A DAY OF HUMILIATION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8484, 16 May 1893, Page 5

A DAY OF HUMILIATION.

PASTORAL BY THE BISHOP OF

MELBOURNE.

A circular note has beeu issued by Dr. Goe to the clergy of tho diocese of Mel* bourne which reads as follows:—

" Biehopscourfc, 4th May, 1893.—-Reve-rend and Dear Brethren, —It is admitted on every side that the present is a time of national disaster, such as has seldom, if ever, befallen this colony. Tho proclamation of Monday last is sufficient evidence of this. Multitudes of unemployed men throng the streets of the motropolis, and there are many silent sufferers who have lost the savings of a lifo time through the collapse of trusted institutions. Traoo and commerce are embarrassed and the credit of tho colony is seriously injured. Winter, with the many hardships which it inflicts upon the poor, is close at hand. As Christians we believe that nothing happens without God, and that it is our duty and privilege to recognise His almighty hand in all events, whether they aileot ourselves or the community at large. We believe also that in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving wo arc encouraged to • make our requests known unto God.' Accordingly a desire has been expressed that a day should be set apart for special humiliation before God and for prayer to him that he will graciously remember ua in oar trouble and restore to us times of prosperity. I trust that no one will take exception to the use of the word ' humiliation,' for the course of God's providence and tho repeated declarations of His word show that thore is an intimate connection between sin and suffering. It is my desiro that tho day should be kept not only as a time of earnest prayer, but also as a day of humiliation on account of sin, accompanied by a penitent confession of sin, and by that broken and contrite heart which God will not despise. The day which, after consultation with others, I invite you thus to observe is Wednesday, 17th May. Each clergyman is at liberty to keep the day in hie own parish in &uou b> manner as he thinks best. If services be held in church it -would bo very suitable to use the Commination or portions of it. Tho proper lessons and proper psalms for Ash Wednesday aro applicable to the occasion, as also are the following passages :— Ezra ix., sto the end, Nehemiah ix., or ft part of it, Daniel ix., 3 to 20. It is desirable also that if practicable meetings far prayers should be held either in private houses or in public halls or in both, invoking tho blessing of God upon yourmini*trations at all times, and especially At Utls time of national distress.—l am your faith* ful servant in the Lord, F. F. Meujqubhe."