FARMERS AND PRAYERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 July 1932, Page 7

FARMERS AND PRAYERS

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, July 7. The Dominion conference of the NeV Zealand Farmers’ Union will be opened with prayer. This decision was made at to-day’s session of the annual conference of the Union 7 . The President (Mr. Polson) will consult with the ecclesiastical authorities, with a. view to deciding upon the appropriate petition. The decision of the conference was the outcome of a remit on the order paper, in which it was suggested that all Dominion conferences of the Farm- ( ers’ Union should he opened with prayer.

Mr. Polson mentioned that the remit was sponsored by Mr. H. B. Lethbridge, of Manawatu. Mr. Lethbridge, however, was not a delegate, but he presumed that the conference would give him the opportunity to speak. Mr. Lethbridge said the idea of a business assembly being opened with some form of recognition of the Almighty was not new. On entering the Royal Exchange, in London, one was confronted with the. text, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” The rock on which Britain had built its greatness was a recognition in Divine Providence. The women’s division of the Union set them an example in opening their proceedings with prayer. The object of the rer mit was that as a business assembly of primary producers thep should first of all acknowledge their dependence on the Almighty, and invoke Divino aid in their deliberations. Letters on the subject were read from Archbishop Averill and Father J. J. Riordan, S.M., of Otaki. The Archbishop said it had come to his notice that the remit was coming before the conference. It was not for him to suggest to farmers what they should or should not do, but ho was most interested and thankful to hear of the result. If the remit passed, however, it would be a tremendous strength to all those who were striving to make the Dominion Godfearing and loyal. Father Riordan said that he, had discussed the remit with Archbishop O’Shea, who approved of the idea, in it, whole heartedly. If ever there was a necessity for Divine guidance in human affairs, the present period of chaos was that time. He hoped the conference would treat the matter as a fulfilment of Christian precept. The remit was unanimously carried. The Dominion executive was authorised to go into the question of suitable prayer. Mr. Polson stated that he would consult some ecclesiastical authorities before deciding on any form of prayer.