"ONE TOUCH OF NATURE----"
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—On May 4th there was held in the Royal Exchange in Manchester, a Thanksgiving Service for the work of the Royal National Life-boat Institution during the past century. It was in every way so remarkable and so moving a ceremony that I think it deserves to be recorded in your columns. It took place in the Royal Exchange because there was no other building in Manchester sufficiently large. This was the first occasion on which the Exchange had ever been used for a public meeting, a fact which is in itself a great tribute to the life-boat service. The whole of the many-sided life of Manchester was represented. The Lord Mayor of Man- chester and the Mayor of Salford attended in state, and all religious denominations took part in the service, except, according to its invariable practice on such occasions, the Roman Catholic Church, which, instead, held a special High Mass in Salford Cathedral on the same day. Addresses were delivered by the Dean of Manchester, Dr. J. E. Roberts, one of the leading Nonconformist ministers, and Miss Mary B. Booth, Divisional Commander Salvation Army, while the lesson was read by the Rev. Dr. Berendt Soloman, the Chief Rabbi. The singing was led by the Halle Choir to the
accompaniment of the Manchester Police Band and the Blackpool Life-boat Silver Band, the members of which are the life-boat crew.
But the most remarkable feature of this unique occasion was the congregation. Observe that there were no seats. Fifteen thousand people had come to the service ; the doors were open to them at 2.30 ; the service concluded at 4. During that time the congregation stood, close-packed, on the great floor of the Exchange, which was divided into four parts by Boy Scouts forming a light barricade with their poles. Loud speakers and amplifiers carried the voices of the speakers throughout the hall. They carried them beyond, to a great crowd which filled the street outside, and which stood during the whole service in a downpour of rain, joining in the hymns, as the loud speakers brought the sound of the singing to them from the hall.
I do not know which was the more impressive, the sight of the crowd outside in the rain taking a reverent part in a ceremony which they could not see, or the scene in the hall itself when the conductor of the Halle Choir led that vast audience in the singing of " 0 God our help in ages past." Many people were in tears. There have been many great tributes to the universal appeal of the Life-boat Cause, an appeal to all that is best, not only in our patriotism, but in our common humanity, but none so profoundly impressive as this great gathering of all who make up the life and activity of one of the greatest cities and seaports of the Empire. During the War we knew that most moving of all experiences the experience of millions united by one great idea. In these days of peace—with its disillusionment and bitter con- troversies—it is a great encouragement to know that great causes can still unite men, making them forget for a little while the many things which divide them.—I am, Sir, &c.,
GEORGE F. Sunu, Secretary.
22 Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. 2.
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