CALL TO PRAYER

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1944, Page 7

CALL TO PRAYER

THE KING’S BROADCAST

“REVIVAL OF SPIRIT”

RUGBY, June 6. His Majesty the King, at 7 o’clock this evening, aaaressed the United Nations, and the world in general, by radio, issuing a call to prayer on behalf of the invasion forces. “Four years ago our Nation and Empire stood alone against an overwhelming and implacable enemy, with cur backs to the wall and tested as never before in our history.. In God’s Providence we survived that test,” said the King. “The spirit of a people resolute and dedicated burned like a bright flame, lit surely from those unseen fires which nothing can quench.

“Now, once more, a supreme test has Ln be faced. This time the challenge is not to fight to survive, but to fight to win final victory for a good cause. Once again what is demanded from us all is something more than courage, more than endurance. We need a revival of spirit, a new and unconquerable resolve. After nearly five years of toil and suffering we must" renew that crusading impulse on which we entered the war and met its darkest hour. “We and our Allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land. That we may worthily meet this new summons of destiny I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication. We are not unmindful of our own shortcomings, past and present. We shall not ask that God may do our will, but that we may be enabled to do the will of God, and we dare to believe that God has used our Nation and Empire as an instrument for fulfilling His high purpose. I hope that throughout the present crisis of the liberation of Europe there may be offered up earnest, continuous and widespread prayer. We who remain in this land can most effectively enter the suffering of subjugated Europe by prayer, whereby we can fortify the determination of our sailors, soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the captives free.

I QUEEN’S MESSAGE “The Queen joins me.in sending you this message. She well understands the anxiety and cares of our womenfolk at this time, and she knows that many of them will find, as she does herself, fresh strength and comfort in such waiting upon God. She feels that any women will be glad in this way to keep vigil with cur men as they man the ships, storm the beaches, and fill the skies. At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young, or too old to play our part in a nation-wide and world-wide vigil of prayer as thgreat crusaders set forth. If in every place of worship, and home and factory, from men and women of all ages, many races and occupations our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not lemote the prediction of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled, ‘The Lord will give strength unto His people, fhe Lord will give his people the blessing of peace.’ ” 300 YEARS OLD PRAYER. MELBOURNE, June 7 A great second front public prayer •service here to-day will include a prayer spoken by General Lord Astley to his troops before the battle of Edgehill in the great rebellion of 1642. Ic reads: “Lord, Thou knowest how busy we must be to-day. If we forget I hep, do not Thou forget us, for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

The last occasion when this prayer was used was when the Prince of Wales sank the German battleship' B ? s marck.- Copies of the programme or Melbourne’s call to prayer will be sent to the four principal cities of New Zealand.

PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL PRAYER

OTTAWA, June 6. The Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) told the Commons that the Canadian invasion forces had gained, their initial objectives and were making good progress. President Roosevelt told a Press conference in Washington that the invasion was up to schedule.

President Roosevelt to-day wrote a special prayer in which he invoked God’s aid in the attempts to secure victory for the Allied forces of liberation.

Tnc Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Curtin) issued a statement saying that great events are taking place which cannot be encompassed by mere words. The prayers and hopes of every Australian will go with the Allied forces in their liberating march.