IMPRESSIVE SERVICE OF PRAYER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 100, 4 September 1942, Page 5

IMPRESSIVE SERVICE OF PRAYER

THIRD WAR ANNIVERSARY

CHURCH LEADERS COMBINE

'GATHERING IN GRAND THEATRE Echoes of Anzac Day found voice in the reveremt atmosphere of the Prayer Service held in the Grand Theatre yesterday at noon in compliance with the wish of His Majesty the King that the diay (the third anniversary of the declaration of wair) should be set aside for prayful intercession upon a nation-wide scale. The Mayor's request that the business premises' of the town should' be closed for one - and a half hours, was honoured in every instance, the deserted nature of the Strand being almost an uncanny feature between 12.45 and 1.30 p.m. The • service which filled the theatre was conducted by the clergy of the Ariglican, Presbyterian and Methodist denominations, while His Worship the Mayor presided and had associated l with him Mr W. Sulli'van, M.P. Procedure The scripture reading was in the liands of the Rev. G. V. Thomas, who chose a passage from the book of Habakuk and having delivered it -■concluded with an earnest prayer. Inspiring addresses were given by the Revs. R. J. Caulton and 11. Hogg, the text of which appears •elsewhere. Further prayers were offered by both speakers after which the Rev. Caulton pronounced the Benediction. , Hymns, sung during the service were "Q God .of Bethel," Jesus Lover >of My Soul," "Holy Father in Thy Mercy" and "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." The whole procedure was uplifting and sobering in its character, bringing home in the jnidst of a busy day's occupation -■something of the sanctity of the .Sabbath coupled with the close responsibility of every individual to the course of the present great struggle. The service Avas ; once again an occasion upon which" all denominations were united in a single pur-, pose, an ideal which probably constitutes the fondest hope of all sincere Christian thinkers. Lasting ihree' quarters of an hour the gathering dispersed at 1.30, the Strand •once again assuming its normal busy appearance.