PRAYERS FOR SOLDIERS,

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 6

PRAYERS FOR SOLDIERS,

(To the Editor.) Sir, —“Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,” therefore if your correspondent “Victory” aspired to some praiseworthy accomplishment he would undoubtedly give more than two minutes’ thought per/ day to it. Obviously, if the prayers of, say, half a million persons were united at a certain moment in one particular desire, weight of numbers would tend to create their objective ; yet, if we truly desire victory over the enemy, we must give time and thought necessary to pave, bridge, and generally build up the producing conditions. How can victory agaihst a powerful enemy be obtained without complete confidence in our arms and systematic support by noncombatants? Fear is ever a traitor and has destroyed the efforts of many courageous men. Another aspect, usually ignored, is the fact that Hitler lias systematically worked and starved his subjects till they, like starved dogs, cause hundreds of pounds damage by worrying sheep before they can be stopped. The result is Germany’s perpetration of unspeakable horrors in her-attempt to wrest from her neighbours tlie produce and markets which she for many years has .been deprived of. This mad dog must be captured at all cost. His criminal record has already alienated many of his friends and contributed much toward his ultimate defeat. Every true man prays without-ceasing; lie;; his desires are ever of confidence in the power of the Allies and the cause they so valiantly are fighting to obtain. If we hide our mistakes- instead of correcting them as we go 'along, trouble is sure to follow. Millions'of the world’s

manhood are being destroyed. The usual pestilence and famine will inevitably follow, and no medical aid will prevent the ineligibles from being wiped out and. the balance thereby restored. A few years of comparative peace may intervene till careless and selfish thinking will again start the nations preparing, ostensibly for peace, but in reality for the next war, unless meanwhile we learn the lesson which the war is intended; to convey and history continue to be repeated.—l am. etc.. ' . C. H. .MASONj Palmerston North. 31/5/1940