Evening star., 1915-02-06
4rapers for peare asken
bp Bishop Barnilg

That the decay Of faith and the fail
ure of the love of God and man are
the deeper causes of the great Euro
pean war is the statement Of Rt. Rev.
Alfred Harding, Bishop of the Episco-
pal Diocese of Washington, set forth
in the bishops Lenten pastoral Every
minister in charge of a congregation
in the diocese is requested to read this
pastoral" at the chief service on one
of the three Sundays before Lent. and
to arrange for the special service that
is called for therein.
But the war is also rare oppor-
tunity for Christ and His Church"-runs.
In part. the letter. which is dated
Mount ST. Alban. St. Paul's day, 1876
because of its attendant deep search
ings of heart. the putting aside of the
lesser and the taking up of the great
er things of life and duty, the refining
the forcing men and women to face Sc
r1ously the eternal verities of God and
man. of life here and hereafter.
Things will never be the same again
as on July 81, A. d. 1914. They may be
much better. We may now be enter
ing on an era of faith and love and
service, of justice, liberty and peace,
such as has never yet been known.
The issue is largely in Gods hands But
the church as a body and congregations
and individuals each in their place may
and should do their full part to bring
on this new and better era.
"Wherefore for the love of God and
man I charge the clergy and lay people
of this diocese to give themselves this
Lent to extraordinary acts and exer-
cises of devotion as never before. Give
yourselves specially to prayer. and
when you pray remember the peoples
at war. our own nation, the church and
yourselves, and beseech God that all
may learn perfectly to love Him and
one another.
The present exigency demands spe-
cial and united action. And therefore
advise that every Wednesday morn
ing during Lent at half-past the
churches be thrown open, the clergy
and people assemble and. join in our
munion, offering their earnest interces-
sions for the church and the nations.
In the quiet hush and unruffled calm of
the early morning let us unite and fer
vently pray together that all men
everywhere may come to the knowl-
edge and love and service of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. and that the
reign of righteousness and peace ana
joy may speedily be established among
ali the peoples of the earth.
For the guidance Of devotion and in
tercession I authorize and recommend
the prayers and collects herewith
transmitted for use in private. in fam
lily and in public worship. And may the the
peace of God, the love of Christ and
the wisdom of the Holy Spirit abound
yet more and more in every heart and
home and church in this diocese.
"Affectioaately your bishop.
ALFRED HARDING.
As an example Of the prayers and col
lects referred to the following prayer
for peace is selected:
40 Lord of all power and might. who
didst give Thy blessed Son to be our
peace, look with loving mercy. we be-
seech Thee. upon our brethren. the peo-
pies who are contending in war; turn
the strivings of men to Thy glory;
comfort the sorrowing. the wounded
and the dying; purge all our hearts
Of the evil spirit of selhshness and
greed, and bestow upon the whole
world the gift of Thy peace. which
passeth understanding; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.