PRAYER IN CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23150, 23 September 1938, Page 16

PRAYER IN CRISIS

ARCHBISHOP'S PLEA THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD ONLY BASIS OF PEACE An earnest plea for recognition of tho universal fatherhood of God ns the only basis for peace and happiness in the world was made by Archbishop Avorill at the mid-day service in St. Matthew's Church yesterday, when in- | tercessions were offered for a peaceful outcome of the trouble in Central Europe. At times of crisis, said the archbishop, appeals to a Power higher than that of man seemed ineffective, and this must be so when men sought to drag down God's wisdom to the level of man's short-sightedness, or when they sought to gain blessings for themselves at the expense of others. God was not a national deity, favouring one nation or race; He an as no respecter of persons. Duty of Christians The only basis of true prayer was "Our Father," the free and full recognition of God's fatherly attitude to all men and nations. "Ivet ns visualise," continued the ai'chbishop, "how His fatherly heart is torn when brothers wantonly slay brothers, when suspicion and antagonism destroy the true relationship of man to man and man to God, when helpless women and children are tho victims of fiendish devices for the destruction of human lite." It was tho duty of all Christians to pray at this time that God's will bo done, and that men, nations and their rulers might recognise their duty to Him and to one another, 'lhis was the only basis of peace and happiness in the world. If it were accepted, there would be no war. Britain's Role "I need not point out," added the archbishop, "that the meeting, I believe to-day, between the British representatives and Herr Hitler is fraught with tremendous consequences for the whole world. We should pray that they may have a right judgment upon tho great issues that are to be discussed, and we should be ready to suspend personal judgment on the issues and the possible solutions that are advocated.

"At present we see only as ill a glass, darkly, but we should realise that God has used England in a wonderful way as a peacemaker, and may still use her as a means of preserving the world from conflict. The best way to peace is for England to use her efforts to carry on her 0 great role in face of ignorant and short-sighted criticism. Some day, please God, we shall thank Him for what peaceful intervention has meant to the world in this great crisis."