Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1918. TO-MORROW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1772, 5 January 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1918. TO-MORROW.

HIS MAJESTY the King has issued a proclamation to all his loyal subpects throughout the British Empire to observe to-morrow, the first Sunday in the New Year, as a Day of Intercession. So far as Fox I on is concerned, there will not be an united service, but each church will observe the day as one of special prayer and intercession on behalf of the war. It is to be hoped that every one who can make it convenient will attend their several places of worship for the purpose set forth in the Royal Proclamation. One of our Parliamentarians recently drew attention in the public press to public, indifference in matters spiritual as concerning the war. When pondering this subject he says; “There came to memory some words of that splendid man, Harold Bell Wright, in his “Shepherd of the Hills. The words might have been Avritlen to-day, they are so wonderfully powerful and true. They are a reminder that we are not, and are not likely to he, in tune with the Infinite in this or any other matter where the unseen things are concerned. Let these following lines suffice; —‘We build temples y«d churches, but will not worship in

■tliom: wc hire spiritual advisers, but I refuse to heed them; we buy Bibles, but will not read them; believing in God, we do not fear Him; acknowledging Christ, we neither follow nor obey Him. Only when we can no ’longer strive in the battle for earthly honour or material wealth, do we turn to the unseen but more enduring things of life; and, with, ears deafened by the din of selfish war and cruel violence, and eyes blinded by the glare of passing pomp and folly, we strive to hear and see the things we have so long refused to consider." As a Christian people, let us remove this reproach.