KHAKI RELIGION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 8

KHAKI RELIGION

THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT AT THE FRONT. (By "0.H.D.," in the "Daily Mail.") Four "rookies," newly enlisted, wo were lined up outside the plain brick barrack-room. I advanced in my turn. "Religion?" A brisk old sergeant shot ■ the query at me from inside the office window. "Protestant," I mumbled uncertainly. "C. of E.." he promptly dotted doivn with other particulars, ■ and handing mn the address of our "civvy" billet, dismissed me. I was vexed that I had not stated'more exactly my classification, because iny family were traditionally Nonconformist. However, I had read that- in the Army Church of England men (C. of E.) aro. best off. So I said nothing during this early introduction to routine. "Church of England, stand fast! We?leyans.. fall out on tiie left!" It was Sunday at the training 'depot, and tho sergeant in command was forming parties to march to church or chapel, I hesitated. "What are you?" "Congregitional," "You go with the Wesleyans. To a— next man -a Baptist? You do the same. What are you lot?" "Presbyterians," replied one of a file of Scotsmen who were fading rearwatd. As there was'no church handy approximating to this denomination, this laove was checkmate.

"All right. Yon five dismiss." The following Sunday tho Scottish sect had trebled its adherents. So they were put on fatigue ior the afternoon, which had the effect, of shrinking next Sabbath's Presbyterians to two. You think this is cynical? It conveys correctly the average Aruy attitude. Listen.

Every • night that we four recruit* ' kipped" together, our jollies! member, kneeling at the bedside, would ask for quiet, quickly conceded, while he prayed. You will say, "Typical of the genuine pietv often hidden under a jester's mask."

Not so. I have met no other soldier who did it. And only one soldier, in my hearing, has discussed religion thoroughly. He wag Irish,- a splendid fellow, and I took him for a Catholic, which he was not.

Is tho Army, then, irreligious? Listen again.

In the vacant recreation hut of a village behind the lines an Anzac started playing the piano by canddight. "Ozzies," Imperials, West Indians, began to drop in at the hut door. He was playing mainlv the Kentucky, Tennessee, Dixie, and Swanee River ditties, and such-like melodies of home. Men kept creeping in stealthily like ascot'i a®; uf 6ome secret union, and soon t.he room was full. The men sang to the piano's leading with deep passion.

I was profoundly moved. I knew that in a hundred such rooms along tile front khaki exiles were chanting songs made sacred because they deal with home and homelands overseas. "This is IH soldiers' religion," I thought—"Home!" They talk, dream, think every hour about it; thoy arc genuinely themselves on this topic alone. They worship it. Khaki has conventions of its own. Tlio code fits the environment. It is: Be free with your coin and chattels. Turn a blind eye to a piil» shortcomings. The tall talker, the "windy" one, the man who sees double of a night, are freely forgiven. Moral transgressions are overlooked. But to bo mean, to I'awn on superiors for favours, to nlw Hi" power of one's rank are unpardonable sins. What can be more truly religious lhan the real Christian comradeship (listing between man and man under the stress and hardship of the line? Here the humane virtues flourish like bud? in March. And Life has never rivealed herne'f nobler than in men going into action to-day. Gaining nothing, scarcely even recognition, these obscure hemes slen towards the abyss of the unknown, which is death, not. over-anxious, even cheerful, and. with the mildness and modesty of children.