Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-20
BY NI'LISS

BY M'LISS
THE Church is doing spendidly in this
war;"
II was thus that a fighting parson who
g guest at the Drexel Institute conference
Of educators On the occasion OF its twenty
NTH anniversary. gave answer to the chaI-
lenKe that his low-countryman, II. O.
Wells has thrown out to all clergymen In
his latest novel, The Soul Of Bishop
The fighting parson is Dr. Bruce Taylor,
Assyriologist and Presbyterian clergyman
For seven years he was pastor Of st. Pauls.
Montreal and recently he has been ap-
pointed principal Of Queens University, OF
Kingston, ont.
At the outbreak of the war he went 10
the front as chaplain Of the Forty-second
battalion of the Highlanders OF Canada,
his knees as bare as those of the most
blasphemous sergeant war Is great
leveler. AS he himself phrases it, at the
front a man, even II he is clergyman
takes the same chances as the other.
He stands in the same front trench in
waist-deep water. He is struck by the
same shells, runs the same risks. eats the
same food and is bitten by the same bugs
PooH-PooHs H. G, WELLS
The coura geous author Of Mr.. Brtling,"
you remember, sums up his most recent
book with an indictment Of the Church's
role in the war that must have got Under
Mr. Wells seriously The Church, the
English author in the person OF his bishop
concluded, has failed utterly to play its
part in the war is in fact, "out OF it
This. Doctor Taylor, in his accent, which
Is Scotch heavily overlarded with Canadian
English. pooh-poohed.
"WelIss Bishop" he said with convic-
ton rs an outside bishop. The character
Is obviously portrayed by one who Is not
Apf nf
Wells would write about knew Wells
quite well when l was in England, do
mot think the Church takes his Bishop
seriously.
.'The Church is playing its part with
vigor The chaplain is busy man IN any
battalion He is in the thick or battle with
the stretcher-bearers and the doctors There
Is the same risk in looking after the spir-
itual welfare as in looking after their
bodies He cannot hold regular services
because at the front wherever you congre-
gate men there Is sure 20 be an enemy air
plane lowering over you ana dropping
bombs, but he does his work In the front
line of trenches II necessary. There has
been no Stacking on the part OF the
churches
'sThe French Canadian priests. however
have much 20 answer for In the attitude OF
the French-Canadian toward the conscrip-
tion problem in Canada. They are telling
their people to stay home and populate the
world, while the others do the fighting, and
their people are listening
The Canadian soldier. though one Of the
most valiant IN the world; Doctor Taylor
said IA beginning TO resent the compli-
ments that have been showered upon him.
DEFENDS ENGLAND
1T makes US sick" this redoubtable par
son said twirling his little Scotch swagge-
cap, ITO hear that England is not doing
| the hghtlng. but is leaving all the hard
| work to her colonies. This is untrue. The
| Canadian does not want praise at the OK
penae OF his English brother Canada has
| Is England has. and her casualties have
| been only one-eighth OF Englands The
great universities OF England are emptied-
an have zone England has given all.
This man n God IA no paeihst no molly
1 coddie 0etler