CHURCH AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2860, 26 August 1916, Page 6

CHURCH AND WAR

THE CRADOCK MEMORIAL MR. BALFOUR ON THE AD MIRAL'S NOBLE ACT.

A memorial to Admiral Cradock, who perished in tho naval action off Coionel on November 1, 1914, was unveiled in York Minster by the Marquess of Zetland. The late Admiral was a. Yorkshireman, and the movement for tho erection of the memorial was started in response to requests from Yorkshiremeu that his action off Ooronel should he commemorated in a permanent form. The memorial, consisting of a mural tablet, is placed under the old chiming clock at the south eiid of tho north transept. It is the work of Mr. F. W. Pomeroy, A.R.A., and is of white alabaster, with a white marble bust of Admiral Cradock, and bronzo figures at each side representing courage and loyalty. Tho inscription is as follows: — "To tho glory of God and m memory of Rear-Admiral_ Sir ClirTstopher Cradock, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Companion of the most honourable Order of the Bath, wiio, gallantly upheld tho high traditions of the British Navy, leading his, squadron against over- . whelming forces of the enemy off Coronel, on the coast of Chile, and fell gloriously in action on All Saints' Day,* 1914. This monu- . mont is erected by his grateful countrymen." Below are the words:—"Hod forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them; if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour."—l Maccabees, is. 10.

"Never was a Noblsr Act." After the unveiling of the memorial by Lord Zetland, who said he knew Admiral Cradock from his earliest childhood, the "Last Post" was sound, ed, and Mr. Balfour then gave an address, in which he said that Admiral Cradock's name deserves to be enrolled among thoso who in this tremendous struggle have held high the honour of their country. The First Lord of the Admiralty then gave a most suggestive explanation of tho late : Admiral's action:— "Why did he attack a force which ho could not have reasonably hopea either to destroy or put to flight? 1 think a satisfactory explanation can be given. The circumstances of tho German squadron were not like those of tho German High Seas Fleet the other day off the Jutland, olose to their own ports. Tho German admiral in the Pacific was far from any port where lie could have Tefitted. If Admiral Cradock judged that Ma squadron, that he himself and. those under him, were well saorificed is they destroyed the power of this hostile fleet, then I say that there is no man, be ho sailor or bo he civilian, but would say that such a judgment showed not only tho highest courage, but also the greatest unselfishness, and that . Admiral Cradock, by absolute neglect of personal interests and personal ambitions, had shown a wise judgment in tho interests of his country. If I am light in tho account which I have given of the motives which animated him, there never was a nobler act, Tinsuccessful though it was, than that -which he performed off the coast of South America. Wo do not know, wo never shall' know, what were tho thoughts of Admiral Cradock when it becamo ovident that; out-gunned and put-ranged, success was an impossibility. . Wo shall never; know what ho felt whon tho setting snn on that evening threw his own ships up clearly against tho bright western sky, a mark for his enemies, and at the same time rendered his own fire difficult and ineffective. He and his gallant comrades lie fa* from the pleasant homes of England. Yet, they n&vo their reward, and wo. looking at what thev attempted and judging what they did in the light of what they attempted, are surely right in saying that thoirs is an immortal place in the great roll of. naval heroes whose work has built up the Empire and secured 'the freedom of mankind."

The band of tho 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) assisted in the service, and tho Dean read tho Lesson, from Rev. xx, 11-13. The bvmn "For all the Saints" was sung. The D_ean formally received the memorial: pravors were said hv Canon AVatson (Sub-Dean), Canon Bell, and Canon Tupper-Carey: Ladv Maud Warrender, from the organ-loft, sang "O Rest in the Lord," which was followed by "He that shall Endure." sung hv the choir; and the Archbishop ni York pronounced the Benndiction": the bugles sounded the "Reveille; Dr. Bairstnw nlayed the Dead March from "Saul." the service closing with the National 'Anthem.

METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE. DR. DIXON ON THE WAR, . Pastor A. C. Dixon, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle (London), made an important statement from 'his pulpit on a recent Sunday morning. He said ho had received a communication from someone saying that a party of nnti-conscriptionists would attend the Tabernacle service tho following Sunday ovoning, to which he replied that the Tabernacle G,hurch welcomed to ■its services any individuals who might wish to come, but that they would not receive them as an organisation. If they came, they would be treated as individuals, like other attendants. The following week ; there appeared in tho daily Press a notice of the fact that tho auti-conscriptionists, by pre-ar-rangement, had attended the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and the reader was loft to infer that they came as guests of tho Tabernacle pastor or clmrgh. Such an inference was entirely unwarranted, for- tho pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle is not an anti-conseriptionist, nor are its members, with ono exception, so far as he knows. He believes that the Government has a right to compel its citizens to serve their country in a great emergency like tho present, just as it compels them to pay taxes for its support at all times. Dr. Dixon declared himself heart and soul with Great Britain and her Allies against Germany in her unholy conspiracy against the peace and liberty of the world. "Germany began this war in spite of the efforts of other nations to maintain peace, in order that she might force unon the world her paganised 'Kultur,' founded upon war as tho normal condition of nations." And ho believes that this war should continue, at whatever sacrifices, until the domination of Prussian militarism, with its arrogant paganised war spirit "Kultur," has been destroyed in Germany for the sake of Gerninuy, and its. menace- to the world has been removed for the sake of the world. In saying this he believes that be speaks the sentiments of 95,000.000 of the. 100,00,000 of his American countrymen. The Rev. P. B. Plumptre, C.F., curate of Bermondsey old parish church, has been awarded the Military Cross.