A DEDICATION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1932, Page 2

A DEDICATION

A CALL TO SLRVIOf

HONOURING THE DEAD

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.j

AUCKLAND, April 20

•With the .simplest ol ceremonial, the roll of honour which now adorns the Hall of Memories in the Auckland Mur Memorial .Museum was dedicated on ■Sunday afternoon by the Governor-Gen-eral, who made the journey from Wellington specially for the purpose.

"I am here to-day as your Sovereign's representative to unveil this roV. and at the same time formally to open the Hall of ALmiories,' - said ids Excellency. ‘‘What are those memories;-' Ale 11■ y mereiy sad and inouriili/ or are they irradiated and sanctified with joy and pride and hope:' These men, for the most part, lost their lives cheerfully and selflessly while on active service. Surely love of their -iel. ow-countrymoii should uot find expression in a, futile outpouring of emotional grief, but rather in a. ready acceptance of Lie claim which they make upon those who are left behind for such active service as present conditions cull for from all patriotic citizens, and for ventures of faith ami strenuous endeavour ns courageous as theirs, although far less perilous, to make good .the ground which they have won. Their spirits are calling us to this great bask of unremitting service for the common good. They are begging us to work whole-heartedly and iudol’atignbly for peace among nations and among individuals and thus ensure that: their lives were not sacrificed in vain. When we fee! most lonely and despondent lo.t ns link oursct’vcs with this invisible host and claim the privilege and .stimulus of their comradeship.

the honoured dead. "The roll which to-day will be dedicated must not be blurred by dust or forgotfir’ness. It- should serve to recall and revive the hope of our calling and the glory of our inheritance. It should convince us of the magnitude of the power which it is open to us to exert when, by sturdy fa?:h, we associate ourselves wilt those who have died for noble ends. They merit our respect and admiration. Even if the lives of some of them were far from blameless wc can number them among the honoured and blessed dead, seeing that in response to .the clear cal' of duty they sacrificed their all. Whatever opportunities they may have missed in their lives, however unworthy to be described as saints, we

can confidently and proudly acclaim them as heroes, for we know that when called upon to give their life for its highest ends they did not falter. They gave g!l that they had. They rose to the CV.iristlike level of those- who have laid down their lives for their brethren, a level to which only love at its best can rise. By risking death in the fulfilment of a high and noble aim they .entered into the 'secret of ilife-s purpose,

A FERVENT I’RAYER. “To quote the famous words of our revered Sovereign when in May, 1922, he visited the war cemeteri.es in France, ‘I fervently pray that both as nations and individuals we may so order our lives after the ideals for which our brethren died that we may he able hereafter to meet their gallant souls once more humbly, but unashamed,’"