ADDRESS TO SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 4

ADDRESS TO SOLDIERS.

BY VERY REV. DEAN" POWER. At the farewell social at Jfawera on Thursday night, tendered by the parishioners of St. Joseph's to five of the boys who are ofV to the front, Dean Power delivered an impassioned and inspiring address, of which we are now able to give the full text. To the-men who were leaving their homes, kindred and friends to light in the great cause to which ill I? Empire lias pledged itself, and will see through, the Reverend Dean said:—

'The history of warfare is a tangled I ale which most men despair of unravelling. dory is eagerly sought after by men and nations that are great, and to such men and nations truth is even more desirable; but who shall say that truth and glory have always been on the same side and that the shouts of triumph thai led many a victor home had not been purchased at Cue expense of truth? In our own Empire few men have been so glorified as .Hawkins and Nelson, yet, concerning both these nanus Mr. Chesterton, one of the greatest intellects in Bngland, has within the last few mbriths written some sad lines:

A blacker thing than blood's own dye Weighed down great Hawkins on the sea; And Nelson turned his blindest eye On Naples and cm liberty. But no Christian mnii can doubt the truth of the cause into which New Zealand is launching her heroic sons to-day. There is nothing uplifting in the ideals of the Turk that the world should guarantee their triumph, nor is there anything inspiring in the political freedom which the Turk enjoys that men should hesitate before attacking it. But when Turkish freedom and Turkish ideals become not only a menace to our west em civilisation, but an active enemy of, Cod and the ideals set up by Him. there can be no conflict between glory and truth in the breast of the. Christian hero v'.o responds to his country's call to anus, lit is to this call of that country that you, mv dear young men, are responding to-day. You know the dangers yll r.re lacing, hut you are not dismayed by these. The enemy is a powerful one and is officered by the best trained soldiers in Europe, but you have this morning placed yourselves under the protection of her who helped Don John of Austria against this same ■ Turkish power that day in 1371, of which this is the anniversary, and yon are confident that -lie will bring to you also help and resistance from heaven.

You know the story of Lepanto, for ii, Ims been handed down to you in one of the great festivals of Holy Chinch: Selim (he second, son and successor of Solymau the Magnificent, who had <onsolidated and strengthened the great empire of the Turks, is seated in his garden admiring the rainbow curves the cascades form as they water the Court', of the Sun; a contemptuous sneer curls the lilood-red crescent of his lips and fierce laughter stirs the dark forest of his hoard so feared bv all men, for it has been reported to him that the 'Pope has called for a crusade from the Christian rulers of Europe, and Selim, knowing the Christian rulers, t'eels that no crusade will come, and that he will be able to retain in slavery the IS,OOO Christian captives who now row his galleys. Elizabeth of England has no car for the Pope's appeal; she is too busy reckoning ui) her share of the spoils brought home by pirate Hawkins and pirate Drake, and whatever spare time she has now must be devoted to wracking, hanging and disembowelling Cardinal Fisher. Sir Thomas More and the Catholics of England who still love the Mass and honor the Virgin. In France the last of the House of Valois was too tired to move: the greatest effort of his most strenuous moments was to emit a yawn. The Pope failed, and the ominous silence in the courts of Europe is broken only by the convulsive laughter in the court of Selim. But hark, something eise breaks the silence. Heat Mr. C-hesterton:

Dim drums throbbing, in 11.e bills lialf heard, Where only on !> nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred, Where. risen from a doubtful scire ami half attainted stall, The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall, The last and lingering troubador to whom the bird has snug. Thai once went sinking southward when all the world was young. Spain is still faithful to Cod and lloh Church. and Spain ranges her armies with those of the l'ope, and Don .lolin of Austria, the last of the Christian knights of Europe, lakes chief command. There is silence in the courts o' Europe, but

Tn that enormous silence, tiny :-.nd unafraid, Comes up along ;i winding load the lioise of the orusade. Strong gongs groaning as the guns boom far, Don John of Austria is going to the war, Slifl' Hags straining in the night-blasts fold, Tn the gloom black-purple, in the glint old-gold, Torch-light orimson on the copper kettle drums, , Then the tuckets, then the trumpets, (hen the cannon, and he comes. Don John laughing in the brave beard curled, Spuming of his stirrups like the thrones of all the world, Holding his head up for a flag of all the free. Love-light of Spain—hurrah! Death-light of Africa! Don John of Austria is— Is riding to the sea. When he tides the bishops. prieds and people of Rome are walking in public procession through the streets reciting • Our Lady's Rosary," calling upon her for aid; and Pope Saint 'Pius the Fifth is from early morning praying in that chapel whose window looks out upon the whole world. Suddenly he hears a mighty sound from far I.epanto and his favored eyes behold a great visionDon John pounding from the slaughterpainted poop, Purpling all the ocean like a bloody pirate's sloop, Scarlet running over on the silver and the golds, Breaking of the hatches up and bursting of the holds. Thronging of the thousands up that labor under sea. White for bliss and biiiil ll,r s i'n end stunned for liberty Vivat llispania! Domino Gloria! Don John of Austria Has set his people free! One hundred and ninety-two Turkish ships of war were sunk or captured. 3t),00fl Turks disabled and l~i,ooo Christian slaves were rescued from the Turkish galleys. Ami on that same day I lie feast of Our Lady. Help of Christians, was institute to honor her \vhoa9 ban-

ner floated from the victor's consecrate! ship. About a hundred years later (1683), when this same Turkish power threatened to overwhelm the city of Vienna,' John Sobieski, whose name is more fascinating than that of any hero of romance, gave to his trusted Poles the word to charge in the name of Mary, Queen uf Heaven, anil Lady of Warsaw. To that dear Lady's care 1 commit you, my dear hoys, with every tonfldenee. You are going into the land of the Crescent, into a land morally and physically foul, but wherever on your march you sei! two roads cross, you will behold a symbol of your salvation, for every cross road is a ho!v sign, a sign of the Cross, a witness of a purity that is eternal. Before each such witness renew your oath that you will keep your heart and your shield stainless, that J' oll will bring them back to us still enriched and emblazoned with honor; and whether you come back to us vanquished or victorious, we will give you such a welcome home as the people of God gave to the Crusaders of old who hod given but tie io the Crescent for the glory o£ the. Crucified.