Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-09-07
Zero Hour of aith

Zero Hour OF r attn
Tomorrow is the day designated by
President Roosevelt in procIama-
ton August S-eXactly a month ago
as Gay OF prayer. when AmerI-
cans OF ev,!y creed and denomina-
ton are requested 10 ask God TO
grant to this land and TO the trou-
bled world 4 righteous. enduring
peace.
The President in MS appeal refer
red to the American heritage OF M
dvidual freedom and OF govern
ment." and said that we are eSpe-
cially conscious OF the divine power
and OF our dependence upon Gods
merciful guidance" And with this
consciousness in our hearts it Is
seemly that we should. at time like
this. pray to Almighty God for His
blessing on our country and for the
establishment of just and perma-
nent peace among all the nations of
the world.
Then. naming Sunday, September
s. as a day of prayer for peace, the
President urged the people of the
United States. OF all creedS and de-
nominations. 10 play on that day, IN
their churches or at their homes, on
the high seas or wherever they may
be. beSeeching the Ruler of the Uni
verse to bless our Republic. TO make
us reverentlv grateful for Our heri-
tage and firm in its defense. and to
grant to this land and to the troubled
world righteous. enduring peace.
1t is because America and the
world have ignored ana forgotten
the Ruler Of the Universe. and have
Straved from His Righteousness that
they are in the predicament that to-
DAY is bringing upon them such indie
scribaole suffering and hardship,
and such Wanton destruction Of prop
erty and other material resources.
The Wovld-meaning not geography
but people-haS lost its faith in God,
if indeed as d whole it ever had
such faith 1t possesses mental
acquiescence in the fact of an omni-
potent Providence, but the concep-
ton is Of some distant, far away be-
ing who is concerned but little or
cares only slightly about humanity
or its destiny or future.
There IS an ominouS absence of a
consciousness Of d personal relation
ship with divinity. The void is SO
great that in everyday life there is
small conviction that God is a be-
ing who can De called upon for guild
ance and help There is little inclina-
ton to invoke that succOr except in
times OF crisis or extremity. Rather
the feeling is one of self-Sufficiency
and independence 50 long as things
run smoothly. The result is d stray
ing away from the essential and en-
during things of life and eternity
Temporal and material thrills, cx-
element and indulgences are given
right of way.
And in this hour OF anxiety there
is d very definite proneness to rely
on physical devices for safety, secur-
ity and salvation. These things have
been tried before and have been
found wanting-WoefUlly wanting
They have failed and today fear
stalks the highways and byways of
earth. Men rush to and fro in their
frantic cropping for way of escape
from the horrors that stare them in
the face. In their desperation they
cry to the mountains to fall upon
them.
Men search everywhere for COM
fort except the one place where it
may be found. They still know only
the ways and the methods of their
mammOn. and these are powerleSS
now as always they have been.
A month has passed since the
Presidents proclamation setting aside
tomorrow as a day of prayer fol
peace. In that time there has beer