RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 225, 10 November 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

It is very difficult to move about in these days without coming into contact with the emotional side, and with this the religious side of our citizenship. I had the occasion to take a long railway journey just recently and 1 soon learnt that one of my fellow tiavollers was taking the same journev in answer to a wire from head quarters saying that his son had been killed at the front. The man wa.s brave, there was no remorse in his tone, but you could see he was feeling it very much. One tried to say words of comfort, without any enquiry as to what religious denomination lie belonged to, and the sense of sympathy sprang up spontaneously between us. He liked to talk about his son—what a good lad he was, and various other things. NV.v ho was dead, and there was a blank in his father's life. He had paid the price—had done his very best —laid down his life for his country. We cannot think that is the end of all things. I found there was quite a circle of friends at Wellington Station to meet my frond, all wth sad faces. It is the women folk who feel these things the most. At parting with him I said, should liko to say something nice to you, but I feel the difficulty that f cannot feel as you do about your boy, but you know, you will see your son again, somo day in that beter land. F believe w 0 shill know each othor there, and everything is kept and preserved there. The same boy you gave, will be given back to you, just the same." The reponse was, "Yes, 1 know I shall see him again, I know i shall see him again." Thus w< parted I believe he was comforted ,and I went on with more faith than ever in that religion that binds us to eaeli other and all together to thos e eternal spheres cf light and lev? and peace. 1 nave also seen a letter from a personal friend of mine who was sent out as Chaplain to one of our reinforcements. He says, " You never get used to some things. . . Shocks to the nerves due to exploding shells, are common, and the heart often beats pit-a-pat. It is not a pleasant experience to feel in your face the blast of hot air from an exploding shel lor to have frag., ments falling round you. "Whizzbangs" are brutes. They are shrapnel shells of very high velocity. You no sooner hear the "whizz" than the " bang" is upon you; hence the nickname "Minnies" (minenwerfers or trench mortars) are profoundly disliked. They weigh 180lbs., most of that high explosive. But they have a redeeming feature; they somersault leisurely through the air singing "I've got you," "I've got you," and being able to see them because of their size, you can get out of their way, so that when the final er-r-ump comes, you are able to say "No you haven't." But th« tremendous report makes you jump, willy nilly, and the trembling ground and'great crater compel you to think. T have been into every trench occupied by my men. . . they like to see the Chaplain among them; strangely enough, it gives them a feeling of security. The ministry of the trenches i"-. largely one of encouragement and cheer and occasionally you get the opportunity of speaking words of life. But oh the sadness of laying away our fallen heroes, far from home and loved ones! Those rows of crosses each representing a cross in some mourning one's heart, and all representing a cross in the heart of God! Those who have been called upon to sacrifice loved ones mav rest assured that everything will be done to caro for their last resting places. I wes deeply touched the other dav when conducting a service, to sec seme flowers, sent by two Fiench ladies, with an inscription attached "From two French ladies for a New Zealand soldier who died fur from home and country.". . . Every Sunday there arc parades and voluntary services tor troops who are not in the trenches and God has blessed us in these. At thu close of almost every service ciie Sacrament of the Lord's supper is dispensed I have never attended such Communion Services as those her«». Eight of us gathered in a dugout. The. artillery on both sidos had been shell ing, biit ceased as iff were about t.i commence. Wo sflMg two verses jt "Jesus lover of my soul" the words of institution were'read: prayer was offered, the sacred elements were distributed. What did it matter if two spluttering candles did no more than make the darkness of the dugout more visible: if an emptv biscuit ttli did service as a Communion table! Christ was there as Host to spread His own table." —lt is these private accounts of what is transpiring at the front, that should givo us cause to believe that our clear ones are laid to rest in sure and certain hope of that general Resurrection 'in the last clay and the Life of the world to come. Pacing on to another subject, — \ United Hoard Chaplain writing to the Rev. Shakespeare, says, "1 take this opportunity of thanking you most sincerely tor your efforts to l.ring about a closer union among the free Churches of our country. For fourtt en months I have i<- u ministering daily to six different denominations and 1 can honestly say that 1 knew no difference whatever in Horn. Here on the battle held we have no time nor inclination to notice any differences. 1 feel confident that when this awful war is over tie- United Board Chaplains and the lads to whom thev liavo ministered will welcome the closer union for which vou are working so splendidly." The same thing is reported from other Chaplains-at the Front. Real, practical Christianity knows no difference. We are citizens of one great Spiritual Empire fighting for one great King. Wo must learn lessons from our experiences, and combine, as one great host, to fight the battles of the Lord (Jehovah) against all tho sin and wickedness of this world, and so gain for Hitn a kingdom oi Righteousness and Peace.