New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17

morning papers from the front and then rico
chetted all over Great Britain, bringing COM
p!aint and denunciation on their devoted heads
and dismay into pious circles at home.
Our padres think that can help them, or,
rather, they know that admire every one whom
l have met among them and will help them II l
can. The bomb that has been thrown, like a
BOer shell at a Red Cross flag into their com
pany is of this fashion. The writer describes
church parade in camp in Natal. where, be
tween battles, a general and his command are
drawn up to hear the word of God.
lit was one of those occasions" says the elo-
quent correspondent. when fine preacher
might have given comfort and strength where
both were sorely needed, and have printed on
many minds d permanent impression. The bride
groom opportunity had come But the Church
bad her lamp untrimmed- A chaplain with
raucous voice discoursed on the details of the
siege and surrender of Jericho The soldiers
froZe into apathy, and after while the formal,
perfunctOry service reached its welcome cOnctu-
sion. AS | marched home officer said to me:
Why is it, when the Church spends so much on
missionary work among heatheRs. she does not
take the trouble send good men to preach in
time of war? "
OF course. it is wholly impossible to defend a
Church which sends 10 the front man whose
voice is dispeaSlng to one of the war CORE
spOndentS And | am not going to attempt to
Justify clergyman for selecting a theme of
battle when he addresses Il multitude of soldiers.
What seems to me u great pity Is that this
respondent happened upon this Clergyman upon
the sunday, and a greater pity is that he should
have drawn upon this single case an indictment
against all the clergy who are with our armies.
For my part | found no lack of good men
in Methuen's army. and have not yet noticed a
departure from the rule in Lord RObertS's i'm
mediate command. Some of who have been
attached TO the western forces all the time have
more than once had occasion to call attention
10 the Jealous. uuSrtiSa md mob, work ct not
only the regular commissioned ChaplaiaS who
are with US, but Of the volunteer clergy as We'll
There has. il is true been some kindly diSa-
Srcement among the onlookerS to whether il
bchoNe eISSmen to advance with the troops
into the heat of battles there minister to the
dying while bullets shredded the air and other
men Wer" falling around them. For We have
chaplaiEs who have done this, and chaPlains who
have served as gal OperS.' daShinc in and out
Of awful danger in The worst Of al oar engage
ments. This was only when one must
and there one else. Perha;s tie. should
nave stayed at tie h-II haspitaIs-It l. not for
me T." saY-hut only thlnb now imIo~s lie it
must be for men who have literally shouldered
Death aside in Hati'H 20 la TO reach the soldiers
heart i'm their rmCut
We have had not on,y fighting chapIdins. but
chaplaino VINO have ZaaIuUSly remained in the
near rear 10 SuccOr the wounded aud dying as
fast as thy were brought out OF the volcanoes
OF shot and shell, we have enjoyed the sermons
OF both sorts, for both have chus n their themes
and arguments TO suit and to stir the soldier
mind; bat $500 do not remember To have known
or heard Of "a sin gle cha plain who deserves the
reflected oGIum which Uy gifted comrades critt-
cism is sad L" have cast back upon them all