SERVICE AT EASTER DAWN IN N.Z.?

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 28, 23 December 1938, Page 5

SERVICE AT EASTER DAWN IN N.Z.?

Memorable Spectacles Of Worship By The People

JF Aunt Daisy has her way, New Zealanders, at Wellington and Auckland will witness a wonderful spectacle next Easter-a dawn service to commemorate the Resurrection, While in America on her recent fvip, Aunt Daisy saw one of the most impressiye Easter Day dawn services. At the recent seventh anniversary of the Friendly Road she described them in detail, and hoped a similar service would be held in New Zealand.

AUN T DAISY took part in the dawn service on Haster Day in Honolulu. Services are also held in Tuos Angeles, and San Francisco. "At Honolulu I saw this >» remarkable spectacle,’’ said Aunt Daisy. ‘‘From Maundy Thursday till Easter Day there was a great white cross on a green hill, the cross be-

ing floodlighted by searchlights from the American Navy. Crowds gaze on the cross at evening. ‘Then, as the sun rises on Easter Day, the main service begins. It is a marvellous sight-one that I will never forget, "Similarly at Forest Lawn Park, a gveat white cross is placed on the top of a hill haltfway between Hollywood and Los Angeles. Here, in the clear Californian air the dawn service is held. *‘A choir of 400 women in white, arranged in the form of a cross, with men in dark clothes filling in so that the

cross is clearly outlined, sing hymns to the accompaniment of a full symphony orchestra.

"On the slopes of the hill under a huge tower, 40,000: people gather as the sun rises... Simultaneous with the sun’s rising, hundreds of pigeons are released from the tower as a symbot of faith and peace. ‘This great Easter Dawn Service is broadcast over the coast to coast network, to Canada and also through the BBC." Similar services, says Aunt Daisy, should be held on the summit of Mount Victoria, Wellington, and. Mount Eden, Auckland. She is going to do her best to see that a start is made next Haster to hold dawn servieos at Wellington and Auekland.