PRAYER FOR STUDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20239, 26 April 1929, Page 14

PRAYER FOR STUDENTS.

UNIVERSAL DAY FIXED.: OBSERVANCE NEXT SUNDAY. Next Sunday has been fixed by the World's Student Christian Federation to be observed in all university countries of the world as the universal day of prayer for students. The Federation numbers 300,000 members, organised in branches in 3112 institutions of higher learning in 45 different countries. Since its foundation in 1895 seven other international student organisations have followed the trail it pioneered. The federation has proved to be a great force in the field of international reconciliation, and it has promoted iutcrconfessionalism with remarkable success. Its membership includes not only all Protestant denominations, but also the Greek Orthodox Churches of Russia and the Balkans and increasing numbers of Roman Catholic students. The federation has provided very largely, and continues to provide, the religious and particularly the missionary leadership of the world. Its student relief work, which virtually saved 100,000 European students from starvation after the war, was an enormous contribution to the restoration of the intellectual life of Europe. It employs over 500 international, national and local secretaries to carry on its manifold activities and last year 545 student vounteers sailed to take up work in the mission fields of the world.

The federation is represented in New Zealand by about 700 student members in the four university and training colleges, and by branches in 15 secondary schools. The local arrangements for the observation of the universal day of prayer on Sunday include the holding of a special student service in St Matthew's Church in the evening, conducted by the Rev. R. H. Hobday. At 4.30 there will be a gathering of friends and members of the movement at the University College, where the speaker will be the Rev. D. C. Herron.