THE MENIN GATE-A HYMN.
The Ypres Times.
21
which animated him and his comrades at the fatal moment, and the value of what they
purchased with their sacrifice.
It is the intense insight of the poet revealing the essence of individual actions which
gives this book its special value, so that one feels it to be almost a duty to send a copy
to all one's friends to whom Ypres means bereavement. Re-reading the pages concerning
the Second Battle I lose the sense of loss and waste, and feel once again the sense of pride
and elation which, in spite of the terrific slaughter, one experienced daily at the sight of
men enduring incredibly for a purpose we knew to be vital.
The book is a great work and contains the qualities of a classic with a permanent
life before it. Incidentally, it exactly fulfils the original object of the Ypres League,
and every member may feel a little pride in his share in its production and in his association
with a master of lucid English, inspired for the record of a Great Epic.
Oh symbol of the Power o'er-shadowing.
No boasting triumph with an archway spanned
The road that passaged an immortal host
The ramparts in supreme endurance manned.
For right, triumphant through the scourge of war,
Oh Majesty of God, we Thee adore!
Oh wide-flung gate, fast held against the foe.
Valour and sacrifice here barred the way
The army of indomitable souls
Is filing down an open road to-day.
In Thy high service where the brave have trod
Grant us to follow unafraid, Oh God.
Oh, tragic road, with pain and glory paved,
None treads this way, but he must pass between
The muster of their close engraved names.
Whose ashes earth has garnered all unseen.
Because our love may tend no sacred sod
Thy watch alone we plead for these. Oh God!
Oh road, and gate, and archway word and sign
Of memory—in hope more glorious they
Call forth our souls to march that hallowed route
And steadfast bear the standard till that day
When Thou, Oh King and Captain call us home
And, ranked once more with our beloved, we come
Beatrix Brice.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEAQUE.
This is open to all who served in the Salient,
and to all those whose relatives or friends died
there, in order that they may have a record of
that service for themselves and their descendants,
and belong to the comradeship of men and women
who understand and remember all that Ypres
meant in suffering and endurance.
I.ife membership. £2 10s. Annual members, 5s.
Special charges are made to those who cannot
afford the 5s. subscription.
Do not let the fact of your not having served
in the Salient deter you from joining the Ypres
League. Those who have neither fought in the
Salient nor lost relatives there, but who are in
sympathy with the objects of the Vpres League,
are admitted to its fellowship, but are not given
scroll certificates.
There is also a J unior Division to which children
of those who served in the Salient, also those who
svmpathise with our objects, have the right to
belong Annual subscriptions Is. up to the age
of 18. after which they can become Ordinary
members of the League.
