A CEMETERY FOR THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 583, 11 August 1909, Page 4

A CEMETERY FOR THE EMPIRE.

Tlip'.Rev. C. L. Marson,' who outlines, hie project in tho "Nation," suggests that Glastonbury Abbey, which has just, been handed over.to the Church of England, .shall bo mado a cemetery for the Erapiro. . "In Glastonbury," he says, "wo havo : a possible mausoleum for the nroat English, dead all round the planet. The placo has a much greater claim than Westminster to 'make us we.' It was an ancient Druid shrine before it was Christian, and: is ringed round with Celtic names. It was tho resfc-iiig-plsc.o of St. Patrick and the lialtmgplaco of St. Bridget. It is connected with the first disciples of Christ. It contained relics of all tho ancient Scottish Saints. "It was the roligioua centre in which (jrew up the work of the makers of England —Alfred, St. Dunstan, Edgar, and Atholstan. It was >tlio- burial-place of King Arthur and the homo of his, romance. Thus English, Irish, Scots, and Welsh'are equally concerned in it. It is the one shrine in all tho Empire where each wavo and raco of men lias worshipped continuously at ono altar. ■ ~■■■' "For over three centuries and a half tho sacred acres liavo been widowed and desolate: Now there is life stirring,there once more. Something is to be done! "What wo really want is what some jovial pagans of the press call a Valhalla, what, might bo better, described as a\ comotery for the Empire, where each one of tho now nations should havo a portion, with power to Bend the .bones of those sho 'delights' to honour, to lie in that holy ground, with as much faith and hope, as they ■ can biubter. , "Imagine what it would be to visit Glastonbury and muse not only of thbse who have dono great things and thought; mighty thoughts in a remote past,. but on those whom we have seen* and known and loved and obeyed—the men who .led us, riot only in battle and in law, but in' song,: in', colour, in witty;invention, discovery, exploration, and in any great deed or thought. :." "What a fine reminder to the',new and naked lands, to breed, not millionaires, wheat kings, corn, beef, oil, or« 'tomato kings, but men >whom all the sister, nations would equally delight to praise and. ". approvo! What finer reproof could bo given to' tho inhabitants of any' of., tho Empire than to notice that their share, of the. plot was empty or filled only'.'\witk braggarts and local .nobodies? ' ,' ■ "This plan, would give, some real use and future history to tho Abbey. All that'is needed is to say to each one of our 1 kingdoms, "Give us your great' dead;! Or,' if thoy hold these too dear, as is not unlikely, 'Give us your memorial to those whom you hold closest ', to your heart.'" Thero. would be'a great, response to.,this, and,,perhaps— who knows?—another /great Church might naturally-, arise .there,, .biiilt.'iiot,.by sudden contract, but'by slow growth and, niuch love, "as it. should bo. u But that: matters, less." '"'. ,"' " :.'/'•':■ ■