DAY OF PRAYER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1941, Page 4

DAY OF PRAYER

0 OBSERVANCE IN MASTERTON YESTERDAY GATHERING AT MUNICIPAL HALL. ADDRESS BY REV D. McNEUR. A large gathering representative of all sections of the community, assembled in the Masterton Municipal Hall yesterday to take part in a brief, simple service on the occasion of the observance in Masterton of (lie National Day of Prayer. Those attending the parade included the Home Guard. E.P.S., Wairarapa R.S.A.. V.A.D's.. and the St John Ambulance Brigade. The Mayor of Masterton. Mr T. Jordan, urged the people of the community to band together, and by layingaside all differences, devote all their energies towards the successful prosecution of the war. The Rev H. S. Kings led the gathering in the general confession and prayer, following which the hymn. “Onward Christian Soldiers,” was sung. The Rev John Davie then led the assembly in intercessory prayer. Following an address by the Rev David McNeur. president, of the Masterton Ministers’ Association, the Recessional was sung and the gathering concluded with the pronouncing of the Benediction. The majority of those present later attended their own places of worship. The Masterton Municipal Band played the music for the service. “In Chungking, new Western China, there are placards on walls with the inscription. ‘Resist, fight but build a nation.’ That is the spirit: we must hold on training men to destroy; resist to the last ditch, turn Britain into a vast fortress. But what about after the war?” asked Mr McNeur, in his address. “When the rubbish is cleared away —shattered homes and dingy tenements —are gun. gas and Spitfire factories going up again? We will have something far better to build in their place. . . It is splendid to think that architects and town planners are already al work, thinking in terms of reconstruction and the new order, .rebuilding Jerusalem in England’s ‘green and pleasant land.’ May they help us from becoming too warminded and despondent. May it not be too like the old with its class prejudices. not so narrow as that introduced through a mere ballot box and progressing according to the plan from a parliamentary committee room. May the bounds of our new order be measureless and have no false limits, no hard or fast lines. ‘Wider still and wider may thy bounds be set; God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.’ ” “We trust that walls broken down • —walls of demarcation —will never be rebuilt.” said Mr McNeur. “God bring us nearer the day that ‘man tae man the world o’er will brithers be and a’ that.’ The United States of America has boasted long enough about her Independence Day; walls as high as heaven built by James Monroe. Maj' she look back, after the war, on an inter-dependence day in which the English-speaking races will be indeed one. Walls of partition will be broken down and we will have more fellowship, one with another. No need then of ramparts to defend the faith citadels of creed and dogma. We shall take the offensive and drive out everj’ enemy of harmony, peace, and liberty that is found in the earth. Then ‘The Kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever.’ ”

CHURCH SERVICES.

Yesterday's services at St Matthew’s Church were largely attended. The Ven Archdeacon E. J. Rich, who conducted the services, delivered sermons suitable to the occasion. In the morning his text was “Fulfilment of Duty - ' and in the evening "British Ideals.” Services held at Bideford (Archdeacon Rich), Taueru (the Rev T. V. Pearson) and Upper Plain (the Rev 11. Taepa) were also well attended. Mr N. W. Ninnes conducted a service at Kuripuni. At the Masterton Methodist Church the Rev H. S. Kings conducted both evening and morning services. There were large congregations. A service was also held at Wangaehu. Mr Kings, speaking in the Masterton Methodist Church on “The Empire Call to Prayer,” said that the call would have a response that was widespread and general. The nation was realising as never before the moral and spiritual implications of the present conflict. The sterner the struggle grew the more necessary it was that the moral and spiritual energy of the country should be increased. Mr Kings urged his listeners to be sure about God. Nothing made a man so sure of God as prayer, for prayer was communion.

The Very Rev G. H. McNeur conducted services at Knox Presbyterian Church, Masterton, yesterday. A service was also held at Matahiwi at which the Home Guard unit paraded. There were large congregations at the services held at the Lansdowne Presbyterian Church yesterday. At Rangitumau and Kopuaranga units of the Home Guard were on parade and there were large congregations. The Rev David McNeur conducted the services. The Rev Dr Chapman, D.D., Marist Missioner, was the preacher at St Patrick’s Church, Masterton, yesterday. Services at the Salvation Army Citadel were held by Major and Mrs Ransom.