ANZAC DAY.

Western Star, 27 April 1920, Page 2

ANZAC DAY.

The Memorial Service conducted in the .Riverton Presbyterian Church ui Sunday evening by the Rev. O. A, Gray, M.A., attracted a crowded! congregation, the service being an impressive one. He said that of the great and glorious deeds which made that day memorable in the annals of the Empire and of the Dominion, it was not necessary for him to speak at any length. They were Just as familiar with them as he was- They were that day commemorating that gallant band of heroic brothers who' laid! their lives willingly down upon the altar of sacrifice, for their country, and for those liberties and virtues which all hold most dear. The name Aruac would live in the pages of history as the scenes of a great and heroic struggle against fearful odds and in the face of adverse conditions such as seldom or never had been equalled in the annals of war. The 25th April was to be observed, ought to be observed bj' them and by their children and children’s children, as a Holy Day. It commemorated an apotheosis of courage end df endurance which shone forth brilliantly and conspicuously even from the heroio background of the greatest war in history, where courage and endurance were reckoned commonplace. When they thought of the fallen that night, and more particularly of those who fell at Gallipoli, there was that which touched the memory with a tinge of sadness, and yet the dominant note of that memorial service ought to be one of reverent thanksgiving and of subdued triumph. Whether they thought that the campaign was conceived in wisdom or in folly, the memory of those who fell and of those who jeopardised their lives upon the high places of the battle-field there and elsewhere ought to be unto them a perpetual inspiration—ought to serve as an incentive to noblei living, and, if it were God’s will, to noble dying for the sake of that country, for that Empire, and that humanity for which those brave souls poured: out their life’s blood. Whether the campaign were one of blunder or of wisdom', they did not that night think of triumph or of failure, of victory or defeat. They thought' of the valour and of the self-sacrifice, of the facing of fearful odcls, and of the endurance even/ unto the end, and, thinking thus, there was that in their hearts which compelled them to say, “it was worth while - .” From a spiritual standpoint the campaign of Gallipoli, just because of its very losses and failures, shone with the radiance of a spiritual triumph, which time could never lessen or years impair. For the men of Anzac who, by God’s grace, still lived and moved among them, reverence, honour, and the gratitudie of their hearts were due—a gratitude that should express itself not upon the lips but by the determination of thei spirit that they would live and serve their country in civil duty and opportunity so’ as to be in. come measure worthy df the toil, and the suffering and the endurance and selfsacrifice so abundantly and so gloriously exemplified upon the field of battle. And of the dead—the dead whose memory with hushed voices and sad hearts they saluted that night—the dead whose graves lie lonely, wind-swept in the gullies of far-away Gallipoli—what could they say but sing with wistful yet thankful hearts. Let them pray for the dead who are not with them, who fought and fell before the morning shone, happy and brave, an innumerable company. That day was theirs. That day their deeds had won. Though dead they had not passed away. They were living—living, and moving, a spirit in the flesh, and for the comforting and strengthening of their hearts he would consider the issue of their life. This was a radiant memory, and! abiding glory, and an immortal hope. At the conclusion of the service Mr Gray , unveiled a tablet in the church to , the memory of the officers and men, members of the congregation, who died during the war, the ceremony concluding with the playing of the Dead March in Saul, on the organ by , Miss Robertson, the congregation standing bowed meanwhile.

Anzac Memorial service was held! in St. Mary’s Church, Riverton, on Sunday evening,. The Rev. H. Parata began his address by saying : We meet to-night not in the spirit of gloomi and depression but in the spirit of reverence and gratitude to commemorate with honour and pride the men of this land who had laidl down their lives in the great war. There were two thing's c'f which we must be assured if we are to commemorate them aright. Hirst, that /they d|ed in a cause that was worthy of so great a sacrifice, and, secondly, that their death is only a passing into a fuller and more vital life. If they had not gone forward ready to serve—to fight, and if need be to die, what then? We now know more plainly than we did what w'Ould have happened. There would be no hell on earth more com plele than the triumph of the forces which would have been loosed by Germany. Our men died not only for this country but also for the 'freedom of the world—for the principles of Chrislain charity and mercy against the anti-Christian gospel that might is right. We who treasure their memories can feel that oven if they had lived to a ripe old age they could never have done ia more glorious thing than they have done, and that the safety of their country, the honour of their women and the l freedom of the world could be safeguarded only by their death —then we would not if we could take the pages stained by the purple of their blood out of the honoured history of New Zealand. They had passed to a fuller life. Will we for certain see them again? The Honour of God is pledged that we shall. , Would He have planted in the human heart this wonderful love between* parents and children, husband and wife if lie was going to blast the longing for reunion which such love ihiplies ? Christianity insists on the immortality of the complete personality, and so we may look forward to rejoining our loved ones with, all about them still which he have loved and valued, here. That assurance dispels the spirit of gloonv, and we can think c'f the brave departed in the spirit of pride, thankfulness and radiant hope. Pride in. their simple heroism and entire self-sacrifice, thankfulness that ,we and they are allowed to' take a

share in the redemption of the world, and a sure and certain hop© not only that the cause of freedom for which they died will triumph on the earth, but that we with them, in a-- fuller and happier life shall join in the Triumph ! Song of Heaven. The preacher concluded with the following eloquent lines: 0, valiant hearts who to your glory came Through' dust of couflict and through battle flame, , • Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved, Your memory hallowed in the land you loved. Proudly you gathered rank on rank for war As who had heard God’s message from afar; All you had hoped for, all you had you gave To save mankind; yourselves you scorned to save. Splendid you passed the groat surrender mad© Into l the light that never more shall fade; Deep your contentment in that blest abode Who 1 wait the last clear trumpet call of God. Long years ago as the earth lay cold and still Pose a loud cry upon a lonely hill* Whilst in the form of human clay Christ, our Redeemer, passed the selfsame way. Still stands His Cross from that dreaci day to this, Like some bright star above the dark abyss. Still through the mists Christ with . pitying ey&s I Looks clown to bless your lesser sacri- , flee. These were His servants; in. his steps they trod, Following through death the martyred s Son of God; Victor He rose—victorious, too, shall rise They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice. O, risen Lord, 0 Shepherd of our Dead, Whose Cross has bought them and ■ , whose staff has lead In grateful love a proud and sorrowing land Commits her dead into Thy gracious hand. Miss Collins played the Dead March, at the conclusion of which Mr E. 'W. Hunter sounded the “ Last Post,” and a. very impressive- service ended with the singing of the Hymn, “On the Resurrection Morning” and the Benediction. The Rev. Father Buckley announced at St. Columiba’s Cliurch,' e> Riverton, on, Sunday evening that the prayers would be offered for the repose of the souls of those lads who had fallen at Gallipoli and on the other fronts during the progress of the great war. The great losses sustained by the nation through the war, where in so many homes either a father, son or brother was killed, had brought forcibly to mind the recollection, of the dead. He went on to explain the Catholic dogma respecting the dead and warned his hearers -against travelling platform speakers, writers and others who were at present engaged in expounding views contrary to the Church’s teaching.