UNITED CITIZENS' SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12767, 23 June 1911, Page 8

UNITED CITIZENS' SERVICE

..The,.lTh{ted;'.Citiißbns' Service at the ", t "■ (<Jp£rn House ,was; an impressive' gatUdr- ' ,'ing. In every' part His Worship the Mayor ►Mr C E. Maekay) presided," and with him on the platform wero the ministers of the different denominations, the Mayqr of Wanganui East (Mr J. Jones) members of loo.il bodies, and representative citizens, >and the Garrison and City Bands.'"The whole of the stalls (right up to -tlw. pit barrier) were occupied by the Highland Rifles and the different Cadet corps, while the dress circle and pit were crowded with citiaens. The service was opened by the ringing of the hymn, "Our God, our Help in Acres Past," after which the Key E. D 7 Patchett (Methodist) delivered an appropriate prayer. Another hymn. "All Hail the Power of Jesus' iNawie,'- was then .the Lord's •J'nvye.'V led by Mr R. Tucker (Pres.•jyterinn) was repeated by the asseml.'led people, th« Rev. A. Morton (PresbvteruinS rtad the first lesson (Psalm 72, 1-12). the Garrisqn Biand played the offertory selection, Mr J. H. Kees'ing ("representative of the Jeiyish commutiitv) read alternately in Hebre\v nnd ftnsrlhh, the second lesvson (Psalm til), and then the Rev. J. I). MoKenaije, B:D. (Presbyterian), delivered the :.•first addros. He said :— ,; It (is written in Holy Scripture that . ''i-jp»o-:Lo.ii?d reigneth." We, are met top>*hei- L to-f!ftv ■•-primarily ti?; recognise that iact.. We celebrate the Coronatioit oi our" King George V. and his gracious consort Queen Mary. While n-o honour them, we know that the nnvers which be are .ordained of God_. This in&v seem a simple elementary conMdoration, which sraricely fclema/nds that attention should be called to it. Yet suohis the case, for there is no <-mall dancer of the fact being .overlooked. ~ .-..' ;; •■...■■■. . Rritnnnia lias so long ruled the waves thnt.'. tbere are not" wanting voices which declare that she Tnles by the of her fleets, which so proudly siva©p the. main, afd by tbn trs»mji or Vet','mifrbiy battalions. Yefc history i&n.<r3h&i ur<iTnistnkaWv ■tPv>-*' f-*in+'on« ivhicn God perish.' TTave there mot l>een times in our own history when

God has been forgotten P So there is cause for thankfulness that, all over the Empire God is honoured in the celebrations of the/Coronation of King George. In her day the prdixd Roman Empire ruled tho1 world. Her legions inarched under her banner bearing aloft the proud letters S.P.Q.R., the Senate and people of the Romans. They knew not God, but deified and worshipped tho Emperor. .Where to-day is that- proud Empire? Buried in the dust ol cblivon. When Jesus was asktri -Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?' ho called for the coin of the lealm. and s>aid, 'Whose is this imago and superscription?' Then came tho reply, 'Caesar's.' That is to say there was no acknowledgment of aught else but Caesar. Now even our current ccin. .tsolf the symbol of materialism, bears witness to the national recognition of God Like the Romans, -we too are familiar with the letters which de--1 ro!e our sovereigns. Many of us have j «o«n the letters change from V.I.R. to I K.IR., and again to G.1.R., yet in "■'tj eiso we recognise also Dei Gratia. Our .;m orcign rules by the grace of Got). Here, tlfcn.'in what if most material, we find the opportunity for tho full recognition of Cfod, So let us ali ways he«d tho warning, 'If drunk with I sense cf power, we loo.se wild tongues that hole: not Thee in aue, such boasting as tl'e nations i:-c or lesser breeds wifc'iout tho law.'

God o? tho nations, spare us yet. Lest no fo.-gc-t! Lest" we forget! "'Then, too. let us remember the ~'roat blessing that we have in a limited Constitutional Monarchy. When Victoria the Good passed away how peacefully her son succeeded to"the Throne! While Edward tho Peacemaker was called from the Empire, how quietly did his son George V. take the place of '«is- illn.strrott.-}' father. How differon + js all this in the case, of an absolute monarch in ancient and in modern times. Even in the ca«e of the rulers of God's ancient- people a -change in the succession to the Throne meant tyranny and bloodshed. Thus., for ex- | ample, /when Jehdram succeeded to the : throne his firs!/ kingly act was to destroy tho Royal Family. The whole, of his brothers were1 put to dealth in cold Llood. It was not otherwise at Rome. A change of monarch always meant ploodshed and crttel injustice. If we look even to the United States!: of -America, there we see the' constant turmoil and confusion caused by a change of President. So to-day wo look back proudly to. the land from whence we have sprung-. We have/much to thank God for in .our 'inheritance- of truth,justico; -and freedom received from our forefathers. We pray God r savo the King, and maintain tho- real 'loyaltyof ilia jieoples ,of our "world-wide Emmie :—- — : -" '- . ; :; ' Widter still', aitd wider, May thy bounds be set, God w^ho rnnde ihee mighty, ' Make thee mightier yet! At the'(Conclusion of Mr McKenzie's «ddre:s the-hymn ■ "O- Joyful Cor6navioiy' (specially composed for the i occasion) was's'Une;. * '' ! ;L-- , , .Th<r + ,Rov> tuxford^ in the course of uu- address,-'said :'-^ • JC I "Our Sailor King will to-day grasp'a sceptre etablematical of a power mn-1-paralelled iiVtbe isfarials of this plaft t. The vastriess of Jui} TDtnpire makes .him ■dependent upon-the 'blessing of God -'and-the prayers ariel loyalty of his subjects; Xheefe-' will -giy c ' a stability ta X the throne which neither 1 -navies, arm-,-aesi wealth; of ifmiibeiVcan establish;" without these, the vaistftcSs of the Km-,, piie, wit!f^tsf>/^eelnTOb::;-dnllions, with their varied. jatfflfo^?':thought, -'dif%Mtqfi)g,L language, qmT ti-a----i^yo^^uitf-^-'a^urbe*^ 'V.m-i&c'dwi'iiyr:m --tm*• Throne ilepends '•«Rori';ivuniversal thrill' oriCmpjre, ard the -.personal devotion of the people. A\ vast Empire cannot be held togother 6y feai v or conquest. In'Hho services field to-day in every town md city. prayers. wi|l -bex offered -to -t!ie> Triijtiie:; God> oil;;; behalf; Qpjpuf/r&Knsi:?. ;OV>M^. wff. rejoice t ftbecaSus^^ing>' G*6Ego "• • rul^'^n..^m^irp^;i^ater,th'an' rhe 'wildest dreams 'of " man ever ? imagined, :•,»i Empire with an_j«nperial^Tinit.y imIrnown in thehistory of 4he_ fend '.with s ■ a: Jpyalty deep;'and, •• wo pray that Gotl's smile,may;cpntinue to rest' ;fippn th^ Tiirpne, and tUak (the affoofcion existing between .'■tW-.i.SoVer-.eign and his subjects may &>ntnuu\ -At :.the. f jCoronatip.h,7:s?iuyicjD- hell to-day in the Abbey,'Cliurcli)of St. Petar Westminster; . there "will ba mnen that is .symbolical of .graces which God only can bdstow. These will Jbe translated into prayer, : (1) . Tjho" King jwijl ■' be anointed \yith .oil .oh' the-: heaa; breast and hands. The late King ..-'Edward VII; iyajS an^in'terl with thiv form, of a cross on the Itead, broaat' and palms of v .both hands, v Prayer iw-ilI tlien •b^ offered thai tho influences of tho Hi»ly Ghost.' -may descend : upon }iis head (thoughts) -: Kesirt '^edmp^-aad ! his (actians).' ■ (2)?;H^ bo investefJ'■With the rpybl robes mid gird- ■ eid wibh:the sword of justice. ■ This part of tho ceremony has differed somewhat '■tit the rCor6natip!it of, differyit rt<innrchs., Sometimes • foit^ .swo^ds have been proisenied ".■fo-'th'f.'' King, i To-day o.i- JKing will be gilded y?ith the swoi-d 'of .jtfstieo,l*6nly,' r and the player bo dfiered that he ...may stop the :growth of iniquity arid defend the ijoor,' the -widow and the orphan. He wilj[ /then uiigird the. sword and jilac^ it on Ih^ " altar,, thereby sigrxtfyipg-- that the comiiiissiori is from Goci Almighty, i]:e .Father of us all: (3) a ornn- • mentecl^with the'symbots of the- ; thiee Kingdoms Ttrli'?be put ,oii liis'h>fi^ and another robe placed? upon hiiji The bracelet is an old piece of insignia. In 11 Sam., 1-10 there is a reference to it. Prayer is offered that he may be embraced with mercy aud vlbthod ydth salvatiortr (4) An orb with a cross is given in|o. his hands, and*!i© is exhorted; j;o '^ftpiember that/*t|;e wliole 'Tvbrld is sumeatji^the ppvyerand Kmpire of "(©hiiftWr ißedeem'-jr." (5) Tlje ling will be put upon tho fouvth finger of the right" hand. There is n pretty legend connected witli this rirg and Edward the Confessor. The Archbishop, will' then . pray that' our /King i >nay receive an earnest of tho heavenly inheritance and reign under the Mossed Potentate Jesus Christ. (6) A. .surmounted with a cross will bo placed in his right, and another Burtr.ount«d with a dove in his left hand; the j meaning, is that his sway may be with Ohristliko power and with meekness nn'rl gentleness. (7) The crown baing placed upon his'head, nil nrese^t Avis! shout "God Save the King," ann prayer will be made for a crown of elnrv and righteousness to rest upon j his liotcl. (8v The Bible will be brought to.h'iu by the nrelates. in xuiison will say "Oi?r GrnbiVws Kinit. we> v prpsent- you with this book, the mo^t valuable thing this world affords. Ho»a is wisdom; there is : tho roynj low: Hiegp rtve the lively ornrlps of Grid.*' The King will then ascend the Thiwio and solemn prayer offered "that the Throve Y^av bg ppt-abli«!berl in ritrljtfou■*•• r.ess." Mr Lux-ford.thon»-briefly ontlinori t-h" symbolism whi^h. when traiFlaterl into praypr. askpd that Gi;d wonld be r»l*>a«ed-. to fiffdn?-1. tho . mo."arch with +hat'wnW» ?« ■n-nrtbi^st .?tWI. best.' A wish «-n.« tho-> n^pr^^e^ til-nt-the T'irone of Gf-nrrm V, may oTfrort ;>?' ever tho renl'ti an it)^i"P("' as crnpir'"ns that of Victoria .the Good, and Edr wp.rA ,+hf: Po?ir»emft'-or.

A abort prayer by thy T?ev. S. 'Hnii-"'".* (TMmyf-Jve Me+Vio'lipt'l, a •spl'Sct-ion '?>V ihe Oitv TV>ndi thn, *m rr'*r\tt'rs. p ftr^pnt of +!»«»■ p«^/ylW'on by Ofr T> ; H. TJix <Chitrch of'Obrht) broncrbt +11.0 Jiis-

toric service to a close. The hymns were anonuriced by the Rev. A. S. Wilson (Baptist),-Rev. D. Martin (Presbyterian), alicl Adjutant Dawkins .'Salvation Army).