ANZAC DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1920, Page 6

ANZAC DAY.

COMMEMORATION SERVICES. UNITED SERVICE AT EVERYBODY'S. Service? of commemoratiou in honor of- Anzac Day were held in all the New Plymouth churches yesterday, when suitable references were made by the various ministers to the courage and heroism of the men who nobly fought and died on that, great day when the inhospitable shores of the peninsula of Uallipoli were stormed by Allied soldiers and sailors, for freedom and for liberty. Rosemary was conspicuous throughout the day, and in some of the churches the rostrums were draped with patriotic colors. There were good congregation); at most of the services, and the hymns which were appropriate to the occasion were sung with deep reverence.

At the expressed desire of the. Mayor the ministers of the churches arranged a united service, which was held in the afternoon at 3 o'clock", Everybody's Theatre being packed to the doors for the occasion. All the ministers of the town were on the platform, and the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke), who was indisposed, was represented by Cr. p. J. Hill. The Rev. p. Blundell presided, and the different parts of the service were taken by the other ministers. The Citizens' Band, under Mr. F. W. G. McLeod, led the singing, which included the hymns "0 God Help," "God of Our Fathers," "0 Valiant Hearts" (in memoriam to the fallen), "Lead Kindly Light," and "For All the Saints."

Tlte address, which was stirring and impressive, was delivered by the Rev. P. G. Ilarvie, vicar of St. Mary's. ■ After referring briefly to the greatness of the occasion and the solemnity of its memory, Mr. Harvey urgi-d all to tlte high resolve to lie worthy of the heroism of Anzac, and when, in the years to come, the cl'iildren ask: What mean ye by this service? to tell them with pride, in spite of the heart-ache of what happened in 1915 and; they should be shown that the life of sacrifice is the noblest and best. The preacher then went on to picture the world people had fondly hoped to see when the war should end, and contrasted it with what had actually come to pass. There were, however, he said two or three big ideas surging through the minds of men today. These were freedom, brotherhood, and super-nationalism, or higher patriotism. On these things the world was thinking deeply and rapidly, and it would be childish to attempt to deny it or strive to counteract it. These principles were essentially Christian, but the bitter lesson for Christian people to learn was that the world had discovered for itself the very principles of what Christians boasted they wore the champions, but which they had largely neglected. Nothing, however, could be more hopeful for the future happiness of the world than the fact that the world was thinking out Christian principles. In regard to the future Mr. Harvie said there was only one way to bring to birth the new era of Christian fellowship and brotherhood, and that was the Anzac way, whieh was the Saviour'.' way—the" way of sacrifice. Concluding, lie said this was the only spirit which could quicken into life the dry lio:ie« of civilisation, and it was only by a readiness to surrender self for the cause of God and man that thankfulnes» could lies*- be expressed for the deeds that won a deathless fame for the name of Anzac.

A very impressive service was brought to a conclusion by the pronouncing' of the Rencdietion and the singing of the National Anthem. ' v