KITCHENER MEMORIAL SERVICES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1563, 13 June 1916, Page 2

KITCHENER MEMORIAL SERVICES.

Kitchener Memorial services were held in the local Presbyterian and Anglican Churches on Sunday. Local cadets, veterans, returned troopers, territorials and riflemen, accompanied by the Borough Band, marched to the Presbyterian Church to attend the 11 o’clock service. Every sent was occupied, and the hymns were appropriate. Mrs Claris presided at the organ, and at the conclusion of the service the Dead March was played, all present standing, followed by the National Anthem.

The Rev. J. 11. Bredin took as his text, Amos 111., (ith verse ; “Shall there he evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?" The preacher referred to the calamity which had fallen upon the nation by the death of Earl Kitchener. The preacher delivered an eloquent and inspiring panegyric to tin* deceased soldier, and traversed his life’s work on behalf of Ihe Empire. Surely he died as he wished, doing his duty, working for the Empire he loved so well, and for which lie did so much. God had allowed (his calamity to he done for a purpose. It was a solemn monition to all in high places. God had said; “I am God, and beside me there is none else.” God has blessed Britain, but she must remember Tie is her God. God has honoured her, but she must not forget the God who keeps her. Our nation is apt to become proud of her strength. Now that she is in the throes of so great a war, and lias sustained so great a loss she must how low and say, “God is God alone, the shields of the mighty belong to Him and unto Him, unto Him alone be glory and honour for ever and ever.” As we believe in God let us see His hand in the removal of the great man whom the world holds in honour to-day. Let us thank God that such a leader was raised up for ns in our great extremity. Let us remember (hat he accomplished an incomparable task before he was called away, and left our Empire strong to meet and conquer her foes. We mourn to-day, but Mr Balfour very truly says, “Let ns not mourn for him, let ns mourn for ourselves." The loss is ours, the'gain is ours. As we look back to-day we see a. man standing high above his fellow men, a man with (inn tread and

piercing eye, a man of genius, of indomitable courage, of line foresight. a man ever marching to the call of duty, and above all, a man of fbid. Recall the touching admonition he gave to the soldiers who went to France to take part in the war. There spoke a pure, straight, line man. Severe perhaps some thought him, and hard to approach, and yet watch him as he stoops to speak to the little children, and remember how the British soldier loved him and trusted him. Remember, 100, that all hough engaged in the hardest work' ever given to man to do, and faced with criticism and diHicnl'ty on every side, he never forgot his God. Every day, though every minute and every day was tilled with hard work, Kitchener bowed to Ood, and spent a considerable time in meditation and devotion. A great man Ims fallen, a greater man stands in the presence of God to-day. We mourn his loss, and pay our tribute to his work ; we place the laurel crown on his brow, wo thank God for him, and we pray God to raise up strong and faithful leaders for ns in the future as He has dime in I he past. The services in the evening at the Anglican Church was crowded to such an extent that numbers could not gain admission. The vicar, Hov. W. Raiim, spoke on “the Liberty of Service,'’ and preached from (he text, “The Son of God . . . gave Himself.” He dealt most eloquently with the life of Christ as an example of service and supreme sacrifice. He drew a comparison between voluntarism and compulsion. Voluntariness was love of duty inspired by love. Love of country should appeal to all time sons , of Britain. England, which represents so much, its wealth of tradition, inspiring memories, procession of historic figures, ascendancy among the nations, calls to her sons. They had met under the shadow of a great loss—a loss felt not by ourselves only, but by nations allied with us in the present struggle. The loss of one who freely gave himself. The war has occasioned many shocks. The nation, nay, the Empire, has braced itself again and again, but we never expected that our guiding hand controlling genius, would have been, lost in such a way. laird Kitchener was never a popular figure ; one who never sought friends, austere always wrapped up in work, he never came into public fancy ns, say. Lord Roberts, hut in onr hour of need, when wo hud neglected for years the warnings of the more popular man, who was it we turned to? dR* who to-night we think of. All the Empire turned to one man and the one man has not failed us. The Empire boars the mark of his work and far-seeing ideals. India South Africa, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand. Though we appreciate his work we do not understand as historians of the future will. Though a figure we did-not understand, yet we turned instinctively to him as the one man to accomplish the task.

Think of the wonderful things he has done. Raised a live million army in a civilian country, and still growing. To find time in the midst of a heavy load, no man a heavier, stupendous, to visit different parts of the far-llung battle line to advise and direct. How much of present strategy is due to him we cannot say. He was a great soldier and a gentleman. How wonderfully he heard the call of duty, the call of his country. He fulfilled lites highest purpose by giving himself. His life was laid down for the Empire, and we are going to benefit by his example. Let us put our hands to.the plough. Are we going to turn hack? With indomitable courage and unswerving devotion let us apply ourselves to the task in hand till victory crowns our efforts. ‘‘England never did, never shall, lie at the proud foot of a conqueror !” Enlist if possible, if we cannot enlist, work ; if we cannot work, pay. Have we missed (he joy of giving? Let ns face our own conscience. Let us have courage, perseverance and a determination to work. There is a work to be done, a deliverance to be inaugurated, our Empire to save. Let us do our duty, inspired by love.