BRITAIN AT PRAYER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9651, 7 July 1919, Page 5

BRITAIN AT PRAYER.

(Received July 7, 11 a.m.)

[LONDON, July 6. To-day witnessed the nation at prayer. The congregations throughout the country, of all sects and faiths, joined in public thanksgiving for peace. There were services at little bethels, Salvation. Army"barracks, congregational chapels, and parish churches. Flags were flying over many of the places and all over the land.

St. Paul's Cathedral, the home of Anglicanism, was the centre of this universal worship. There was a stately and reverent function attended by the King, Queens Mary and Alexandra, and many princes, statesmen', ambassadors, Americans, and representatives of the overseas Dominions, including several Agents-General, admirals, soldiers, 5 nurses, war workers, and municipal authorities, and citizens. Everybody who possessed them wore medals and honours on their uniforms. It was a great show, being the more spectacular by reason of the processional crosses, banners, splendid copes, and vestments of the Cathedral clergy. To relieve the pressure witihdn the building, a short outdoor preliminary service was held on the Gatjxedral stops, where King George, Queen Mary, and the Priiaces occupied'prominent positions. The procession moved through the west door to the dais, singing solemn hymns. The Royalties occupied places under the dome. ' The Archbishop of Canterbury preached. He said that, as churchmen and Nonconformists, they, v met not alone to give thanks for victory in the mightiest of all wars, but recognising gratitude for God's mercies to the nation during the five years of terrible anxiety. The Archbishop, in : a casual reference to the doings of the armies at Home and overseas, spoke of the Somme and the Tigris, and in tho torrid weeks of an iEgean _ July u;i: Gallipoli, when our. troops enriched tho record of the world's, heroism.

While the service was at its highest plane of reverence and dignity, from the Cathedral to Ludgate Circus a dense crowd cheered Royalties coming and going, and during the service sang popular hymns and the National Anthem.