RELIGION IN THE TRENCHES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1458, 12 October 1915, Page 4

RELIGION IN THE TRENCHES.

SENSE OF PIETY IN WAR

“The Lord’s Prayer went up continually in the trenches from some of the men,’’ said ChaplainCaptain Clarkson, of Auckland. “But a lot of cursing and swearing also went up,” interpolated a young officer standing close by, with a smile. “Well, yes,” admitted the chaplain, and from the conversation that followed, in which ChaplainCaptain Gavin, also of Auckland, joined, one gained sidelights on the psychology of the soldier under fire. There were men whose whole bearing was indicative of a sense within them of the awfulness of the experience through which they were passing. They went into battle with prayer on their lips. Others, again, were keyed up to a high pitch of nervous excitability, and cursed and swore when under fire. On the whole, however, the religious sense was quickened In the men, and born, in many cases, where it had hitherto been non existent. “The amazing thing,” the chaplain said, “was that many men who had taken no interest of any sort in religion in their own country developed real piety at the front.” This war has effectually dispelled the idea that a chaplain is a man who stands at the back under cover, and takes no risks. The chaplain, indeed, by the very nature of his calling, is compelled to be more exposed than the actual combatants. Chaplain - Captain Clarkson has stood exposed for hours while he read the burial service over hundreds of men, and it was misfortune that, having escaped the bullets, be should have had to return owing to enteric.