DECLARATION DAY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 5 August 1915, Page 4

DECLARATION DAY.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. PATRIOTIC RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. A GRAND MILITARY DISPLAY. Yesterday was the anniversary of th e Declaration of War between England and Germany, which has resulted in such an ■ awful conflict for supremacy, and, uncommon with every city, town, and village in the British Empire, a public meeting was 'called by th e mayor of Taihape to pass a resolution, similar to that being passed yesterday throughout 0 the Empire. The; meeting took place at the Band Rotunda, and a procession lead by the Taihape Municipal Brass Band and consisting of the Railway Reserve, National Reserve, Defence and Veterans and Boy Scouts marched down the | Main Street to the place of meeting. The, Actiug-Maydr (Mr H. D. Bennett) presided. Th e Chairman, in his opening address, said the proceedings were unique. The Imperial Government had asked the-m to plac e on recard the fret that they held with the, resolution submitted fight to the bitter end. It as the same resolution as was being passed thatday throughout the whole British community, and reads as follows:

“That cn this anniversary of a righteous war this meeting of the Burgesses of Taibapp;, records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of thO'Se ideals of liberty and justice which sire the common and ( sacred cause of the Allies.” 1 “The struggle they wer e engaged in was on e that required all th e strength of the Empire to combat. Before now their men had gone to the front to fight fdr their country, but thei majority of them had returned happily. They had not, yet realised their full responsibilities in this present war. It would' be idle for them to makej a stroke, now, and again and imagine they would beat .the enemy. After 12 months’ fighting they were really no nearer victory than before. There wer 0 10 doubts about their ■ winding, but if they determined right off the jump to fight to the end, . they would save the •ives of many of their men. It was due* .o.tlie boys at the front that they ,-hould go intOi this '' fight' ■ With ‘Til •arnestness. They wanted every avttib ihie man in New Zealand to be ready nd wanted to impress upon the Tra-j aerial Government that they w,er e ■ doing' their very. .best.. All th'Ose hiemof .unitary: ago should think of their responsibility- to their country. He would f.sk them to ,glv e their hearty and enthusiastic support to the resolution. ?nd they could, not pass it in a better way than by asking the Band to play “God Save the King.” ' >. ' ‘ M” li. hi. Haselden, in his opening •cmfirks. said they had had 365 days ’r.d nights of triab and anxiety. If they, remembered, about ejeven months igo, things locked as black as. possible. and the enemy worp within 18 j riles nf Paris. They ■ roust know also ! ’•fj't Britain had always fought -her ->-t. Hr-hi.;', whir.a%bp •v.-as'-iat-rhay. The,' '.-ryio rf-y hearing 1 hffi" iv'bly ] . i hia- vT-r. Tbav had given .thoir one- freely "and their men also. They '■erb’toiV! to have confidence by thos” i authority at Home., and he did not hick they had in any way lost their ■nvwo of security in Lord Kitchener. •\Vith regard to themselves,' 'they had•ordvided young men. They had not had am opportunity of showing their ca«l<liire before, hut w,hey, sth© Sim#came, they gave up their pleasure and comforts to fight for their country. They were out for sake of liberty and peace, and the roar of that day S proceedings would reach to the uttermost ends of the earth. It would show the enemy their miscalculation. He hoped they would rise from this war an elefvated nation.

Mr R. T. Batley said they were gathered together that day to pass a patriotic resolution. He hoped by the combined efforts of the British and the Allies that they would Crush the enemy. They knew they were fighting for the liberty of the world. They had men at th e front and many more to follow their footsteps. Those who went to the front and those who worked at home all had their duty before the ; m. There were no mcjre loyal people in th e world than in New Zealand, and they were all in'accord with the motion,

Mr Aldridge, speaking on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, said they were living in a very serious drisis. Eleve,n months ago they were unaware that such a great war would result, but it would not have been right for them to have allowed: Germany to trample* over Belgium. Perhaps they were not aware of it, but conscription, was in force In New Zealand in the old days, when they were, at war with the Maioris. And now they had. thousands of their men fighting side by side with -their native coun■ti'yiaea. 1 ■ ■ pather Connolly Said this dcmoias&ation wa£ hat an empty show, but was a sign that' they were still filled with the determination*! that right should overrule might, and' their tKffin were laving down tbeif iiv'eV for the sake

of a smaller country. The; primary motiv e of this war was the freedom of a smaller nation. In 18S1 a treaty was signed between seyeral nations giving to Belgium the right to live in peace, but suddenly this peace and order was overthrown, by Germany. Now they had taken up lh e sword to avenge tills, treatment.

The, Rev- A. L. Minifie, said that General Sherwin had once said, “War is hell,’’ and yet they saw the churches were preaching this war, and that thousands of the sons "of the Church were at th e front. It was because they realised it was a righteous war. If they studied history they would find that til© country fighting a righteous war always gained victory.

The Rev. Stent submitted a motion to the meeting as follows: “That the heartfelt sympathy of Taihapg be offered to all relatives • and parents of t'h.os e who have fallen in this mighty struggle for liberty, and also the assurance that the memory of those whose lives, have been given for their country will be, treasured in affectionate remembrance.’'

Mr Anthony Nathan, one of Tai hape’s oldest and most respected citi zens also briefly addressed the meet-

H e thanked the Acting-Mayor for allowing him to second Mr Stent’s motion. Although it was with sorrow that they received news of their wounded and dead, ther e tvas yet morepride than sorrow. He felt suSre that everyone from this part would do their best. There was not a man, woman, or child who would fail to do their utmost for the saic e of the country, and of their Empire. The Acting-Mayor, in putting the resolution to the meeting, said it would bei in keeping with the tenor of the resolution, if' they carried it in silence. This was accordingly done.

Th e chairman thanked the, Defence Officers and members of th e Band for being present to add colour to the proceedings. The* gathering then dispersed. INTERCESSORY SERVICE. A good number, was present at the Intercessory Service at the Town Hall last .night, in connection with the Declaration Day proceedings. The combined choirs of the Protestant Churches were ranged on one side of the hall* apd, special hymns were sung. The service, opened with a hymn and a prayer of invocation, and afterwards addresses, were given by the Revs. R Cathcrwood, A. L. Minific, and W.-P. Stent,, (taking for their subjects, respectively, "National Responsibility,”

“National Repentance,” and “Conso lation. ”

The Rev. Catherwood snid it was ah ways interesting to watch the growth of nations. They fitst had the strong and weak classes and later an ever stronger forcer bound the weaker ones together and then they had the nation This union was the same with nations Years ago the idea of, international law entered the mind . of one .strpnr man, and The Hagtie , Convention: w-u the result. There was one defect witl it, and that was that here was. no force to make tlie nations; adhere to the decisions. They knew Germany had. pur sued the policy of | the out.aw. an

when she found England would nojoin with her, she started on her awful" stand and deliver” career. Germany’s policy was blood and iron, and blood and iron -she must get. If the' utterly humiliated Germany the people would be disillusioned. What sort of country Germany was to be laid in the hands of Britain and the Allies. In the meantime, our responsibility was to supply men, money, and munitions. Every true man realised that he had a reputation, and so had a country. The Scriptures said a good name was more to be treasured than riches. Every man must realise that there was. a wonderful spiiit of truism throughout the British Empire. They were onesavages, but the visit of Christ to earth had raised them. They thought of the drink traffic, the dens of infamy, the sacrilege of the Sabbath, and the profanity of the world to-day. It was not God denied but God ignored. The family life was dying. They now had to pay for their amusements. The nation had gone to sleep, only to be awakened by German guns, and it was for them to prove to the world that they were worth the sacrifice of their sons. God was saying to them that they wore not listening to *the supreme call of Christ. They must have a higher copeeption of God. There was a Jiigher, home civil, and national life t° be ed. May we enter in,., ...-a

The Rev. ilinifie s.aid an ..address dealing with “National Repentance was an unpopular one,, yet-the speaker, may be doing more for his counrty by referring to its t weaknesses than to its strong points. There, .were, stains on v |heir national .aithp.ugh they called, themselves- a righteous, tion, yet had forced (jhina ■ to use the dreadful drug, opium,., in order that the industry shcufld not die. and that they might;. make .money. Could they expect God to help a nation that had not repented of- such a- siiil The speaker read an..extract of •caspis' of sweating in England, and said they had not yet repented of their great greed fer gold. Then tlwgy 3a»d the liquor traffic. It was doing more damage than cculd be imagined. Yet they

I found if impossible to pass drastic I meaures in. England. The. King bad given them a tine example to follow. Many times they had said God was ou their side. But where was the spiritual life in evidence in the national lfe» These remarks would show the absolute need of natonal repentance. As our men had responded to the, call of England, so should the nation respond to the call of God. The Rev. Stent said he wished to speak to them, and help them for the trial that was to come. What <'on solution could they expect for their losses, the loss of money, pleasure, time, and even life itself. Could they'have faith and hope in God? Yes, they could. Christ had died that they might have faith in God. So• long as they were - running, everywhere but to God for their consolation.' they would not find happiness. . If they turned to Christ IT tv would turn to. them.