WORLDS DAY OF PRAYER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 2

WORLDS DAY OF PRAYER

CHRISTCHURCH SERVICES TWO ADDRESSES GIVEN Miss Alice E. Henderson, a Christchurch woman, was elected by headquarters in New York to plan the service for the United World Day of Prayer held in more than 50 countries throughout the world yesterday. The service commenced in New Zealand and Fiji, and concluded 40 hours later at the St. Lawrence Island, off the coast, of Alaska, 30 miles from the Arctic: Circle. In Christchurch an early morning service for young people was conducted bv Mrs Pitt at Trinity Congregational Church, and a large number of women attended the intercessory services held in the morning and afternoon at Ihe Salvation Army Citadel. The services were held under the auspices of the United Women's Missionary Committee, representing eight different denominations. The norning service was conducted by Mrs ( Brigadier) Gray, and in the afternoon. Miss E. McKoe, president of the Women's Missionary Committee, presided, and a Scripture reading w«s given by Mrs F. J. T. Grigg, secretary of the committee. Visitors included Miss M. A. Co-Mark, a missionary of the United Church of Canada in India. Miss May Gillespie, secretary of the Women's Day of Prayei Committee in Victoria. Australia, the Rev. D. N. MeDiarmid. M.8.E.. formerly of the Sudan United Mission. and Mr C. J. Patchelt. of the China Inland Mission. . In bringing greetings from Canada and India, Mips Coltart spoke of some of the meetings that wore held by groups of women in India on the World Day of Prayer, and Miss Gillespie spoke briefly of the growth of the movement in Australia, particularly in Tasmania and in Northern Queensland China and Japan In his address, Mr MeDiarmid said that there were many things that should give Christian people cause fo»thanksgiving. For the first time in the history of the world there will be more representatives of the Eastern churches at the World Missionary Conference to be held thi„ year, than representatives from Christian lands that have sent out mir.-jionarics to teach Christianity to those Eastern people. The conference was to hav» been held at the end of the year in China, but it will now be held in Madras, India. Many "half-Christian" people asked why missionaries were sent out to other countries when the people of those countries had the« r own beliefs and philosophy, and had had them before the Christian races were civilised, in some cases. He pointed out that many people of other lands welcomed the proclamation of the Gospel for their old beliefs did not satisfy them. Ho spoke of the? wonderful work being done by Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and' her husband, and added that most of the acknowledged leaders of China were Christians. : One should not forget also that there were large numbers of Christian families in Japan, but they were involved in a system that led them to war whether they wanted it or not. Mr Patchett spoke also of the work in China, and of the influence of Christian leaders. Leaders of six different departments in the Central Government were all Christians, and more than 300 men holding important office in China at the present time, were Christians, he said. Mrs Pitt, ■who each year makes appropriate posters for the meeting, was thanked for her assistance, and a special vote of thanks was passed to Miss Alice E. Henderson for her work in planning the order of service; and for the choice of her theme, "The Church—A World Fellowship." ENGAGEMENT NOTICES The engagement is announced between Winifred Mary, daughter of the late Mr T. S. Davies, and Mrs Davies, Ngaio Downs, Blenheim, and Thomas John, only son of Mr and Mrs C. G. Teschcmaker, Avondalc, Blenheim. The engagement is announced in Auckland of Karl Julius, only son of Mrs J. Haas and the late Dr. L. Haas, of Karlsruhe (Baden), and Amelia Ida, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs D. Morris, of St. Albans. Christchurch. The engagement is announced of Charles Desmond, eldest son of Mr and Mrs H. P. Hamilton (Gisborne), to Nola Marlene, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Dunlop, Christchurch.