prayers | Songs of Hope

On 1Jan1901, our nation was born in a ceremony in Centennial Park in Sydney. It was before thousands of people. Our first Prime Minister was sworn in, as was our first Governor General. Our constitution was adopted. Archbishop William Smith of Sydney presided and prayed this prayer of committal for our new nation.

In the packed Centennial Park Lord Hopetoun, the Goveror-General elect, the primate of the Sydney’s Church of England, Archbishop William Smith, the new Prime Minister Edmund Barton, and other dignitaries gathered in the specially constructed pavillion.

The choir of St Andrews church sang the hymn “O God our help in ages past”.

The crowd stood with bared heads. With deep intonation Archbishop Smith then read the prayers for the Commonwealth:

“O Lord God Almighty, high above all height, Whose life-time is eternity, we Thine unworthy servants give Thee most humble and hearty thanks for all Thy goodness and loving-kindness.

“We glorify Thee in that Thou hast been pleased in Thy providence to unite Australia in bonds of brotherly love and concord, and in one Commonwealth, under our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Victoria.

“We beseech Thee, grant unto this union Thy grace and heavenly benediction; that a strong people may arise to hallow Thy name, to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly before Thee in reverence and righteousness of life.

“Furthermore, we pray Thee to make our Empire always a faithful and fearless leader among the nations in all that is good; and to bless our Queen, and those who are put in authority under her – more especially in this land. Let Thy wisdom be their guide, strengthen them in uprightness, direct and rule their hearts that they may govern according to Thy Holy Will; and vouchsafe that all things may be so ordered and settled upon the best and surest foundations that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be deepened and increased among us; and that we, Thy people, may perpetually praise and magnify Thee from generation to generation.

“Blessed be Thy Name for ever and ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Then followed the prayer for the Governor-General, and the Lord’s Prayer.

The supreme moment had arrived. Guns boomed forth a salute proclaiming to the world, as Lord Hopetoun signed his name, that he had assumed his official duties and was invested with all the powers conferred by the new constitution. A new nation had been born.

Te Deum Laudamus, a hymn of Christian praise and affirmation of God and Christ, was then sung.

After swearing in of the Prime Minister and Australia’s federal cabinet, the ceremonies then came to an end.

Celebrations went on in Sydney for two weeks and there were celebrations in all states. On 9^th May that year 1901, the first Federal Parliament was opened in Melbourne.