CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1939, Page 6

CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION

CAUSE WHICH BINDS TOGETHER EMPIRE AND ALLIES

Sacrifice to Save Freedom of Spirit BROADCAST BY KING GEORGE VI. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.in.) RUGBY, December 25. In a broadcast message to the Empire this afternoon, the King said Christmas was above all a festival of peace aud it was “a tragedy of this time that there are powerful countries whose whole direction and policy are based on aggression and the suppression of all we hold dear for mankind. It is this that has stirred our peoples and given them unity unknown in any previous war. We feel in our hearts we are fighting against wickedness and this conviction will give us strength to persevere until victory is assured.” “At home we are, as it were, taking the strain for what may lie ahead of us, resolved and confident. We look with pride and thankfulness on the never-failing courage and devotion of the Royal Navy, upon which throughout the last loin 1 months has burst a storm of ruthless and unceasing war. And when 1 speak of our Navy today, 1 mean all men of. our Empire who go down to the sea in ships—the Mercantile Marine, minesweeping trawlers and drifters, from senior officers to the last boy who has joined up. To everyone in this great fleet I send my message of gratitude and greetings from myself, as from all my peoples. The same message 1 send to the gallant Air Force which in co-operation with the Navy is our sure shield of defence. They are daily adding laurels to those that their fathers won. I would send a special word of greeting to the armies of the Empire, to those who come from afar, and in particular to the British Expeditionary Force. Their task is hard. They are waiting. Waiting is a trial of nerve and discipline but I know that when the moment comes for action, they will prove themselves worthy of the highest traditions of their great service. To all who are preparing themselves to serve their country on sea or land or in the air, 1 send greetings at this time. “Men and women of our far flung Empire are working in their several vocations with one and the same purpose,” he said. “All are members of a great family of nations which is prepared to sacrifice so that freedom of spirit may be saved to the world. I. believe from my heart that the cause which binds together my peoples and our gallant and faithful Allies is the cause of Christian civilisation.” “On no other basis can true civilisation be built. Let us remember this through the dark times ahead of us and when we are making peace for which all men pray. The New Year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace how thankful we shall be. If it brings us continued struggle we shall remain undaunted. Meanwhile, I feel we may all find a message of\eneouragement in the lines which in my closing words I would like to read to you. ‘I said to the men who stood at the gate of years, give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown. And he replied : Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than the known way.’ May that. Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.” His Majesty sent a special message to the members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, owing to the impossibility of sending to each member a'Christmas card as he did to members of the fighting forces.

STIRRING MESSAGE

GIVEN FROM SANDRINGHAM HOUSE KING SITS ALONE IN STUDY. QUEEN & PRINCESSES LISTEN IN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 25. His Majesty the King sat alone in his study at Sandringham House to broadcast to all his peoples a Christmas message with the homely encouragement which marked his father’s historic broadcasts. It was a stirring declaration for its courage. The King spoke into the same microphone as he used at his first Christmas broadcast in

1937. He then intended to discontinue the practice because it was so personally connected with King George V. However, he broadcast today because his peoples were at war. The King had Christmas luncheon with the Queen and the Princesses. A little later he left the family and went alone to his study. The Queen, and the Princesses entered another room to hear his words through a loud speaker. His Majesty’s quotation baffled literary authorities who were unable to trace the sourep of it. It is reported from Court circles that his Majesty chose the quotation himself, and did not reveal the origin of it. Court circles searched vainly for it after the speech was first drafted. The Press Association says that the King himself does not know the source of the quotation. He did not find it in a book but came across it recently. He was so struck with the words that he decided to incorporate them in his broadcast.