ANZAC DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1922, Page 5

ANZAC DAY.

NEW PLYMOUTH SERVICE. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. LARGE GATHERING IN PARK. And Aazae now is an enchanted shore: A tragic splendour and a holy name; A deed eternity will still acclaim, A loss that crowns the victories of yore; A glittering golden dome for evermore, Shining above the minarets of fame. Anzac Day in New Plymouth yesterday was observed as a Sunday and was commemorated by an impressive service in Pukekura Park during the morning. A large body of returned soldiers, territorial and cadet forces, other societies and local bodies mustered at the post office, and headed by the Fourth Battalion Band, marched to the park, via Liardet Street. It was an imposing column that moved up Devon Street just after 10.30, and there was a large crowd of spectators on the footpath. At the park the salute was taken by Lieut.-Col. C. H. Weston, D. 5.0., who was accompanied by Lieut. Steele, of the New Zealand staff corps from the group headquarters at Hawera. After the march past the parade was drawn up in front of the saluting base on the eastern side of the grounds, where there were also assembled the various minister of religion, who participated in the service, the Mayor and councillors. The attendance of the public was about 4000, ■lining the terraces on both sides of the ground. Pnkekura Park bore a subdued appearance under the leaden sky and drops of rain began to fall just as the service commenced, but save a few spots the showers kept off. It was perhaps particularly appropriate that the ceremony marked the re-opening of the sports ground after it had been returfed, for many of the country’s best athletes participated in New Zealand’s effort in the war, some of them never to return. An appropriate service had been arranged, including a number of hymns and short prayers. The service opened with the hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” the music being played by the bend. A Scripture reading by the Rev. O. Blundell had for its text Rev. VII. 5, 9-17, and the Rev. A. H. Collins led the prayer of general thanksgiving. The hymn “O Valiant Hearts” was rendered in memory of the fallen. “Your memory hallowed in the land you loved,” ran a line in the first verse, which was both appropriate and a reflex of the general tone of the service. Prayers for the King and Empire, returned soldiers and industrial and social peace were recited ‘by the Ven. Archdeacon Evans, and these concluded with the Lord’s Prayer. After the singing of the hymn, “Lead Kindly Light,” an address was given, the preacher being the Rev. W. J. Elliott. He remarked that they were gathered together in the sight of God to express something of their sense of appreciation, honor, and reverence. THE LESSON OF ANZAC. “Anzac Day should be marked by recollection and resolution,” said the Rev. Elliott. He continued: “There should be the lively remembrance of an unexampled sacrifice, and true resolve that such sacrifice shall not be in vain. It is not a holiday but a holy day, consecrated by the sufferings, and tears, and blood of those who died that we might live. It. is a day set apart not for mirth or mourning, but for the fruitful remembrance of those who redeemed us from the ravages of deceit and violence. Their superb endurance and shining valor have given us a higher name and status than we held before. For the heroic dead who, nobly striving, nobly fell, we grieve—and yet they are not dead. They live in our hearts; they are enshrined in our memories. Their example calls to us from the classic ground where their dust mingles with that of the heroes of milleniums past. Their names shall, live in story, and in bronze, and in marble, and generations of children shall clap their hands at the recital of their deeds. They are with us yet. They are not dead, tut have entered into the larger life. Our duty is to be worthy of their sacrifice.

“It was not to encourage us in selfish indulgence, or in idle frivolity that they bled, but to enable us to live to nobler purpose, to maintain and expand our great inheritance in the earth, in noble institutions, in splendid traditions; and to enable us to make good and worthily support that glorious destiny and place among the nations which is already ours. How are we to do it? By paying supreme attention to the message of Anzac Day. What is it? Well, it was tersely summed up and reiterated the other day by Sir Keith Smith after the tragic death of his dutiful brother in the aeroplane accident. A gentleman is reported to have urged Sir Keith Smith to give up flying. What did he say in reppy? He gave the only reply uneonquered British valor will ever give. He said, “We must not lose our nerve.” What a noble reply! One true to the genius and traditions of our great race Yes, the nerve is the life of the soul, the care of our being, the inspiration of our courage and effort. It is the revised version of the Anzac epic. PHYSICAL NERVE.

■“We must not lose our physical nerve. Mos£ of the boys who went forth to battle for home and freedom, and justice and honor, were of fine physique and majestic manhood. At the salne time, it is reported on record that out of 2657 examined during one year in Christchurch no less than 993 were classed as temporarily unfit. It is an infinite bit of folly to imagin'? that the best people are sickly and delicate. When the Creator gave us bodies He intended us to be strong, and jt is our duty so to be. Bodily weakness is not set down among the virtues, or beautiful things of life. The Anzac message cries to us with more than twenty thousand tongues to ‘be strong, strong to face great odds, strong to endure hardship like a good soldier, strong to stand our ground and shoulder our task. But if you sit up to all hours of the night, seldom take exercise, pay no regard to your diet, and indulge in vicious habits, you cannot reasonably expect to retain your nerve. And then you have no right to .blame your delicacy and bodily tremors upon God. Every one must carry his own pack, or bear his own load of responsibility. O, young men, unless you want to handicap yourselves in the battle of life you must* jealously preserve your nerve. To this end I implore you to be on the alert against the things that break apd body. Let wj give Z Oll .

four D’a, so that you may them: Avoid Drink, avoid Debt, ajuß* Dirt, avoid the Devil. THE GENUINE RELIGION?' *‘We must not lose our mental Sound bodies and strong brains asejg very essential to-day, and nothing eanfc set them at a discount. Treason in the? army was a fatal thing, and it ia so; Beware of treason to brain. Be loyal to its high demands’ and holy promptings. Give it fair ptey« We are creatures of mind, and in an honest and vigorous exercise of our mental faculties lies our hope of vital' progress. If you have and maintain a mental nerve of zest and resource you will be a manly fellow that needeth not to be ashamed. We should take a legitimate pride in the possession of sound reason, calm judgment, and. fullness of commoneenee. But in order to improve and conserve the mental nerva it is necessary to feed it with the most wholesome things. Mark you, the mental nerve is intended for endless development. 'Whatever the materialist has to say to the contrary, let me urge you to accept it as true that the general tendency of a genuine religion is to de-, velop and strengthen the inteHectual 1 powers. The strongest men of yester* day and to-day in all walks of life have been and are still religious men. Tho mental nerve is fostered and stimulated by faith, hope, love, and devotion to the great ideals for which the gallant men of Anzac died. Feed your minds upon the pure and wholesome things of' life, and you will not fail to retain a useful mental nerve. Home social problems, business problems may keep you thinking, .but emulate the Anzac spirit and all will be well. THE SPIRITUAL NERVE. “We must not lose our spiritual nerve. And now abideth the physical nerve, the mental nerve, and the xspiritual nerve, but the greatest of these is the spiritual nerve. This has been gratefully and calmly confessed by the greatest British soldiers from Welling-*, ton to Roberts, and from Nelson down, to Beatty. However much they reEed-j on unconquered British valor, they,, always relied far more upon the heipf of that great defender to whom the greatest British generals have always turned, and not in vain. This day puts its sanction and seal upon this sublime and invincible sentiment. Many of cur fallen heroes were changed men before they died. God gave them not only the courage to meet death, but to overcome it. Herein is displayed the fine spiritual nerve. They died for home and freedom and high ideals. Did our brave men die in vain, or are we cherishing an increasing devotion to the grand ideals for/ which they dasdf A solemn question this, for if any man be disloyal here he is disappointing God and is guilty of a traitor’s trick. Is our spiritual nerve deteriorating? If so, there is no decay or declension in, this world like it. There is no loss so ominous and fatal. Suffer me to ask why are we all so strangely indrSentßt| to the spiritual challenge of Anzac? If, the Day of the L®rd is not honored, thd Word of God consulted, the House of God frequented, and the cause of God maintained, must it not portend a weakening of or a want of spiritual nerve? Amid the softness of the day we want more than 'bravery to enable US to do the right. We can only acquire it by cultivating without slackness the spiritual nerve. If we obtain it, and hold fast to it, then it will take more than a den of lions, a .burning fiery furnace, or a blazing fusilade of Turkish shot and shell to turn us from the God and high traditions of our race. It will take more than an idle laugh, a scornful look, or a fear of being thought strict or peculiar to make us recreant and indifferent to all religious obligation and patriotic duty. My blessing upon the men of Anzac and may their memory be fragrant for ever!” The address was followed by a general silence in memory of the departed, and the hymn “For all the Saints” and the Benediction, pronounced by the Ven. Archdeacon Evans, concluded the religious service. a •A firing party of returned men fired a salute of three volleys, and the plaintive notes of the “Last Post” sounded in honor of the fallen. The Nationa. Anthem was then sung by the gathering and the rendering of the “Garland ot Flowers” brought the proceedings to a, close.

> . SERVICE AT WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.—Press Associatton. Wellington, Last Night. 1 For Poppy Day and Anzac Day the weather was favorable, Monday being ‘ an ideal day. This morning there were ' heavy showers, but it cleared beauti- ‘ fully before noon. - There was an impressive scene in front of the House of Parliament, where hundreds of wreaths were deposited at the foot of the cenotaph. Addresses were delivered, after which children conveved wreaths and floral offerings to the soldiers’ cemetery at Karori, where the tributes were placed on the graves of the sleeping heroes. In the afternoon a combined service was held at the Town Hall, where thousands were unable to gain admission, thousands being present. A touching address was given by Canon Fielder Taylor, himself an Anzac. At the churches, colleges and schools special services were held. AT CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, Last Night. The weather was thoroughly fine for the Anzac Day celebrations. Memorial services were held in the various churches, which were very largely attended. In the afternoon there was a great military procession to the Edward barracks, where a citizens memorial service was held in the presence of seven or eight thousand people. A large number of wreaths were deposited at the Anglican Cathedral. GENERAL GODLEY’S MESSAGE. Wellington, Last Night. General Sir Alexander Godley, for/ merly Commandant of the New Zealand forces, and G.0.C., N.Z.E.F., has cabled: “Please convey my warmest remembrances and good wishes to all my comrades of the New Zealand expeditionary force on Anzac Day.” GENERAL RUSSELL’S MESSAGE. Wellington, April 24. Major-General Sir Andrew Rnsselh who commanded the New Zealand Division in the Great War, has issued the following Anzac Day mesasp;_“The 17,000 men who fell in tue war have handed on to us the duty of carrying on the fight for the ideals of justice ajud. freedom for which they died.”