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Star (Christchurch), Issue 9307, 6 August 1908, Page 4

I Elections in France are always helc »on Sundays, in order to i&uit the conve[nience of .working-men ..and peasants.

Tlio oldest newspaper in the world — ; the "Official Journal of China"— is this j year celebrating its thousandth anniversary. What does the word " amen " signify, and why is it so important in prayer ? has been asked by thousands ot Christians who use the word daily at the end ot hymns and prayers. It is known that the word is strictly an adjective, signifying " firm," and (metaphorically) faithful, and, in its ad-vr-rbial sense, " certainly, truly, surely." It is said at the end of hymns arid prayem to confirm thp words .that -' have preceded and invoke the fu^a- ! ment of them :— " So b© it." It is some- ' times eaid in token of undoubtmg assent as at tho end of fl»p creed:— Amen, "So I believe." The use of. " amen " in response to the expression/ of good wishes can he traced back to ? the first century of the Christian era ; whence is derived the medireval custom of affixing an " amen" to every possible . expression of «lesire. i