THE BIRTH OF A PRINCE

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 11, 1 December 1948, Page 1

THE BIRTH OF A PRINCE

It was a glorious end to the tense waiting for news during vhich k almost seemed as if the whole world was holding its h r eath in anticipation, when the announcement wa made that our beloved young Princess Elizabeth had become the r other of a son So much has been said and written in the few days since this great event happened th t anything we can add is mere rep*.tition, but there is in our hearts sj much gladness and thankfulness that we must add our little expres' ion of delight to those already spcxen or primed

The note of thanksgiving for the birth of a beautiful child is mingled with renewed recognition of the qualities o : Princess Elizabeth. Her Christian character and fearless declaration of her ov,n attitude in the matter of Christian living, as revealed in the paragraph below, have a touching sincerity in one so young, and we can thank God for her, while offering our prr.yers for her and her child. V\e all pray for a future of peace and security for these who will, in the natural course of things, one day take their turn in the great succession of Eng-

lish sovereigns, and also for the strength and courage necessary for so great a task. When addressing a Conference of Christian Youth Organisations on August 15th, 1947, Princess Elizabeth said: "We are considered to be witnesses of the truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. A witness is one who speaks of that which he knows about first-hand. We need to have a knowledge of orr faith that we can be bold in our witness and adventurous

in our living. We know’ that we shall probably be in a minority wherever we arc. We know that W’e shall have to face insecurity, opposition, and perhaps danger, for the confession of our faith. But the Christian Church has always prospered in adversity, and we must certainly not be afraid. "I thing it is comforting to remember those w’onderful marching orders given by Joshua, 'Be strong and of good courage and then to think ri the other men and women in time. past who, through the grace of God. were enabled to go forward into an unknown future with confidence mid resolve. When we go to the Cathedral together 1 ask you to join with me in offering ourselves anew to God that we may be worthy successors of the pilgrims of old and be found valiant and devoted to the service of God and our fellow men/'—Quoted from "The Reaper."