CHURCH AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2848, 12 August 1916, Page 13

CHURCH AND WAR

CLERGYMAN V.C. ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION OF DEPTFORD'S HERO. There were scenes of great enthusiasm at Deptfotal, when the residents turned out in force to honour Captain the Rov. Edward Noel Meilish, A : .C., foimerly Curate at Deptford Parish Church., Flags were displayed from public buildings, and when the Mayoi and Town Clerk arrived at St. Paul' 3 House, tho residence of the Rector, to fetch Mr. Meilish, a largo crowd had assembled.

A proccssion was then formed of the Mayor and councillors, with Mr. Mollish, and as they drove, through the streets towards the Town Hall hearty cheers were raised by tlio crowds who lined tho streets.

In the Council Chamber a resolution was passed directing that Captain Mellish's gallant deeds should be entered upon the minutes. The Mayor said that on three consecutive days Mr. Meilish weir. ou\. into a perfect inferno of shell fire, machine-gun and rifle fire, and every kind of missile undeterred by any thought of personal safety. He was only actuated by one thought, the saving of life. It was work quito outside the scope of his ordinary duties, and lis deserved the V.C. for every one of tho three days. (Applause.)'

Alderman E. C 4. E. Berryman said it was an object lesson to thoso who appeared bel'oro tho tribunals and said they would not lift a- hand to defend their mothers or sisters.

In a modest reply, Captain Meilish said that people who soldiered with Cockneys always declared they were tho salt of tho earth. They had been pleased to say he had done great things, but lie had learned them from the men he had been living with—they were always doing great things, though they would not believe it if they were told. Theirs was the same old grind day after day—only bravo men could do it.,

"We are a greater nation now than we wero at the beginning of the war, more humble perhaps, but certainly greater," said Captain Mellish. "All tho superficial things are going, and Jingoism is one of the superficial things."

The writer of the "London Letter" published in the "Daily Mail Over- . seas" says Captain Mellish, a modest and jolly young parson, earned a tremendous reputation in tho back streets of Deptford .before ho went to the war, and only carried out in the fighting front tho lessons that many it curate has to practise in London shims. Recently people havo taken to discover what a good sort the Army chaplain really is. _ I heard from Gat lipoli so many stories of quiet heroism and "ood by the chaplains attached to tho British and Australian Forces there that my heart went out to them. I know that very many young fellows who wero not much given to serious thoughts before have been turned to serious tilings by tho good example o/ those chaplains. One of them actually led tho men in a charge armed with nothing but a stick. "I know why you boys followed me," lie chaffed them afterwards. "1 had all your savings in a belt around me, and you did not . want to lose them." Another chaplain lost his life attending to a wounded enemy. A third crept out in No-man's Land between the lines, and amidst, heavy firing attended to our wounded and gave tho dying the final consolations ef religton.