School War Memorial

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1921, Page 1

School War Memorial

LAYING Tilt: FOUNDATION STONT

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT

A'ostorday King's weather favoured the day set. apart for the laying of tie foundation stone of tlie war memorial to he erected in memory of ox-scholars of Hokitika State School who fell or served in the great war. The site ol -the memorial is on the south eastern corner of the school grounds, a few yards from the inter-section of Hampden and Sale Streets. The ceremony was a most impressive one. and was carried out by the combined Masonic brethren of the district. A largo nuin|>er of visitors arrived by the special train from Grey mouth. including many members of the Freemasons Lodges. The Masons marched in full regalia from the Freemasons Lodge, south R evoll Street, the Town Land and a guard of honor of Senior Cadets in strong foreo neeompanving them. Arrived at the school grounds it was found that a vow large assemblage had gathered for the ceremony. The selioo] children wore placed in lines forming a hollow square around the foundation stone, so as to give them a good view of the proceedings, while to one side a small platform hail been erected for the speakers. The assemblage gathered round the lines of children and a very animated and interested assemblage it was. The Town Band supplied the accompaniments to the hymns and their services were a very valuable aid to the general success. The proceedings were carried out without the slightest hitch, and one and all responsible are to he complimented on their complete- I

iK'ss. Programmes banded round of tlm ceremony assisted considerably in enabling those present to follow the course of tin- proceedings tlie* ceremonial of the Masonic order proving most interesting to one and all. OPENING PROCEEDINGS.

Air AV. H. Shannon. (Chairman of Hokitika School Committee and the ’War Memorial Committee) opened the the proceedings, the National Anthem being sung.

Mr Shannon said they had met that afternoon to lav the foundation stone of the memorial to the memory of scholars of Hokitika District, High School who had served in the great war. Ever since pence had been declared it had been resolved to commemorate the services of the old scholars, hut it had peon considered advisable to wait till the. funds for the Westland AVnr Memorial had first been raised. On Anzar T)"av night a strong committee had been set up and it had been decided to erect a lasting memorial on the present site It. had truly been said that many of the warw of Old England had been won in the schools of England and that same could he said of the schools ol New Zealand, for it was in our schools that the lessons of loyalty and citizenship were instilled into the minds of the scholars. The District Iligh School had been well represented in the war and among the many names of those who had served he would mention Brigadier Cenernl Archie Jack, and Colonel Chesnev, while many others had served with credit to New Zealand and the school alike in a greater or lesser degree. Tt was gratifying to know that our men did not fail when they were called upon. They were proud of what their young men had done for the honor and liberty of the Empire and New Zealand and desired to suitably place on record their appreciation and recognition with the memorial they were now going to erect. He would call on the TTon. Pro. H. T.. Michel AT.L.C.. R.AV. P.D.O.M. to take charge of the masonic ceremony. THE MARONTC CEREATONY. The opening ode— “0 God our brio in ages past” was then sung. R.W.P.n.O.M. Pro. Michel stated the wish had boon expressed by the

.Memorial Committee that the foundation stone of the memorial should be laid according to the ancient masonic cuskiin. ami they had great pleasure in acceding to the request. They would now proceed with the ceremony and lie would address them later. Bro. Lev. Archdeacon Carr of C!revmouth then gave a reading from the Scripture, and a Prayer. Bt. AV.D.CAL Bro.' Steer, K. C. R AV.P.C.AL F. AVarnes. p,-ov. GAL N.Z.C.. assisted by Bros. R. TI. Richmond, P.P.G.AL. N.Z.C. and AY. Cochrane L.C'. then proceeded to lay the foundation stone. AYliilo the stone was 'being lowered the Band played “Peace Perfect Peace.”-

RAIL Bro. Steer expressed his great pleasure as representative of the English Freemasons to lay the stone. A plan of the memorial, together with documents and coins of flic realm were placed in the cavity of the stone. Then followed the lowering of the stone into position and the laying of the stone in its bed, (he quaint ceremony of squnr'mr, levelling and setting it in place being carried out. Then followed the j sprinkling of corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy on th(> stone, each followed by a brief reading by the Rev. Archdeacon Carr. The Rt. AY. Bro. Steer then declared the stone true and faithfully laid, and handed to the contractor Air IT. A. Thompson, the plans for tit' l sfeudiiee calling on him to faithfully and cxneditionslv eomnlefo (he work begun that day. This concluded this portion of the ceremony which was closely followed with great inlerest by the large assemblage.

THE SPEECHES

The Hon. TT. L. ATiehel. AT.L.C. said they had many of them that afternoon assembled in Masonic clothes for the purpose of seeing that the foundation stone he well and truly laid in accordance with the ALisonie custom. The memorial was to perpetuate the memory of many scholars who had served in the I great war. To this gathering had come the mothers and fathei's whose sons foil on the shores of Gallipoli and others' whose loved ones had fallen in . other places, while there were others whose loved ones were privileged to return hnt, who had suffered probably even more than those who had left their hones on a, foreign shore. He had been struck with the number of sons of freemasons who bad passed through the school who had gone to tho war. That was not tho only reason for the ceremony that, day: (There were many interesting tlieorieif' of freemasonry. There wore some writers who tell 11s that we are the descendants of the stone ages. Tt was an authenticated fact that for hundreds of years foundation stories have been laid by freemasons. Tn this district they had been seldom carried out probably owing to the instahilbv of the structures. Rome TO rears ago the late Hon. P. .T. Redden laid the fW foundation stone of the King Edward and South African AA T nr memorial at the Intersection of AYdd and Row d RD'" l ! 1 -'. The present memorial would prove an inspiration tn generations of boys and girls wbn will* pass through the scho'd. Freemasonry, continued Mr ATiohgl, is verv often misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented. Freemasonry stands first for God. the great snnreme r ruler and architect of the universe then for King and Country. Honor the King because be represents the unity of ; the Empire, and the highest and uobj Test ideals of the people. Their creed i urged them never to be concerned in 1 any plot which would interfere with Pie | welfare of their country. On the continent, of Europe there was a society jfhat posed as freemasons, but these j were a society of political movements formed for the purpose of attacking j the cherished religious beliefs of another section. The Lodges of Great | Britain, America, Canada, Now South

i 11--1 • !*> | Wales, Victoria and New Zealand abso- | lutely refused to countenance'those conj tincntnl lodges. He was glad to say , that freemasonry proper had never countenanced the doctrines of the continental societies. It was said we were a secret society. It was true we bad secrets, which were handed down from generation to generation, but there was nothing dishonourable in them. The best , men of every country and age have been promoters of the lodges. They have patronised our mysteries, and now freemasonry is universal in its scope. It condemns sectarian strife and the din of political life is never heard in the portals of its lodges. There was something good in freemasonry. No institution cvduld live in the thoughts only of the past. The hand of time is dealing kindly with freemasony. He assured them that it was ever striving to make the world brighter and better in an effort to improve and bring true happiness to the human race. Mr Shannon announced that a collection would be taken ‘up in support of the Memorial. Tn view of the well-known liberality of the AA r est Coasters he felt it was hardly necessary to make an appeal for assistance. The collection was taken up by a number of girl scholars of the secondary school, the collection being subsequently announced to have amounted to £2!) 10s lid. Mr CL A. Perry, (BILE. (Mayor of Hokitika) said he spoke on behalf of the townspeople and ex-scholars. On an occasion like this lie felt that too much could not be said in recognition of the response made to the call of Empire by the young men of New Zealand. An examination shows that the percentage from this district exceeds the most sanguine expectations. It was remarkable for such a small district as this to send such a large quota! to take part in the great struggle. Now they had gathered together to honour those who had taken part. In years to come the pupils will he taught the history’ of the late war and the high idaals that Had led to so many of their young men to go and offer their lives so that those great ideals shbuld not he broken, i Hon G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines said it was a great pleasure for i any visitor to come to the district and j on 1 he present occasion it was specially , so. They had sent from their district one of the greatest men who had ever I held the destinies of this young country | in his hands. He refererd to the late i Hon R. .T. Scddon. He was a great j Minister of Mines, a great Minister in I all of his portfolios rind will always he I hold in remembrance for what he had done for New Zealand. TTc was glad to join in the interesting ceremony to honour the memory of the hoys who went from this district. In all parts of the country monuments were being erected, and worthily so. We owed much to them who had gone to fight for us. This monument was not for our own hoys alone, hut for all and was a tribute that can be given by every district. for the great men who lund laid down their lives. Had it come at another time many others may have been called upon for the sacrifice, and gladly they would have answered the call to fight for our liberty. The <md of war was what we hoped for, but it is almost impossible. He was afraid war will come again in the future and it will he necessary for us to be ready to light. Our flag and nation has always stood for liberty. He asked what the world would be to-day had it not been lor the British Flag. A great deal still remains to he done, and everything that is permanent must come slowly. The lifeblood shed by our hoys is part of what is going to bring a better future.

As time goes on tlu* younger generations will grow up to be worthy citizens of the great Empire and Flag for which these boys laid down their lives. Hon J. Grimmond AT.L.C. said as a representative of the Canterbury Education Board lie congratulated the people of Hokitika and the Hokitika school on their successful efforts. They deserved the highest congratulations on the manner in which they were carrying out their self-imposed task. Nothing can mark their appreciation of the actions of the scholars better than to show how heartily tho v approved of the services rendered during the war . Ho felt sure that New Zealand would do its duty again if the need arose and he felt sure that the men to come will worthily represent tho boys who have gone to their rest and those who have come back. ATr T. E. A r . Seddon ALP., said as a comrade of the lads whose memory they were honoring that day, Tie felt and appreciated very much the action of the committee, in arranging for the erection of the most fitting memorial. Tt was gratifying to know that the people do remember and do revere what these men had done for us. They went out in their manhood and some had left their hones in Gallipoli, some in Palestine, in Flanders and elsewhere. Today we are gathered to commend the memory of those men and no matter where they lav, he fell that their spirits were with them that day. Ho felt as one of those who went with them that they were doing the right thing in recognising their services, and they would bo very pleased at the material. He felt sure that not one of those who had gone hut would do the same again if tho call came. He was proud of the record of the West Coast of their great voluntary offer. They had done their work, they had done their job. He was proud of what they were doing to keep green their memory. ATr Bernard Ward (Westland Countv Chairman) thanked the committee for their kind invitation. Ho was there in the capacity of County Chairman, but his mind went back to when he was a boy of 13 or 14 going to this school. There were many whom they remembered in those days, teachers including i Messrs Dixon, Soundey, McLeod, and o

Elcoate, all particularly fine men, and also old,pupils: A. Barr, G. Mueller, T. Martin, I). J. Evans ,G. Perry, the old men- of to-day. Those were the days of peace. In 1914 as time wore on the greatest war of history’ broke out. New Zealand sent her sons to tight for their hearts and homes. Among those brave men were over 180 from this school and some young women too who should be specially honoured, to tight the fight for liberty and justice and true civilisation. AYliat would have happened if tlieir efforts had been unsuccessful. New Zealand would not belong to us at all, but we would be ruled by a foreign enemy. Now we were gathered together in grateful memory’ of what those scholars had done. J lie mcmoiial will serve to remind future scholars in the future of the great spirit of selfsacrifice they haU shown. The children in front of him would probably expect some message or advice from an old scholar and he could think of nothing 1 letter than the advice given by President Harding:—“Remember there are two sides to every question. Get them both. Bo truthful. Get the facts. Mistakes are inevitable, but strive for accuracy. I would rather havo one story exactly right than a hundred half wrong. Be decent, he fair, he generous. There’s good in everybody. Bring out the good in every body, and never needlessly hurt the feelings of anybody. Treat all religions matters reverently.”

Mr Shannon tnen read telegrams of good wishes from Mrs Gunn, Wataroa (nee Miss Potts, a former teacher), and a joint one from Mr J. Brunton and Miss Oliver, and one from Inspector McCaekill.

The assemblage then stood in silence while the Band played “The Garland of Flowers,” in memory of the fallen. Mr Shannon then heartily returned thanks to all who assisted, induding the Masonic brethren, the Hon Minister of Alines, the Returned Soldiers, the Band, and all others who had given help to make the gathering a success. Th 0 closing hymn ‘'Abide AYith ATe” was then sung and was followed hv the National Anthem, which brought the function to a very successful conclusion. Subsequently the visitors and later the children were entertained at afternoon tea in the technical school by the lady teachers and wives of the school rommittee.