ANZAC DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 121, 24 April 1925, Page 5

ANZAC DAY

JO-MORROW’S OBSERVANCE. SERVICES TO BE HELD. The tenth anniversary of tho hiatorio landing of the troops of the Australian and Now Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli falls to-morrow, when it will be fittingly observed as a sacred day, featured by special services corriniemorutivo of the great sacrifices made by tho New Zealand and Australian troops. All of the local State schools, with tho exception of Central School, conducted special services today. At 9 a.in. at Central to morrow the children will be assembled and addressed by Rev. J. M. Stewart and Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Palmerston North Returned Soldiers' Association. Previously it has been the custom to conduct a combined schools’ service at Central, but that has been abandoned this year on account of the recent infantile paralysis epidemic. At 2.30 p.m. to-morrow there will bo a public combined service at the Showgrounds, Padre Walls being the principal speaker. At 6.30 p.m. there will be a further combined service at St. Andrew’s Church under the auspices of the Council of Cliristian Congregations, ami at 3 p.m. a sacred concert ut the Opera House. In the majority of the country centres observances will also be conducted tomorrow. Rev. G. •W. Dent speaks ..at 2 p.m. at Rongotoa, while at tho same hour at. Buimythorpo Revs. Kempthorne and Hall will deliver addresses on the recreation ground. For the residents of Ashlmrst and surrounding district a combined memorial service will be held at the Triangle, near the post office at 11 a.pi. If the weather is unfavourable the service will be held :'n the Methodist Church In connection with the parade to-mor-row afternoon, Scouts are notified that they will fall in at the Showgrounds at 2.15 sharp. Scoutmaster F. Carpenter will be in charge. ADDRESS AT lIOKOWHITU SCHOOL. BY REV M. A. RUGBY PRATT. The children of Hokowhitu School were this morning assembled in 'he large room ami addressed by Rsv. M. A. Rugby Pratt. The assembl/ first sang the hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” following which Rev. Pratt led in prayer appropriate to the occasion. The Recessional preceded the delivery of tho address. Rev. Pratt, at the outset, expressed the pleasure which it guve him to speak to the children on this occasion and stated that ho hoped to be able to give a new thought to those who did not know very much about the significance of the initial letters “A.N.Z.A.C.” After asking what they represented and being answered by the children, he commented that, the deeds of the New Zealanl and Australian Army Corps on Gallipoli afforded a thought which could not fail to thrill the hearts cf a Britisher. It would bo ten years ago to-morrow since 'lie men of a section of that famous division .of British troops made their historic landing on tho shores of Gallipoli. He pictured tlia approach of the fleet of transports in tho shadow of the grey night and the gallant landing in tiie face of powerful fortifications on the steep slopes. Probably, many of his hearers had had relatives in that glorious exploit who had gone to their death under tho withering fire of the foe. The landing wrote one of the finest chapters in the history of the Empire and the men who had uuub the supreme sacrifice, as well as those living, were deserving of cherished remembrance. Not only were they to remember that incident, but also tlic bravery of all who served tho Empire In the great wur. There was a note of sorrow when it was remembered that there were homes where the sacrifice of ton years ago were still being suffered. There was, too, the not) of thanksgiving for the nic-n who had given their lives for a groat principle. To-Jay w.-i enjoyed religious liberty, political and other advantages, but all had been achievscl by sacrifices — behind it all stood a story of toil and risks. Sorrow was not the chief note, rather was it of triumph and thanksgiving, yet, again, there was a challenge—tho challenge to be worthy of the men who had made the supreme sacrifice in a war to end war. “The men of tho A.N.Z.A.C. challenge us to carry on the war to end war and to promulgate peace not only through the Empire bur all over the world,” said Mr Pratt. The clay was coining when the battle Hags would bn permanently furled and when there would be world-wide peace, when the mailed fist would be for ever closed and peace and goodwill to nil men would reign pre-eminent, lie wanted tho children to bear in mind that they belonged to a glorious Empire and possessed a worthy heritage which they would not lightly regard. The singing of a verso of the National Anthem concluded tho gathering. AT WHAKARONGO SCHOOL. The seioor girls of Whakarongo School this morning decorated the Var Shrine with masses of beautiful white flowers. The headteacher, Mr P. Braik, addressed the children in appropriate terms, and various illustrations of the devotion of Anzac to tho cause of Empire freedom were given. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 23. Tho Governor-General has been commanded by the King to communicate to the people" of New Zealand on the occasion of Anzac Day the following mossage from Ipis Majesty“ The Queen and I join our people of New Zealand in celebrating the memorable deeds of ten years ago and in commemorating the heroic dead.”