The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-22 00:00:00

SERMONS ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN DISASTER.

The Dean of Westminster, preaching on Sunday
afternoon at Westminster Abbey, took for his text
Romans 1., 17, "It is written the just shall live by
faith." The Dean said that it was not without reason
that he had drawn the attention of his hearers to this
passage. There was a dark shadow at this time on
the hearts of those who were watching, as on the
prophet's watch tower. Intelligence had been re-
ceived from South Africa of a disaster such as was
but little known to Englishmen, though not unknown
to Englisbmen in former times. There had been
disasters which, though deplorable in their im-
mediate consequences, had been grand and glorious
in their ultimate effect, and this was a lesson
which history again and again repeated to us. There
were two trophies still existing which had been
erected to commemorate grand defeats. There was
still on the Plain of Chwronea the monument which
Philip of Macedon had allowed the people of Greeco
to erect to the memory of thoie whom he had van-
q.
eyTe,haant
dgrgenamet
hlfteoni with is b
teeth,
htoldyreotad
of
the forehead
great-
ness and the courage of the G-reeks who had fallen
in the vain effort to save their nation from slavery.
There was also over the :larbour of Boston a shaft
erected on a famous hill to commemorate a defeat sus.
tamed there; but that defeat had been glorious, for it
bad taught the Americana what they could do. The
defeat of Bunker's Hill was of more value than any
victory. It was a truth that even the direst disaster
might reveal to men what they could do. There had
been a like disaster in English history, when the
Indian country had trembled to its base, and the
homes of hundreds had been darkened by the mutiny
in India. But our rule in India had been 'strength-
ened by the wise conduct of two successive rulers, and
the mutiny had made known to us such men as
Outram, Clyde, Havelock, and Henry Lawrence.
So might God grant that it should now be with
us. Anxiety was not to be put aside, but
as in former days "the just
.shall live by
faith." In the presence of such a disaster the strife
of parties was hushod, and all would work together to
find the desired solution of difficulties. It was some
consolation to know that those who had fallen had
died as Englishmen should die, and that those who
continued the struggle would continue it in a manner
worthy of the name of Englibhmen, and of the name
of Christians. And therefore we should take comfort
in the hope that we should have a brighter future, and
both in this world and hereafter, "the just shall lire
by faith."

Preaching on Sunday afternoon at St. Paul's, from
11th chap. 2nd Corinthians, part of 23rd verse, "In
deaths oft," Bishop Claughton, after paying a tribute
to those who had lost their lives in Africa in the sauce of
Christianity, said, referring to the Zulu disaster, that
there were other terrible tidings from the same land,
tidings of tne terrible fate that overtook our gallant
soldiers. Death was not a thing they were unprepared
for, for one thing that was never absent from a soldier's
mind was the possibility and almost certainty of the
Nemesia, death, overtaking them in the time of battle,
and our noble follows fighting to the last laid them-
selves down to die round their colours, which they
strove so hard to save. But, though outnumbered,
they had left behind them a memory which would
always be respected and revered to the end of time.
In fighting against sin we might learn a lesson from
their noble example; for, though it might be said they
were not fighting against sin, yet he would distinctly
say they were fighting against all that was bad and evil
for the safety of their land. It was not a war of
aggression, but, in the character of being a sort of
police of the world, it became the duty of England to
pass the borders of a hostile country to protect our
own land and countrymen, and it was then that we
met with this calamity. Those who had fallen died
for duty and for the interests of peace, and as a man
of peace he asked them to think of those brave men
with gratitude and respect.

The 3rd battalion of the 60th Rifles (who were under
orders for the Cape of Good Hope) paraded at the Garrison
Church, Colcheiter, on Sunday, together with the 10th and
Ad 108th Regiments. At the special request of Colonel
Pemberton commanding the battalion of the 6,/th, the
chaplains administered the Holy Communion, The service
consisted of Holy Communion, with a sermon by the Rev.
H. Tudor Craig, Principal Chaplain to the Forces at the
Head- quartrd of the Eastern, District,. The service was
very solemn and impressive, the chanting and hymns
being led by the band of the 108. h Regiment,
the new organ being played by the b indmaster
of the 60th. The hymns chosen were the 371st and
372nd revised edition of "Hymns Ancient and Modern,"
"Almighty Father, hear our cry," and "On the waters dark
and drear.' Tne preacher chose for his text Gen. xxviii 15.
"Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places
whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land;
for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have
spoken to thee of." The chaplain spoke of those special op-
portunities in the earthly life which Holy Scripture describes
as "the accepted time, the day of salvation." Re drew a pic-
ture of Jacob's similar opportunity—driven from his father's
home, destitute, friendless, and guilty, crossing the brook with
his staff alone, lying on the stones for his pillow, the vision of
the ladder, and the Lord God above it. "I am not," he
said, " address:lag this morning those who are being driven
from their father's home, not those who are fleeing from
their brother Esau destitute and friendless. lam speaking
to you who are going torth amidst your country's prayers,
and with your Father's blessing; you are going to do your
duty before God and man, to protect your brothers' and
your slaters' homes in one of your country's colonies. I
suppose I am the last messenger to you from heaven before
leaving your native land. Let the message be the very
words which Jacob heard spoken by God himself. God
promises more than bringing you again to this land Let
your minds range higher than the thoughts of earthly homes.
It will make little difference to you and those dearly loved
when thousands of years shall have rolled away that you are
brought to these homes again. It will make all the

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