SUNDAY THANKSGIVING SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 253, 21 July 1919, Page 8

SUNDAY THANKSGIVING SERVICES

IN THE TOWN HALL THE PEACE OF THE WORLD Peace thanksgiving services were held' in the Town Hall yesterday ' afternoon and evening. As befitting the occasion, the services were especially services of praise, and the music was the great feature in the exercises. There was a choir of 300 voices, conducted hy Mr. Bohert Parker and Mr. 11. Temple White, and the Professional Orchestra, with Mr. H. Moschini as conductor, also assisted. Most impressive of all the music was the congregational singing, for there is something compelling about the singing of old familiar hymn tunes hy a great hody of people. There'must have been quite 3000 people present at the service. The orchestra' played the overtu.ro "Endure to Conquer" (Baynes), and choir and orchestra joined in the Epilogue from "Banner of St. George" (Elgar). Thu choir, with organ accompaniment only, sang the "Gloria" from Mozart's Twelfth MIUS3. Canon Fielden Taylor was the presm. ing- clergyman, the lesson was .read by Chaplain' Gray, and the address was delivered by Chaplain G. Wilson. The Rev. G. Wilson,,C.F., said that the occasion in his mind was such that it could not he. allowed to pass without remark. All the world gave thanks that now the horror of the war was over and that God had not willed that the Germans should rule over the world. Few people in the Empire would not find joy in the good things thai the war years liad revealed in'the British race: Before the war the British had been laden with riches, but there were those who believed that the time would soon come when a virile nation would attack us and dqspoil lis of the riches. None dared say that now. The nation owed its gratitude for splendid service and heroism of its sons and daughters, aud especially to' those who h(n\ consummated their service with the supreme sacrifice. We might rejoice in the new solidarity of the Empian which had been revealed by the wnr. Now the Empire was irrefrngably one. The poaco terms imposed had not boim conditions of vengeance: Ihov 'had done no more than to mete out justice to the murderers. Tt was the hope of nil good people that the League of Nations would bring peace for all time to this now unhappy world, although evon. the creators or the League doubted its efficacy to this end. But, as Lloyd George liad said, the League would have justified itself if it prevented one war. Certain it was that never had it been possible to obtain peaco through war. The League of Nations was the oulv hope, slender as the hops might-seem'to-day to be. It must bo based on the eternal verities a' justice and beneficence borne of. God Himself. Were ; it. possible to take tho disputes of men to the arbitrament of God then there might l>c justice and perhaps satisfaction. This was not possible, ea _ tho aim must be to implant the principle, the eternal standard of right, and iustice, based on God's truth and beneficence, borne of His. love, as the standard of the new Lengue of Nations: When this could be done all war would cease. But so long as men arid nations wore actuated by greed, pride, and lust for conquest, so long would war tear and rend the peoples of the earth. When all nations could take hold of the two ideas of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, when every man could look in the eye of his brother man and say "Thou art my brother/' then we f-hould have peace on earth. Nor would this brotherhood be achieved bv verbal profession merely; there must also be proof in service given for the good of all mankind. THE EVENING SERVICE A TALK ABOUT "PEACE." The order of the musical programme for the evening service was the same as that for the afternoon with the exception that instead of tho "Gloria" the choir sang the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "Messiah." Again the hall was crowded. Tho service was conducted by the Von. Archdeacon B. M. Johnson, tho Rev. S. Kobertson Orr, and the Key. A. E. Hunt. The Rev. A. E. Hunt, in his address, 6et himself to answer the question, "What is it that has stirred the impulses and stimulated tho enthusiasm of the people in the celebration of the conclusion of peace?" His answer in brief was that the people were relieved to be free of tho hazards and horrors of war, To this extent there was an elomont of. selfishness' in it all. AVo ought to be profoundly thankful that we had had loaders of our Empire who in their sin-gle-minded service liad put their trust in God, and if our thankfulness was to be more than mere lip profession we ought to determine to do everyone a part in making Our Empire worthy of its high place among tho nations. First of all it was the duty of every citizen to .show gratitude' to the soldier by giving to all soldiers, wounded and stricken as many wore, the fullest opportunity of making a way in the world. We ought to acknowledge gratefully the service of those of our men who had faithfully lived and nobly died. We must see that their dependants left witli us must never suffer,, ! want because of the sacrifice of their ! men. AVe ought to thank God for 6uch j brave souled women as had gone to i nurse sick and wounded, ' and so also ! we should see that they did not suffer i from their service. Most of all we • should give thanks to Almighty God for l all that He had been to us in the dark | night of war, but if our gratitude was I to have meaning it should be in dedi--1 cation of our lives to His service. It 1 was said that peace had come, but in ! truth there was no more i>eace in tht. i world than a year ago. The war spirit | had been "scotched" but not killed, the | Hun was still a Hun, ho had been chains i ed but not changed. A document had ' been signed, but the Treaty hail not re- ■' moved the old spirit of enmity and hate. ■ If we were to have real peace it must ] find expression not in the singing of paI triotic music, in tho waving' of flags, in ! the holding of triumphal prbcessions, but i in our own adoption of the teachings of j the Prince of Peace. AVo had teen I wronged, but if was still our duty to I prav "Forgive us our trespasses, as we I forgive them that trespass against us." j We must learn to follow tho example of i Him who loved oven His enemies. So ! we might hasten the coming of the i Kingdom of God on earth. ; At both services Mr C. W. Kerry play- ! Ed tho organ music. ! At tho evening service the Last Post i was sounded after the singing of an "In • Memoriam" hymn specinlly written ■ for tho festival by Dr. Edith Huntley. The ] bugler was Mr. Sterling, of Messrs. Fulj lew' Company. • • j ■ TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME ! THE PATRIOTIC CONCERT. ' i A grand patriotic concert will . bo j given in the Town Hall this evening, I when the Peaco Choir will sing Klgar's setting of the National Anthem Moist, j Miss Teresa M'Enroe), "The Mnrseil- ! laiso" (soloist, Mr. John Prouse). "Rule i Britannia" (soloist, Mr. E. J. Hill), the | epilogue from "The Banner of SI. I Ueorge" (Elgar). and the "Hallelujah J Chorus." The Commercial Travellers' I male voico choir will sing "Bugle Song" I nud "Hymn Before Action," and Mr. | Prouse will sing ''Why Do the Nations," 1 from "Tho Messiah." Messrs. Temple

White and Robert Parker will conduct and Mr. Harold Whittle will preside at the piano/ Open-air Peace Ball, An open-air Peace ball is to be held on the broad wood-blocked space opposite the General Post Office in Customhouse Quay this evening. Street dancing has-been a feature of the Peace celebrations in London and Paris, and as those ■.cities set the fashions for the world wo can only follow., A brass band will be in attendance to provide the music, and members of the committee and the police will be in to see that due decorum is observed. FINE DISPLaFaT PETONE SOME STRIKING DECORATIONS It would be fairly safe to assume that, for a town of its size, the decorations at Petone would be hard to equal in the Dominion. For some time past the local Peace Celebrations Committee, with its active secretary, Mr. R. Hartley, have been working most enthusiastically in getting everything ready to honour tho iccasion in a fitting manner, and their efforts have been most successful. From the Gear Meat Company's arch at the west end of Jackson Street, right along to the Borough Council arch, coloured streamers were placed from one side of the street to the other. Every verandah Dost was decorated.with greenery, as was also the Borough Council arch—this part of the work having been carried out by Mr. Waugh. The ' Gear Meat . Company's arch was quite a magnificent structure, and it was erected by the emulovees of the company. Both towers of this arch were decorated with the ooate-of-arms of the Allies, and also the coats-of-arms of the various towns in the battle areas connected with the history of New Zealand troops in the war. On the top of the arch, on both sides, is the sign "Peace." which was electrically illuminated on Saturday night, while surniountius- the whole is the British coat-of-arms and crown. On the inner sides of tho arch are two striking pictures-;one representing the sinking of the Lusitania and the other entitled "A Tribute to New Zealand's Dead." The other arch (near the Council Chambers) is not quite so elaborate a structure, but it, too, was very prettily decorated, and on Saturday night w.-is also illuminated with electric lights. The lighting restrictions do not apply to lighting of the arches, as the motive power is supplied by an oil engine. The procession from the railway station to the Recreation Ground on Saturday morning was quite a good one, and comprised tho'Mayor of Petone and Councillors, the Hon. T. M. Wilford and Mrs. Wilford, returned soldiers. Maoris, Municipal Band, friendly societies, and various trade exhibits. The procession halted at the Recreation Ground, where there was a large attendance of the public and where a patriotic meeting was held At twelve o'clock a solemn, silent tribute to the dead was paid by those nresent baring their heads and bugles sounding "The Last Post." During tho afternoon various sports, including a club •football match, were held on the ground, and, in addition, a fine physical drill display was given by the children of the combined schools, and a very interesting exhibition of cooking by iliioris in native costume. On Saturday evening there was a torchlight procession through the town to the beach, where a fireworks display* was L'iven and a bonfire lighted at 7.30. Yesterday, thanksgiving services were held in all tho local churches, and a combined service was held in the Grand Theatro at 8.15 p.m. The Mayor presided, and several local speakers delivered short addresses relative to the restoration of peace throughout the Empire. To-dav there are to be patriotic nieotintra in the Grand and Empire Theatres at 1(1 a.m.. at both of which the Hon. T. M Wilford will deliver addresses. This ■ afternoon the children will be entertained at picture shows in both theatres, and in the evening musical programmes are to be given in the streets by banns and choirs. INTERESTING RUGBY MATCH. A phase of the afternoon proceedings at Petone on Saturday which attracted a L'reat amount of interest was the football mutch Petone Junior Club v. Hutt Juniors. Hutt lost the toss, and kicked oft' with the wind against them._ Shortlv after the commencement .of thp game Hutt were awarded a free-kick. Grierson made a good attempt, but failed to kick a goal. Petone forced matters, and had hard hick in not scoring. ' Hutt, pressed hard, made a force down, and shortlv afterwards! Wylie, with a splendid run,' registered Petone's first try. Ambler failed with the kick. Shortly afterwards W. Thomas scored for Petone. Ambler did not convert. Hutt made things open, >nd Collett (Hutt) scored, flrierson added the major points. Willing play (followed, and not long afterwards Hutt scored again. Grierson made no mistake with the kick. Halftime was called shortly afterwards. In the second half both teams pressed matters, and about a quarter of an hour from the end of the game. M. Nicholls iPetone) made an opening, carried the ball almost to the line, and passed to C. Thomas, who scored. Nicholl's kick failed/ Just before time Petone were awarded a penalty. The kick was entrusted to Ambler, who made no mistake, and landed the ball clean through the uprights. The game ended with the score: Petone, 12; Hutt, 10. Mr. E. TreCPtir was referee;