DAY OF PRAYER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 6

DAY OF PRAYER

UNIVERSAL RESPONSE TO THE KING'S APPEAL

SERVICES IN , WELLINGTON CHURCHES Yesterday, the first Sunday in the New Year, was the Special Day of Prayer set apiirt at the request of His Majesty the King, lt was observed in the churches throughout the Empire, and special prayers for the Divine blessing on the cause of the Allies in the war were offered by many millions of people. Tho Wellington churches took their nart in the national offering, and tho congregations were unusually large. The message from His Majesty tho King to the nation was as follows:— To my 1'eoplo: The world-wide struggle for the , triumph of liberty is entering mi its last and most difficult phase. Tho enemy is striving by desperate assault and subtle intrigue to perpetuate the wrongs already committed. To stem the tide and lite civilisation we yet have to complete the great task to which wo have dedicated ourselves. I would call upon you to devote a special day of prayer that we may have tho clear-sightedness and strength necessary for the victory of n'r cause. This victory will be gained only if we steadfastly remember the responsibility resting upon- us, and in the spirit of reverent obedience'ask the blessing of Almighty God upon our endeavours. Let us seek to be enlightened in our understanding and fortified in courage in facing the sacrifices wo may yet have to make. I therefore appoint January 6, the first Sunday in .the New Year, to ho set aside as a special Day of Prayer 1 and Thanksgiving in all Uie churches throughout my Domiu-

Wellington churches of all denominations observed the Day of Prayer with the earnestness and solemnity proper to the occasion. Special services of intercession, in addition to the usual moiyiiug and evening- services, were held in many instances. Holy Communion was celebrated in all the Anglican churches, and the number ot communicants probably was the largest recorded 'in the city on a single Sunday. The .clergy devoted their addresses to the King's appeal and its call to the nation. They joined in urging the people to walk faithfully and steadfastly amid the difficulties and dangers that had still to be encountered on the road to victory and peace. The Minister of Defences (Sir James Allen) and other, heads of tho Defence Department attended the morning service at the pro-Cathedral, Mulgrave Street, where the service was conducted by the Rev. A. M. Johnson. The church was completely filled, in (he Pro-Cathedral, as in all the other churches, special, prayers were offered for the safety of the Empire's soldiers and sailors, and especially of the members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Prayer and Faith.

At the Pro-Cathedral, Mulgrave Street, in the evening the Rev. A. M., Johnson spoke of the necessity for prajer ami faith. He said that the war had done what probably nothing else could have done—it had given the Empire a day of prayer and it Tad filled the churches throughout New Zealand. The nation must pray for power to feel the guidance of God ?na for the faith that alone could make guidance manifest. Faith was essential. The nation was praying that the submarine menace might be abated and'that victory might crown the British arms in every part of the world. It must have faith enough to bo steadfast if perils persisted and victory were delayed. Even righteousness did not drive away all shadows. The King; had called the nation to pray to the King of Kings. Let that prayer go on us it had begun, steadily increasing throughout the year. The King liad not ('ailed the nation to penitence. He I'ad not, as had been the practice in other flavs. appointed a day of humiMation and prayer. . But the nation could not afford to forget that prayer without penitence left shut tho gate through which God would send His joy into the hearts of men.

The Supremacy of Cod. M, St. John's Church yesterday morning the Rev. Dr. Gibb preached from tho text, "And He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, What doest Thou s> Dr Gibb said the text had been chosen because it stated the truth, that aboveall others the nation must lay to heart at the present iime the supremacy ol God Men should know at all times that God was the supreme disposer of events, but the truth should come home to them with peculiar solemnity on the national day of prayer. Hie Empire could not mnke its armies 100 powerful or too efficient, but for victory it must look higher than the armies. Abraham Lincoln had said during the American Civil War that the one thine for which he prayed was that he might be found fighting on the side of nght, for in the end God's right must triumph. Dr. Gibb proceeded to s»y that as far as the issues in dispute between Britain and Germany were concerned, the British people were entitled to feel that their cause was God's cause. He said that wmlo repudiating personally all schemes ol vengeance, all idea that the war must end with the armed heel of Britain on the neck of fallen Germany. A victory of that kind might easily become a triumph for militarism, and he felt that so soon as the German people had learned the futility of war they should bo offered reasonable terms of peace, freedom, righteousness, and justice were the cause of God. But the fact that tho cause of the Empire was the causo of God did not necessarily mean that tho British people could count upon the succour of God. It was not enough to recognise in word the supremacy ot God. In the days of Jeremiah, the Israelites had been the chosen people ot God in a sense that the British people could not ho. Moro tremendous issues had depended upon their welfaro than anv that depenrlotl upon the prosperity of 'the British Empire. Yet the succour of God had not been afforded the Israelites, because ther nad turned against God and had become altogether corrupt. The King's call to prayer had nnk expressly asked the nation to repent, but it had pointed in that direction. If tho people were to deserve the succour of God they must humble their hearts with true repentance and confess their sins. The history of the war up to the present time had been a history of disappointed hopes, of defeated anticipations, of checks and counterchecks, added Dr. Gibb. He would not ilosmatise, but he would he no true man if he concealed his conviction that the delay of victory was occasioned by the delay of the nation in returning to God.. Repentance would not bo complete unless "it meant the final committing of our causo wholly into His hands. Would the nation repent and make itself worthy of fighting in God's causo and of gaining the victory that God could civo? Surely all Christian men and women would. Let them remember that each had a part in the groat effort which would secure for them tho holp of God. Each individual could as-

Bist. tho nation to turn to tho eternal by turning himself. The war might not be God's judgment on the nation. It was at any nito His test for the nation. In the evening Dr. Gibb took tho text, "If you believe not that 1 am Ho,! you shall die in your sins." Ho saiel that history siiowcd that thrco great civilisations, Greece, Home, and Israel, had striven each in its own way tcHsave tho world, Greece by art, Romo by government, ■nd Israel by moral law. All threu had utterly failed. Only Christ could save, and the British people must rccogniso that fact in prayer and repentance. Germany us a nation did not beliovc in Christ. She had followed false gods, and was dying in her sins. If the British nation chose the better way it would not only emerge victorious from the war, but would enter upon a fuller, deeper life than ever before. . Interesting services were alfo held in the other Presbyterian Churches.

Seeking Cod's Blessing. ■U the special intercessory service in the Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, last night", the Rev. J. G. Chapman took as his text "Exodus, 14-1-), and the Lord said unto Moses vhoroforu c.riest thou unto me? Speak unto tlio children of Israel that they go iorward." Mr. Chapman showed that the Israelites camped between Migdol and the Red Sea were in a perilous predicament. An Egyptian army was in pursuit to take them back to cruel bondage, and the Sea was before them. Moses, their leader, did two things under the circumstances. l'irst lie prayed for help and guidance, and God interposed in a remarkable way. Instances were given of the efficacy of prayer in times of difficulty, danger, and doubt. "Wo are joining with millions of worshippers to-day, said Mr. Chapman, "in seeking Gods blessing upon the Allies' aims. Can we conscientiously expect a favourable answer to our prayers? Undoubtedly, if our requests run on parallel lines witu God's purposes. Let us got rid of tho notion that God is a tribal God . _ lie is neither a German nor a British Deity, but the God of the human race. Therefore, the blessing that we seek at His hands must embrace Germans as well as Britons, Turks as well as Frenchmen. God will use, and is using, in this war those nations whose, ideals, aims, aaid purposes approximate most nearly to His own. "Can we, therefore, as a nation expect God to answer our prayers for victory? I believe we can, for these reasons: We have no selfish aims in this war; we are not seeking national glory or aggrandisement, or expansion of territory. Our aim is not to crush any nation or people, but to exterminate n military system which is a menace to the welfare of the race. And by defeating German militarism we honestly believe -that better social, moral, nnd governmental conditions will accrue to tho peoples of the Central Powers.

"God's answer to Moses 1 pra.yor was "Go forward." There is a time to pray and a time to bo tip and doing. Prayer must bo followed by action. Cromwell realised this at the Battle of Dnnbar. He was in a perilous position, and having sent his baggage away by sea was preparing to out his way through "the Covonters landward. He and his soldiers were holding prayer meetings and singing psalms. David Leslie made the fatal mistake of moving down the hill to overwhelm Cromwell before his luggage could be shipped. Seeing this, Cromwell closed his prayer meetings, drew his sword, singing as the whole- assembly shortly did, "Let God Arise, and Let His Enemies "be Scattered." Cromwell won because he know when to doso tbo prayer meeting and get to work. In this great war prayer without persistent and sustained effort will never put down Prussian militarism If the. sacrifices made and hardships endured by our boys are not to be in vain let us exercise fortitude and endurance, and put forth even more determined effort to win for tho world a peace that shall be a blessing to all peoples, and the Powers tluit destroy shall be turned to the building up of a better world wherein freedom shall bo the food of peoples and righteousness the foundation of nations."

Open Air Service at Day's Bay. Across the water at Day's Bay a service of intercession and prayer was held in the open air, under the shades of the trees near the pavilion. Being in the open, it attracted a very large assembly. The Waterside Workers' Band, who were in full strength, played the introduction to the service. One item was particularly well rendered. The service was controlled bv Key. W. Stent, assisted by Rev. Mr. Gibson Smith, whilst Mr. Askew, of St. Mark's vicarage, delivered a powerful address, which carried hi? audience through the war, poiiul:ig out the wonderful deeds of our b'.ave Army. He. concluded with ai: inspiring message of hope for the future, and faith in the Almighty, whose aid could be traced through many scenes. Mr. Gibson Smith pronounced the benediction. The audience concluded tho service by singing the National Anthem.

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In all the Catholic churchesc of the city and suburbs prayers for peace wore ottered. Prayers for victory yi the war are offered in tho Catholic churches every day, and prayers for peace almost every day, but yesterday was observed as a special day of prayer, in response to the King's Message. At Buckle Street, the church of Archbishop O'Slica, the King's Proclamation was read at the Masses, and the congregations were asked to pray for the wishes expressed by His Majesty. On the previous Sunday reference was made to the matter, and the people were'urged to mark the appointed day by receiving Holy Communion. This they did yesterday in very large numbers. At St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, the Forty Hours' Adoration was in progress, and the whole Sunday was made a day of prayer. In the sermons, allusion was made to the special purpose of the day, and to the great need for praying for peace. In tho Newtown Parish the day of prayer was referred to by Ven. Archdeacon Devoy (at Newtown), Rev. Father Kimbell (at Island Bay), and Rev. Father Campbell (at Seatoun and Kilbirnie). At Island Bay there was a special service of intercessory prayer in the afternoon. At Newtown, in the evening, there was a special sermon on the need of thanksgiving and personal sacrifice, and during benediction special prayers for peace were offered. SERVICES IN THE WAIRARAPA. (Bv Telesrauli— Special CorreSDondent.l Masterton, January 6. Large and impressive intercession services were held to-day in the churches throughout the Wnir.irapa. THE DAY IN ENGLAND (Rec. January 5, S.a p.m.) London, January 4. All tlie licensed premises in tho United Kingdom will close on Sunday, the national day of prayer.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.