The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1916. THE MEANING OF EMPIRE DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1916. THE MEANING OF EMPIRE DAY

One of the principal purposes of the Empire Day Festival is to instil into the minds of the) boys and girls attending our schools the spirit of citizenship., This high aim has not been forgotten •by the Wellington All-for-Emp.ire League. Tho schools are given a prominent place in its programme for the celebrations which aro to take place on Friday and Saturday next. It is gratifying to find that tho Headmasters' Association has signified-its willingness to co-operate-with, the League with the objecfrof spreading right ideas about our Imperial heritage. It is now generally recognised that moro prominence will have to be given to the teaching of patriotism in our schools. This phase of education has not been_ entirely ncglected in the past, but it_ certainly has not received the attention which it, deserves. True patriotism must' have its roots in knowledge. Lovo of country-is in a largo measure instinctive—it is- bsrn in us; but in order to keep it alive and make it fruitful rational instruction is necessary. The nation has a right to expect that this instruction shall be given in its schools. It should be incorporated in the: education system, and not.be regard--ed merely as an ornamental "extra" to be introduced on Empire Day arid other show occasions; Children caunot be expected to love their country intelligently and whole-heartedly unless they know why it. is lovable and in what its real greatness consists. They should be made to understand that the freedom which they enjoy had to be bought at' a great price; that men'of previous generations had to shed their blood for it. What we have received from the past it..is. our_ duty to.hand on to the future enriched-by.'the special contributions of our own age. We would be false to our trust if through any fault of ours any harm should befall our Imperial heritage in our day and generation.

British citizenship is something to be .proud 0f... It.is fitting that we should, glory in the deeds that w.on the Empiro.. .But' -we should never forget that if we are to keep the Empire we must always bo ready to follow the'example of our sires "whose imdegenerate spirit has been proved on field and flood." "What are ' monuments of bravery, Whese no public virtues bloom' What avails m lands of slavery' ' Troplied temples, arcli, and tomfc? Empire Day should .be a yearly reminder to old and young alike that our responsibilities are proportionate to our privileges;; that' we have duties as well as,rights. This is tho sort of patriotism that our children should be taught. ■ Tho only type of patriotism worthy of the name finds expression, not iu- "frantic boast and foolish word," but in national service. This great war has given the men and women of 'oUr day an opportunity of showing that'thev are patriots' iiv' deed as well as word, and the fact , that over nvo million fighting men have responded voluntarily to the Empire s will is an overwhelming' answer to the German taunt that we are a degenerate race. It is the duty of parents and teachers to place in ,the . minds of our boys and girls right ideas about the war in which the Empire is now engaged. We arc so confident of tho righteousness of our "cause that wc need have no hesitation in telling our children all about it. We did not seek the quarrel, but; we did not shirk our plain duty when it was thrust upon us. Wo can-tell them honestly why* we went to war and what wo hope to achieve by it. It has been well said that what one can tell to children of national hopes, and not be ashamed,'is what a peoplo can best trust among its aims and aspirations.

It was never intended that Empire Day celebrations should be characterised by boastings and sword-rattling. As a matter of fact the jingo element has, on the whole, been conspicuous by its absence. Yet ,it was announced in a cablegram which recently appeared in The Dominion that an English clergyman has condemned this Imperial festival on the ground that it give's encouragement to "impious boasting." A more perverse misrepresentation of the Empire Day idea it would be difficult to imagine. By some weird process of reasoning this critic has arrived at tho conclusion that since Empire Day has been kept, God's blessing has been withheld from us as a nation. The historical foundation of this argument is worthless, and its moral philo- ; sophy is quite astonishing. Empire Day is not a time for bragging, but

for sober thought about the duties ancl responsibilities of British citizenship. It is a periodical reminder that nations are subject to tho moral law as well as individuals; that it is righteousness that exalts a nation. A proper pride in our Empire is .a good thing; We can give expression to our natural patriotic instincts without being offensive to other, nations, or without claiming a monopoly . of national virtues. Every thoughtful Britisher recogniscs that other States have a place in tho providential order as well as ourselves, and that every race has its contribution to, make to the progress of civilisation. We can lovo our own country without hating other countries. True pa» riotism does not consist in boasting that one's country is the best in tho world, but rather in a sincere; desire to make it the best.'"With all its faults the British Empire has on tho whole been a power for good among the nations. Its destiny has' not yet been fulfilled, and there is no reason why it should not go on from greatness to' greatness,' if it is only true to itself.