DAY OF PRAYER.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 January 1918, Page 3

DAY OF PRAYER.

The King's wish that Sunday be observed as u day oi intercession in connection with the war was coiapiicd with in .Levin.

At St Mary's Anglican Church there were crowded congregations night and morning. The Vicar read the King's proclamation, and special psalms, prayers and hymns of intercession were used. In his sermon in the morning the Vicar spoke of methods of prayer, which he said was not merelytalking to God, but having communion with Him. In the evening the text was "Sleep on now and take your rest." The Vicar likened the position of those who could not go to the war to that of Christ's disciples, whom he asked to watch and pray before His betrayal. He did not ask them to tight for Him. In the same way those who could not go to the war were expected by the men in the trenches to wa-tjch and pray for them, and the preacher urged it

as a solemn duty that we at home in New Zealand should not. fail as the disciples had failed. The Presbyterian Church was crowded morning and evening on Sunday and very impressive intercessory services were conducted by the Minister, the Rev M. Bawden Harris. The King's proclamation was read on both occasions and there were prayers for the Army and Navy, the King and his Ministers and advisers. The sermon in the evening was based on the 'church's motto for the year : "In all thy ways acknowledge Him a,nd He will direct tliy paths." The preacher \ applied the text to the war and to the conditions of the present time. At this service the "Hymn for Soldiers in the Battle-line" (copies of which were kindly donated to the church by Mr Sidney Hall) was sung by the congregation with much fervour as being specially appropriate to the occasion.

At the Methodist Church the services were also in keeping' with the occasion. Both morning and evening Rev W. H. E. Abbey occupied the pulpit and gave special addresses. In the morning Mr

James Prouse offered a prayer for the nation's cause and in the evening Mr P. W. Goldsmith led in prayer- The King's proclamation was read to the congregation by the Rev Mr Abbey and the National Anthem was also sung.