LESSON OF ANZAC.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1921, Page 8

LESSON OF ANZAC.

THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD! IDEALS TO LIVE UP TO. At St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, on. Sunday, appropriate memorial services in connection with Anzac Day were held, and the preacher in the evening (the Ven. Archdeacon Evans) delivered some eloquent remarks on the sacrifices made during the late war. He said they were called at this time especially to remember their dead brethren who gave their lives in the Great War. This was their memorial service, tn which they recalled the lives and deeds of their heroic dead. In memory they saw once more their stalwart forms, their eager faces. They remembered their devotion, their readiness to serve their King and country, their great courage even with death. A father who had lost his only son was asked if he would rather not have had a son than to have him snatched so cruelly from his side. “No,” he replied in surprise, “I'would not be without the memory of his happy life for anything.” Thank God no one could rob the sorrowing fathers and mothers of the gallant dead of the s#eet remembrance of their lives. Nothing to his mind was more certain and inspiring than th" truth revealed by this parable of the unseen world, “Son, remember.” They asked this question in that beautiful hymn they sometimes sang: “They whose course on Earth is o’er, Think they of their brethren more; They before the Throne who bow, Feel they for their brethren now ?” And their faith replied: “Saints, departed even thus Hold communion still with us; Still with us beyond the veil. Praising, pleading without fail.”-

A NEW VISION. But so they realised the truth and beauty of the words they sang. Did they remember their dead ones, 'their friends, parents, homes, their earthly teaching, the great crisis of their lives? Surely they did. If this parable meant anything at all it told that memory could never die. Death could not destroy the records of life. The words of Abraham were a call to remembrance, “Son, remember.” He had often thought of that wonderful change from the fierce shock of battle to the sweet realm of remembrance through which their splendid men had passed. From dreadful war with its awful crash of gunfire to the serene silence of the other world; from the confusion of the fight where nothing could enter the mind but the blind hate and curse of devilish warfare into that sweet valley where calm reigned for ever, and the mind had time to grasp once again the old thoughts, home and mother and wife. He had often thought, too, of the amazing change they saw from the darkness of uncertainty to the brightness of knowledge of the ultimate fulfilment of

the Divine will. They died in the great rush of a forlorn hope, or when defeat seemed imminent, or when the power of evil appeared invincible, but they awoke with certain views of God and the ultimate triumph of t righteousnes.s, justice and truth. What a glorious thing to dose one’s eyes when hope r.eemed gone and all was over with the forces battling I for right and then to awake to tTie knowledge of victory and eternal peace. They remembered everything they ever did for their comfort and help.every self-denial for their good, every encouragement to lead a holy Hip. Yes, they remembered, aixl they blessed God for it where they dwell. Yes, and God remembered. This was a truth often reiterated in the Bible. God looked upon the world. He examined the lives and doings of His creatures. He saw the good even in evil, He knew the deep struggles in the spirit of man, He realised the terrible obstacles they all met with on their way to the fit.V of God. And, because He knew all. He forgave all. Because He knew the perils, the. sufferings, the gallant lights, the falls, the victories, He coilld forgive all.

LESSONS OF THEIR SACRIFICE. They were often saddened, by the thought of their dear boys dying such lonely deaths, but he did not think they need suffer, for no death was lonely if the Divine Redeemer and the angels were there. When the rush of tne attack was over the stretcher-bearers went out over the sad field picking up the wounded, giving water to the thirsty, binding up the wounds, and speaking words of cheer to the downhearted. He did not think they would ever know the full tale of heroism of the Red Cross bearers. But what of those who had passed beyond earthly help and comfort? What ol the lonely dead? Why, Jesus and the angels were there. What more could man require. In thgir poor language it might be called “No Man’* Land”, but it was the place where the Eternal Fftther sought and found His child. Yes, Qod remembered. Now, what was to be the ygault of their remembrance? Was it io hiMpo any practical effect? Was it to produce a mere glow of emotion, or a thrill of sentiment? If that was all it was scarcely worth while, The memory of the gallant* dead should make them anxious to fulfil the ideals for which their splendid soldiers died. Surely their sacrifice was bound to make the world better. Why did they die? For a wonderful sentiment. To save the world frohf jnaterialtanj; to prevent humanity from tanking that honor and justice and righteousness were of little importance compared with riches and power. They died to prove that treaties were not mere scraps of paper when they were written with a nation’s blood. They died to raise the whole ideals of humanity. to do away with poverty and tyranny, to give every child born under tne sun a sporting chance of being good and making good. Would the memory of those who died produce this result? It seemed, in view of the utter selfishness and want of conscience of most of those for whom they died, hardly likely, but the sentiment would grow, and some day they would see of the travail of their souls and would be satisfied. Last Friday the boys and masters of the WelIngton College had an inmemoriam service to the scholars of that school, and at the close the headmaster made this vow: “I solemnly determine, now and henceforth, God helping me, fp be a true and loyal subject of the King, unselfish, chivalrous and clean living, doing my duty a«s I-see it day by day.” With this result, who could say their comrades from the college had died in vain. This was the one great hope of Anzac Day, and so he prayed that- the memory of those gallant souls, so splendid in the glowing beauty of their courage and devotion, would be like a holy light shining down upon them and upon the gloomy and half-hearted world. In that light might they ail see light, walk in light, and shed abroad the true light.