The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-01-11

l went to India; was back in Egypt
i'll 1885,
You found Bishop Brindle still
campaigning?"
Yes. In April, 1896, he went on
the Dongola expedition, and 1 took
charge in Cairo; the Connaught Ran
gers were there. III that expedition
he won golden opinions from every
body-from the officers and the ranks.
During the long wait at SaIras, when
cholera was in the camp, it was a
fearful time. There was nothing to
do, and the heat was terribly trying.
But he kept them all in good humor;
he communicated his own CHEEKY spir-
it's to the men,
II suppose his duties were always
those of non-combatant otticer?"
AT the taking of Dongola the Sir
dar. who highly respects him and has
great faith i'll his Judgment and en-
ergy. put him in command of the third
gunboat, which had Il detachment of
the South Stafford regiment on
board"
HE was decorated for his service
during that expedition, was he not 2"
"1es. he received the Third Medii-
die. In the "a expedition he had
obtained the medal and star of the
Fourth Osmanieh. He was present
ut Atbara in 1897, and for his conduct
in the field he received the ID. S. O.
distinguished Service Ordcr) being
the only chaplain on whom such IL
distinction has ever been conferred.
Then he went up to Klartoum and
was present ut Opdurman."
Talking of Khartoum. do YOU
know anything as to his composition
of the prayer ut the Gordon service,
which has become such favorite?"
"Ihc circumstances were these: On
the night before the service BishOp
Brindle feared that the necessity OF
saying mass for the Catholic trOops
on the following day would hinder
his being present; but the start for
l>lartorm being delayed, he was on
nblcd to accompany the Sirdar who
then showed him, as senior chaplain
present, the details of the service
which was to he held, and asked him
to offer the prayer of bcncdiction.'
Father Brindlc thcrcupon, in the
cabin of the boat, composed THE prayer
which is now SO widely known. He
recltcd it i'm Il way which was both
solemn ana impressive. The Sirdar
was SO touched by it that he had n
large number of copies printed and
circulated among the officers. Father
Brlndle always said that he would not
leave the army until he had celebrated
mass in khArtoum, and practically
that was the end of his connection
with the forces. After having got
to khartoum he returned to Cairo
and was decorated by General Grcn-
fell with the cross of the ID. S. O. in
the presence Of the army occupation"
WAS it then he received from Car
dinal Vaughan the invitation to take
up work in Westminster as bishop
auXiiaryY'
ut was shortly afterwards"
"11c did not expect such an order?"
ut came upon him as Il blow. His
intention had been to retire, after his
long service in the army, and THE
cardinals proposal upset all his plans
for the rest Of his life. While he was
considering it, in reading his brcvinry
he came across the words: Here
am 1; send me- and on weighing the
pros and cons, and finding that only
personal and temporal arguments
st"od in the way, he considered this
an order from God ana obcycd, for
he is thorough soldier"
'Thcy were pleased in the army ut
his promotionY'
"M0st decidedly. Tie is exceeding
ly popular, and bound to make him
self more so. While lie was in the
army he was known to be man rigid
rs to discipline, but most kind per-
sonally and in his way of arranging
matters. His opinion was looked up
on by the officers as highly valuable,
and the soldiers, Professionals as well
us Catholics, often said that they
could wish for no finer commander"