BRITAIN'S YOUNG NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2349, 4 January 1915, Page 6

BRITAIN'S YOUNG NATIONS

PROBLEMS TO BE FACED

I London, January 1. ! _ "The Times," In a leader commenting on the remarkable coincidence of Mr. A. Fisher and Sir Robert Borden, the Premiers of Australia and Canada, discussing the future position of the- Dominions simultaneously, says:—"lt is an excellent thing to;thus let us into tho inner minds of tho Dominion peoples. The war has-shown us that in the oversea people of the Empire we have no longer children who depend on us for their support, hut grown men and women ; ready and anxious to do their share m a common task. Many of us have been content to take what the young nations of the Empire thrust into our hands, never giving a thought to the meaning of such gifts. Now they remind us with admirable courtesy of the difference, but, still firmly and clearly, that -this will not do. We have got to face tho problems' involved in; the adolescence of the Dominion peoples. We have put it off quite long enough. These problems are not insoluble, but are difficult '■ beyond ' precedent."— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.

DAY pF INTERCESSION OBSERVED IN THE CHURCHES. Yesterday was observed'as a day of intercession and prayer in" churches' of all denominations throughout the British Empire: -This was done by request of His Majesty the King, conveyed to the Archbishop of Canterbury recently in the following letter: "My Dear Archbishop.—The King has lately received numerous communications from different quarters urging. upon'His Majesty the necessity for a Day of National Humiliation and Prayer. Personally the King is disinclined to advocate the use of any term whicli might plausibly be misinterpreted either ,' at Home or abroad. At the same time His Majesty recognises the National Call for United Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving, and for remembrance of those who have fallen iri their country's cause.' It seems to the. King that the beginning of the year would be a fitting sea-, son to be thus solemnised • and His Majesty thinks that Sunday, January 3, might well be the chosen day.—Yours very truly, Stamfordam." ■ _ Churches of all denominations in tho city observed the day as one of humble prayer and intercession on behalf of the cause for which'the King's armies are now fighting, and for the men now serving on land and sea.

At St. Paul's Apglioan Pro-Cathe» dral. the morning service commenced with the Litany, in the course of which reference was made to the New Zealand troops in Samoa and Egypt. The fol-' lowing special petitions were also inserted: ; i

"That it may please. Thee to give Thy guidance and protection to all who bear command by sea or by land. "That_ it' may please Thee to inspire the soldiers of our King with courage and endurance, with gentleness in victory and patience in-reverses, and to shield those who are called; to posts of special peril/ "That it may please Thee to comfort all that are in anxiety or sorrow, to cheer the sick and wounded, and to show Thyself in.mercy to the dying. . "We commend to Thy fatherly hands tho souls of those who have fallen in battle." "■ i ' :

The Rev. A.' M. Johnson preached an appropriate sermon from the text "If we are chastened, God dealeth with us as sons;" He said that God, the giver of victory, wanted us to he prepared'for victory, bo that wo might use it to His glory. Complete victory at the present moment might" increase our markets'and enlarge our _ commerce, hut were we so ready,-for it that it-would advance God's Kingdom and establish righteousness between man and man, and between nation and nation? Mission work' was at present Buffering severely for want, of funds, 'and this neglect.was not in accordance with the spirit of the prayer "Thy. .Kingdom Come."-

THE "DOMINION" LISTS. GIFT TOBACCO FUND. THE GENERAL LIST. Contributions' to this fund for the supply of cigarettes and tobacco to members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Forces while at the front may be.sent either to this office or to His Worship the Mayor—2s. 6d. will buy 100 cigarettes and 4oz. tobacco:— £ «. d. Amount previously acknowledged 117,13 0 D. Cameron, Moeraki, Hina- „ kuri 0 6 0 Per D. Cameron-, Moeraki, Hinakuri:—P. Biokeretaff, Wellington, 55.; Mrs. D. Cameron, Hinakuri, 55.; Mrs. J. Cameron, Masterton. 3s. 6d.; ■ C. M'Laren, Auckland, 2s. 6d.; W. M'Enirvey, Is.; J. Donnelly, Is.; R. Down. Is.; J. Murphy, Wellington, Is.; J. Garnett, Martinborough, Is.; R. Thomson, Is.; Alfred Cook, Is.; A. Fitzpatrick, Is.; R. - Ramage, Is.; T. Whit- . ing, Is.; H. J. Owen, . Is.; Arch. Smith, Is.;' Miss M'Leary, Is.; Miss Fisher, Is.; A. Cameron, Is.; E. Cameron, Is.; M. Cameron, Is.; W. S. Cameron, Hinakuri, Is. .................... il4 o T °tal 119 13 0