IN THE CHURCHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2532, 5 August 1915, Page 6

IN THE CHURCHES

A DAY OF INTERCESSION

In' most of the City churches yesterday services of an intercessory character were held to mark the' anniversary of tho declaration of war by England on Germany. A service of prayer was held in tho" Taranaki Street Methodist Church last evening, the Rev. J. G. Chapman presiding. Thcro was a satisfactory attendance at St. James's Church, Wellington South, where tho Rev. Wm. Shirer conducted a commemoration service. At St. Peter's intercessory , services were held practically throughout the day from an early hour by Archdeacon Harper. A service of prayer was held at St. John's Churcli during the afternoon, the Rev. Dr. Gibb making a powerful appeal for Divino aid in this great crisis to the nations in travail, and.for all whose homes had been darkened by the loss of their loved ones.-

There was an intercessory service at the Terrace Congregational Church in the afternoon,. conducted by the Rev. J. Reed Glasson, and in the evening a commemoration service was held in the Courtenay Place Church, addresses of a solemnly patriotic character being given by the Revs. Archibald Hunt and J. Reed Glasson. In St. Paul's/Pro-Cathedral from early morning till night the church was never empty. Between the services there were, always some people engaged in silent prayer. The services were all attended by large congregations. The day commenced with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, followed by Mating. The Litany, with special suffrages in connection with the war, was said 1 at 10.30, followed by a second celebration. At both celebrations, special remembrance was made of the .men who h(,vc left tho parish to go on active service." The rolls of names of these men rested on the altar throughoutthe day. At noon and at 3 p.m. services of intercession were held. At noon the service used was a translation of liat used during this war in the Russian Church. At 3 p.m. special prayers .wero offered for our Allies,'in particular Russia, in her time of trial, aiid for those suffering through the war in Belgium, Servia, and Poland. Evensong was said at 5.30. Tho church was filled for the memorial service held at S p.m., to commemorate those who have .given their lives for King and Empire. The Vicar, the Rev. A. M. Johnson, preached from Hebrew's xii:i _ "Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of - ; ■

At St. Thomas's Church, "Wellington South, the first .services of the Holy Communion was at 6.45 a.m., and from thence onward frequent services were conducted throughout the day, while in tho intervals a continuous intercession of private prayers was offered by individuals until tho close of Evensong at 5.45 p.m. The evening service, at the request of'tho Jiis'hop,. took the form of a memorial service for those who have fallen in tho war. Sir. Wongel Collio played Chopin's Funeral March before the service begun,. which was opened with tho hymn "0 God, Our llelp in Ages Past." Intercession was offered up with tho repetition of the names of those who in connection with tho Church had been killed in action, wounded, i v ii servico at tho front, and in preparation to sail with the Expeditionary Forces. The old hymn, "God moves in a mysterious way," followed, after 'which came the burial sentences, . Psalms, and Lessons. Before the sermon, tlie hymn "Let Saints in Concert Sing" was sung. The vicar preached from tho text "Greater lovo liath no man 1 than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend," in which ho specially mentioned Theodore Perry as a true Christian' man; Edward Fisher, who was "killed while trying to save a wounded Australian, and was found with his arms clasped round the man; Harry Arnold, who fell in the glorious ascent of the steep cliff of the Peninsula; and Corporal Hcald. A united Churches intercessory prayer meeting was he'ld. at . tho Petono Methodist Church last evening, tlio Bev. J. J. Lewis presiding. United choirs led tie singing, aud a collection was taken up in aid of the Wounded N.Z. Soldiers' Fund. A united prayer meeting was held at the Lower Hutt Methodist Church, the building being crowded, tlie llovs. J. M'Caw, A. liansell, J. G. Gibson, and W. Beckett, and tho captain of tho Salvation Army, taking a part. In most of tho churches on Sunday evening next sermons bearing on tho war will be preached. OTHER MEETINGS. Enthusiastic meeting's were held in the various suburbs and in most of the towns throughout New Zealand, the war resolution being carried in each instance.

AN ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE At tho invitation of the London "Times" the Primo Minister (the Bight Hon. W. F. Massey) has sent the following telegraphic message for publication in that journal on the morning of War Declaration Anniversary Day:— "On the anniversary of tlio declaration of war, it is fitting that tho citizens of the younger nations should re-member-the land' of their fathors and convey "to our. kinsmen at Home a renewal of the assurance that we havo counted ,the cost and that we stand together in the knowledge that- the ties uniting us aro stronger than steel. .They are the ties of fellow-citizenship and language and tradition; they represent overytlung that is dear ana sacred to •the people of our race. "Never was loyalty to ourselves and to eacli other more qecessary than at tlie present juncture. We are faced with , a cruel, powerful, and unscrupulous foo, who hates Britain and everything British, both 'at Home and abroad, with an intense and bitter hatred, and who . can bo held in check and finally driven back to his lair only by tho determination and dogged endurance which has saved' the Empire in times of trouble in the past. "l'lio oversea Dominions have taken up tile burden of Empire which will never again bo laid down: We have, learned to think Imperially ; wo realise that as citizens of tlie Empire we aro all one great Imperial family. We'are givinc of our best and bravest, and will continue to give not only for Britain's sake, but becauso this is our fight just as much as it is tho struggle of England, or Scotland, or Ireland. "Though the sky may become overcast and black clouds appear, wo know tliat behind tho clouds the sun is shining • that tho darkness will disappear and'light and warmth onco.more reach the earth. So with this crisis. The sun of peace and righteousness will shine again; tho Ivaiser and his AVar Lords and all the wickedness thoy stand for will pass away; and their <lecd<s will bo remembered only as tho memory of an evil dream."