CITIZENSHIP AND WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3984, 17 July 1915, Page 6

CITIZENSHIP AND WAR.

INTERESTING LECTURE BY ARCHDEACON > PACKE. There was an exceptionally good muster of C Company at the Garrison Hail last evening to hear an address by Archdeacon Pa eke on “Citizenship and War.” An invitation had been . extended to the public and a number of people accepted of the invitation. ! The address, which was of a very in- ; structive character, was closely and , attentively followed by those present. Priijifto the lecture C Company par- j adds on the main lloor of the hall and \v#ro exercised for a short space at JTmpany drill. Tho general conduct j my[ the men on parade was most fav- : orably commented upon and any suggestion that might have arisen lately : of a lack of discipline in tho company was utterly dispelled. The various movements were executed with a snap and precision that had the men been uniformed the smartness of the company would have been gauged at a high standard. . . Archdeacon Paeke, ill opening his

address said he was very pleased to bo present at the parade of the company. On' watching the various movements of the parade he was _ convinc'd that there was still material loft in Gisborne that there should be no fear of tho future. lie had chosen for his address what might ho called a wide subject and so he would have to eonline himself to some of its lessons. The lecturer then went on to deal with j the ethical phase of citizenship. On j coming to the practical aspect Archdeacon Pa eke said that citizenship m practice was one’s duty to one’s fel-low-neighbor, and when one was called upon to dischargo his duty of citizenship he was expected to give real citizenship—nothing hut good stuff. Con-

tinuing the lecturer contrasted tho duties of citizenship to tho duties of lho. home stating that the performance of civic duties required a greater sacrifice than tho duties of the home life, and adding that no reflex of honor could lie expected in return for the performance of the duties of citizenship. Referring to the war Archdeacon Paeke defined tho height to which Prussian egotism had reached and said that the struggle to-day was not so much to cast down thrones but to cast out devils. He emphasised the fact that citizenship also existed between the nations as well as between man and man. Continuing. lie said that the first dutv of a citizen was to work—work that absorbs the intellect of the worker and he stressed

the fact that a worker was not a hand but a mail. Citizenship and patriotism were synonirnous and patriotism brought a- reflex of blessing to the community. True citizenship, said Archdeacon Paeke, meant co-opera-tion, and who, he asked, eoukl measure the prosperity Of a nation like ours if we were in full co-operation ? Ignorance was tho chief influence hearing on the best interests of the nation. •‘I see by this war,” he continued, “many Christian excellences —suffering, patient endurance, and affliction.” There were many who had thought the nation had become decadent, sloothful, hut he knew that the hoys could act and suffer as in any of the ages of the nation’s history. If every young man went into training to follow such examples as set by these heroic men there would be no"fear of the nation in tho future, and in the present war we would win out a greater nation than when wtwent in. The future of the nation to an extent also lies in the hands of tno present generation who are being trained in self-discipline in the Territorial force, in order that when called upon they may protect and serve their country like true British gentlemen. Our hoys who were now lighting were no decadent crew, no despicable., rab-

ble, hut men of whom ayy nation might well be proud. They were splendidly unconscious, concluded the lecturer, of doing anything beyond what they ought to do, and if these virtues became, a part of their lines when the war was over there was no fear of the future of the country. Mr J. B. Kells, on behalf of the civilians, ,thanked the lecturer for his splendid and interesting address. Lieut. Mitchell (O.C. Company) on behalf of the men also returned thanks and in referring to what C Company had done in the matter of sending men away said that besides a largo number of rank and file the company had furnished 2 officers and 21 non-commis-sioned officers for active service.