The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-06-26
PRIESTS IN ARMIES
Thousands Are Serving With the
French Forces.
Fight Bravely, and Their Presence is
Great Encouragement to the
Soldiers-Many Pastors in
the German Ranks.

Since the middle ages, when bishops
and priors rode at the head of their
troops, every war has had its clergy
men fighting as warriors. The great
war now going on in Europe has thou
sands of priests and clergymen fight
ing in the ranks as privates.
1t is stated on definite authority that
Frances army of fighting priests num-
bers 10000. They are in three classes
-combatants, priests exercising only
their sacred functions, and those act.
ing as stretcher bearers. In the first
six weeks of war no less than 219
priests were proposed for the Legion
of Honor; the military medal" was
won by more than twice that number,
and a still larger number was men,
Nine and a half months of war have
increased the number of medal win
ners, those mentioned for bravery and
those who are to lie in the quickly
formed grave until the last trump
shall sound.
In a railway terminus among the
wounded one man seemed to be very
greatly alarmed.
is there a priest here?" he asked
the nurse. Il want a confessor very
badly"
A soldier lying near by, hearing the
request, said: Nurse, l am a priest;
| can give him dissolution. Carry me
to him."
The priest was in much pain and
MORALLY wounded. The nurse hest
tated. She knew the ebbing strength
of the dying priest. The priest read
her mind.
You are of the faith and you know
the price of a soul. What is one more
hour Of life compared with that?"
Tenderly the priest was carried to
the bedside Of the dying soldier. The
confession occupied but brief time,
but when the time came to give abso-
luton he had to say to the nurse.
Help me tn give the sign"
The nurse held the quivering arm,
but the priest and penitent died hand
in hand few minutes afterward.
How the work of clergymen in war
is conducted may be seen from what
happened when Maj. Gen. Hubert /.
w. Hamilton died on the field.
General Hamilton was standing with
a group in covered place." the officer
writes, when a shrapnel shell burst
100 yards away. A bullet pierced
General Hamilton's temple and he
was killed on the spot. No other mem
Der of the group was scratched.
1T was a fine death, but I know
taken before his work was done.
THE funeral service was held while
shells were bursting all around. The
din was so great that the chaplain's
voice was drowned"
According to Right Rev. Arthur
Wilmington Ingram, bishop of Lon
don, who went to the British front to
hold Easter services, 1t was the most
touching service that he had ever con
Quoted" After giving holy communion
to 200 officers and men within mile
Of the German lines, in a schoolroon
the roof of which had been taken Of
by shell, he was told at the end Of
the service $50 men and officers from
other regiments were outside asking
for their Easter communion.
Guns were booming hard by ant
British aeroplanes were circling like
guardian angels over the service t.
guard the attractive target of 400
men and officers with the Bishop o.
London in the middle.
1T made a scene that was very i'm
pressive," said an eyewitness.
France is not alone in its fighting