Shafighai, Apr. 22. RILLIANT shafts of sunlight, impregnated with the rich tones the beautiful mosaic windows through which they had passed, resting for a moment on solid, impressive stone walls before sweeping over the heads of a congregation kneeling in prayer to rest finally and triumphantly on glittering "altar vestments, the Cross of Christ and the Cross of St. George.
'This was the scene in Holy Trinity Cathedral yesterday morning—a scene that might have happened anywhere in England; a truly English picture; a picture that lingered long in the' memory. It was as if a little corner of England had been transplanted in cosmopolitan Shangh: as sons and daughters of the Motherland gathered together to give thanks for their heritage once more at a. St, George's Day service.
Like last year's service a brilliant spectacle was pavided at the Cath eral as two companies of the East Surrey Regiment, with band and guard, anda detachment of British Dluejdckets marched past the green lawns into the quiet atmosphere of the church, followed by the civilian congregation. In the bright sun-Aight the brilliant dresses of "the ladies made a. striking contrast in shades with the darker morning clothes of the men and the blue and gold of naval uniforms. The scene Inside the church, was impressive.
In front the soldiers, their bayonet tops glittering in the rays of sun-Night, "sat before the richly-painted massive windows over the altar. 'Opposite them sat the Vice-President and Committee of the Royal Society of St, George with the Presidents of other British national societies. their right the blue and white of the bluejackets' uniforms stood " aloof against the dark background of the stone walls. Behind them the con rogation sat, every seat necupied by English men, women and children, daunted it had held lls ground and had won no less than three Victoria Crosses. 'The Royal Society of St. George on this day bore in mind i patron saint who had been put to death because of his refusal to be disloyal to his God. St. George, con tinued Mr. Matthews, was typical of the English race—a' man of action and. ideals.
The, history of England, troubled enough in all conscience, compared very favourably with the history of any other nation in the world. Not because Englishmen were particular ly gifted in any way but because they both acted for themselves and thought for themselves, dom as their watchword, not set out deliberately to establish a mighty Empire; bit by bit it came, almost by accident," said Mr. Matthews. "In England itself the average citizen never would tolerate being deprived of his freedom and, having found himself the citizen of huge Empire, he pmceeds to give that selfsame freedom to all who are ready for it."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.