MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 42, 12 November 1921, Page 9

MEMORIAL CHAPEL

NEW ZEALAND’S MEMORIES ASSISTANCE ASKED FOR PROJECT PUBLIC MEN'S OPINION ; ?/. J.?., Public assistance In the project for erecting ■ a memorial chapel in Wellington was asked by speakers at a meeting held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. General Richardson dealt with the subject from the soldier’s point of view, and protested against utilitarianism > in . war memorials. . On the platform wore file Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.l\). Bishop Sprott, Brigadier-General 'G'. 8. Richardson, Sir John Luko, M.P., Rev. C. r’. Askew, Messrs. W. J. Gaudin, and G. MitctML .11. P. The attendance was not large. The Mayor eaid that the meeting'' had n definite object in view—that of erecting a memorial military chapel. The object of the promoters was to raise a million half-crowns. Such a chapel would remind the people of the-soldiers > who fell in the Great War and in other wars. Future generations would be able ' to recall, seeing the chapel, tho times of stress from 1914. It was also proposed to erect three smaller chapels; one for the commemoration of the Maori wars, another to ccmmembl'hto the South -African campaign, with the names of tho fallen inscribed therein. The third would contain the 17.000 .names of tho fallen New Zealanders in the Great War. It was also proposed to inscribe in the chapel the names of New Zealanders who ’ died while on service with the Imperial ’ Forces. It was intended to leave out .no part of the community from tho chapels. ■ ' ' l Th® Mayor spoke of Genera! Foch’s standard, / Petain’s Kepi and Pershing’s flag, and other historic gifts, taiready presented, which would maKe tho chapel of historic interest in the years to come. De. dtd not think the citizens would be careless in their duty. ■ “From a civic point of view the cbapfel will be a magnificent asset to the city,” he said. The Anglican fraternity had been regarded By some as conservative; but, their action in endeavouring to erect the chapel (and the cathedral) showed . them'to be the opposite. An Inspiration.

• Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., said that the time was opportune to have a memorial chapel—M inspiration—in New Zealand. “There is no place to-day in our country where we can have a national memorial, or where we can have a national service," said. Mr. Mitchell. -The time had come for such- to bo built. The memorial would, he felt, have an .uplifting influence on the people, | and would do much for the city. A man could go there seven- days a week to pray, irrespective of creed. It would cultivate a New Zealand spirit," he said. */It is time we did make an eflort to have a national spirit.’’ Auckland, was ’ etrivjng for a “Hall of Memories. He had envied Auckland for its project, but now Auckland could ■envy Wellington, which would have a National Memorial. Later on, memorials could be included of all New Zealand's great men. “The chapel will be a history of the country’s prowess,” he added. If war had to come again, the memories Of the chapel would be an inspiration to the country. Every man, woman, and child should contribute his or her share to the project. “They're asking tor a million halfcrowns,” he said. “The project is worth It. It is what we give in life that ■ counts.” t ■ ’ 'i'' ' : Rev. Askew’s Work. Sir John Luke paid a tribute to the , work of the Rev. C. F. Askew, in attempting to raise a tribute to Almighty God and a monument to the brave, fallen men. He thought that the result of the Washington Conference would be that there would bo - no more war. He thought that Wellington, as the centre of political thought—i soon of the Anglican communities—should erect such a memorial as proposed. The cathedral would not only be a thing of beauty, but it would create such a .spiritual and national spirit that none could estimate. “I’m prepared to do all I possibly can to further the great object you have in view,” he said. He did not think the question of a national church entered .int,o the matter of the ’ erection of the cathedral, which was also proposed by the Church of England.. lie could '“vision” the chapel, which would represent the acknowledgment of the great deeds of the wars. It, would have, ' trophies in it, but could there be any greater trophies than the names of the fallen men who “did hot hold life too dear”? “ View of the “Diggers.” General Richardson said he was pre- . sent as a humble representative of the N,Z.E.F., and the opinion of that force was that they approved of the memorial, ■which symbolised 'Unity. The men were united in life, united in death, nnd they should be united in memory without any difference of creed. He referred' to '.Armistice Day, and spoke of the happiness that camo three years ago, at the end of the Great War; which was meant to be the war to end wars. The rejoicing was mingled with sadness at the thought of the death of the loved ones, who would not be returning with the victorious armies. "It is the desire of every good soldier and citizen to erect a memorial to perpetuate the deeds -of these men,” he said. “These men have given everything possible. What are we to give in return? It is up to us to sacrifice ourselves.” The memorial, he thought, would offer a new outlook in life, and would make people feel their indebtedness to the great dijad. the true heroes of the war. He wished to eliminate the idea of “benefit” that tho chapel would be to the city. He could conceive of nothing better than a sacred memorial, such as was proposed. “It is a sacred book,” he said, “that I visualise, with the, name inscribed in letters of gold of every man who fell in the war.” , The simple impressiveness of the cenotaph in London was spoken of by General Richardson, wnoicontrastedi it with the martial, yet worldly, impression given by tho Arc de Triompho in Paris. '“I am opposed to a utilitarian memor. ial,” ho saidi "I cannot conceive anything more improper. ' Tn connection with tho proposed memorial, I was doubtful at first, because I did not know what tho Government'was going to do in the way of a national memorial. I’m not suggesting that it should be immediately built; but the Government should by this time have clear ideas. . . . I’ve waited three years, nnd I think this proposal means a national and sacred memorial.” Names of the Fallen. Bishop Sprott, [in proposing a, vote of thanks to the Mayor and to the other ■speakers, emphasised anew the objects of the meeting. The Church of England had a scheme for a cathedral, which had 'been ’thought of for very many years. . The idea of the Military Chapel, five or six years old, was entirely due to Mr. Askew. It was his suggestion Hint the names of the fallen men should be engraved on the walls of tho chapel. The relatives of fallen men not Anglicans would be asked to give their consent io the names being placed in the chapel. JUferring to General Richardson’s statements regarding tho national memorial, he stated that the Government for certain reasons could not feel at liberty to give it a specifically religious charao-

ter. Tho Christian Church was against war, but tho proposed memorial was not inappropriate. Tho morality of war and of Christianity converged at one point—war and Christ; required solL sacrifice for the well-being of others. Therefore he did not think it inappropriate that there should ba a memorial to the spirit and act of self-sacrifico placed in a Christian church. Tho memorial would not be for men generally, but for each individual soldier and his personality. Those who died ill service on earth would rise to higher service in God’s universe. He would suggest that over the entrance of the clinpol should bo tho words, "Death is swallowed up in victory.” Rev. C. F. Askew seconded the vote of thanks, adding the names of Messrs. Howard Foster and J. A. Doherty, who contributed musical numbers during the evening.