DAY OF PRAYER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 242, 10 September 1940, Page 8

DAY OF PRAYER.

Thc National Day of Prayer was fittingly observed itr’Woodville on Sunday. Rev. T. Coatsworth, at the morning service of the Methodist Church, preached from the words of Psalm 46 in which thc writer exhorted the nation not to fear because thc Lord was their strength and a very present help in time of trouble. This: psalm, stated Mr Coatsworth, had been ..read by many a great figure in British history in thc hour of peril. Oliver Cromwell had once opened his Parliament by giving an ' exposition on these words.: Sir lienrv Havelock, the hero of Lucknow, when a captain in a be* sieged fort on the Afghan frontier, had cheered his little garrison with these words. .Many other instances could be quoted where these words had been used and they wore appropriate- to-day. Rev. B. I’. Williams, at evensong at Holy Trinity Church, in thc words of the parable of thc Prodigal Son exhorted the people to a true realisation of thc value of faithful Christianity. The spirit of thc faiiih which Christ taught was that all could return to that standard of living, any day, any. hour. The King on the National Day of Prayer called the people to national penitence as well as prayer. Rev. W. H. Nicholas, at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, spoke on the text from Jeremiah 18, 7-10, in which the prophet 6peaks of God’s power to set tin a kingdom and pull down a kingdom. He spoke of the necessity of realising the truth of prophecy, for this would find its fulfilment in modern times. Even as thc prophets of old called the nation to repent, so there was a call to the nation to-day to put aside individual and national sin ..which prevented God from working out His purposes. This could be carried out in everyday life. The people must have faith in God, and prayers must not only be requests*for help but incentive to right daily, living. He would then be able to bring victory for truth and righteousness among the nations, and we as a people and Empire would march to victory with Him. There were special hymns at this service, also the hour concluding with the new version of the wellknown hymn “Eternal Father. Strong to Save” in which all the branches of the fighting services and those who minister to the suffering are mentioned. A special Litany of thanksgiving was also given. Tht/re were also large and inspiring services at other churches and at Kutnoroa under the auspices ot the Church of England.