[From The Manx Quarterly, #29 - 1923]

War Memorials in the Isle of Man

St. Andrew's (Douglas).

THE " PARADOX " OF CHRISTIANS SHOULDERING THE GUN.

In pursuance of the practice of erecting memorials in all the churches in honour of the young men connected with the several churches echo fell in the war, a beautiful tablet has been placed within the Presbyterian Church, Douglas, and was formally dedicated and unveiled on Sunday, Jan. 15th. The ceremony was to have been performed by the Rev. John Davidson, J.P., who for twenty-five years was pastor of the church, and who was acquainted intimately with all of the men whose names are inscribed on the tablet; but Mr Davidson, who is now living in retirement at Port Lewaigue, near Ramsey, was prevented by ill health from attending, and his place was taken by Mr A. B. Cuthbertson, Deputy Town Clerk, who has been a superintendent of the Sunday-school connected with the church for many years. A brief preliminary address was delivered by the present pastor of the church, the Rev. Peter Campbell, M.A., B.D.

Mr Campbell observed that the Latin poet had sung, " It is sweet and honourable to die for one's country," and the coming of Christ head not made such a death less sweet or honourable. In the early days of Christianity, there were serving in the army of the Emperor many who were soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who bravely bled and died in beating back the attacks of the barbarian. Three centuries ago, in England, the Puritans were not afraid to shed blood to make their country free within and strong without, to avenge the oppressed and to help righteous causes. In our own day, when the call first came, thousands of Christian youths responded. It was only among unthinking people that it seemed a paradox that followers of the Prince of Peace should be found shouldering the gun.

Peace shad to be won, righteous causes had to be defended, evil had to be forced out of the would, and it could not be forced out by gentle words. Jesus never abrogated patriotism; as He drew near the city dear to every Hebrew, He wept over it, and He died to save his country as well as all the world. Blessed were the dead who died on the same field of service and sacrifice s that on which Jesus worn the victor and the crown. The blessing, "Blessed are they which die in the Lord," was originally pronounced over the martyrs, so as to comfort Christian people in a period of ruthless persecution ; but these our brethren had renounced just the same things as did the martyrs ; they made it plain that life was not a hunt for riches and pleasure, and in obeying the call of duty, they discovered something of the true peace of 'life. One remembered, also, those who had put their lives in the same jeopardy, and who, in many cases, would carry to their graves the mark of the struggle. The blood of our brothers could not have been spilt in vain; many of them dreamt of the new heaven and the new earth, and though it was a long time coming it would come, and what our brothers had endured would count towards its coming.

Mr Cuthbertson, who laboured under much emotion, said he performed this ceremony under feelings that he could not express. Many of these young men were known to him from infancy. He had watched them at the school anniversaries, and had seen them mount up from the bottom step of the anniversary stage to the top; and most of them had gone into the world bearing the impress of the teaching which they had received in the school, and bearing it worthily. There were fifteen names on this tablet, and he thought, it a noble record for so small a congregation. Their sacrifice was not in vain; the world was the better for their having lived and died, and away on the other side, God had for them a higher award and a higher work than ever they had known here.--Mr Cuthbertson them formally unveiled and dedicated the tablet, to the Glory of God, and in memory, of

who gave their lives is the Great War, 1914-1918.

During the service, appropriate hymns were sung, the solo, "O Rest in the Lord" (Mendelssohn) was rendered by Miss J. Whyte, and the anthem, " What are those?" (Stainer), by the choir, under the direction of the church organist, Mr Evan Kermode. A large representation of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides was present.

The tablet is made of Sicilian marble, framed in alabaster, and the, inscription bears a mosaic border in blue and gold. It ;s the work of Messrs J. Wippell, of Exeter, and has been erected in the church by Mr T. H. Royston.

Marown

THE BISHOP ON THE CHOICE OF THE CROSS AND THE CHURCHYARD.

Despite dreadfully inclement weather, a large representation of the parishioners of Marown assembled in the Parish Church on Good Friday, to witness the unveiling of the local war memorial, which has been placed in the space adjoining the church. A recess, railed off, has been made in the wall which encloses the church grounds, and immediately behind that recess, set upon a grass mound which in its turn rests upon a concrete foundation, an interlaced Celtic cross, designed and sculptured by Mr R. W. Creer, of Douglas, has been erected. The cross is made of Scarlett limestone, and is set upon a heavy square-ish base, and in front of it are two small pillars to which hooks have been attached for the purpose of hanging wreaths. A slab on the base bears an appropriate inscription, together with the names of the following parishioners who made the supreme sacrifice:-

Edward Archard, John Thomas Cain, Alfred Ernest Corkill, Thomas Alfred Corkill, John Enos Corlett, Edward Wade Corwin, Jamey Henry Cowin, John Robert Fayle Alfred Kelly, Robert Kelly, David Joseph Lewin, John Dalrymple Maitland, Robert Vincent Richmond, Frederick William Swinnerton.

The ceremony of unveiling was performed by the Captain of the Parish (Mr Joseph Cunningham, M.L.C.), and that of dedication by the, Lord Bishop. His Lordship was attended by his son, Mr Bernard Denton-Thompson, as crozier-bearer, and other clergy present were the Vicar (Rev. A. E. Clarke), and the Rev. T. R. Kneale, Rural Dean of Peel. Prayers were said by the Vicar, the Rev. A. H. Whiteley (Congregational), and the Rev. Aaron Smith (Primitive Methodist), and the lesson was read by the Rev. A. T. Burbridge, B.A. (Wesleyan Methodist). Appropriate hymns were sung by the church choir, Mr W. Cannell presiding at the organ.

Brief addresses were given by Mr Cunningham and the Lord Bishop, the latter of whom took occasion to congratulate the parishioners of Marown upon the character and position of their memorial. He was glad that the memorial was an entirely unselfish act, a tribute to the memory of the fallen, and that it was not an object from which they would derive a personal benefit; and he was glad that it was the Christian symbol of the Cross, which represented sacrifice, victory, and unity. It was a cross, and not a crucifix; that was to say, as an empty cross, it proclaimed that Christ, who died, was not dead, but lived and reigned for evermore. It was placed in the churchyard of course; if these boys had died at home, they would have been reverently laid to rest with those who bodies had been resting in God's acre for centuries past. It was situated on a main road, where in the summer hundreds of thousands of people passed. Many of these passers-by were thoughtless, and had little care for what the Cross represented, but the sudden spectacle of this memorial would in many cases bring their minds back to ideas of sacrifice and of consecrating their lives to the service of God and of their fellows.

The proceedings concluded with the sounding of the " Last Post " and the " Reveille " by Mr T. Lewin.

Michael

The war memorial ceremony at Michael, which took place on Easter Monday, was perhaps the most impressive of its kind which has yet occurred in the Island. The form of service selected was elaborate, and was gone through with great effectiveness and beauty, a choir of 80 voices having rehearsed for many weeks, under the direction of Mr J. D. L. Kelly. This choir, which was drawn from the Parish Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Chapels at Michael and Barregarrow, and the Primitive Methodist Chapel, also rendered Spohr's celebrated quartette and chorus, " Blest are the Departed," Miss Sara Kelly, L.R.A.M., presiding at the organ. The ceremony of unveiling was performed by the Lieut.-Governor (who was accompanied by Lady Fry and Mr J. L. Goldie-Taubman, M.L.C.), and that of dedication by the Lord Bishop, who was attended by the Rev. C. V. Stockwood, of St. Olave's, Ramsey, in the capacity of crozier-bearer. Prayers were said by the Vicar (Rev. H. T. Devall, D.D.), and the lessons were read by the Rev. Edgar C. Palmer (Wesleyan), and the Rev. Richd. Bolton (Primitive Methodist Eloquent addresses were given by the Governor and the Bishop, and the ceremony was brought to a close by the sounding of the 'Last Post" and the "Reveille," by Messrs W. Bridson and J. Quirk, members of the Douglas Town Band. The local ex-service men, numbering about forty, attended, and in their name a wreath was placed on the memorial by Lieut. Mark Quayle, who was for some time a prisoner in Germany.

The memorial takes the form of a marble tablet, placed within the parish church, and has been designed by Mr Archibald Knox. The work represents Mr Knox in his happiest vein, and is polygonal, almost circular in shape, bordered all round by an interlaced Celtic pattern, inside which the names of the fallen men have been inscribed. The sculptor was Mr T. H. Royston, of Douglas.

The names are as follows:- Bertram R. Barron. Pte. Northumberland Fus. ; Percival S. Brew, Pte. New Zealand Forces; Herbert R. Cannell, Pte. 3rd Cheshires; Thomas A. Corlett, Lance-Cpl. East Surrey; W. Mylrea Cowley Pte. 8th King's Liverpool,; John E. Gell, Pte. R.A.M.C.; William Goldie, Pte,. 13th King's Liverpool; John W. Kelly, Driver R.A.S.C.; J Percival Kneale, Pte. M.G. Corps Cav. ; T. Ernest Murray, Stoker, H.M.S. Defence; Owen H. Williams, Pte. West Lancashires; George H. Sheard, Seaman R.N.R.; Wilfred Smith, Pte. M.T., R.A.S.C.; William C Stephen, E.R.A., R.N.R.

Those who had actually participated in the function, including the contingent of ex-service men, were entertained to tea in the Church Hall by the captain of the parish, Mr J. C. Caine. Thanks were tendered to Mr and Mrs Caine for their hospitality, to the Governor for his presence at the ceremony, and to the wardens, the memorial committee, the choir and conductor, the ladies who presided at the tables, and generally to everyone who was entitled to gratitude for his or her labours.

The committee, without making any canvass, have received a large number of promises of subscriptions. They would be grateful if these promises were redeemed as early as conveniently possible, as they are anxious to close the accounts.

German

A similar ceremony in celebration of the fallen men from the parish of German-which includes the town of Peel, and the chaplaincies of St. John's and Cronk-y-Voddy took place on April 20th, at the Parish Church in Peel. Peel and the adjoining neighbourhood were well represented alike in the Navy, the Army, and the Mercantile Marine, and no less than 101 local sailors and soldiers gave their lives, to quote the form of service used on this occasion, for their country and the whole civilised world. The names are as follows: -

A.W.Bailey, K.G.R.L. ; R.J.Bell, R.F.A.; R. Boyd, Anzac E.F. ; L. Bridson, 11th Essex R.; H. P. Butterworth, R.E.; A. E. Cain, Coldstream G.; F. Cain, Anzac E.F. ; J. T. Cain, R.G.A. ; J. Callister, R.F.; T. H. Carran, R.E.; O. Cashin, R.G.A. ; W. Christian, H.M. Mine Sweepers; J. E. Clarks, K.L.R,;, W. H. Clarke, E. Lancs. R.; W. H. Cleator, 12th Cheshire R.; H. Clucas, R.E. ; R. Corkish, K.L.R.; W. D. Cattier, K.L.R.; W. C. Cowley, Royal Irish; R. Crebbin, H.M.S. Ben-my-Chree; E. Crellin, London R.; W. H. Crellin, K.L.R. ; T. E. Cringle, M.G.C.; W. Crinnan, Welsh R.; E. Cubbon, H.M.S. Goliath; W. H. A. V. Delaary, R.A.S.O.; J. F. Dodd, K.L.R.; J. Faregher, Warwick Regt.; J. T. Faylp, L.N. Lanes. Regt.; J. Foulkes, K.S.L.I.; W. B. Gale, H.M.S. Bayano; H. Gasdy, R, Lancaster Regt.; J. Gill, H.M.S. Goliath; J. W. Gill, 3rd K.L.R. ; A. H. Gorry, R.N.R.T. ; T. Greggor, H.M.S. Alberta; T. C. Gregor, K.L.R. ; J. E. Harrison, Lane, Fus.; Harrison, Lane. Fus.; H. Howland, R.G.A. ; W. Howland, L.N. Land. R. ; E. H. Hugh, Dorset Regt. ; W. N. Hughes, H.M. Trawlers; D. Irving, H.M.S. Princess Alberta; A. N. Joyce, K.L.R.; E. C. Kay, Seaforth Highlanders; A. Kelly, K.O.R.L. ; H. Kelly, R.F.A. ; J. H. Kelly, H.M. Patrol; J M. Kelly, H.M.S. Bayano; T. C. Kelly, N.Z. Forces; W. Kelly, K.L.R.; W. S. Kennaugh, London P.O. Rifles; B. Kermode, Anzac E.F.; J. Killey, K.L.R.; P, E. Killey, H.M.S. Princess Dagmar J. Kinley, R.N.R. ; B. Leece, 10th K.L.R. (Scottish) ; W. E, Leece, K.L.R. ; A. M. Lewis, 52nd Sikh Regt; J. W. Lewis, 3rd Devon Regt. ; G. S. Lowey, K.L.R. ; F. McNicoll, K.L.R. ; H. E. McGarry, K.L.R. ; J. Moore, K.L.R. ; R. B. Moughtin, Canadian E.F.; D. Mylchreest, H.M. Trawlers; E. Mylrea, R.E. ; J. Nolan, Cheshire R.; H. Pitvs, K.L.R.; R. A. Quane, Anzacs; F. Quayle, R.F. ; G. Quayle, Canadian E.F. ; W. Quayle, Coldstream G.; W. H. Quayle, H.M.S. Marksman; J. J. Quirk, Middlesex R.; W. Quirk, H.M.T. Sound Fisher; A. J. Roberts, R. Welsh F.; J. T. Rothwell, R.F.A.; G. H. Sheard, H.M. Mine Sweepers; F. E. Shimmin, H.M.S. Ramsey; J. W. Shimmin, H.M.S. Lavender; L. Shimmin, 10th K.L.R. (Scottish) ; R. F. Shimmin, R.N.R.T. ; S. Shimmin, Canadian E.F. ; T. G. Shimmin, 10th K.L.R. (Scottish) ; W. Shimmin; H.M. Mine Sweepers; G. Skelly, Canadian E.F.; R. Smith N.Z. Infantry-W. W. Smith, 17th N.Z. Regt.; W. Stevens, R.F.A, ; W. J. Taggart, R. Welsh F.; F. Teare, Canadian E.F.; F. W. Tears, Seaforth H.; R, A. Vick, K.L.R. ; R. H. Watterson,' H.M. Trawlers; W. Watterson, R.N.R. ; W. H. Watterson, R.F.A. ; J. White, K.L.R. ; A. E. Wilmot, H.M. Trawlers; J. Wood, H.M. Submarine E4.

The cross, which is Runic in design, has been erected just outside the west window, parallel with the gate of the church grounds which opens on to Atholl-street. It is set well back from the road-way, and is of appropriate height, and consequently enjoys a particularly conspicuous position. The sculptor is Mr T. H. Royston, of Douglas, and the material is Woolton red sandstone.

The unveiling ceremony was performed by the Lieut.-Governor, and the Lord Bishop formally dedicated the memorial. The local companies of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, numbering about 250, attended, and uniformed representatives of the Army and Navy mounted guard over the memorial. The "Last Post" acid "Reveille" were sounded at the close of the service. The officiating clergy were the Vicar (the Rev. W. Newton Hudson, M.A.), the Rev. S. Greenhalgh, chaplain of Cronk-y-Voddy, the Rev. C. A. Cannan, B.A., chaplain of St. John's, and the Rev. T. R. Kneale, M.A., Rural Dean of Peel.

The mound on which the monument was erected, was guarded by coast-guards, with cutlasses reversed, under Petty-Officer Miller, and the ex-service men were drawn up under Lieutenant Stanley Kelly and Petty-Officer Andrew Hannah. One of the Union Jacks with which the monument was veiled was sent by the children of Peel, New South Wales, to the children of Peel, Isle of Man, in 1908. Two wreaths were placed on the monument, one on behalf of the parishioners (formally placed on the cross by Mrs Cleator, who lost a son in the war), and one from the Scouts and Guides (laid by a " cub " and " brownie," who had lost a father and a brother respectively), and after the ceremony many other wreaths were laid by relatives.The Governor inspected the ex-service men, and the Scouts and Guides, and talked to many fathers and mothers of the fallen heroes.

Maughold

In honour of fifteen men from the parish of Maughold who gave their lives for their country in the Great War, a memorial, in the form of a Celtic Cross, has just been erected in the ancient churchyard, and the formal ceremony of unveiling by the Governor, and dedication by the Bishop, was performed on Thursday . The cross is a beautiful and massive piece of work, weighing about two tons, and standing sixteen feet high, and is made of green slate from the famous Buttermere quarries, in the Lake district - the same stone as used in the famous Ruskin memorial on the shores of Lake Coniston. It is mounted on three steps, made of rock from Maughold Head, and its position enables it to be seen for a considerable distance out to sea.The runic patterns which cover a large portion of its surface were designed by Mr P. M. C. Kermode, and the sculptor is Mr Edward Christian, T.C., of Ramsey.

The service was participated in by the Vicar of Maughold (the Rev. E. A. Stafford-Young, M.A.), the chaplain of Christ Church, Dhoon (the :Rev. R. Fergusson), the Rev. M. AV. Harrison (Ramsey), the Rev. E. C. Palmer, superintendent Wesleyan minister, and by the captain of the parish, Mr J. R. Kerruish, M.L.G., J.P.

The names inscribed on the memorial are as follows :-

Major C. L. Brierley, Lancs, Fus. Lieut. L. H. Walker, Bedford Regt. Trooper R. E. Allen, 9th Lancers. Pte. T. S. Corkill, Loyal North Lanes. Pte. W. H. Cowin, King's L'pool Regt. Pie. W. Comaish, King's L'pool Regt. L-Cpl. R. D. Corkill, East Lanes. Regt. Pce. C. Kissack, Royal Canadian Regt. Pte. J. T. Kerruish, Army Service Corps. Pte. J. H. Richardson, Vancouver, Bn. Pte. S. P. Richardson„ Seaforth H. Rifleman S. K. Richardson, New Zealand Rifles. Pte. T. L. Redpath, King's L'pool Regt. Trooper R. Sutcliffe, Duke of Lancaster's Yeomanry. Pte. F. Wilson, Black Watch.

St Barnabas' Church

IMMORTALISES HER GALLANT THIRTY-ONE.

No church in the Isle of Man has a more glorious past than has the gaunt and now unpretentious edifice in Fort-street. But to-day, those whose connection with the church is lifelong will tell you that the proudest moment in the church's long and chequered career came on Monday evening last, when the Lieut.-Governor unveiled the tablet immortalising the names of those men of the parish who fell in the Great War.

As if in rebuke to those who constantly aver that Britain is quickly forgetting, the service aroused considerable interest. Crowds lined the entrance to Fort-street to witness the procession of the Bishop and clergy, while the church was full. One saw among the congregation His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor, dressed in his khaki uniform and bedecked with his war ribbons. Seated beside him was Lady Fry, while in the same pew was Mr J. L. Goldie-Taubman, J.P., M.L.C. Immediately behind them, in the next pew, were High-Bailiff Farrant and Mrs Farrant.

After hymns and prayers, Mr George Green, vicar's warden, who has been con-nected with the church all his life, and who has the names of three sons inscribed on the memorial tablet, came forward and requested the Governor to unveil the tablet. This solemn duty performed, his Excellency then addressed the congregation." These men," he said, pointing to the tablet, "went forth with many other gallant comrades to fight for King and country, and never returned.They made the great sacrifice, and it is only right and fitting that you should raise this permanent memorial, so that their names may be handed down for all time as an example to succeeding generations. In ages past, other men, too, went out, fought nobly, and made the great sacrifice; but no memorials were erected in their honour.I am thankful, therefore, as a soldier, that a better spirit is among us now, and that we are grateful for these sacrifices, and for the courage and fortitude which vouchsafed to us peace and freedom. I trust that this memorial will be an inspiration to future generations, and that it will imbue in them those great deep qualities of unselfishness, courage, fortitude, and loyal patriotism. Do not let the tablet remain a mere cold ornament. Let it be a living thing. Then, and only then, will future generations be inspired to make similar sacrifices should the necessity arise."

After dedicating the memorial, the Bishop entered the pulpit and delivered a sermon that befitted the occasion.

The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

The memorial tablet reads as follows:-Sacred to the Memory of the MEN connected with this Church who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918. " They counted not their lives dear unto themselves, they died for God, for Home, and Country."

Charles Brown.
Samuel Fred Burden.
James Edward Bowling.
William Corris.
William Henry Corrin.
John Albert Craine.
Robert Crennell.
Thomas Crosbie.
Thomas Davies.
Alfred Wilson Douglas.
William John Elliot.
Thomas Fleming Green.
George Frederick Green.
Norman Douglas Green.
Albion Holmes.
Ewan Kewley.
Albert Johnson.
Thomas H. Kelly.
James Alfred Kewley.
Arthur Kewley.
Robert Kewin.
John Kinrade.
Harold Moughtin.
Frank Moughtin.
Lewis Mylchreest.
John Quaye.
William Springthorpe.
Frederick Swinnerton,
Charles Teare.
Wilfred Uren.
John Douglas Walker.

"Till the Day Dawn and the shadows flee away."

[The plaque is now in St George's]

King William's College

(from KWC Centenary Notes)

In honour of 119 old pupils of King William's College who laid down their lives for King and country in the Great War, a memorial cross has been erected in the open space just outside the College Chapel, and it was formally unveiled and dedicated on Friday, July 28th, just prior to the school being closed for the summer vacation. The cross is of Celtic design, incised and panelled, and it bears on its face a bronze replica of the ancient Sword of State of the Isle of Man, which for centuries was carried before the Governor at Tynwald, and which presumably was carried before Bishop Barrow, the founder of the College, who belonged to material of Cornish granite, and the cross stands on a base of three ascents and upon a pedestal, reaching a height of nineteen feet, ten inches, in all. On the sides of the pedestal, upon four tablets, the names of the fallen youths and men are inscribed in bronze. The designer was Mr Ronald F. Dodd, architect, of Oxford (son of the late Mr T. M. Dodd, of Castletown, and an O.K.W.), and the work has been executed by Messrs W. H. Axtell and Co., of Oxford. An additional memorial has been placed in the Chapel, in the form of a stained-glass window, containing allegorical figures of St. George and King Arthur. It bears an appropriate Latin inscription, and has been designed and executed by Mr Gray, of Cambridge.

The ceremony was attended by a very large number of old boys and parents, and the Chapel was completely filled. There, a most impressive service was gone through, the opening sentences being read by the Ven. Archdeacon of Mann, and the lesson by the head of the school, H. C. Easton. The memorial window was dedicated by a former Principal, the Rev. E. H. Kempson, M.A., who is now Bishop of Warrington. The memorial cross was unveiled by one of the most distinguished men who has ever passed through the College, Sir George Beatson, M.D., K.C.B., and was dedicated by the Bishop of Sodor and Mann (the Right Rev. James Denton-Thompson, D.D.). Sir George Beatson had a distinguished medical career in Glasgow long before the war, but during the war he displayed not merely great scientific attainments, but great organising ability, and he was head of the Red Cross work throughout Scotland. His services were recognised not only by his own government, but by foreign governments. He came to the College in 1856, when his parents resided in Castletown, and was head of the School in 1866. In the course of a memorable address, he said:- Never in the annals of King William's College have its friends and its pupils (past and present) met together on an occasion so unique, so impressive, and so full of emotion, for we are assembled hero to-day to unveil a memorial to no less than 127 Old Boys and Masters who laid down their lives in the Great War in the cause of Freedom of Justice, and of Humanity. To them and to all their fallen comrades a"grateful and admiring nation has paid its tribute by the burial in Westminster Abbey, the Valhalla of our country's illustrious dead, of the body of an " Unknown Warrior." The King and Princes and the highest in the land took part in his obsequies, and he was laid to rest amidst the people's homage and the people's grief. But it is only right and proper that this college should erect a memorial of its own to those who have added such lustre to the traditions of the school. Gratitude, admiration, and affection all demand it. No doubt such a memorial has a pathos all its own, and has a tendency to make us mourn, so that we may allow ourselves to be carried away by the sadness it embodies, and the tragedy that it represents. But we must not allow our emotions to gain the upper hand, and sorrow without hope. Were we to do so, this memorial would be our undoing. We are not to grieve, but to admire and emulate. We cannot, of course, but feel regret that the heroes to whom this memorial has been erected have not lived to receive our plaudits, and wear the honours they had won, but of them it has been truthfully and beautifully said:-

For you no medals such as others wear,
A Cross of Bronze for those approved brave;
To you is given, above a shallow grave,
A wooden Cross, that marks you resting there.
Rest you content; more honourable far
Than all the content.; is the Cross of wood,
The symbol of self-sacrifice that stood
Bearing the God, whose brethren you are.

It is, then, in every way, appropriate that this memorial should take the form of a cross. There was no doubt a day when round the cross, as a symbol, there hovered nothing but ignominy and shame, for on it the malefactor suffered, and the murderer died; but the rough and reddened wood that stood on Calvary's height changed all that, and the cross is now for us the emblem of all that is noble, self-sacrificing, and good. It speaks to us of what is holiest, best, and bravest in the world. To all of us it is our life's guiding star. It cannot then be otherwise than that this cross must always conjure up for us a beatific vision of patriotism and self-sacrifice. To some, no doubt, it will call up the shadowy form of old familiar friends, whose hands they will never again in this world clasp in friendship; but to one and all it must always be an inspiration, for it tells of duty nobly done. No higher praise can be given to anyone than to say of him: " He did his duty." Why do we cherish Nelson's immortal memory? It is because he personifies to us patriotism and self-sacrifice, and because the motto of his life was " Duty." It was the last word that flew from his signal halliards ; it was the last message he gave to the country for which he died. And every year, when in London they lay their laurel wreaths at the foot of his monument, it is to remind the people for what he lived, and for what he gave this life; and it is done in the hope, and in the belief, that the message will always find a responsive echo in the hearts of the youth and manhood of this land.The recent campaign showed that the confidence was not misplaced, for when the bugles sounded war, and it was seen that the safety of our country and of the Empire was threatened, old and young rallied round the colours. Men came from far and near. There were Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders; there were dusky warriors from the banks of the Ganges, and the Indians; there were black Sudanese, all proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers, to fight with them, and if need be, to die for a Motherland that had done so much for them. At home men flocked from heath and fen, from hill and dale, from offices and from workshops, from mines, from shipyards, from every town and village throughout the land, and not one whit behind them were the beardless youths, scarce done with school.Eager for the conflict, they left their games, the river, the tennis court, and the cricket field, ready to play the game of life upon a bloodier sod. While then this memorial will always be an inspiration to one and all, it will fail in its full usefulness if we do not take to heart the lesson that it teaches old and young, but especially the latter. And here I would like to remind the present boys of this school that it is they and the rising generation who will chiefly benefit by the Great War, for it was fought and won that there might be secured for them the blessings of social happiness, the personal and religious liberty; and the hope divine that we now all enjoy. What then is the lesson we have all to learn from this memorial? It is that to us who are left there has been given the sacred duty to keep secure the Empire, and this land we love, and to do everything we can to make happier and better this country that these boys thought worth dying for. To every one of us there comes across the water from the marshes of Flanders loud and clear the poet's words : -

To you, from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If you break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' fieldd

Comforted, then, by the knowledge that out of suffering and death good often comes, strong in the belief that nothing noble ever dies; we may mourn, for no country can have too many men of courage, but we must not hopelessly deplore the loss of lives so full of promise and of hope, for, by their death, these men have shown their real worth — their manly souls. This thought should bring a higher sunshine into many , a sorrowing heart, and be to it an abiding comfort.

I hope, too, that in the years to come, on to-day's anniversary, there will always be laid a laurel wreath at the foot of this memorial; for it will serve to remind the pupils of this splendid episode in the history of their school, and it will generate an atmosphere that will foster and develop the best qualities in their nature, while it will keep alive the memory of the men who set a higher store on Duty than on Life, who valued great deeds above length of days, and who have bequeathed to their old College a great and glorious inheritance. Confident, then, that in the hearts of every-one present here to-day, there is warm sympathy with those who have been bereaved, an increased affection for the old school, and a deep, genuine admiration for these fallen dead, I herewith unveil this Memorial.

A laurel wreath, bound with the College colours (maginla, black and white) was laid on the cross by the head of the school, and the " Last Post " and " Reveille were sounded by the buglers of the College O.T.C. The O.T.C., which was about 80 strong, and under under the command of the Rev. E. H. Stenning, was reviewed by the Governor prior to the commencement of the ceremony.

Port St Mary

MEMORIAL, WAR TABLET UNVEILED BY MAJOR-GENERAL L. C. DUNSTERVILLE

1914-1918.

"In honoured memory of those connected with 'this Sunday-school who fell in the Great War. R. Quilliaan, J. Sansbury, J. McArd, F. Shimmin, A. Clugston, R. Clews, R. Elliott, T. Gale."

"Faithful unto death."

This was the subject-matter of an oak and brass memorial war tablet unveiled at the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Part St Mary, on Sunday afternoon, in the presence of a crowded congregation. The Rev Wm Graham presided, and Mr T. K. Garrett (Sunday-school superintendent) made a short appropriate statement. Suitable hymns were sung during the service. The ceremony of unveiling the tablet was impressively and reverently performed by Major-General L. C. Dunsterville, C.B., C.S.I., J.P., who said: "Words are inadequate to deal with the sorrows called up by such an occasion, but I may express these thoughts that occur to me and probably to most of us here. First, however, to the brave Men who gave their lives at their county's call; second, the deepest sympathy with those, who mourn their loss; and this leads us to the third thought so prominent in the mind of many of us during and after the war: 'If God is good, why does He permit such horror?' Well, I think the answer to that is not difficult. It seems to me this terrible war, far exceeding in horror anything previous in the history of mankind, was allowed as a lesson to the Christian world that each living man, woman and child should say: 'There never shall be another war.' If humanity is too stupid to learn this lesson there will come the final punishment — a war that will wipe out this civilization as unworthy to remain. Finally, however much we loathe war, we do realise that it is each man's duty to take up arms against aggression, as this memorial tablet will serve to remind all the young lads of this school is the years to come."

A wreath, bearing the following inscription, was placed beneath to tablet, "In remembrance of our comrades. From M.D.D.S.S.A., Rushen," The service throughout was most impressive.