War memorials.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IX, Issue 18, 2 December 1918, Page 144

War memorials.

Botti m other lands and in^oui^stfn the casualty lists are growing heavier, and many a home has been bereft of loved ones. • Quite naturally there is the desire on the part of many that loved one's memory should be made permanent by the erection of some memorial expressive of the noble sacrifice of the life for country and for God. Consequently numerous memorials are being placed m our churches, and there is the probability of a fair amount of wall-space -being occupied by memorial brasses, most of which will not be particularly beautiful. But the danger will be that, m tne midst of all thestf :; individual

memorials, many a, brave man 's sacrifice will remain unnoticed because of financial difficulty or other equally just reasons on the part of relations. The thought of this has evoked appeal and protest from various leaders. For instance, the Bishop of Worcester has sent the following message to his clergy >— '.

"I wish to call the clergy's attend tion to the growing number of large tablets which are being proposed m our churches. We have . really no right to occupy the church wall space m tihs way. The best way to commemorate those who have died m the war is the brotherly way of one memorial for the whole parish, on which the names of comrades can be inserted. For rich persons to occupy the wall space with memorials which cannot be afforded by poorer parishioners is as objectionable as occupying the floor space by large private pews. I appeal to the Church feeling of my diocese to consider this."

Also, m Australia, the Bishop of Bunbury has written m his monthly letter to the same effect. Dr. Wilson says: —

"May I suggest, from myself and the .trustees, that our people who wish to put up memorials to soldiers m the churches, should be encouraged to put up one memorial only at the end of the war to all who have fallen, m the parish? It might be a new porch, a baptistry, a chancel, an altar, a bell-tower, or anything that is needed or thought most suitable. The names of all the fallen soldiers could be inscribed on one plate, and fixed upon it. If separate memorials are set up, some soldiers will be remembered, some will not; some of our bravest men will be forgotten. Besides which, memorial brasses are very expensive, and not very ornamental, particularly if there are numbers of- them. I strongly advise our people to put a joint memorial m every parish when peace comes, and not separate ones now."

No doubt there will be divided opinions on the matter,, but for our-: selves we feel convinced that [the two bishops are on the right track and their words deserve ; the serious attention of churchpeople and church authorities. We quite realise that it is an appeal to a very real self-sacri-fice on the part of the bereaved friends, but surely the noble selfsacrifice of their loved ones? only serves to strengthen that appeal.— "Cliurch Record;" Sydney.

The Lower House of Convocation (Canterbury) dealt with the 'matter of war memorials recently. : .

In proposing the resolution ' 'that an organised effort should be made throughout the Province to place war memoriols m all parish churches, having the names of all parishioners

who have fallen in the war, " the Bishop of London : said there should be some guidance from the; tjhnarch now, without waiting tiU the close of the war. The parish church had an; affectionate place m the hearts of all sorts and conditions of men, and the enrolment of the dead of all classes should be together bn one roll 'of honor. The rich and poor had died to-: gether, and he thought they should be named together. ; The Bishop of Oxford discouraged the putting up of a multitude pf memorials before the close of the war, and after the President, the Bishop of Ijereford r an i d'the Bishop of Norwich had made suggestions, the House unaninipusly resip>lved as fipllows?-— / l .[' . ;"■_' '';■/'. ' ; \ '/■.': . '■.''. That this House recognises with sympathy the ■ desire , i general, throughout the country to , commemorate those who have fallen m the, war by some permanent , memoriaj, and considers that it is of 'the highest importance alike for social and artistic reasons that this should as a rule be done (i.) At the end ; of the war; (ii.) Not by multiplication of additional memoriols of varying additional memories of varying tastes and value, but :by some corporate memorial of all parishioners fallen m the war and executed- under competent artistic guidance; . (ill. ) In connexion with the parish church.