DAY OF PRAYER.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 37, 31 March 1933, Page 6

DAY OF PRAYER.

| SUSMDAY, APRIL 2, 1933. j ARCHBISHOP'S OPEN LETTER. j i i ; The folowing is an open letter ad- j I dressed lo leaders and members of the j I churches and all God-fearing- people, ! ! from the Primate of New Zealand, j ! Archbishop Averill. ! I 1. A Lord Chancellor of England j ! ! said some time ago: "I have no hope | for England except through the Chris- | j tian Churches." Had he been living \ i to-day he mighl have substituted the | world for "England." The Prime : Minister of the constituent parts of | the British Empire and many leading j generals and admirals, at the conclu- ' sion of the war, expressed the opinion thai real and lasting pence depended I upon the recognition of spiritual and moral sanctions far more than upon the work of statesmen, politicians, diplomatists, and treaty makers. Are "spiritual and moral sanctions" playing any real part in world diplomacy during this world crisis 0 Are the churches really pulling their weigh I in this great day of testing? Are they really giving themselves fo prayer for Divine guidance for all in authority? Are they manifesting any visible unity in the matter of prayer and intercession? Are they really praying for a deeper and truer vision of the causes underlying the world depression, and for moral courage to use the surgeon's knife instead of relying only upon the ambulance? All honour to the Churches for their endeavours to assist in the ambulance work and to help the victims of the world's ineffective industrial system and means of distribution! Such efforts, however, can only be temporary and superficial. The world seems to he faced with a blank wall, and to have no real policy, but only temporary expedients, and consequently drift. The policy pursued in tins , and other countries would at least be endurable if it was making a contribution to real betterment and a renewal of trust and confidence. Disarmament Failure. 2. We are in danger of losing the advantages and blessings which (he League of Nations has undoubtedly conferred upon the world. We are distressed (many of us) by (he comparative failure of (he nisarrnamen! Conference. We are painfully conscious that, treaties and pacts have failed to elicil the honourable recognition which is their due. We are perplexed at the increase of armaments since the signing of the Kel-logg-Briand Pact. We are painfully aware of the Iragedy of unemployment and the sufferings—many of them quietly anil nobly endured caused I hereby. 3. There seems to be an absence of vision and an absence of power in Hie world, and we are fully alive lo the fact that "where there is no vision the people perish." II is useless to say that, "something ought to he done." ■ We fully realise that present world conditions are calculated to foster and strengthen world forces which are inimical to Ihe world's truest interests. It ,is useless for (he Churches to sit, in their watch towers and criticise. It is useless to say that the increase of scientific knowledge has outstripped the growth of moral character, and to attribute Ihe world's sorrows to the world's sins of omission and commission, particularly (he omission of Almighty God from its "thoughts. Recrimination and invective are not very helpful or very constructive, but it does seem obvious lo some of us that the world, by crowding out God, is losing its greatest source of vision and power. "Return unto me. and I will ■ return unto you, said the Lord." j Appeal to Men of Goodwill. | I have no intention of entering into ' any theological arguments, but T do ■ appeal to "men of goodwill" and to all [ Who profess to believe in God "lo give Hod a chance" lo intervene in the world's extremity and to manifest His power. We do no! pray to change Hod's will: we. pray that God's will may be done, because we know that God's will always means our highest good. We pray to release Hod's will. fo sef it in motion, lo make it effeclive in the world. "More things are wrought by prayer." etc.. and, therefore, t appeal for a concentration in prayer upon Ihe needs of this Dominion and Ihe needs of the world. We don't wan I fo harass those who are trying honestly to make the besi of ;i complicated situation, but we want to

co-operate wilh them and help to supply something- of what we foe! to ho lacking. Prayer is not "dope," prayoi" is not selfishness: prayer is closely allied with action. \. I would suggest, that all Christian

people and all men and women of { goodwill should make Sunday, April i "2, a day of special prayer and interj cession in conned ion with !hc needs I nr the world and particularly the ' needs of our own country. "O Cod, | raise up Thy power and come among l us and wiih greal might succour us." i To some of us thai particular Sunday ' is known as "Passion Sunday," and if | all in their several churches and several ways would seek hy prayer and wilness to lift up (he Christ before the eyes oT the world as the world's real inspiration ,-md hope, we should cerlainly do something fo enable the Chris! In "see. of the travail of His soul" and find some satisfaction. Surel\ |he day of vision and the day Of heller Initios will dawn if we really reinslate the Father < ;,.<] as the world's wrreivl Partner in solving the present mysiery of Ihe universe. Wo have li.ml enough lallc, enough Mdiemes propounded, even enough crilicishi, and we are still groping in Ihe dark. i am not claiming for

I "Groping in the Dank." i prayer any sudden or magical solu- | lion of our difficulties, but I believe I that God is waiting to help us, and 1 j have no doubt whatever as to the I benefit of the reflex action of prayer ' upon individuals and nations. I The Moderator of the Presbyterian i Church of New Zealand, the Rev. D. 1 D. Scott, in a Pastoral letter, states:— I In accordance with the decision of , the Assembly, Sunday, April 2, is set ! apart as a Day of Prayer for Divine j guidance and help in this time of crisis. i Ministers and missionaries are request- ! ed to bring it to the notice of their congregations, and to see that special all en I ion is given to the matter on the day mentioned. 1! is a time for national self-examin-alion. Evils that are a testimony to the sinful wastefulnes of many people are still strongly entrenched. At the present moment any attempt to eliminate these would be scornfully rejected. Our Christian attainments lag behind our privileges. A period of financial embarrassment prompts a feeling of hopelessness regarding the higher possibilities of life. Young people are affected adversely in their aspirations when their prospects suffer eclipse. In face of their losses people wonder whether it is any use beginning- again. More serious still are the dismal thoughts that God may not be as Jesus said He is. In discussions concerning schemes for meeting the emergency and easing Ihe crisis men are apt to think that the solution lies wholly within the domain of economics. This is not so. Moral and religious interests also enter in. The application of economic principles is not possible apart from moral considerations. Those who believe in in Kingdom of Jesus Christ must see all things in relation thereto. We require to have a more vital apprehension of Cod's ever-abiding Presence with us. He is with us in our struggle. Let us trust in Him. and may our trust banish all despair. Let us. then, unite in a nation-wide fellowship of prayer.