THE DAY OF PRAYER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 85, 3 January 1918, Page 4

THE DAY OF PRAYER

KING GEORGE'S REQUEST THE NATIONAL APPEAL ON SUNDAY NEXT It is the wish of tho Government tlmt publicity should be given again to the following message from His Majesty the King to the people of the British Empire:— •

"To my People: "The world-wide struggle for the tri-1 umph of liberty is entering on its last and most difficult phase. Tho enemy is striving by desperate assault am! subtle intrigue to perpetuate the wrongs already committed. To stem the tide and free civilisation we yet hni'e to complete the great task to which we have dedicated ourselves, I would call upon yon. to devote a special day of prayer that ,we may have the clear-sightedness and strength necessary for the victory of our cause. This victory will be gained only if we steadfastly remember the responsibility resting upon us, and in the spirit of reverent obedience ask the blessing of Almighty God upon our endeavours. liet c ns seek to be eiuiuhtened in ourv ■understanding and fortified in courage in facing the sacrifices we may yet liavo to make. I therefore appoint January 6, tho first Sunday in the New Year, to be set aside as a special Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving in all the churches throughout my Dominions."

RESPONSE OF THE CHURCHES "A CRITICAL TIM? OF THE AVAR." The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. •Russelty'inade the following statement yesterday: "tt will not be out of placo « » give a reminder to tho population of tho Dominion that next Sunday, the first Sunday in the New Year, has been set aside by His Majesty as a day of special prayer throughout the Empire in connection with the war—a communication to that effect having been\ made by His Excellency _ the Governor-General, tho Earl of Liverpool. Tlie King's instructions liavo been earned out by the Government, and copies of tho proclamation have been forwarded to tho heads of all churches and relisious communions in New Zealand; and I am• thankful to say tho response from the churches lias been universal. Our Empire is a. Christian one. Probably- ; our greatest national hymn is that which begins '0 God, Our Help in Ages Past. Ave are at a critical time of the war; and, however earnestly we prepare, however bravely our Soldiers and sailors nphu, however skilful the strategy which lies behind the guns, wo as a people recog-, nise that there is a God of Battles, and to Him we look for strength ana success. , . , "I feel sure that the people ot New Zealand will faithfully obey: the King's Command, and in their respective places of worship on Sunday next, seek from the Almighty the success for our arms which we believe as a people He will grant, because our cause is just, j "It is to us as Britishers a matter of profound thankfulness that our Empire entered upon this war with clean hands. There has been no lust of conquest in our hearts. On the contrary, it has been the desiicof our statesmen throughout, to uphold liberty justice,'' truth, the sacredness; ot treaties, and the liberties of tho smaller nations of Europe. Therefore, we may hope, and, I believe with confidence, pray, that tho blessing of God may durni"- the vear bo given to tho efforts or our soldiers, sailors, and statesmen to bring about a successful and permanent peace, so that this war may end war."