Young New Zealand Up-to-Date.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 73, 2 August 1912, Page 14

Young New Zealand Up-to-Date.

A PRAYER FOR CIRL PEACE

SCOUTS*

"0 Heavenly Father, vro thank Tlioo Hint in Thy unbounding mercy Thou hast soon fit in these latter days to appoint Thy servants,'the uniform manufacturer's and the men of arms, to preach unto us the new gospel of I'ciioo by .Scouting.

"Wo acknowledge with grief ili-o- sin into which we have hitherto fallen, misled by a false teacher who wa.s unenlightened by military ideals, of endeavoring to love onr enemies, and do good to them that hato us, and pray for thorn which despitefully use us and persecute us.

"Wo pray that Thou wilt open our eyes and enable us, as required by tho gospel of militarism, to see in every foreigner an enemy whom wo must, at tho word of command, hato and encourage our brothers to murder.

"As taught in that new gospel, wo make humble supplication for the army and navy, that they may always be ready to smite the enemy.

"Wo heartily pray that Thou wilt help us to oboy the command to "encourage our brothers and boy friends to learn drill and shooting," so that when it is required by our loving benefactors and rulers, the financiers and politicians, whose "loyalty knows no shame," they will be ready to stab and shoot as required. "Wo beseech Thee that Thou wilt erase from their memories the mistaken command to be merciful, so that they also will be able to commit heroic deeds of patriotism like tho

following:—"The oihor night we proceeded . . • with bayonets fixed, with instructions not to shoot, but to use bayonet and butt— and take no prisoners. Wo look no more notice, of shrieks for mercy than wo vould of the cawing of crows."** 1

"We humbly beseech too. iliafc Thou wilt cause our brothers to see tho utter foolishness of the old gospel of love and peace, and instead of the madness of giving up one's life- with a prayer for forgiveness for tho takers of it, a proceeding which wo have been erroneously taught conquered the world of Christendom, they will bo prepared to meet death "grappling, raging, and tearing each other like beasts, biting, clawing and gouging each other's eyes out ;"f all for purposes of which they know nothing—for tho protection of the interests of Imperial bondholders.

"Finally, we commend to Thy fatherly goodness "tho highest military officers, who wear cocked hate, with long white cock's feather plumes . . . and carry curved scimitars with ivory handles.":