INTERCESSION SERVICES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15787, 1 January 1917, Page 10

INTERCESSION SERVICES.

CHUECH PARADE AT THB

CATHEDRAL,

Special intercession services lor the Empire, for victory, and for peace, were held in many of the leading churches yesterdav.

A special parade, ot the Territorials and cadets was held in the morning at Cranmer square. .The troops assembled in King Edward Barracks, but owing, no doubt, to the holidays, there was a poor muster,' only about -00 ot all units attending. The senior cadets, who were under the adjutant. Lieutenant R. A. Hawkins, comprised the greater portion of the parade, and the other units represented were the Engineers (Captain Midgely), the Battery (Lieutenant Miller), the Ist Canterbury Infantry (Captain Stevenson), the Army Service Corps (Lieutenant McKiuucv ), the C.Y.C. (Lieutenant and the Mcdical Corps.

Amongst the officers present were: Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. R._ Heaton. Rhodes, commanding the C.M. K • Brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel McGibbon, A.D.M.S. ; Colonel C. J. Cooper, commanding the Coast Deience 1' orces; Colonel Clv.ffcy, 0.C., Canterbury District; 'Major i'innis, Adjutant Canterbury District; Major Modelings and Captain Matthews,-staff officers; Captain McDonald, R.N.Z.A.; Lieutenant Smith, machine-gun instructor at Torithcrston; Lieutenant Livingstone, adjutant C.Y.C.; and Lieutenant Agcr, No. -1 Gaxrisou Artillery, Lyttelton. The troops were, marched from the Barracks to Cranmor square, where they were properly formed up, and, after the various denominations had bee.u separated, the. majority of the men marched to the Cathedral, headed by the C.Y.C. Band, under Lieutenant Thom, and the Ist Regimental Band under Lieutenant Siddall. The streets were, lined with spectators, who k>ok considerable interest in the proceedings, and the troops, though few in numbers, looked well as they swung 1 through the town. i Their Excellencies the Earl and Countess of Liverpool attended the service at. the Cathedral, at which Bishop Julius prcached a spirited i-ermon on the peace question. The Union Jack and the New Zealand flag were hung one on each side of the altar. Bishop Julius took as his text a passage from tile 85th Psalm: "Mercy and Truth are met together; Righteousness .and Poa-ce have kissed each other." That psalm, he said, was a. most appropriate one. It was a Christmas I'salm; it was a national penlrn; n psalm of mingled thanksgiving arid prayer, and it might happen that before another year ran through we should be.singing ib as a thanksgiving to God for peace attained. He haci been startled during the last few weeks by the action of the Central Powers of Europe by their offering that which, if it were not actual peace, was at all eveuts a proposal towards peace. And why should we not have peace now? Surely, one might say, we should reach, out our hands and be eager for it. But that we could not do, and the preacher proceeded to explain why peace could not yet be accepted. ft had been said that. a. good cause justified war. In his opinion, a. good war justified anv cause, inc. enemy hoped, if they failed in this war. to try again. We hoped that this would be the. last great war. They were fighting for German supremacy: wo were fighting for the comity of nations, and would welcome, in all our hearts a righteous peace. We had been compelled to war by the enemy's scorn of international law, by their disregard of the most elemental humanity, by their wholly unnecessary cruelty and their attempts to crush the weaker nations. We took up arms not- for our causa alone, but for the comity of nations and the brot.herline.ss of the world, and we truly believed that, ours was a righteous cause. Of course, this was a righteous war. Supposing, for instance, if, had been a ■ dynastic war, or an aggressive war in which we were in search of territory, we could then lay down our arms at any time and stay our hands and there would be no bla.me to us except that we had gone to war at. all. But. as it was at present, we had no right to back down. It was not our war; we took it up'because we believed il. wa,s a righteous war—God's war—and that we were working with God for our brothers. If wo were fighting for righteousness, what right had we to lay down arms? We could not do so until righteousness and peace had kissed each other. As a Christian priest, he believed that, we ua.d to go oil with this thin<v until we had done what God had put iuto our hands. "Ou this last, day of the year." Bishop Julius continued, . "we come here again with our souls determined not to turn our ba.ck on that for which our brethren are fighting, and for which so many have died, until we have carried if, to its achievement. We will not give up, God helping us; wc will nob look ah the cost or think of pcaco until we see peace and righteousness coming towards us, till mercy and truth shall be together and righteousness aud peace kiss one another."

AT THE SYNAGOGUE. The attendance at the. Synagogue yesterday morning was very satisfactory. Mr David Scbloss conducted the service of intercession. After reciting the special Psalms for the occasion he delivered an address, ill the course of which he said that by the approv.il of his Majesty the King services of intercession would he held in cverv place of'worship throughout the British Dominions'. Prayers on that- day. tile last day of the year 1916. would be offered for the speedy termination of a cruel war and for the bravo men who were shedding their life's blood gladly for the sake of their country. Another yra r drawing to a close, another year . of sorrow and grief was passing into the flight of ages. Could we look' bark and-say that we had seized every opportunity to do good, that we ' had used tlio year to our advantage and that of the community at, lar.se;' The speaker went on to refer lo the position of the Jewish race in the. world to-day, its future, and the part they had taken in the Mar. Over 80.000 Jews had been killed. The. -Jew was giviDg his all gladly, for bound with the fortunes of his rac-c were the fortunes of his country. Coming nearer home included in those who bad so gallantly given their lives in this terrible conflict must lie mentioned the names of Caro and Herman, both natives of Christehureh. They had made the supreme sacrifice for their King and country, and their names and memories wouJd always be cherished by their friends and would always be associated with bravery and duty will done. "The year 191G is speedily passing: 1917 treads on its heels." said Mr Sehloss in conclusion. '"May 1917 see the realisation of all the ideals of the Allies and ma\- peace, reign once more supreme—a pe-acc with honour, a peace that will be lasting. May our dear ones who are now face to face jwitli death be spared to return."'

Mr Schloss concluded his address with a prayer. Prayers for the Royal family were then offered up. the Chief Rabbi's special prayer for the soldiers of the Allies followed, and the service brought to a conclusion by' the •singing of a hymn and the National Anthem by the congregation. ASHBURTON. There was a special parade of all milituty units and details at the Ashimrton* Drill Shed yesterday ntcrning, for the purpose of attending the scrvico of intercession and thanksgiving in i>t. Anglican Church. There

was 3 good muster, also a laige attendance at the church. iro was conducted by the Rev. N. W rifZ.li . assisted In* the Rev. .Air bparrow. Special hvinns, psalms, and prayers were sunc and said, while the lessons vrcre read respectively In- Captain n • G. Mullin, N.Z.M.C'., who is down on leave from the Trcntham Camp, and Lieutenant Harper. A s-ernion t ' nta^l ' c to the occasion was preached bv Air Wright, who took for liis test, " God i» our Hope and Strength—a very present Help in trouble.*' At the close of Hie servicc the National Anthem T\nssungRANGIORA. A church parade, consisting ior the main part of Senior Cadets, was liel'i at St. John's Anglican Church, >> a - ngiora. vesterdav morning, when the Rev.. J.' R. Young conducted _the service. Captain W. Attwell. N.Z.b.C-, wa> in charge of the panulc. and the other officers present included Lieutenants A. V. 'William.-, .V/.L-. '• Shank land, and E. B. Skevmgton. Ihe roll call totalled 1« of ail ranks he Rar.giora Brass Band headed the parade.

Special in tcrcestion .-ervice? -rvcit a.l*, conducted at St. 1> ;'" ! terian Church, where the »>cv. J. 1 tc rson delivered an inspiring fcinion on ''The War and Chrisf.au I houghi : at the Durham .-treet Me!.hodi.-t C-.iiircli. Tv-herc the Hov. Percy N. knight in tlio morning on "LilV s C»resit. J: o>> - Hilities." and in the evening en "Christ's I'itv for a. Sorrowing ' '°- p|o"' : and at'the Osfonl Terrac- baptist Church, where the '> rv \ 'U 'll North spoke "The ")cai and a Boy - * Der.th." making particul.u reference to the death <>f lirval< A. Mono v. a member of the cmgivgaturn.