The Padre's Message

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 5, 19 June 1942, Page 4

The Padre's Message

A good deal of romance has centered round the ‘changing of the guard.’ It is an ancient custom in the Army, and carries .with it a symbolism that is meant to express ' the constant vigil that must be mainatined over those things in a nation’s life that are of infinite worth. Crowds assemble at St. James Palace to witness the time honoured ceremony. This ancient ceremony symbolises the never ceasing vigil that guards our Empires, the embodiment of a constitution wrought out on the anvil of human experience and founded upon the great and enduring principles of a Christian democracy. When we "change guard" it is the handing on of a pledge and trust, a. duty done by honour bound. We can make it if we will a parable of life itself. Life is a trust constantly being handed on from oup generation to another.. When our days work is done we must all appear before the great captain to give an account of the deeds done in the body. That is a serious thought for every one of us, then it will be not so much what we have done, BUT WHAT WE ARE. It is Christian life and character that is the greatest thing in —without that we have forever failed. Yes, how shall it be for us at the changing of the guard when you and I hand on to posterity the trust that God placed in our safe keeping. To-day we stand guard against the great devastating might of Paganism. God help us to be true to our trust —our trust not only of King and Empire, but that greater loyalty to Jesus Christ, the King and Lord of all. Perhaps in some sense at best the Padre may be regarded as a guardian of the things for which the Christian Church bears witness. He, if he is worth anything at all, must be no coward in the fight against sin and evil.' Yet he must be no Don Quixote tilting at his imaginary windmills. He must be a man who knows life and who is no theorist, but one who knows 'and believes the things whereof he speaks. Some cynic suggests that the ‘ ‘ Padre ’ ’ resembles a lamp post in that he needs a constitution of iron to.withstand the rebuffs of the world and yet keep the light of goodness and truth, and love: shining. In the great moral and spiritual battle of life it is our job to stand guard. ft is not a particularly easy job as some suppose, most of us will be well satisfied when our trust of life is handed on, to have fulfilled in our lite and '■ witness the apostolic injunction that having done all to stand. Again the Padres are changing guard in camp and the Rev. J. Linton, C.F. 4th Class takes over. Padre Linton is a Minister of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, who lately resigned his charge in Dunedin for military service. He hopes to be with the' Regiment until called for overseas service. Padre Linton comes from the Wairarapa and began his University Training in Victoria Colege, Wellington. He then went to Otago and after gaining his Master of Art degree entered Knox Theological College, Dunedin where he trained for the Christian Ministry. Padre Linton has played for ’Varsity in rugby and for three years held the important,post of secretary to the Students Christian Union at the Univer sity of Otago. In the training of its Ministers the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand adheres closely to the Scottish tradition of education. Before a man is admitted to Theological training he must have a University degree or University training of equivalent standard. The course for the ministry is thus a minimum course of six years intensive training embracing a wide range of cultural and theological subjects. It is the practice of the church to select only fully ordained men as Chaplains to the forces. ' Padre Linton is a man not only of academic standing, but of ! Christian training and experience. He comes! among you as the representative of the, Christian Church, and above all as a true soldier of Jesus Christ the Head and King of the Church. As such, you will: find the Padre a very true friend and comrade who is keen to be at the service of every fellow in camp. Don’t hesitate to make a friend of the Padre,--you wont regret it. -? It is with real pleasure that the’ "old guard Padre" hands over. Thoughnot done with stately ceremony it is done nevertheless in the spirit of Christian brotherhood as between onePadre and another, I know from experience that the 2nd Field will not fail to make the Padre feel- very much at home in the Regiment. I have no doubt he will prove a much better "gunner" than the last one once he gets the “angle of sight” on the things that count Wishing you and the Padre all the best. . The Old Guard, Murrav A. Gow. It is stated . on the “st authority that the new Padre is in no wav connected with the family that chose the mud of "Linton" as their ancestral seat, since passed through manv hands until it has finally become the proud possession of the Armv, boots and all. —Historian 2nd. Field. The Guest: "Been long in the service of the familv. Jenks?” . The Butler:“lndeed, sir: lam now serving the third degeneration.”

HE ASKED FOR IT. Home Guardsmen were attending a school of instruction near Auckland and among them were some quick-witted Maoris from further north. An Imperial .Sergeant-Major, 1918 vintage, and a dam smart drill, was putting them through some bayonet fighting. It was hectic and by . the end of the third round the Mons veteran’s voice gave out ami he slipped away for a quick One, first handing the parade over to an underling. This varlet— a military rank isn’t itgot the enthusiastic bayonteers going again, all the time backing away from them. He worked over near the corner of a building round which he slipped before breaking into a gallop for the nearest wet canteen. The squad stood at ease, and was just beginning to fidget when the Ser-geant-Major appeared, refreshed and anxious to catch somebody with a shrewd one.' Without waiting to wipe the froth of his face-fungus he pointed at the nearest man, a Maori, and shrieked "where’s your bayonet-boss?” The,Maori flicked a thumb towards the corner of the building and murmured: "He’s just gone to the lavatory."

“IT" , The generally accepted idea that officers have an easy conquest where the ladies are concerned received a terrific jolt at the National Club the other night. A battery officer who arrived at the club seeking a nice young lady , came into competition with an N.C.O. of "one of these attached •units" and fought a losing battle; in ■ fact he was "Cutt(s)" right put. "Wasn’t he Sir?" To add insult to in- ■' '-jury he even had his next nights outing ruined by the same N.C.O. To cap the whole evening, however, -a gunner ruined the evening for both Officer and N.C.O. by taking the young lady home, going to prove that "It” isn ’t rank. A NUISANCE. Overheard in the Empire.'One of our cooks who didn’t fight last Wednesday week on being chaffed about it Said: "I can’t fight, but I’m a —— ! nuisance to those who can." i The telephone rang in Mr Burton’s ■office and Mr Burton was busy. - "Hullo," he shouted irritably, "who’s there?" "Is that Mr Burton?" asked a voice. "It is Mr Burton. What do you -want?" ."This is Robinson, Robinson, Smith, -Bullock and Robinson, solicitors.” "Oh, well, good-morning, good-morn---;n<r. pood-morning, good-morning and good-morning."

Survey Troop 8 stands for Scrounging, experts are we; U is for Union, Hell drivers, M.T.; R could be Ryan, one of our sergeant chaps, V is for ‘ Virtue,’ over motto (perhaps); E is the Energy used in our task, Y this should be, is too much to ask. T is for Tasker, our dashing B’s his 'Rotating’ —that makes us go! () is Ourselves, and our dance invitations, Only the ‘strong ’uns’ withstand our flirtations, Flease do not judge us too hard as a group, For we’re really a swell, well ‘organised’, Troop. D.W.S.