EMPIRE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 4

EMPIRE DAY.

f Sir,—Tlie time Ins again arrived when I trust L nuiy bo permitted through your courtesy,• 10 remind your readers of the near appnmcti of "Empire Day," unci to •varnestly tipped to them for help in making tho*observance of the (lay universal throughout the Empire. As is already well Icliown llie "Empire i Movement" is a non-iinrty. nou-.-ectarian, non-aggressive, nun-cncial cll'ort to awaken tlie peoples who tunstitute the British Empire, to the Serious duties which lio at", their door. The watchwords of the movement we: "llcsponsibility, dut.v. sympathy, i/.-lf-sncn'lice." May those words lie engraveji uu the hearts of all British subjects, I>ut especially of the young, who in :i few years' time will bo responsible for Ike righteous governance of tlie 40!) millions of people who are to he found within the confines of the Empire. .■ Last year, from information received by the secretary, "Empiro Day" or "Victoria Day" as it* is called in some parts of the Empire, was observed ill the United Kingdom in 22.02G schools, training colloids, and institutions, with an aggregate attendance of <1,4 ( J9.458 scholars; whilst iii the overseas Dominions it was kept in 37,365 schools, with an estimated attendance of about 4,000,(101) scholars; making a total throughout the Empire of r>!1,391 schools, training colleges, and institutions with an attendance of B,I!W.I"iS scholars. Allowing for the number of those present at the various "Eninira Tlay" celebrations, and of those attending the services, over 8000 in number, where sermons and addresses emphasising the watelnvords of the movement, were delivered, it may fairlv be assumed that some seventeen millions of British subjects came linder the inlluenco of the movement in 1011. It is confidently believed that, the above figures will be lamely increased this year. If for any. cause it should be considered inadvisable to observe "Faipire Bay" on. May 24, thero is no reas»n why it should not bp kent .un some, lithor day not far removed in/m that uate, or on .Tunc 22 (the anniversary of the Coronation of King Geovge V. and of the diamond jubilee -if Q'je?n Victoria). Althrugii t]io observance of "Empire Day".should not be neglected, it is hoped that, the noble ideals of the movement.,! represented bv its watchwords, will, bft .constantly kept before the, , minds' of the scholars in all British schools throughout the Kins'* Dominions. Who will beln to train the rising genf ration in the duties of Tmperi.il responsibilities? Volunteer workers of imlepond-i cnt means, who are willing to. labour with-' out renii'.n"ratioii. -ami at their own expense, in the promotion of the Empiro Movement. nr? greatly needed, and arc in- i vi)p/i to send their names to (he central of&co at the a'vive address, and they will j receive printed instructions in regard to the n'jhire of tlie assistance which is refloated at their hands. There are many schools in poor districts IhroitTliont the Emmre. which are not mmided with Oagstafl's and T'nion Tacks. Tfiw can the boys and gir's in these schools salute a non-existent "ng? T hope all who believe in the h-ealthv, national iufiueno" of the movement will endeavour to assist some poor school to obtain a flag and flagstaff. am) will, if possibH supplement tlie.ee gifts by a lareo wall man of the Empire, snch as the "Navy Teague" or "ITowonl V!"eent" maps, and liv»a portrait of the Kin". Conies of the "Emnire Catechism." wjnVb slionlil l:e learnt bv lieai't bv all British children, and of the snnl-sHrrin." songs to be snug on "Empire Day," and all information connected with the movement: e.nn he obtained from the secretary. S.l Lancaster Gate. London AY.—I am, etc., MEATTT. London, March 2S.