02 Feb GS 1977 art 25

GS 1977 ARTICLE 25 – Re-opening – Remembrance Day

The Chairman requests the singing of Psalm 76:1, 4, 5; reads from Holy Scripture Revelation 5 and leads in prayer.

On this Remembrance Day 1977 he addresses the meeting as follows:

• “On this eleventh day of November it is fitting that we, too, remember those who gave their lives in the struggles which are known as the First and Second World War.
• Generally these struggles are considered to have been fights for freedom and battles against oppression, against the desire to dominate and to subdue nations.
• That, of course, is extremely doubtful. We know that for many nations the outcome of the Second World War was not a regained or continued freedom but an extended or new slavery. Who among those living after the Second World War remembers the independent Baltic States? Who of the younger ones knows of the great past of Hungary and of many other countries which at present are held in the grip of communism?
• That those who fell in the two World Wars gave their life for freedom applies only to the soldiers of relatively few nations.
• If there is one nation of which it can be said that its sons gave themselves to fight and, if necessary, to give their lives for freedom, it is the Canadian nation. Loyalty to the British Commonwealth may have been the main reason for Canada’s participation in the struggles which demanded all effort and endeavour that could be produced, it is an undeniable fact that the voluntary nature of Canada’s participation shows that the real character of the struggle was understood.
• Especially we, whose cradle or, in any case, whose roots are to be found in the Lowlands by the North Sea owe a great debt to those who fell in the battle for the liberation of The Netherlands and of Europe.
• It is, therefore, with great gratitude that on this day we remember those who brought that greatest sacrifice which a man or woman can bring: they gave their life!
• And it is our heartfelt prayer that we, who benefit from that sacrifice, may so use the freedom which we still enjoy that the Lord’s work proceed through us in such a manner that the day of our Saviour may be there soon.”

After the chairman has spoken the National Anthem is sung.