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A Day of Prayer

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 39.

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A Day of Prayer

By I. H. EVANS

THE civilized world is bowed with sorrow and stricken with grief. War,—wanton, wasteful, destructive war—is devastating the nations of Europe; the best blood of the nations is being recklessly spilled. In its far-reaching effects all classes, from the prattling child to the aged grandparent, are made to suffer.
Since the world's history began, there has never been such a mighty, Titanic struggle, so widespread, and involving such vast numbers of men, as the one now going on in Europe. Its paralyzing effects are not confined to the nations at war. The commerce of the world is upset. Travel by sea is made unsafe; food products cannot be marketed; and many are suffering for the common necessities of life. The banks of many nations have declared a moratorium; stock exchanges have been peremptorily closed; and the governments have been perplexed beyond measure to know how to preserve credit, and to safeguard the interests of the people during these trying times.
Our own people in Europe have been seriously affected. More than fifteen thousand believers in the message are directly involved, and many others will be compelled to suffer. Not a few of our ministers in Europe have had to cease their ministry, and instead of preaching “on earth peace, good will toward men,” have been asked by their respective governments to assist in the terrible conflict. Our colporteurs are prevented, or at least seriously hindered, from selling the message-laden literature; our sanitariums have been emptied of patients; and our aggressive work in Europe has been generally jeopardized.
The severe news censorship enforced by the nations at war keeps the outside world in ignorance of real conditions in the direct war zone. We know but little of the situation at the present time, and are unable to give details concerning our people. But the government of the United States considers the situation both at home and abroad so grave that the President has issued a proclamation designating Sunday, October 4, “a day of prayer and supplication.”
It is always the privilege and duty of God's people to seek him for deliverance in times of peril and calamity, as well as to offer thanksgiving and praise to him in days of peace and prosperity. While in Babylon, with his people in captivity, the prophet Daniel set himself to fast and pray, supplicating the Lord for deliverance. In the days of Ahasuerus and Mordecai, when the decree had been sent forth that the Jews should be slain, God's people proclaimed a solemn fast, and prayed to the Lord for deliverance. The same God still lives and is moved by the united supplications of his people.
Since the European war broke out, several of our leading men have urged that the General Conference Committee appoint a time of fasting and prayer. Influenced by these suggestions, and feeling the need of this season of devotion, the members of the General Conference Committee in Washington have appointed Sabbath, October 5, as a day of prayer and supplication for our people. The action of the General Conference Committee reads as follows:—
“Voted, That the chairman be requested to make a call in the REVIEW for the observance of a day of special prayer and fasting, suggesting that, in the spirit of the President's note, our people devote the first Sabbath in October to this cause, praying for our brethren and sisters involved in the trouble in Europe, and in behalf of the cause and the work there, as well as for the winds of strife to be restrained; also that the suggestion be made that where our people have special services on Sunday, this matter be also remembered on that day.”
In harmony with the above recommendation, we urge our people everywhere to make Sabbath, October 3, a day of special prayer and supplication. Those of our people who have meetings on Sunday will also make this occasion a season of seeking God that his will may be done on earth, and that the preaching of the gospel be not hindered.
The purpose and object of this season of prayer in general cannot be better set forth than in the words of the proclamation of the President of the United States:—
“There to unite their petitions to Almighty God that, overruling the counsel of men, setting straight the things they cannot govern or alter, taking pity on the nations now in the throes of conflict, in his mercy and goodness showing a way where men can see none, he vouchsafe his children healing peace again and restore once more that concord among men and nations without which there can be neither happiness nor true friendship nor any wholesome fruit of toil or thought in the world; praying also to this end that he forgive us our sins, our ignorance of his holy will, our willfulness and many errors, and lead us in the paths of obedience to places of vision and to thoughts and counsels that purge and make wise.”
Our people should also remember the brethren in Europe who are suffering the calamities of this war, and pray that God will remove all hindering causes, that the preaching of the message may go forward. The brethren in Europe have urged that we remember them in our prayers. Many must be helped financially. We fear some have already lost all their earthly possessions; others have suffered much because of requisitions made upon them by those in authority; while nearly all believers in the message will experience great difficulty in living the truth, under the existing conditions, and will find it difficult to prosecute the work of the third angel's message as heretofore. We trust that our people generally will endeavor to observe this day of fasting and prayer. I. H. EVANS.