might be it was not on tfiem that he laid the greatest stress to-day. They were men of sacrifice.. All they had they gave, to build a Utopia. There were 17,000 small crosses to remind New Zealand of the great cross of Jesus Christ and all that the country owed to . the ideals for which the cross of Calvary stood. They could not do a greater or more lasting honour to ths cherished memories of those heroic spirits than consecrate themselves to the completion of the task in the performance of which they died, the achievement of universal and age-long peace. In conclusion Mr. Wilson said that m the years to come, when the children asked, “What mean ye by this service?” they could say they were followers of those who gave their lives for the world’s freedom and honoured their memory by this action.