CHURCH AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 14

CHURCH AND WAR

SONS OF CLERGY AT THE FRONT AN INSPIRING RECORD. The Rev. Duncan- Cameron, of Kilsyth, has compiled a book, "Sons of tho Manse: Muster Roll of those who answered their King and Country's Call to Arms in the Great War, 1914-1915." Mr. Cameron shows'that 90 per cent, of the sons of tho Manses of the Church of Scotland who have attained military age are now serving ill the Army and Navy. This is a splendid record. Professor Nicol writes a preface, in which he says justly that these' sons of tho manse —brave, intelligent, unselfish, God-fearing—aro a strength to the forces they have joined. "The Manses of Scotland have long been recognised as homes of plain ' living and high thinking, and much disinterested service of the community. They havo been seed-plots of learning and culture, and from them have gone forth sons and daughters who have attained to eminence in scholarship and literature, in.tho public service of their country, and in the various professions open to tfhem." The King and Loid Kitchener have expressed their warm appreciation of the fine example which has been shown. The "British Weekly" says: "We believe that the figures of tho United, Free Church are almost or altogether as honourable. We note that from many Manses three sons have gone out."

At a meeting in London the Archbishop of Armagh was warmly congratulated on the fact that his eldest son, who commands a howitzer battery and has been in every, engagement since the war began, had received the coveted D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry and coolness. The Archbishop said his son was not a man to talk a great deal, about religious matters, but ho had 6cnt for and greatly valued Gospels which he had had distributed among his men.

The King, having been informed that the Rev. H. H. Willmott, of Rivenhall Rectory, Witham, Essex, has five sous serving in the Army, has forwarded to the father a letter congratulating the family upon "having contributed in so full a measure 'to the great cause for which all the people of the British Empire are so bravely fighting." Out of a population of 626, tho Rivenhall parish has sent 80 men to the colours.

A correspondent of the ' "British Weekly" writes: "Regarding the splendid record of the Church at Berlin, Ont., recorded in your issuo of April 22, permit me to report the following: The congregation at Bethamy English Congregational Church, Tylorstown, South Wales, numbers about 150. Out of this number eighty-four have joined various regiments in the King's Army. The respected pastor of this church is tho Rev. Tlios. Evans, who has ministered here for over twenty years."

Tho "United. Free Church Record" publishes a Second list of sons of ministers serving their King and country. Among them is Lieut. A. It. MacEwen, son of Professor A. 11. MacEwen, D.D., Moderator-electj two sons of tho Rot. Dr. P. R. Mackay, both in the Cameron Highlouders; four sons of .the Rov. Dr. M'Neiil, of .Orkney; two sons of Professor Maxtin, D.D.; three sons of the Rev. E. T. Vernon, of Arbirlot; threo sons of the Rov. Charles Runciman, of Orkney; two sons of the Rev. Dr. Young, Home Mission secretary; and three sons of the Rev. Principal Whyte. _ Mr. G..A, Whyte is 2nd Lieutenant in tho 4th Scottish Horse, Mr.. R. D. Whyte is-2nd Lieutenant in'tho 3rd Black Watoli, and Mr. A. ,F. Why to is Temporary Lieutenant, R.N:B.R.

Tho Tabernacle English Baptist Chapel, Swansea, has made a fine contribution to the British ranks. In the Bible Class . conducted by ■ the pastor, the Rev. R. J. Willoughby, there is a membership of 160, and out of this number between 60 and 70 have joined the colours. Tho minister is keeping in touch with almost every man., ,

Tho Roll of, Honour of Mayfield congregation, Edinburgh, now numbers 301 names. Out of 197' young men who havo gone from Finnieston Church, Glasgow, .ten have already' laid down their lives.—"British Weekly."

Among the sons of Anglican clergy whoso names have been added to.tho Roll of Honour recently, aro Captain Goold Adams, only son of the Archdeacon of. Derry; Major Finch, D.5.0., 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment, son of tho Rev. T. R. Finch, of Penwortham Hall, Preston; Captain and Adjutant Weatherhead, 2nd Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment, son of the late Canon Weatherhead, of Seacombe; Captain Abbay, attached to the 47th Sikhs, son of Canon Abbay, of Earl Soham Rectory, Suffolk; Captain Andrews, S'.M.L.I., son of the late Rev. J. M. Andrews, Vicar of Highgato; Lieutenant Bird, 6th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, son of the Rev. H. G. Bird, Rector of Newdigate, Surrey; Second Lieutenant Sorby, 3rd Monmouthshire Regiment (T.F.), son of the Rev. A. E. Sorby, Rector of Darfield ; Barusloy; Lieutenant Braithwaite, Vicar and Rural Dean of Croydon; Second Lieutenant Wingfield Dickenson, only son of the Rev. F. Wingfield DickeiiSon, Rccton. of Inworth, Kelvedon.

Several of the English Bishops have already lost sons in tho war. .The Bishops of Hereford, St. Asaph, Buckingham, and Ossory, and Bishop Fyson (late of Hokkaido), have been thus bereaved. Two sons of the late Bishop Atlay,'of Herefore, have also lost their lives, as well as two Rrandsons of the late Bishop Bickersteth, of Exeter, and a nephew of both the Archbishop of Armagh and of the Bishop of Soufliwell.