Roll of Honour
A special service was held in the Congregational Church on Sunday evening for the unveiling of the Church’s Roll of Honour. The pulpit was draped with two large Union Jacks and the Roll of Honour, which was placed in front of the pulpit, was veiled with a smaller Union Jack. Red, white and blue flowers were also arranged at one side of the pulpit. The minister, the Rev. E. F. Walker, preached a powerful sermon, taking for his text the words "A voice crying, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord." He said that the records of history showed many "wildernesses" for different people. Much good might have come out of all these times of crisis if only the people had prepared the way of the Lord and made straight His pathway. In the present crisis Europe was in a wilderness of sorrow and bloodshed. He could see how much good might come out of it if the people would only prepare the way of the Lord. To do that they must clear away obstacles from the road along which God would come to them. One of the obstacles that would have to be removed was despair. It had been said that God could forgive anything but despair, for despair showed weakness and loss of faith. The sorrow of losing those near and dear to us was hard to bear, but sorrow need not go hand in hand with despair. It was just at such times as this that our faith in God was tested. If we despaired, and thus had no faith in God, we could not expect God to help us. Another obstacle to be put away was self-pity. Self-pity was hard to conquer. It was selfishness under the cloak of sadness, and it crept into our lives at all points. In the names of those heroes at the front he appealed to the people at home to prepare the way of the Lord and clear those obstacles out of His way. Then, and only then, would a great deal of good come out of this great crisis.—There were about 50 names on the Roll of Honour and the minister read these out, several being deceased. There was a very good congregation.