EMPIRE THANKSGIVING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 708, 6 July 1929, Page 14

EMPIRE THANKSGIVING

RECOVERY OF THE KING AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS In common with peoples of many races throughout the length and breadth of the British Empire, citizens of Auckland will join tomorrow in thanksgiving for the recovery of his Majesty King George from his serious illness. In the heart of the Empire the King and Queen will be present at the great service to be conducted In Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury. J'HE service was originally to have been held on June 16, but the King suffered a relapse necessitating a postponement. The interval of three weeks has allowed copies of the official order of service to reach the Dominion. The service, which will be widely used, is purposely made brief to avoid subjecting his Majesty to undue strain. Thus finely worded, the purpose of the service is defined: “Thanksgiving to Almighty God for His good Frovidence whereby our Most Gracious Sovereign has been delivered from severe illness to the comfort of the whole realm, and for the signal love and loyalty of his people made manifest in the time of trouble." The order of service opens with Psalm 100, of five verses, which are: “An exhortation to praise God cheerThen follows the invocation and the first verse of the National Anthem. Special and general prayers of thanksgiving are next. The service concludes with the Te Deum, the Benediction, and the hymn, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.” MAYOR TO ATTEND CATHEDRAL The principal official service here will be held in St. Mary’s Cathedral at 11 a.m. Archbishop Averill will officiate, assisted by the acting-vicar, the Rev. P. T. Williams, and the Rev. J. M. Beaufort, chaplain of King’s College. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Gr. Baildon, will be present, accompanied by the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, in their robes, and members of the City Council. Others attending will be the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. Mr. M. H. Wynyard; representative officers of the Navy and Army, and representatives of the St. John Ambulance and of the Officers’ Club. The form used will be the official Westminster Abbey one, with the addition of a special service authorised by the archbishop. The service will be broadcast.

At the 8 a.m. celebration of the Holy Communion the prayers will be those of thanksgiving. Archbishop Averill, who will celebrate, will be assisted by the Revs. P. T. Williams, J. M. Beaufort and F. Carew Thomas. The evening service will also be characterised by special hymns and prayers of thanksgiving, and a children’s service has been arranged for the afternoon. TOWN HALL SERVICE

A civic service under the auspices of the Council of Christian Congregations will be held in the Town Hall tomorrow afternoon. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, will preside. The proceedings will follow the official order of the Westminster Abbey service, with certain alterations appropriate to the special conditions. An address will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. J. J. North, and the Revs. D. C. Herron, E. Drake and the Archbishop will also take part. In place of the Te Deum the hymn, “Oh, God, Our Help in Ages Past,’’ will be sung. At St. Patrick’s Cathedral solemn High Mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Other Roman Catholic churches have arranged special services also. The official evening service to be attended by the Mayor, town clerk and members of the City Council, will be held in the Pitt Street Methodist Church, and the preacher will be the Rev. W. Walker. All Presbyterian churches will use the official order of service in the morning. SUBURBAN SERVICES

The Mayor and council of the Mount Eden borough will attend the service at Mount Eden Congregational Church, the Mount Roskill Road Board the Epsom Methodist Church, and the One Tree Hill Road Board St. George’s. Ranfurly Road, Epsom, in the morning. The Mayor and council of Onehunga will be present at the service at the Onehunga Methodist Church in the evening. At 9.30 p.m. approximately all New Zealand radio stations will re-broad-cast station 5>3W, London, transmitting the thanksgiving service from the Abbey'. The service will end about 10.15 p.m., New Zealand time.

CITY MISSION SERVICE

THANKSGIVING MUSIC A special musical programme will be given at the City Mission service in the Lewis Eady Hall, Queen Street, tomorrow evening. The Mission Choir will sing thanksgiving anthems and several soloists will contribute items. The Rev. Charles Chandler will preach a special thanksgiving sermon. The service will begin at 7 p.m., and the hall doors will open at 6.15 p.m.