WHY DO NATIONS FALL?

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 58, 8 March 1916, Page 3

WHY DO NATIONS FALL?

Sir,—There are, doubtless, many in the Dominion who believe, with Admiral Beatty, that until the Empire, is stirred out of her stupor of selfsatisfaction and complacency and a religious revival occurs, just so long will the war continue, and that when, she locks to the future with prayer on her lips, we can begin to count the days towards the end. The B'ishop of "Wellington, ;Dr. Sprott, has pointed out that the most

j generally 'accepted theory of the afil of nations is that they fall as the just judgment of a living God on national sin, and, in consequence, that ‘a nation is master of its own fate and holds its destiny in its own hands. The Bishop has also stated that it I seems to be God’s rule that, while Ho I vouchsafes u direct answer to the re- ! quest of an individual when the mati tor of the prayer concerns only an i individual, where the matter of prayer: | concerns great masses of men and whole nations, God only moves when | approached in all earnestness and j unity of purpose by a great army of ! devoted servants of His. Feeling that the position of the Em* ! pire is one cf the utmost gravity, and. | that, if we are to come safely out of |this, the greatest crisis in her history, we must organise cur spiritual forces, an endeavour is being made to band together Christian people of all churches throughout New Zealand to pray daily, first, that a wave gf national repentance may sweep through ithe land ;and, second, that God will | bring- us safely through our time of I trial and testing. A representative I committee has been formed to further I this movement, which has the approval, among others, of the Primate, Bishop Novill, Commissioner Hodder (Salvation Army), and Mr. C. Cathie : (chairman of the Baptist Union). It iwould help considerably if all those who would undertake to pray daily for I these objects would communicate | with Mr. D. O. LTClay. 13 Gordon Place. Wellington, or the undersigned, .for union is strength in spiritual warfare as well as in earthly, i It is hoped that a week day at an | early date may be set apart by au- : thority to be observed by nil reli- | gious bodies throughout the Dominion as a day of humiliation before | Almighty God for national sin and of j intercession for , the Empire. Many believe, with Admiral Beatty, that the sure road to victory lies through the way of national penitence,—l am, etc, H. HAROLD ROBJOHNS, 13 Patanga Crescent, Wellington.