Why Do Nations Fall?

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 18 February 1916, Page 3

Why Do Nations Fall?

Sir, —There are, doubtless, many in the Dominion who believe, with Admiral Beatty, that until the Empire is stirred out of her stupor of self-satisfac-tion and complacency and a religious revival occurs, just so long will the war continue, and that when she looks to the future with prayer on her lips, we can begin to count the days towards the end.

The Bishop of Wellington, Dt. Sprott has pointed that the most generally accepted theory of the fall of nations is that they fall as the just judgement of a living God on national sin, and, in consequence, that a nation is mastbr of its own fate and holds its destiny in its own hands. The Bishop has also stated that it seems to be God’s rule that, while He vouchsafes a direct answer to the request of an individual when the matter of the prayer concerns only an individual, where the matter of prayer concerns great masses of men and whole nations, God only moves when approached in all earnestness and unity of purpose by a great army of devoted servants of His.

Feeling that the position of the Empire is one of the utmost gravity, and that, if we are to come safely out of this, the greatest crisis in her history, we must organise our spiritual forces, an endeavour is being made to band together Christian people of all churches thoughout New Zealand to pray daily, first, that a wave of national repentance may sweep though the land ; and, second, that God will bring us safely through our time of trial and testing. A representative committee has been formed to further this movement, which has the approval among others of th 9 Primate, Bishop Nevill, Commissioner Hodder ( Salvation Army), and Mr C. Cathie (chairman of the Baptist Union). It would help considerably if all those who would undertake to pray daily for these objects would pommunicate with Mr D. O. M’Clay, 13 Gordon Place, Wellington, or the undersigned, for union is strength in spiritual warfare as well as in earthly. It is hoped that a week day at an early date may be set apart by authority to be observed by all religious bodies throughout the Dominion as a day of humiliation before Almighty God for national sin and of intercession for the Empire. Many believe, with Admiral Beatty, that the sure road to victory lies through the way of national penitence. I am, etc., H. HAROLD ROBJOHNS. 13 Patanga Crescent, Welllington