WORK AMONG THE ANGLICAN CHURCHES.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 264, 18 June 1917, Page 11

WORK AMONG THE ANGLICAN CHURCHES.

The Bishop of Auckland gave Miss Weymouth, Organiser for the Auckland Inion, a letter commending her to the clergy and laity of his diocese, and bespeaking help for her in her temperance work. Miss Weymouth has been holding very successful meetings among the ladies of the Anglican Churches. The Rev. Smallheld, President of the N.Z. Alliance, wrote a Litany to be used at these intercessory meetings, which we have been asked to print. Litany for use at Intercession Servicas for Temperance Reform.

O God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth, O God the Son, Redeemer of all mankind, O Cod the Holy (ihost, the Comforter, O Holy, Blessed and Glorious Trinity, Three Persons in one God, have mercy upon us ; hear the humble prayers of Thy servants, who now call upon Thee; incline our hearts to love and serve Thee, and give us perfect 4rust m Thee, that it may please Thee to bless all who in this land labour for temperance reform. We beseech Thee to hear us, Good Lord: That it may please Thee to enlighten all the members of (he church universal so that they may make temperance reform a work for Thee to Thine honour and glory. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to uphold Thy serv.int George our King and Governor, in bis resolve to set his subjects an example of abstinence from strong drink. W e beseech Thee, ctr. : That it may please Thee to bless and preserve our gracious Queen Mary, and to strengthen her in every resolve to and_Jpenefit th<L w omen of the Empire. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to direct, strengthen, and enlighten all Bishops and priests and deacons, and all min-

isters of the Gospel of every church, so th.it they may learn from Thy Holy Word the truth concerning strong drink. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to make them examples to Thy people of tern perance, sobriety, and self-denial, and to enable them to teach others to give up for Thee every besetting sin, and especially the sin of intemperance. W e beseech Thee, e»c.;

That it may please Thee to endue the Lords of the Council, all the nobility, the High Court of Parliament, and all others in authority in the United Kingdom, with the spirit of understanding, so that they may perceive the present perils that beset the Kmpire through strong drink, may themselves set an example of abstinence, and, by their rule and authority, lead the way to temperance reform.

W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please 1 hee to enlighten the hearts of all the members of our own New Zealand Parliament, that they may be led to grant the petitions of those who seek for icform, and may so use the trust committed to them as to make the country happier, more prosperous, and finally free for ever from the curse of strong drink. W e beseech Thee, etc. : That it may please Thee to bUss and prosper the work of the W.C.T.I’., giving to all the members steadfastness of purpose, singleness of aim, purity of intention, innocence of life, and true charitv in thought, word and deed; so that they may prosper in Thee and for Thee in their endeavours to free the people of this land Lom the evils of intemperance. W e beseech Thee, etc. : That it may please Thee to give to all members of the Union grace and strength to uplift the fallen, warn the erring, teach the ignorant, restrain the foolish, reclaim the intemperate, and, by Thy power, to bring mam souls to Christ. W e beseech Thee, etc.:

That it may please Thee to bless and prosper the members of the Union in their present work of urging upon the Legislature the total abolition of the Liquor Traffic, to give to all who work in this cause wisdom to say the right word, courage to warn the indifferent, grace to convict the hostile, love to conquer those 1 who hate the light, and strength to keep on working while it is to-day. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to answer the prayers of the l nion for the* abolition of the liquor traffic, to give to each member that faith which remove* mountains, to make each one earnest and fervent in prayer, humble and trustful in work, to bring each one into a closer walk with 'Thee, and to bend each heart into submissive ness to Thy Divine Will. We beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to bless the leaders of the Union, to give them wisdom to direct, courage to rule, and strength to accomplish, to take from them all self-seeking and desire for praise ; to give them a single eye to Thy glory, and to fill them with a burning zeal for temperance* reform. W e beseech Thee, etc. . That it may please Thee to bless the work of the .N.Z. Alliance, to give to its rulers and officers strength, courage, and wisdom ; to grant to all its members earnestness, zeal, patience and sincerity; and to bless the efforts of the Alliance for the total abolition of the Drink Traffic.

We beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to blc*-* all Bands of Hope and all other temperance societies in this land; to give to all who direct and all who serve, grace and power to uplift the fallen, to teach the ignorant, to warn the erring, to strengthen the wavering, and to convince the doubting. W e beseec h Thee, etc. : That it may please Thee »*peeiall\ to bless the work of the Bands of Hope in the instruction of children in the duty of total abstinence; to give

knowledge and discretion to those who teach; and the hearing ear and the understanding heart to those who learn. We beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to bless all the children of th s land, to keep them safe amid the world’s defilements, to rant to them innocence of heart and purity of life; and especially to preserve them from the perils of strong drink. \\ e be see i h Thee, etc. t That it may please Thee to bless the parents of this hind, to give to them wisdom to guard their children from temptation, heavenly knowledge to guide them into truth, strength to set them a good example, love to bring them into Thy love; and especially do we pray that the parents of the land may both set their children an example of total abstinence and also teach their < liildrcn to follow that example. We beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to have mercy on all those who in this land have fallen victims to strong drink; to uplift them from tlnir degradation, to give them courage to reform, grace to learn the truth in Thee, and strength to continue in the path of abstinence and self-control.

W e beseech Thee, etc. : That it may please Thee so to turn the hearts of those engaged in the liquor traffic that they may have pity on the victims of strong drink, to wean them from the love of money, to teach them their real duty to their fellow-men, to so enlighten them that they may be willing to leave all and follow Thee, and so cease from th.it course of life which results in the degradation, the misery, and the death of their fellow-men. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to bless the work of those who, in the Inebriates’ Homes near our city, work for the redemption of fallen men and women; to g.ve them courage to go on with their difficult task; to give them gr.ue to deal lovingly with the victims of strong drink, and wisdom to effectively set before them saving health in Christ Jesus. We beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to help and hie ss all < ity missionaries, district visitors, Sunday S< hool tea< hers, deaconesses, rescue woikers, and others who seek to uplift their fellow-men; to give them power, wisdom, and love

in helping the unfortunate, teaching the young, or raising the fallen. W e beseech Thee, etc.: That it may please Thee to bless our soldier boys, to guard and keep them in dangers, anxieties, and trials; if it be Thy will, to restore them to home and loved ones; and especially to guard them from the temptations of strong drink. W e beseech Thee, etc.: Tint it may please Thee to speedily bring the war to a rightful conclusion; to establish peace on earth, goodwill towards men ; to hasten the time when war shall be no more; and especially to incline the hearts of men, through the solemn lessons of the war, to make the world a place for ever free from the curse of strong drink. W e beseech Thee, etc. :

That it may please Thee to bless the efforts of all army chaplains, doctors, nurses, and others who seek to teach, heal, comfort, and uplift the soldiers and sailors; and especially to help them to warn those who fight for the Empire to shun stiong drink. W e beseech Thee, etc.: () Lord (iod, our Heavenly Father, we humbly beseech Thee to till us with Thy fullness, to give us grace and strength to do Thy will, and infinite faith in Thee. We humbly pray for Thy blessing upon all our efforts to free this land from the evil influences of strong drink. Hear us in Heaven Thy dwelling-place, pour down upon us the riches of Thy grace, help and bl**ss us so that we may go forth to the work and cares of the morrow renewed by Thy tender love, and strengthened by Thy grace, (iive us such confidence in Thee that we may never fail to trust Thee; give us such love for Thee that we may learn to love oui brethren; give us such fervent charity that we may bear patiently with those who oppose us. (iive us such abounding faith in Thee that we may accomplish much in Thy service. Thou hast told us that where two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou art there in the midst of them, and we believe that Thou art with us now to help and bless and enlighten us. And now we pray that Thou wilt grant our humble petition, if it be Thy will, for the speedy deliverance of this land from intemperance, and from the thraldom of strong drink, O incline the hearts of our rulers to do justice and love mercy. O incline the

hearts of the people to learn Thy will, and love and serve Thee. O Lord (iod our loving Father, so fill us with the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who went about doing good, Who healed the sick, comforted the sorrowing, taught the ignorant, that we, in our work for Thee, may never falter nor hesitate, hut may aid the cause of temperance by patience, love and strength. Be with us and all who love and serve Thee, now and for evermore, and grant all that we have this night prayed for, for the sake of our Blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.