DIVINE AID

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21212, 7 September 1940, Page 8

DIVINE AID

PRAYER SERVICE BIG MILITARY PARADE HAMILTON OBSERVANCE Tomorrow, throughout the Empire, Britons will observe a day of national prayer. The first Sunday after the ending of the initial year of the war, the day was chosen by His Majesty the King for special religious observance in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Every town in New Zealand will hold a day of special prayer. In Hamilton a big military and civic intercessory service will be held at Seddon Park With Lieutenant-Colonel K. B Tennent, M.M., in command, thi military parade will leave Kno:i Street about 2 p.m. and march t.i Seddon Park, where the service will be held at 2.30 p.m. The order oi the parade will be:—Waikato Regimental Band, National Military Re* serve and ex-servicemen, Hamilton Citizens’ Band, Waikato Mounted Rifles, 7th Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, Ist Battalion oi the 16th Waikato Regiment, Hamilton High School cadets, Hamilton Technical College cadets, Hamilton Pipe Band, and the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. The • Rev. V. A. Bianchi will be chairman and an address will be given by the Rev. H. G. Gilbert. The Salvation Army Band will play hymn music. In the event of wet weather the fire siren will sound at 1 p.m., and the service will be held in the Bledisloe Hall. In the churches tomorrow the usual - services will incorporate special prayers. Nation At Prayer “His Majesty the King has called his people to prayer,” says a statement by the Hamilton Ministers' Association. “One poet wrote. ‘There are more things wrought by prayer than the world dreams of.’ This is true; not that there is virtue in prayer alone, but prayer, earnest prayer, is an indication of righteousness; for few pray unless the have some intention of obedience to the Divine will. “As the needs of our Empire have increased in this great crisis of Britain meeting alone the united force of perverted power, so there has been a definite turning to God in prayer on the part of all our peoples; from the King upon hio throne to the humblest commoner of the realm. This is as it should be. “At the very heart of our Commonwealth of Nations we are professedly a God-fearing people. We confess our faith in the Most High in the Legislative Chamber; we revere the word of God; we instruct our children in the ways ol righteousness, teaching them to abhor lying, injustice ancjl hatred; we honour our treaties and we give warm hospitality to the ancient brethren of Christ, the Jews. Divine Help At Dunkirk “At the Dunkirk evacuation wc saw the hand of God in retarding the enemy and giving the smooth sea which so greatly helped the crossing of the Channel. “Now we stand firmly resolved to withstand the great boaster and truce-breaker in the name of God and righteousness, not for ourselves only, but for those weaker nations, taken at a disadvantage and bludgeoned into submission, who are silently looking to us for that deliverance which they dare not voice It seems as if God has placed us in this situation. No doubt our faith and courage will be tried, but aa Omnipotence is always on the side of righteousness there is ground fol good hope and the optimism of faith. But there is need for prayer. In the great service of Seddon Park on Sunday afternoon, may our petitions be acceptable to Him, and our attendance certain.”