SERVICE OF INTERCESSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 251, 26 November 1914, Page 9

SERVICE OF INTERCESSION.

Last evening a united service of intercession was held in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, and was presided over by Bey. W. A. Sinclair. The following clergymen 1 also took part:—Revs. J. J. North, S. Lawry, D. D. Rodger, Harry Johnson, 11. E. Bellhouse, and Major Stone, of the Salvation Army. After the service had been opened with the hymn, "Lord, While for All Mankind We Pray," the Rev. W. A. Sinclair ed up the opening prayer, 11 That in view of the sacrifices'involved in this crisis, the hearts of the people may be turned- 1o God. '' Prayers were also ."-aid for the King, and those in civil, military, and naval commands, for .soldiers and sailors on service,/and for the contingents of the Dominion and their families; and for all who are suffering, bereaved, or distressed through the war, and that practical'sympathy may be extended to the needy. The Rev. .Johnstone then delivered a brief address, taking for his subject, "The Over-ruling God in this Crisis." He commenced by saying that it was suiei ly an optimistic 'thought that there was an j over-ruling God in the present crisis. At the present time 10 great nations were engaged in warfare, seven on the one side and three on the other, and Europe was! one great battlefield. Its fairest spots were the scenes of unspeakable carnage. The' war was the result of man's ambition, and was not of God's ordering, yet, since He permitted it, it must mean that He has power to bring good out of what seems at the moment nothing but evil. He cited Scriptural examples to prove that Go,d, while apparently permitting injustice and wrong, had finally over-ruled it for the- greatest good. Already it was apparent that the hand of God was working in the war—in the re-establislnnent and strengthening of the weakening bonds of Empire for one thing. A week before war was declared in England there were serious industrial, political, and social divisions, and these had all vanished as if by magic since Britain had drawn the sword. There was the serious situation in Ireland, and there were, too, the militant suffragettes, planning deeds of destruction and violence to an alarming extent. Since war _was declared nothing was heard of the Irish trouble, and the suffragettes had devoted their buildings, funds, and energies to serving the needs of the Red Cross. People -were paying a great deal

more attention to spiritual .matters than formerly. Those were a the things in which the 'hand of God might be seen* working to bring good out of what was at present a great national calamity. Tls day was-coming nearer and nearer when the war drum should beat no longer, and the flags of . peace should float "in the Parliament of Nations, the federation of the world.' 1 For that day everyone should earnestly pray. \ The meeting closed with a prayer fpr pea,ce, the ringing of the hymn, '* It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," and tlie Benediction. ,