DAY OF PRAYER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 9

DAY OF PRAYER

SPECIAL SERVICES

TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

Yesterday was observed in the churches of all denominations as a national day of remembrance and prayer. Special services wero attended by large congregations, and collections wore wade for tho relief of sufferers. Tho morning service in St. Paul's ProCathedral was attended by the Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. G. W. Forbes), tho Hon. P. A. de la 1-Vrolle, the Hon. S. G. Smith and Mrs. Smith, the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey,- the Hon. W. A. "VDitch and Mrs. Veitch, and the Hon. H. A. Hansom, and many -others. The preacher was Canon Percival James. "Tho nation," ha said, "has been called ljy tho Prime Minister arid tho Government, and the Church has been summoned by tho Archbishop and Bishop to make- this Sunday a national day of remembraneo and prayer. This magnificont response shows that after the strain and anxiety o£ the last few days the people f eel constrained to seek tho quiet of tho House of -God. We come to follow with our prayers those who have been suddenly called into the life beyond; to beseech God's mercy for the injured, to pray that comfort and courage, hope and strength may be given to the bereaved, aiid to those left homeless and destitute, who have lost in an instant the livelihood built up by the work of a lifetime. Wo remember before God all who have passed through a liery trial, which has taxed the utmost resources of tho human spirit. Let us also thank God for all the heroism, sympathy, and self-srtcrifico that have illumined these dark hours,' praying that tho lessons that God has rctaught us may never fade from our forgetful hearts. ' ■ CALM FORTITUDE. "Two things must have impressed us all during the last few days. First, the testimony we have received from eyo•witnesses of the calm fortitude of those who endured the terrible ordeal. We are told of the utter unselfishness displayed by those who. escaped .serious, injury, their swift and quiet helpfu)-. iioss, and their tireless labour at the tasks of rescue and relief. Ono who was present told me that he was particularly impressed by the initiative, resource, and efficiency of young boys, "who went to work without flinching, ;iinid the terrible scenes of agony, death, and destruction. He added: 'It made mo proud to be a New Zealander.' Secondly, there is- the spectacle before "which none of us;can remain unmoved; tho whole Dominion, rising as one man iv eagerness to succoyr the afflicted, to bring them what comfort can be given, and to ease their burden 3. If the number who have actually come from the stricken area to Wellington had been greatly multiplied, I believe homes would bo ready to receive them as welcome guests. Richer, and poorer alike are. eaget to give and to do what they can. I have found many instances of really poor people who aro eager to make some sacrifice to help tho sufferers. Children are giving up their picnics, .and sending tho money that would have been spent to the relief fund. Much more remains to be done; but wpjmay be confident that the people will answer whatever appeal may be made.1 The wholo Dominion is bound together by ono bond oli practical sympathy^ It makes one proud to be a New, Zealander. REAL DEMOCRACY. "Can wo live permanently upon this elevation? Let us.make our prayer to God, who can bring good out of evil, that this may be a time of spiritual renewal for us all. Difficult days, or rather difficult years, are ahead■'of this Dominion. ' But to a virile nation, as to a true man, difficulties'present themselves as tilings not to be feared, but to be overcome. Everything depends upon the spirit in which they are encountered. Recently a leading man of affairs in (ho Dominion remarked to me: 'It is a moral appeal that needs to he made to our people to-day; an appeal to the finer moral qualities latent in the mass of New Zcalandei's'will save the situation as nothing else will.'. I believe tho events of the last'few days have justified his faith, and shown that an appeal can be made to the- true patriotism which can rise above selfishness —individual and sectional —and be ready, loyally and cheerfully, to bear a fair share of the common sacrifice. In this ordeal we have had another glimpse of democracy as it might be. We have achieved a true national unity —one people bound together by one purpose of sympathy aud service, fulfilling the .law of Christ: 'Bear ye one another's burdens.' "