PRAYER SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 153, 29 June 1940, Page 12

PRAYER SERVICE.

WOMEN OF AUCKLAND.

TOWN HALL GATHERING. A women's united intercession service was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, the call to prayer being answered by nearly 3000 women. The service was conducted by the Rev. F. Copeland and intercessions were led by ministers of various churches. The first hymn, "All Hail the Power," was followed by an invocation and prayer of confession by Mr. Copeland. This wa « followed by the hymn, "O <Jod, Our Help." The Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes, in an address, said that the main object of the service was to pray for courage, and for the succour of the weak and helpless, the refugees and wounded, and all sufferers. They should pray for peace, but not a peace with Hitler astride the world, with Mussolini seeking gains, and small nations ground to the dust by oppression. Their prayer must be for courage and definite victory. Victory would place power in the hands of the British and American peoples, who knew how to use it for the extension of human liberty. A prayer of thanksgiving and deliverance by the Rev. G. Jackson was followed by the hymn, "Christians Seek Not Yet Repose." During a prayer of intercession for Their Majesties, the Princesses, and New Zealand, the Rev. c - w - Dunctimb asked for any woman in the gathering to lead in prayer. Two women complied -with his request. The hymn, "Watch and Pray," a prayer of intercession by Major A. Chandler, of the Salvation Army, the hymn, "Fight the Good Fight," an address by Mrs. W. R. Wilson, the benediction and the National Anthem completed the service. On the stage with the ministers who conducted the service were Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. M. Dreaver, representing the Citv Council, Mrs. H. Turner and Mrs. W. c Utting, representing the League 'of Mothers, Miss E. Bennet, representing the \oung Women's Christian Association, Mrs. J. T. F. Mitchell, representing the Overseas League, Mr. E. C. Cutler representing the Crusade for Social Justice, and the Rev. W. Walker.