KING’S JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20106, 13 May 1935, Page 11

KING’S JUBILEE

SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES INSPIRING EXAMPLE In most of the Churches in Timaru yesterday, services in commemoration of the silver jubilee of his Majesty the King were held. There were large congregations, and special prayers were offered for His Majesty and also for the Queen. ST. MARY’S CHURCH Reference to the silver jubilee of the King was made at St. Mary’s Church yesterday by the Rev. J. Evans. Mr Evans took as his text, “And all the people shouted and said God save the King!” The scene which these v.t rds recalled was the annointing by the prophet Samuel, of Saul, as Israel’s first king. The people had sought an earthly king and during the last few days the same cry of loyalty to a king had resounded throughout the Empire, but unlike in Saul’s day, it was to a king who, during his turbulent and troubled reign, had proved his real worth. Saul was a brave soldier, but he lacked the ability to put himself alongside his people. How different it had been with King George V. By his unfailing sympathy, resourcefulness, courage and humility and service he had won the hearts of the British people and had deepened their loyalty, so that to-day all men of goodwill could cry in sincerity and truth “God Save the King.” No other monarch who had ever lived had felt the heart pulse of the people more sympathetically and accurately than the present sovereign. He had looked upon his people as a family, whom he, by the grace of God, had been called to lead and guide, and in so doing had identified himself with the will of the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords. At a time when the throne of other sovereign States had been tottering and crumbling, that of England and the Empire had stood firm and unshakeable, because upon it sat one who believed in the eternal principles of justice, truth, love, humility and service. Such men and women could not fail to leave a mark upon the pages of history. CHALMERS CHURCH At Chalmers Church yesterday morning, the special order of the service printed for the churches in England was used. Iln his address the Rev. Llywelyn Williams referred to the fact that these celebrations were not merely a personal tribute to the King. They were also an acknowledgement on the part of the British people that they had found the system of government which they wanted, and which they meant to keep. Even in the time of Queen Victoria, there was in England a considerable Republican movement, led by such prominent men as Sir Charles Dilke and Joseph Chamberlain. But this was now practically nonexistent. One or two occasions during the past quarter of a century, there were delicate situations which even an excellent, but rather wilful ruler like Queen Victoria might not have handled too wisely. But through his tact and common sense the present King had surmounted all these difficulties successfully.

Mr Williams said that the King had also given a new understanding of what loyalty meant. He had been loyal to the constitutional idea even when at times the limitations imposed on him might be personally irksome. It was a great thing in life to go on doing one’s duty, even though some aspects of it were personally distasteful. Once again he had shown the glory of some of the homelier virtues. No one would claim for him any great brilliance, perhaps, though one very observant writer did say that he would have made an excellent Prime Minister. England might have had more flashy and spectacular monarchs, but none kinder and more sympathetic. And whilst the world needed its brilliant folk, it would miss still more its kindly souls. His was the authority not of power, but the mightier authority of goodwill and love. It was one thing to be loyal to him because they ought to, but still a greater thing to be loyal because they liked to be. And lastly, he was not only a good king, but also a good man. Blessed indeed were the people who served under such a monarch—a good king and a good man. TRINITY CHURCH. The morning service at Trinity Church took the form of a thanksgiving service in connection with the King’s Jubilee with appropriate hymns and prayers. The address to the children was based on Paul’s words “A Citizen of no mean City” and referred especially to the King’s message to the children. At the conclusion of the service two verses of the National Anthem were sung and the organist, Mr D. Blair, played the “Hallelujah Cohrus.” The Rev. A. J. H, Dow took as his text: Timothy 2:1-2.—“I export therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority.” He then quoted the words of His Majesty King George V. in a recent Christmas broadcast: “May I add very simply and sincerely that if.l may be regarded as in some true sense the head of this great and wide spread family, sharing its life and sustained by its affection,’ this will be a full reward for the long and sometimes anxious labours of my reign of well nigh 25 years.” John Buchan, in the prologue to his recent book “The King’s Grace,” has pointed out that for the 15 centuries that there had been kings in Britain, kingship had changed in character. Kings at one time ruled by virtue of ownership of land or their prowess in battle, but not so now. With the changing times much of the power of the king had gone, but kingship “yet maintained its central function and continued to be a primary instinct of the people.” Twenty-five years a king! Fourteen monarchs had occupied the throne for as long or a greater period but no other period of 25 years had seen such vast changes or contained such grave crises. But in spite of all, the celebration of His Majesty’s silver jubilee found the King more deeply rooted in the affection of his people than ever before. It was only as they reviewed the years that were past that it began to dawn on them how great and worthy was the King. His was no easy heritage. The situation in Great Britain was most delicate and perplexing at the time of his accession, and there was no little anxiety in the minds and hearts of those in power, but the good sense of the plain man guided him then and often afterwards in the decisions that meant everything to the Empire. The King’s life had ever been a life of service. Right up to the present time, the King had always insisted upon carrying a share of the people’s burden. A witness to this was that amidst all the cheering and

shouting, all the messages of congratulation and good will there were those whom he specially bore in his heart, and for whom he expressed special hope—those whose circumstances and lot at the present time were so desperate because of lack of work. In all his broadcasts “his wave length has been subtly attuned” to the hearts of his people. For all this and for much more they gave profound thanks to Almighty God. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The jubilee service at the Congregational Church was conducted by the Rev. J. Milburn Stewart. In his address Mr Stewart said that during the week the voice of praise and thanksgiving had been heard throughout the whole Empire. For 25 years the King had embodied the highest ideals and noblest graces of Kingship in a most unique manner. King Edward had striven for peace, and when that mantle of peace fell, it fell upon a man who was to be the greatest war king of all history. With all these signs of unrest, King George came to the Throne, and never in all his illustrious reign had he swerved from following in the most upright and noble way, and by his example and untiring service for the nation, he had enthroned himself more securely than any of those who had passed before him in the hearts of the people. Mr Stewart said that there came to him the verse of Scripture which said in the Book of Job: “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” And these words were equally true of kings and commoners. Through the years on which he had sat upon the Throne of his fathers, the sparks of trouble had flown high and dry. At one time they set the world aflame. During these dark and stormy days the King stood by his people and in the hour of grief the message of comfort came from a beloved monarch. When the dark cloud hung over the nation again in the illness of the King, and it looked as though he would be called to appear before the King of Kings, the heart of the whole nation was stirred with intense emotion, and their hearts went out in wonderful affection to the royal family.

With grace His Majesty had walked with men and not lost the kingly touch. He had borne the loneliness and responsibility of the Throne with remarkable strength and faithfulness, and with authority of Christian character and conduct. No humble tribute would be complete without the thankful recognition of the part which Queen Mary had played on the Throne. Her grip upon the affections of the people had never relaxed, for her generous heart had always enshrined her people’s needs and interests. In the most unostentatious manner her support had been given to His Majesty as well as to his subjects, for she with her great motherliness, had mothered the Empire. ST. PAUL’S CHURCH The jubilee service at St. Paul’s, Highfield, was conducted by the Rev. James Baird, who took as his text I Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 10: “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Mr Baird said that during the week, the best elements in the Empire had joined in the celebrations, without feeling need either partial or complete, of distinguishing between the offices and the persons concerned. Had it been otherwise, they would still have have joined in the celebrations for the British were loyal to the Throne. But there would have been reservations obvious and painful. Thank God, however, that no sadness of that kind shadowed their feelings, for they knew that the King, in a superlative measure, was as self-confessed and humble as he was a true and noble disciple of Him who was King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That was the quality of the spirit that radiated from the British throne. Mr Baird asked if it had been noticed that George V had been frequently described as “the great” and as “our greatest king.” It seemed strange to associate these adjectives with the humble man whose praise was on the lips of millions. But it was written “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The King was no nonentity. There was a compelling and commanding greatness about him, which won a universal homage. His figure towered in the civilised world to-day, and millions trusted him utterly. Yet he was no despot imposing his will by relentless force. It was becoming in a religious service that they should ask about the roots of the King’s character, and the source of his greatness. One element in the King’s character greatly emphasised by the people nearest to him was courage. He knew what it was to face crisis after crisis in the affairs of the kingdom and the world, and those whose knowledge was intimate, spoke of his superb courage, his calmness and fortitude. Again writers and speakers vied with each other in telling of the goodness of his heart, his solicitude for the welfare of his people and his untiring energy to promote their happiness and well-being. The fact of the matter was that the King was a Christian and every finest expression of himself was a fruit of the Holy Spirit that quickened him. Mr Baird said that what he wanted to get home ws that behind the amazing universal esteem and love of their Majesties was the universal realisation that from the day they came to the throne, they had not lived unto themselves, but unto God and unto the vast multitude of people under God and by God entrusted to their care. They had so let their light shine before men that men had seen their good works. The King- and Queen had been willing so far as human power could endure it, to let men see and know what manner of life they had lived with nothing to hide and nothing to fear as far as they themselves were concerned. BAPTIST CHURCH At the jubilee service at the Baptist Church, the Rev. J. Russell Grave took as his text Psalms 33, verse 12: “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.” He said that during the past week, the whole Empire had resounded with acclamations on the occasion of the celebration of the silver jubilee of the King, and in their hour of worship they were asked to join a nationwide thanksgiving to God for the King’s 25 years’ reign. Times of national rejoeing and crises had revealed the deep affection of the people for their sovereign. His services to the nation during the war endeared himself to his people as nothing else could have done. During the war, on one of his visits to Glasgow, Mr Lloyd George delivered c e of his most telling speeches, one w’-ich stirred the nation because of its insistence upon the valuable and increasing service rendered by the King. The speaker referred to the many characteristics of His Majesty, and asked what was the individual respons fility of everyone concerning the nation and the King. It was the responsibility of personal Christianity, first in the home life and then in the commercial and professional life. The nation was no better than the individual citizens who comprised it. A Christian man in his home, in his office, by being a Christian man, was

making the finest contribution possible to the strength of the nation. They could far better do without the navy than without Godly men and women who, in the home and business and professional life were true to the God of their fathers. During his Coronation 24 years ago, the head, hands and heart of the King were annointed with oil. It was the symbol of the annointing of the Holy Spirit. Not the King only but his people must be annointed with His spirit if the nation was to be delivered from the things that destroyed and the King truly saved in his kingship. SALVATION ARMY The jubilee service at the Salvation Army yesterday was conducted by Adjutant V. J. Dick. The speaker said that throughout the week their hearts and minds had been drawn towards the Homeland, and with loyalty and affection they had set their admiration towards his Majesty, who had completed 25 years of unflinching service to Great Britain and the Empire. During the years which his Majesty had reigned it could be said they had become remarkable because good progress had been made, and peace within the Empire retained. And, although they had become a self-governing people, yet their freedom had not lessened, but rather strengthened because their loyalty had ever been towards the one Throne from which the bond of unity had ever flowed, and that bond of unity had been built up by his Majesty’s calmness, steadfastness, inspiration, zeal and example. In truth it could be said the warmth of love and courage had filled the heart of his realm and Empire. Adjutant Dick said that the King, in his speech of thankfulness to God for all His benefits and comforts, had portrayed this to the heart of every true Britisher. As his Majesty’s voice of praise and gratitude sounded forth to every land, the speaker thought of what the Psalmist said, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,” because the Almighty and Eternal joys were ever sweet and heartening and full of increasing gratitude. So at the jubilee celebrations they should give thanks unto the Lord for a Sovereign King and Emperor who believed in God, in the Bible, and the Church. Then again they ought to thank God for their country. They were favoured because they lived in the greatest Empire in the world. To be thankful to their country meant that they would be obedient to her laws, careful for her reputation, and ever ready to protect her name. They should possess that spirit of humility as a fact beyond contradiction, guard it and keep it sacred for the life of their country, remembering that “righteousness exalteth a nation.”

Adjutant Dick concluded by saying that they should thank God for the opportunity of service. Genuine thanksgiving would express itself in whole-heartedness to service. With a spirit of gratitude they should prepare themselves for the service of the Lord, for there was no better way of expressing their gratitude than by whole-hearted service. If they did this, then they should not only sing “Britons never, never shall be slaves,” but they would realise to the full what it meant to be free in Christ Jesus.