Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
NATAL PREMIERS VIEWS.
NATAL PREMIERS VIEWS. EMPIRE AND COMMERCE. The mail steamer Kildonan Castle arrived at Southampton on Saturday. Among the passengers on board was Sir Albert Hime, Premier of Natal, who, in an interview, said he thought the peace conditions were extremely generous. The main point to be considered was the com- mercial relations of the Empire, with special regard to preferential treatment for British im- ports. He looked forward to the establishment of a permanent Imperial Council to which these conferences might in time lead, but, until this result was attained, he thought it would be found desirable to hold every three years a conference of Colonial Premiers in London.
BOERS CHEER THE KING.
BOERS CHEER THE KING. The following official messages were issued from the War Office on Friday:- .From Lord Kitchener to the Secretary of State for War. Pretoria, Friday. Commissioners for various distriots report 1,154 men laid down their arms yesterday. After this had been done Commissioners ad- < dressed the Boers, who gave three hearty cheers for the King. Best possible relations existed. No hitch occurred anywhere.
METHUEN RETURNING.
METHUEN RETURNING. Lord Methuen leaves South Africa shortly on board the steamship Canada, and is expected to be in England in the second week of July.
THE PEACE TREATY.
THE PEACE TREATY. BRINGING IT HOME. Pretoria, Thursday. Xaeut.-Colonel Hamilton, Military Secretary to Lord Kitohener, and Captain Marker, aide-de- camp, left Capetown yesterday for England, bearing Lord Kitchener's despatches, containing the original documents of the peace treaty signed here. This is a revival of the old custom fallen into disuse since the introduction of the tele- graph that the general commanding in the field should select a distinguished officer to carry home despatches announcing an important victory.
DE WET CONCILIATORY.
DE WET CONCILIATORY. Vredefort Road, June 5. General De Wet arrived here yesterday from Pretoria, and visited the concentration oamp. He addressed the inmates of the camp, explain- ing the circumstances attending the termination of hostilities, and urged the burghers and their families to do their utmost to shew Great Britain what good colonists the Boers could make. His speech created a very favourable impression, and it augurs well for the future union of the two races. Mrs. De Wet arrives to-morrow from Pieter- maritzburg. She will stay at the Vredefort refugee camp a few days.
FIGHTING AFTER PEACE.
FIGHTING AFTER PEACE. The casualty lists issued on Friday indicate that fighting took place in Cape Colony after the con- clusion of peace. The surrender agreement was signed at half-past ten on the night of May 31, and two men of the Imperial Yeomanry are re- ported to have been killed and one wounded near Mortimer, Cape Colony, on June 2.
THANKING THE TROOPS.
THANKING THE TROOPS. OFFICIAL MESSAGE. The War Office issued the following on Friday afternoon: From the Secretary of State for War to Lord Kitchener. June 4. His Majesty's Government offer you their most sincere congratulations on the energy, skill, and patience with which you have conducted this pro- longed campaign, and would wish you to com- municate to the troops under your command their profound sense of the spirit and endurance with which they have met every call made upon them, of their bravery in action, of the excellent discipline preserved, and of the humanity shewn by them throughout this trying period. From Lord Kitchener to the Secretary of State for War. Pretoria, June 5. On behalf of the army in South Africa, I tender my sincere thanks for the message of congratula- tions you have sent me from his Majesty's Government, which I am communicating to the troops, and which I am sure they will receive with great satisfaction.
TOUCHING TELEGRAM FROM THE…
TOUCHING TELEGRAM FROM THE QUEEN. The Mayoress of Leicester has received the following communication:—"The Queen is most touched by the kind congratulations from the Mayoress and women of Leicester, on the conclusion of Peace, and is most thankful if she has been able in any way to lessen the suffering and privation of those who have long fought so nobly and bravely for their beloved country.
THANKSGIVING SERVICE IN FRANCE.
THANKSGIVING SERVICE IN FRANCE. At Contrexéville, France, a thanksgiving service for peace was held at 5 p.m. on Monday week, by the Rev. H. G. Rogers, chaplain, Rector of Hilperton, Wilts, assisted by the Rev. H. H. Wright, Precentor of Chester Cathedral. Although hastily summoned, most of the English and American visitors were present, and joined heartily in the service. There was great rejoicing, and many congratulations were received from the residents, who seemed as pleased as the visitors at the termination of the war. At one residence Chinese lanterns and fireworks marked the occasion.
LORD KITCHENER'S REWARD.
LORD KITCHENER'S REWARD. The King has. elevated Lord Kitchener to the dignity of a Viscount, and a message from his Majesty was read in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday recommending a grant of £50,000 to his lordship for his services in South Africa. Lord Kitchener has been promoted to the full rank of General in the Army.
- BRITON AND BOER FRATERNISING.
BRITON AND BOER FRATERNISING. Details are now homing in of the harmonious settling down of Boer and Briton in the new colonies, and many incidents are given to shew the friendliness likely to spring out of the war. General Botha is stated to have said that the day peace was signed was "the happiest day he had known since he left school." Lord Kitchener, on his visit to the Boer conference camp at Vereeniging after the settlement, delivered an inspiriting address to the delegates, declaring that if he were one of them he would be proud of what he had done in the field. His speech was greeted with profound applause, and General Beyers expressed the pleasure of the delegates at now meeting Lord Kitchener as a friend of whose worth they had a full apprecia- tion. Pretoria messages state that Boer and Briton are fraternising in the best of fellowship. When the peace news arrived outside Vereeniging they kindled bonfires together, and joined in the singing of "Hard Times Come Again no More" and "The Old Folks at Home" with great gusto. A message has been addressed to the burghers by Mr. Schalk Burger and General Botha appeal- ing to them to shew loyal obedience to the new Government. It now transpires that the final voting of the Boer conference at Vereeniging shewed a majority of 48 in favour of surrender- 54 for and only six against. CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KING. At the commencement of a special meeting of the Cheshire County Council, held at Crewe on Thursday, the Chairman (Colonel Dixon) said that was their first meeting after the news of peace p. in Souths Africa, and it was only right they should tender to his Majesty their hearty congratulations. He mo-#td a resolution humbly tendering to the their he^ty congratulations on the termina- -i 1 tfotr of the' vf-afr' in South Africa, and earnestly hoping that-, the terms would ensure loyalty in his new dominions. They all knew, the Chairman ajidedvthat the,great wish of his Majesty had been tb bring pftaco t6 feeiath Africa, and that his reign o "i should prseticajly 1. start with peace with all nations. It was a; satisfaction to the whole Empire to know that when the Coronation did take place we should be at peace not only with South Africa, '—But'at peace with the whole world. (Applause and .+ )? hear, hear.)-rAlderman Beeley (vice-chairman) pecooded, and expressed the opinion that the 'declaration of peace was most timely.—The motion ,af .unanimously and heartily agreed to. ;'i' rrA'V Y REFERENCE AT CAERGWRLE. • frr, At Caergwrle Petty Sessions, on Thursday, the Tpreoi ding magistrate, Mr. W. Davies, said they i. eofuld' -congratulate themselves and their country, Vi amid .everybody concerned, on the conclusion of a nt long and terrible war, in a way honourable to j -everyone concerned. He only hoped that before :-the next war was commenced we should be able V- to pay the costs of the present war twice over. ? He congratulated everyone on the conclusion of a cruel and long-existing war. BEESTON. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S THANKS. In reply to a telegram to Mr. Chamberlain Mr. John Stubbs, of Tarporley, has received the follow- ing communication :—"3rd June, 1902.—Sir,—Mr. Chamberlain desires me to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your telegram at the conclusion of the war, sent on behalf, of a meeting of farmers and tradesmen at Beeston Smithfield. -Yours faithfully, E. MARSH."
[No title]
Lord Braybrooke died suddenly on Saturday, at Saffron Waldron. His brother, the Rev. Latimer .Neville, succeeds to the title.
THANKSGIVING DAY. .
THANKSGIVING DAY. PULPIT REFERENCES. Sunday will long be remembered as a day of thanksgiving for the termination of one of the most protracted and severe wars that this country has been engaged in for many long years. Thanks- giving services were held in every place of worship in Chester, and throughout the district, crowded congregations being the rule everywhere. At THE CATHEDRAL people assembled at an early hour, and patiently waited for the opening of the doors. The service was attended by the Mayor and Corporation e in State, the military, representatives of the Yeomanry, Artillery, and Rifle Volunteers, and the service was a deeply impressive one. Unlike the procedure followed in regard to Mayor's Sunday, the tradespeople and general citizens were not on this occasion invited to accompany the Mayor and Corporation to church the invitations were confined to members of the Corporation, corporate officials and the magistracy. The civic procession—accompanied as usual by the boys of the Bluecoat School and members of the Earl of Chester's Volunteer Fire Brigade under Lieutenant J. Lightfoot Walker was therefore, with one or two exceptions re- stricted to the three classes named. It included the Mayor, accompanied by his chaplin (Rev. F. Edwards), andtheDeputy-mayor(Col. H. T. Brown), and preceded by the sword and mace-bearers, the Recorder (his Honour Sir Horatio Lloyd), the Sheriff (Councillor R. Cecil Davies), Aldermen G. A. Dickson, Geo. Dutton, Thos. Smith, J. J. Cunnah, John Jones, Councillors H. Stolter- foth, B. C. Roberts, R. Lamb, John Jones, Henry Dodd, J. F. Lowe, J. D. Siddall, Dr. Archer, W. Vernon, D. L. Hewitt, J. Egerton Gilbert, Dr. Mann, W. Ferguson, G. W. Haswell, W. Carr, R. H. Lanceley, J. Williamson, and Dr. Lees. Mr. S. Smith, town clerk Mr. J. H. Dickson, assistant town clerk Mr. W. Peers, clerk of Corporation committees; Mr. F. J. Beckett, city accountant; Mr. I. Matthews Jones, city surveyor Mr. W. F. Lowe, city analyst; Dr. G. Harrison, police surgeon Mr. J. H. Laybourne, chief constable; Dr. Kenyon, medical officer; Mr. F. Thursfield, resident electrical engineer; Mr. J. Gardner, tramways manager; Mr. G. Avery, school attendance officer; Mr. Price, market supt.; the following borough magistrates and officials:- Mr. John Thompson, Mr. R. L. Bar- ker, Mr. J. R. Thomson, Dr. W. M. Dobie, Dr. Taylor and ex-Judge Wynne Ffoulkes; with Mr. J. Davison (Clerk) and Mr. N. A. E. Way (Deputy Clerk of the Peace). Others who joined the procession were Mr. F. F. Brown, Mr. Ironside Bax, Mr. G. P. MiIn, Mr. Jno. Wynne Ffoulkes, Mr. H. Crowder, Mr. C. Cooper, Mr. J. A. Birchall, Mr. H. Beswick, Mr. F. J. Warmsley, Mr. Harry Jones, Mr. R. J. Williams, Mr. G. Williams, Mr. Harvey Lowe, Mr. J. McMichael, Mr. H. T. Kitchener, Mr. G. P. Elphick and Mr. Geo. Parker. The Depot Cheshire Regiment, who were accompanied by their baud, were under the command of Colonel Ommanney and Colonel Savage, and the non-commissioned officers of the North-Western Headquarter Staff were also present. Lieutenant Swetenham was in command of a portion of the Eaton Squadron of the Earl of Chester's Imperial Yeomanry. About 120 of the men of the 1st Cheshire and Carnarvonshire Royal Garrison Vol- unteer Artillery paraded with their band, under the command of Major F. B. Mason, the other officers being Major Fountain, Captain and Adjutant Forestier-Walker, Captains Bonnalie, T. H. Wood and V. H. Dickson. The strength of the headquarter companies of the 2nd (Earl of Chester's) V.B. Cheshire Regiment, also with their band, was about 300. Colonel T. J. Smith was in command, and the other officers on parade were Hon. Colonel Fluitt, Captain Evans, Lieutenants Churton and Musgrave, while Surg.- Lieut.-Colonel King was in command of the Bearer Company of the Cheshire Brigade. Chester's Cathedral has like other great ecclesias- tical edifices throughout our land, witnessed many phases of emotion during its existence. We might search beyond the memory of living man and in the records read of services associated in sorrow or in joy with great national events. Our own files tell us that the gathering of Sunday last finds its parallel in a service held within the same walls just 46 years ago when a mighty congregation joined in thanksgiving to Almighty God for His great goodness in putting an end to the war in which we were engaged against Russia." And the retrospect of the last three years awakens many mingled feelings. Within the same portals some of those who went forth to do battle, knelt and prayed for God's blessing upon their mission. Here, again, we assembled to mourn the loss of our good Queen Victoria, and who among those privileged to be present on that solemn occasion will forget that im- pressive hour? Once more on Sunday the (jreafc doors swung open to admit an overflowing congregation and yet another historic scene was witnessed. Vast as is the space within our Cathedral, it was insufficient to accommodate all the great multitude of people. The side aisles rapidly filled, while the seats on either side of the central aisle in the Nave were reserved for the military. At the time appointed the civic and military procession was met at the west door by the surpliced clergy and choir. As the latter led the way up the Nave, there burst from the organ the strains of the National Anthem, a truly fitting prelude to the service of thanksgiving. Meanwhile the mayor, recorder, sheriff, aldermen, councillors, and military officers turned into the stalls reserved for them in the choir, while the soldiers quickly occupied the vacant seats all along the Nave. The "form of prayer and thanksgiving" issued under the direction of the King by the Archbishops was used. This included the ordinary morning prayer with the special psalms, ciii., exxi., cxxii The prayers were intoned by Minor Canon C. St: Clair Weeden, M.A., who also read the first of the J special lessons (1 King's, viii., 55-63), the second ) (Colossians, iii., 1-16) being read by Minor Canon J. M. New, M. A.. A beautiful feature of the service was the rendering of the anthem, "0, lovely peace (from Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus "). This was followed immediately by the chorus "Now thank we all our God," in which the congregation heartily joined. The following special prayers were said after the general thanksgiving by Minor Canon New, amid impressive and eloquent silence :— Almighty God, by whose Providence the affairs of the nations are guided to the fulfilment of Thy holy will, we approach Thy Throne of Grace to give Thee heartfelt thanks for the close of the war in which we have been so long engaged. We thank Thee for the many occasions on which Thou hast granted success to our arms, but above all we thank Thee for that Thou hast now restored to our nation and to our adversaries the blessing of peace. We pray Thee to forgive us whatever we have done amiss in this time of strife. Finally, we pray that both we and those who have lately been our enemies may henceforward be filled with the spirit of mutual generosity and goodwill, that as each has striven to prevail over the other in fettle, each may now strive to vie with the other in justice and loving-kindness. Crown, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the blessing of peace with the bless- ing of unity and concord, for the sake of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Almighty and Everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy', forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and I mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen. Rising, the great congregation joined heartily in .1- me appropriate hymn Kejoice to-day with one accord which was immediately before the sermon. The sermon was preached by Canon Blencowe, who selected for his text the words—"And David said to all the congregation, 'Now bless the Lord your God.' In the course of an earnest and im- pressive discourse, he said when the joyful news broke upon our worship last Sunday evening that peace had been proclaimed, did not the holy place where we received the message and the occasion of our worship suggest that it had come as the answer to our prayer? Daily in that cathedral, as over the country, had the prayer been going up, and now, after many an anxious hour, had received this reward. The thankfulness which God demanded, it had been well said, was a frank acknowledgment of truth. And what was the truth to which we now bore witness? Was it not that we owed to God the ultimate success of a long and difficult campaign, as well as the direction and prosperous issue of the consultation of the last few days? In every church throughout the land ascended at that moment the voice of thanksgiving, praise answering prayer as truly and as distinctly as the echo in the hills, a united people turning national supplication into a national te deum, acknowledg- ing in all humility that not for our righteousness, but for His own purpose and of His own mercy, God had led us on to victory. Since the message of peace had come to us, we had had time to con- sider the terms upon which it had been concluded. We had additional cause for thankfulness in the great ends that had been attained, and for which the war had had to bo so long protracted, and in which such immense sacrifices had been made. Our country was clearly prepared to shew that generosity towards a vanquished foe which at once marked a great nation and a spirit of Christianity. Englishmen would not under-rate what must be the bitter sense of the loss of politi- cal independence, albeit the Boers, by their own act of aggression, had brought that loss upon themselves, and there was no disposition to mako that loss more keenly felt than it must necessarily be. The terms of peace were so drawn up as not to destroy, but rather to preserve, the features of a distinot national life, while instead of a war indemnity there was a proposed grant of three millions to help to restore the peaceful industries I of a devastated country. Might we not say that these were generous, and even more than gener- ous, terms, and that they held out a happy augury of the relations to be established between this country and her latest won dominions? Might we not hope that they would do much to reconcile the two South African States to England's supremacy—nay, that in time to come it would be found that it was happier to live under the laws and protection of a great and free country than to maintain an independence without the safe- guards of a just rule and regard for the equal rights of men? But while we thanked God for these benefits-for the achievements of our Army, for the bearing of the nations under reverse and, in the end, victory, and for the counsels which had at length brought about peaoe-let us not forget that this war had left solemn warnings behind it. There was first the warning of a great and ever- increasing national responsibility. Surely it was with nations as with individuals. There were in- dividuals whose position in the world, or whose natural gifts and powers marked them and made them stand out before men, with the result that they exercised a wider influence and made a deeper mark than men who had less conspicuous gifts and opportunities. And so with nations. There were some nations-take, for instance, the Swiss Repub- lic—which were well-governed, happy and con- tented, but which had no dominions outside their own territory, and did not seem likely ever to in- crease. There were other countries whose power and influence seemed to be on the wane, but in the case of our own country, what did we see? We saw a resistless growth of Empire; we saw Eng- land in every part of the world; we saw Colonies far greater in extent than the mother country, self-governed, but splendidly loyal to the British flag. And now we had added to all those do- minions the two States in South Africa for whose eubmission we now thanked God. But surely it was not for self-glorification that we regarded these facts, but rather as our dominion and power in- creased must we learn to tighten our hold upon Him who had entrusted us with this vast responsi- bility. We must look up to Him with a clearer eye; we must seek him with more diligent prayer. It was with nations again as with individuals, to one He gave ten talents, to another five, to another one, but to all alike he says, "Occupy till I come. Discharge your responsibilities as in My sight." What, then, was our responsibility towards South Africa? Was it not to remember first of all that a Christian State was the representative of the Lord Christ? Was it not to establish His holy rule for the protection and consecration of our own? Was it not to do all we could to make the influence of the Prince of Peace felt, to heal the wounds which had been inflicted, to wipe out un- worthy memories of hatred and suspicion, to alloy the enmities and animosities which had been aroused? Yes, there was this great and difficult work to be done. It would not be the work of one year, or two, but if it was to be done at all, if it was to have any prospect of success, it must be done in the widest spirit of Christian charity and patience. Then there was another lesson. Had our soldiers gone out as fully equipped for their dangerous enterprise as we might have made them? On all sides praises of our soldiers who were, or had been, at the front were heard. Few wars had tried the mettle and endurance more than that which was now happily ended. It had been a war not so much of great engagements as of continuous hazards—the unseen foe a surprise !—a sudden onslaught in a difficult and unknown country, which had again and again overtaken our soldiers, and sometimes, as we remembered, with disastrous results. But though surprised, they had never been found unready for duty. Many a lonely spot on the broad veldts of South Africa had been the scene of the utmost gallantry, and many a soldier's grave bore witness to the courage which might be overwhelmed, but would not yield. Was it not, then, a serious reflection to the Church at homo that our Army chaplains had to tell us how in our hospitals so many men had been found ignorant of the simplest truths in religion, because they had never been taught the value of it, and had thus missed the greatest and highest comfort which that religion afforded? To try and remedy this, then, so far as we could, seemed to him, in our regard for our soldiers, to be one of the lessons which God taught us. He ventured to put it be- fore us as a subject for thought and prayer, for he was not the less a man, but far more a man in the truest sense, who was a religious man of the highest courage. His was the courage that met death not in the spirit of blind fatalism, not even of reckless bravery, but with a sure trust that beyond death there was reward for duty faithfully done and mercy at God's hands. Lastly, he should have our sympathy when he asked for considera- tion of the temporal needs of men who had come back disabled from the war, and for the families of others who would never return to their homes again. The Archbishops had suggested, and the Bang had approved, that the offerings for the restoration of peace should go to the various soldiers' charities to be distributed by the Com- mander-in-Chief. Long and well had our soldiers fought; side by side with the Regulars, our Yeo- manry and our citizen soldiers, the Volunteers, had served for the first time abroad. All deserved this recognition at our hands. And so with a deepened sense of our responsibilities as we march in the vanguard of the nations, with more anxious care for the well-being of our soldiers, as well as for their temporal necessities, the anxious times through which we had passed would not be without fruits, and that day of solemn thanksgiving would not be one that would be quickly forgotten. Well indeed was it for us to associate all great national events with the recognition of God and the ser- vice of the sanctuary. To Thee! To Thee On this appointed day shall thanks ascend, That Thou hast brought our warfare to an end; And that we need no further victory Bless Thou the hour, or ere the hour arrive When a whole people shall kneel down in prayer And, at one moment, in one spirit, strive With lip and heart to tell their gratitude' For Thy protecting care. Their solemn joy-praising the Eternal Lord For tyranny subdued, And for the sway of equity renewed, For liberty confirmed, and peace restored! Following the sermon came the hymn "OGod our help in ages past," in which, again, the congre- gation joined witn fervent voices. A collection was taken on behalf of the various soldiers' charities connected with the war. The blessing was pro- nounced by Canon Blencowe, and then came a thrilling moment. The silence was broken by the beat of drum, and immediately there sounded, shrill and clear, the familiar notes of the National Anthem, played with rousing effect by the Regimental Band. As suddenly the instrumental music ceased and in striking contrast was heard the choir's harmonious rendering of the words, in which they were quickly reinforced by hundreds of voluntary voices. Again the instrumental music of the band broke forth, and with the dying-away of the anthem strain closed a memorable service. BISHOP JAYNE'S PANEGYRIC. ENGLAND'S RIGHTEOUS CAUSE. A TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY. The Bishop of Chester preached at the Cathedra] on Sunday evening to a crowded congregation, and in the course of an eloquent and impressive dis- course dwelt at considerable length upon the late war and 'the conclusion of peace in South Africa. Long before the service commenced the nave was crowded t. its utmost capacity, and late comers had to be content with standing room, or seats in the choir, which also became filled to overflowing. His lordship laid particular stress upon the fact that the war was forced upon our country, and entered upon because we believed that not merely the welfare of our Empire, but the cause of civilization and Christianity was at stake. He paid a high tribute to the bravery and devotion of our troops, and to those who had control of the international negotia- tions. Special thanksgiving hymns were 0 sung during the servioe, and the Te Deum was sung at the close. The offertory was in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Bishop took for his text Rev. xlx., 11 and 14—"And I saw heaven opened, and beheld a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." That peace had been restored to our Empire, he said, was by no means the only ground of their high thanksgiving that day. Peace was no doubt the orown and climax, but he would ask them to review other considerations which helped to swell the tide of gratitude which was in the soul of every mortal man and woman throughout the I Empire, and far beyond, at this time. We thanked God because we honestly believed that the war was begun, continued and ended on the whole in a Christian spirit. He did not forget that the history of our relations with the Boers bad its dark aspeots, its unmistakable spots. Those we were not ashamed to confess before God, but while we admitted them and looked them honestly in the face, we could at the same time thank God with deep humility, but with olear sincerity, because we believed that we entered upon the war with profound reluctance, beoause it was forced upon us, and because we believed that not merely the welfare of our Empire, but the cause of civilization and of Christianity was at stake. The war was foroed upon us, and we entered upon it with a righteous spirit. Then we thanked God that wo had, on the whole, been enabled to carry the war on in a spirit of humanity and of chivalry worthy of a Christian people. Surely it was no exaggeration to say that in the whole course of history no war had ever been waged in such an honourable and humane spirit. We thanked God because He had been pleased to give us in the course of the war a rich reward for the policy which for some generations we had been pursuing towards our colonies and towards the native races with which we had come in contact. What feature in the whole war had been more en- couraging, more delightful, than the way in which the sons of old England crossed the seas and rallied to her flag? And why had they done so? Because we had given them that liberty | whiah they had prized, and under which they had thriven. Not only so, but their patriotism towards the Mother Country had thriven and borne fruit abundantly, which was most noble and most hopeful for the future. Though there were stains upon our shield, yet on the whole our treatment of subject races in India, in South Africa and elsewhere had been what Christians could approve, and the consequence had been largely strengthened by the self-reliance we had exercised in not employing native troops. The consequence had been that quiet, peace and loyalty had been maintained among the native population of South Africa while this tremendous struggle was going on among the two brave white races. Further, we thanked God that the Governments of Europe had, even in our darkest and most cloudy days, been enabled to resist the temptation to make capital out of our embarrass- ments and to interfere in the struggle with results which we shuddered to imagine. Then, after the struggle had been decided in favour of what we honestly believed to be the cause of right, of progress and of justioe-after the victory had been won to our arms-peace was granted by us upon terms at which our hearts rejoiced, and which would be an example to belligerent nations to the end of time. Those who had represented us-Lord Milner and Lord Kitohener-had held fast to the vital things, but they had done all that liberality and magnanimity could possibly dictate. In so doing they had been enabled to build up an edifice, or rather to lay the foundations of an edifice, which we believed would be firm and strong, and out of which blessings would come forth to other generations and to all the nations of the world. Peace, then, crowned the whole course of the war, and we thanked God that the whole course of the war, in spite of the shortcomings and sins which we would not disguise, had in the main been such as the Christian conscience could approve. He could fancy someone asking what had Christianity to do with war. Must we not look askance at the war altogether? War, he understood, was the use of coercive force to settle the quarrels and disputes between nations. Quarrels between individuals and corporations were settled by the law courts, backed up by the strong arm of the law. In disputes Detween nations, however, where they found no tribunal to decide between the litigants, war was the only remedy. When disputes such as that which led to the Boer War arose what was to settle them but an appeal to the arbitrament of war? Christianity in its best days-the Christianity of the New Testament, the Christianity of the Primitive Church, the Christianity which we pro- fessed-reoognised that the use of force to civil and temporal power belonged to the State. On that point the Church of England was at direct issue with the Church of Rome. The Church of Rome had held through long centuries, and still held, that "it might use force to banish error in religion and to promote religious truth, and further, that she had the supreme control over ooercive power and jurisdiction. If Protestants remembered that those dogmas and assertions of the Romish Church, though they could not appear prominently before them in such a country as this, were to some extent exercised and were tenaciously held in readiness for an opportunity, they would understand why it was their bounden duty at the time of the King's Coronation to assert their Protestantism. The claim of the Church of Rome on the subject of civil and tem- poral power, not to mention any other of her claims, was such that we were bound to stand in the firmest possible position against them, and to cast them aside as fatal to our national life and to the very progress of civilization. Christianity did not attempt to banish war from the world at once; rather, as it had been said, she stooped to conquer. In the New Testament we never found any disparagement of the pro- fession and career of the soldier. No; her work was to recognise all that was best in civil sooiety, and to do all that she could by her ameliorating influence to lessen the horrors and to uplift the whole character of war. Christianity found in war some things which were akin, congenial to herself. It had been said, and surely with per- feot truth, that there was more sin committed in any one of the capitals of Europe during peace than there was during the same period in an army in the field, such, for example, as ours in South Africa was. In the very idea of conflict, the idea of struggling for what was believed to be the right, Christianity found something akin to itself. Had they not noticed how the writers of the New Testament drew illustrations con- tinually of the life of the soldier to apply to the Christian life? Besides others, there was the judicial character of the war. We entered upon our war with the Boers in a judicial spirit. We believed rightly that we were enforcing upon the Boers a just decree. We entered bravely and solemnly upon the conflict in the judicial spirit, and Christianity recognised that judicial char- acter of war. It must also be considered that she ameliorated war and purified its character, first by making it incumbent upon the conscience of a Christian empire or a Christian nation not to rush to war except under utter compulsion, except for reasons which would stand examina- tion. It might be necessary to have recourse to the arbitrament of war, but every step should be taken before we reached that last issue. So Christianity at the very outset imposed the spirit of patience and the spirit of justice upon those who were tempted to go to that terrible resort. r When the war was carried on we had to consider the developments of humanity and consideration to the foes as well as friends, of consideration for women and children and the wounded. We knew how honourably our troops had come out of all the oriticism which had been poured upon them in these respects, and we thanked God also that in the main our opponets also had behaved chivalrously; and when the time came they would be the first and the foremost to bear wit- ness to the humanity of our trcops. We knew how Christianity came in towards the end of the war in the generosity of the terms with which we and other nations had been delighted, and for which we had honoured those who had had the control' of the negotiations. Not only so, but we looked forward to the time when, under the influence of the Christian spirit, there would be more and more of the banding together of strong nations, who would do all that in them lay to make belligerents have recourse to arbitra- tion, and who would also have such immense power at their back that they would make it dangerous for any nation to set the decisions of arbitration altogether at defiance. That might be in the distant future, but we certainly saw giglis which looked like the coming of such a future as that. Peace had its perils as well as it3 joys, and if we were to escape the perils of peace we should first of all, as Churchpeople, do all that in us lay to promote that kingdom of Christ which had been influencing the kingdoms of the world, and to take good heed that in South Africa, for example, where there was so much to be done in the wav of building- up what had been cast down, in the way of meeting new claims and demands and opportunities towards our own folk and towards the native races with which we were brought in contact, the Church of which we were brought in contact, the Church of England and other representatives of the religion of Christ should not be behind-hand. An oppor- tunity was given them that night of helping for- ward in some degree the work which the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was laying itself out for in South Africa to meet that urgent need. ST. MARY'S-ON-THE-HILL. At St. Mary's-on-the-Hill special psalms, lessons and prayers were used at the morning service, which opened with the hymn, 0 God, our help," sung as a processional. The other hymns were the Old Hundredth, "Now thank we all our God," and Father of all." Dr. Dykes's Te Deum was used, and "God save the King" was played by the organist (Mr. W. H. Davies) before the concluding voluntary. The Rector (the Archdeacon of Chester) preached, and took for his text the concluding words of the second lesson—"And be ye thankful." He said that our joy was to be, a pure joy, free from that spirit of levity which was not only absolutely needless and unreasonable, but which would turn this time of national rejoicing into an occasion of vulgar noise or carual excess. Let us see to it that both then ana aunug me vAjruumuu ties our gladness was tempered by a Christian spirit which would bring no aftermath of remorse or regret, but only deepen our love to God and our fellow-men. The glorious unity of Christ's body, whore all distinctions of race and cere- monial and civilization were done away with, oame before us that day with peculiar force, as we thought of those grave and paramount re- sponsibilities now pressing upon the English nation, with reference not merely to those who had so lately been oontending with us in the field of battle, but also to those native races who would now be brought beneath the beneficent sway of our vast Empire. To weld all those apparently contradictory elements into one, to bring unity and peace into those conflicting forces, would tax to the uttermost the powers of our statesmen and politicians, who would need for their arduous la'bours continual prayers, so that that high ideal of Christian brotherhood might be kept steadily in view. We, too, had our individual share in those responsibilities, and as Christians and as Churchmen we must not shirk them, but must be more ready to answer in a practical way that urgent appeal which came to them from South Africa and its extended mission field—"Come over and help us." Now the din of war had oeased and our foes had laid down their arms, it was most fitting that we should have sounding in our ears and graven upon our hearts a message of forbearance and for- giveness. We could restrain the spirit which might lead us to apply opprobious epithets to those who had so lately fought against us; we could look rather to that oourage and tenacity of purpose which had characterised so many of them. and admire qualities in them which we would fain encourage in ourselves. We could by our own moderation of thought and speech pro- mote that proper public opinion which would prove a powerful yet mysterious force in the heavy task which lay before our rulers and states- men, of carrying out the thorough pacification of those vast regions and. of raising up a stable and self-respecting Government. Alluding to those who had suffered anxiety and bereavement, the venerable Archdeacon said we were thankful that venerable Archdeacon said we were thankful that the shadow of death which war has so long held over our land had been succeeded by the sunshine of peace. Much might be said of the lessons which the two and a-half years had taught us-the self-denying bravery of our troops, the marvellous drawing together of our dependencies, the continual dependence upon a higher power, the self restraint and reflection which have again and again been pressed, upon the nation by un- expected reverses or long-delayed successes. While mindful of all this, we should have upper- most in our hearts the great duty and privilege of thankfulness. ST. JOHN BAPTIST. The Rev. Canon Scott in the course of a sermon which he preached at St. John the Baptist Church, Chester, on Sunday morning spoke of the many causes there were for thankfulness in the restoration of peace. We have been, he said, opposed only to the corrupt and selfish oppression exercised by a few, and we were thankful for the proclamation of our King, which expresses the heartfelt wish of the whole nation, that our fellow subjects in South Africa should unite with us in making that great and splendid country peaceful, prosperous, and free. It is not altogether without a, feeling of satisfaction that we notice that those who have been the means of beginning and prolonging this cruel war have been disregarded in the final settle- ment of affairs, that in seeking to save themselves, and stir up a European strife they had lost the con- fidence and the respect of those whom they have led on to such a useless, and to themselves, disastrous conflict. Possibly the very length of time it has lasted and the obstinate nature of the conflict itself may prove additional assurances of peace. If peace had been speedily restored there would not have been the impression of quiet resolve, which has convinced our opponents that we were thoroughly in earnest, that we had some principle at stake, and that other nations, however great their sympathy might be, were not prepared to expend anything else on their behalf. There is a mingling of justice and mercy in the conditions of peace, which must be a great aid in the pacification of the country there is nothing unsettled or un- certain in them, nothing vexatious or unkind to awaken feelings of irritation or humiliation our opponents will be treated as our equals; they will have an opportunity to give their views on the re- settlement of the country they will receive such consideration as indeed they have earned by their long, able, and courageous though mistaken defence. I have no doubt that when the history of the war can be written, when the confusion of the contest has passed a little further from us, when we can more justly compare the difficult and perplexing problems presented to our Government and the combatants, it will be found that for consideration, humanity and the good conduct of our soldiers, it will com- pare favourably with any conflict which the world has seen. Mistakes, miscalculations, defects- those things which are inseparable from the imper- fection of human agencies-may be found to have marked the conduct of the war. Do not let us allow our minds to dwell upon such things. It is un- generous for those who do not bear the responsi- bility to expend their ingenuity and their energy by laying emphasis upon such matters. Where we can receive warnings and experiences which may guide us in the future, by all means let us learn, but do not let us gratify our self-esteem by the indulgence of a carping and discontented spirit. Our country has seen great political changes since the war began. Our beloved Queen has passed away, and was not allowed to welcome the messenger of peace. One of the most enter- prising of our South African heroes has been laid to rest upon the wild mountain top from which he had often viewed the promised land. We are ap- proaching the great event of the Coronation of King Edward VII., and we are touched and p'eased by the evident happiness with which he has received the news of peace on the eve of his Coronation. There are some to whom the glad tidings of peace will como with a sad refrain they will see many returning to their ho;s with honour and welcome. "But one is not." Africa has claimed some of the best and bravest of our sons. It must always be so in war. Our thanks- givings are made with mingled feelings those who mourn the loss of some dear to them will find their spirit of submission sorely tried again in all this rejoicing. We are ashamed to count the cost of the war by so many millions in money. What is money after all? It may be good for us to be called upon to deny ourselves in some luxury or some pleasure. Those who have lost some dear to them, those who have suffered from wounds or disease, who return home shaken in health and constitution, it is these who are paying the cost of the war and supplying our "lack of service." The cost of the war may fall unequally upon some, but not so with these. The noble and the peasant, the artizan and the member of the professional class, have fought side by side, and have fallen alike. But there is this consolation, they have not fallen in vain. In the drawing together of our Colonial fellow-subjects, in the manifest relief with which our late opponents accept our rule, may we not be allowed, without undue self-congratulation, to feel that, the English rule means justice, that it means peace, that it means prosperity, that it means freedom? The comments of the foreign Press upon the settlement in South Africa shew that this is the impression, even those who are not. altogether friendly to ourselves. There areh however^ some humbling thoughts for us. We have perhaps never been so near a great crisis in our history. When we think of the anxiety of these three years, of the terrible losses which befel us in the early stages of the war, and that but for the assistance of our Colonies we might for a time have been overcome, when we think of the gradual success which has been allowed us. and of the great responsibilities and difficulties entailed upon our statesmen and our officials by the restora- tion of peace, there is mingled with our thanks- giving a wholesome sense of insufficiency. "Where is boasting?" Only so long as we seek the peace of those under our control, so long as we seek to establish justice, honesty, truth and mercy, having the fear of God before our eyes, and a desire for His glory in our hearts, can we hope to bear the tremendous burden that is laid upon us, or which we have taken upon ourselves. Only so can we hopo to escane the threatenings which come to us from the jealousy of the Great Powers, who stand like armed sentinels around us. But "when a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." ST. MARY'S PARISH CHURCH. The morning service began with the National Anthem, and the evening service closed with Te Deum (Smarts. The hymns sung were 0 God our help," "Now thank we all our God," and "Praise the Lord, ye Heavens adore Him." Both morning and evening services were fully choral and were heartily joined in by the large congregations. The offertories for the Military Nursing Institution amounted to E12 10s. The rector preached in the morning from Judges iii., II., "And the land had rest." He said the news came at eventide on the calm of a bright spring Sunday, when birds were carolling their evening hymns of praise. All nature seemed peaceful; and thus came the news of the cessation of hostilities. Our heart strings so long strained by anxiety for the dear ones fighting for King and country relaxed, and we seemed to breathe freely in an atmosphere to which we were long accustomed. The air so full previously of wars and rumours of wars, was now full of peace-peace with honour. In our joy at the prospect of returning dear ones our hearts went forth to those who would never welcome back father, -on, brother, lover, who lay in an honoured grave, amid the silence of the veldt. They had g r. fought for England's glory, and in giving their life- blood they had forwarded the cause of that peace which they now welcomed with thankfulness. Briton and Boer would from henceforth, we earnestly hoped and believed, turn their weapons of warfare into implements of useful husbandry; brother with brother upholding the fabric of the Empire by the peaceful repairs of the desolation caused by war, thus fulfilling the words of the text. We looked back with awe and wonder on the first call to arms, when every brave Briton said "Here am I, send me." There were no laggards one and all left home and country to serve the beloved Queen, whose rest was won. Week by week there came fresh calls for men to fill the ranks, for we met no ordinary foe. We suffered many a defeat, when the flower of the British army was mown down. Then the soldiers' luck changed and our arms carried positions of danger and difficulty with shouts of victory. Days, weeks, months passed by and the war lingered on. A weary guerilla warfare continued and our hearts longed for peace that seemed so long in coming. We had to humble ourselves and learn of Him Whose ways were the ways of pleasantness and all His paths were peace. We, as a nation, might be justly proud of the sons of the Empire at home and abroad who had so nobly responded to duty's call, and who having laid down the sword, now held the olive branch of peace and goodwill. They were met together to offer praise and thankfulness and to add their prayer and praises to the millions who would rejoice and be thankful. On the eve of the Coronation what more glorious blessing could we enjoy than peace? We must, as a nation, be thankful that our gracious King should have this additional joy at his coro- nation. He would be crowned King of. this mighty Empire when the whole of its vast territory was at peace. That fact would add to the joy and thankfulness of all his people in that their King's heart was gladdened. In conclusion, he would say that the policy of the Government, which was approved and endorsed by the whole Empire, had been to ensure that the sacrifices of life and treasure should not be in vain. When once that fact was established we were too great and powerful to allow vindictiveness to enter into our calculations. Whatever our feeling might be with regard to the ambition of those who misled our new fellow subjects, we had nothing but admiration for the rank and file of the Boers, who had shewn a determined resistance and endurance and a bravery which we were the first to appreciate. No English- man would grudge the generous treatment the Government were prepared to give those who loyally accepted the sovereignty of our King. Let us shew our good comradeship, by thinking the best and speaking the best of those who were once our enemies, but whom we now claimed as friends. They and we have fought face to face, now shoulder to shoulder, and heart to heart we would, we must, march towards the goal and try by every means in our power to bring about the blessing implied in the text And the land had rest." ST. OSWALD'S. The Vioar, the Rev. E. C. Lowndes, preached at the morning service, from Isaiah xxvi., 12, "Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us; for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us." He pointed out that the providence of God was over the events of war no less than of peace. Wherever there had been calm self-sacrifice, self-denying bravery, conscientious discipline firm trust in a righteous cause, and therefore fearless confronting1 of death, wherever there had been patience, resig- nation, unrepining endurance of hardships, priva- j tions, weariness, wounds, disease, wherever there had been magnanimity and mercy to foes, there was God, there was Jesus Christ, there was the spirit of our religion working, it might be uncon- sciously in the soul of man. We might thankfully say that the late war had been conducted with more straightforward bravery and skill, with more mutual respect, and more humanity than perhaps any in the annals of history. At home, too, we might thank God who had "wrought all their works in them,' for the deep, universal sympathy which had permeated the whole land, and had shewn itself in the eager desire to alleviate the distress of the sick, wounded and dying, to help the families of our soldiers in their absence, and to provide for the widows and orphans of those who had fallen; also in the tender sharing of the sorrows of many whose hearts were sad amid that day's rejoicings, as we thought of husbands, brothers or sons who had bravely laid down their lives for their country. That day we were joining with our fellow-subjects throughout the Empire in' thanksgiving for the return of peace. God had listened to our prayers, and had "ordained peace for us." He had inspired those brave men on either side, who under Him had ruled the affairs of this war, with feelings of reasonableness and moderation; and thus peace had been concluded on conditions honourable to both sides, just and generous, with no desire to be vindictive or to inflict unnecessary humiliation on enemies who, ignorant, doubtless, and misled, had at least proved themselves to be brave and determined men. After speaking of the anxious and deiicate problems which still remained to be solved before the blessing of peace could be crowned with the blessing of unity and concord, and of England's responsibility for the spiritual future of South Africa, and their duty to the native races, the preacher concluded by pleading that peace abroad might be the signal for peace at home be- tween class and class, family and family, man and man. Let each of us strive to catch something of that spirit of moderation and reasonableness which had actuated those brave combatants abroad; let us learn from them not to stand too stiffly on our rights, not to be vindictive, nor seek to humiliate those who had wronged us; but let this be rather a season of healing of old sores and sinking of old differences, remembering that "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." ST. MICHAEL'S. The services at St. Michael's, Chester, were well attended and very hearty. The processional hymn in the morning was the Doxology, followed by the National Anthem, which also closed the evening service. At both services the special psalms were sung, the special lessons being read in the morning. The Vicar preached, in the morning from 2 Cor., ix., 15, on the duty of thanksgiving, and in the evening from Psalm exxi., 1, on some spiritual lessons from the war. HOOLE. On Sunday morning the members of the Hoole Council officially attended All Saints' Church. Though many people went over into Chester, the church was filled to its utmost capacity. The members of the Council assembled at their offices and marched in procession to the church. On their arrival there they were met by the churchwardens, Messrs. A. L. Williams and F. Coveney, who pre- ceded them to their seats, Mr. Robert Gerrard, organist, playing the National Anthem. The Hoole Fire Brigade, under Surgeon-Lieutenant F J. Butt and Lieutenant Atkin, brought up the rear. The members of the Council present were Messrs. T. B. Richardson (chairman), W. Williams (vice-chairman), T. Mealing, A. Watts, W. J. Croydon, W. H. Nightingale, and A. L. Williams, while there were also present Messrs. J. Fenna (Under Sheriff of Carnarvon), R. T. Richardson, J. H. iRicliardson, J. Pover. T. Chalton, B. Prince, H. C. Houghton, W. G. Marrs, H. Ellis, G. Barnes, T. Boughton, G. Elliott, T. Cartwright, S. Reading, F. R. Price, J. C. Belton, C. Corson, A. Bell, Thompson, Loam, &c. The Revs. F. Anderson and A. H. Waller conducted the service. The sermon was preached by the Rev. A. H Waller, who took for his text the 12th verse of the 116th Psalm, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits unto me ? He said he was sure there could be no one present who had not read with a full heart that we had indeed received great and priceless blessings from our God. That day all over the world there was one glad song of praise and thanksgiving going up to God in Heaven, because He had restored to our nation and to our adversaries the blessings of peace. Our King and Queen had been taking part in a service of thanksgiving in St. Paul's Cathedral. All over the country, nay, all over the Empire the representatives of the King and all his people were joining in that joyous song of praise and thanks- giving. From New Zealand, Canada, India, Australia, and South Africa there was ascending to God a great hymn of united praise. Surely, the hosts of Heaven must have been conscious, that day, that there was a greater response from earth, mingling with their song of praise. If we thought in our inmost hearts that the war had come to an end in the natural course of things, in consequence of the bravery and determination of our soldiers and statesmen if we said to ourselves that it was merely a chance, that had happened to us, then that thanksgiving service was nothing more than a mockery and a sham. But, surely we were ready to confess that it was God, who had given us that blessing, in answer to our long and continued prayers. Let us acknowledge that it was God who had heard the oft-repeated prayer, "Give peace in our time, 0 Lord." Let us confess that we owed that blessing of peace to Him and Him alone Might we not take it also as a specimen of Divine favour that the welcome news came to us on the Lord's Day, and that, that day was the first of June, the month that had long been set apart for the Coronation, a time of national rejoicing ? Could the blessing have come at a more opportune moment? Mr. Waller concluded with an appeal for funds for the boys school, the new organ, new surplices and hymn books, amounting in all to nearly 91,000.-At the conclusion of the service the congregation sang the National Anthem. ST. FRANCIS' CHURCH. At the solemn high mass on Sunday the Rev. Father Seraphin occupied the pulpit. Referring to the subject of peace he said Through God's mercy the inestimable blessing of peace has at last been vouchsafed to us. We all appreciate the advantages of peace, because for close on three years we have felt the miseries of war. Not only this Empire, but all peoples have rejoiced that the sword of war has been sheathed, and that the hand that grasped it has been extended in friendship. We only hope that the mutual respect of the two races who have learned one another's qualities in the strain of war will be the beginning of a new and happier chapter in the history of South Africa. A solemn Te Deum was. sung in thanksgiving during the evening service. NORTHGATE CONGREGATIONAL. At the Northgate Congregational Church on Sunday evening, the hymn Now thank we all our God and the Te Deum were sung. The preacher was the Rev. F. Barnes, B.A. (the minister), who, at the commencement of his sermon, said Seldom has the heart of the nation been more deeply moved than it was last Sunday night. Although not altogether unexpected, the message from South Africa announcing the end of hostilities came as a great relief. It was like the lifting of a nightmare from a people burdened with a terrible dream. For weary months the war dragged on with no appreci- able result, and a short time ago it almost seemed as if the end would never come. And, now, as by a magic wand, the whole aspect of affairs has changed, and conqueiors and conquered are fraternising together as comrades and as friends. Is it any wonder that there is universal rejoicing, and that people are vieing with one another as to who shall sing the loudest song of thanksgiving ? And, yet, our joy is chastened as we call to mind the price which peace has cost. Lying upon the lonely veldt in many a nameless grave are scores of brave young lads, who, had their lives been spared, would have graced their homes and hearths. Thus amid all our thankfulness that this useless waste of life has stopped, we cannot but reflect upon the sin and folly of men and nations, who, as the result of hasty and ill-judged actions, enter upon such deadly strife. At the same time, and although with chastened spirits, we lift up our voices in a song of praise to Almighty God, that in His own good time He has so touched men's hearts that they have agreed together henceforth to live in friendship and in peace. Not in a spirit of proud exultation, ItS over a conquered foe, but as those who seek the common good of the human race, we desire to enrol our late brave foes as loyal subjects of the British Empire. If this be the spirit in which this new compact be entered into, there is no reason why in a very short time the past should not be forgotten, and a more prosperous era should dawn upon these peoples with whom for so many weary months we have been at war. PRIMITIVE METHODIST, GEORGE-STREET. There was a large congregation at the thanks- giving service which was held on Sunday evening. Special hymns and anthems were sung, and ap- propriate lessons were read. The preacher, the Rev. J. Travis, read as his text, "How bea-utifut upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidinsrs. that nub'isheth Isaiah lii., 7. He dwelt on the universal joy which the declaration of peace had kindled. He had no wish, intention or right to stand there either to justify or to condemn the war, to criticise or de- fend its management, or to fix the responsibility and apportion the blame. He left all that to Him "Who judgeth righteously, and who will reward every man according to his works." Our joy was chastened by the thought of the brave men who at the call of their country had gone forth and had laid down their lives, and whose bodies rested in soldiers' graves. Peace to their ashes! Honour to their memory! Our hearts went out in pro- found sympathy for the sick and the wounded, and our prayers went up to Heaven for rich benedic- tions on bereaved fathers and mothers, wives and chi.dren, sisters and overs, both in South Africa the Colonies, ant! i mo United Kingdom. Out joy was tenipcrca, ..u.. ;t was sincere, universal and exultant. i\o ii;ore we. come news had coH^ to tue naiion foi ^.my a year than that came through the c ibie, and which flashed aloBjS the wires a week —that the war was ended. The preacher p;;d a tribute to the persistent de- votion, the patle;lt iorLtude and splendid heiloislo of the troops. iucse qua ities had never bee* more conspicuous than in the campaign ilao closed. He trusuAX t the rank and fi.ol as vird as the officers and iiu> generais, would be liberal treated by a generous nation. It was an inspig thought that hunt:teds of thousands, representing ad creeds and parties, had that day gathered t" Christian teiiip es, moved by one common emotion of praise and thanksgiving to God. First of they gave thanks to God that the war was ovefc that wasting, d.-iUucUoa and bloodshed wetf ended and that twork of recovery and tion was in pr<paruli<jii. We were thankful for its terms of peace. He was very much mistaken if w the genera, verdict of the civilised world and the verd ct of hisloi.v nou d not be that they vrere creditable to the Boer and not. unworthy of the Briton. We were i rat,efu: for the way in whicli the terms of peace hid been generally accepted b1 the parties more immediately concerned. Tbe proclamation of the loaders of the other side, eV treating their pcup e lo be loyal to the compac* and to unite in restoring prosperity to theif country, was statesman^.ip of a high order. He trusted that the treaty would be carried out, only in the spirit of fairness and justice, but a1 in the spirit of conciliation and generosity, 0 that the animosity and bitterness engendered b1 the long and weary strife wou d soon give place goodwill, concord and co-operation. Our confidence and hope for tho future was that G°f reigneth and that His kingdom ruleth over all- Let our daily prayer be that God's kingdom righteousness, peace and joy might come into ott* hearts and into the hearts of the rulers and people of aii nations, so that the terrible military nigh*' mare which is upon the heart. of so many nation* may be removed, and war be known no more. The service, which was a most impressive one, wa' followed by a ce'ebration of the Lord's Supper. MATTHEW HENRY'S CHAPEL. Thanksgiving services were held on Sunday &i Matthew Henry's Chapel, Chester. PreaahinlJ in the evening, the Rev. H. E. Haycock said: To-day is set apart, by common consent, as • day of thanksgiving for the restoration oi peaoe; to me it is also a day of humiliation. am profoundly thankful that the noise of thio horrible tumult is over, that no more brave are to be sacrificed in battle, no more widows orphans to be made by rifle bullet and bursting shell; but I am sad and humiliated, as a followet of Jesus Christ, that my country and the freedom" loving Dutch of South Africa should find no sanet way of resolving the dispute between them thso by the resort to an armed conflict in which tenø of thousands of brave hearts have been stilled* and which, besides the burden of grief poverty it has brought into a large number & homes, has imposed other burdens upon ourselveS which are already being felt by many as heavy and grievous. This war has engendered in hearts of the two peoples some of the wors» passions—bitterness of speech, violence of deeal feelings of revenge, unmercifulness of temper; These, as well as widows' tears and orphan8 woes, have been the inevitable result of a conflic* whose conclusion we are to-day acclaiming witlj thankfulness and joy. And therefore I say th»* for those who can realise in any measure terrible and inevitable consequences of war, th|* day ought to be made the occasion for a confession of individual and national sin3 as we»* as of thankfulness to Kim whose will it is that tM nations shall learn war no more. The work destruction has stopped; the work of construction has now to be carried out; the terms of peaco have been signed; the real pacification of the people we have conquered has now to begin the work of the soldier is ended, the task of the statesman and the administrator and the peace' maker lies ahead. And it will depend upon the temper of this oountry, upon the spirit y¡# exhibit here in Chester, upon the spirit shewn iO Liverpool and London and up and down the lalla -it will depend upon the spirit we now ex. hibio in our national action whether that task is goillg to be made possible or impossible. If as a peop'. we make up our minds that our rulers sb*v exhibit that quality of mercy which is twi°^ blessed, if we refrain from all unworthy tion and vain-glory, if we stop on our side tb flow of calumny which has done so much for tb last two years to embitter and prolong the strif^ if we get back to the temper of Jesus and leaf1* the lesson of his generous, loving treatment men, then the task of governing our new silb, jects, of restoring to them prosperity and liberty* will not be impossible, though it must still difficult. It may be that some, at present tin seen, good may be brought out of the confusIo t and strife of the last three years. But if oil. behaviour takes a different turn, if we aro uP generous and unyielding, if we fail to fulfil only the letter but the spirit of peace, then tb labour of pacifying the population of SoutJJ Africa will never be accomplished, by tbJ generation at least. I have, however, faith I the generosity of the nation, and I believe, and .to trust, that all parties within the State will unItt in an endeavour to secure that that measure 10 justice and consideration shall be shewn whic alone is able to subdue the darker passions hatreds that have been called forth. The has seen enough of passion and bloodshed, aD^ we shall best prepare the way of loyalty, not w seeking to impose a dominion of shame, but b/ restoring free government to a freedom-loving race at the very earliest possible moment. our thanksgiving for peace is the outward sig^ of a real Christian feeling, then we shall go oil* from this service in the spirit of peacemakers; we shall go out to deal bread to the hungry, to oare for the orphan and the widow and t11e. friendless we shall sympathise with all who rø oppressed. And this expression of the Christian spirit shall be no shallow sentiment-a covering merely for passions and desires opposed to the principles of the Master—but it shall permeat^ all our actions and make us in deed and truth 'children of God.' At the close of each service the National Anthem was played by the organist. HAWARDEN. REV. STEPHEN GLADSTONE. THE BOER INDEPENDENCE Very impressive thanksgiving services were hel<* at the parish church on Sunday. The morning service was attended by a congregation which com- pletely filled the sacred edifice. The Hawarde* Company of Volunteers (2nd Battalion ROYVJ Welch Fusiliers) and the Sandycroft Company (1st Cheshire and Carnarvonshire Royal Garril,00 Artillery Volunteers) attended the service. Captain Swetenham being in command of the HawardeJJ Company and Lieutenant East of the Artillery Volunteers. The service was for the most part tb/1 usual form, but special psalms and collects were used as ordered. The hymns were "All people that on earth do dwell," "0 God our help in icre* past," Holy holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," and a special hymn m memory of those who hav* lost their lives in the service of their Kin* and country. ° The rector took as his text—"Peace, true peace, not its counterfeit, is a grace of Heaven, one of the truits of the Holy Ghost; a mark of the Heavenly life made possible on earth, in the indi- vidual sou., and between man and man, by tb0 Atonement, St, Matthew v., 9. He said, in th* course of nis remarks: What a depth of meaning there is in tho very word! At last it has come to us, and to our foes—a blessed change, the begif nmg, as we hope and pray, of a far greater change which by patience and wisdom may, in the of the next generation, be worked out to the ad- vantage of both conqueror and conquered. The war is over, and has passed into history. Whether we view it as a triumph or a tragedy, we must equally be thankful that both sides have laid doff1* their arms, and under terms which for the present do honour to both. War may be in the last resort inevitable, yet, like the volcano or the plaguev though giving scope to what is best iu liiirnap nature, it is one of the greatest scourges of mail- kind. The chief suffering falls on the innocent- Kightly or wrongly, our statesmen make the war; but it is the soldier and his homo. innocent children who suffer. Its awful sounds are now stilled; re-construction and the arts of peace, again can go on in those stricken lands. This is our day of thanksgiving. Everyone has takeii some part in the war-by fighting, by losing deaf ones, by long anxiety, by deep concern and sorrow day and night, by constant prayer. Your part will measure your thanksgiving to God. Shew it by some difference in your life. Under God there are others we think of with gratitude. Who can doubt that our King has longed and striven hie utmost for peace? Then there is the General who with few words and strenuous deeds, with soldier's mingled gallantry and chivalry, has more than anyone been the instrument of peace. TheP there are our soldiers, whose crushing power bfL9 been so exercised as to win the respect of the enemy. The soldier fights no personal battle- And there are the brave dead whose sacrifice of life has saved others, and had much to do with the ending of the war. May we, like them, be more dutiful and unselfish and brave. And hoW shall we try and shew our thankfulness? First, by burying bitter thoughts, narrow views, mere selfish interests, and helping the hands of the peace- makers. Then let' all hearts draw together again ? let us civilians learn magnanimity towards our foes and try and help and trust them. You may not all follow me in my heart-felt desire that the day may come when, to our own honour and ill' terest, and to their's, it may be possible to give them back, if they should wish it, that gift of freedom which is our own greatest pride and blessing, and for which they have so nobly striven- I should be false to my deepest convictions if I abandoned the faith that freedom is a b'easing without which no noble nation can live, and that nothing on earth but the very direst necessity can justify one Christian nation taking that blessing I from another. Man has the fighting instiuct- Well, let him turn it on the evil within and with' out him. That battle of the vast Army will give scope to all his pluck and foresight arà trust; It 13 the only warfare which is no scourge, ? The singing of God save tho King" service to a conclusion.