The request of H. M. the King that Sunday, September @, should be set aside as a National Day of Prayer has given rise to a suggestion as to how best the day could be observed by Britons in Shanghai. Doubtless the various British churches here will faithfully carry out His Majesty's wishes by holding appropriate services and offering the customary prayers, but Mrs. J. M. Weaver, in her letter which was published on Monday, suggests that the whole British community' might care to assemble at the Race Course for the purpose of holding a community service of intercession. The permission of the Stewards of the Race Club would have to be obtained, and it is not believed that there would be any difficulty' about that. The time is short for making. the necessary preparations, but " arrangements can still be made in time. It is! not intended that this proposed _service would in any way conflict with those which are certain to be held in the Cathedral and various churches in Shanghai. That is the last thing which is desired. What is wanted is that in addition to those services an opportunity should be given to all Britons, irrespective of the Church to which they belong, to assemble that night to make intereession for the protection of their country and their empire, and to ask for the blessing God upon their effort against the enemy.
It has been possible for the various! churches on such occasions to meet on common ground, as witness the dedication of the War Memorial, to quote but tone example, and it should be possible fon such a day as this to devise a soracceptable to all Britons of Christian belief. There is so much in common between the various usages from which a service could be fashioned enabling the British com~ munity to demonstrate to the world at large their abiding faith in the justice of their cause, and in that Divinity without Whose aid so much in this world is but vain and idle. The enormous crowd which packed the Race Course on the occasion of the sounding of The Retreat contained large numbers of people who were probably British only in sympathy. But the British community itself so large that, were the suggestion put forward by Mrs. Weaver supported in the: manner it deserves to be, there would be an imposing demonstration' of faith.
It is not asking much to suggest that loyal Britons should, on this one day selected by their King, assemble for the purpose Joining in that chorus of prayer, which, for twenty four hours as the sun sweeps Sunday' round the entire world, will rise from wherever Beitons are met together in this common act of worship. For it must be remembered that this war is a spiritual war, a war between the forces of good and evil, and it is but right that men should pray that the forces of good shall be made to prevail. Behind the huge physical and material means of the struggle which is now going on, there are imponderable factors of which' sight must never be lost. Endurance, fortitude, determination are all in their way very well, but as Nurse Cavell said of patriotism, they Jone are not enough. There must be faith, faith in the holiness of the cause, faith in the purpose of Divine Providence that good shall yet inherit the earth, and that evil shall be banished from it. Prayer is just. such an act of faith, in which the British can ask for victory, while doing everything from material and spiritual points of view to deserve it. Consequently the suggestion that in addition to the ordinary services during which the special intention of the day will be observed, there should be this service in which all Britons might join, has a great deal to commend it. It is realized that the time to make arrangements is short indeed, but there is every reason to believe that, if! the matter ix taken in hand at once, it would be possible to hold such a service. "That the shortness of the time available is not the only obstacle, it is readily understood, but there is not one ince which cannot be surmounted providing the will to do so is there. The idea is a food one and deserves the careful consideration of all thinking
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.