INTERCESSORY SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1738, 9 October 1917, Page 3

INTERCESSORY SERVICE.

The^united intercessory war.service, held in the Town Hall on Sunday evening, was not so well attended as was to be expected. The attendance was about 300, whereas the building should have been filled. Apparently there are a large number of Foxton people who do not believe in the efficiency of prayer in the crisis which faces our Empire at the present lime. The singing was lead by the combined Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian choirs, under the loadcrsiiip of Mr R. T. Betty, while Miss Betty presided at the organ. Before the close of the service, the choir rendered the anthem, “Onward Christian Soldiers.” 'The service was conducted by the Revs, liable (Anglican) and Bredin (Presbyterian), and the Mayor, Mr John Chrystall (in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. Mr Harding, Methodist). The Rev. Dir Raine delivered the address, and based his remarks on Matthew XXVI., versos 39, 42 and 44. Tie said a few weeks ago the Government addressed a call to the nation to re-affirm its determination to continue the war to a successful issue. This meant that every resource of the country as a whole should be put into the conflict. How great that sacrifice was, and is, many knew. Our best gifts bad been laid on the altar of service. The present was a call to prayer, and never before had we been called to prayer by the Government. It was a public admission by those in authority of the existence of a Supreme Being —an admission that material effort alone cannot lie successful. It must lie accompanied and surpassed by a spiritual effort, a calling upon God for help. The preacher urged the necessity of prayer that God’s Kingdom . may eome, ami His will he done on earth as it is in heaven. The life of the nation should be conducted in the spirit of prayer. Never was the need of prayer greater than now. The preacher then gave examples from the life of Christ in the matter of prayer. Our life must correspond with prayer. The war will be in vain unless it leads (o a quickening and deepening of the spiritual life, and an enthroning of God in the hearts of men and women. The preacher instanced the examples of prayer in the lives of our greatest soldiers, sailors and statesmen. It we believed in a Supreme Being, wo should pray for help, and pray without ceasing: “More things arc wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Wherefore lot thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than stieep or goats, that nourish and blind life within the brain. If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer, both for themselves and those who call them friends? For so the whole round earth is every way bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”