"SIXTH COLUMN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 51, 28 August 1940, Page 5

"SIXTH COLUMN"

CONTINUOUS PRAYER

24-HOUR RELAY MOVEMENT

I The development of a 24-hour relay prayer movement was attained at a meeting in the Town Hall, Auckland, on Sunday, when 450 people volunteered to pray daily for peace, guidance, power, and protection. The whole 24 hours were taken up in half-hourly periods, and a continuous chain of prayer will be carried on unceasingly. Dr. Herbert Sutcliffe, convener of the movement, explained that, since its inauguration on August 13, the movement had spread as far south as Dunedin and included many groups of people, one having a membership of 10,800. He stated that the desire was that it should grow and that hundreds of thousands should contribute through thought, faith, and prayer to the end that righteous victory should be attained, and that the Kingdom of God should be established on earth. It was reported that those who had contributed since the inauguration of the movement had felt a great spiritual uplift which had fitted them to meet the responsibilities and exigencies in their own lives. Thus the effect of such prayer could be immediate upon themselves and of definite ultimate benefit on behalf of the Dominion, the British Empire, and civilisation.

"Prayer is power as much as any animated activity is energy," stated Dr. Sutcliffe. It was necessary to put the principles of Christianity into operation, and to develop faith. Faith was not a material or physical commodity, and coult not be handled. Yet success could not be attained without it. Faith belonged to the heart, the feelings, the motions, the inner spirit of man. Faith was part of the substance of the soul.

The objects of the 24-hour relay prayer movement were to organise human spiritual and mental powers in the Dominion by service through constructive development of Faith in God's Presence; for Righteous Victory, and to build the Kingdom of God on Earth acording to His Laws.

It was unanimously decided to send a cablegram 'to Lord Halifax, British Foreign Secretary, who originated the Sixth Column Movement in Great Britain: —"Your exhortation to serve the British Empire and civilisation by prayer has inspired New Zealand. Realising the importance of continuous and concentrated effort for righteous victory, the people of New Zealand have instituted a sixth column 24----hour relay prayer movement, originating in Auckland and spreading throughout the Dominion. Continued half-hour periods are now covered by thousands in prayer to God for guidance, power, and protection. Accept our appreciation for your inspirational lead."

The speaker said it was hoped that meetings would be held in the principal cities of the Dominion, and he is considering the question of personally visiting these centres.