FOR THE FALLEN IN THE WAR

New Zealand Tablet, 24 June 1915, Page 51

FOR THE FALLEN IN THE WAR

A Solemn Requiem Mass (writes our Wanganui correspondent) was celebrated on Thursday in St. Mary’s Church for the repose of the souls of those who have fallen during .war, especially William Griffiths, John O’Keefe, Ernest Murphy, Owen Roberts, 'and Harry Broome, of the Wanganui district. There was- a crowded congregation, including many of other religious persuasions." The Very Rev. Dean Holley was celebrant, Rev. Rather Vibaud deacon, and Rev. Father Ginisty subdeacon. The male members of the choir sang Gregorian music appropriate to the occasion, and the whole congregation stood while Mr. Kearsley, the organist, played the ‘ Dead March ’ from 1 Saul ’ in memory of the fallen. Addressing the congregation, the Very Rev. Dean Holley expressed the sympathy all felt with the parents, relatives, and friends of the fallen, and admiration at the heroism of our troops. The solemn occasion reminded us of the duties we owed at the present time, duties of patriotism and endurance. Patriotism, always a sacred thing, was a positive law for the Christian. It consisted in the sinking and sacrificing of all personal interests for the one great interestthe service of the State. The mystery of the suffering that was necessarily involved in this was hidden from us, as was also that" of. the Divine Providence in allowing the war to take place. War for the sole purpose of war was a sinful thing, and was only justified when it became the necessary means of securing the inestimable blessings of peace with honor. Out, of the evil of war, however, much good has followed, and this was shown by the evidence all around us of people in their distress turning, to Almighty God, even those who had been long unaccustomed to prayer. The war also possibly brought home to us that we had a great deal to atone for, through neglect of God and the, duties of religion, nonobservance and desecration of Sunday, neglect of spiritual things, disregard of the laws of marriage and of modesty, infringement of nature’s laws, and many other sins. We could in truth, even as a nation, say we had been guilty of much that called for atonement, but we had an efficacious means of atonement.' It was our duty .to thank all those who, in the spirit of patriotism, were offering themselves to defend us in this crisis. Going, as they were, to defend others who, by reason of position, calling, class, or sex were unable to bear an active part in maintaining the unity of the Empire these men were in a sense, the saviours of their people. Our duty, then, was to pray for -the fallen, to pray for those fighting, and to pray for the 17,000 men who had gone from-New Zealand, and also for the I many; more who were making ready for the fight for the j success of our arras, and for the eternal welfare of their ;souls. . I.: ,- s . . •: