THE RELIGIOUS SIDE OF SOLDIERING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 147, 17 March 1919, Page 8

THE RELIGIOUS SIDE OF SOLDIERING

AS SEEN BY A CHAPLAIN

"The Religion of the Average Soldier" was the subject dealt, with by Chaplain Lopdell before a crowded congregation at bt. Andrew's Church iast evening. Having been on active service, the Rev. Mr. Lopdell was able to speak.of the knowledge gained in service camps-near the line and in the battles of" JCcssines. and Passchendaele.

He was especially struck with the- fact that he met a noble.r typo of man "up the line than in the baso camps, and accounted for it by the fact that the men know what they were facing, and to them the path of duty became the path of glory, inasmuch as it gave a new side to their character.

Tho question of whether'the average soldier had lost faith was discussed mid answered in an assured negative. The chaplain in censoring letters had a good opportunity of finding out the quality of. the soldiers' faith, and it was noticeablo before a "push" that the n.ou wrote home with a cheerfulness and a courage which was the expression of the faith they possessed. It.was sometimes thought that superstition rather than faith plaved a large, part in the soldier's life. They spoke.of the bullet with their name on and of their "time" being marked out. But these expressions merely meant that ■hfo was in the hands of God. Beligious people at home might clothe their thoughts in different language, but the Soulier's thoughts on God's 'providence was just as clear as theirs. They pmoiillaged their real feelings "up the line," and a. casual visitor was easily deceived m the matter of religion. Tlie speaker asserted that prayer was quilc a natural thing for men -joirig "over the top." He had heard that men in such moments sworo more than they prayed, but that had not been his experience. The prayers were not the kind the church folk wouM utter, but they were prayers uttered by men who -knew danger and felt need of higher-help. Often it was a prayer that courage might not fail and that they might be helped to play the man. If ho were asked whether the average soldier was as brave morahy as "at V » s J h J' sical| yhhe. e would answer i• ■ ■ l ey were fi,cin S a common foe, and shoulder to shoulder they felt a com! moil strength, but the -moral question had to be faced awl fought alone. Yet tlio sneaker said that tho average soldier would not let any man go too far in speaking against religion or the purity of women. Nor could he say that the soldiers would be as willing to fight for religion 'as for King and country. This was largely became their ideas of religion were tinged with effeminacy. Thov did not regard Christ as a strong man, and in need of strong,, virilo manhood tor the cause lie had at heart But when once they kilew Christ and Hi* ideals better tho.jsoldier would be readier for sacrifice. "The average soldier comes short in many respects, but at the bar of God, where men are judged by what they have done more than by what they have said, ho will not bo far away from tho eternal kingdom."