“EYE OF LIGHT”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 5

“EYE OF LIGHT”

VICTORIA’S SHRINE DEDICATION CEREMONY HUGE CROWD IN STREETS REMEMBRANCE OF DEAD MONUMENT; NOT TOMB By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.30 p.m. Melbourne, Nov. 11. The weather relented somewhat this morning when the Duke of Gloucester dedicated the Shrine of Remembrance. The sun shone occasionally through heavy clouds upon the most remarkable assemblage ever witnessed at Melbourne. Hours before 11 a.m. crowds began to arrive, until when the ceremony began the approaches to the shrine and the lawns in St. Kilda and Domain Roads were packed with a living mass estimated at more than 300,000 persons. Massed bands opened the proceedings with hymns at 10.45 a.m. The Governor, Lord Huntingfield, the Duke of Gloucester and party arrived and entered the sanctuary. The assembly with bowed heads waited before the Rock of Remembrance for the eleventh hour, when the “Eye of Light” shone across the stone. Emerging in solemn procession the Royal party proceeded to a dias, where the first address was delivered by General Chauvel, chairman of the shrine trustees, Sir Stanley Argyle following. MONUMENT OF BEAUTY. “A monument of beauty, not a tomb; a sacrament and a prayer; a house of love that looks beyond the grave; a memorial to sacrifices which we hope and believe have not been in vain” these are the descriptions which have been applied to the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria’s great war memorial. “Let all men know that this is holy ground; this shrine established in the hearts of men as on the solid earth commemorates a people’s fortitude and sacrifice. Ye therefore that come after give remembrance.” This inscription on the western wall of the inner shrine beneath the great dome of the imposing building testifies the people’s acknowledgment of the war sacrifices of Victorians. Amid a setting of sculpture in dark marble, massive lonic columns and majestic monoliths it is an epitaph which will remind future generations of the great events of 1914-18. Built at a cost of £260,000 the shrine stands on an elevation at a bend on the famous tree-lined St. Kilda Road and on the fringe of the Botanical Gardens in such a position that it dominates the landscape for miles _ around. Though a mile from the city, its great bulk looms imposingly in the view down Swanston Street, one of the main city thoroughfares. It is a landmark which can be seen from far out to sea, and from the surrounding hills it stands, out conspicuously among the city s architecture. MAGNIFICENT SIMPLICITY. Composed entirely of elaborated stone and marble, its walls and base are balustraded with magnificent simplicity. Each parapet commands sweeping panoramic views of the city and the surrounding country, and on the walls above the terraces the names of the great battles, in which the Australians fought are inscribed. Within the inner shrine are housed 42 caskets of bronze which contain the Books of Remembrance, the parchment pages of which are inscribed with manuscript records of the names of the Victorian soldiers and sailors who died during the war. Here also is the “King’s Book,” inscribed with the special message of His Majesty the King, “Let their names be for ever held in proud remembrance." A calm religious atmosphere pervades the inner shrine. In the centre of the paved marble floor is the Rock of Remembrance, a plain slab of dark marble sunk below the pavement in such a manner that every head must bow to read the inscription which it bears, “Greater Love Hath No Man.” “Eye of Light, a shaft of daylight which gleams through an aperture which has been placed so scientifically in the dome that only on this day at 11 a.m. each year does the “Eye of Light” penetrate to the Rock of Remembrance. _ . Around the walls of the inner shrine space has been provided for eight sculptured sentinels—the Guardians of the Shrine —Love, Peace, Courage, Integrity, Faith, Strength, Brotherhood and Honour. Beneath the floor is a crypt to which two sets of stone stairs descend and which contains the unit memorials of the Australian Imperial Forces, and the Royal Australian Navy. TOKEN OF GRATITUDE. “This noble shrine is erected as a token of our gratitude to those who fought for us,” said the Duke. It is intended not only as a symbol to be seen by all who come to this great city, but also as a reminder that the sacrifice of those men and women lays a duty on us who follow. “They fought to secure for the world the blessings of peace. It is for us. to seek to repay their devotion by striving to preserve that peace. To the glory of God and in grateful memory of men and women of this state who served the Great War I dedicate this shrine. Before inviting the Duke to dedicate the shrine, Sir Stanley read Mr. Rudvard Kipling’s specially written ode, the first verse being:— “So long as memory, valour and faith endure, Let these stones witness through the years to come How once there was a people fenced secure s Behind great waters, girdling a far home.” Six verses describe exploits of the Australians in the war, the final verse being:— “Then they returned to their desired land, The kindly cities and plains where they were bred, Having revealed their nation in the Earth’s sight. So long as sacrifice and honour stand And their own sun at the hushed hour shall light The shrine of these their dead.” Over 27,000 troops of all units, including a large contingent of New Zealanders, assembled at various points before the ceremony and at a given signal marched off and converged near the shrine, marching 120 abreast, then dividing. They formed a line for the Royal party. . While in the shrine, the Duke laid on the rock of remembrance the King’s wreath. No other wreaths were presented until after the ceremony. Throughout the afternoon there was a continuous stream of people bearing wreaths. Many of the vast assembly remained in the vicinity of the shrine till sundown.