BY THE REV. D. M. MACDONALD, NORTH UIST.
DEAR MR. EDITOR,—As a brief report on our work as a Church among our Highland sailors in the naval ports has now become an established practice, and is looked forward to by our people, I beg to submit a short account of my labours in Chatham and Portsmouth. From February to July I officiated on different occasions in both of these ports. At first I took the place of other Deputies for a week-end now and then, but latterly was appointed myself to act as Deputy. Like the rest of our ministers who acted as Chaplains, I found the work most interesting. It was a pleasure to meet God-fearing sailors.
Owing to many of the men being sent to sea, there were not very large gatherings in either of the places where I conducted services. On Saturday evenings I held a service in Chatham Barracks, and on Sabbath two services were held—one in the morning and another in the evening. On Monday nights also a brief service was conducted. The men were attentive, and there were some who prized the bread of life because they felt their need of it. Reverence for God’s Word is characteristic of not a few of our Highland sailors, even should they not be themselves professors of religion, and this is an encouraging token to those who minister to them.
In Portsmouth services were held in Whale Island on Thursday evenings, and in the Naval Barracks on Friday and Sabbath evenings. The official service was held on Sabbath mornings, in the hall of Miss Weston’s Royal Sailors’ Rest. Sometimes there was a large muster of men here. They came in from Whale Island, the Barracks, and from various ships in port. I distributed among them some Bibles and many Testaments, the most of them being gifts from Miss Weston herself. I was kindly offered, in the “Rest,” a bedroom called “the prophet’s chamber,” kept specially for those who preach to the sailors, but as I had no occasion to use it, I asked it for the use of my successor.
Part of my time was occupied in visiting Haslar Hospital, Gosport, where I found many of our sailors suffering from various diseases. Some of them had interesting experiences to relate. I observed one young Lewisman reading his Testament with, I trust, profit to his soul, but it was disappointing to find that he was the only one who did this.
I happened to be in Portsmouth when the news of the Battle of Jutland came. It seemed to have a sobering influence on the sailors. I heard it remarked that three thousand men from this depot alone perished in the fight, and that about one thousand five hundred widows were left as the result of the battle and the loss of the “Hampshire.” This was certainly a severe visitation on one town. There is much ungodliness in the naval ports, and this is largely caused by the public-houses, which are open during part of the Lord’s Day; and it was a painful experience to see them well patronised on the sacred day of rest. I was assured by one of the men that the preaching of the Gospel was having some effect, and although great results may not appear at present, in due time the seed sown may bring forth abundance of fruit. The promise is, “It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
In London I visited many of the hospitals, and distributed Testaments among some of our wounded soldiers. For most part they were bright and cheerful, notwithstanding their severe wounds and trying experiences. At times prayer was offered at the bedside of the wounded.
In concluding this report, I may mention an impressive incident relative to one of our Christian sailors. While travelling home to Stornoway, after my period of service as Deputy was over, a man spoke to me on the mail boat, and, in the course of conversation, told me the particulars I now mention. In a certain town on the east coast he often met a friend who was then serving on H.M.S. Invincible, and in speaking of the War he maintained, in opposition to the sailor’s view, that the Germans would never come out to fight our ships. The sailor, shortly before the great sea battle, remarked to him that they would, and very soon, too. “Our ship,” he further observed, “will be sunk, and very few on board will escape. For myself,” he continued, “I can’t say whether I shall escape or not, but one thing I am assured of, and that is, if I go down, my soul shall be saved.” His premonition was fulfilled, the ill-fated Invincible being blown up soon after the battle commenced, and, of nearly 1000 men on board, only two or three escaped, he himself being in the number of those who sank with her.
It would be well for our brave seamen to have their feet firmly planted on the rock of salvation—Christ Jesus—like the one referred to, who did his duty to the end, and then went to his everlasting rest. May the Lord protect our sailors and soldiers from every peril, and enrich them with His grace!—Yours, &c.,
D. M. MACDONALD.