WELSH SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 3

WELSH SERVICE.

ANNUAL FUNCTION. CEREMONY IN ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL. The 14th annual Welsh service in connexion -with St. David's Day was held yesterday afternoon in the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, -when there was a very large congregation. The Mayor, Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., and other members of the Christchurch City Council, together with the Town Clerk, were present. The hymns, prayers, and lessons were taken in the national language. The collection was for the Mayor's Distress Fund. The hymns sung were "Y Delyn Aur," "Huddersfield," "Llanfair," "St. John," ■ "Gwaldys," and "Khondda." After the benediction the Welsh National Anthem and then God Save the King were sung. The soloists were Madame Gower Burns, who sang "I Know That My Eedeemer -Liveth," and Mr E. Rogers, who sang "Lead Kindiy Light." The organist was Mr A. M. Owen, the harpist Mr H. Glaysher, sand the conductor Mr J. Filer. .The Rev. Owen Williams took as the text for his sermon Psalm 137, versps 4, 5, and 6. He said that the people of Wales had been compared with the people-of Israel many times and certainly there was much that the two had in common.: Each had the glowing passion of patriotism, the characteristic of treasuring separate entity, and the disposition to art, music, and poetry. It was the basing of life on the tribal basis ■ rather than on the territorial. The honouring of St. David's Day to the Welshmen meant the honouring or the traditions of their Forefathers. A Wider Outlook. The mingling of the Teuton and Celt had resulted, in definite heritage and characteristics, and the well-known homely word "dad" was one instance of the general adoption of a Welsh term for the father of the family. In many auch way's had Welsh usage left its mark on English custom. The world to-dav seemed to have its wheels of commerce seized, Mr Williams continued, and nations seemed to be paralysed partly by fear, and with the flow of friendship seemingly arrested. In cherishing the memory of a nation it was essential not to let the danger occur of becoming insular and of narrow outlook. There could be a pride of race tojgethcr with a generous outlook. Mutual service provided one key to assist in the solution of difficulties of to-day., One and all should try to be worthy of that well-known text: M He went about doing good."' First there should be action such as that and then tl\e doctrine. Giving should be to the limit of sacrifice.