"Let us Pray!"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1914, Page 5

"Let us Pray!"

PRAYING TO THE SAINTS. INCIDENT IN MELBOURNE. Melbourne, February 13. Rev. W. T. Hughes-Jones, pastor of the South St. Kilda Congregational jChurch, preaching at the Elsternwick Congregational Church on Sunday, Bth inst., said that he made it a practice to pray to his mother in Heaven. She had always prayed for him when she was on earth, and he believed he iwas doing right,to pray for her to help I him now. Murmurs of dissent from the congregation followed, and when the preacher had concluded the sermon a listener rose and remonstrated with the 'preacher. He said that practically Mr Hughes-Jones had expressed his belief in praying to the saints. ■ This was against the principles of Protestantism, arid ho personally deeply regretted to heai such an utterance in a Congregational church. There was a strained silence. Mr Hughes-Jones listened with bowed head and closed eyes. Then he said, "Let us pray." In the prayer was a petition that men would be led to discuss the differences in religious thought without bitterness or narrow vision.