Page 7 Advertisements Column 6

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 7

RELIGIOUS.

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR. In the Dvcning papers of last Saturday and iu the turning papers of July 21) a. letter was published, tout by Sir Jauiw Allen, Acting-Prime- Minister,' to Mayorn of citie.-s and towns throughout tho Dominion, requeuing on behalf of the Government tlmt »ii Monday next, August a, they would call a mewing of tho citizens aud submit the accompanying resolution 01 , detc-iminution to continue tho war U> a victorious end. It is staled the samn resolution will be submitted to meetings throughout the rest of tho Empire. Jt is urged I herein that wo should again ibclaio our determination to wui through to victory on (lie field of battle, inspired by iio .same spirit which moved Lincoln l« utter these words in the dark <layn of ISC-.1: "We accepted this war for it worthy object, and the war will end wli?n that object is attained. Under God, 1 hope, it will not end until that time." Tito resolution to be submitted at Monday's meeting, however. Las one Very noticeable f calnro about it, viz., that human effort and aid alone apparently are rolied upon to bring about a successful termination of tho war, as thero is no mention whatever of or reference to Uotl therein, and of our dependence cm Him. Now, seeing that tho example set by President Lincoln is quoted with approval in the Acting-Prime Minister's letter referred to, the following fuller information with respect thereto should prove of interest to many who may not lie conversant therewith. Beyond all question (ho suggestion contained in the let.ler sent out on behalf of tho Government—that we should lx; inspired by the 6:11110 spirit which moved Lincoln in the dark days of lSlil—is most practical, and should bo followed. HOW PRESIDENT'LINCOLN LED A NATION TO PRAYER. (liy Paul Rader, from "Southern Cross," June Jt, 1918.) Tho war was talked of as a failure, which threw hope into the heart of the enemy and only increased the strain under which the Administration wae struggling. Jt was a dark hour, and in j tho dark hour if a nation or an individual will hnmblo itself ami cry to God ! God will find a way out. Thank God for tho little group of men in. Ohio who could see God'.s ways well enough to meet for, deliberation and prayer, and who adopi:ed this pledge: "To labour to bring the nation to repentance toward God and to a. faithful administration of tho Government, according to tho principles of tho Word of God." Senator James llarlan, of lowa, voiced t!\o spirit of such men as tlicso by bringing tho following resolution to the Senate in that darkest hour of the Civil War:— "Resolved, that, devoutly recognising tho supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all affairs of men and of nations, and sincerely believing that no people, however great in numbers and resources, or however strong in tho justice of their cause, can prosper without His favour, and at tho same time deploring tho national offence* which hiivo provoked His righteous judgment, yet encouraged, in this day of trouble,, by the assurances ot His Word, to seek Him for Huceour according to His appointed way, through Jesus Christ, tho Senate, of the United Stales do hereby request the President, of Ihe United Stales by his proclamation to designate nnd set apart a Day for National Prayer and Humiliation, requesting all- the people of the land to nuspend their secular pursuite and unite in keeping the day in solomn communion with the lord of Hosts, supplicating Him to enlighten the counsels and direct the policy of the rulers of tho nation and to support all our soldiers, sailors, and marines, and the whole people in the firm discharge of duly, until the existing rebellion shall be. overthrown and the blessings of peace restoivd to cur bleeding country." Resolved and carried by the United Slates Senate without one, dissenting voice. Hero is Abraham Lincoln's proclamation: "Whereas the Seniilo or tho United States, devoutly recognising the supreme authority ami just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National Prayer and Humiliation, and "Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men lo own their dependence upon tho overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in huiLiblo sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognise the sublime In:th announced in tho Holy Scriptures, and proven by all history, Hut thoso nations only are blessed whose God is tho Lord; "And insomuch as we know that by His divino law nations, like individuals, nro subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil wiir which now desolates the land may bo but a punishment iiiilicted upon us "for our presumptuous sins, to. the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people 't We have been the recipients of tho choiceet bounties of Heavon; wo have, been preserved these Ihnvo grown in numbeie, wealth, nnd liiwe grown in numbevß, wealth, and power as no nation has ever grown. But vie have forgotten God. Wo have forgotten tho Gracious Hand which preserved us in peaco and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, iu.the deceitfulliess of our hearts, that all these Blessings wcro produced by eorno superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success wo have become too self-sufficient lo feol tho necessity of redeeming and preserving grace; too proud to pray to tho God that mado .us. "It behoves us, then, to humble ourselves before tho offended Power, to confess our national eins, aud to pray for clemeno/ aud forgiveness. "Now, therefore, iu compliance with tho request, and fully concurring in the views of tha Senate, I do by this iuy proclamation designate and' set apart Thursdiiy, tho 30th day of April, 18(i!i. as a Hay of National Humiliation, Tasting:, and Prayer. ' And I -do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary cecular pursuits, and to unite at their eoveral places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping tho day holy to tho Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of tha religious duties proper to that solemn occlusion, "All this being done in sincerity and tnth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorised by the Divino teachings that the united cry of the nation wiil bo heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now. divided nnd Buffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peaco. "In witness whereof I have hereunto sot my hand and caused tho seal of the United State.? to bo affixed. "Done at the City of Washington this 30th day of March, A.1)., 18lj3, and of tho Independence of Jhe United Stales the eighty-seventh. "By the President, "ABRAHAM LINCOLN. "WILLIAM H. SEWARD, "Secretary of State." The Day of Prayer came—April 31). In a little- jnoro than two months tho sky t was Hooded with decisive victory. What did it? Prayer. Men who can ) get the Government in touch with God aro tho greatest asset to any nntion. J] is '. noxt act proves where ho stands on the , question of what brought victory. Ho { orders now ft time of thanksgiving to God for tho nation. Not a time of celebrating victory by long-winded speeches and tolling how brave we were. Now ho asks < for a day to thank God Who had given victory. The day of thanksgiving Lincoln used as August 0 in his proclamation, which read iu part: "it has pleased Almighty God to hciii'kon to the supplications and prayers of an afflicted people, and to vouchsafe j to tlu Army and tho Navy of tho United States victories on lund and sea so signal _ and eflcctivo as to furnish reasonablo i grounds for (he augmented confidence jj that the Union of these■ States will be maintained, their Constitution preserved, and their pc;iee and prosperity pcrinan- | enlly restored." * It is a cause for i-rofaund thankful- •* ness that, not only the President of tho United States as far back as ISGI, but also its President to-day—President " Woodrow Wilson—have been God-foariug f and God-honouring men. What a noble lead America has given in this direction c .in connection with tho present war, and I n