Here's a health unto his majesty, Conversion to his enemies, And he that will not pledge his health, I wish him neither wit nor wealth, Nor vet a rope to hang himself, With a fa, la, la, etc.
How different was the king for whom these words were written from His Majesty King George VI whose official birthday is being celebrated throughout the whole of the British Empire. The thoughts of many this evening will ga back to the Horse Guards in Whitehall where doubtless the time honoured ceremonial, associated with this day of state, be performed, for be morning c, while his loyal subjects in China will ing towards the close of a memorable day. There is something so different between the national days of Britons, the Empire Day of the British Commonwealth, and the birthday of the King. Two of them have about them the impersonal qualities of ideals, the third all the loyalty and affection which surrounds the second son of King George V in the enormous task which, unexpectedly, he called upon to perform. It is not yet two years ago when the British Empire faced a crisis which brought a Prince to the throne other than he who it was expected would carry on his shoulders the of Empire. There was natural-peculation as tə how he would perform these arduous duties inseparable from that high calling: the enquiring eyes of millions of people asked the unvoiced question "What manner of man is this who has come to rule over us." That man has given the answer in the comparatively few months since his accession was announced; the answer has been, is, and, will continue to be that the Empire has been fortunate in the man whom destiny has selected to be embodiment.
We people in the Far East who are of the Empire, but not in it, who stand beyond the very outposts of th great commonwealth, are proud to be British. It is a pride not founded alone in traditions of th" past but the performances of the present and the intentions for the future. We are i have ideals, some of which sur King the embodiment of all those things which we believe represent the very soul of the British, it is but natural that the man should make a deeper appeal to loyalty and esteem than can ever be made by the mere demonstration of majesty. It is the man who has captured the imagination of his people, his quiet simple dignity, the example he sets in connection with his family life, the love he manifestly bears his n, and the whole-hearted service he rendering his people. It was a very man person, who, a little more than a year ago, stood in that sacred fane which enshrines s> much of the history of the and took oaths which bound him io a life of service, so weighty that perhaps is just as well that they do not often have be taken. That man in whom all the hopes of the Empire rested, clad in the majesty of a proud and virile people, has had a short while in which to show what manner of man he is, and he has found acceptance in the eyes of his subjects.
And so today in the many functions which have been arranged in honóur of the occasion, there will be many toasts "unto his majesty," and perhaps there will be that added prayer "God bless him." For it is a prayer, even though at times if comes so glibly from the lips that it seems to be but an empty formula. The season of the observancy of national days is now well under way, and Shanghai has that singular characteristic of being able to join in the rejoicings of each individual section of the community, so much so that it is reasonable to exclaim Oh! 1f all the nations of the world understood each other as their representative communities in Shanghai do!" We are all animated by similar loyalties, by traditions formulated along common lines. The history of humanity makes that inevitable. The lines quoted abave taken from "Catch that Catch Can; or The Musical Companion" of 1667 were written in ruffling days, of lace and the ready sword. It is apparent in the last four lines, but that wish no longer animates the Briton, especially on a day like this, for he is inspired by that thankfulness to a divine Providence which Has given to the Empire—His Majesty King George VI.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.