TECHNICAL SCHOOL PRAYER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17949, 16 November 1918, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL PRAYER.

TO THS MHTOB.' : Sir, —In your issue of November 8 your Wellington correspondent reports Mr L. M Isitt a 3 saying in the House: "There is one technical school—the Christchurch Technical School—where a prayer has been instituted which is not a patriotic prayer, but is almost more concerned with the welfare of the enemy than our own land." This prayer has now been used for about three years at the Technical College, and it was shown to Mr Isitt by me when he came to see me more than two years ago, hut although he read it through he made then no comment whatever. Is it not singular that he should now, for the first time, raise any objection to it and should choose Parliament for the place of doing so? The prayer was issued-by the Rev W. Temple, son of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, chaplain to the King, and, it is not too much to say. one of the most widely respected of the Anglican clergy. If Mr Isitt fears the Rev W. Temple's disloynl influence, should he not move the House to approach the King to have him removed from the list of the King's' ehap'ains? The prayer is to me a simple act tif obedienco to the-command, "Rless them that rur*e von, and pray for them which despiteful- use you." Would you be good to print the nravor as we have used it and allow vour readers to judge for themselves? Give Thy b'ea.«in?s 0 Fath-r, to the people of that great and fair land with whose rulers we are at wcr. S'rons'hon 'ho hands of the wise and just who follow charity, and look for , justice and freedom aivon? them as auions us. Drive a "ay the icvj] passions of hgtred, suspicion ur.d *nn fever of war, anion; them as anion? u*. R?!i?vo and comfort the anxious, 'he bereaved, the eick and tormented, and all ihe pale hos* of sufferers, among them as amo!r<r us. Kelp Us so to use. our present afflic'ions which come from us o.nd no' from Thee, thai we may bui'd on the ruins oKour evil past a firm and lasting, peace. Grant that we mav live totre'her in trust and feVo-vhrv. truthful; . hoifst and just in our dealings one with another, and follown" in i>'l thinss the rtand-rd of the Son of Man, whom wn hsre .d-nied, and put to fhame, and oriicifiVd afresh upon the Calvary of our battleground. 1 am, etc., JOHN H. HOWELL.