THE KING’S CALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1942, Page 3

THE KING’S CALL

f ON EVE OF NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER NEED OF QUICKENED PACE. IN BATTLE AGAINST EVIL. LONDON, March 28. His Majesty the King, broadcasting to the nation on the eve of the national day of prayer, said: “Since I last spoke to you we have been through very hard and anxious times. We shared the anguish of peoples who, having long enjoyed peace and prosperity under cur flag, are now subjected to all the horrors of war.

“Our hearts go out to our comrades in Australia, New Zealand, India and Burma in their hour of trial. We know they are facing it with the same unflinching spirit as those at home in the Mother Country. We shall give them every help in our power and we are filad to know that strong American forces are already ranged at their side. “In the stress of these tragic events, there have been many searchings of the heart. That is a good thing, for adversity can be turned to good account if we use it as a spur to greater effort. A tremendous amount, has already been achieved. To underrate the effort we have already put forth would be a great mistake and a great disservice both to ourselves and our Allies. The country has never been so united and has never worked so hard as it is doing now. MORE CAN BE DONE. “That does not mean, however, that there is not a great deal more that can be done. We can and must improve our teamwork. We can and must quicken the pace, for speed is the essence of modern war. These things are not just matters for those in authority. They depend on each one of us fn every walk of life doing his job with all the energy at his command. “1 ask you to go to your tasks in the critical months ahead with new fire, with fresh confidence in yourselves, and in one another. We all make mistakes, but let us be certain that we are ourselves doing our utmost before we waste time and energy finding fault with others. I am completely sure that however steep or stony the path ahead of us may be, we shall continue, as always in our history, resolute and cheerful on our way. “There are moments, no doubt, when some of us may not feel as fresh as we were two and a half years ago, when we started at the bottom of the hill. But don't forget that we are also much nearer the top. As we have climbed, the country's muscles have been braced, its fibres toughened, and its heart-beats are stronger and steadier. As the full abomination of the evil spirit, against which we are fighting under every sky and climate has become understood by all, our will to endure has hardened. A VERITABLE CRUSADE. “We know that we have undertaken a veritable crusade against the forces of darkness. Were they to prevail, the lights of freedom, tolerance, and kindliness would be blotted out for long generations. There can be no peace till the wicked forces that have wrecked the world are cast down and utterly destroyed. “United in close comradeship with our brothers and sisters overseas, and with our mighty and valiant Allies, we shall go forward together, undaunted and unwearied, till our task is accomplished. To come through the ordeal before us, we need God’s help, and for this I have called my peoples to prayer tomorrow. Wc must dedicate ourselves anew to the service of the just and good cause for which wc fight. “In our prayers, let us thank Almighty God for bringing us thus far in safety through so many dangers, and let us ask Him to give us that spiritual strength which great causes deserve and with which they conquer and survive. In our faith, resolved to shrink from no effort and no sacrifice, we shall march on to the triumph of right which alone can open to all the promise of a broader and better age.”