THE CHURCH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 245, 4 July 1918, Page 6

THE CHURCH ARMY

ITS PART IN THE WAR

PUBLIC MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL

A .public meeting in oid of (he war york of the Church of England wns held in tho Town Hall last night. The Bishop of Wellington (l)iglit ]!ov. Dr. bprott) presided, and .was supported by members of Synod and representative* of (he Anglican chaplains nttachoii (o tlw Now Zealand Forces. Thcrfe was n, moderate attendance.

Bishop Sprott said that the meeting had been calied by the Military A flairs Committee of Synod, which had charge of the various brunches of war work undertaken by the Anglican Chnrcli in «ow Zealand. The war work was extensive, and it involved tho 'expenditure ■of considerable sums of money, both hero and abroad. The committed cooperated in its work abroad with tho Church Army, a great and important organisation. (Applause.) Tho chaplains who wero to spn.ak that ei cuing w,ere returned irten, who would icll the audience something of the work that was being done among the troops abroad. Each of the chaplains had been returned to New Zealand on account of disability incurred on active service. Bishop Sprott spoke briefly of the organisation of the Church's war work and introduced the chaplains. Chaplain T. .Feildon Taylor said that there was no work more important than tho work tho chaplains were trying to do for the souls of the soldiers. Social work was essential, and was far reaching in its good effects; but it must take second place to religious work. He was inclinedto be afraid of social work. The peoplo liked it, and were disposed to judge effect by sheets of Jiote paper and packets of cigarettes. But the soul of'the soldiers should come r'.rst nlways, nnd the first duty of a chaplain vas to get into personal touch with tho men. 1 hat was not an easy thing to do. Tho chaplain proceeded to emphasise tho ?m----portanceof the clubs and social institutions in the camps, as the means of bringing the ■ men together and in touch with the chaplains. Ho described tho manifold branches of the chaplains' ,work, and assured* the audience that the work wns wort!) doing. Tho chaplains wero nble to help make soldiers strong to fight moral evils. In order that their work might continue in , the most effective way, they needed as much money ns possible quickly. He asked the public to share in the good work.

Chaplain Gordon Gavin said he did not wish to exaggerate the relative importance of the chaplains' efforts. He believed that the deepest and most lasting spiritual work would be done at home rather than at the front. Referring to, tho_ New Zealand soldiers, he 6aid that their courage was unbounded and beyond all question; their generosity and practical kindliness were proved daily bv tho splendid comradeship of the Array. Their patience and their endurßngo of discomfort, hardship, and fatigue were very wonderful. Their individual initiative and manly independence had made them very fine troops indeed. But the war had brought to light one grave defect—the amazing lack of self-disoipline in the private life of the community. This lack of eelf-disoipline had expressed itself in the very large percentage of venereal disease among the Now Zealand 6oldiers on active eorvice. This eubject was far more important than the general pnblic had realised. The lesson he had gained from his experience in the Army was that tho Church in New Zealand mu6.t concentrate on tho recovery and. development of self-disoipline, which, was tho basis of moral conduct. The key to Bclf-discipline -was tho love of Christ. Chaplain J. It. Burgin 6aid ( that there could be no prouder woman in the world than the mother of a New Zealand soldier. The courage and self-sacrifice of the men had been proved again and , again, and had risen often to heroic heights. The soldiers had earned for themselves honours that would be remembered by many generations, and no help that tho public could give to them was too great. The Church of England 'had no reason to be ashamed of its war work. About half tho soldiers wero members of tho Church, and it was' a proud thing to remember that the Church Army had been the first of the social :ind religious organisations in tho field. The Church Army had built about 1000 huts, and it was ministering to tho soldiers wherever British troops were (o bu found. Over 2(10 of the liuls wcro continually tinder fire. The Church Army had provided motor ambulances and kitchen enra. It lad served the Navy as well as the Army. The--Church Army hud saved the honour of tho Mother Church by its war work. The privilege of church people was to provide the money.necespary for the maintenance of the war work, which was just as undenominational and as unrestricted- as that of the T.JI.C.A. or tlio Salvation Army. Chaplain Gavin quoted some examples of tho war work of the Church Army, and laid stress on the importance of tho spiritual side of the work. The Church Army had lost no fewer than 1 00 huts in tlio recent fighting on the West front. Those huts or the ground on which they stood, would bo (recovered some day. But in the meantime the hnts had to be replaced at a cost of £M eac.li, and New Zealand must take part in the work. Tho huts would be wanted for the coming European winter, when they would represent intervals of comfort and happiness to the soldiers. The people of New Zealand wero extraordinarily fortnnato at the present time. They had personal safety, abundant food, prosperous condiand unchecked amiisemente. Eβ wanted New Zealand people to give from their' abundance, to give until they felt they wero making i«al sacrifice to help tho soldiers, who were prepared to give all in the national cause. Dnrhig the evening several hymns wore sung, and <i collection was made for the Church Army funds.