NATIONAL CHILDREN'S

HOME (Founded by Dr. STEPHENSON)

104-122 CITY ROAD, LONDON, E.O. 1.

Treasurers :

J. R. BARLOW, Esq., J.P.

Sir Charles C. WAKEFIELD, Bart.

VHS (INITED METHODIST, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1917,

KHAKI NUMBER. THE

lute THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF. THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

With which is ineorperated the "Free Methodist," founded 1886.

O. 523 NEW BERM S OLD No 6. 1

S4E66R IES. J THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1917. [Registered at the General SIXTEEN PAGB11.

Post Office as a Newspaper TWOPENCE,

N B Remittances from the U.M. Churches should be sent to the Treasurer (marked "P.C.0."

Pi-L..: Rev. 33.111NRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, B.C. 4.

Bankers ; LONDON CITY AND MIDLAND, WESTMINSTER BRANCII,

am=ilikialMemal

vt.,03 M s-et.ti

The Soldier's farewell •word :

CIAL DEC " Take care of my . Bairns."

The value to the State of child-welfare work is , no longer in dispute. We realise at last that to save and protect our Child Life is essential to the stability of the Empire. And we rightly feel that to succour the little ones whose fortunes are directly due to the war is one of the primary duties. Sad to say, the number of children orphaned or exposed to grave moral peril, as a result of the war, increases daily.

The only question is HOW CAN W E- B HONOUR OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY'?

May we suggest a contribution to the NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HOME, which has been described. by a well-known Social student as " An Association of Experts in

"Child Saving ? Its qualifications are unchallenged.-

q It receives orphans and necessitous children, irrespective of creed ; and clothes, educates, and trains them for useful careers. Nearly 12,000 children• have been so rescued, and 3,000 are now in its care.

It is not a mere clearing house—receiving a destitute child to-day and to-morrow turning him over to someone else. Children are delicate entities, requiring individual and discriminating care. Those taken into the National Children's Home remain under its protection, on an average, 5i years.

In pursuance of this policy it has eighteen Branches, where provision is made for every class of child-need, from tuberculosis to simple orphanhood.

Child victims of the War engage its special care. At Sheringham two charming houses overlooking the sea are reserved for children whose fathers have fallen, or who have been left unprotected by their father's absence on Service. Upwards of 300 soldiers' and sailors' children are now being cared for.

Our burdens are always great, but the continuance of the War, with its increasing toll of child victims, mattes our OUR PRESENT NECESSITY MOST URGENT.

WILL YOU HELP ?

For further information address to the Principal (Rev. W. Hodson SmIth)—

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS. PAGE

Cheer Up 1 By Private H. SPenoer Toy. B.Sc., F.R.A.S. F81. The " U.M." Roll of Honour, By George Pinker, D.D. 582 Happenings 582 Things Said b'y Soldiers - .„ 582 We are With You. By The President (Rev. James Wright) .., 583 United Methodist Table Talk

. — ... 583

Sunday Afternoon. By Ernest F. H. Cabe" .„ 584 From Pole to Pole (C.E. Topic). By T A.Jefferies.F.L.S. ... 584 Young People's Topic. By H. Chatterton 554 On Being in Khaki. By Corporal Ward Muir .„ 585 Religion Under Fire. By W. H. Jeffries, C.F.,. -. 585 Some of my Experiences at the Front. By G. P. Walters, C.F. 585 To Those in Khaki. • By T. Nightingale ... .., 586 " Little Jest." BY Wilfred Lewis 586 Religion at the Front. By A Private , 581 To w hat End ? By Private F. Donald W. Ross (R.A.M.C.)... 888 To Our Soldier Boys. By Henry Smith ... .„ 589 Jottings. By Provincial 589 A Remarkable Letter 390 "The Bully" • , ... 591 Grave and Gay: dome Soldiers' Letters. By et, M . Walker ... 591 Letters from Our Boys .., 592 For Our Timelier.. By B. C. Urtrin, ••• .., 592 Ministers' Sons in the Army and Navy ,.. 393 "U.M." Roll of Honour 594 News of Our Chitral.. 554, 395

Cheer Up ! BY PRIVATE H. SPENCER TOY, B.Sc., F.R.A.S.

IT is merely a matter of viewpoint, of faith, if you like. Jeremiah always cheers me up. We often tear that he is a man of gloom, an apostle of pessimism, and his words may seem, at times to bear this out. But his actions are the test of outlook, and what did Jeremiah do? Let us recall the situation. The prophet is in prison in • Jerusalem. The city is besieged, the hostile army is encamped around its very wally, the fall -is imminent, and soon the people will be captives in a foreign land. They know it well, they wander wailing up and down the streets, dark is their despair, their future is a blank. But behind the streets, sitting in his prison cell, is the prophet, full of hope : he sees the city's fall, he knows the long captivity, but he looks beyond the night to 'he distant day when the exiles shall 'come back. He knows they will come back, and so he buys a piece of land outside the city wall, a field on which the hostile army is .encamped. It is one of the greatest optimistic acts in the history of the world, and it was fully justified. ..

The Paradox of Freedom. This dear old UNITED METHODIST brings much

refreshment to us all. How eagerly we watch its coming, week by week ! And now there is to be a Khaki Number, an issue, I am told, "that will be of special interest to our 'boys ' in the camp and at the front," and I must try and say some words of cheer to those who, like myself, are now absorbed by the great khaki machine. Our friends at home must pass this by, for I want to speak straight to my fellow soldiers and to myself.

You who are in the camp at home, you who have just left civil life, are stunned by all you have to face; it is all so new and strange, you wonder how you can exist. You others, who have been to the various fronts, or still are there, have settled down to Army ways, in one sense you have become accustomed to the life, but you all have this in common, you are all "fed up," or you all have been. Your losses are so obvious. In this great fight for freedom you have loot your own ; you have donned the mantle of the slave. It is a paradox, but it is strictly true. Do you remember that parade when the Captain said you must not speak of politics and other things? You thought it was the "limit." Cheerfully had you drilled, willingly had you worked, but when you heard you must not speak, you thought it was too much, you felt you had lost your freedom. Have you ever realised that Jeremiah gained his field by losing it, that the hostile army had it when he bought it? We have raised our British Army, a number of men so vast that no one could have guessed it possible a year before the War. We have called up almost every man, not because we like the khaki, not because we are fond of war : we have done all this to stop all war, to stamp out once for all this insanity of mutual murder. We have descended to the German level in adopting their military system, but we have copied it to beat it. So, too, you have sacrificed your freedom, not because you like a ;tie of servitude, but .because you see that tem-porary loss will mean eternal gain.

The Gains of Army Life. Some to whom I write are in the valley of de sir,

I have been there too ; I have often thought that life was not worth while; I have often failed to see the meaning of it all ; I have not looked bayonet my prison wall, ar,

CHILD IF c7 Fe HOPE ar2ci BULWARK OF THE EMPIRE.

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The Rev. JOHN FLEMING writes! "Thy Gent's and Lady's bicycles I bought from vou six years ago have proved excellent in all respects."

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582 THE UNITED METHODIST;

December 6 1917.

if I have, it has merely been to see the hostile army on the: field outside the city gate. But now that time has gone for me, as it has for some of you. We are all to prone to dwell upon the things we miss out here; do we ever think of what we gain? We see a side of life we could not see at home, our views are broadened and intensified. We meet all kinds and types of men as equals, we get to see their standpoint. How great a benefit is this ! The reconstruction that must come with peace will demand the energies of all, but the brunt of the burden must be borne by those who come back from this fight alive. Could we deal with the future well, could we hope to solve its problems, if we came to it with the old ideas, with platitudes we learned in other spheres?

Think of what this means. You bewail the loss of precious years; in your gloomy moods you say the loss is irretrievable ; but see, new influences are daily playing on your soul, you are storing new impressions ; you just have to sit still and learn. You, who would have taken worn-out thoughts to deal with new ideas, you, who were so busy giving out that you had no time for taking in, you are the man who now is bound; you must just sit still in silence and let the situation speak to you. So are you sad ; you, who would take ancient thougtt to tackle vast new problems, you must just sit still and listen. Now take the longer view, the Jeremiah view. Your time will surely come; in the future you will speak, and speak, with power, because you can't be silent. And it is bound to come, it always does. Paul was "blind" for three days, Ezekiel "sat still " for seven, but when they spoke, their language was inspired, for the situation had spoken to them first.

A Great and Last Joy.

There are some to whom I write who are happy, very happy in the midst of all this horror. God is blessing you indeed. You have fought the moral battles you have found on every side, and you have won. You have not spent all your evenings in too much introspection, you have not spent all your time on cards or "house," you have had a hobby, you have read, and you have conquered, you have won right through. You are the stronger for it; no slave are you to Army ways and all the new temptations, no shuttlecock to be tossed about by your companions' mood. And over and above it all. you feel a buoyancy of spirit you cannot possibly express. an energy and zeal of mind that save you all the time. You know it is good to be alive, even in the midst of all this death. You know it is ; you who once were almost overcome, you feel the throb of Life. My week-end lecture at the Y.M.C.A. was on "Life in other worlds "; the syllabus decreed it must be so ; I should have spoken of the joy of life on this old earth, for there are many soldiers who have not seen it yet. Perhaps they are not blind, perhaps they see a little, "men as trees walking," but they need more light. You will give it to them, won't you? It repays you many Jiffies. 'Give them all the joy you can, you who feel it tingling in your veins ; you can sympathise with them, for you have been the same. Speak of Jeremiah ; tell them of the earth itself, this old earth that was born so many million years ago. And what a birth it was ! All that pain, all that anguish, that great week of sorrow, yet ever and anon there comes that optimistic line—

"The evening and the morning were the day." The soul that sings that song is great, truly great.

The evening now ie well advanced, we are in the darkness of the night, but we see the dawn, and the morning is the climax of the day. So again I say, "Rejoice, cheer up, the best le yet to be."

Palestine, October 8th, 1017.

The " U.M." Roll of Honour.

Happenings. —A Church Army recreation but has been opened on

Mount Olivet. —Sir Alfred Mond has given £100 for the Swansea

Christmas Aged Poor Fund. —R. Atherton, the International footballer, has been

drowned at sea by the sinking of a merchant vessel. —A woman was remanded for seven days at Marl-

borough Street on a charge of stealing 1i1b. of butter. —No distinguishing badge for Territorials who

mobilised for service abroad at the beginning of the war is contemplated. —A new Portuguese military expedition is being

organized to occupy the whole of the province of Angola (Portuguese.West Africa). —The report that the mail boat services between Kings-

town and Holyhead were to be suspended is officially denied. —Mr. Geoffrey Howard says that the Kitchen Com-

mittee have fully satisfied themselves that Major Lane Fox is in error in -suggesting that there is waste in the dining-rooms of the House of Commons. —Sir Starr Jameson was buried privately at Kensal

Green, and the body will rest there till after the war, when it will be removed to the Matoppos, in Rhodesia, the burial place of. Cecil Rhodes. —Sergt. Chuter Ede, ex-president of the Surrey

Teachers' Association, has expressed his willingness to contest the Epsom Division as a Labour candidate, if he receives the support of all the forces allied to the Trades Council.

—South Africa is laying down plant for making cheese on a large scale. —Penny dinners for needy children are to be started by

the Margate Education. Committee. —,91,000 was realized by the sale of 5,790 acres in

North Devon belonging to Lord Clinton. —All graves of Canadian soldiers dying in this country

are to be marked with a temporary oak cross. —Provided there is.no public expense, consent has been

given to the London Fire Brigade to forma band. —Brentford Gas Company are seeking powers to erect

a new model gas works in Chiswick. —During November twenty-seven churns of milk were

lost from the Great Western terminus at Paddington. —Over £100 in gold was included in ':8,400 subscribed

to the Ramsgate War Savings Association. —Many thousands of rabbits are being sent out of the

Isle of Wight, some wholesalers offering as much as a guinea a dozen. —Mr. Bonar Law, in the Commons on Monday, de-

clined to publish the total British casualties, saying none of the belligerents had done so. —brymma House, at Skewen, South Wales, valued at £20,000, and recently opened as a horns for feeble-minded, has' been destroyed by fire. —Nottingham Corporation is to ask the Government

to make the city the centre of one of the large central stations to be erected in different areas for generating and distributing electricity. —A civilian, tried by court-martial at Belfast for buying

a rifle from a soldier, and providing him with civilian clothes to enable him to desert was sentenced to nine months without hard labour.

—Questions involving the use of gasbags and whether men engaged in fitting them to private pleasure cars could be engaged on work of national importance are being considered by the Ministly of National service. —Judge Bray on Monday refused to grant a new trial

of a Bloomsbury County Court action which had been completed before the discovery was made that one of the jurymen was deaf. —Permission has been given by the Defence of the

Realm Losses Commission for three Irish railways to proceed with claims amounting to 2.61,000 against public funds for interference with traffic by the military during the rebellion. —A cheque for :16 was -presented at Bow Street on

Saturday to Sub-divisional Inspector Wright, and cheques for Z''12 each to Constables-Melton and Christ-mas for courageous conduct In rescuing a number of persons from two bombed houses on the occasion of the Zeppelin raid of October 19th. —Pastor Georee Wise died in Liverpool last week, aged

62. After working at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, he joined the Church of England, and his attacks on Romanism in Liverpool led to his imprisonment in 1908.

Hate War, Hate Prussianism. Unless you hate war, as such, you cannot really hate

Prussia. if you admit war as an essential part of civi-lization, then _what you are hating ie really Prussian efficiency.

The Army not what it Was. The Army is not what it was. I have been in it for

twenty years. It has changed. It has vastly improved. It must bib the refining influence of danger.—An Old Soldier.

Army Camaraderie. You cannot understand the camaraderie of the Army;

it is too wonderful for words, but it means this for me—if I were offered a safe job in England I should not take it ; I should want to go out to France, because I feel that I must be with my men.--A Wounded . Soldier.

The Women of England. Much depends on the women of England. If they

carefully guard the ancient ruts against our return, anti if their gentle fingers press us back into them, we shall acquiesce; but if at this hour of crisis they 'too have seen a wider vision of national unity, and learnt a more catholic charity, the future is indeed radiant with hope.— " A Student in Arms."

The Greatest Honour a Man Can Win. After all, to be killed fighting for a cause like ours is the

greatest honour a man can win, and that is how we should try to look at it, as something greater than a V.C. or any other honour to the living.—DOUGLAS GILLESPIE in "Letters from Flanders" (Smith, Elder and Co.).—?---

Millions of Miles of Outlook. I am just beginning to see my end, I do believe;

very little and very dim, but still a beginning. But, of course, I agree that an ultimate end must satisfy all the needs of the soul ; it must do more than that, it must be far, far, far above and beyond all those needs, a pure ideal, something wholly unattainable; you must have millions of miles of outlook. --,CAPTAIN JITLIAN GRENFELL, D.S.O.

Life Yet Worth Living. Heigh ho l life is yet worth living. Heaton broode

over the earth with a marvellous gentleness. The veil is drawn aside for a space, and far down the future, far, far, illimitably far down, I can see a city of hap-piness—a Great. City of Human Gladness—and from it comes the swell of a great chorus :

Beauty is truth, truth beauty ; that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

—LTEu'r. HAROLD PARRY, K.R.R.

The Good Soldier. The good soldier has learnt the hardest lesson of ell

the lesson of self-subordination to a higher and bigger personality. He has learnt to sacrifice everything which belongs 'to htm individually to a cause that is far greater than any personal ambitions of his own can ever be. He has learnt to do this so thoroughly that he knows no fear—for fear is personal. He has learnt 'to "hate" father and mother and life itself for the sake of—though he may not call it that—the Kingdom of God on earth.— " A Student in Arms."

—Sanction has been given to Bethnal Green Council to establish a reserve stock of 600 tons of coal, provided it is retailed in small quantities only in case of emergency. —The British Medical Association and the National

Union of Women Workers have memorialised the War Cabinet against increasing the powers of the Local Government Board in connection with maternity and infant welfare. —At Ilford last week a shelter for wounded soldiers in

the park was handed over to the town "by the Ilford Chamber of Commerce as a memorial to Corporal Cow-lin, of the London Rifle Brigade, who died under heroic circumstances while in the act of throwing a grenade.

TO GET £125 CHALLENGE GIFTS for the Sistare Retiring Allowance Fund of. THE DEACONESS INSTITUTE,

We need to raise £125. WILL YOU HELP P

Please send crowed P.O.'s and cheques to Rev. Hy, SUIT'S. Warden, , to ftliagbroks Greve, 1.9adon, S, W. 11.

A, Letter from the Connexional Secretary.

DEAR MR. EDITOR, Your Roll of Honour, week by week, is so full of

heart-ache, and almost of heart-break, that one is ap-palled, overwhelmed, at the thought of bereaved homes, and the loss of bright intelligences by which the world would have been greatly enriched, had they not been quenched in the awful conflict now raging. The Con-nexional Committee, after adopting a very tender vote of sympathy with one of their number who had lost his only son, a youth of quite singular promise, felt eon-strained to pass the following Resolution :

"The Committee is deeply moved with the sorrow that the War is bringing into the homes of so many of our people, and cordially sympathizes with all whose hearts are torn by the sad tidings of their dearest being num-bered with the killed or wounded. and earnestly prays that the great sacrifice may haste, the coming of a righteous and durable peace."

Happily we can think of our brave men now clothed with the life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel, and find comfort in the thought that they are still in the King's service, and that tasks are now in their hands greater than any this world could give them.

Yours truly, GEORGE PACKER..

Many London friends will be interested in the fact that Rev. G. Hooper, President-elect of the National Free Church Council, is lecturing at Trinity Church, Forest

to-night (Thursday) at 7.30. The subject is "Peter Mackenzie " and the chairman Mr. Thomas Hilbert.

--Mr. J. C. Wedgwood, M.P., has been appointed Assistant Director in the Trench Warfare Department of the Ministry of Munitions, and the Duke of West-minster Personal Assistant to the Controller of the Mechanical Warfare Department.

Things Said by Soldiers. The following four sayings are from "The Ways of

War," by Captain T. M. kettle, killed at the battle of Givenchy, 1916.

A Special Mission. If God spares me, I shall accept it as a special mission

to preach love and peace to the end of my life.

The Only Inevitable War. War is not a calamity of nature, and there are no

inevitable wars. Or, rather, the only inevitable war is a war against aggression, and aggression is never inevitable.

I Want 'to Live. I want to live to use all my powers of thinking, writ-

ing, and working to drive out of civilization this foul thing called war, and to put in He place understanding and fellowship.

P OUR PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO UNITED METHODIST " BOYS " IN

THE ARMY AND NAVY. •■•=11

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December 6, 1917, THE UNITED METHODIST. 58S

• WE ARE a WITH YOU. a

regard you. I speak on behalf of the whole United Methodist Church when I say that we hold you in our I want you, our Soldiers and Sailors everywhere, to feel with what tender and affectionate interest we

• thought and heart, that we are proud of the spirit you have displayed and of the heights of nobleness and 11■■ Mml=

sacrifice to which you have risen at your country's call. We are somewhat ashamed of ourselves that we did ••••••

not discover the wealth of soul that lay hidden in you before the war. You have made us realise what unspeakable treasure we pOssessed, and what a valiant army of braver young lives was ready for a great ••■•■

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• adventure in the cause of Christ. •••••1 OM.

We miss you in our Churches and Sunday Schools, but we believe that God is using you for the achievement of His wise and holy purposes. Some have fallen, but they are part of us still. We cannot be severed in Christ, for He is Lord of death. What we earnestly pray is that those of you who remain may be kept in mind pure and, in heart loyal to Jesus. We are expecting you to fill our places and continue our work in. Christ's Church when you return.-

Meanwhile, we are with you in heart and mind, Our thoughts linger near you. In imagination we follow you into the trenches and on the battlefields and seas. We picture the trials and hardships and sufferings you undergo, and our tenderest sympathies are stirred. We pray for you continually both in private and in public worship. We encircle you with our affections, and we look eagerly for the day you so ardently desire to see,

• when militarism shall be laid in the dust and the world shall be • free in a peace never again to be broken. God be with you

and bless you. President of the United Methodist Conference. dmIdim •■•• •■••I

sm.

•■•••• Bristol, December, 19171

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United Methodist Table Talk.

The Editor's address is 188 Rye Lane, Peckham, S.E.15.

* * * * * PERSONAL.

Many friends will be gratified to hear that the Secretary of our Army and Navy Committee received a letter from Rev. E. S. Winter, C.F., _last Friday morning, reporting, " I am glad to say that at last I am beginning to get slightly better." It will be remembered that Mr. Winter is suffering from enteric fever. He is in an infectious hospital in the neighbourhood of Cairo.

" Rev. J. A. Thompson has been elected President of the North Manchester Free Church Council. It is the second time he has been called to this position, and during the three years intervening he has been the secre- tary. He is also president for the Band of Hope and Temperance Union for the same locality.

Miss Evelyn P. Hope, daughter of Rev. W. C. Hope, of Totland Bay, has passed the London University examination for the degree of B.Sc. We offer her hearty congratulations.

Rev. W. A. Todd has just concluded a series of ten lectures on the Bible in connection with the Sunderland Sunday. School Union Teachers' Training Centre. The attendance at the lectures was highly satisfactory, ex- ceedingthat of former years. The Union has asked Mr. Todd to lecture during the forthcoming session and he has arranged to give a series on "The Making of .the New Testament."

The Rev. R. S. and Mrs. Hall desire to thank the many friends who_ have kindly written to them, for their mes-sages of condolence and sympathy in their recent great bereavement. To reply to each one personally is prac-tically impossible, so they beg to offer to all through the medium of the UNITED METHODIST their deep and heart-

' felt appreciation. They have been comforted and helped by the thought that so large a number are sharing in a fellowship of sorrow with them and interceding on their behalf at the throne of the Heavenly Grace.

* * * * *. DEATH OF MR. W. S. SNELL.

Very many United Methodists in London • will hear with deep regret of the sudden death of Mr. William Scotchburn Snell, of Snaresbrook, in his fifty-second year. Mr. Snell was an active worker in connection with our Wanstead Church and an official of the Walthamstow Circuit. A nephew of the late Mr. E. S. Snell, he took a deep interest in Connexional life in London. Much sympathy is felt with his wife and children.

* * * *. • * REV. W. S. WELCH.

On Monday, November 19th, at a United Meeting of the Hackney Circuit Committee and the leaders of the Earlsmead Church, the Rev. W. S. Welch announced Me intention of retiring from the official ministry next Conference. He had accepted a partnership in the firm et Mew.. Bland and Welch fram January let, 1931

until Conference he was willing to continue as superinten-dent of the circuit, devoting his stipend to the work of the church. Mr. Welch stated at length the considera-tions which had led him to this decision ; he purposed residing ,in the Hackney circuit and was confident he would render more -effective service to the Kingdom of God in a form of ministry self maintained. The meet-ing unanimously and most cordially expressed its con-fidence in Mr. Welch and its sympathy with the action he was taking.

* * * * FOOD USED FOR LIQUORS.

Mr. Clynes, in a written answer to Mr. Duncan Miller, says : " The quantities of cereals required in the menu-

'facture of beer, stout, and whisky are as follows : "For one gallon of beer (standard specific lbs.

gravity 1,046) •.. ••. .. . 2.48

" For one gallon of stout (specific gravity 1,060) 3.12 "For one gallon of whisky (80 under proof) ... 17.41

"Allowance must be made for the feeding to animals of the offal and products involved, which represent approxi-mately one-third of the cereals used."

Assuming that the cereal used is barley, these quan-tities represent in bread approximately for Government Ale (1,046) 2 lbs., for Stout 21 lbs., for Whisky 14 lbs. The man who drinks 2 pints of Government Ale per day therefore consumes, in addition to his ordinary bread ration, 3-1 lbs., or half a pound more than the bread ration of his boy under ten.

* * * * * UNITED INTERCESSION SERVICE.

A consultation has been held between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the officers of the National Free Church Council, with the result that it is decided to in-corporate in the Intercession Service of January dth certain prayers to be used in common by both the Angli-can and the Free Churches A .new form of service is therefore being printed by the Council containing the united prayers. Copies will be sent to all those who

have already obtained the first form, and to new en- quirers from the Memorial Hall, London, E.C.4.

* * * * * HONOURED BY THE KING.

Chief Petty Officer W. J. Toy, Penryn, Cornwall, a former scholar of our Penryn School, has just been in. vested with a special silver medal, for valour with the Br.tish Naval contingent, in the recent retreat in Italy. He won the D.S.M. two years since, when Kut was in-vested by the Turks. He was on H.M.S. "Cornet," and volunteered to go down the river, and under a heavy shell fire from the enemy's guns cut the cables connecting the mines and brought the latter back to headquarters. Although wounded he took his place again at the wheel.

*- * * * * THE S. S. MAGAZINE.

For some time the publisher of the "United Methodist Sunday School Magazine " has desired to make it speci-fically connexional by inserting pages dealing with our own Sunday school affairs. This has now become pos. sible and the first issue of the series begins with the January number (3d. net). The magazine is now distinct-ively United Methodist. Besides the notes on lessons, which have made this magazine so invaluable to our churches for some years past, there are now four pages of notes by Rev. S. C. Challenger, Secretary of our Young People's Department, which will be read with

much interest. This magazine in its improved form ought 'to have ,a greatly increased sale.

* * * * * CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

Rev. John Ninnis, 1 Glanmor Road, Sketty, Swanse41. * * * * *

TO CORRESPONDENTS. W. E. P.—Legally there is no right and therefore there

will be no penalty if anyone disobeys. It is really a request. Each must determine whether he can meet the request.

A. H. N. R.—Letter passed on to the writer of article.

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Deu. 23, 9, 14

2 Tim. 2,. 3 Acts 12, 6 Phil. 4, 11

Acts 12, 18 James 1, 12 2 Cor. 2, 11

Browning

Browning again

And yet again

2 Tim. 2, 4

1 Sam. 30, 24

a. B. Browning

Matt. 25, 56

1 Tint. 2, 1, 2

Deu. 20, 3 Psa. 18, 39 Isa. 9, 5

1 Chron, 5, 20 .

Psa. 140, 7

Ezek. 27, 25 2 Cor. 11, 26 Dan. 7, 3 1 Kings 9, 27 Rev. 8, 9

JOINING UP. - They willingly offered themselves. It was not meet for us to see the King's dishonour.

A man but young . . . Religious, yet a soldier.

Chosen to be a soldier. . . . But a day And the world has changed !

- . Look in my eyes !

Wilt thou change too ?

" You have vowed your life to England ; give it her wholly-a bright, stainless, perfect life-a knightly life. Because you have to fight with machines instead of lances, there may be a necessity for more ghastly danger ; but there is none for less worthiness of character than in olden time . , . You may have to call yourselves ' canonry ' instead of ' chivalry,' but there is no reason why you should not call yourselves true men."

RUSKIN.-The Crown of Wild Olive.

Sunday Afternoon. BY Rsv. ERIllisT F. H. CAM.

A SPECIAL PORTION FOR OUR SOLDIER BOYS.

"Force is at best A fearful thing, e'en in a righteous cause."

- Schiller.

AUGUST 4th, - 1914.-Zedekiah, the last King of Judah, despised the oath that be had given to the King of Babylon. Shall he prosper ? Shall he escape that doeth such things ? Shall he break the covenant and escape ? The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! He shall judge among the nations.

Massinger

2 rim, 2,. 4 Browning

IN CAMP. - TRAINING, TEMPTA-TION, Eto.-When thou goest forth in camp . . then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing . . . For the Lord • thy God walketh • in the midst of thy camp. Endure hardness. Sleeping between two soldiers. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. No small stir among the soldiers. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. Not ignorant of Satan's devices.

The Devil, that old stager . . . . . ..... who leads bownward, perhaps, but fiddles all

the way.

Why comes tempation but for man to meet

And master and make crouch beneath his foot,

And so be pedestaled in triumph ? *

When the fight begins within himself A man's worth something.

ON' ACTIVE SERVICE. No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life.

In the Homeland and at the Base. As his share is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tarrieth by the stuff,

The honest earnest man must stand at work

The women also,

/ was sick and ye visited me. I exhort that prayers . . . be made for all men , for Kings, and for all that are in authority.

At the Front.-You approach this day to battle. Thou hest girded me with strength unto the battle. Every battle is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood.

Going over the Top.-They cried to God in the battle

Fret not, He lovee-Thee.

Paint not, He holds Thee.

Fear not, He keeps Thee.

Thou !last covered my head in the day of battle.

Navy.- Thou wast . . . made very glorious in the midst of the seas. In perils in the sea. Great beasts came up from the sea. Shipmen that had knowledge of the sea. The third part of the ships were destroyed.

0 hear us as we cry to Thee Per these who traverse land and

sea, That they may now and ever be Safe in Thy holy keeping.

(Continued at foot of newt column).

THE UNITED METHODIST.

■=n11•111■1111■

AFTER BATTLE. - The broad walls Utterly broken. Not one stone upon another. A multitude of slain. A day of trouble and distress, a. day of waste-ness and desolation. Remember, 0 Lord, what is come upon us. . . We are orphans and fatherless. Is the young man safe ? Not afraid of evil tidings. Shall I yet again go out to battle ? How long shall it be to the end of these wonders ?

IN THE DAY OF PEACE.-The people rejoiced and sounded with trumpets. A time to dance. Many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping. I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that . . . . nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

-Isaiah, 2, 2, 4.

PRAYER (Nelson, on the day -ef his death, Monday, October 21st, 1805).

May the great God, whom 1 _ worship, grant to my country, and for the benefit of Burofie in general, a great Had glorious victory ; and may no miseondnct in anyone tarnish it, for Christ's .sake. Amen.

December 6, 1917

Young People's Topic. BY REV. -H. CH.A.TTERTON.

DRINK AND THE NATION.-THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH.

SCRIPTURE LESSON :• Rom. ult.'

the Church and the Kingdom. FOR. what end does the Church exist? It is certainly

not an end in itself, aithough many of us speak and act as if it were. The Church exists to bring in the Kingdom of, God. 4t is simply the instrument whereby this purpose is to be realized. The Church is the way-Maker tor the Kingdom-the means by which God in-tends to get things done. .A great hindranee to the coming of the Kingdom is the intemperate use of alcohol. .o.very clay we pray, " Thy Kingdom come! " but unless we are doing what we can to check and destroy this vice we are guilty of coming before God with idle and un- meaning words. The drink traffic and the Church can-not both permanently survive. It is impossible to picture the ideal Kingdom with public-houses, from which mothers stagger to curse at their children who have been waiting for her outside the door, cold and miserable-a sight one can see every day in our great cities. The Church exists to make an end of all evil, and, on the testimony of doctors, judges and others, we know that intemperance brings a whole host of evils in its train. This use of alcohol, as a beverage, is to be judged, like all other things," by its fruits. And experience declares its fruits to be deplorable, poverty, misery, shame, vice and disease. In view of this there can be no mistake as to the duty of the Church.

Church Members Should be Abstainers. The first duty of the Church should be to see that

every Christian is an abstainer from that which is such a prolific cause of crime and misery. That is the plain teaching of the Scripture lesson for the -week. " It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth." And there is no such cause of stumbling as strong drink. The moderate drinker argues that he has a right- to the little stimulant he takes-his home is not injured thereby. But for the sake of a great principle, of a great patriot-ism, ought we not all to sacrifice a private trifle? Is not this the reason for the King coming into the ranks of the teetotallers? The moderate drinker, especially if he be a Christian, is severe on the gambler. But the gambler can urge the same plea as the drinker-the little he puts on a horse does •not jeopardise his home. He gets the stimulus and a little excitement and can afford to lose the little he speculates. But when he knows that others have not his self-control, that the gambling habit is wrecking hundreds of English homes every year, ruin-ing careers, ought he not, as his brother's keeper, to abandon it? And the same consideration for others ap-plies to the taking of alcohol as a beverage. In thou-sands it creates an appetite which they find irresistible. It enslaves them and involves the unhappiness of the lives that are linked to theirs. "We then that are strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak and not to please ourselves." The first duty. of the Church is for all her members to abstain.

educate the Young. And another duty of the Church is education. Doctors,

in increasing numbers, are declaring the ill effect upon the health of even minute doses of alcohol. Economists are showing what a real burden it is upon the efficiency and affluence of the nation. Philanthropists and re- formers are proving it a blight and a blot from their point of sight. It is necessary for their facts and figures to be placed before the people, that, by one policy or another, they may put an end to our national shame.

In view of this it is depressing to read that Band of Hope work is on the decline. The societies_are fewer and even those which carry on have a diminished attendance. Let the Leaders' Meeting pay more attention to this highly important branch of Church work.

Finally, it is the duty of the Church to reclaim the drunkard. " For it is significant that medical specialists declare the only radical cures they have known have come about through a firm grip of religion.

Women's 'Missionary Auxiliary. Items for this• column should be sent to Mrs, Vivian,

49 Windsor Road, Doncaster, and not to the Editor. - ■ ••••••••••■•••11M

Southport. THE branch held its Autumn meeting at Mount Tabor

Church on Monday, November 26th. Mrs. Ellis of Levens-hulme presided. A helpful address was given by Rev. A. E. L. Davis of Manchester. He impressed his hear-ers with his account of the magnificent work the mis-sionaries are doing and he pleaded for more volunteers for the mission field and for still further financial sup-port. Two songs were- very sweetly rendered by Miss Ella Pott and Miss J. Owen's recital of "The singing of the Magnificat" was much appreciated. Theo collec- tion amounted to 1s.

Sets ey. A Public Meeting and tea were held on the afternoon

of November 19th. Dr. Broomhall, a Baptist Medical Missionary, and son of Mr. Broomhall who was for so long secretary of the C.I.M. was the speaker, and he gave a very interesting account of his work In. China. Mrs. Bunting presided. The financial result, ,41 18s, is very satisfactory, being an increase 10s. on last year.

2 Chron. 36,13

Ezek. 17, 15

Prov. 17, 4 James 3, 5

Isa. 2, 4

Judges 5, 2 Ezra 4,14

From Pole to Pole. By Rev. T. A. JEFFERLES, F.L.S.

ZECH. IX. 9-10. (C.E. Missionary Topic for December 16th.) _

FROM sea to sea shall be His dominion, said the prophet, from the River into the ends of the earth ; and the modern hymn-writer with a new conception of geo-graphy strikes the same note in the phrase " from pole to pole." Universalism is of the essence of Christianity.

A World Gospel. Our faith is bound to be missionary because its gospel

meets a need that is as wide as the human race. The particular problems vary from place to place with differ- ing races, callings, and climates ; but there is one problem ,common to all : it is the problem set by our human freedom, the problem of mastering self so that our freedom may issue in good, the problem of over- coming the influences that tend to spoil our liberty, in a word, the problem of sin. It is that problem which was attacked by our Lord Jesus Christ and which He solved by His Cross. There He opened to us the way of renewal in moral strength and spiritual passion by fellowship with God. There He made that fellowship pos- sible by making forgiveness and reconciliation possible. Fully he felt the shame of sin, perfectly he sorrowed over it, utterly He surrendered Himself to the Father's' holy will. He has done perfectly what we wish we could; do for ourselves but cannot. He has died for us. But, if we cannot properly repent we can love Jesus, we can! trust Him, we can share His fellowship and walk in His light ; and all the time He will be giving to us of His spirit and moulding us into His likeness. Salvation from, the worst and to the highest is ours through faith in Christ. Human freedom is made free indeed. Man becomes victor over circumstance. The soul escapes from bondage and begins to soar. Heroism greater than that of the battlefield lights up the moral greatness of re- deemed human nature. A supernatural religion issues in a super-sensual life. Can we put boundaries to such an evangel?

A World Policy. To have such a faith is to be driven ever wider afield

until the earth is covered. A decadent religion may shut itself up in parishes but an evangelical experience, worthy of the name, must cry with Wesley, "The world is my parish." It was not Captain Cook's discoveries that pro-duced the modern missionary movement but the wave of evangelical experience that swept over England through the Methodist Revival. The missionary impulse is im-plicit in every genuine conversion. To be delivered from sin by the infinite grace of God, to realize that ". while we were yet sinners Ghrist died for us," that is sufficient to make any man long to tell out the love that has re-created his world. This is our experience : it was alsb the intention of our Lord. His parables of the Kingdom proclaim it in metaphor and His last words put it into .a definite command. Christ has a World Policy com-pared with which the schemes of politicians look thin an poor. I am proud of being an _Englishman, but I. am far more .proud to belong to the Church of Jesus. And whether the conflict here or there go well or ill, let us remember it is written and it is sure : "He must reign till He hath put all His enemies under His feet.'

A World Reconciliation. In this world policy of Jesus lies the hope of the world.

More and more one loathes the accursed despotisms of men. 600,000 Khirghiz massacred by order of the Rus-sian autocracy because they object to their territories being given to court favourites and Government officials! What can come of human pride and greed, save cunning and cruelty, misunderstanding and murder, waste and war. How can peace be secured save by good will, and what is here to create good will but the Cross of Christ ? _ " It is a dream," men say. Well, if it is, the 'other is a nightmare, and unless all the world is mad the dream will win, as it is winning. The cause of man is bound up with the cause of Jesus. In Him alone can the nations be reconciled and made one. Let 'us speed the Gospel message. Let us proclaim the saving -sacrifice. For the hope of the world, the flag of man, is the banner of the Cross.

Jer. 51, 58

Luke 21, 6 Nahum 3, 3 Zeph, 1,•15 Sant. 5, 1, 3 2 Sam., 18, 29 Psa. 112, 7 Judges 20, 28 Dan. 12, .6

2 Chron. 23,13 Ecc. 3, 4 Ezra 3, 12, 13

Hosea 2, 18

On Being in Khaki. BY CORPORAL WARD Mum.*

LAST evening, upon it wet and lonely road, I saw approaching a figure in oilskins. As the figure swung past me it said:. -,"-Good night, Tom 1 " To which I made reply : "Good night, Jack ! " My name is not Tom. As far as I= am aware the gentleman in oilskins, wes not christened Jack. But I was in khaki—a soldier. And he was a sailor. Hence our familiar interchange of greetings.

I confess I find that sort of episode very pleasant. A trifle! But—candidly—flattering. I admit it : these are the trifles which make a man vain. To be • called "'Chum! " by a fellow-soldier on top of a tram car; to be hailed casually as "Digger! " by an Australian who wishes to borrow a match ; to have a lift-girl in the tube shout "Hurry along, TomMy ! " and favour me with a grin which I should never have won in civilian garb; to behold a van-drivee slow down - to offer me a lift; to sleep in a Y.M.C.A. but for sixpence, after receiving a cup of tea from the jewelled hands of a Real Lady; to be intercepted by a grey-beard Volunteer desirous of directing me, through an Underground station whose geography I know rather better than my -own garden : these occurrences • are curiously agreeable. Even were I able, like some of -my privileged superiors to move about in mufti, I should not do so. Never ! My clothes are far from comfortable; at - times.- The tunic is stuffy. Its continually tarnishing—and therefore con-tinually to be repolishede-buttons are an outrage : the hour, wasted on metal buttons must stagger the gods. The puttees are (for home service,wear) idiotic. The belt is nonsense. The swagger cane—without which one is "improperly dressed " ; which nevertheless is not sup-plied by the authorities but must be bought out of one's own pocket is a silliness. The cap is ill-designed. And yet I am _ sorry for any man of military age—nay, for any man of any age—compelled to tread the streets in other rig than this, or than its naval counterpart.

Enlistment was, I grant, something of an adventure. I remember the extreme 'nervousness with which, in a crowd of other individuals who were perhaps even more timid, I awaited the pleasure of a recruiting officer. On that occasion I was rejected. This happened so long ago that. I may divulge a secret : -namely, that I was rather relieved to emerge on to the pavement a civilian. Disturbances in the region of the conscience (a very real region, if hard to locate anatomically) had driven me

` into that crowd, and with that ..crowd through that door. The door was ,an ominous door; and the distur-bances were not limited to the conscience : .there were disturbances—and not dissimilar ones—in the diaphragm. Yes, I had misgivings. Rejection allayed those misgivings. And yet, in a week they had returned, in the form of renewed disturbances of the conscience. The sickening strain of those_ days when one was not in khaki ! Thus, presently, I was facing a second recruiting, officer. This functionary •(unlike the first) did not crush me by the device of keeping me waiting for

- an obviously needless hour. He was promptitude and courtesy itself—and promptly and courteously rejected Inc. -

That was my second reprieve. I celebrated it by a trip north for a week's fishing: When. in doubt, go fish-ing : this, I think, has always been my motto, consciously Or unconsciously. At any rate, I go 'fishing either when in doubt or when not in doubt, which seems a safe rule. I am sure the artificers of flies' and The keepers of tac-kle-shops will support me in this view, and there are

e nee more delightful sophists on the surface of the habi-table globe. I went fishing. I told myself that at the third ,offer I should be accepted, and might as well enjoy a holiday first and be in 'good fettle for soldier-ing. As a matter of fact, no soldiering of the type I anticipated was to be mine. Forty-eight hours after I had basketed my last trout I was, it is true; a sol-dier. But not a soldier engrossed in soldiering. As a hospital orderly I had acquired theetechnique of the housemaid considerably prior to the moment when I first mastered the forming of fours. - However, I do not know that the one branch of. knowledge .Would have seemed more formidably foreign than the other to the civilian who, with sinking heart, Stood in the mob of 4ould-be recruits. All he knew was that, by the quite simple process of putting on a khaki suit, he suddenly found a calm which he had not experienced- for one minute since the war's outbreak. The deed was done. He had enlisted. Scarcely in the way he had meant;

-but still, he had enlisted ; he was genuinely in' the Army —not as the 'heroic "Tommy Atkins" of the battlefield, but as an unmistakable "Tommy Atkins" all the same, with a number, and a separation allowance, and a "reli-gion " ("C. of E." scrawled before he could; excogitate an answer to the unanswerable—the ChurCh's statis-tics, in this connexion, must be noteworthy). What a toad was off his mind!. -

All of which is ancient history. It deals with that epoch when vulgarians who chanted their refrain of "Business as Usual " and made decent .folks blush by their invention of the White Feather "stunt;". were pub-lishing. articles of the methods whereby we could soon cross the Rhine, and why it was imperatively neces-sary that we should build Zeppelins. The same scribes (those who are over forty-one, and the others who have successfully appealed) for exemption) are still at it-" funk-holes" and all the other encourage-the-German nastinesses ; but they, wand many worthier souls in re-mal 'tailoring are to be pitied. Khaki is the only wear, if you would learn what it is to be serene. This remains

*This article is reproduced from 0 e "Spectator," by kind and special permission of the Editor and of Corputal Ward Muir, and it will be read with interest by our soldier boys. Corporal Muir is the author of " Observations of an Orderly," being glimpses of life and work in an English Hospital as seen from within. , (SiMpkin. Marshall,.Hamilton, Kent & Co.

• 2s: 6d. net). It raninto a secoacledition almost immediately.

Notes on the Scripture Lessons The Year's Lessons in Advance

Edited by

J. EATON FEASEY Assisted by Rev. Alex. Ramsay, M.A., Rev.

Arthur Rudman, Miss May Coley, Miss Olive Champness,

December 6, 1917. THE UNITED MEI hODIST. 585

true.even of him who is weary of wearing it, as—let us be•frank—are,most of its wearers. With what eager-ness does every .single soldier I have met look forward to the war's end I Fed up. It is a pregnant phrase. And notwithstanding its terrific significance, notwith-standing all the gossip ' about "working your ticket " and the facile barrack-room envy of So-and-so who was boarded out, there are not a few, who once dreaded to

d become soldiers, an now conceal a hardly less positive dread of becoming civilians—before the war's finish makes civilian attire possible. " I couldn't show myself in the streets." This is what the soldier says. He envisages the sheer, cowardly inquietude which would be his loi were he forced to walk the world in a dress other than this safe and calmness-giving khaki. His self-respect is now secure. Without the label which khaki attaches to him he perceives that he would be eternally wanting to stop the passers-by and explain. . . . Besides, no one would hail him as "Chum I " and "Digger! "-and when he went a journey he would have to sit up Straight and prim in an ordinary compartment and be debarred from the cosy comradeship of the one with "TROOPS ONLY " pasted on its window. We long—oh, how we longl—to get out of khaki. But not yet.

WARD MUIR.

Religion Under Fire. .1•■•■■■■•■•■ ••■■■•

THE EDITOR with that sensitiveness which is so characteristic has ,decided to bring out an issue of the "U.M." intended for soldiers only. He has offered me the privilege of contributing something to it. I appreciate that privilege to the full. But what can I send, that will be of value?

It is Sunday morning, at home our people will be at worship, but there is no worship for us to-day. We have just come out of the line after an action which has been a great success, but men were here last Sunday who have since made the supreme sacrifice; while I have ministered to many who have passed down the line wounded. I sit down in a tent pitched on a marsh. The rain is beating down pitilessly. Many who read these words. will know the experience. But I am thinking of those who are still in England and who are wondering what it is like this side.

How does religion fare under such circumstances? Will it work ? Does it produce songs at midnight? I am going to try and answer that question and my answer will be in the affirmative. Perhaps the per-sonal note may seem prominent; but if so it is because personal experience is the strongest testimony . I can adduce. In history things, get beaten out to their true issue—we can see the verdict of the years. But experience is history in the making : I write from the crucible.

After more than two years at the Front one fact emerges clearly. It is a place where convictions are deepened. Our vision is clarified. We learn to see things in right perspective. Instead of beliefs losing force they become ,more _precious and are more opera-tive in our- daily life. 01 those beliefs none becomes clearer than the sovereignty of God. have never met a man out here who has expressed disbelief in God; much less one who made you feel he doubted in his heart. Never once have I heard a man wonder why God brought this tragedy upon Europe. Men see clearly that it is the result of selfish ambition and that it is going to be defeated because it is not in line with the eternal pur-pose. They don't 'ask whether God is on our side; they know that He is on the side of righteousness. I have talked with hundreds of men,' who made me feel that God/ was a living reality and never so real to them as now. And this my own experience confirms. I have lived in the trenches and worked at the dressing stat-ions, _seeing life and death in every form, and I say with an emphasis which may seem almost egotistical that my belief in God was never so strong and that it was never more operative upon me.

If space permitted, one could speak in the same way of .all the primary factors of our Christian belief. A few things have gone ; but the things that matter remain and have,a depth and meaning which they never had before. I am certain that Jesus Christ is known not only as Lord and Saviour but also as comrade as He never was under other circumstances. I don't say that many men have found God or that many have fallen in, love with Jesus Christ. Some have. But I do say that those who had known God and had companied with Christ before, have found him more than equal to all the strain.

But religion here is more than a stay. It strengthens and inspires. It used to be thought by some and often said that blackguards made the best soldiers. I think it 'was an unwise assertion, because there were degrees of efficiency among blackguards. In this war • one thing is' certain—that both among officers and men some of the best soldiers have been some of the best Christians. A commanding officer said to me one day. " If a man is truly religious"—note the adverb—" he should make the finest 'soldier." The Colonel of another regiment asked, "Padre, tell me the names of some of your men in my battalion—have you any officers ?" I told him the names of the only two officers I had—one commanding a company, the other a subaltern. "Padre, said he, `I have no finer officers in the battalion." Then he added, " I am always pleased to see you amongst the men. Yet the Padre stands for religion. It was an unconsdious, testimony to its value in action. The time has gone; if it ever existed, when religion was a hindrance to advancement. One of the finest Christ-ians I ever knew was an N.C.O., who fell in front of Beaumont Hamel urging his section on to victory. In the long dark nights in the trenches one fe is that the 1Thite Comrade keeps 011f •!() npany. Whee one goes over the top one knows that "The San of God goes forTh to war." In heavy bombardments men have

repeated the words of the Psalmist and found them true, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry." . Many times have I seen men reading their New Testaments whilst shel-tering in shell holes. Religion has been put to the test and it has not failed.

There is a new phrase which has constantly repeated itself to me out here—" saved by hope." It has expres-sed something definite. There is much to depress and yet one seldom finds depression. There is certainly more gloom in England than in the trenches, despite their hardships. I have often asked the reason for this hopefulness. Was it due to the stength of our Allies or our own increasing efficiency, or what ? W. had an opportunity to prove that it was not due to trust in our Allies, for when Russia disappointed, our hopes did not die. This was shown by the fact that it was then that we made some of our most successful efforts; and hopefulness is a condition of all success. One day I got my answer. We had accomplished a difficult task and paid the price for success. But there was not much to show. Some of us were discussing it when one quietly said. "Ah well, we have a long way to go, but we shall get' there in the end. 'Right must win : it's that which keeps me going." In a moment Matthew Arnold's phrase flashed through my mind, "A 'something not ourselves which makes for righteousness." The men don't use that kind of lan-guage; but they believe the fact, and that is the ground of their optimism. They sing with a new meaning :-

"For right is right, since God is God, And right the day must win;

To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin."

Boys, do not then harbour doubts as 'to whether your religion will bear the strain. It has been proved to the uttermost and found sufficient. Do not be afraid to let your light shine. Your comrades will respect char-acter and your brave example will strengthen your brethren. Your religion instead of hindering your advance will help it—efficiency comes of confidence, and nothing equals the confidence born of trust in God. Then if the time comes when you must stand under fire you will not fail ; but like a great multitude before you will prove yoursef more than conqueror through Him that loved you and gave Himself for you.

W.H.JEFFRIES, C.F.

From Our Correspondents Mr. T. C. Warrington, Leek, writes : Will you allow

me in a word to support you in your leading article in the "U.M. " in "Putting back the Clock? " On both points—the wisdom of allowing free expressinn of opinion, and the wrong done in penalizing the Conscientious Objector by disfranchising him—in my view you have spoken rightly.

THE December number of "The Sunday at Home" has an appropriate Christmas flavour throughout—Christ-Inas stories, and Christmas pictures. The cover is a reproduction in colours of Harold Copping's The Annunciation." Among the seasonable items may the mentioned "The Christmas Intention : What are you going to do on Christmas Day?" " The Cupboard and the Coals," by Canon Langbridge, a causerie by the Editor on "Christmas, 1917," and three Christmas stories. It is an appropriate number to send to "the boys" at the Front and to friends in the Colonies.

-"Badges and Emblems of the Imperial Armies" is the subject of the coloured plate given with the December number of the "Boy's Own Paper," and Mr. Stanley L. Wood supplies for the cover one of his graphic sketches in colour, of an Alaskan Dog-Sledge Team. Two thrill-. Mg serial stories begun last month are continued in sub-stantial instalments, "How I Run My ` Empire Room,'" "The Hockey Game," " Blundell and the Professor," "The Exploits of Lieut. Walker James," and "The Phantom Bike," are among the-contents of a number that will re-joice the heart of every boy.

THE PREMIER BRITISH LESSON "HELP" in Preparing the Sunday School Lessons

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1111=11115MBISSIMIE THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, 67 a 58 Ludgate Hill, London, LC 4.

586

THE UNITED METHODIST. December 6, 1917.

Some of my- Experiences at the Front.

BY Rev. G. F. WaLITRS, C.F.

We recently chronicled the reception by Mr. Walters of a gold watch, the gift of the people of Todmorden in recognition of his having received the Military Cross a year ago. In his reply Mr. Walter. gave the following reminiscences.

A Chaplain's Typical Sunday. I don't know what I shall do when I come back again

and try to settle down to the ordinary work of a Sunday parson, for Sundays out there are very much different from Sundays here. I remember one Sunday starting out on horseback at half-past five in the morning. I had a fine horse—a dear old chap. I only had to tie him ,up, and it didn't matter whether they shelled us or not : he waited there until I had done my work—quite a religious sort of horse. Well, that Sunday morn-ing I started off on my services and rode about 26 miles. In hole and dug-out I held ten services—and I used to get tired out with three when I was at home. And I had 125 communicants on that day, carrying by the side of my horse the Communion set the Government provide us with. I finished up, not a bit tired and as happy as could be, at about half-past eight with supper at a public house known as the Three Kings. I have told• my wife about this—there were three very fine young ladies there, and I used to talk to them to learn French, and I think I won their affection for evermore. In my opinion that estaminet ought to have been called the Three Queens. They write to me even now. On another Sunday we had been in the trenches about six days and I was living in a dug-out at a place called Thistle Dump, on the Somme. Behind us were batteries of 12in. guns. Pieces out of the dug-out used to drop in your tea—it was prettybad with big pieces of dug-out in it. They used to fire away all day and all night, but I returned to the dug-out about three o'clock in the morning and lay down in the clothes I had been in five or six days and slept like an innocent babe.

Working Amonl the ounded. Mr. Walters went on to narrate how he was awakened

in the small hours to take some men up the line to the assistance of wounded. He referred to the cheerfulness with which our wounded bore their injuries, and told how he helped to carry wounded down to the dressing stations. The work of the stretcher-bearers, he said, was one of the most arduous and valiantly performed of all the services at the Front. He had seen men work until they could not work a little bit longer. They

ould . do anything for their chums. One officer who had pi act caily lust his eyesight, whom he helped to "carrydoe n, appeared far more concerned abotit the brave deeds of one of his men than about his own terrible injuries.

Mr. Walters, proceeding to refer to the expressive language sometimes used, said : I remember on the Somme after a morning of frightful shelling, I walked up the line and bound up some of the wounded, and the Brigade Major came along swinging his stick. He yelled out : " Hello ! Good morning, padre," adding, "By God, padre, I've prayed like blazes this morning. It makes you pray when you get out, there I" That man seemed to bear a charmed life. We alikays thought he would be " windy" and would funk, but he didn't, and the way he -stood that fire and the way he kept the men cool was wonderful. Once when I was having a bit of lunch in a shell hole into which we had crawled some-one came up and said some men had been hit—would I go and see if I could bury some of them. I went and we buried four. As I was coming back a man by my side was shot. I asked two men who had been working for days if they would help me to dig a grave. They did, and very reverently we put him in, and we prayed for you dear women, upon whom the burden of it all falls. There is much to interest us, much to keep us going, but upon you it falls heaviest, and remem-ber we never forget, to pre,y for you, however short the service may be—and sometimes it has to be very short because of the circumstances under which it is done. "My experiences have taught me that it would be an awful calamity if the Germans were to win and if the point of view and the feelings and thoughts that, gener-ally actuate the Germans were to be imposed upon us. It would be Satan let loose amongst us. They have their bright side. A German doctor came to me and asked me if I would help to bind some of the men's wounds up. He worked like a Trojan. I asked him ' Why don't you give it up?' Oh,' he said ' we shall win.' And multitudes of them said that to me. I want you to remember that—they are determined to win if they can." There were good men amongst them, but there were the other kind as well. For instance, he heard of one German, who when a medical officerwho was bandaging up the festering wounds of our men at Ruhleben called through the - bars of the "cage" for some bandages, actually spat at him. A British Tommy wouldn't do that. His experience had been a revelation of human nature to him. It was the humour of our men that to a great extent carried them through.

Are we worth it. Mr. Walters went on : Those who interpret life for

our men in future—and I talk to parsons now—will have to remember that they are dealing with men who have a nature that is humorous, full of cheerfulness and buoy-ancy, and there must not be anything gloomy in our interpretations of life for them. I was in the Battle of Loos, and it was awful, one night from eight o'clock until one in the morning, other fellows and myself col-lected together 1,500 meo. We hadn't anywhere to get them, because they had a barrage behind as. I same

across a sergeant -crying like a child. He , said 'It's the boys, sir—they're all killed." And there: he was, crying for the lads in his platoon who had gone away. I spoke, to one, lad and found he was a lad I went to school with. Around these struggling, bloody, battered, broken, brave men I walked. Then a shell fell in the midst of us, and you can imagine what it all meant—and they suffered for you. Are you worth it? Will ,you- show you are worth it? May God help you to. I saw five lads five days after the battle, and they had been wounded for five days. - They were arm-in-arm—those of them who had any. Between them they had about eight eyes, and I think it was nine legs, and fewer arms. they were dragging each other along. and ,chatting, keeping each other alive and hopeful by just speaking cheerfully and looking as though nothing had happened at all. A lance-corporal who had been lying in a shell hole for five days and five nights came in. All he had to eat was food from a dead man's kit, and he had sucked blades of grass to quench his thirst. All that for you and for me I But keep your hearts up, men and women, and the day will come—soon, I dare not say—when the things we stand for, the higher life and hope and ideals of our British life, shall triumph over ideals, life, thought and feelings far lower and far less worthy.

Called upon at a later date for a few additional words, Mr. Walters said they all hated war. They were fed up with it out at the Front. They hated it as they hated the Devil, but they would stick it to the finish. War was hellish, but this war was inevitable.

To Those in Khaki. 01•11111■••=111..1...-.

IF it is any comfort to you to know that as the War continues our admiration for you increases, we give you this comfort out of a full and appreciative heart. We admire your patience, your devotion to duty, your sacrifices compared with which ours at home are as nothing.

' Only Five WoUnds!" I was talking the other day, to a young soldier as he

lay huddled in bed. In reply to something I said to him he replied, " I only got five wounds, sir, and two have healed," and with a lingering twinkle in his eye, said, " I'm in no great hurry about the rest."

One is amazed sometimes , at your, sacrifices and cheerfulness. Here is a lad, a mere lad, told off with others to take a position, followed by a company of officers. He notices a suspicious-looking wire. After putting his men in a safe position, he borrows a field-glass strap from one of the officers; goes out alone, puts it round the wire and pulls until it snaps. There is a terrific explosion, but he manages to find cover. A fortnight- later he is killed in action. His superior officer writing to his father tells him that his son by his act probably saved all those men from being blown to pieces. whilst he himself put his own life in jeopardy.

And your cheerfulness It puts us to shame. A youth " on leave" sat near to where I am writing but a few days ago. He and others had been in the trenches. For quite a long while no food arrived. They were wet, cold, hungry, homesick. One of them moved the following resolution which was carried unanimously : " That we all write home to our mothers and tell them we are all in the pink!"

If there were no God!" We know, too, that you are thinking much about

the things that matter. God is not 4orgotten, and He upholds you. The religion you learnt in your first days at Mother's knee is with you now. It is your great standby. You catch the echo of the Sunday School hymns, and the prayers of your superintendent are with you as a sacred and uplifting memory. It would be all up with you if you forgot the old things which are after all for ever new.

A nurse returned home one day from one of our mili-tary hospitals somewhat dispirited. When asked what had gone -wrong, she replied that she had had a par-ticularly hard day. One soldier had to be operated upon at once. It has been pronounced inadvisable 'to give him an anaesthetic.. She held his hand. At a critical stage it appeared as if he were, giving way. -He buried his face in his arms. " Don't give way," said the nurse, " you have been so brave.' Try and hold out a little longer." He raised his head, and with a smile said, " I'm not crying, nurse, I was only thinking how much harder it would be if there were no God."

Frying to keep our end up.- " He's keeping his end up well." You used to say

that at the cricket matches when an important issue trembled in the balance. So, are we. You there, we here. It would Ill become us if we failed. But we do not intend to fail. How can we? This happened a few months ago at one of our railway stations. The man who heard this conversation told it the same evening, and I was in the company.

A little woman in black stood on the platform of a railway station. Her husband in khaki stood at the open window of the carriage. It was 7' good-bye I" She said : " Jim, don't worry, I'll see to the children." He said nothing. I fancy feelings were too deep for words. After a pause, she continued : " Jim, do your duty, it saves a lot of trouble." Then finally this : " Jim, don't worry, I'll see to the children." The train moved on, he to the War, and the little woman in black to children and home.

* * * l send you these words to stiffen, if needs be, your

endurance, to fortify your will, and to tell you that in dear old England the cause is safe.. We look to yoti, you look to us, and we all look to God. He will hold you in His keeping. Nothing can hurl you. Nothing con hurt you ! We are keeping the home fires burning till you our dear ones, come home., We pray that God in His good time may bring you back to us...

T. - NIGHTINGALE.

Little Jest. There's a little mound of sand et the back of No Man's

Land, ; There's a little wooden cross fixed in the soil.

,

Where the daisies grow like mad just to make the place look glad,

And the soul of " Little Jest " rests from its toil.

He was known as " Little Jest" by the chaps who knew him best,

And for joking beat the record in the. Batt, But for all his' squibs and puns he was worsh;rded

by the SOILS Of the women who are " waiting at the back."

He loved to talk at times when the Batt. was "out of lines"

Of the little Wife at home he called his Nell. Then his eyes grew wet and dim and we pictured seeing

him Take her to his heart and shout out " All gees

well."

On the night of the attack we wire sitting at the back Of the trench all wet and sloppy with the rain:

As the mist fell in a swirl he was telling of " his girl,"

And we loved toohear the story once again.-

He was telling of that morn when the breeze swept o'er the corn,

And he met sweet Nellie--- all dressed in lace. When his heart began to beat like the marking time "

of feet,, And the blushes came and went across his face.

Fie then began to tell of the way in which the bell - Started ringing in the Church upon the. hill. How he felt that Life was sweet when it gave him

such a treat. (It made our aching bodies simply thrill). ec

Then his voice began to break -as he went on to relate Of that dreadful day which dawned three years ago,

When half the World wenr-rnad and his heart. Was very sad

As he- left his little wife to Nce the foe.

Though we'd heard the tale beforie- of those happy days of yore,

Still we listened with a shiver down our back; And our hearts were filled with pain as we heard the

very name Of the woman who was " waiting at the back."

But sadly, strange to state, by an ironic Fafe, He was never let to speak again of Nell,

For as we made attack he was struck right in the, back

By a cruel bit of broken iron shell.

But though his body's gone his faith still lingers on To fill our souls with something which we lack—

Of his bright and smiling face and the figure dressed, in• lace,

Of the woman who was " waiting at the. back."

There's little mound sand at the back of No. Man's L

There's a little wooden cross fixed in the .soil . Where the daisies grow like -mad just to make the

place look glad,

28.8-17. WILFRED soul of " Little Jest" rests from its toil. 8.847.

WILFRED LEWIS.

Wilfred Lewisis a United Methodist boy, connected with our Duke

.Street Church, Southport.

To a• Loved One. [ The following won the first prize in a poem compe tition organised by a United Methodist minister, in charge of a Y.M.C.A. but in France.—ED. U.M.]

Of Death I have no fear. With . me, and ever near, Is God. God -who with loving care Guards e'en the birds of the air, And will guard me.

Dearest, While great shells scream, Splitting the sun-lit blue, To me there comes a dream Of you— Sad in your English home • Thinking of me.

And God, Whose tender hand, In this war-weary land, Still guards and guides From His high heaven above, Comforts my aching heart With hopes of years to come (Sweeter 'than those of yore) When this dread strife is- o'er, Safe in our English horns Long years with you—

You whom God gave to ms-- I whom God guards ter pole.

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588

THE UNITED METHODIST.

December 6 1917

Religion at the Front. AS VIEWED FROM THE RANKS.

BY A PRIVATE.

IF you at home were to see Tommy as he appears sometimes when- relieved from the strain of fighting and out on a rest somewhere in France, and could listen to his language and see how he has acquired the evil habits of drinking and gambling, etc., you would_ get a shock. Standing there before the bar of your judge-ment he would be condemned. It is with a very keen sense of regret and shame I have to admit that many are guilty of these faults and weaknesses. And to anyone brought up under Christian influence who still retain his faith in God, these things are very offensive and repugnant and make the life much harder. But it is a relief to be able t6 say that it is not here you see the real Tommy. It is not while on rest that he shows his real worth. No ; it is when he is up against great odds in defence of Homeland and loved ones, in conflict with the enemy of peace and human freedom, or when enduring the hardness and the weariness to which the life exposes him. It is then and there that he reveals his sterling worth and show his better self.

Now, to me it has always seemed a lamentable thing that men whose lives are so great and noble should be marred and spoiled by these defects. The question is, Can anything be done to remedy the evil? Yes. 1 might suggest one or two ways in which good might be effected.

(1) I believe if our chaplains out h. ere and at home were to speak out frankly and boldly denounce that which they know to be degrading and base, as I have heard some do, it would have a good effect. They need not be afraid to speak the truth in all boldness when facing a congregation of soldiers. Tominy does not always want to be patted on the back and called a good fellow (as some think). No, he can stand good hard knocks, and my experience as a Tommy justifies me in saying that he admires and respects anyone who tries to show him and" lead him into the better way, even though he may outwardly scoff and sneer a little at them. And he will not be offended if his spiritual adviser warns him of his transgression and pulls him up for his folly.

(2) Then much might be effected by MS chums who have avowed themselves on the side of God and righteousness. It has often 'pained me when men have come out here who previously have known the better way and walked therein, and' instead of holding to the right, guarding their lip from speaking guile, ordering their steps aright, and steadfastly witnessing by their conduct for the Master, they have succumbed to the influence of the evil one.

Who can tell what would he achieved if the few men whose hearts God had touched were to stand loyally by their Master, and retain that purity of _spirit, and that nobility of character? ' There is nothing that will inspire a man with holy

ambitions and desires for God 'sooner than the influence of a chum who lives in touch with the Master. On the other hand, nothing will harden a man's heart and keep him on the downward road' sooner than an hypo- crite, a counterfeit. •

And Tommy is a keen critic and not easily deceived. You need not tell him you are a Christian. He will soon find you out. You ,neAd not tell him you are, if you are not : especially if You are shady in your actions or guilty of mean tricks, or if you fail to act the part of a good comrade.

I would like to say to all God's men who are privileged to spend their time and energy out here, in the words we have so oft sung in our Sunday School, "Dare to do right ; Dare to be true," at all times. Let us be true to the best and noblest instinct within us. Surely ours is a high and holy calling-, and we ought to prove worthy of Him Who has called us. Opnortunities are given us now of witnessing for good that have never been equalled. It may he in humble ways we can bear that witness, perhaps by a cheery word, a smile of welcome, the-sharing of a scanty ration, helping a worn-out chum on the march, or by condemning wrong, commending right—but whatever way the opportunity comes, let us use it to the best advantage and so be worthy of Him. Who ever sought to be of real service to the world, and to be a real Saviour unto men. W. H.

Written in a dug-out.

The Shell Hole. BY SECOND-LIEUTENANT BRUCE MARTIN.

The shrapnel whistled overhead— I turned to him—but he wds dead, Lying there with careless grace, A smile upon his boyish face. • It seemed as though with partine- breath He'd softly murmured " Peace is death ; A just reward for all my toil, To lie and sleep upon the soil For which I fought and bled. Sleepless nights and anxious days

Were oft and ay my portion, But now that I've laid down my arms, I fear no more mad war's alarms And cast aside all caution. Serene and peaceful here I lie— If you would rest—then haste to die." The shrapnel whistled overhead, I crept away, and parting said, " May I, too, play my little part As you have, friend, with merry heart, Then when life's fleeting hours are spent, I'll lay me down in sweet content That I shall rest in Heaven."

Friends sending books to our Soldiers at the Front and in the home camps might bear the above interesting communication in mind. They would thereby increase the joy of those they want to help and save themselves wasting that none too bountiful commodity to-day-spare cash.

Hymns the Boys Love.

SPZAKING at the anniversary of the London City Mission, the Rev. F. C. Spurr, the Pastor of Regent's Park Baptist Church, London, told _the following as haVing happened at - the Front during his visit there.

' Twelve months ago I was 'somewhere in France' when a telephone message came asking if I would run up by car to a certain place and speak to a number of men just out of the trenches."

" These men came crowding into a great but ; the windows were taken down, and a number of men stood outside. It was the word 'Regent's Park,' which brought them. I mounted a good-sized platform and stood by the grand piano. 'Well, men,' I said, you see the state I am in'; I have come thirty five miles in order to have word with you, but first let us sing a bit. What shall it be? ' Six voices simultaneously called for Lead, kindly light.' I struck the chord and accompanied, and when we had sung that through, they called for, Jesus, lover of my soul,' then for ' Rock of ages,' and finally, just one more,

Abide with me.' Now, lads,' I said, don't be cross with me, but how many of you are in the habit of going to Church? Would you,rise?' Not a quarter of those men rose. Yet they sang those hymns, and one of them, a Scotsman, -told me. afterwards, during a long talk far into the night till the stars died down, that when he left home he determined to finish with religion and never go to kirk again. Sir,' he said,

the men here want things that are real, and if you will strike that note you will get a response to it all the time.'"

How Long ? • EY A SOLDIER AT THE FRONT.

How long ? We ask, and seem to ask in vain. From dawn to dusk, •from day to day, we ask How long must we endure this dreadful task? Must sorrow always hold the world in chain? Suspense and trial are the rules of life, By these alone we learn its deeper themes, And thro' them aspirations, hopes, and dreams Are realised, tho' only ours thro' strife. No need have we to fear the end of all The sacrifices made at Duty's call. God lives "and loves, tho' often it seems hard That He the ghastiy carnage can't retard. But Peace, God cannot, will not, fail to send When we ourselves .are ready for the end.

LIFE at the Front does not quicken the spiritual nature of men. Ignorant theologians who said. it would, and who propheiied that under the stimulating influence of war we should see a great revival of religion have proved to be quite wrong. And, no wonder. Men who take part in bombing and bayoneting; who advance against a hurricane of shells, deafened by the noise, with the earth trembling beneath their feet ; who know what it is to lie grievously wounded in the mud and rain and dark=do not suddenly embrace all those finer thoughts and feelings which we associate with the reli-gious life. Their experience has , temporarily dulled their sensibility to higher things, they have been too far into hell to delight at once in the beauties of heaven. Hor-ror and tragedy have opposed and overwhelmed them, everything has become strange, horrible and blurred, making it impossible, for them to see life in true per-spective.

Deep Questionings. But although the-War has not produced deeper spiritu-

ality in the men at the Front, it has/ given rise to deep questionings. Men have been pondering some big prob-lems, turning them over long and carefully in their minds. They are asking, What is the cause of this WOrld-tragedy? What is the meaning of it all, and to what end is it leading?

They are not deceived by the plea that the murder of an unimportant archdUke was the cause of the' war. They know 'this was but the pretext and not the real -cause.' All talk of freedom and justice and the airy generalities of -politicians do not completely satisfy them. They know they are fighting and suffering for the imperfections of human society, because , of the law-- fessness which prevails among nations, and because a powerful nation has not yet learnt that it is Right- eousness and _ Righteousness alone which

the' a

nation, and that power is given, not for the oppression, but for the protection, of weaker peoples..

But the thoughts of these men are more with, the future than the past. They are asking 'with deep earn-estness, What will be the outcome of the War? Will all our hardships and sufferings help to make the world a little less lawless? Will future generations be spared the horrors we have known ? Will the people of the world be changed in heart by this fiery ordeal? Will nations forsake their belief in brute force and seek righteousness? Will the world be sweeter and mete worth living in after the War?

What say those it Horne? Upon all'at.horne depend the answers to the questions

-which Our fighting men are asking with trembling. hops. Do. they realize all that-these men have suffered and endured? The whole fabric of so-called civilised life has utterly collaPsed. Are our •home people aware that our soldiers have spent, and are still spending, them-selves in clearing the ground that a nobler society on securer foundations may be built? Are those at horn. so preparing themselves that out of this terrible war 41 brighter day may dawn, for, all mankind'? ,. The signifl-canes of this' war and the possibilities of the future should be constantly in the thoughts of all of us. The war must not be a nine days' 'wonder. It must not be forgotten when peace comes, on the contrary it must be remembered while England and the British Empire lasts.

When the war ends the great task of ,recorIstructioit begins, a task which will require the highest though*, the noblest feelings and the most resolute' wills. The problems of peace will be no less formidable• than those of war, and if they are to be rightly solved it is impera-tive that each one of us should realise- his.reSponsibility in the matter. We can all do something to destroy evil and enthrone right. It is a duty we owe to our fighting men as much as to-ourselves. Let each• Christian detere mine then to live the consecrated life, and by making some small nook sweeter and more worthy •of God'e help to lay the foundations of the world that is to be."

The Hope of the Soldiers. The great concern of our soldiers, and of many whe

have made the supreme sacrifice, is that all their suffer.. Ino should not be in vain. They trust the world will not be the same after the war as it was before. They hope there will be a change of heart and complete change of outlook upon life. Their fervent hope is that the peoples of the world will look at social and international problems from an entirely different point of view. When the time of reconstruction comes let us not forget the objects. for which our fighting men have suffered and endured. May our gallant dead 'be an unfading memory and an unfailing inspiration to us all in the task which confronts us. Whin the 'time, comes may we be faith-ful builders of a new and better world inspired by the noble ideal expressed by George Eliot :-

" 0 may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence : lave In pulses stirred to generosity, In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn For miserable aims that end with self. This is life to come, Which Martyred men have made more glorious For us who strive to follow."

The "Sword and Trowel " which was started by the late C. H. Spurgeon fifty years ago, is still vigorous. After Mr. Spurgeon's death it was edited by Mrs. Spurgeon, his widow, and then by her son Thomas Spurgeon. It is now edited by Dr. Dixon of the Metro-politan Tabernacle. The December number is of special interest as it is the' Thomas Spurgeon Memorial number.

WRrritscl in the. " Manchester _Guardian" a soldier thus describes his .preference as to reading when at the Front :

" Poetry is essentially a thing of mood and inclina-tion, and nowadays the right mood comes to me but seldom," he writes in the " Manchester Guardian." " On the other hand; there are books which one may read with pleasure during any unoccupied part of the day. A large percentage of novels belong to this class. . There are very few that I cannot read with enjoyment, though I have developed new preferences since coming to France. • .

" In the prose of a good novel I can get some if not all of the imagination colour and emotional feeling of poetry without the same .risk of its clashing with my drab surroundings. There are some novels which create such an atmosphere that one can live in it to the exclu-sion of all else. Reading Lorna Doone,' I steep my-self in its romance, and glow with sympathetic-interest in the great- John' Ridd. The events of this war sink into insignificance beside hiS heroic exploits. Best of all for the soldier are tales that breathe the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the English countryside and transport him for a time to those scenes so long left behind and looked forward to r.with much fervent longing.

"Give me Halliwell SUteliffe's books, that I may tramp the open moorlands and draw fresh vigour from the bracing air, or Hardy's (I can disregard his pessi-mism), or Meredith's, that L may linger in dim wood-land lanes and breathe_ the scent of blossom. ' Lorna Doone,' Adam Bede,' . ' Richard Feverel,' Tess of the D'Urbervilles,' these are ,amongst my favourites, because they bring back to me my own English countryside. It may be taken as a general rule that the farther re-moved a book is from the idea of war the greater is its value to the man on service.

" Through the sea tales of Masefield or Conrad I may forget for a time that I was fated to be a landsman and soldier, and fancy myself to be rocked on the broad bosom of the ocean. To me the handling of facts and develOpment of character' are of subsidiary interest. What the man out here chiefly requires in the way of literature is something which will provide him with an emotional and imaginative outlet. There is a danger that his emotional faculty may be completely dulled by mechanical routine and by the harsh contacts of camp life. Hence the play of imagination and creation of an emotional atmosphere are more important attributes of a novel than incident and characterisation."

Having begun with soldier stories I must add-one or two more. I read every book about the soldiers at the Front that I can lay my hands on. One of the latest is " In Franca and Flanders with the Fighting Men," by Lauchlan MacLean Watt, C.F. (Hodder and Stoughton, 3s. Gri. net). It is the work of a man with the poet's temperament and vision and choice diction and it aboUnds in stories both humorous, pathetic and illuminating. It should be wifely read. It will do nothing but good where it is read. Here are one or two of the stories.

The soldiers in hospital were preparing to go to "Blighty." The new kits were laid ready.

".It was difficult sometimes to understand on what principles the garments had been served out. For in-stance, a lad with one leg was looking, with a queer grimace, at a pair of stockings. ' They 'aye been kind to me,' he said. ' They must mean it for a change on the journey. Sure enough I feel my toes twitching in the foot at the end of the leg wot ain't there, but I'm blowed if I thought I'd see a stocking for it, too.'"

"Another was sitting on a bed clothed in the very tightest grey shirt I ever saw upon a man. He was glancing round with a very funny grin. ' I dunno how I got into it,' said he. And Lor' only knows how I'll get out of it if they give me anything to eat on the voyage over.' "

Here is another story of a different kind. Mr. Mac-Lean Watt asked a seriously wounded soldier "Have you written to your mother?" He replied, °Not yee--- you see it is not easy for me." So the chaplain offered to do it for him. But he said, "I'd rather do it myself. You see, if she noticed that any other person had written it she'd begin to think that I had lost my hand." "I lent him my pencil, and watched him while he laboriously with his bandaged hand, spelt out a loving letter, saying how glad he was to be so well, and.how eagerly he was looking forward to go home to hei-in fact, all the nice things he could tell her in order to keep her mind free from worry about her boy." Something could be said about that on the score of ethics ; but wlset a heart of gold the lad tad!

Here are two illuminating stories which I put together. I don't want to be misunderstood in doing so. I am not prepared to suggest that such things as they describe frequently happen in the Army. But they do happen and that they happen at all is immensely significant. Let us not mistake : man was made for God and God comes to man. In a deeper degree than we credit, men and women are " naturally Christian," as one of the early Church Fathers put it. The height above appeals to the deep within and meets with response. Jesus found . it to be so; so will all who make His appeal in His spirit and for His ends. But to my stories.

The first story is told by "Wayfarer " in the "Nation " : "A commanding officer, placed by accident in partial

command of a division, spoke to me of what happened to it as it lay for forty-eight hours, without food or water, and hemmed in on three sides with a greatly superior force of Germans. I recall one incident. At the moment when a trenchful of men were making ready to go over the parapet for a raid, the officer heard a subdued sound of singing. He sent a sergeant to stop it, for silence was imperative. The man came back with tears in his eyes. What were they sing-ing? ' he was asked. Jesu, Lover of my soul.' A few minutes later, many of the singers were dead." ,

So men said ; but with a song like that on their lips and in their hearts they could never die.

The second story is told by a medical correspondent in the "Liverpool Post":

"I was dressing the leg of one of the wounded Torn-mies in an Auxiliary Hospital about ten o'clock one night this week. The remainder of the patients were calling across the room and chaffing one another. -The fun and the noise were of a boisterous character, when all of a sudden every noise ceased ; not a whisper could be heard. I looked round from my patient, expecting some joke being elaborated, but what I did see was one of the men kneeling by the side of his cot, saying his prayers."

"O.A.R." quoted the story just given in hie column, in the "Methodist Recorder," and then put alongside it a complaint from the Bishop of Durham. The Bishop says that not long ago two questions were asked of -two hundred local working men : (1) "What do you know of St. Paul?" (2) "What is the name of the goalkeeper of Middlesbrough Football Club?" With one exception everyone gave the name of the goalkeeper and none of them knew a single thing about St. Paul. 0.A.R.0 adds the comment : "I take it the lads in the Hospital were largely of the same kind as the distressing two hundred. Might not that fact give the Bishop a lead? Yes, indeed. Butmight it not give all of us in the Chria-tian Church a lead also? The appeal of religion is there. The capacity to respond to it is there. Are we snaking all we ought of both facts?

Docember 6, 1917 THE UNITED METHODIST. 589

And usisrasatk the earieaturi were kieworis reprodueet is this form, al shall wear rib clothes, to distinguish me from my fellow-Chrisians."

That by the way, however. To- return to our sheep, as the French say, I suspect that you soldiers and thou-sands of your fellows in this country would say that it is not the clothes that dignify the man.but the man that dignifies the clothes, and that provided there be a real man inside the clothes you don't care whether he is in uniform or out of uniform, whether he wears a distinctive dress or no distinctiVe dress. On the other hand, I fancy you would say that clothes are no substitute for character and will not and cannot evoke respect. That can be given by self-respecting men to character only.

To Our Soldier Boys. This number of the UNITED METHODIST has been

specially prepared for you. Quite a number of our usual -features have been held over in order to make room- for articles, etc.; likely to he specially interesting to you. I hope you will like this issue and that a large number of you will see copies of it. •

I need hardly tell you that you are very much in our thoughts and prayers. We admire you for your noble response to the call of duty; for the patience with which you endure the limitations and privations of a difficult life, and for the true way in which you are chums to one another. You must bring this fine spirit with) you back into our churches and so help to- make them the hap-piest fellowship and the inspiration of the noblest service men know on • earth. How glad w• shall. all be to see you back when this tragic war is over. • May it be soon ! An end worthy Of your magnificent sacrifices will make Old England indeed a place worth while for your mothers and fathers and wives and children and sweethearts and those that come after you to live in. After your suffer-ings and service England must never again be the land that it once. was and everybody must be given a better chance of being what God intended him or her to be and of having the fair share of earth's good things intended for them by our Heavenly Father. "The earth hath He given to the children of men."

Have you registered as a UNITED METHODIST? If you haven't I wish you would. It is not merely your privi-lege but your right to do this. It would give us through the United Army Board an opportunity Of doing some-thing to help you during your present arduous and peri-lous service: The United Board has now 285 chaplains and they are found on all the fronts. Every United Board chaplain, whether he be a Baptist, a Congregation-alist, a Primitive Methodist or a United Methodist, will help you to get re-registered. And remember that every United Board chaplain is YOUR chaplain.

You are sure to be keeping in closest touch with those at home, but have you written to your old Sunday. School teacher or your old class-leader or your minister lately? If you. haven't, you might do so at once. They love to hear about you and I am sure they would like to keep in touch with you.

What a welcome we shall all give you when you return I Meanwhile, keep your heart up ; keep your best ideals bright ; be true to your best self and to your best dreams ; play the man ; do nothing that you know that your dear old mother would disapprove of ; and be sure that in all this our Lord Jesus Himself will help you to

• be "more than conqueror. ' With every good wish for heaps of blessings, I remain,

Yours faithfully,

This is the second story The elders of a four-year old little miss had avoided, allusions to air-reside lest such talk should alarm the children. They spoke of the raids as thunderstorms. But little four-year old saw through it all. The: other morning she wanted to get up at an hour which was not convenient for the rest of the household, and when her mother restrained her, and the usual sob-bing failed to produce any effect, she considered what vengeance she could call down upon the general head, and presently from under the bed-clothes there came this piercing threat :

" I'll—make—air-raids—come! "

Can this be true? A new recruit, from Lancashire of all places under the • sun, recently slouched up to the chaplain with his hands in his pockets and a pipe in his mouth, and without taking out either, enquired in his best dorie and in the most familiar manner, "Eh, Mister, am I on t' right road to t"ospital?" Let no Lancashire boy write me protesting against the truth of that story. It is not mine, but a chaplain's.

Dr. Fort Newton, of the City Temple, was recently talking about "swank." When he was on the Western Front, he said, he was convoyed as far as the door of an American hospital by an English officer who wore a monocle. The American boys asked Dr. Newton wfiy the offices wore an eye-glass. Dr. Newton jokingly replied that possibly the reason was one-tenth defective vision and nine-tenths swank. The Americans said they thought that was so. "But stay," said Dr. Newton, "let me tell you something I have discovered about that officer. He has lost three brothers in the war, he has himself been wounded three times, and he has won the Victoria Cross. Now, you notice that he did not wear any decorations—he hadn't any gold wounded-braids on his sleeve, and lie did not even wear the ribbon of his V.C. He would say that to wear them would be swank. But an American would probably put on all the decorations he was entitled to. The English and the Americans are different—that is all. And each must understand the other to eppre elate him at his true worth.°

A chaplain has been telling in the "Baptist Times" of the effect of his uniform upon him, not only when he first put it on but afterwards. He found it developed a new self-respect. Listen to this :

"Instinctively it is felt that an ill-shaven' chin or a poet's head of hair, rs2 less than an overworked collar, is incongruous with a trig, if sombre uniform. It smartens the whole man—it is impossible to do slovenly work in uniform ; you cannot lounge In a Sam Browne belt ; your attire condemns your actions. One chaplain

.at least has determined never to discard his belt, having discovered that the surest way to overcome that initial inertia which dogs all mankind, and is never more pronounced than when a minister enters his study, is to gird himself with it. It braces him up, making reading incisive and intent."

This chaplain was walking down Piccadilly between one and two o'clock in the afternoon when a hand was put on his shoulder and a stern voice enquires, "Where is your cane, sir?" It is the Assistant Provost Mar-shal. To him he replies, " I am sorry, but you see I am on leave." "That is no excuse, sir, you are wear-ing the King's uniform, and your dress must always be complete ; don't let it occur again." Irrespective of the rebuke the chaplain went on his way with an in-creased sense of dignity, and the temptation to indulge in a quiet smoke in the cover provided by the crowded streets of. London was effectually suppressed ; the King's uniform demands dignified behaviour.

How I would like a soldier to tell me quite frankly what the effect of wearing the King's uniform is upon himself and whether he has any of the feelings Abut it that this chaplain has.

The chaplain I am quoting from launches into the debated question of whether parsons should wear a dis-tinctive dress or not. After his experience in the Army he has no doubt about it.

"The objection that by wearing a distinct dress we put a barrier between ourselves and our fellows i8 purely imaginary. They are only a barrier to the man who is bound by them ; he whose personality is so in-significant that it can be suppressed by clothes will never be a man among men, since he lacks the first essential—manhood. If you are overshadowed by a collar, the remedy is not to discard the collar, but to discover yourself. It is not the clothes that have brought contempt upon the curate, but the curate that has brought contempt upon the clothes. As a matter of fact the average man will respect the average minister, just in the degree to which he makes it clear that he does differ from him. It is our sameness that is so fatal ; it is because men feel that we are in no way different from them they are so disgusted with us. If it is to be urged that this difference must be of character not of clothes—spiritual not material—the answer is, why should it not be both ? What is most needed is that men should realize that there are different charac-ters, men ins their very midst, who are not seeking ordinary ends, or moved by ordinary motives, and it is as those possessed of character that it becomes us to be as distinctive as possible."

Again I would like to hear a company of people, work-ing men and others, tell frankly what they think about a distinctive dress for parsons. In the early days of Dr. Horton's ministry at Hampstead he refused to adopt a clerical dress saying, "I shall wear no clothes to distin-guish me from my fellow-Christians." When I was in Oxford, more years ago than I care to remember, a clever caricaturist had caught at the words and for long there appeared at Shrimpton's a picture of Dr. Horton soaring in the skies, and tearing of his clothes piece by piece.

• Patient (newly arrived from Passchendaele Ridge) : "A 'Boxing Display by the Metropolitan Police in the Re-ceiving Ward ! 0, Sister, do let me go and see it—it's. yeare since I've seen a real fight "

At the concert. Chairman making announcement- of next item of the programme : "Serg. Thingummy, who has just been wounded for the sixth time, will now favour us with that old Isufevergreen ditty : I wonder if they'll miss me sometimes.'"

no Rye Lane, &titer el< the "U.M." London, S.Z.

Jottings. --Mainly for Soldier Readers.

"Tim GAZETTE " of the Third London General Hos-pital, Wandsworth, le a monthly delight to its readers. In paper, pictures, cartoons, and literary contents it reflects the utmost credit upon its producers, who are for the most part members of the staff or patients in the Hospital. The humorous 'drawings in the November issue by Privates F. J. Leigh, R. B. Ogle, H. M. Hems-ley, L.-Corp. J. H. Dowd, Serge Vernon Lorimer and Capt. H. C. Marshal, are worthy of "Punch "; tso are many of the humorous passages,. Here are two or three of the latter.

Staff Officer : "So you're hard of hearing? " Orderly : "Yessir." S.O. (to himself, sotto voce) : "Then it's no use talk-

ing to you." Orderly e "Oh, no, sir. Not a bit, not a bit, sir."

Here are two stories from the "Sunday at Home," the first from the November issue and the second from that for December.

The first story is told by a Colonel of the R.A.M.C. 'on board a hospital ship. Late one night he was sitting in the smoke-room, when all the patients were supposed to be in bed. Suddenly one appeared at the door and said he wanted particularly to see him, so he went and heard a tale of woe. The poor fellow had had a fit of sickness, and putting his head over the ship's rail had lost his set of false teeth. Could he have another set given to him out , of the ship's stores f if not, he couldn't eat his lerealefaet in she morning !

Killed in Action. ••■■•••■-■•••■.....

TN MEMORTAM. Like a gleam of sunshine flashing through the gray You moved among us, and life's common way Was brighter where you passed; you were so Ca,. -

You have gone from ti's in your early prime; But life is measured—life is made sublime, By worthy deeds, and not by length of time.

It was not in death's power your life to spoil, Your spirit rose his vaunted might to foil ;_ You triumphed in the midst of war's turmoil.

Our lives are poorer now you are not near, But we are proud as we your praises hear ; They are most proud to whom you were most dear.

CUriltERT EInsow.

590

THE UNITED METHODIST. December 6, 1917.

• The last story teucissa a tender spot. "Veer* was one coy near the doors Scottish lad who - hid been a gunner. .He seemed to be. very weak and I went over to his side. He thought I was his mother, and he said, Put- your arm under :my head, mummy. I'll be easier

then ! ' And as I did so he began to say the Lord's Prayer, as so often he must have said it in the quiet hour at home, when the light was low, ere the curtain of sleep comedown between him and another day. He went through the prayer, groping in the middle of it; with •a blind kind of 'stumbling difficulty. Kiss me,' he whispered, and then he fell asleep, to. wake no more on pain or weariness in any hour thereafter."

And that reminded me of the story about Donald Hankey, told in the memoir attached to his second series of "A Student in Arms' (Melrose, 5s.) :

"Six days after this the . Student knelt down for a few seconds with his men—we' have.it on the testimony of three of them—and he told them briefly what was before. them : If wounded, "Blighty ". if killed, the Resurrection.' Then over the top.' When he was last seen alive he was rallying his men, who • had wavered for a moment .under the heavy machine gun .and rifle fire. He carried the waverers along with him, and was found that night close to the trench the win-ning of which had cost him his life, with his platoon sergeant and a few of his men by his side."

"Our peoPle die well," was the joyous boast of John Wesley. The boast of our chaplains is that thousands upon- thousands of our soldiers die well. They count life well lost 'when when lost for right and new life surely gained when they journey forth touching the hand of Christ.

PROVINCIAL.

A Remarkable Letter. SOME weeks ago we received the following letter in

connection . with something that had been said in these pages concerning the case of .conscientious objectors. The letter will be deemed by many to be a remarkable one. Not because we doubted the genuineness of the experience but because we knew that others might, we sent on the letter to our minister in Chichester, 'Rev. H. Rundle, that, for the sake of doubter. we might have his assurance as to the bona fides of the letter. Mr. Rundle replied as follows :-

"I am returning the letter that you tent for my private perusal, and opinion of the bona fides of the writer. Wilfred Bourne is the son of my senior circuit steward, and is one of the most reliable and spiri-tually minded young men I have ever known. He is an earnest Christian and an active worker in the Church. His escape from death was marvellous. The bullet entered the head in the corner of one of the eyes (of which he has lost the sight) and travelled down through the back of the mouth, and a portion of the neck, coming out near the shoulders, leaving a big, gaping wound. After a prolonged delay he was discharged, suffering not only the loss of the eight of one eye, but also from shaken nerves and severe pains in the head, from which even yet he is not free.

"The experience of the ' White Comrade' which he narrates is indeed remarkable. Whatever may, be the true explanation of that experience, Wilfred's sincerity, and his belief in its reality are unassailable."

We will only add that the letter ie printed just as we received it. The correspondence of which it was intended to form part will account for one or two slightly controversial worde which the letter contains. —Ed. U.M.

SIR, - 1 buys read with . much interest your recent letters

and articles concerning conscientious objectors. May I put before you an unusual experience which befel me last year? To begin with I must explain that for some months I myself was what is known as a " Conscien-tious Objector." After awhile I began to question myself. Was I doing right by standing by and allowing an unscrupUlous enemy, who in the name of God was destroying the work of God, and who threatened to

-destroy all religious freedom? Was I, a young single man, gifted with the average strength, to allow such things come to pass, and not lift a finger to prevent it but hide myself behind my conscience as an -excuse for not doing so?

After much prayer and thought I put aside my reli-gious scruples and voluntarily enlisted. I was sent to France and was shot in action. Many people have put stories of the " White Comrade" down to the imagi-nation of journalists, but on the night of being shot I 'proved that the White Comrade, or Jesus Christ, was not a myth but an absolute fact.

My only company was the bodies of my dead comrades. I was quite helpless and paralysed. Suddenly I was' aware of, something supernatural, and saw that someone who was unmistakable was bending over me. 'My pain seemed to vanish, He took my equipment from me, and helped me back to safety. I escaped a hundred deaths during that journey back, yet the Presence at my side forbade fear. -I had been shot through the head in such a way, that, according to many doctors whom I have seen, death should have been instantaneous. Whilst in hospital' an R.A.M.C. general visited me,_ and said that a- miracle must have happened, or I should have- been killed.

," Conscientious Objectors" refuse to help even dying men, yet Jesus Himself is ever on- the battlefield succour-ing the wounded, -comforting the dying. Since my experience I have been drawn closer to Christ than ever, knowing that He approved my taking up arms in God's name. Mine was no vision, no myth.

Faithfully yours Wantr.D H. BOURNE.

87 Grove Roa4, Chichester,

The late Rev. S. E Austin. The Funeral. •

THE body of the Rev. S. Everett Austin was laid to rest in the Preston Cemetery, North Shields, on Saturday, November 24th. Prior to the interment a service was held in the. Heaton Road Church, conducted by. the Rev. E. Troughton, superintendent minister of the circuit. The connexion was represented by Rev. E. Ratcliffe. Chairman of the District, who led in prayer and Rev. H. A. Stembridge, B.A., who read the Scripture. Rev. A. Rathmell, a former minister of the church gave the address, chaste in tone and spirit, which comforted and fortified the mourners and friends. Other ministers present were Revs. C. T. England; E. F. H. Capey, H. J. Shingles, J. B. Cook, H. A. Barry, G. T. Coul-thard, S. J. Clark and' J. E. Black. Mr. Fred Stone presided at the organ and the choir was in full atten-dance to lead the singing. Many friends from different parts of the circuit were present as well as many from adjacent circuits. Numerous beautiful wreathe were sent by local friends and churches and by friends and churches in former circuits. Prayer was offered in the home by Rev. E. F. H. Capey before the cortege left for the church.

The Sunday .evening following a Memorial Service was held in the Heaton Road Church, conducted by a friend and colleague, Rev. T. W. 'Coleman. A large number of friends assembled 't5 mark their sympathy with the bereaved families. During the service the choir feel-ingly rendered the anthem, "What are these? "

Memoir by Rev. T. W. Coleman. Rev. S. E. Austin was 'born at West Hartlepool in

1886. He was always thankful to God that he was a son of the manse. When he was ten years old he defi-nitely dedicated his life to Christ. His parents sent him to Ashville College, where he did well. Upon leaving here he entered business. At sixteen he began open-air work for the Y.M.C.A. at North Shields. Then our Howard Street church _requested him to become a cir-cuit local preacher. Subsequently under the tuition of his father, Rev. John Austin, he passed the necessary examinations and entered our Manchester College in 1905. He stayed there two years. His first appointment was to the Leeds Lady Lane circuit (2 years) ; he next went to Bradford Park circuit (2 years); then to Leeds West Circuit (3 years) •,, he went to Newcastle in 1916. He felt the Heaton Road Church offered a splendid opportunity for aggressive work. He threw himself into it with all his powers. When his health began to fail his manifold labours were bearing fruit.

In the passing of our brother the Denomination has lost a life full of promise. Everett Austin had all the makings of a useful• and successful minister. In tem-perament he was bright, sunny and optimistic. In disposition. he was singularly generous. All good causes found in him a friend, an advocate and very often a servant. Tyranny, oppression and greed he denounced with red-hot words. With the evil of strong drink he was uncompromising. He had an indomitable will with boundless energy to match. -The amount and speed of his work amazed his friends

He was "a good shepherd of the sheep," and never forgot hie Master's command to 'feed the- Iambs.' In spite of these many duties he felt he must do a definite piece of work for his country in the hour of her need. His work among soldiers has already been referred to in these pages.

He was a striking preacher. His versatility was inex-haustible. Men and books, nature and scienoe, history and -experience were all laid under contribution. In pre: paring his sermons he took excessive pains, sometimes writing them out two or three times to secure clean-cut expression, pointed. illustration and telling application of the central truth. His message was always evangel-ical; Christ was its centre and its circumference. He knew of no remedy for the world's woe, no satisfac-tion of man's need, no promise of the future apart from Christ. When you heard him he made you feel "Woe is me, if I preach not the Gospel 'of, Christ."

We are sorry to have lost him ; but we are- glad to have had him, His life was short but it was full. Many have lived longer and wrought less. His service is not ended. In another Temple =he will serve both day and night. Happy shall be they who follow in his train.

The late Rev. J. Pearce. IN the passing of the Rev. Johh Pearce the Church

militant is made poorer - in those distinctive graces, virtues and form and spirit of service which make her-like unto a city set on a hill.' He was a good ,man, a gracious man, a singularly kind man, and as a minister in the late section was earnest, diligent ' and faithful unto death. In hundreds of homes, we might safely say thousands, his name will long remain as "oint-ment poured forth."

Mr. Pearce entered the U.M.F.C. ministry fifty-one years ago. He was a native of the Redruth Circuit, Cornwall, and from that circuit entered the ministry.

In all his circuits he was the same John Pearce—quiet, cheerful, gracious, earnest, ever seeking to save sinners, and to build up believers in their. most holy faith. To be a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ was the supreme joy of his life. He was too sane and true a man not to have a standard of judgement for his fellow men, and too gently and graciously constituted not to be deeply wounded when hastily or unjustly treated by those with whom he was brought into contact, but the charity of his judgements and the largeness and depth of his spirit of forgiveness made him in moral stature among his brethren like Saul--" bawl and shoulders " above most.

How much cur Church** owe to mei V this typo! It was ever a pleasure to meet him ; to be his guest occa-sionally in the strain of a busy life was ever a benedic-tion. Two or three days thus spent in his home made you feel you had been in a "quiet resting-place." God had given him a sweet and musical voice._ To listen to his easy-flowing speech, whether about men or affairs, was soothing, refreshing, hope-inspiring and confirmatory of one's faith in the ultimate salvation of the most lapsed. He was no orator. Plain in speech he might, be, but never blunt and never harsh.

In one of the central facts of his life our good friend had a singularly rich heritage. He was not only very happily married_ but not less harmoniously mated. In his wife he had a treasure.; and in his children a seal " heritage of the Lord." In this section of his life (and to all of us how much this stands for), he was rich, happy beyond words. From the time of Mrs. Pearce': translation her husband began to change, his loneliness - was noticeable to all. His heart was charged with a wistful longing. His days of waiting were not of great number. She died in March_ of last year; he died on Friday, November 28rd. A friend's letter, which I re-ceived this morning, calls attention to a singular fact in relation to the passing over of both Mr. and Mrs. Pearce. Mrs. Pearce passed over on March 23rd, at 8.80 a.m., Mr. Pearce passed over on November 23rd at 8.80 a.m. Coincidences have their place in the time-table of the Eternal Father's _plan. Our dear friend served his generation most faithfully according to the will of God ;- though absent he yet speaketh I H. T, C.

How he got to Blighty. A UNITED METHODIST HERO.

HZ had almost recovered from a nasty wound mimed by a piece of shrapnel, which, fortunately, struck the buckle of his belt. But for that he would have been amongst the killed. He badly wanted to come home, but there seemed no chance, and he expected soon to be back in the trenches. But he got to Blighty, and this (told in a letter that was never intended for pub-lication) is how it happened :— " Well, dear Mother, I must tell you how I managed to get to Blighty. You know I wrote to you from the hospital in France to let you know that I was out of bed and roaming about in a suit of blues, and did not expect to get home, Well, I was pretty sure I should not, so I wae very surprised when the doctor came in one morning, and asked me if I would like to go to Blighty. Of course you can guess my answer. Then he told me what he wanted. He said there was a poor chap come down from the line, who was very badly wounded and had lost a lot of blood, and that there was only one thing to do 'to save his life, and that must be done at once. Well, he wanted someone who was pretty well and strong, to give a pint of blood to 'this poor chap to save his life. It did not take me long to make up my mind. So I walked round to the theatre with the doc-tor. My word, the other poor chap was bad. He was too bad to be put on the stretcher, so they had to bring him bed and all into the theatre, and pick him up by the bottom sheet of his bed.°

Then follows an interesting account of What wont on in the operating room, which I wil pass over. The letter_continues:-

"And I got on the stretcher and was carried back to bed. My Aunt 1 the sisters and nurses did make a fuss of me when I came back. They all said I wee a hero and all that sort of thing. While- I was in the theatre the O. C. (a Colonel of the R.A.M.C.) was there, and three doCtors, and sisters, and nurses and — orderlies, Wasn't I glad when I ggt my boat ticket, and gladder still when 'the orderly in the ward woke me up early, Sunday morning and said, "Come on, my giddy hero, you're for Blighty this morning."

He then gives a vivid description of the train jour- ney, the passage across, another train journey, a long motor car ride to the Hospital in an English town, a hot bath ('the first he had had since June), and then to bed. And this is how he finishes his letter, "Well, dear mother, here I sm in the pink, and as right as rain, so don't worry about me."

And that's how he got to Blighty. He makes little of his heroic deed, but we are all proud of him. And I have seen a letter from the Brigade chaplain who speaks in 'the highest terms of his courage. Already two on our Church Roll of honour have been awarded the Military Medal, and there is a third who ought to - have it and would have it, if I had my way.

G. H. K.

The Bully. THEY called'him " the Bully" the first night he came

to their billet. It was Jim, the wit of the party, who gave him this nickname. Jim was a " character," not very clean, by no means particular about what he said or did—a rough Tyneside collier in civil life; and this new gunner who had come to the Battery was his opposite in every respect. He was most unlike a bully. To be sure, he was tall, well made, " Al class," won-derfully fit physically, an all-round athlete. But he was a good sport and as gentle as a woman. He came so quietly into their billet, • spoke so quietly to the men' scattered about the room, there was such a complete absence of swagger about him, that Jim with a twinkle in his eye said, There goes the Bully," and the name stuck. He was very different from most of the others in that particular company and they knew it instinc-tively. He had been a student, a keen social reformer with an intense hatred of everything suggestive of force. Then he was an energetic Church worker, a life-long abstainer, and a, popular local preacher. You might be in close touch with him for years and never once hear an ungracious remark about another. It is not likely that anybody in all his life ever heard an unclean word from his lips.

He took his place among the men from the coal-mines; never giving himself airs nor preaching at them, nor dropping the least hint as to what was his profes-sion when he joined the Army. In a very few weeks his influence began to tell. One day when the dinner time came there was a general stampede for places at the table. One man in particular was elbowing his way through roughly. When he reached the " Bully," the " Bully " just stepped aside to let him- pass. The man was surprised at this non-resistance and remarked, " That is not the way for the Army." " Perhaps not," was the answer, "but it is the way for life." The word was evidently not spoken in vain for the pushful one waited his turn patiently afterwards.

The " Bully " was never once asked to play cards for money : and once when he was away the N.C.O. in charge of the billet suggested that a certain objectionable word much in use should be dropped : and there was a marked improvement afterwards in this respect.

There was a much younger man than the " Bully " who was short of pocket-money and every week-end washed "Bully's" overalls for him in return for a small sum. A Saturday- came when he was away on leave, and as the "Bully was walking across the room with his overalls under his arm Jim stepped up behind him and took them away saying " Look here, old fellow, I always wanted to wash your overalls for you." And Jim insisted on doing it and would accept no kind of payment.

One Sunday morning they went on Church parade. Through some mistake the chaplain did not appear and they were dismissed and told to reassemble in half-an-hour. They did so and still the chaplain was absent. Then there was a general call for the " Bully " to conduct the service, which however he did not do because it was against regimental rule.

When "Bully " had his leave Jim (who seldom received any letter) asked him to write from home because'" we shall be lost here in the billet without you." And he did send a letter to Jim signing himself the Bully."

Now don't you think he is proving himself a good soldier of Jesus Christ? Are you not proud to know that he has been connected with our Church all his life? The story of his army life is not completed yet : but I feel sure that it will have a happy ending.

National Children's Home

J. H. R.

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December 6, 1917. THE UNITED METHODIST. . 591

Gra.ve and Gay. FROM SOLDIERS' LETTERS.

BY, A. • M. WALKER.

BETHESDA CHURCH, Hanley, has nearly 240 of its boys in the Army and prides itself upon the claims they have upon its remembrance and service. The Bethesda: Magazine, containing a letter specially written to the boys, is sent out to them monthly, thus keeping them in touch with.. the Church and its doings. At Christmas time to each a parcel is sent.

Communications are constantly being received from the boys. These letters reveal wonderfully the deep and earnest thoughts that are stirring in the hearts of our boys, the spirit of cheerfulness in the midst of hardships and peril, the consciousness that underneath are the Ever-lasting Arms. The letters reveal diversity of gifts, but only one spirit—the spirit of self-sacrifice.

The following extracts from our boys' letters may he of interest to your readers :

Come Over Here ! "I suggest that you should come and spent your holi-

days in this beautiful country. If so, you can share my billet; I can serve you up a nice fat rat roasted or boiled for dinner every day if you have a fancy for luxuries. Bully beef is very tasty if you object to rats. You can have a very much broken-down house or cellar for a bed-room, and when you need- exercise you will be able to stroll along the road in about six inches of mud. Our entertainments in the evenings, consist of fearful and wonderful selections by a drum- and bag-pipes band. The more I see of the men out here the greater respect I have for them. They endure the discomforts of active service just as if they had been used to them all -their lives. England will be a greater country than ever it has been if the. men give their services and make their sacrifices at home as they are doing out here."

In Hospital. "Many thanks to the friends of Bethesda—the Church

to which I owe so much. I am at present in hospital, but I hope to be out soon again to do my duty to my King and Country. I was very pleased to receive the Testament. It will be a constant treasure to me and I shall carry it with me wherever I go."

The Lighter Side of War. "We are quite settled down here and are living per-

fectly happily, considering our circumstances. In the space of an hour one can experience most of the great emotions of life, from the extreme of humour to the intensity of sadness. Of one thing I am quite convinced, War is of the devil—devilish. It is the maddest, wicked-est, most insane and diabolical business that a human being could undertake. All the same, there is the lighter side- of the business, and he who would smile may do so to his heart's content. Personally, I get a.great amount of amusement out of my ' canaries.' . I have got quite a lot of them - and they demonstrate their affection for me by eating everything of mine they can get near to, from my sheepskin coat to the leather straps of my shrapnel helmet. One of our officers was lying in bed reading one night when one of them nipped in and hopped off with his lighted candle. The officer was much annoyed, as he had to take the trouble to light another candle having no servant at hand. Next morning he was quite exhausted after this unusual effort."

" Old Bill." " Pereonally, I think there are a good many signs that

Old Bill ' is cracking up, but how long • he is going to be in the process goodness only knows. I picked up a copy of a musical supplement to an Anzac paper here yesterday. The first piece which met my `eye was the legend of Tschaikowsky, Long, long ago, the Legend said.' It took my mind back. to fairer scenes and hap-pier times. I never dreamt that I should ever see this music in surroundings such as these. You will be in-terested to know that we have formed a quartette party. True, there are only three members, but what of that?- Our tenor splits his notes ! You should hear him sing,

0 dry those tears.' You cePuldn't.do it."

Some Short Bits. "I wish I could come back to thank you, but we shall

have to go on minding Egypt until the day daWns and the Bosches flee away.

"This war is making men of us. No one who has been in the trenches and gone over the top can believe anything else but that God is the Supreme Being."

"Parcel O.K. Having a fine time worrying it. Con-gratulations on selection of stuff. It indicates thoughtful-ness and good judgement. I always knew you had them. I am holding the line at the moment. Cold feet. MGT!! when I get them warm."

Looking Forward to Christmas. "We are looking forward to a jolly Christmas, in spite

of our surroundings. Whether it will be a time of rest and gladness depends largely on. the Bosche. We shall, be compelled to knock spots off him if he misbehaves. I don't know whether it is owing to the influx of the Bethesda parcels into France, or not, but there is a slump in cigarettes here. The immortal Woodbine has reached the low-water mark of 20 for 3d. The moral effect on the troops of this fall in price is remarkable and is looked upon as an omen of success.

" It is astonishing how much the morale of the army depends upon its commissariat. If there is only bully for dinner the spirit of the battery drops to zero, and we are losing. If we manage to rise to ham we are well on the way to victory, but if we attain to the dignify of mutton chops Berlin is in sight."

What Keeps them, Going. "It is the thought that death does not end all that

gives one the strength and courage to go through with it. I refuse to believe that there is no after life and that when our time comes we just pass into oblivion. It is just this thought that keeps one going when things are at their worst."

"We must not grumble but turn our faces to the future and hope on, for, after all, hope is the one thing that appeals to all of us out here. We live not in the past nor in the present but in the future realizing that in the future lies happiness. As I write these lines, for it is Sunday night (seven o'clock) I can picture Mr. Wharton. leaning over the pulpit and pointing out the right path. I hope Bethesda is walking in it."

The "Monthly Visitor." THE close of the year brings a tastefuly bound series

of the twelve issues of the , "Monthly Visitor" sent out by the .Scottish " Monthly Visitor " Tract Society. The-tracts give evidence of careful and skilful up-to-date pre-. paration and invariably convey in the clearest possible, terms the Gospel messages commended by interesting illustrations on the front page.

DEAR MR. EDITOR, Kindly allow me space for a word in relation to the

claims of the above. Circulars appealing on behalf of this work have already been sent out to all our Ministers and Sunday Schools ; and I write to express the very earnest hope that the multitude of appeals being made to our people and the Christian public generally, at the present time, will not crowd out the urgent claim of this important institution. Perhaps it is needful.to say again that the closest association exists between- this Institution and our own Church. Many of our people and Sunday Schools manifest much interest in the work and gladly send year by year what financial aid they can in its sup-port. But there are still many of our Churches and Schools that do not, so far as we know, render Any such help. The smallest contribution will be welcome.

At no time in the history of the Horne was the work more important and needed than to-day. Since the War broke out we have received a large number of children of soldiers andsailors, many of which were motherless and left with friends to care for them while their fathers were on active service. In several instances the fathers have fallen in the fight. Applications to receive needy children are increasing both in number and in urgency. We have about 2,477 in our care. 622 have 'been ad-mitted during the year covering every phase of child need, and there are many now waiting admission. We need more than ever the practical sympathy of our friends, and we trust that all our Schools and Churches will have some little share in this gracious ministry to needy and suffering children.

All-contributions from our Churches and people should be sent to me.

Yours cordially, HENRY HOOKS,

Treasurer, "T.J.M." Auxiliary.. 1$ Farringdon Avenue,

London; E.C:4, Peeernloar, 1017.

592 THE UNITED METHODIST. December 6 1917

Letters from our Boys. The following are extracts 'from lettea-s received from

United Methodist boys connected with the Brookland Church,' Bristol.

"Since I went back off my leave, I • have been through the worst experience since I've been in France. Whilst in the death-trip of No Man's Land for two and a half days alone; having lost my comrades, my rifle, etc., I sat trying to think which way I should go, but no, I could not, until the third night the . Lord answered my prayers and sent me help, and it is Him I must thank to be spared to tell thetale and I pray to the Lord where-ever I am, as I know die people in dear old Blighty think soldiers on active service forget the Christian faith, but I can say, members of Brookland whom I have met out there, are following the Lord in His foot-steps, like they did at home.'

" God our Heavenly Father, answers prayer, and my being here at Southmead is, • I believe, solid proof. Do you recollect my last letter? I . said we needed your prayers more than ever. The fact of my writing so was, I was faced with ' many dangers in the Great. Push, Flom midnight to morning on a certain date, we had been warned of an advance. I know my prayer was answered. True, I am wounded--I got in the way of a piece of shell, and it. took out a few inches of flesh in my leg—but the fact remains, I am alive. Tell the class not to lose hope, but continue to pray. I hope to to come to the dear old class as soon as I can. How many times I have pictured your cheery smile—try and keep the smile up."

"I am just going off up the line, and God is going with me. I have been in some tight corners, but He has pelted me out of the fire. I am absolutely certain He will be with me all the way. Let this be my testimony."

" In the but I have been' in, some one has pinned a card on the back of the door. I look at' it many times a day, and it always helps me. I pass it on to you ee.

`Yesterday He helped me, To-day Pll praise His name,

Because I know to-morrow He'll help me just the tame.'

" I am at present in 'A particularly hot part of the line. All day long, shrapnel and high explosive shells are falling around us; and at night there are a large number of gas shells flung over to us. Practically every evening one side or the other commence& a strafe, followed by heavy retaliation from the other side, and then the noise is deafening. Aeroplanes are flying about in large numbers. Yesterday we endeavoured, to count the num-ber of planes in the air at one time—there were eighty-one, and thirty-five observation balloons within the the range of vision. I know you will remember us in your prayers ; physical danger is ever near us, but we trust in a higher power than our own, feeling sure that the everlasting arms of God's love are about us."

" I am glad to say that I had the pleasure of going to a service on Sunday ; it was a Salvation Army, with the usual S.A. enthusiasni, but it was jolly good, and I know, sir, you will be delighted to hear that over a dozen Of the boys that came across with us gave their hearts to God before the end of the service. Ah ! it Makes a chap think when he gets this side—that is, if a fellow has any thought of religion at all. It has made me have a good look at and I am glad to say I can ask the Saviour to help me, with the faith of know-, ing that He will carry me through. I shall never forget the old class motto : 'Christ for me."'

am pleased to• say we have good open-air services here in France. On Tuesday last fouiteen young men gave themselves to Christ, and last night two more deci-ded to live the Christian life. What a grand teStimonyl and it takes some courage for young men to come for-ward here, especially when you consider the sin which

"surrounds us. I do feel prayer is a mighty power, and I earnestly entreat you at home to pray for those of us who are out here. I am fortunate in being attached to a company where a sergeant can preach for the Mas-ter."

"Thanks for 'Brookland Messenger.' You did me a good turn when. you sent it, as when I had read it I passed it to another chap to read. After he had read what the pastor said about 'Drink,' he said, 'Well, I was never a heavy drinker, but aftee,that I shall never touch Another drop."

Wedding. FOSTER—BOOTH.

A GMT but pretty wedding was witnessed by a number of relatives and ' friends in the Banner Cross United Methodist Church, Sheffield, on Friday, November 30th. The contracting parties were Signaller Sidney S. Foster, of the York and Lancs. Regiment, youngest son of the late Mr. Richard Foster and Mrs. Foster (Meersbrook, Sheffield: and Miss Emma Nicholson Booth ("Emmie"), youngest daughter of Rev. H. M. and Mrs. Booth. The bridegroom's family have been associated for many years with the Hanover Circuit. Prior to joining the Colours he was a valued Worker in connection with the Oak Street Church. Miss Booth was a member of the same church until change of residence led to her association with Banner Cross. In both spheres she has been useful, especially in Sunday School work. The marriage cere-mony was performed by the father of the bride, assisted by Rev. Wm. Richardson (pastor). Miss Fowkes pre-

sided at the organ and played "The Wedding March." The hymns, "The voice that breathed o'er Eden," and "Crown with Thy benediction," were sung. The bride was neatly and prettily' dressed and bore a bouquet of chrysanthemums. - A reception was held at the residence of Rev. H. M. Booth. Later in the day the happy couple left for a short stay in Matlock. There were a consider-able number of choice and useful presents.

For Our Teachers. By" Ittv. E. C. Uawna, B.A., B.D.

HINTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON, DECEMBER 16th, 1917.

NEHEMIAH ENFORCES THE LAW OF THE SABBATH.—Neh, xiii. 15-22.

THIS is the concluding lesson of the series on the period of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from its obvious bearing on the question, " Why we keep the Lord's Day," it affords a useful opportunity of summing up the benefi-cent activities of Nehemiah, over and above his great work of re-building the walls of Jerusalem.

Hints for Teachers' Study. (1) In Neh. xiii. 15-22, one of the narratives which

appears to belong to the time of the second visit which Nehemiah paid to Jerusalem in 482 B.C., occurs an account of the measures taken by Nehemiah to ensure a

'strict observance of the Sabbath. It is wedged in between other accounts narrating the steps taken to keep. stran-gers from polluting the Temple, to ensure provision for the Temple servants, and to prevent inter-marriage with heathen peoples ; and the whole body of narratives goes to show how real the necessity was to prevent the Jews in Jerusalem from being absorbed or diluted by an asso-ciation with other races. These enactments jar somewhat on our modern cosmopolitan and humanitarian sym-pathies but had there been no such strong segregation or exclusion of the Jewish people from intimate inter-course with heathen peoples, there is grave doubt whether the body of Divine revelation which has come down through them would have ,been preserved in any strength or purity. So far as the enactments concerning Sabbath observance made by Nehemiah (probably before Ezra had returned) are concerned, they arose from his observa-tion, as before noted probably during his second visit, that field-labour (" treading wine-presses," "bringing in sheaves," etc., see v. 15) went on as usual on the Sabbath, and that the fish-dealers of Tyre, and indeed merchants "of all kind of ware," came regularly to Sabbath-mar-kets in Jerusalem. In the face of these things, Nehemiah first made a protest to "the nobles of Judah," and then took stern measures 'to suppress Sabbath trading withe the city walls, by ordering the city gates to , be closed just before sunset when the Sabbath began (" when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath," Sabbath being from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), keeping them shut all through the Sabbath, and setting a guard of his own servants to see that "no burden" (the use of animals of burden was forbidden on the Sabbath) was brought in. Some fitful attempts, (note the graphic touch, "once or 'twice "), were made by the excluded dealers to circumvent this by setting up their wares under the walls, but under threat of forciful dis-persal by Nehemiah they soon desisted even from this, and, in his own words, "from that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath." Note that the record of all this, as indeed the whole . chapter, is from Nehemiah's personal memoirs.

(2) Teachers should relate these measures of Nehemiah to the whole question of the Jewish Sabbath. The Sab-bath, as a religious institution, certainly goes far back int: Hebrew story, for It appears in every strata of 1 Iebress legislation, e.g. in the Decalogue, (Ex. xx. 8), In the Eeuteronomic Code, (Dt. v. 12), and in the Priestly Code. (I.ev. xxiii. 3). Gen. ii. 3 ascribes its origin to the Creation, but this could only be done when the Sabbath had become a well-established institution, and its actual origin lost sight of ; but there are grounds for conjectur-ing that the Hebrew Sabbath really originated in Baby-lonia, or that the Hebrew and Babylonian Sabbath had a common origin in pre-historic custom. However this may be,, what we need to notice is that neither the obser-vance nor the importance of the Sabbath, was uniform throughout its long history. For examples it was a much more prominent institution iii the dayS of Christ than in the days, say, before the ,Exile (cf "the number of times it is mentioned in I and II ,Kings, and in the' Gospels). Though it is frequently mentioned by the eighth century prophets like Amos, Hosea and Isaiah., yet it is nearly always in connection with other sacred days, and seldom alone, (e.g. the phrase "new moons and Sab ` - baths," Is. is 18). What actualy contributed most power-fully to give the prominenee to the Sabbath which it later assumed in the form with which we are most familiar with it, was the Babylonian Exile, and this for a simple reason. In Babylon, the Jews, since they had no Tern- ple, and according to Deuteronomy could only offer sacrifices at Jerusalem, were bereft almost entirely of that portion of their ritual and worship which entailed sacri-fice, but an institution like the Sabbath, which did not depend upon a sacrificial ritual, could be observed. Actu-airy therefore the external weight of religion in the Exile tended to be thrown on the keeping of the Sabbath and the Synago,gue worship which grew up in connection with it. It was this stress laid on Sabbath observance by the exiled Jews which was communicated to the Jew-ish community in Jerusalem, at first by Nehemiah and then more powerfully by Ezra, and which later grew into the tyrannous tradition of our Lordrs.Dey.

Hints on Teaching. (a). Junior Classes. , . (1) As this is the last lesson about Nehemiah, it will

be useful to review his work by, comparing the Jerusalem he found with the Jerusalem he left. .The lesson may be introduced by inviting the ,children to take a last look at Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah. • (2) To-day we are able to tell our last story of Nehemiah

and what he did for Jerusalem. Twelve years are past since those wonderful dayswhen Nehemiah came riding from Persia to find Jerusalem a city without walls and its inhabitants a prey to the surrounding peoples. Remind the class, or let them tell the story, of how he rallied the people so that they set to work to build - up again the city's ruined walls. How when that mighty task was dune Nehemiah seems to have gone back to Persia, and to King Artaxerxes, after he had made arrangements for the guarding and defenoe of the city, and not to have come back to Jerusalem until twelve years had past. Let us picture him returning once more to the city he loved so well and for which he had done so much. How different the city would seem to him now from the first time he had looked upon it. Then its walls were still black and ruined, from the days when Nebuchadreszar's army had laid siege to it and destroyed it, and the people who dwelt in it were forlorn and desolate. Now as he turned the brow of the hill overlooking Jerusalem, perhaps the hill over which Jesus, hundreds of years later was to pass and ltsok, at the city, what greeted his eyes -were the grey shining walls and towers and gates, making the old city look strong and safe for the people who lived there.

(3) Was there anything else for Nehemiah to do, now that he has come once more to the city where his father's sepulchres are? Perhaps in his pride, as he looks again upon it, he believes and hopes there will not be. Per-haps most wisely he makes up his mind that whatever he can do to make Jerusalem a happier and better place he will do. And certainly he soon discovers there is plenty to do. ,Heathen men are allowed to live in the Temple; the priests are not looked after, and the Temple is neglected, and the people are too fond of mixing with foreigners. All these things Nehemiah must stop. But the thing that troubles him most is that the people have torgotten that there is one day in the week which shouto be kept entirely for the • service of God. Did not the law which Ezra read say ; Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy? But as Nehemiah watched he saw men going out to their fields to gather their harvests or to tread their grapes in their wine-presses and forgetting the Sabbath

' and in Jerusalem itself they had their mar-

kets open and people brought fish and other things from afar to sell.. We can imagine how Nehemiah felt as he saw all this. Were the people going again to forget the God who had done so much for them? Tell of his remonstrances and let the children read' how he stopped the market on the Sabbath and would not let the mer-chants enter.

(4) Lead up briefly to the question why it is a good thing to have one day a week free from ordinary work so that we can the better worship. First, as the old Jewish law was intended to do, it gives rest to men and beast without which they would not be able to do their ordinary work so well. (This is now a recognised and well-substantiated fact). Second, to spend one day in specially - thinking about God helps us to live the other days better. - We may therefore be glad that, if we 'do not keep' the Sabbath like the Jews, we have the Christ-tian Sunday in its place, and we may rightfully be on our guard lest anyone ever tries to take it from us.

(b) SeniOr Classes. (1) 'Relate briefly the story of the reforms instituted

by Nehemiah on his second visit to Jerusalem in 432 B.C., twelve years after his „first coming thither. A careful examination of them shows that on the whole 'they seem to have been tentative efforts at reform' which may well have preceded rather than come after the reforms intro-duced by Ezra.

(2) Lead up specially to the Sabbath question, show how the experiences of the Exile had thrown a new emphasis on the Sabbath, and how laxity in its Obser-vance by 'the people of Jerusalem might well lead, to religious laxity in other directions. Briefly narrate the -measures' taken by Nehemiah to ensure that the Sabbath law was kept, and show how this paves the way for the extraordinary rules which had grown :up by our Lord's

(3) Conclude the lesson with a brief discussion of the faridamental reasons for the keeping of a day like the Jewish. Sabbath or the Christian Sunday. Incidentally we do not keep Sunday because of the fourth Command-ment, but both the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Sunday ; find' their raison d'être in the same fundamental needs of human nature, viz., physical rest, religious 'communion. This is the meaning of the preg-nant saying of Jesus : "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." The generation that ceases to pay due regard to these fundamental needs of human nature runszrave risks, and sows the seeds of both phy-sical; moral and spiritual degeneration and decay.

fracts as Soul Winners. Mr. Arthur .Meachen writes : It was only a tract, but

by reaching. the hands of the Rev. Samuel Baxter, it was the means of leading him to Christ, and what a bless-ing he- became to the world ! Mr. D. L. Moody had half a million tracts distributed at the World's Fair in Chicago, and there are many in Heaven to-day as a result. Dr. Marsham, of India, said that the majority of the converts to Christianity in that land came to Christ through tracts. A little net touched the heart of John Bunyan, and his book, "The Pilgrim's Progress," has been printed in over 115 languages, circulating in every part of the world. There is a .very bright outlook in•all the world for large circulation of tracts and Gospel

literature.

Ministers' Sons in the Army and Navy.

IN this War, ministers and laymen in the United Metho-dist Church are one ; the_ sacrifices they are making are the same in kind, and theebereavements they are suffering are poignant to each. This list is not published with any idea that ministers and their children are doing more than laymen and their children, but wholly with the thought that many of our people at home and many of our "boys " at the Front will be interested in seeing in the list names of old ministers of their churches, and names of sons of ministers with whom . some of them were associated in days gone by.

These Offer All. With parted lilt's and outstretched hands, And listening ears Thy servant stands. Call Thou early, call Thou late, To Thy great service dedicate.

PRIVATE GEOFFREY LUPTON. Rev. E. Abbott has lost one son in the War, and his

youngest son, E. S. Abbott, is a cadet in the Royal Engineers.

Save Food T has long been an accepted

fact, proved by indepen-dent scientific investigation, that Bovril has a body-building power equal to from ro to 20 times the amount taken. This is now confirmed in a very striking way in the following report from the " Medical Times "

"The addition of a small teaspoonful of Bovril to the diet, as a peptogenic before meals leads to more thorough digestion and assimilation and thus saves food.

"The diet may then he cut. down from to and the body sti I be adequately nourished?'

Extract from the review by the " Medical Times " of the investigations on Food Economy conducted by Dr. J. Campbell, while Food Expert to the Metropolitan Campaign for Food Economy.

Help to save the Nation's food and still keep yourself, well fed by taking a cup of Bowil as soup at meals, or by using a little Bovril in your cooking.

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WASCO-BALATA is the finest grade Balata, so prepared that any Handy Man or Woman can sole

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December 6, 1917. THE UNITED METHODIST. 593

Rev. , G. T. Akester has three sons in the services-2nd •Lt. H. Stanley Akester, serving in France; Arthur G. Akester, Asst.-Constructor in connection with the Admiralty ; and Joseph C. Akester, R.N., Flight Sub.-Lt. R.N.A.S., who has been wounded and is a prisoner of war in Germany.

L.-Corp. -Jahn Percy Baxter, son of Rev. J. Baxter, is on the Western Front.

2nd Lt. H. Bentley (Gloucestershires), son of Rev. J. Bentley.

. „

Corp. Herbert C. Billington, R.E., son of Rev. J. Billing. ton, is engaged in search-light work in this country.

Signaller F. Arthur Bluck, son of Rev. A. Bluck, was wounded on the Somme last March and has only just left the hospital.

Kenneth Ray, son of Rev. J. H. Blackwell, has been commissioned from the ranks as 2nd Lt., and has been again sent to France where he was for twelve months previously.

The eldest son of Rev. J. B. Booth is • serving in con-nection with Woolwich Arsenal, and the youngest son, Hugh H. Booth, H.A.C., is now serving on one of the Western Fronts.

2nd Lt. H. Alan Bowker, son of Rev. J. H. Bowker, won the M.C. in October, 1916, was wounded in the following December, is now serving in Northumberland.

Sapper J. Cowburn Bromley, son of Rev. A. Bromley, is serving in Mesopotamia.

The sons of the late Rev. J. Brown ate in the Army, Orderly B. W. Brown, B.R.C.S., in France, and Pte. H. E. Brown, in York Military Hospital, wounded.

Rev. J. H. Burkitt's son Sydney is in the Artists' Rifles O.T.C., and his son Eric is 2nd Lt., R.F.C., in France.

Pte. F. M. Buxton, Border Regt., Air Mech. P. W. Buxton, R.N.A.S., and 2nd Lt. 0. Buxton are the three sons of Rev. C. H. Buxton.

Col. Frederick T. Campbell, son of Rev. John Campbell, was wounded in Gallipoli and invalided home.

Rev:'Ernest F. H. Capey has two sons in the services-2nd Lt. Ernest P. Capey, R.G.A., after service in France is now in England, and 2nd Lt. Thomas C. Capey (Labour Corps) is in France.

Pte. Laurence Cato, son of Rev. E. Cato, is in France. Corp. Donald A. Chadwick, A.S.C.; is with the Egyptian

Forces. He is a son of the Rev. A._ Chadwick. Corp. Walter Clayton, R.F.C., now in France, and William

Clayton, R.N.R., qualified wireless telegraphist, now at work in home waters, are sons of Rev. John W. Clayton.

The following are sons of Rev. W. H. Cockersole Capt. F. W. Cockersole, served in France and "mentioned " for valuable services ; L.-Corp. Harry Cockersole has served in-Egypt and France ; L.-Corp. James P. Cockersole wounded

" im France. - Lt. Walter Cole, H.A.C., son of Rev. R. P. Cole, was

sent to the fighting line in France and subsequently took his commission. After being seriously injured he is now recovered.

The three sons of Rev. E. A. Coome, Aubrey J. H., Ernest P. G., and Donald E. W., are in the R.G.A. Aubrey and Donald have both been wounded.

Q.M.-S. S. Arnold Cooper, son of Rev. S. Cooper, has been at the Front two years.

Two sons of our ex-President, Rev. T. J. Cox, have served in the Army and been discharged as wounded soldiers—Charles Norris, who fought in the Mons, Marne, Aisne and Armentieres battles, and Joseph Henry (R.A.M.C.) who was at Loos and Verdun.

Gunner B. C. Crosby, R.G.A., the Rev. B. Crosby's son, is serving in this country.

Capt. J. A. Dale, London Regt., is employed in the War Office, and 2nd Lt. B. W. Dale is with the Sherwood Foresters. Both are sons of Rev. T. P. Dale.

Albut, son of Rev. J. Datson, is serving as Naval School-master with the Fleet.

J. Loxley Davis, 2nd Lt. R.G.A., is in Flanders and the son of Rev.. J. W. Davis.

The son of Rev. T. J. Dickinson, Lt. W. H. Dickinson, is a navigating officer in the submarine service.

Staff-Serg.-Maj. G. A. IDowning, son of Rev. W. Downing, is in the A.S.C. and serving in German East Africa.

Rev, J. Dudley has three sons in , the Army—Capt. H. W. Dudley, 2nd Lt. A. T. Dudley, M. C., and Capt. C. W. Dudley, R.A.M.C., ow serving in Mesneotamia.

Two sorts of Rev. F. B. Dutton are in the services—Gunner C. T. R. Dutton, R.G.A., and Corp. S. Dutton, A.P.C.

2nd Lt. J. J. Dymond, now in France, Pte. F. S..Dymond, R.A.M.C., also in France, and 2nd IA. G. P. Dymond, R.F.C., now in England, are sons of Rev. F. J. Dymond, Yunnan, China.

The son of Rev. I. Elsom, Sapper W. G. Elsom, is on the Western Front. -1st Air Mech. England, R.F.C., is in Egypt, and 2nd Lt.

P. England, R.F.A., is in Flanders ; both the sons of Rev. C. T. England.

Rev. F. S. Foster has two sons in the Army-2nd Lt. Reg. Foster, R.F.C., and Pte. F. N. Foster, A.S.C.

Pte. J. M. Foulger, R.A.M.C., son of Rev. J. Foulger,

is serving on the Western Front. Rev. W. Francis has two sons in the Army--

Frans* who joined the Canadian Contingent in Canada

and is low in Franca, and R. N. Francis, who is driving a motor ambulance in this eountry ; also two grandsons-

9nd Lt. P. A. Francis, Sherwood Foresters, and Third Writer W. N. Francis, H.M.S. "Collingwood."-

Corp. H. A. Fry, R.E., Physical Instructor, son of Rev. H. Fry, is now on home service, after being wounded in France.

Two sons of Rev. F. Galpin are in the Army—Pte. -G. F. Galpin and Capt. P. A. Galpin.

Three sons of the late Rev. J. Gaskell have joined the Army—John Albert, R.N.A.S., Arnold Joseph, 2nd Lt., and Reginald Harry, Pte. in the Royal Fusiliers. The last named lost his leg in France and has since been discharged.

Both the sons of Rev. W. Gillis, Corp. W. R. Gillis and Pte. C. A. Gillis, are serving on the Western Front.

Walter. N. Greenwood, Ldg. Tel., R.N.V.R., invalided home, and Pte. John R. Greenwood, R.A.M.C. (T.F.) are sons of Rev. C. Greenwood.

G. H. Guttridge, son oT Rev. F. W. H. Guttridge, is serving as a cadet in the R.G.A. in the Isle of Wight.

W. E. Hall, E.R.A., and engineer on H.M.S. "Skilful," is the son of Rev. Edwin Hall.

Rev. A. Hancock has two sons in the services—Corp. Maurice Courtenay Hancock, in the R.A.M.C., Salonika, and L.-Corp. Basil B. Hancock, R.A.M.C., 3rd Northern Base...Hospital.

Pte. W. A. Harraway, R.A.M.C., son of Pastor W. C. Harraway, was wounded in France and is now recovering.

Rev. W. H. Cory Harris's sons in the service are Pte. Wm. Efnest Harris, R.A.M7C., now at Salonika, and Herbert F. Harris with a Tank Battalion in France.

Capt. Wilfred Harrison, son of Rev. James Harrison, has served at Suvla Bay and in Egypt and Flanders. He is at present in this country.

Rev. Cooper G. Hawken's son, Pte. C. J. Hawken, is on the Western Front.

Horace, son of Rev. J. T. Henwood, is with the R.F.C. on the Western Front.

Pev. J. W. Heywood, our missionary in Wenchow, has• two sons in the Army-2nd Lt Frank Heywood, R.G.A.,

now in France, and Corp. Cyril Heywood, Cheshire Regt. Rev. S. Heywood's son, Pte. J. K. Heywood, is serving

in India. All Rev. W. H. Hill's three sons have served in France—

Sapper H. J. Hill, R.E., Drummer A. W. Hill (wounded and in hospittl), and Gunner A. H. Hill, R.F.A.

The two sons of Rev. G. H. Hinchliffe are serving—H. 0. Hinchliffe as 2nd Lt., R.E., on an Eastern Front ; and Rev. S. Hinchliffe as a chaplain on the Western Front.

2nd Lt. F. W. Hockin, son of Rev. J. S. Hockin, is in the Indian Army.

Rev. J. T. Hodge's son, Rifl. W. A. Hodge, is with the Army in France.

Charles T. Holmes, son of Rev. G. Holmes, joined the colours in. Australia and is in France.

The eldest son of the late Rev. W. Hookins, Pte. W. S. 'Hookins, is with the Motor Transport in German East Africa, and the third son, Pte. L. A. Hookins, is in a cadet battalion in England.

Rev. G. W. Ingram's three sons are in the Army—Pte. E. W. Ingram, East Africa, Pte. Harold Ingram, Palestine, the other son, 2nd I,t. R. M. Ingram has been three times wounded and is in a London hospital.

L.-Corp. J. S. Irving, on of Dr. Irving, is on home service. The son of the late Rev. D. Jackson, Pte. H. H. Jackson,

is in the Army Ordnance Corps. Four of the five sons of Rev. John James are serving :

Ernest W. H. James. in Red Cross and other work at Hong-Kong ; Corp. A. Douglas James, in the R.E. ; • Lt. A. Vernon James, in a London Regiment ; and Pte. F. Arnold James, in the Cycle, Batt., Canadian Div., France. Mr. James also has a grandson, Corp. D. Ireson Norman in the Royal Sussex Regt.

Rifl. Oswald Job, son of Rev. J. Job, is with the Forces on the Western Front.

Corp. E. F. Jones, R.E., son of Rev. Francis Jones, is serving at home.

Two sons of the late Rev. Richard Kelley are with the Forces—Pte. F. J. Kelley, A.S.C., who was wounded in France, and is now in Salonika, and Rifl. H. Wilfrid Kelley at present in England recovering from wounds.

Rev. R. H. Kipling's son, Pte. J. Kipling, is in Palestine. The three sons of Rev. A. Knight are in the Army—

Cadet A. E. Knight, L.-Corp. S. P. Knight, and Cadet H. de B. Knight,

Pte. H. A. Lark, son of our ex-President, Rev. W, B. Lark, is in hospital at Rouen suffering from a Severe gun-shot wound.

After service on the Western Front, Eric S. Letcher, son of Rev. Thomas Letcher, is a cadet in training at home.

O.S. Claude Little, R.N.D., son of Rev. R. H. Little, is in training.

Rifl. H. L. Livesey, son of the late Rev. Henry Livesey, is in the London Rifle Brigade.

Serg. L. H. Longden, son of Rev. James Longden, is serving on the Western Front.

Lt. Reg. J. Martin, son of Rev. James Martin, is serving in France.

2nd Lt. Bruce Martin, R.F.C., is a son of Rev. J. J. Martin.

Rev. W. Miller has given four sons to the Army—Serg. H. C. Miller, R.E., Western Front ; H. B. Miller, killed in action ; Lt. W. N. Miller, R.F.A., served in France, now in. England ; and Pte. G. H. Miller, R.W.Y. Western Front.

The four sons of the late Rev. Joseph Morrey are in the Artny—Serg. P. M. Morrey, serving in Canada ; L.-Corp. E. B. Morrey, R.E., serving at headquarters ; Bomb. J. S. Morrey, R.G.A., Western Front ; and Capt. W. L. Morrey in Palestine.

Corp. D. S. Naylor, son of Rev. Thomas" Naylor, is in France.

Rev. T. Nicholas's only son, Hugh Torr, is in the R.E., and after spending two years on the Western Front is now on salvage work with the Fleet.

Drummer Wilfrid A. Oldfield, son of Pastor C. E. .01dfleld, joined the Gloucester Regt. and has been dis-charged on account of illness.

Two sons of Rev. Joseph Ogden, Frank Ogden, 2nd Air Mech. R.F.C., and Bernard Ogden, 0.S., Royal Navy, are serving with the Forces.

The two sons of Dr. Packer, Connexional Committee Secretary, in the Army are L.-Corp. G. Packer, A.S.C., M.T. with Salonika Forces, and Signaller John W. Packer, R.G.A., wounded July 28th, back in the line, Western Front, in October.

2nd Lt. Jackson Page, eldest son of Rev. John Page, has been wounded on the Western Front.

Pte. H. G. Payne, son of Rev. J. Payne, is in the home service.

L.-Corp. N. B. Percival, son of Rev. James Percival, has been eighteen months in France and is now at Frees Heath.

The eldest son of Rev. J. Pitchford, 2nd Lt. D. M. Pitchford, has resolved the Francis Croix de Guerre, and

694

THE UNITED METHODIST. December I, 1917,

hie brother, Cyril P. Pitchford, has been wounded and returned to service.

2nd Lt. W. ll. Preshous, son of Rev. J. Preshous, is serving at home after a period' on the Western Front.

L.-Corp. R. N. Radcliffe, K.O:Y.L.I., is a son of Rev. J. E. Radcliffe.

Three sons of the late Rev. Foster Raine are in the Army—Rev. Foster Paine as a chaplain ; Bertram is it gunner in the R.G.A., and Lt. Wilfrid Raine in a Labour Company (wounded at Ypres in 1915).

1..t. F. Calvert Robinson, only son of Rev. F. H. Robinson, has served in France, Egypt and Mesopotamia, and is now with the Indian Army Officers' Reserves in India.

Three sons of Rev. Enoch Rogers are serving : Driver A. 0. Kelley Rogers hi Salonika ; Corp. Wilfred J, R. Rogers in a Labour Corps at home ; and Signaller A. Carey Rogers has done service in France but is now invalided home.

Assist. Paymaster Nevil B. Rose, R.N.R., son of Rev. Bruce W. Rose, is on H.M.S. " Gloucestershire."

On the Western Front is 2nd Lt. H. L. Rowe, son of Rev. Harry Rowe.

The two sons of Rev. R. T. Rowley served under General Smuts in East Africa. Pte. W. H. W. Rowley was dis-charged on account of ill-health through malaria fever, and the other son died in action.

Of Rev.. H. Rundle's, five' sons, all but the youngeSt (seventeen years of age) are in the Army. Pte. Stanley P. Rundle was a Wesleyan minister in South Africa when he joined the South African Scottish Regt. ; Sapper Rex H. Rundle is in the Engineering Corps, Gprman East Africa; Serg. Frank J. Rundle, A.S.C., has served' in France and Mesopotamia and is now in Persia ; Pte. Gordon P. Rundle is a Lewis gunner in Palestine.

Lt. B. N. Seden, gassed twice, wounded twice, and suffered serious injuries to the eyes. Now on garrison duty. Bomb. Evelyn J: Seden, R.F.A., France, has been wounded, but is now serving in firing. line. Both are sons of Rev. J. Seden.

Four sons of the late Rev. John Shaw joined the Forces. Ch.-Eng. Percy M. Shaw is interned in Ruhleben. 2nd Lt. Arnold Shaw is with the 4th Loyal North Lancs. 2nd Lt. Richard M. Shaw, Royal Fusiliers, is now in hospital wounded; Pte John Shaw, Royal Fusiliers, is now in France.

Pte. H. Shawcross, son of Rev. T. Shawcross, is in a training reserve battalion.

The son of Rev. J. H. Shilson, Maj. B. W. Shilson, ib Officer in Command of the . Mechanical Transport in German East . Africa.

Pte. W. A. Shiphardson, son of Rev. J. Shiphardson, is in the A.S.C., France.

Corp. J. S. Skillings, D.L.I., South Shields, and Pte. C. E. Skillings, wounded on the Western Front, are sons of Rev. Thomas Skillings.

Gunner Vivian J. Smeeth, son of the late Rev. W. J. Smeeth, is serving in Egypt.

Sons of Rev. W. H. S. Snow : 2nd Lt. VT. F. Snow on home service, and Pte. Sidney Snow has obtained the Military Medal and is. on the Western Front.

2nd 'Lt. Ronald G. Soothill, R.F.A., is the son of Rev. A. Soothill, B.A., Principal of Ashville College, Harrogate.

2nd Lt. N. C. Stedeford, son of Rev. C. Stedeford, Foreign Mission Secretary, is serving at the Front.

Rev. J. B. Stedeford, ex-President of the Conference, has given four sons to the services : Corp. J. B. Stedeford, Chemical Corps, discharged in consequence of permanent injury ; W. A. P. Stedeford, Asst.-Paymaster in the R.N.R. ; L. H. Stedeford, Staff-Serg. in the A.S.C. The fourth son was killed in action.

Cyclist P. G. Stembridge is the son of Rev. H. A. Stem-bridge, B.A.

Pte. Wm. T. Stephens, M.T., A.S.C., in East Africa, and Serg. A. E. T. Stephens, A.S.C., on the Western Front, are sons of Rev. E. V. Stephens.

Pte. Stanley W. Stopard, son of Rev. F. G. Stopard, was injured in France, and is now on the East Coast.

All the five sons of Rev. J. Capes Story are doing work in connection with the War. Two of them are in the services—Pte. A. J. Story ins a Canadian unit, and Air-craftsman H. W. Story in the R.N.A.S.

The eldest son of Dr. Swallow, Medical Missionary in China, left China in order to join up and is now in France. The youngest son is believed to have been killed in action.

Three sons of Rev. J. E. Swallow, Editor of the "Mis-sionary Echo," have joined the Army. 2nd Lt. H. E. Swallow, R.F.A. is in France. 2nd Lt. S. H. Swallow was wounded and taken prisoner, July 1st, 1916, and is now a captive in camp at Holzminden. The third son has fallen in action.

All the three sons of Rev. John Taylor (s) entered the Army. Corp. N. Taylor, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, acts as drill instructor ; Gunner Sydney Taylor is in the R.G.A. ; the remaining son died through wounds.

Serg. C. F. P. Todd is in the Canadian Infantry, and Capt. A. T. Todd, M.B., is in the 'R.A.M.C. Both sons of Rev. M. M. Todd, and on the Western Front.

Pte. D. P. Treloar, son of Rev. J. Treloar, is with the Salonika Forces.

Rev. W. Tremberth's son, L.-Corp. W. 0. Tremberth, is serving on the Western Front.

The two sons of Rev. E. Troughton, Pte. H. Troughton and Corp. W. L. Troughton, are serving, one in Egypt, the other in this country.

Gunner D. G. Tungate, son of Rev. B. J. Tungate, is in the R.F.A.

Pte. F. H. Umpleby, on the Egyptian Front, is the son of Rev. H. Umpleby.

Rev. A. Urwin's son E. G. Urwins was until recently serg.-instructor in signalling, R.G.A. (T.F.), but is now completing training for an Artillery commission.

Three sons of the late Revs Thomas Wakefield, Africa missionary, have joined the Army. The eldest was killed in action. 2nd Lt. Leonard J. Wakefield was wounded and has been missing since June 16th, 1917. 2nd Lt. Laurence E. Wakefield has received the M.C. He was wounded March 30th last and is at present in hospital.

Corp. S. R. Walmsley, son of the late Rev. Silas Walms-ley, is in charge of a Chinese Labour -Unit.

Rev. J. M. Ward's only son, Pte. T. T. Ward, is in France. Pastor J. Thus Wavlett has two sons in the services—

Roy, senior wireless officer on one of sH.M. transport ships, and Leslie, private in the R.A.M.C.

DEAFNESS , Scores of wonderful cures

CATARRH, HEAD NOISES. easily cured in a few days by the new FRENCH Oill.FNF."

reported. Write for pertlenlars. (ALIENS " CO., Reilway Crescent, CROYDON. &NGLAND.

Of Rev. S. Westcott's two sons, ole is serving at home, the other is in training.

2nd Lt. Arnold Wheatley, son of Rev. George Wheatley, was gassed on Easter Saturday last and is in a convalescent hydro.

The on of Rev. J. G. Williams, Artificer J, R. Williams M.G.C., is serving on- the Western Front.

All three sons of Rev. R. Wilton are in the Army. Pte. Gordon Wilton is -on active service in France. 2nd Lt. Wesley Wilton was wounded in France and is now on duty in England. 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Wilton is in the Indian Army.

Gunner J. S. Worthington, R.G.A., son of Rev. G. S. Worthington, is on home service.

Four sons of the President, Rev. James Wright, joined the Forces. Lt. V. C. Wright, R.F.A., has served in German S.W. Africa and is now in France. Pte. B. A, Wright, R.M.L.I., invalided from Gallipoli, is now in England. Lt. J. L. E. Wright, S.W.B., served in France, and is at present in England. Cadet F. K. Wright invalided from France, is now training in England.

Rev. W. Yates, ex-Missionary. in Africa, has four sons in the services. Lt.-Col. Wm. M. Yates of the Canallian Infantry has been severely wounded. Lt. C. E. Yatee is an equipment officer attached to the R.F.C. Pte. Cyril Yates, R.A.M.C., is attached to the R.F.A. in France, as is also his brother, Pte. Arthur Yates, A.S.C.

These have given their all. These laid the world away ; toured out tha,red Sweet wine of youth ; gave up the years to be Of work and joy, and that unhoped serene That men call age ; and those who could have been Their sons, they gave, their immortality.

RUPERT BROOKE.

Serg. W. W. Abbott, son of ReV. E. Abbott, died of wounds in the Dardanelles.

Harry, son of Rev. R. P. Cole, joined the H.A.C. as a private and then obtained his commission. He was killed in July, 1916.

Rifl. Wm. Hughes Fothergill, son of the late Rev. Henry Fothergill, killed in action in France, February 10th, 1917.

2nd Lt. S. M. Gregory, son of Rev. W. H: Gregory, killed in action May 18th, 1916.

Pte. A. Pethick Hall, 7th Royal Fusiliers, son of Rev. R. S. Hall, wounded October 30th, died November 1st, 1917, in France.

Signaller Herbert B. Miller, R.H.A., son of Rev. W. Miller, killed in action April 16th, 1917, at Arras.

Harold H. Proudfoot, M.B., Ch.B. (Edin.), D.P.H., Capt., R.A.M.C., killed instantly by the bursting of a large German shell, September 2nd, 1916, aged 27.

Pte. Reginald T. Rowley, son of Rev. R. T. Rowley, died in action at Salaita Hill battle, February 12th, 1916.

L.-Corp. Horace K. Stedeford, son of Rev. J. B. Stedeford, killed in action near Arras, Aril 14th, 1917.

Lt. Luther Swallow, youngest son of Dr. and Sirs. Swallow, of China, believed to have been killed in a,ction July 31st, 1917.

Coy.-Serg.-Maj. Leonard Swallow, H.A.C., son of Rev. J. E. Swallow, killed in action at Beaumont Hamel, Novem-ber 13th, 1918, aged 23.

Pte. Claude Taylor, son of Rev, John Taylor (s), died from wounds in France, February 11t, 1917. For eighteen months he was in charge of our Rossington Church, South Yorkshire Mission.

2nd Lt. Thomae Butler Wakefield, son of the late Rev. Thomas Wakefield, Africa missionary, Billed in action September 8th, 1917.

U.M. Roll of Honour. SECOND LIEUTENANT A. K. PURDY.

Our Independent Street Church, Nottingham, has sus-tained a great loss by the death of Second Lieut. A. K. Purdy, who was killed in action on November 20th, aged 23. Writing to his father, Col. H. 'Barrington Brown says : "Your son had only been with us for a short -time, but he had in that time become popular amongst the officers and had the confidence of his men, whom he was gallantly leading in the attack when he fell." The Medical Officer of the 1st Leicester's Regiment writes : " He had gained everyone's confidence and admiration by his quiet, strong character. Arthur was a fine manly Christian, a devoted Sunday School teacher, a member of the Choir, and his deepest interests were bound up with the Church. He was recommended for his Com-mission in consequence of gallantry in the field. Keenly intelligent, with a warm heart, he would have been a splendid officer."

LIEUT. GERALD PEARSON. Deep sympathy is felt in the Crewe Church with Mr.

and Mrs. Pearson, who have received the sad news of the death of their son, Lieut. Gerald Pearson, R.F.C., in France on October 29th.

PRIVATE ALBERT E. GOULD. After the great battle of March 8th, 1916, in Mesopo-

tamia, Private Albert E. Gould (Devons), second son of Mr. W. Gould, of Barnstaple, was reported missing. On Saturday week, November 24th), Mr. Gould received a letter from the Army Council stating that they are re-gretfully constrained to conclude that Private Gould is dead, killed in action. The deceased was a scholar, of the Barnstaple U.M. Sunday School. In 1913 he was converted, and until -the day of his death was a good living lad. In his many sterling qualities he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. His death is deeply lamented. PRIVATE F. P. ELLIS.

On Monday last (November 26th), Mr. W. Ellis, of Sticklepath, Barnstaple (circuit steward of the U.M. Cir-cuit, Barnstaple) received official news that his eon Private Frederick P. Ellis (Canadian Forces) was killed in action on November 11th, aged 24. He was educated at Shebbear College and went to Canada about four years ago and joined up about 18 months since. Many friends have learned of Private Ellis's death with profound re-gret, and sympathy with the bereaved parents is general. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Canada, at Woodstock, Ontario. Religion was * reality is him. He took great interest in temporaries work.

News of Our Churches. All communication; sent by the halfpenny post for this

page should bear on the outside, distinctly written, the words "News for the Press," and should be directed. to "The Editor, United Methodist,' 188 Rye Lane, Peck-ham, London, S.E.15." A number of communications have been surcharged through omitting to conform to these Post Office regulations. News should arrive not later than the FIRST delivery on Tuesday morning, and be written on one side of the paper or postcard only.

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS Changes.

Bolitho, H., has returned from East Africa where he has been serving as a Chaplain to the Forces and is taking up work at South Shields in succession to Rev. W. E. Walker who has become a chaplain. Mr. Bolitho will be free to serve a circuit at Conference.

Madgen, W., was unanimously invited to remain at Sheffield, Scotland Street Circuit, but leaves at Conference.

Baxter, J., leaves Redcliffe Road Circuit, Nottingham, Conference 1918;

Engagements. 1918-19.

Greenslade, R. R. Cheltenham, a Louth year. Rutherford, J., Batley Circuit. Smallwood, J., at the request of the Manchester North-

East Circuit, has reconsidered his decision and will remain another year.

1919-21. Moyle, T. IL, has -been unanimously urged to withdraw

his intimation to leave the Great Yarmouth Circuit is 11119 and to remain until 1911. .

HANLEY. The Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent attends Bethesda.

ALD. W. - E. Rotas/sots, the' newly-appointed Mayor of the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent, has been for many years actively. associated with our Bethel Church, Burslem, and he - is treasurer steward of the circuit. On Sunday morning, November 18th, he attended divine worship in our Bethesda Chapel, the "Nonconformist Cathedral " of the Potteries. The popularity of Alderman Robinson's appointment was shown by the composition and extent of the mayoral procession. It was estimated that there were nearly six thousand people in the procession, and that the procession itself was a mile long. This is said to constitute a record so far as church parades in North Staffordshire are concerned; The Mayor was attended by the officials and members of the Council, the borough justices, the tribunal and recruiting staff, representatives of the industrial life in North Staffordshire, the Freemasons, representatives of the Free Church Councils, the Traders' Association, various public bodies of the district, the volunteers, the Red Crass Society, boys' brigades and scouts, and dis-charged soldiers. Bethesda is capable of accommodating two thousand people, but many were excluded for want of room. A service was held in the Bethesda Schools for the scouts and other boys' associations, conducted by Captain H. J. Plant. The service at Bethesda was conducted by Rev. J. W. Walls, President-Designate and an ex-pastor of Bethesda, and Rev. F. J. Wharton, superintendent minister. The musical part of the service consisted of the National Anthem, the introit "God is a Spirit " (Bennett), the hymn "0 God, our help in ages past," the Te Deum, the hymn "0 King of Kings, ' the anthem 'Ho, everyone that thirsteth " (Martin), • and the hymns "These things shall be," "Fight the Good Fight," closing with the Nunc Dimittis. Mr. John James presided at the organ and gave suitable voluntaries, and Mr. T. S, Peake was the soloist. An extremely thoughtful discourse on "The.Significance of the Great World War " was delivered by Rev. J. W. Walls and was listened to with intense interest, and was reported in full in the. "Staffordshire Sentinel."

ILKESTON. Mayor at Church.

ALDERMAN A. HENSHAW attended divine service in our Cotmanhay Church on the Sunday morning succeeding his election accompanied by a large body of residents of the town, members of - the Corporation, the- volunteer foree, the fire brigade and the police force. The service was conducted by Rev. T. B. Pope, Mayor's Chaplain, the lessons being react by the Town Clerk (Mr. S. F. James). The subject of Rev. T. B. Pope's discourse was 'The Divine Challenge and Man's Opportunity of Responsibility." A local paper says that if Mr. Pope's ministry in Ilkeston may be measured by the character of his mayoral sermon, it must be a deeply thoughtful and stimulating ministry. Mr. Pope said some things which very much need saying, and saying over and over again, if the world is to be ever anything more than it has been in the past—a self-seeking aggregation of selfish humanity. The musical part of the service was much enjoyed, Mr. William Noon conducting, and Mr. F. Winfield being the soloist,

LOUTH. Tian animal choir festival was much enjoyed, and the high

standard of excellence attained at previous festivals we,' fully maintained. The preacher was. Rev. Charles Green-wood, former minister of the circuit, and his forceful

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IFOKICEI ST GATE CIRCUIT. Corner of Romford Road ... ••• Rev.- Near Forest Gate Station ... ..... . Rev. Bottom of Rathbone Street Near Plaistow Station ... ... ••• Rev. South of Ilford Station ... ... . Enquire_at

. .... Rev. at Grays Station ... Rev.

Near Manor Park Broadway ,.. ... Rev. Right of East Ham Station ... .. Rev. Leigh Road (nr. corner of Argyll Road) Rev. Right of Seven Kings Station... ... Rev. Eastern Esplanade, Southend ... ... Rev.

W. E. MYERS. B.A. J. W. ARMSTRONG J. B.BOOTH W. BAINBRIDGE J. BOr,EN W. BRYARS H. WILI IAMS P. GALPIN W. J. REDMORE J. H. SQUIRE, B.A., B.D. T. J. WATSON

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a hearty welcome . MP 'Services commence at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Visitors tali/ receive

December 6, 1917

THE UNITED METHODIST. 595

sermons gay. great plenum. Miss Jennie Hoek, Leeds Gold Medallist, sung Mr. Harold Percival's "Blossoni," the words of which are written by the Louth choir secretary, Mr. Arthur T. Graves. The other soloists were Mr. Torn Patterson and Mr. Ernest Davey. Mendelssohn's 'Come let us sing " was given in the afternoon with Mr. George Veal as choirmaster. In addition to solos by the singers just named, Miss Bertha Shaw was a. soloist and joined Miss hook in the duet "In His Hand," and Corporal Dolman and Mr. Heslam in the trio "The Heavens are telling." Mr. E. Brougham Bach presided on the Monday, when a first-class selection of music was given by the choir and soloists. The singers were Mr. Ernest Davey, Miss Nellie Speight, Miss Jennie Hook, Mr. George Veal. Miss E. Gibson was the organist throughout the festival.

OLDHAM. ON Sunday week the Union Street Church had its annual

choir festival. Rev. J. E. Portman was the preacher. The choir was under the leadership of Mr. George Haslop and Mr. J. Collinge, L.R.A.M., presided at the organ. Mrs. Laura Evans-Williams and Mr. Herbert Brown were the principal soloists, and the programme of music rendered by the choir included well-chosen anthems. The spacious sanctuary was almost full in the morning, quite full in the afternoon,,' and full to overflowing in the evening, some having to go away. One of the best festivals yet held. The collections amounted to 488.

RIPLEY. Teta organ of the Bethel Church has been rebuilt and

enlarged, and a new pulpit and choir stalls have been -fixed. The ceremony of dedicating these to the praise and glory of U'od was _performed by Rev. J. W. Nield. Mr. Richard Wassail, F.R.C.O., of-Birmingham, was the speciarorganist, and the soloists were Madame C. Warren, Mr. W. Wager, Mr. M. Steeples, and Master A: Barnes. The chapel was crowded in the afternoon when Mr. Wessell gave an organ recital, and at night when Rev. J. W. Nield preached to a large congregation. Councillor J. Parken and Mr. R. Aldred Will conduct the services the next two‘Sundays.

SPALDING. A CIRCUIT gathering held at the Crescent Church was a

very largely attended one, all the twelve churches being well represented.. In the afternoon, Mr. G. James (Surfleet) presided over a conference on "The Church when the men come home." The subject was opened by Rev. J. T. Bilsborrow of Bury, formerly of this circuit, and several took part in the discussion that followed. In the evening, Mr. Bilsborrow gave a lecture on his four months' experiences in France with the 'Red Triangle." For an hour and a half he kept his audience in rapt attention as he depicted life near the Western Front. Dr. E. C. Chappell, M.A., pre- sided, and Miss E. James was the soloist. The gathering, was in every-way a great success.

Presentations. Louth.—The Eastgate Church has recently made two

presentations to Miss Ethel Hutchinson, who has left Louth in order to teach at the .Girls' ,High School, Ashby-de-la-Zouch'. For several years Miss Hutchinson has exerted a great influence in the Eastgate School. • A keen organiser, she succeeding in gra,ding the School, taking the office of Junior Superintendent,- and later filling ae same position In the Senior School. Although engaged in teaching at the Cleethorpes Pupil Teachers' • Centre, Miss Irutchinson ren-dered most valuable service to the Louth Sunday School Union as its President on more than one occasion. With many- expressions of good will the silver photo frames and a silver brush and comb were given to her by the members as a slight token of their , appreciation of her work so willingly performed.

Evangelistic Missions. Bugje.—A most successful mission has been conducted

" here. by Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Barraclough, and our commodious church, which seats seven hundred people, has been thronged with seats in the aisles, folk sitting on the pulpit stairs, many standing, and not a few turned away unable to gain admission. It is a long while since we witnessed such wide-spread interest in a mission. The messages of the missioners in song and speech arrested the Cornish folk. There is no doubt that the music drew the crowd, but it was the Word of God preached in the power of the Spirit that gripped the souls of the careless and in-different. -Every night during the concluding week enquirers

have hese dealt whit. Over ifty. Save definitely decided for Christ.

Shobbear.—Mr. and Mrs. Thompson the Circuit Evan-gelists commenced their six months' mission at Cookbury, at whch there were fourteen decisions. Bradford was the second mission which resulted in seventeen decisions: The third mission was Milton, and ten professed conversion, and seventeen Sunday School scholars. At the fourth mission at 'Put Lord thirty-one decisions were'recorded. The majority of these converts are fathers and mothers and young people. The faith tea at close of missions have left a total balance in hand of £6 18s. after all expenses are paid.

Stanley (Causey Row).—Messrs. Thompson and Rhodes have concluded the promised return mission. Nine months ago these brethren conducted a mission here with great success. The fruit of that mission has been abiding, some of the best workers in the church were then converted. The mission has been very well attended, on many occasions the chapel has been crowded. A good spirit prevailed, but no one yielded until the last night when a wonderful scene was witnessed, and many flocked into the enquiry room. Thus. earnest prayer and faithful work were rewarded. The brethren have worked hard. - Every home in the village has had a personal visit from-the missioners. At the faith tea the second part of Mr. Thompson's Life Story, and despite the storm, people came for miles around. Net result, £14 6s. 8d. The .singing of Mr. Rhodes and his work in the Sunday School have been much appreciated.

Bazaars. Birmingham (Washwood Heath).--A sale of work was

opened on the first day by Mr. W. Wheeler, J.P., the chairman being Mr. A. W. Lowe, T.P. ; and on the second day by Mrs. C. G. Hart, Mrs. F. W. Hart presiding. The children officiated on the third day when Mrs. Bridgwater, who, despite her 82 years attended the sale of work each day, received the purses. Result over £150, which is to be devoted to church funds and Sunday School extension.

Loughborough (Sparrow Hill).—The annual sale of work proved eminently successful. The opening ceremony was performed by a number of children who also presented purses. A large number of friends gathered for the opening. A financial statement was given showing the estimated liabilites to the end of the year at nearly £60. It was most gratifying to find at the close we had raised over ‘50, and it is confidently expected to commence the new year with a clean balance sheet. The effort is over ,4'10 in advance of last year.

Macclesfield (Park Street): —By a sale of work just held, the sum of .4 7 7 has been raised. It is the custom here to provide annually, in advance, the amount of the estimated deficit on the church funds for the ensuing twelve months, as well as to give such acid as may be needed to School and Trust. This year the sum of £70 was required in addition to meet the cost of necessary improvements and alterations. By the success achieved the whole of these objects will be attained. Of the amount raised, £110 was subscribe,d, mostly by our own members. The children's effort yielded £17 3s. 10d.- The Mayor of Macclesfield, Councillor J. G. Frost, a United Methodist, opened on the first day, Mr. William Jackson presiding. On the second day, the circuit secretary, Mr. J. 13.- Cooke, opened ; and Mr. E. Webster, th Park Street secretary, presided.

Mossley.—The annual sale of work was opened by Coun-cillor Oliver Mallieu, and was presided over by Councillor James A. Buckley, VP. (Lee). Very successful. Amount raised. 4 1 6 1 lls. 4c-

Nottingham (Shakespeare Street).—The annual sale of work has proved a remarkable success. Mrs. T. Butler, of Bristol, President of the W.M.A. in opening the sale, said she had come 150 miles to perform this ceremony partly out of respect for the minister (Rev. T. P. Dale) and his wife, and, again, because of the affection she felt towards the church of her youth. She then spoke. of what church life should signify, and of the invisible atmosphere which made its fellowship a joy and sa blessing. The speech made a deep impression upon the large audience, and Mrs. Butler's presence and generous help has been a great en-couragement to our friends. Mr. F. J. Perry presided. On the second day, Mr. A. G. Abbott occupied the chair, and the sale was opened by Mrs.. T. , N. Parr, who in a few choice words spoke of her association of nearly forty years with the church, and of the benefit and pleasure she had derived from it. When the total of £221 was announced, exceeding all expectations, the doxology was heartily sung.

W olverhampton (Mount Zion).—The sale of 'work was opened on the Wednesday by Mrs. W. G. Newman of Birmingham, and on the Thursday by Miss Salmon. On

Thursday evening, a well-trained party of Suaday sclitelars, trained by Mrs. S. 0. Rider and Mrs. T. F. Pickering, contributed a pretty fairy entertainment entitled 'Christmas in Dreamland," which was thoroughly enjoyed by a crowded audience. 'The proceeds of the two days were .4110.

General. Bradford (Shearbridge Road).—The recent "At Homes,"

organised to delay debt on current accounts were successful to a high degree. The circuit spirit was manifested by the openers, Mr. and Mrs. W. Carter Firth (Bethel), Mr. and Mrs. E. Waterhouse (Dudley Hill), Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bearder (Salem, Sticker Lane). Morris and country dances by children trained by Miss Myers ; action songs, solos and recitations by Primary and Junior scholars under the direc-tion of Misses Seed and E. Smith, and a displa' of statuary arranged by Mrs. Shaw and Misses Watkins and Laycock were amongst the items of interest, while the boys staffed a young engineers' department. A subscription list amount-ing to £76 resulted from the appeal. of Messrs. Harrison and Wade (Trust and church treasurers). Rev. C. E. Pen-rose (pastor) returned thanks to all workers. Proceeds, £144 net.

Bristol (Southville).—The Concert and Silver Tree Party was very successful. A good musical programme was arranged by Messrs. Hardwick and Jones. The tree (in the absence of Mrs. Irving) was unloaded by Mrs. Marsden, and yielded the good sum of ,443, an amount which exceeded expectations,

COnling.—In place of the annual At Homes a most impressive service of solemn offering was conducted on Sunday by. Rev. W. Whitehad (pastor). Over £160 was subscribed.

Halifax (Salem).—A high-class and very successful con-cert secured a crowded attendance. The programme wes carried out by ladies of the First Select Class, under the leadership of Miss 0. A. Seed, who explained that the class decided to have a social evening to raise money' 'towards the church funds. Each one did her part admirably, and the proceeds, .about 25 guineas gave great pleasure to the promoters.

Leicester (Hill Street)..—Married ladies' effort was well attended. An excellent programme was gone 'through, and Mrs. Groocock presided. Proceeds in aid of church funds.

Morecambe (Sandylands).—A visiting correspondent writes : On a recent Sunday, while in Morecambe, we visited Sandy-lands Church with much appreciation. The morning congre-gation was moderate, possibly fair for November, but well-known hymns and a quiet devotional address by an earnest local preacher made the service helpful. The evening attendance was good, and a thoughtful sermon by Rev. W. J. Southern was most uplifting. _The Morecambe fishermen's choir added greatly 'to the interest, and sang with fine effect special hymns and solos, the musical service being very greatly helped by the expressive playing of the lady. organist. The whole service was one to remember, and the visit to Sandylands revealed a live church. The previous week, Rev. S. G. Dimond of Yeadon gave a lecture, and the following week a Sunday School conference was held, addressed by Rev. T. Nightingale, of Southport, who also lectured in the evening on "The next generation."

Penryn.—Forty-five children, under the direction of P. C. Loney and Mrs. Doney, carried out a delightful programme of solos, action songs, recitations, and a dialogue, assisted by Mrs. Walters (elocutionist), London, and Miss Winnan. Rev. E. Richards (pastor) presided.

14s. 6d. was taken for Society funds. Truro.—The Home and Foreign Missionary Anniversary

deputation was Rev. W. Tremberth, of Helston (formerly of China)._ His essentially missionary discourses were __much appreciated. The Mayor of Tgnro (Mr. J. Tonkin, J.P.) presided over a children's service in the afternoon, when a very interesting programme was provided by collectors and scholars, and Mr. Tremberth, attired in Celestial cos-tume, addressed the children. The prizes for the year were distributed by the Mayor. On the Monday evening, Mr. W. G. Goodfellow, J.P., presided, Mr. Tremberth was the speaker, Mr. Thrall (circuit treasurer) presented The annual report, and Miss Bessie Hedyn sang a solo. Collections showed an increase upon the previous year,

Wakefield (Market Street).—The recent visit of Rev. Joseph Hocking, the eminent writer and novelist, was an unqualified success, the services on the Sunday being fun of spiritual power, and the preacher's message greatly moved the crowded congregations. The tone of the services was enhanced by the singing of Mrs. Kate Chambers. The Monday night lecture was full of thrill and pathos. Net financial result, about £45. The church is much cheered at the success of the effort.

TAYLOR.—On November 29th, 1917, at I 66 TAKE COVER." the Savings Bank, Driffield, William Taylor, died suddenly of heart failure. "THE MONTHLY VISITOR" Aged 77.

, 1e. per goo and postage (4 first 100,

;

SHELL. — Nov. 30th c1

FOR DECEMBER. GOOD FOR LOCALISING

d. per 100 , 1917, suddenly, approximately for each additional 100). William Scotchburn Snell, of Kintore,

Sylvan Road, Snaresbrook, in his 52nd year.

Births, Marriages, Deaths. NOTICES of Births, Marriages, Deaths,

etc., are inserted at the uniform price of 2.., unless they exceed 30 words, in which case ed. extra for every eight words or under is charged. Notices, together with Remittances should reach the office of the UNITED METHODIST, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C. 4, not later than Tuesday morning.

REPORTS of Marriages, Silver Weddings. etc., intended for insertion in the Editorial Columns must be accompanied by a Pre paid notice of the event at the rate above specified.-

MARRI AGES. _ FOSTER:--BOOTH. — Nov. 30th, 1917,

at Banner Cross U.M. . Church, Sheffield, by the father of the bride, assisted by Rev. W. Richardson, Signaller Sidney S. Foster, Yorks. and Lanes. Regiment, youngest son of the late Mr. Richard Foster and Mrs. Foster, Meers-brook, Sheffield, to Emmie, yoUngest daughter of Rev. H. M. and Mrs. Booth,

BURROW YATES.— On November 28th, 1917, at the Congregational

Church, Roundhay, Leeds, 'by the Rev. W. Yates, father of the bride, Corporal Davis Burrow, R.F.C., of Lyngarth, Round-hay, to Lt. Winifred Yates, Girl Guides, of Laburnum Haus', Apperloy firidge.

DEATHS. HOROBIN.--Amanda, beloved wife of

John Horobin, of Salem, Halifax, daughter of James and Emma Halliwell, Folly Hall, Huddersfield, and niece of Leveson and Elizabeth Dudley, Ridgway Memorial Church, Hanley. Please write to R. HENDERSON SMITH, Sec., Scottish

" Monthly Vi.itor " Tram Society Edinburgh.

MINISTERING WOMEN the Story el the Work of the Sisters connected vtso tits United Methodist Deaconess Institute, tsfethr.., with some acewttat af the Origin and /Rioters cl thw

not tato. By Rev. HENRY SMITH.

208 pp. With 14 lull-page IllUstrations. Pelee 1/- net. By posst 1/3.

HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farrinodon Avenue. London, I.C.4.

WHEN REPLYING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION

"UNITED METHODIST."

_BLACKPOOL. -NortninissiLsrlanPILLING,v

Avenue, N.S.3

Public and Private Apartments. U.M.

_BLACKPOOL -Mrs. SCHOFIELD, Norfolk • House, 19 Banks Street.

Public and Private Apartments. Sea view. N.S. U.M.

COLWYN BAY-Comfortable Private Apart- . ments. Near sea and station.

Conveniently situated. Good cooking. Highly recom mended. Reduced terms. - Mrs. Watkinson, 14 Wynnstay Road.

HARROCATE - Imperial Hydro. opposite Royal Pump-room and Valley

Gardens, near all baths, Winter Garden, Kursaal Physician. Tele. 42. Illustrated Tariff. Manageress.

WEST CENTRAL HOTEL FIRST-CLASI HOTEL FOR LADIES i SENTLEMEN.

Pronounced by the Press the Red Tenigeranoe Hotel In the United Kingdom. Passenger Lifts.

Convenient for City or West End-Busleess or Pleasure.

'ltghly commended by Sir William Hartley, J.P., Rev. David Heath, Rev. John Thornley. Rey. Dinsdale T. Young,

and thousands of uesta from all parts of the world.

APARTMENTS, SERVICE AND a, TABLE D'HOTE BREAKFAST moss

SOUTHAMPTON ROW, LONDON

BESWICK STREET MISSION ANCOATS, MANCHESTER.

FREE MEALS FUND. The Committee of

this Fund having care-fully considered all the difficulties relating to the food -question, and after consultation with the Food Controller, has reluctantly come to the decision " that for this year it must dis- . continue its work."

On behalf of the Committee, we beg to tender our sincere thanks to your readers for their generosity in the past, and- to ask that they will not send their usual subscription this year.

After the war we hope to carry on our good work, when we shall avail ourselves of the opportunity of once again appealing to them for their support.

W. W. WADE, Treasurer.

R. H. RILEY; Secretaries et ar ies m C. BLACKBURN, (Pro te .

}

NO BREAKFAST CONTROLLIIID BY THE CONTROLLERS.

Cheap Chairs For Churches, Chapels, Missions& Schoolrooms.

Buy from the Factory.

Save Middle Profits.,

HEALING BROS. High Wycombe.

Established 182i.

C. H. Buxton

R. W. Gair

F. V. Milton

A. E. Co

Prideaux

E. W. Warners

C. W. Soper

G. G. Nicholson

F. V. Milton

R. W. Gair

J. H. Black well

- Prideauz

J. H.Greenwood

- Williams

- Allen

J. H. Palmer

G. G. Nicholson

D, Watkins L. H. Court

D. Watkins L. H. Court

J. G. B. Corin J. G. B. Corin

R. T. Buttle R. T. Bettie

J. Wright. 5. Wright

596

THE UNITED METHODIST. December 6, 1917

&DVERTISE YOUR WANTS In the

UNITED METHODIST. 25 words for 1.43.

and one Halfpenny For each tdd Menai

•aord. us

-hree Insertions for price of two.

HARROGATE, ASHVILLE COLLEGE.

FOR BOARDERS ONLY.

Finest Situation. Thorough Equipment.

University Staff. Cadet Corps.

Rev. ALFRED SOOTHILL, B.A., Head Master.

STAFFORD COLLEGE, Forest Hill, 8. B. Established 1883.

Boarding & Day School for Boys. Healthy Situation. Modern equipment.

Moderate Inclusive Fees. Qymnasiums. Playing Field for Football A Cricket.

At the College of Preceptors'Ezarainations (1697-1915) 368 Stafford College Students were successful, taking several places In

honours and many distinctions.

Prospectus on application to PRINCIPAL W. G. 130'fi1ERA61,

Stafford College, Westbournelid.,

FOREST HILL, S.E.

Hoe GrammarSchool, Plymouth. Princi¢al and Head Master :

G. P. DYMOND, M.A. (Lond.) Senior House Master .

W. J. LUKE, B.A. (Lend.), L.C.P. With Full Staff of Graduate and well-

qualified Teachers. RECENT SUCCESSES ! At Edinburgh University (300 Guinea Scholarship, direct from School). London Matriculation (First and Second Division).0zford Local Senior (First and Second Class Honours). Civil Service (53rd out of 1,200). Sandhurst (by Competition). Naval Clerkships, Bankers' Institute and various Professional and

, Commercial Examinations. EVERY ACCOMMODATION FOR

BOARDERS. (High Testimonials.)

THE UNITED METHODIST

Edgehill Girls' College, BIDEFORD, N. DEVON.

Governor I Rev. R. S. HALL. HEAD MISTRESS :

Miss E. 0. JOHNSON, B.A. (Hoes.) Lend., Assisted by an Efficient Staff.

The College is beautifully situated, with long garden, playing fields, our own farm, sanatorium. good class rooms, labora-

tory and gymnasium. Good successes in Lond. Matrio. and Oxford Locals, Associated Board of

R.A.M.. R.C.M. and R.D.S .

Terms. from 33 Guineas. For Prospectus apply to Head Mistress,

or Rev. R. S. HALL, Governor.

All oommunloattene respecting Advertisement should be addressed to the

ADVERTISSMEN,

MANAGER, " United Methodist.' 12 Fairingdon Avenue, London, E.C, 4

Geo. M. HAMMER & Co.,Ltd. Established UM. 'Phone 8284 Hop.

MANTIFACTDRERS of EVERY DESCRIPTION of

CHURCH Boats, Chaim Pulpit". Choir Stalls, Communion Furniture, /fotice and Hymnal Zartlkori Jolla:Alen

FURNITURE 4.4:47-, and Bones, etc." Catalogue, free,

smAwnoms 430 STRAND, W.C. ch4=121,,typiti,

HOTELS, HYDROS, BOARD RESIDENCES, aid PRIVATE APARTMENTS.

PADDINGTON.

CORY'S HOTEL, 7 and 8 SPRING STREET. VERY QUIET YET CENTRAL

Two minutes to Metropolitan, and Central London Bays" BEDROOM (including light end attendance/ ; Single, from 2/6. Double. from 4 -.

Telephone 1390 PADDINGTON EIGHT PORTEN. Telegrams' : "cosy. Here(., PADD," Proprietor. Wl J. ooZT.

Services & Preachers SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9th.

Morning

Evening.

LONDON. Mangum Junction-

(Mallin son Road). 11 a.m., 6.30 P.n..

Stookwell - (Paradise Road) 11 a.m., 6.30

Park Creseent-Clapham Park Rd. 11 a.m., 6.30 skes.

Fulham -Walham Grove. 11 a.m., 8,30 dim

fellsem-Ilunster Road 11 a.m., &BO 0..n.

West Kensington-, Ebenezer (North End Rd.) 11 a.m., 6.30.0.tn. Bethel (North End Rd.) 11 a.m.: , 6.30 p.m.

Westminster-Vauxhall B' ge Rd. 11 a.m., 6.30 P.m.

Newington-Brunswick, Gt. Dover Street. 11 s.mt , 6.30

PROVINCIAL. MOM-

Bristol Road. 11 a.m. 7 0 Pm Stanford Avenue 11 a .0 7 d.04 Old Shoreham Rd

11 a.m. and 70.th Bristol-

Redcliffe Crescent 11 a.m., 0.30 ¢. e.

likedfield-Scotland Street Mission

10.80 a.rc. 8.0¢.m.

BY COMMAND OF THE KING the first Sunday in the New Year (January 6) is to be set apart as a Special Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

LEST WE FORGET. Words by Rudyard Kipling. Music by Blanchard.

The Daily Mail says : This Hymn is of special significance a' the present time, and should be sung by ALL Churches every Sunday," Specimen copy (complete wordsand music) post free ld.

KW BROS., 28 CASTLE ST., OXFORD CIRCUS, W. 1.

individual Communion Cups

For Lists of PATENT "IDEAL" OUTFITS and SAMPLES ON APPROVAL. carriage free, write

to the Makers

Townehends; Ltd., Birmingham.

Education in England and Abroad. VANGELICAL SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION- AL HOMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. Mrs, HOOPER, 13 Regent Street. London, herself a mother, and the Pioneer of Continental Educational Tours. supplies choice of Prospectuses. and offers confidential advice free of all charge. Not only have nearly all the Schools for recommendation been personally inspected many times, but Mrs. HOOPER has been responsible for the staff in most of the Schools ever since the com-mencement of her life-work in 1881. and Is therefore qualified to give absolutely reliable information almost unattainable elsewhere. Mrs. HOOPER ' mothers " children from abroad, provides for holidays, arranges escorts, &c. State pupils' age, fees, limit, district preferred.

THE POSITIVE ORGAN.

A real Pipe Organ, giving the effects of two manuals and pedals on its single key-board. Over 900 supplied. Estimates given for'repairs, Rebuilds, Two and Three-Manual Organs, etc.

THE POSITIVE ORGAN Col Ltd., 44 Remington Crescent (Opposite Tuba

Station). London, VW. 1.

The Message of the Flag (Compiled and arranged by DAISY M. MOLD

and HILDA TAYLOR.)

An attractive CHILDREN'S EXERCISE. with an effective display of Flags, suitable for Sunday School Anniversaries, Young People's Gatherings. and Entertainments.

A Minister writes .-" The Message of the Flag " has been given twice. Our people found it instructive and most interesting. it was in fact the best children's exercise of many years." Price 1d. per copy, or 8d. per dozen, postage extra.

A sot of printed Flags can be had for the above Service at its. net the set, carriage extra.

SOecinsen Cody of the Service will be sent for lid

MoNECAMBE. -Mrs. F. and M=

Terrace, Heysham Read, W.E. Public and Private Apartments Home comforts. Terms moderate.

U.M.

MORECAMBE-Misses PICKERING. Beach • Mount, Victoria Esplanade,

E.E. Public and ■ Private Apartments. Hight, recommended. U.M.

PRESTATYN, N. WALES.-1:nt fall, hills and sea.-Misses' Mellor. " Rosewood." Victoria Avenue. Safety area. U.M.

SOUTHPORT - WELBECK HOUSE. 16 • Portland Street. Public and

Private Apartments, near Lord Street and Promenade For terms apply-Miss Dyson.

SOUTHPORT (safety area). - MATL°C1I HOUSE, 60 Bath Street. Apart•

ments or Board, Near Prom., Lord Street, churches. Methodist home. Highly recommended by ministers . Piano, bath. Invalids specially studied. Terms moderate.-Mrs. Hall

ST. ANNES-ON-SEA -Public and Pri- • vate Apartments.

Near sea and golf links. Sunny aspec t . Close to station.-Misses Podzus and Richards, Resthaven." 64 St. Andrew's Road. S.

WORTHING.I.oruseWi r Quarters. B 5nt;teyneuarstiemp simplicity an refinement : very comfortable ; opposite gardens facing ea. Inclusive terms 35/-; two sharing. 30/-.

MISCELLANEOUS.

6 A -PAGE BOOK ABOUT HERBS AND HOW `± TO USE THEM, free. Send for ona.-

frimnell, The Herbalist, 14.4 Richmond Road.-Cardiff, Established 1879.

3ga EFFECTIVE WINDOW BILLS (10i in. ‘4' by 16 in.), 3/13, carriage paid ; la in, by 21 in.

4/0 ; printed in two colours ; despatched day received ; casli-with order. Economic Press, Platt Bridge, Wigan,

L.) AZAAR.-If you are holding a- sale of •work, we will provide a stall of goods yielding good profit

without risk.-Write for particulars, James, 46 Wilson Street. Finsbury. B.C. 2. London. Please mention this paper. -

S UNDAY SOPIO3L •UNIaN SCHOLARS `ho SCRIPTURE EXAMINATION, 1918.-Turner's Old-established Handbook, used by 500,000 Candidates.-' Notes on Witnesses for Jesus," 6d. (post free), of the author, The Cedars. Carisbrooke, I.W.

VARICOSE VEINS MARVELLOUS DISCOVERY.

No more Varicose Veins, Ulcerated Legs, Swollen Ankles and Knees. Pain when Walking or Standing. This wonderful invention, Vareneoose " (Reg.) will positively Cure You, write now for FREE Illustrated Booklet from Le Brasseur Surgical Mfg., Co., Ltd. (Dept. P.E.), 90 and 92 Worcester Street, Birmingham. • Works : Palsy. Paris. Telegrams : " Surgical, Birmingham " and 'Ardeshir.

Paris."

CCHRISTMAS and New Year Socials.-Toys and useful little articles for Christmas tree decoration

and presents. Excellent selections and value. - Write for particulars ! James, 46 Wilson Street, Finsbury, London, E.C.2.

OFFER to Christian Workers. Tracts, Testaments, booklets, &o., free. Send 12 stamps for postage.- -

A. Marshall, 38 Hunton Street, Whitechapel, E.1.

TRISH LINEN REMNANTS, suitable for making pillow oases. tea cloths, fancy work, &o. Long

lengths. good quality. Assorted lots, 5s. 6d. and 10s. 6d. carriage paid. Sure to please.-Wm. Wilson, 83 Agin-court Avenue, Belfast.

FLASH LAMP BATTERIES easily renewed without cost. Watches. luminous. How To Do It

13 ,ok," 100 Prizeworthy Recipes, Is. post free.-Mr. Gleave. II Mawbey Street, London, S.W.8 Please mention " United Methodist."

SITUATION VACANT.

AT MARKET STREET, King's Lynn, Norfolk, ROBERT REDSTONE'S AGENCY, there are plenty of

servants, £8 to £30, for London and other towns. Ladies sendreouirements Stamp. Servants suited free.

HE Army and Navy

have discover-ed the sustain. ing value of Mackintosh's Toffee de Luxe-the food sweetmeat. It feeds and satisfies and thus saves other foods

MACKINTOSH' toFFEg_. qm..-uxe

minted at TEE MAGNET PRESS, lee Rye Lane, Peckham, S.E., and Published by HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C., ter the Warns iliSTIRODIST CAILIRGAL Thursday, Dpseroltor 111111 10174