Westminster Abbey

DEDICATION SERVICE

in connection with

THE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL
GUIDES ASSOCIATIONS

and the Unveiling of the Stone in memory of the late

LORD BADEN-POWELL OF
GILWELL, O.M.

by

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

PRESIDENT OF THE BOY SCOUTS ASSOCIATION
on

THE FEAST OF ST. GEORGE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23rd, 1947, AT 7.00 P.M,

 Order of Service

THE PRESENTATION AND DEPOSITION OF THE COLOURS

During the singing of the hymn which follows, Representatives of the Boy Scouts and

Girl Guides Associations shall be conducted from the West end of the church, bearing their Colours.

The Colours shall be received at the steps of the Sanctuary and borne to the Very

Reverend the Dean of Westminster, standing at the High Altar, who shall lay them, thereon.

HYMN

English Hymnal 219, Tune E.H. 540

Lord God of Hosts, within whose hand

Dominion rests on sea and land,

Before whose word of life or death

The strength of nations is but breath:

O King, enthroned all thrones above,   

Give strength unto the land we love.

 

Thou Breath of Life since time began,

Breathing upon the lips of man,

Hast taught each kindred race to raise

United word to sound thy praise:

So, in this land, join, we beseech,

All hearts and lips in single speech.

 

To George our Saint thou gavest grace 

Without one fear all foes to face,

And to confess by faithful death

That Word of Life which was his breath.

O help us, Helper of Saint George,

To fear no bonds that man can forge.

 

Arm us like him, who in thy trust

Beat down the dragon to the dust;

So that we too may tread down sin

And with thy Saints a crown may win.

Help us, O God, that we may be

A land acceptable to thee.

Y. B. Dykes (1823-1876)                          Laurence Housman

Then, all standing, the Dean shall say:

THE BIDDING

I wish to remind you of the purpose of this gathering.

You have come to Westminster Abbey on St. George's Day, as representatives of a great multitude of Scouts and Guides in all parts of the world.

You are here first to pay honour, in the name of that worldwide family, to this memory of your Founder, Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World.

His body is buried in peace _,in a distant land beyond the seas, but his name liveth for evermore.

From to-day onwards, so long as this Abbey stands, that honoured name will be found inscribed on a stone beneath the screen of St. George's Chapel.

You are here, secondly, to renew your promise to remain true to the ideal of service to God and man, to which your Founder devoted his life.

You can best pay tribute to his memory by making that ideal your own in all the ups and downs of daily life.

Thus, we are about to join in both an act of remembrance and an act of self-dedication. As the Scripture saith: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King."

Then shall be sung by the Choir:

PSALM XV.

Domine, quis habitabit?

Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle: or who shall rest upon thy holy hill ?

Even he, that leadeth an uncorrupt life: and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour: and hath not slandered his neighbour.

He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes: and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not: though it were to his own hindrance.

He that hath not given his money upon usury: nor taken reward against the innocent.

Whoso doeth these things: shall never fall.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Then all shall sit for

THE LESSON-EPHESIANS VI, I0-17.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, . against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Amen.

Then, all standing, shall be sung:

HYMN.

English Hymnal 402

HE who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy

Follow the Master.

 

There's no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

    To be a pilgrim.

 

Who so beset him round

With dismal stories,

Do but themselves confound—

His strength the more is.

 

No foes shall stay his might,

Though he with giants fight:

He will make good his right

    To be a pilgrim.

 

Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit,

We know we at the end

Shall life inherit.
 

Then fancies flee away !
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labour night and day

To be a pilgrim.

John Bunyan (1628)  English Traditional Melody

Then shall the Precentor say

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. (all kneeling)

Lord have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.

 Lord have mercy upon us.

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, by whose grace and power thy Holy Martyr, St. George triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight, we may with the noble army of martyrs receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always sue) things as be rightful; that we who cannot do anything that is good without thee may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign and all the Brotherhood, living and departed of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

Then, all standing, shall be sung the following:

HYMN.
English Hymnal 561:
Tune E.H. 405

Lord, while for all mankind we pray

Of every clime and coast,
O hear us for our native land,

The land we love the most.

O guard our shores from every foe;

With peace our borders bless;

With prosperous times our cities crown,

Our fields with plenteousness.

Unite us in the sacred love

Of knowledge, truth, and thee;

And let our hills and valleys shout

The songs of liberty.

Lord of the nations, thus to thee
Our country we commend;

Be thou her Refuge and her Trust, Her everlasting Friend.

A. R. Reinagle (1799-1877)               J. R. Wreford (1800-1881)

 

Then all shall sit for

THE SERMON
_by

THE REV. CANON SPENCER S. G. LEESON, M.A.,
Vicar of St. Mary, Southampton.

Then shall be sung THE ANTHEM

 

This sanctuary of my soul

Unwitting I keep white and whole;

Unlatched and lit if thou should'st care

To enter or to tarry there.

 

With parted lips and outstretch^'d hands

And listening ears thy servant stands,

Call thou early, call thou late,

To thy great service dedicate.

Charles Wood, D.Mus.                 C. H. Sorley (1866-1926)

THE PROCESSION

At the close of the Anthem the Colours shall be returned to their respective bearers,
after which the Procession shall pass round the Ambulatory and South Aisle in the following order:

THE BEADLE
THE CROSS OF WESTMINSTER
AND ASSISTANTS
THE BANNER OF ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
THE BEARER OF THE BOOK
THE PRECENTOR
VERGER
THE BANNER OF ST. OSWALD
THE CHORISTERS
THE LAY VICARS
VERGER
CROSS
THE BANNER OF ST. MARTIN

THE MINOR CANONS OF WESTMINSTER

THE CANONS' VERGER
THE CANONS OF WESTMINSTER
THE DEAN'S VERGER
THE VERY REV. THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

ACCOMPANIED BY:

THE CHIEF SCOUT AND
THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF GIRL GUIDES

THE KING'S ALMSMEN

THE COLOURS OF THE BOY SCOUTS
AND GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATIONS ,
THE BANNER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY          
THE BANNER OF ST. PETER

HYMN

English Hymnal 641

For all the Saints who from their labours rest,

Who thee by faith before the world confest,

Thy name, O Jesu, be for ever blest.

Alleluya !

 

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might;

Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;

Thou in the darkness drear their one true Light.

 

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,

Fight as the Saints who nobly fought of old,

And win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.

 

O blest communion ! fellowship divine !

We feebly struggle, they in glory shine.

Yet all are one in thee; for all are thine.

 

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song,

And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.

 

The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest:

Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.

 

But lo ! there breaks a yet more glorious day;

The Saints triumphant rise in bright array:

The King of glory passes on his way.

 

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

R. Vaughan-Williams                                                           Bishop W. Walsham How (1823-1897)

On reaching the Chapel of St. George, a Station shall be made and the Memorial Stone shall be unveiled by       

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

as follows:—

To the Memory of
ROBERT BADEN-POWELL

Chief Scout of the World, I unveil this stone in gratitude for his life of
service to the Youth of the World.

Then shall be sounded
A FANFARE

and The Dean shall say

 

We give  Thee thanks, O Lord, for our Founder's life of service and for his manifold gifts devoted to the cause of Youth. Strengthen us, we beseech Thee, to be worthy of this trust. Help us to hold firmly to the Law which he gave us for our guidance, and so to understand more fully Thy will. Inspire us to find a way of life in which the Youth of all nations may find unity and true brotherhood; through the grace of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Procession move up the Nave to the High Altar while the following is sung:

HYMN

English Hymnal 535

Praise the Lord ! ye heavens, adore him;

Praise him, Angels, in the height;

Sun and moon, rejoice before him,

Praise him, all ye stars and light:
Praise the Lord ! for he hath spoken,

Worlds his mighty voice obeyed;

Laws, which never shall be broken,

For their guidance hath he made.

Praise the Lord ! for he is glorious;

Never shall his promise fail;

God hath made his Saints victorious,

Sin and death shall not prevail.

Praise the God of our salvation;

Hosts on high, his power proclaim;

Heaven and earth, and all creation,

Laud and magnify his name !

Worship, honour, glory, blessing,

Lord, we offer to thy name;

Young and old, thy praise expressing,

Join their Saviour to proclaim.

As the Saints in heaven adore thee,

We would bow before thy throne;

As thine Angels serve before thee,

So on earth thy will be done.

Ps. 148

F. J. Haydn (1732-1809)              Foundling Hospital College (1796)

THE REDEDICATION

When the Dean has returned to the Sanctuary the Chief Scout (Lord Rowallan),
standing in the Sacrarium shall say:

Scouts, let us renew our Promise, all saying after me:

On my honour I have promised that I will do my best—

To do my duty to God, and the King,

To help other people at all times,

To obey the Scout Law.,

Then shall the Chief Commissioner of Guides (Pinola, Lady Somers) say:—

Guides, let us renew our Promise, all saying after me:

On my honour I have promised that I will do my best—

To do my duty to God, and the King,

To help other people at all times,

To obey the Guide Law.

Then shall be sung the following:

HYMN

English Hymnal 581

Stand up !—stand up for Jesus !     

Ye soldiers of the Cross;                 

Lift high his royal banner,              

It must not suffer loss.                     

From victory unto victory

His army he shall lead,                    

Till every foe is vanquished,              

And Christ is Lord indeed.             

 

Stand up !—stand up for Jesus !     

The solemn watchword hear,           

If while ye sleep he suffers,             

Away with shame and fear;             

Where'er ye meet with evil,

Within you or without,                   

Charge for the God of battles,         

And put the foe to rout.                

 

Stand up !—stand up for Jesus !     

The trumpet call obey,                     

Forth to the mighty conflict           

In this his glorious day.                    

Ye that are men now serve him

Against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger,

And strength to strength oppose:

 

Stand up !—stand up for Jesus !

Stand in his strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you,

Ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armour,

Each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger,

Be never wanting there !

 

Stand up !—stand up for Jesus !

The strife will not be long; -

This day the noise of battle,

The next the victor^'s song.

To him that overcometh

A crown of life shall be;

He with the King of Glory

Shall reign eternally.

 G. J. Webb (1803-1887)                                                 G. Duffield (1818-1888)

Then all shall kneel and the Dean shall say:

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer, before thee-for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

and shall pronounce
THE BLESSING
 

Then all shall stand
FANFARE

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

All are requested to remain in their places until directed_- by the Stewards to leave the Abbey Church.

Trumpeters of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary^'s Own),
by kind permission of the Officer Commanding,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R. A. HARMON.