ANZAC DAY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 286, 2 May 1929, Page 5

ANZAC DAY.

SERVICE AT PUTARURU. Impressive Function. Anzac Day was fittingly observed in Putaruru by the united memorial service held in the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon. The hall was filled, the large congregation being’ representative of the town and district. The. table on the platform was covered with the Union Jack, whilst beneath the Roll of Honour was displayed the New Zealand Ensign. Girl Guides, 26 strong, under Mrs. Dodson, paraded, and occupied reserved seats in the front of the stage. The Putaruru Town Band, under Mr, A. Brown, was in attendance, and played the accompaniments to the hymns.

Mr. C. D. Brown presided, and with him on the platform were the Revs. S. R. Wareing, Wilkinson (Anglican), H. Ashworth (Methodist) and W. T. Brabyn (Presbyterian).'

The chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that though , eleven years had passed since the war ended, they again met to honour the memory of those who fell in the various theatres of the conflict. The returned men knew ■wliat good pals their fallen comrades had been, and it was fitting that Ansae Day should be set aside as a holy day.

The hymn “ O, God, Our Help in Ages Past ” was, then sung, after which the chairman apologised for the unavoidable absence (due to bad roads) of Major Armstrong, of the Salvation Army, who was set down for the opening prayer. In his absence the Rev. W. T. Brabyn led the congregation in prayer.

“ Lead, Kindly Light ” was sung, followed by the reading of the 33rd Psalm by the Rev. H. Ashworth. Mrs. J. J. Shine gave an impressive rendering of the solo “ There is a Green Hill ” (Gounod), her beautiful voice being heard to great advantage. Mrs. Tulloch played the accompaniment sympathetically. The congregation stood as several .beautiful floral emblems were deposited on the table underneath the Roll of Honour, the wreaths includ ing one from, the Putaruru branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and two from the Girl Guides.

The address was given by the Rev S. R- Wareing, who opened by telling the story of the Archbishop of Paris, who, before his ordination, in company with several companions entered a Roman Catholic Church in a spirit of mockery. Seeing a large /number of penitents going to confesrsion a bet was made with the young man, "who later was the Archbishop of Paris that he would not be game 'jfco make a confession that would horrify the priest. The bet was taken up and the words that the young man was to say were decided on. They were: “ I laugh at Christ and T .care not a straw what He has done.” The priest listened to the confession, after which he told the man that like every penitent he would .have to do penance. The priest then wrote some words on a piece of paper and told the young man that he would have to kneel before a picture of Christ’s Crucifixion and repeat the words written on the paper. The words were: “ He hung there bleeding for me, and I do not care a straw.” The man started to say the words, but found he could not, saying instead “ But I do care,” and rushed from the church. In applying the story the preacher said that it seemed to him to appropriately illustrate a feeling that has arisen in this materialistic age. The war has been over eleven years, and during that time there has grown up a spirit of indifference and callousness together with a non-understanding spirit, especially among those of the younger generation whose fathers fought, suffered and died. He appealed to- them to arise from the feeling of “ I don ? t care ” to “ I do care,” arid he took the latter words as his text. Anzac Day was an object lesson to the younger generation. It was not a pageantry of military splendeour, nor a pageantry of sorrow; but an object lesson to the young people to give service for the good of their country as well as service for the public weal. They had before them tangible expression of a glorious ideal and as a result of that ideal they found their splendid manhood arising to go to the assistance of the Mother Country. Through the sacrifice made there had been born a new nation —New Zealand. The young people had the responsibility of making themselves worthy of the traditions established by the men of Anzac. They should be willing to serve and become worthy citizens of this fair land, and to demonstrate the true principles of true citizenship. Mr. Wareing went , on to ask the older people to set be-

fore the young high ideals to encourage such societies as the Girl Guides, the Boy Scouts, etc., as have high ideals. The names on the Roll of Honour meant a principle and a tradition of service. It was up to all to show that the sacrifice was not in vain and to strive to make ourselves worthy citizens. The hymns “ God of Our Fathers ” (Kipling) and “ Abide With Me ” were sung, interspersed by a prayer by the Rev. W. T. Brabyn. The Last Post was impressively sounded by Mr. A. Brown, after which the Rev. G. Wilkinson pronounced the Benediction. A collection realised £5 6s lOd.

The whole proceedings, whilst marked by great solemnity, were devoid of that feeling of gloom that has marked many a similar service. As one left the hall it was with the feeling that never had the memory of the men of Anzac been so fittingly honoured as it had that day. ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. Special Mass. Anzac Day was fittingly observed at St. Patrick’s Church, Putaruru, on Thursday morning, when Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Zanno. Prayers for the dead were read and the Mass was followed by the Litany for Peace. There was a large congregation.

At the evening service at St. Patrick’s Church on Sunday night, the Rev. Father Zanno, in the course of his sermon, made reference to Anzac Day. He recalled that when on a visit to the Austrian-Italian front he saw cemetries 15 to 20 miles in extent, thus illustrating the horrors of war in a grim realistic manner.