DAY OF PRAYER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 19

DAY OF PRAYER

OBSERVANCE IN DUNEDIN. This year the annual day of prayer conducted under the auspices of the Women's International Board of Missions, was observed in Trinity Methodist Church. Adjutant Dick presided at the morning session, and in her opening remarks told of the origin of the day of prayer m America, and how it had spread from country to country till now it was almost world wide. Mrs Skeels, of the Egypt General Mission, told of the two kinds of womenhood found in Egypt—the fellaheen, the very ignorant type, and the girls who attended the school. The most effective way of reaching the former, she said, was through medical work—hospitals in the cities and clinics in the villages. For the younger generation there were good opportunities and prospects in the educational work, especially in the boarding schools. Miss McMillan, of Dunedin, who has been connected with the Sudan Interior Mission for 10 years, spoke on the conditions in Ethiopia, where she had worked. She told how the 15 mission stations which were occupied before the Italian war, had been reduced to two. In spite of much persecution the native Christians had continued their work. Some were imprisoned by the Italians, others shot or deported, but the work continued and there was much to encourage. Last year, despite its difficulties, was one of progress.

During the meeting Miss Gairdner, honorary secretary, read the names of 34 interdenominational and undenominational missionary societies that were or had been represented in Dunedin.

At the afternoon session Mrs Parata presided over a large gathering of women. Mrs Fleming, of the Sudan United Mission, gave a vivid description of various phases in the life of the backward women m Nigeria, and their urgent needs. She spoke, too, of the Mphammedans from the north threatening to overwhelm these pagan tribes with their baneful influence, and so render them more impervious to the Gospel, keeping the women in the cruel bonds of their religion. Then Miss Parr, of the Central Japan Pioneer Mission, spoke, giving sketches of the lives of various Japanese women with whom she had come into contact in her work among the people. During the session Mrs A. Chisholm sang the solo " Hark, hark! My Soul."