The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1902. THE EMPIRE ORISON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11713, 18 August 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, AUGUST 18th, 1902. THE EMPIRE ORISON.

"The opinion has been expressed that the change in the title and personality of our Sovereign, the growth of groops of colonies into nationalities and valued allies of the Motherland- in peace and war, the altered conditions of our rapidly extending "Briton Empire," and other considerations', indicate the need of our Empire's existent belief, sentiment!, .and aspiration!,- being translated into verse form. It. has a!.so been held by authorities that such verse, to bo popularly acceptable., inspirational, representative, and mnemonic, should be of symbolic . brevity, graphic ;aiid rhymed." This is the footnote appended by the author, Mr F. Lyon Weiss, to two poems, "The Empire Orison" and Australia's Message to the Throne'and Empire," copies of which have been 'forwarded tol us by the Empire Patriotic League, of Perth, W.A. The aim of the League is to have "The Anthem (orison) of the Empire" used in schools and at public ceremonies and gatherings, more especially as the lines hare been accorded the gracious approval of the King and Queen. The following exposition of national!] belief is extracted verbatim from the letter which was addressed by the author of His Majesty the King at 'Windsor Castle, and in which was forwarded to His. Majesty the "Empire Orison" and "Message," with their nnnotatith«:H[To> tilie King's Most Excellent Majesty:..... "The sentiments

which I seek to express are based on the belief, inter alia:—That the Brton's. Empire and Constitution are, take them for all in all, the best the world has ever had ; that mankind is destined to derive the greatest amount of good from the benign influence of that Empire; and that that influence is to be safeguarded, extended, and eternised, by the unification of all Britons in a brotherly union of their nations and peo» pies, freely leagued for the greatest good of the human race, through the upholding of tlie Throne and Empire of the Britons;." The League, in the ootmmunication covering the verses, points out that "the thankful acceptance by their Majesties-. King Edward VII. and Queen Alex-ndnu. on the eve of their Coronation, of this Empire Orison and 'Message constitute such adoption of them by the Throne, by the highest functionaries, and by the people of the Enaipire, a pregnant historic event, which will lcaig stand out as a, loved landmark in the progress of civilisation, as another striking evidence of the close sympathy between our Throne and our people, and as a far-reach-ing, beneficent influence towards the general elevation, peace and/happiness of humanity." IncidentaiKly, extracts are also given from appreciative letters addressed to the author by Hi? Excellency, Sir Geo. S.

Clarke, K.C.M.G., Governor of Victoria; Field-Marshall Viscount Wolseley; Sir John Madden, Chief Justice, and Chancellor of the University of Melbourne; and from tlio Governor-General of ithe (Commonwealth of Australia. All these .point to and emphasise the fact, that the present is s» most important turning paint in the history of our Empire, and that great issues depend on keeping bedbre the peopte a lofty standard, of -atriotiNm. Lord Wolseley, in his letter, "wishes Mr Weiss every success in his "atrioitiic efforts to strengthen the bonds which rivet togther all parts of" His Majesty's possessions into one 'great and loyal Empire." This, apparently, is the unselfish .author of the Austral poet. Mr Weiss is evidently a thorough-going imperialist, and ona prepared' to endorse his opinions by his actions, for th 3 League's circular contains the information that he volunteered for active service. It is, however, as a poet that he comes under our notice. "He has of late attracted to Australia, and to himselif fame, «.s the offer of many purposeful, patriotic poems that have awakened wide admiration. Conspicuous among these is 'Rally Comrades '/round our Empire Flag unfurled!' a poem which exerted a great inspirational!: influence at a critical juncture of the Empire's annals, and which has been honoured by the distinction, one without parallel iv British h^stooy, of being- the first poem ever officially accepted as dedicated from the British War Office'to the British Army'—a term which includes all Colonial Contingents and Forces. The congratulatoiry address presented from public bodies to Field-Marshals Lord Roberts and Wolseley on the vitorious return of the former to England, referring to the proceeding, among other memorable facts, records substantially also 'its support of the patriotic- motion passed by Parliament, its thanks, for seri vices in deed and in inspiration, and its dfeep gratification that Field-Marshals Lords Roberts and Wolseiley have, with the eni doirsement of Governor of Colonies ; reflecited cefebrity-on Australia! by conferring lon an Australian, Mi' F. Yyon Weiss, the unprecedented -honor of dedicating to the I British Army h« patriotic poem, 'Rally, Comrades! round cur Empire Flag unfurl | cd!" Originally, Mr Weiss sought to do his patriotic work anonymously, and quite gratuitously, and lecently he again ex--1 pressly desired, that all his poems should continue to be distributed without any name or changei. Since, however, letters, papar*1, etc., deaAing1 with the poems and outhor, in being passed to the League and the Press through the Government Departments (the vise stamps of which they hear) ' necessarily had to disclose Mr Weiss' name ; and since bodies and persons in applying for thousands of copies for public j distributive purposes, -wished such copies to bear the author's name, he has yielded to these patriotic representations. For the informaitkn of our readers., and at the request of the Empire', Patriotic League, we reprint Mr Weiss' "Empire Anthem" in another column. We may add, in conclusion, that the League claims to be a strictly unseotaiian non-party-political, utilitarian body, formed to foster broad, brotherly patriotism and unity among Britons (the term "Britons" beink heir here,'as in communications addressed to and accepted by His Majesty, to include English, Irish. Scotch, Wa!]sh, with. Australasians, Canadians, and all other citizens) throughout the Empire, and to uphold "Britonisan." There ane no fees or dues., and all offices are honorary. The discussion of religious, .personal, patty political, and class questions is forbidden, but the League exercises influence in broad political, and public questions in which patriotic considerations affect the general! well-being of our communities in .relation toi the Empire. Wo do not notice, in the circular before us, any proposal of the League in the direction of establishing branches throughout the Empire, but such, we take it, is the ultimate aim of the founders.