The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-09
TOMMY ATKINS RELIGION.
Crceds Matter LittIe--A Sergeant as
n ChOfFmnStcr.
From the London News.

From the London News.
A candid admission OF fact, often In
sisted upon more seriously by the Liberal
society's adherents. is humorously offered
by Capt Philip Trevor in his Nineteenth
Century article, entitled, The Cathoij-
cism of the British Army" He says: 1T
is the Church Of England chaplain who is
chiefly responsible for the state Of relig-
ion in the army, for excepting Scotch and
irish regiments nearly 50 per cent. OF the
rank and file go with the band. ne
allusion to the band Is explained by the
following story with whlch CdpC. trevor
begins his article:
whats yer religious persuasion?' sad
the sergeant to the recruit
My what?"
Yer what? Why what I said. What's
yer after O. SundaYs?'
Rabbits, mostly"
Fer, STOW that lip Come, now, Gnu en-,
Chapel, or oily Roman
After an explanation from his questioner
the recruit replied:
Il amt nowise pertickier. Put me down
Church Of England, sergeant. III go with
the band"
Upon this Capt. Trevor remarks: What
ever enormites the British army may be
guilty of in the future, il will never be d
party to relghtng the fires of Smithtield
This other story Of capt. Trevor's 1t IS
as Wen to preface by a reminder or ms
own that there is a difference between
hat sounds profane and what is protane
that intention is the essence Of protan-
ftv. A chaplain was dissatisfied with the
slovenly manner in which the creed was
said by the garrison choir. Said the ser
geant major to whom this grief was con-
fided If 1 might suggest, sir, Ia just
let things be as you were this Sunday
and I'll step up next practice AT the
very next practice the sergeant major &C
COrdingly stepped up No possible clrcufu-
stances or set of conditions can eradicate
or even dun the military instincts Of a
sergeant major. He had short CONVEX
sation with the chaplain then addressed
the choir Now, men," The mere SOUND
of his voice was electric. No little band
boy now lolled on the choir desk. Inc
third fingers of the hands were on the
seams of the trousers and the heads erect
Even the man struggling with the bassoon
sat 10 attention. The sergeant major pro-
ceeded: when you ear the oily man say
Hi b'lieve,' not a move-them words is
only cautionary; but when e starts on
Cord the Father round yer go on yer
'eels" Then TO the chaplain: Now, SIR
YOU try" The chaplain was wise enough
to note that the sacred words had been
uttered and received in perfect good faith,
and without semblance of profanity, 50
he thanked the sergeant major ana trled
forthwith. Success was instantaneous
one more specimen of Capt. Trevor
stories. 1t illustrates an adrolt evasion OF
attendance at church parade by an ott1cer,
A sergeant was heard informing him
after a bugle call that the dress" Tor
the "Kautholics" had just gone The
subaltern groaned He had not managed
to get to bed early on the preceding night
How many are there. sergeant Ten
file and a art, sor." He would not have
dreamed of saying twenty-one, for gov
eminent does not allow a man to be spo-
ken of in his individual capacity. The
sergeant departed, and the officer COM
menced to get up. Presently the former
returned. zone man taken for guard, SIT;
ten file for divine service" The officer
croaned again IL was most eXasperating.
Then the sergeant volunteered: Beg
pardon. sir but there's one on EN- don
look quite the thing, sir" The subal-
tern caught at that straw 81 don't want
any man with me who ought to be with
the doctor. sergeant" VERY good, sir.
The sergeant retired once more, but came
back almost Immediately. He again
knocked al the door, this time in de-
cisive and unapologetic manner. Yes?
zone man CORN sick, sir; nine file ana a
'arf on p'rade." The officer seemed quite
surprised mot an officers party, ser
eeant?" mo. sir" ooh, win you march
Them off. then. please?" So the sergeant
went back 60 parade and the subaitern to