EMPIRE DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1921, Page 3

EMPIRE DAY.

CELEBRATION IN LONDON

LONDON, June 2. Empire Day was celebrated with renewed enthusiasm this year in England. London itself was gay with flags and the occasions were fittingly celebrated at gatherings arranged by various patriot-id organisations. Commemorative tings were sold by ladies in all the principal thoroughfares, railway stations, and other advantageous positions. A deputation frohi the League of the Empire and the Women’s Guild of Empire, with Lady Llangattock for the League, and Mrs John Grog for the guild, laid a wreath on the Cenotaph, •‘from some women of the Empire i gratitude for those who gave their lives for the Empire,” and a wreath was placed at the foot of Queen Victoria’s statue, outside Buckingham Palace as a tribute from branches of the Victoria League in all parts of the Empire. The day was observed by all the schools in England. The London County Council authorised a special programme of events in the morning with a half-holiday in the afternoon. The Union Jack was hoisted to U' l ' singing of the National Anthem in all the schools. A patriotic address fol-

lowed, a poem in honour of a- national deed or a national hero was recited, and the day closed with the National

Anthem and the final salute. A pleasant feature at the Guildhall ceremony where 1000 children assembled from the city schools, was a series of three resolutions. proposed and seconded in admirable little speeches by boys and girls. The first was a message ol loyal and affectionate greeting to the King and Queen, and the second, a message of comradeship and goodwill to the children of the schools in the British Empire; while the third was one of thanks to the Lord Mayor and Corporation for the use of Guildhall. The Earl of Meath, who is now 80

years of age, has devoted himself for near 20 years to the furtherance of his great idea. Tn responding to the toast of “The Empire Movement” lie told how he first became convinced of the necessity for the ‘‘union of hearts.” In his early days lie was a diplomatist. As far hack a,s iB6O he was a clerk the Foreign Office and had to deal with documents which gave him knowledge which the world docs not know even now. He went to Berlin in 1870, and helped to look after French prisoners. He say the Germans clamouring for war round their national monuments. He saw below the surface of Bismarck’s time. Even in those days, the ruling clique in Germany anticipated what has taken place since. They hated the English then. Our ambassador was openly insulted at Court, and not once only. So lie informed a very strong opinion that there would he war sooner or later. As soon as he left displomney he began to think of making the people understand the danger that, threatened. “That was how it started. n said Lord ATcnth “1 went Rhunt the fcimtry,

and round the world into every portion of the Empire, nnth-I must say I found far more enthusiasm was caused by the ‘.Empire movement overseas than at

Home.” There are only two things, he said, that can bring about the downfall of the British Empire—ignorance and selfishness. Those were the dangerous things. They were giving free Government to every part of the Empire that would accept it. “I wish to God our own people would accept it,” lie added.

Wesleyan .Methodists celebrated Empire day by meeting in large numbers at John Wesley’s Chapel, London, Sir K'i'ngjsiley Wood, M.P. who presided over the evening meeting, said Wesleyan Methodism was an 'Empire church and John Wesley himself was a national possession. Wesley was a grept lover of peace, and if lie had been alive today lie would have put life and reality into the League of Nations, hut he would not have talked “cant” about it or expected it to do the impossible. They recalled that night the 2">n Wesleyans who had served in the Great War, tile hundreds of chaplains, and the 20,000 lives which had been consecrated in the service of their country. Wesley believed in loyalty to the Sovereign and the Throne. Onee he found himself In a police court summoned for speaking treasonable words. Tn reply, lie demanded that the loyal oath should be administered to him and stated that he wished every Methodist in England could thus declare his lovaltv.