CAROLS AND CANDLES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 36, 29 December 1944, Page 5

CAROLS AND CANDLES

SCENES IN THE HOSPITAL AN INSPIRING CEREMONY

Fifty members of the nursing staff of the Wha'katane Hospital together with local members of the V.A.D. service with lighted candles and flowers in their caps ? paraded the wards and sang Christmas carols for the edification of the patients on Christmas Eve. The whole ceremony was an inspiration from the onlookers point of view and must have had a most uplifting effect upon the patients.

Into the darkened wards, shortly after 8.30, the nursing sisters led by the. matron walked in two by two until they formed two long lines- of white candle, bearers. The carois were accompanied by organ music, by Dr. Dawson whilst, members ot the St. John Ambulance Brigade supplied the requisite basso background which lent further balance and harmony:

Thoughts of a good many patients must have, travelled back the yearsas such well known airs as 'Good King Wenceslas' 'The First NoeF and 'Hark the Herald. Angels Sing' were, sung with choial effect in such unusual surroundings. Candles gleamed first in the men's then in the women's Avard, and finally in the annexe, as the procession wended its way through the buildings. Nor was; the isolation block forgotten and here as the semi-circle of

candles twinkled on the green lawns was enacted perhaps the most picturesque scene of for the carol singers assumed the role of the travelling minstrels who in almost for-) gotten years went from house to house chanting the Christmas hymns.