Page 7 - TORCH Magazine #25

CUFI ORG UK
7
Full speech by King George VI 6
June 1944:
Now once more a a a a supreme test has to to to to to be faced This time the the challenge is is is not to to to to to to fight fight to to to to to to survive but to to to to to to fight fight to to to to to to win the the the final victory for the the good cause Once again what is is is demanded from us us all is is something more than courage and and endurance we need a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a revival of of spirit a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new new unconquerable resolve After nearly five years of of toil and and and suffering we we must renew that crusading impulse on on which we we entered the war and and and and met its darkest hour We and and and and our our our Allies are sure that our our our our fight is against evil and and and and for a a a a a a a a a a a a a world in in in which goodness and and and honour may be the the foundation of of the the life of of men in in in every land Four years ago our our Nation and Empire stood alone against an an overwhelming enemy with our backs to to the wall Tested as never before in in our history in in God’s providence we survived that test the the spirit of the the people resolute dedicated burned like a a a bright flame lit surely from those unseen fires which nothing can quench That we may be worthily matched with this new summons of destiny I desire solemnly to to call my people to to prayer and dedication We We are not not unmindful of our our own shortcomings past and and present We We shall ask not not that that that God God God may may do do our our will will but that that that we we may may be be enabled to to do do the will will of God: and and we we dare to to believe that that that God God God has used our Nation and and Empire as as an an an instrument for fulfilling his high purpose I hope that throughout the the the present crisis of of of the the the liberation of of of Europe there may be be offered up earnest continuous and and widespread prayer prayer We who remain in in in in in this land can most effectively enter into the the sufferings of of subjugated Europe by by prayer prayer whereby we can can fortify the the the determination of of our sailors soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the the captives free The Queen joins with me me me me in in in sending you this this message She well understands the the anxieties and and and cares of of our womenfolk at at this this time and and and and she she knows that many of of them will find as she she does herself fresh strength and and comfort in in in in such waiting upon God She feels that many women will be be glad in in in this way to to keep vigil with their menfolk as they man man the the the the the ships storm the the the the the beaches and fill the the the the the skies At this historic moment surely not one of us us is is is too too too busy too too too young or or or or too too old to to to to play a a a a a a a a a a a part in a a a a a a a a a a a nationwide perchance a a a a a a a a a a a worldwide vigil of of prayer as the great crusade sets forth If from from from every place of of of worship from from from home and and and and factory from from from men men and and and and women of of all ages and and and and and many races and and and and and occupations our intercessions rise then please God both now and and and in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a future not remote the the predictions of an an an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: “The Lord Lord will will give give strength unto his his people: the the Lord Lord will will give give his his people people the the blessing of peace ”