Produced by David Clarke, Jeannie Howse and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
* * * * *
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's Note: |
| |
| Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has |
| been preserved. |
| |
| Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For |
| a complete list, please see the end of this document. |
| |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
* * * * *
WITH OUR FIGHTING MEN
[Illustration: "WE BESEECH THEE TO HEAR US GOOD LORD."
_See page 57._]
With
Our Fighting Men
THE STORY OF
THEIR FAITH, COURAGE, ENDURANCE
IN THE GREAT WAR
BY
WILLIAM E. SELLERS
_Author of "From Aldershot to Pretoria"_
WITH COLOURED AND OTHER
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM DRAWINGS AND FROM
PHOTOGRAPHS
LONDON
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
4 Bouverie Street & 65 St. Paul's Churchyard
PREFACE
[Illustration]
In sending forth this book I wish to acknowledge the kindness and
co-operation of many friends, new and old, who have made my task easy
and my story, so far as possible, complete.
In the first place, I express my hearty thanks to the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Taylor-Smith, D.D. (the Chaplain General); Revs. E.G.F. Macpherson,
M.A., and F.G. Tuckey (senior Church of England chaplains at the
front); Rev. J.A. M'Clymont, D.D., V.D. (Convener of the Church of
Scotland General Assembly's Committee on Army and Navy chaplains);
Rev. J.H. Bateson (Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Army and Navy
Board); Rev. J.H. Shakespeare, M.A. (Secretary of the Baptist Union of
Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Free Church Army and Navy
Board); Rev. E.L. Watson (senior Free Church chaplain at the front);
General Booth and Brigadier Carpenter (of the Salvation Army); Mr.
A.K. Yapp (General Secretary of the Young Men's Christian
Association); and several others.
In the second place, I acknowledge with gratitude the help I have
received from reports in the _Methodist Recorder_, _Methodist Times_,
_United Free Church of Scotland Record_, _Church Pennant_, _Baptist
Times and Freeman_, _Guardian_, _Guy's Hospital Gazette_, _War Cry_,
and many other papers, to the respective editors of which I tender my
thanks.
I also wish to express my cordial thanks to my colleague, the Rev.
E.G. Loosley, B.D., for the painstaking care with which he has revised
the proofs of my book.
I hope and pray that the story recorded in these pages may quicken
interest in Christian work among soldiers and sailors, and so help to
extend the kingdom of Christ.
W.E.S.
ROCHDALE,
_April 1915_.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
PREFACE iii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii
INTRODUCTION ix
I. AT THE HOME BASE 1
II. EARLY DAYS AT THE FRONT 26
III. AT THE FIGHTING BASE 44
IV. THE MARNE, THE AISNE, YPRES 63
V. THOMAS ATKINS IN THE TRENCHES 79
VI. CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT 100
VII. CHRISTIAN HEROISM 116
VIII. AT THE SIGN OF THE RED CROSS 135
IX. WITH THE GRAND FLEET 153
X. CHAPLAINS DESCRIBE THEIR WORK 171
XI. HEADS OF ARMY WORK AT HOME TELL THE STORY OF
WORK AT THE FRONT 192
XII. WHEN THE MEN COME HOME 207
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
A MOONLIGHT CONSECRATION SERVICE _Frontispiece_
THE MILITARY CROSS: THE NEW DECORATION FOR SPECIAL
GALLANTRY OF OFFICERS p. ix
TO FACE PAGE
WHEN THE LADS DEPART 12
HELPING THE HELPLESS 26
"IT'S A LONG, LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY" 43
BISHOP TAYLOR-SMITH, CHAPLAIN GENERAL, AND OTHER CHAPLAINS 58
BRITISH TRENCHES IN THE AISNE DISTRICT 74
BRITISH SOLDIER COMFORTING A DYING GERMAN 88
A SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE ON THE FIELD 98
IN THE TRENCHES 108
THE BISHOP OF LONDON ADDRESSING MEN OF THE ARMY SERVICE
SERVICE CORPS AT THE FRONT 118
HOT FOOD FOR THE WOUNDED--A NEW FORM OF RED-CROSS
WORK 134
A RESCUE PARTY. GOOD SAMARITANS OF THE BATTLEFIELD 142
AN INCIDENT DURING THE FIGHTING ON THE MARNE 150
A VOLUNTARY SERVICE ON A BATTLESHIP 162
A FIGHT IN THE AIR. BRITISH AIRMAN ATTACKING A GERMAN
MONOPLANE 178
AN INCIDENT IN THE FORET DE LA NIEPPE 190
WHEN THE MEN COME HOME 207
[Illustration: THE MILITARY CROSS.
The New Decoration for Special Gallantry of Officers. Already
several Army Chaplains have won it.]
INTRODUCTION
The story I am about to tell is one of surpassing interest. It is the
story of Christian life, work, and heroism among our troops at the
front.
The soldier is easily moved to good or to evil. In the past evil
influences have been more powerful and more numerous than influences
for good. Our soldiers had been drawn, for the most part, from classes
outside all churches and Christian influences, and the wet canteen had
been the most popular institution in the Army.
For the last twenty-five years, however, the situation has been
altering for the better. The day-school has done its work, and a free
education has accomplished splendid things for the working-man. The
Sunday-school, too, has extended its scope and has of late years been
more efficient than ever before. There has been a steady levelling up
of the people, and the Army has risen with the rest. Said a soldier to
me during the South African war: "They think we are the same as we
used to be, but we are no longer the scum of the earth."
Slowly and surely the work done outside the Army has been reflected
_in_ the Army. The Army Temperance Association, the Soldiers'
Christian Association, the Soldiers' Homes provided by the churches,
and other uplifting organisations have found that they were working on
soil to some extent prepared. The soldier has responded readily to the
appeals made, and the Soldiers' Homes have become as popular as the
canteens, and often more so. A Soldiers' Home in a camp has meant at
once a change for the better. The senior officers have recognised this
fact, and have gladly welcomed every Christian effort on behalf of
their men.
I remember, when Bordon and Longmoor camps were formed, with what joy
my colleagues and I were welcomed by the officer in command.
Everything he had was placed at our disposal, a hut was apportioned to
us, and we furnished it, for the most part, from furniture belonging
to the camp. Everything was very rough in those days, and the roads
well-nigh impassable; but when we got there what a welcome we had! The
late Colonel Gordon, R.E. (nephew of Gordon of Khartoum), lent us his
piano and his wife often played it for us.
I was standing on Petersfield Station platform one night looking sadly
at a group of drunken and half-drunken soldiers, when a
non-commissioned officer came up, and, after saluting, said, "They
would not be like that if you had a Home for them, sir."
By and by it was not only a hut we had, but a permanent Soldiers'
Home, and when it was opened by the Earl of Donoughmore, it became
crowded at once. Brigadier-General Campbell stood our friend through
all those difficult days, and rejoiced as much as we did in the
prosperity of the Home.
It must be remembered also that for many years past there has been an
increasing leaven of Christian men in the Army. The Home to which I
have just referred could not have been the power it became had it not
been for this. I remember a lance-corporal who, so far as he knew, was
the only Christian in his regiment. He used to go out among the solemn
pines at night and pray for his comrades. Soon another joined him
there, and many another, and by the time the Home was opened we had a
company of Christian men ready to work among their fellows.
During my ministry in Aldershot I saw this illustrated in much larger
measure, and the Christian men were, all of them, Christian
missionaries working with great success.
I have already told the story of Christian work during the South
African war in my book "From Aldershot to Pretoria." The story is one
for which all the churches may well thank God. Though that war was
child's play compared with this, the higher war waged--the war for
Christ and His Kingdom--was one of constant victory. Large numbers of
men gave themselves to Christ, and when the war was over remembered
the vows they had vowed to Him.
Now we have witnessed a mobilisation of Christian forces, such as
would have been impossible hitherto. The Chaplaincy Department has
developed into a great and well-organised agency for good. Over two
hundred chaplains are already at the front, and the ministers of all
the churches are busily at work in the camps at home. All the old
Christian and temperance organisations are to the fore, only developed
out of all former knowledge, and the Young Men's Christian Association
has astonished and delighted the whole Christian world.
The Christian men in the Army--more numerous before the war broke out
than they had ever been--are carrying on their noble work and are
constantly receiving additions to their ranks.
We have known for years what Thomas Atkins was like--susceptible as a
child. I have heard sobs all over the room while picture slides of a
little child's story, such as "Jessica's First Prayer," were being
shown. But what will the new army be like? Will it be as susceptible
as the old? Will the men still thrill when the Gospel story is told?
They are different men--men drawn from all classes, actuated by a
common purpose to save their country. Will they think only of that, or
will their hearts also be "strangely warmed" by tidings of their
Saviour's love? Already the answer comes to us "Yes." Never before has
such deep seriousness fallen upon our men, and in their quiet moments,
and even amid the stress of battle, thoughts have turned to Christ and
hearts have been surrendered to Him.
"The truth of the matter is," wrote the Bishop of London, in the
_Times_, after his visit to the front at Easter, "that the realities
of war have melted away the surface shyness of men about religion;
they feel they are 'up against' questions of life and death; and I
have heard of more than one censor who has for the first time realised
the part religion bears in a soldier's life by censoring the
innumerable letters home in which the writers ask for the prayers of
their relations or express their trust in God."
It is the purpose of the following pages to tell, so far as it is
possible, in these early months of the war, something of the Christian
work attempted and accomplished among our men at the front and at sea,
and to answer the questions I have just asked.
WITH OUR FIGHTING MEN
CHAPTER I
AT THE HOME BASE
Enlisting--"Good-bye"--Excitement and Drunkenness--Then came
Kitchener's Army--The Churches gave of their Best--A Canvas
City--Not for Pay, These--What the Churches Did--The Home
Church in the Camp--A Powerful Christian Leaven--Theological
Students Volunteer--What the Boys Did--Organising Religious
Work--Fifty Men Stood Up--The Y.M.C.A. Tents--A Proud
Boast--At Work in the Tents--A Typical Service--The Canadian
Y.M.C.A.--What the Salvation Army is Doing--The Church Army at
Work--Huts of Silence--W.M. Hut Homes and "Glory Rooms"--Hymn
494--Teetotal Soldiers--Lord Kitchener's Message--The Work of
the Navy Chaplains--The Sailors' Homes--Work among the Wounded
in Hospital--Hospital Stories.
A troop train slowly passing through Winchester Station. Heads out of
every window. One great shout by hundreds of eager young lads, "Are we
downhearted?" And then, not waiting for those of us on the platform to
answer, the emphatic response "No!"
Winchester Station looked strange that morning, early in August 1914.
Its dignified quiet had gone. No one would have dreamt that this was
the station of an ancient cathedral city. Armed sentries were posted
at every point of entrance and departure. With fixed bayonets they
guarded the signal-boxes. Their beds were in the waiting-rooms. The
whole station was given up to the military.
And this was not the only case. All down the line it was the same,
while every few yards by the side of the metals, all the way to
Portsmouth and Southampton, soldiers with fixed bayonets were on
guard. Here and there Boy Scouts were assisting, and enjoying
themselves immensely.
Portsmouth Harbour at that time was closed to ordinary traffic. The
few passengers who still ventured to the Isle of Wight, in what should
have been the height of the holiday season, had to betake themselves
to Southampton, and be thankful if after long waiting they could get
across from there.
The Solent was full of troop-ships. We counted over forty at one time
waiting to take troops across, while many more were in Southampton
Water. The Isle of Wight was an armed camp. At night search-lights
played all over it.
What touching farewells there were! Stand on almost any platform and
see--that is if you have the assurance to look on at that which is
sacred. A mother brings her little ones to say good-bye to their
soldier father. An old woman with difficulty slowly comes to the edge
of the platform to give her blessing to her soldier son. A wife is
locked for a few brief moments in a loving embrace.
The father, or son, or husband brushes the sleeve of his tunic across
his eyes, and then, as the train begins to move, says "Good-bye. I'll
soon be back!" And as the train steams out those brave lads ask
again, "Are we downhearted?" and the mothers and wives and
sweethearts, with tears streaming down their faces, strive to answer
"No!"
Those were stirring times at Aldershot. The old scenes at the outbreak
of the war in South Africa were re-enacted, only on a larger scale.
That was mere child's play to this, and every one realised it.
Incessant coming and going as troops gathered from all parts of the
country. Military bands marching detachments to the station on their
way to the front.
At first there was much drunkenness, for this is generally the case
where there is much excitement. But soon a serious feeling crept over
all, and the town grew more sober in every respect. Our troops were
going to fight the greatest military power in the world, and every man
realised that it would be a struggle such as this country had never
known before.
By and by our regular troops had departed, and the "Terriers" began to
come in. A workman-like lot of men these, shaping like good soldiers.
In their thousands they had volunteered for active service, and to
active service after a period of training they should go.
And then came Kitchener's Army. And what an army! The appeal had gone
forth for half a million men, and then for another half million, and
by and by for still another million.
The response was magnificent. Never was our country so great as in
those days when Kitchener's Army was being formed. The rush of
recruits was overwhelming. It seemed as though the whole body of young
men in the country would volunteer.
The churches were to the front in this matter. All suspicion that the
churches would prove unpatriotic was blown to the winds. They had been
training their young people for peace, but when their country was
threatened they were ready for war. They had, many of them, been
strongly opposed to conscription, but it was no conscript army which
was being embodied; it was an army of free Englishmen.
The churches gave of their best. The vicarages and manses of the
country were denuded of their sons. In some Sunday-schools the young
men's classes volunteered to a man. In many places it was only with
great difficulty that the work of the Sunday-schools was carried on,
because the male teachers had enlisted. From the Nottingham Wesleyan
Mission went five hundred young men.
All sorts and conditions of healthy young manhood responded to their
country's call. Kipling's lines, true of the regular army, were
prophetic when applied to Kitchener's Army of those days:
Parson's son, lawyer's son, son of the parish squire,
Garden hand, stable hand, hand from the smithy fire,
Counter boy, office boy, boy from the dock and mine,
Eat together, sleep together, follow the drum in line.
And the young women would have gone too, if they could. It went hard
in those days with a sweetheart who was not disposed to volunteer. And
the young women _did_ go. The rush of volunteer nurses was tremendous
and had to be checked. We shall hear of their good work as we
progress.
Aldershot was taken by storm by Kitchener's Army. At one time there
were a hundred and fifty thousand men in the camp. Seeing that the
barrack accommodation in the camp is not for many more than fifteen
thousand in normal times, it was evident that the only way to meet the
new conditions was to create a canvas city, and a canvas city it
became. There were many miles of tents.
It was a sight indeed to see Kitchener's Army drill. The rush was far
too great to be met by the Army clothing factories, and for many weeks
there were no uniforms, and the men drilled and were drilled by other
men in ordinary civilian clothing.
One could see the varied occupations of the men who had enlisted. Here
is a man, great of girth, who will need to have his size reduced
considerably ere he rushes at German trenches, and he still wears the
leggings with which he trudged across his fields. Here is a man who
evidently a few days ago held in his hand the yardstick with which he
measured his calico. He is bent on sterner work now.
Here, again, is one from the pit and another from the mill, and a
third who looks as though he had been a lawyer or a lawyer's clerk.
And drilling them all is a man who evidently a few days since was
hewing coal from a Welsh mine. He is back to the colours now, but will
have to wait for his transforming uniform.
But all eager, all intense. No work for pay this. "Mercenaries" the
Kaiser called them, but no mercenaries these--England's best and
noblest ready to give their lives for the land they love so well.
It was a happy thought which allowed men who had been accustomed to
live and work together to form their own battalion or regiment; and so
we had the Public School Corps, and the Pals' Brigade, and many
another. Fastidious young men from West End drawing-rooms proved that
they had the hearts of true Englishmen, and worked hard as the rest.
Later on, in one hut were men whose income was said to average L2000 a
year. They were just privates.
From the religious point of view it was a great opportunity. Nearly
every church in the land had sent of its best and had done its best to
honour those who went. "Rolls of Honour," containing the names of
those who had gone from that particular church, hung in the porches.
In many, Sunday by Sunday, the names on the Roll of Honour were read
out and special prayer offered for them.
The young men had left their homes and churches with the voice of
prayer ringing in their ears. They knew that they were going to
serious work and that many of them would never return. The most
careless of them were serious now, and were ready, if the impression
did not pass away, to give themselves not only to their King and
Country, but to the King of Kings.
And right earnestly was the work begun in the Home Church continued in
the camps. These camps were established all over the country, for
Aldershot and Salisbury Plain were altogether inadequate. To all such
camps chaplains were appointed, and, for the first time, the Baptists,
Congregationalists, Primitives and United Methodists, who, except in
the great military centres, had stood out of the Army work, had their
appointed chaplains--not many as yet--but sufficient to show that they
also felt the need and were ready to do the work. They have since
joined forces for this service, and are carrying on their united work
by Free Church chaplains.
The entry of the Free Churches into the Army work is of such general
interest that I asked the Rev. J.H. Shakespeare, M.A., Secretary of
the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, to send me a brief
account of the facts. Mr. Shakespeare replied under date of February
10, 1915.
"Up to ten years ago, the sentiment among Baptists and
Congregationalists was not very sympathetic towards the Army, and
there was no provision on the Attestation Sheet for the entry of men
as belonging to these two denominations. I then secured a column for
this purpose, which has been in use ever since, but I do not think it
has been very effective.
"When the war broke out, our churches were practically unanimous in
their support of the Government. At that time about three thousand
troops were entered under our two denominations. I went to see the
late Mr. Percy Illingworth, who interested himself very warmly in the
proper recognition of Baptists and Congregationalists. Large numbers
of our young men began to enlist. The Rev. R.J. Wells and I, through
interviews at the War Office, secured that orders were sent out
directing that men were to be entered according to their religious
professions. Mr. Lloyd George brought the matter under the notice of
Lord Kitchener, who strongly resented any sort of sectarian unfairness
and wished our recruits to have the same facilities as those of other
denominations. Meanwhile, Mr. Wells and I collected the names and
regiments of Baptist and Congregational recruits, with the result that
we are able to announce the following figures, though more than a
third of our churches have made no reply:--
Bloomsbury 113
Hampstead, Heath Street 92
Plaistow, Barking Road 400
Hornsey, Ferme Park 160
Peckham, Rye Lane 116
Glasgow, Hillhead 210
"In spite of what had been done, a great mass of certified evidence
began to reach us that recruiting sergeants were refusing to enter our
recruits as Baptists or Congregationalists, but were putting them down
to some other church. Of this we have exact evidence. Further orders
were then issued by the War Office that this must not be done.
"At the beginning of the war there were only two Baptist Chaplains to
the Forces--Rev. F.G. Kemp at Aldershot, and Rev. J. Seeley at
Woolwich. The War Office now asked our Army Board to nominate
additional provisional chaplains, both for home camps and for the
Expeditionary Force, and, in addition, that ministers should be
appointed for any place where there was a considerable body of troops
as 'officiating clergymen,' still carrying on their churches, but
having the right to hold church parade, visit in camp, hospitals, &c.
Of these a large number have been appointed. In addition,
Congregational chaplains were appointed.
"The next stage was that we were approached from the Primitive
Methodist and United Methodist Churches asking to be grouped with us
for Army and Navy purposes. The result has been the formation of a
United Army and Navy Board for the four denominations, and our
chaplains and officiating clergymen have charge of soldiers and
sailors belonging to these four churches.
"The next step was that an appeal was made by the Rev. R.J. Wells, for
the Congregationalists, and myself, for the Baptists, for an 'Army
Tent and Chaplain Fund,' the result being that we have raised a
sufficient sum to enable us to erect permanent institutes or huts with
chaplains, or 'officiating clergymen,' in about half a dozen camps.
The Primitive Methodists and United Methodists are taking the same
course, and together we shall shortly have a considerable number of
such huts available.
"Concurrently with this we have succeeded in securing appointments for
'officiating clergymen' and chaplains for the Navy and at naval
stations, though some of our chaplains hold a double position, both to
the Army and Navy."
From the character of the response it was evident that there was a
powerful Christian leaven working in the Army itself.
To begin with, there was a wholesale offer by Christian ministers for
chaplaincy work. Not a tithe of the offers could be accepted, and then
was witnessed a sight such as has never been seen before. As they
could not be accepted as chaplains, a large number of ministers of
religion enlisted as private soldiers, and these from practically all
the churches.
Certainly the proposal that the clergy should volunteer as combatants
was not favoured by the ecclesiastical authorities. The Archbishop of
Canterbury recognised the _prima facie_ arguments used by the younger
clergy in support of such action, but concluded that fighting was
incompatible with Holy Orders.
However, many, with the Archbishop's consent, enlisted in the Army
Medical Corps, and are devoting themselves to the sick and wounded.
Among the Wesleyans, the matter was left to the judgment of the men
concerned. Some enlisted in line regiments, but the majority also
entered the Army Medical Corps. In one barrack room of the R.A.M.C. at
Aldershot, we hear of five Church of England curates and one Wesleyan
minister. So far as we know the other Free Churches adopted the same
line as the Wesleyans.
The Theological Colleges were not slow to follow the example of the
ministers, in fact in many cases they led the way. Both in this
country and in Scotland a large proportion of the students
volunteered--so many in fact that it has become a serious matter for
the immediate future of the churches.
The Church of England has been suffering from a dearth of candidates
for its ministry for years past, and, as the _Times_ says: "The great
reduction caused by the war may quite seriously affect the Church's
efficiency." However, these young men evidently thought that they
might serve their Church and its Divine Lord as well in the ranks as
in the pulpit, and might serve their country at the same time, and
they went.
This was a new army--new in every respect. Never before had Christian
ministers and young men in training for the ministry volunteered, in
any numbers, as private soldiers; but the call had been imperative,
and they were out to save their country. They took their religion with
them and made it felt.
Still another great work for the Army has been done by the Christian
churches. In an important article in the _Times_ of January 1915 we
were told:
"It is impossible to give an adequate account of the valuable work
done by the different churches in providing men for the Army through
the various Lads' Brigades and Boy Scouts. The Boys' Brigade is the
senior and largest of these organisations; it has many branches
throughout the Empire, with a present total strength of 115,000. Many
of its members have enlisted. The Church Lads' Brigade had in 1913 a
membership of 60,000, besides two junior organisations, the Church
Scout Patrols and the Church Lads' Brigade Training Corps. It has also
contributed a very large number of recruits. In London the Diocesan
Church Lads' Brigade, which forms part of the Cadet Force of the
country, sent practically every officer eligible and nearly every
cadet of seventeen years of age to join the regular forces soon after
the declaration of war. Many of these have been in action, and the
following casualties have been reported: Killed, two; wounded,
thirty-two; missing, six; invalided, five; prisoners, two. These Boys'
Brigades have become very popular. Besides those already mentioned
there are the Jewish Lads' Brigade, the Catholic Boys' Brigade, the
Boys' Life Brigade, and the Boys' Naval Brigade. Three of the new
V.C.'s have been won by former Brigade lads. On behalf of all these
admirable organisations the Lord Mayor of London has issued an appeal
for financial support, pointing out that 225,000 of those now serving
with the colours have been prepared for their work by one or other of
these organisations."
The Government heartily backed the efforts of the churches. In
addition to the chaplains of all denominations, others for whom no
appointments could be found were allowed to go to France at their own
or their friends' expense, to render to the soldiers what spiritual
help they could.
Services for the men in training were organised everywhere. Schools,
vicarages, and manses were turned into temporary soldiers' homes.
Wherever they came, the men found the churches ready to receive them.
They supplied them with literature to read and with writing materials,
provided refreshments, organised religious services, and did their
best, not only to cater for their social needs, but to enlist them
into the Army of Jesus Christ.
Numbers of the soldiers were preachers too, and supplied the pulpits
of the Free Churches where they were stationed. They occupied choir
stalls, taught in Sunday-schools, and generally helped to carry on the
work of the churches. Many of these Christian lads were themselves
unofficial chaplains among their comrades.
At Aldershot and the other great military centres, the work of the
churches was naturally of the best. Never was the opportunity so
great, and never was the response so rapid.
Take, for instance, the report that comes to us from Grosvenor Road
Wesleyan Military Church, Aldershot. Grosvenor Road Church dominates
the town. It is a noble Gothic building, its tower visible for many
miles. It is locally known as the "Wesleyan Church of England." It is,
of course, customary for it to be crowded at the Parade services, but
now it was thronged with soldiers at the voluntary services also.
Wesley Hall at the back and the Soldiers' Home Lecture Hall at the
side were thronged at the same time. On one Sunday evening, when the
appeal was made for decision for Christ, fifty men stood up in the
midst of eleven or twelve hundred of their comrades, to avow that they
did then and there give themselves to Christ. It was no easy matter
for a soldier to do, but it was done, and similar scenes were enacted
on many occasions.
[Illustration: _Drawn by Arthur Twidle._
WHEN THE LADS DEPART.
One of Kitchener's army salutes his mother as he leaves.]
Let no one suppose, however, that this was the only place where
decisions for Christ were registered. Nearly all the churches could
make some such statement, though perhaps they could not speak of such
large numbers. Never a night passed but some soldiers gave themselves
to Christ, in the "Glory Rooms" of the various soldiers' homes. The
chaplains and the Army Scripture readers were busy all day and often
far into the night: by day visiting the men in barrack room and tent,
in the evening conducting services for them, and at night writing
letters on their behalf.
It is impossible to chronicle such work as this. Much of it is too
sacred to be told. Many of the best workers are the slowest to speak
of their work, and where all did their best--their _very_ best--it is
invidious to mention names. But on every hand we hear of spiritual
results surpassing all previous experience in work among
soldiers--work which the Great Day will declare.
It must be borne in mind that the men were ready for this spiritual
work. The times were serious and they were serious too. It must also
be borne in mind that splendid preparatory work had been done in the
churches and Sunday-schools of our land. And now that the spiritual
need was felt, the response was rapid, and the Sunday-school teacher
far away reaped the result of his labour.
I turn now to another class of work, the work of the Young Men's
Christian Association. For many years the Y.M.C.A. has been identified
with social and Christian work in the Army. It has had its tents
wherever soldiers have gathered for their training, and during the
South African War it rendered most efficient and appreciated service.
Since the outbreak of the present war it has to a large extent
suspended its ordinary work, in order that it might establish a system
of recreation tents and reading rooms in all the naval and military
camps. It is the boast of the Association that it has not refused a
single request for a tent, and by the end of March 1915 it had 700
centres in different training camps, each with its wooden "hut" or
canvas tent.
Not only are they in England, but in Scotland and Ireland, and by and
by upon the Continent also. When the Canadians came they found the
Y.M.C.A. ready to receive them. Six buildings were erected for their
use, and the largest of these measured a hundred feet by thirty, with
wooden walls and floor, and a canvas roof.
Coffee is served in these extemporised Soldiers' Homes from five
o'clock in the morning to the end of the day. Everything that it is
possible to do for the soldiers' comfort is done. In one of these
tents 5000 letters were written and posted in one week. In the
evenings "Singsongs" are arranged, and hundreds of thousands of a
popular Christian songbook have been sold. Literature, largely
provided by such agencies as the Religious Tract Society, abounds.
On Sundays the "Homes" are given over to the ministrations of the
chaplains. All denominations are welcome, and the freedom of the
buildings is also allowed for services to the Roman Catholics and the
Jews.
Over 3000 voluntary helpers have taken part in this work as well as
the staff of the National Headquarters, while 95 per cent, of the
general secretaries throughout the country have acted as supervising
agents. We do not wonder that the Association has received the thanks
of the Government.
May I describe one service in a Y.M.C.A. tent? It is Sunday evening.
The various Parade services of the morning have been held, the Church
of England in the open air, and the Congregationalists and Wesleyans
in the tent. But now a sergeant is in charge, and for half an hour he
allows the men to choose what hymns they like, and right heartily do
they sing. But now an Anglican archdeacon is on the platform, and with
eager words and practical advice is urging the soldiers to live as
Christian gentlemen. Then follows a Wesleyan minister with many a
story and many an appeal. Then a Congregationalist minister, in
quieter vein but with restrained earnestness. There are Christian
songs between the addresses and many an audible response from the
"Tommies" to the word of exhortation spoken. It is a re-union of the
churches, proving that at heart they are all one in Christ Jesus, and
it is made possible by the work of the Y.M.C.A.
In the case of the Canadians, the Y.M.C.A. is actually a part of the
military force, and that is a remarkable thing. Six of the Canadian
officers of the Association in the first contingent were at the same
time officers in the Canadian Army, and were told off to the service
of the Y.M.C.A., but they were none the less officers for that. In
this way the Association is recognised, and the officers can go with
the men right into the trenches, and do. Fine men were these first
six officers, four of them with the infantry brigades, one with the
cavalry, and one with the artillery.
The Salvation Army is also doing this work in its own way, but on a
smaller scale. Writing to the _Times_ in October 1914, Commissioner
Higgins said: "We have established centres of work by permission of
the authorities in about forty camps, and others are in course of
preparation. We have many indications that the men highly appreciate
what is being done. In one centre alone, on one day recently, we
received 2000 letters for men in camp.
"In addition to personal help--which is so valuable when men are
separated from their families and friends--there are opportunities for
reading and writing, simple recreation and rest, and we are, so far as
possible, holding bright and happy meetings, where men who know
something of the power of Christ are able to urge upon their comrades
the love and service of God. It seems to us that these cannot but be
of the highest advantage to the men when they come to face those
dreadful ordeals which must lie before many of them. Salvation Army
officers have been appointed by the authorities concerned as chaplains
for various units, both in the forces coming from Canada and New
Zealand."
Everyone who knows anything of Christian work in the British Army
knows how efficient is the service rendered by the Salvation Army, and
its Salvation soldiers are always at work bringing other soldiers to
Christ.
The Church Army is, and also has been, at work. Prebendary Wilson
Carlile reports that it has supplied tents in a number of the larger
stations, tents which were welcomed everywhere, and in which the same
class of work has been done as in those of the Y.M.C.A. The "Lord
Kitchener" tent in Hyde Park, close to the Marble Arch, has proved to
be an admirable institution, and has afforded an object lesson as to
how this work should be done.
At the request of Bishop Taylor Smith, the Chaplain General, a new
departure in Christian work among the troops has been taken. In twelve
different camps small chapels have been built, each 30 feet by 20
feet. In each chapel are a Lord's Table and chairs, and there is a
small room, 5 feet by 8 feet, for interviews with the chaplain. These
chapels are called "Huts of Silence" and are intended for quiet
meditation and prayer. It is a new experiment and will be watched with
much interest. Tommy is a gregarious creature, and how he will take to
silence remains to be seen. There is, however, opportunity for all
classes of Christian work in the ever-growing British Army.
In connection with the Army work of the Wesleyan Methodist Church,
Soldiers' Homes have long played a conspicuous part. Before the war
broke out that church had already spent L154,420 on providing
forty-one such homes in different parts of the Empire, twenty of these
being in England.
Always full in peace time, these homes have of course been overcrowded
in time of war, and scores of temporary homes have been brought into
use in all the great centres. Soon after the war broke out an appeal
was made for L5000 to erect tent or hut homes in all the camps. It has
had a noble response, and the work is succeeding beyond expectation.
In each of these homes there is a "Glory Room." The name comes from
the Mother Home at Aldershot, and they call it so because
Heaven comes down their souls to meet
And glory crowns the mercy-seat.
No pressure is brought to bear on any soldier to enter the Glory Room.
There are the reading rooms, games room, refreshment room as
everywhere else, but night by night an increasing number of lads find
their way into the Glory Room. There prayer is wont to be made, and
Sankey's hymn-book, loved of the Christian soldier, is in evidence.
Never a night passes but some soldier lad comes home to God, and
"Glory crowns what grace has begun."
Every night the gathering ends with the Christian soldier's
watchword--"494." Years before the South African War it was used among
our Christian lads. It went right through South Africa. As company
passed company on the march, a Christian man in one company would
shout "494," and if there were a Christian in the passing company he
would respond "494." Sometimes the response varied and instead would
come the ringing shout, "Aye, lad, and six further on." Thus the
Christian soldier's watchword rang out from the Cape to Pretoria. And
it has been ringing right through this war.
So every meeting in the Glory Room of a Wesleyan Soldiers' Home closes
with it. If you turn to Sankey's hymn-book you will find that "494" is
"God be with you till we meet again," and "six further on" is "Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine." Thus our lads cheer each other in times of
difficulty and danger.
I must not forget to mention the little Red Books and Blue Books
which, to the number of 60,000, have been distributed to all Wesleyan
soldiers and sailors in the Expeditionary Forces. These, which contain
hymns and prayers, have been compiled by the Rev. F.L. Wiseman and are
greatly appreciated by the men. Also a "Housewife" has been given to
every man, containing all things necessary for patching, darning, and
mending.
But every church has cared for its men, if not in these, in other
ways, and the men have been loaded with comforts. I have singled out
the Wesleyan Soldiers' Homes for special mention, because that church
has made this work a speciality, and has homes now in every great
military or naval centre throughout the Empire. But it must not be
forgotten that the Church of England has its "Institutes" also, and
that the Presbyterian Church is just beginning this work. Miss
Daniel's Soldiers' Home at Aldershot has for many years rendered good
service.
Perhaps this is the best time to speak of Temperance work in the Army,
for it is another form of Christian service.
Temperance principles had been rapidly leavening the Army years before
the outbreak of war. We are apt to forget that we have a new army, an
army educated in our Council schools and Sunday-schools, and most of
its men have been under Christian influence. Before the war broke out,
over forty per cent. of our Army in India were members of the Army
Temperance Association, and in this country, though the percentage of
members was lower, that magnificent institution was rejoicing in great
success. There was still a "tail" to the British Army, a long and
unwholesome tail, but it was growing shorter and more wholesome each
year.
Since the war commenced it has grown shorter still. Temperance work
has been done everywhere. The Army Temperance workers are in all the
homes, and the fruit of their work is seen on every hand.
The decree of the Czar of Russia prohibiting the sale of vodka gave a
great impetus to British Temperance work, and perhaps Lord Kitchener
gave as great if not an even greater stimulus.
Lord Kitchener's message to the Expeditionary Force on its departure
for France may in part be quoted: "In France and Belgium you are sure
to meet with a welcome, and to be trusted. Your conduct must justify
that welcome and that trust. Your duty cannot be done unless your
health is sound, so keep constantly on your guard against any excess.
In this new experience you may find temptation in wine.... You must
entirely resist temptation."
Lord Kitchener also issued a strong appeal to the British public,
urging them not to treat our soldiers to intoxicating drink, and his
entreaty was backed by strong measures in many camps.
At the request of the naval and military authorities the Home
Secretary (Mr. McKenna) carried through Parliament a measure giving to
licensing justices in any district, upon the recommendation of the
chief officer of police, the power temporarily to restrict the sale,
consumption, and supply of intoxicating liquors on licensed premises
and in clubs.
Add to all this the immense work of the churches and various
temperance associations, and there is no wonder that we have new men
in a new army.
I turn now for a few moments to work among the men of the Navy. Not so
much could be done for them as for our soldier lads. Church of
England chaplains were, of course, on the larger ships, but room
could not be found for the chaplains of other churches. All the
records tell of splendid work done by the chaplains on board.
And when from their life on the ocean wave the men came in for brief
periods to the home ports, the chaplains on shore rejoiced in the
opportunity of service. Everywhere services were arranged--services on
board ship, and services on shore. All sorts of literature was
provided. Comforts, in the shape of warm garments made by loving hands
at home, were distributed.
The Sailors' Homes were open to them, and were thronged during the
brief periods when they could be used by the men. Special mention must
be made of the splendid work done by Miss Agnes Weston for many years.
It must not be forgotten that long before the outbreak of war
Christian and Temperance work had been as fruitful in the Navy as in
the Army. But the war has made such work still more effective.
On board ship the Christian men were always ready for prayer. The Rev.
R.H. Hingley tells that one day he had been conducting a brief service
on a cruiser, and as he was waiting for his boat, man after man came
up to him and suggested a prayer meeting. It was a newly commissioned
ship and many of the men who gathered to the prayer meeting confessed
Christ for the first time.
At sea these men congregate every evening for prayer in the chaplain's
room, but often that room is too small, and more commodious quarters
have to be sought.
Mr. Hingley tells of a letter he has received from a sailor saint. "We
have taken the ninety-first Psalm as our special song. How grand it
is to be sure, and how true have we proved it to be!" Thus many of our
Christian sailor lads go down to the sea in ships singing as they go,
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty," and so they are not afraid "for the
terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day." Christ has
many witnesses among our sailors in the North Sea.
It was not long before another class of service came to those at the
Home Base, viz. the work among the wounded in the hospitals. This war
has brought the fact of war home to every one.
Not long was it before the hospitals already in use were all too small
for the numbers of wounded drafted from the front, and hospitals
sprang up in all the great centres of population. For weeks
preparations had been made. Red Cross amateur nurses and St. John's
Ambulance nurses had been completing their training. Medical men had
volunteered their services, and ministers of religion of all
denominations were ready to do what they could for the spiritual needs
of the men.
The opportunity was golden. Never had there been one like it before.
These men had come through the Valley of Death. They were ready to
think and pray. Says one chaplain:
"Again and again, while going through the wards, men have said, 'I
shall be a different man after this, sir.' They have told us of their
life in the trenches and of the prayers they have made while the
bullets have been flying about them. Said one: 'I know this--on the
field I prayed hard, more than ever I prayed before.' Another man
speaks of the peace he had when facing death. 'I remembered those
words in one of the Psalms--"A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten
thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee"--and God
brought me through.'"
Multiply this story a thousandfold and we shall see what the war has
done for men, and also realise how easy it has been to lead soldiers
thus impressed into fellowship with our Lord. A loving work is this,
requiring ministry tender and true, but it has been done and done
right nobly. Men who had learnt not to be afraid of death have learnt
also how to live.
In Denmark Hill Hospital a wounded man told this story to the Rev. A.
Bingham. A young soldier was mortally wounded in one of the great
battles. When he realised that he was dying he began to sing. Faintly
but clearly he sang:
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
. . . . . .
Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In Life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Far away from loved ones--far from home--wounded to the death, the
soldier found in the love and presence of Jesus his Saviour and
friend, rest and peace. And his comrade in the hospital remembered his
dying song and passed it on that it might become a message to many
another when they too came to die--
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
One more hospital story will suffice. It is of a different order from
the last, but it reveals Thomas Atkins as he really is.
The wife of the local colonel was making the round of a hospital and
paused at the bedside of a wounded soldier, who evidently hailed from
the North of England. He was toying with a helmet, apparently a trophy
of war.
"Well," said the lady, "I suppose you killed your man?"
"Well, naw," quietly responded the soldier. "You see it was like this.
He lay on the field pretty near me with an awfu' bad wound an'
bleedin' away somethin' terrible. I was losin' a lot of blood too fra'
my leg, but I managed to crawl up to him, an' bound him up as well as
I could, an' he did the same for me. Nawthin' o' coorse was said
between us. I knew no German an' the ither man not a word o' English,
so when he'd dun, not seein' hoo else tae thank him, I just smiled,
an' by way o' token handed him my Glengarry, an' he smiled back an'
giv' me his helmet."
Thus Thomas Atkins has shown how to fight his enemy and to love him
too.
* * * * *
This, then, in brief outline, is the story of Christian work at the
Home Base during the early stages of the war.
Chaplains or acting chaplains everywhere, Scripture readers, Y.M.C.A.
workers, voluntary workers, all sorts and conditions of workers.
Bright, cheery services every evening. Loving appeals for decision for
Christ--appeals which have been responded to by thousands of our lads.
Centres for thought and rest and recreation everywhere. The need has
been great, and the need has been supplied by people moved to
self-sacrifice as never before.
Few families but have had some members in either Navy or Army, and as
parents have said good-bye to their sons they have known that a hearty
Christian welcome awaited them where they went, and that they might
safely leave them to the kindly ministry of willing hearts and hands.
The motto of everyone, high and low, has been _Ich dien_--I serve.