DEDICATION SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2120, 27 April 1920, Page 2

DEDICATION SERVICE.

All Saints’ Church was crowded at hoth morning and evening services on Sunday, on the occasion of the visit of the Bishop of Wellington to dedicate a pulpit, erected by the parishioners as a thank offering to Almighty God for the victory in the war, and in memory of the local men who rendered the supreme Paeriliee. The pulpit is of oak, and is an exquisite piece of workmanship. It was made by Messrs E. Collie, Ltd., Wellington. It is pentagonal in shape, and on one of the panels is a long brass tablet, with the following inscription: — ‘’To the Glory of God, Who gave us the Victory in the Groat War, 1914-1918, and in grateful memory of the following, who rendered the Supreme Sacrifice, this memorial is erected by the congregation of this church.” Then follows the names of the men. After the Dedication Service, the Bishop celebrated the Holy Communion service. In the course of his sermon, based on Rev. 22, chap, yv., 3 and 4, “And His servants shall do Him service; and they shall see His face,’’ he drew attention to the wonderful bravery and heroism of our men. He then asked the question, “Have our men died in vain I'' Already men were talking or writing of another war, which would exceed in lorribleness the horrible war just ended. We were accustomed to think of a war as being fought between two armies; but the lasi war was one of peoples, while the next would be a war of extermination, through the agency of aeroplanes, poison gas, etc. The only remedy was a league- of nations. It, seemed as if the idea of a league of nations was but the talk of idealists who were before their lime. Undoubtedly (here was a realdanger of the war having been fought in vain. For instance, there has been a hope that this war would remove the Turk from Europe. The Turk has been called “the cancer of Europe.” Every thoughtful man v, ho had fired a shot at Gallipoli believed he was helping to drive the Turk out of Europe. In fact, pledges had been- given lhal Ihe Turk would he (racked out of Europe. But lie still remains. We are given two reasons far this; (I) Fear of effect upon Mohammedans of India; (2) to satisfy France, who has always been in favour of the Turk. High ideals are the possession of the few. Mere ini crest is taken in racehorses, etc. Idealists cannot carry out their ideals because the mass of the people are not behind'them. Further, the war was to safeguard Democracy. What is Democracy; Uersonal responsibility. But we find we are still concerned with our own affairs, while we leave the ordering of the world to the few. The Lea-

tie ol Xaliutm inav come; a moral

law may exist between Spites as it docs between man and man. Law is of slow progress. We cannot do much, hut we can see that onr young men have not died in vain. Aim to make a heller New Zealand. New Zealand has been bought with blood. Strive to make it purer, nobler, better, happier, than in the past. This would be the best possible memorial we could erect. He was reminded of Wren's memorial —the whole of St. Paul's Cathedral. Then let the whole of New Zealand ennobled be our memorial. Had the lives of men whose names (be pulpit bore been wasted? Have they ceased to exist? No, they still live on. Death is but an episode in an unbroken life. They Jive, serving before God.

In the evening' the Bishop preached on the 23rd Psalm, comparing it with Ft., John’s description of; our Lord as the (food Shepherd. It was most impressive* and inspiring. The total collections for the day, which were to defray the cost of the pulpit, reached the magnificent sum of £75 lls 2d.