GUIDE TO THE PEOPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 139, 15 June 1933, Page 13

GUIDE TO THE PEOPLE

FOIIM OF PEAYEE

WORK OF WORLD CON- • FERENC€

Tho World Economic Conference was a subject of discussion at thia week's meeting of the Wellington Presbytery.

It was stated that while in some quarters a certain scepticism was noted there Was a prevailing hopefulness that good would emerge from the Conference. It was also said that many fears were entertained that if the Conference were to fail tho consequences would be disastrous. , '

. Reporting on behalf of tho Public Questions Committee, tho Rev. J. R. ißlanchard said that tho committee had | considered what steps should bo taken, to call people to prayer on behalf 6ftho Conference. Prayer was being made throughout tho churches and at thedaily broadcast dovotional services, while members of the churches Were remembering 'the Conference in their daily devotions. There wore also many pcoplo who did not attend .church, but who, as during tho war, felt a strong ■impulso to pray in tho present crisis. It could not' be said too earnestly, Mr. Blanchard said, that people who wero feeling that way should attend church and in tho public worship of God receive that encouragement, inspiration, and guidance which the impulse to pray.really needed. The Public Questions Committe was also of the opinion that if a brief and simple- form of prayer was provided as a guide to tho people, tho Press might be willing to assist by publishing it. Tho need was a very urgent one, concluded Mr. Blahehard. It was not moro intellectual ability' that was required among the nqtiom, but a spiritual awakening jn which tho barriers of selfishness, fear, suspicion, and prejudico would be swept away. The record of religious experience put it beyond all doubt that such awakenings wero.tho result'of prayer.

Presbytery unanimously adopted tlic proposals in the report, approved of a form of prayer'which'was submitted,, a-ud expressed tho hopo that all' the churches might co-operato in making a similar provision for the prayers of tho people at regular intervals. The form of prayer is as follows: — PRAYER. O God, from Whom alone cometh . the wisdom which men need to direct their ways aright, we, who humbly confess our too frequent failure to do what Thou dost command arid to desire what Thou dost offer, entreat Thy pardoning mercy that, as far as the east is removed from the west, so far may our transgressions be removod from us. Thanking Thee for the hope which Thou hast caused to spring up . in our hearts, we beseech Thee to grant Thy guidance to the World Economic Conference, for which the leaders of the nations have gathered. Grant them to know the things which'belong to their peace, and so bring them into the; unity of the Spirit, that the peoples of the earth may be led to depart from all that ; ought to be. departed from and to enter upon all that ought to be entered upon, unto the doing of Thy will on earth, even as it is done in Heaven. And enable us, we beseech Thee, to know and to do Thy will throughout this day, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.