EMPIRE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1937, Page 10

EMPIRE DAY

"OUR FIRST DUTY"

LORD BLEDISLOE'S , MESSAGE

The following Empire Day message h)as been, received by the local branch of the Royal Empire Society from the president of. the Empire Day Move- * merit, .Lord Bledisloe:— "As' president of the Empire Day Movement in Succession 'to the late Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty. I address you this, Empire Day in a spirit of deep thankfulness to God for the.blessings vouchsafed to us as members of the great British Commonwealth of Nations during a period of almost unprecedented unrest and uncertainty throughout the world. While many nations have been racked with internal. strife, and serious, economic distress our fraternity of British peoples have remained at peace, and trade and industry have shown a stWadilyrincreasing prosperity with a substantial reduction of unemployment. "The grave crisis which resulted in the 'accession to the Throne of our present gracious King was faced by all classes, races, and parties throughout the Empire with a .dignity, selfrestraint, and common sense which have enhanced 'its prestige am&ng the nations of the world, and cemented its internal solidarity in face of a common trial. It has emerged from it with a sense of greater confidence and conscious strength. "Our' first' duty this Empire Day is to acclaim, with loyalty and affection, King George the Sixth and his charming consort, and.to wish for the former a long and hdippy reign »ver a united, prosperous, and contented people. We have; an Empire spread over a quarter of the surface of the earth, and on it a quarter of the world's.inhabitants. Our influence and responsibility exceed those of all other nations. Upon our wise leadership and the example which we set will depend in large measure the future welfare and progress of mankind. Let each and all of us with a due, sense of our individual responsibility'see that bur influence is exerted, not only in the cause of world peace, but also in promoting all these causes, social, educational, economic, and spiritual, that will make . the world a happier and better place to live in for all races and classes of the community. "I send you my warmest greetings and best wishes, in the confident hope that during the coming year the peoples of the British Empire may be knit more closely together in affection, mutual hopefulness, and beneficent world influence by ever-increasing mutual knowledge and sympathy."