BY THE REV. ANDREW SUTHERLAND, ULLAPOOL.
AS one of our ministers was appointed a Chaplain to the Forces in France, and another acts as an officiating Clergyman to the Naval Reservists in Portsmouth and Chatham, it would seem that any further demand would incapacitate, to a certain extent, the Church in carrying on her regular work. Nevertheless, when call came from Ripon to come and help, it did not fall on deaf ears. The Committee of the Mission to the Forces unanimously agreed that a deputy should be sent there. When the Convener of the Committee, the Rev. Neil Cameron, was assisting me at the Ullapool Communion at the beginning of March he set the matter, with its attendant circumstances, so convincingly before me that I was constrained to go. The congregation showed their sympathy with the spiritual needs of the young men that they permitted me to go and labour for a time among them.
I then approached Lieut. Murdo Mackenzie, of Ullapool, who was at home on leave, to make the necessary preparatory arrangements before I went. He readily consented to act as harbinger, so that I had not to face various uncertainties on my arrival. After being notified that arrangements were made, I left for Ripon. When I arrived there on the 24th of March, Lieut. Mackenzie met and conducted me to the farm-house of Chapel Garths, where I was to stay during my sojourn. The place is situated about two miles from Ripon and had an ecclesiastical connection in the past, although now there is not one stone left upon another of the chapel which once stood among the holly and hawthorn trees on the hillock opposite the farm-house. It was from that chapel the farm derived its name—Chapel Garths. On Saturday, the 25th March, I went to see the Officer Commanding the 1/4th Reserve Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, to obtain assistance in arranging for the service to be held on the Sabbath. He received me kindly and showed an interest in my mission. He then gave me a letter of introduction to the Brigadier of the Highland Brigade and also explained my request. The Brigadier, after reading the letter, was urgently called away and gave instructions to the Brigade Major to attend to the business. The Gaelic Service was put on the Brigade Orders, and each of the Officers Commanding the Highland Battalions copied it from the Brigade Orders, so that thus it passed through those units. Such an arrangement greatly facilitated my work, and I felt greatly indebted to those in authority for their consideration. Weekly the notice for Divine Service passed through the same routine, so that all who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing the Word preached could do so.
It was compulsory that Presbyterians should go on Church
Parade to the Presbyterian Service on Sabbath morning. As I was not officially recognised as a Chaplain, it was not permissible for me to hold a service simultaneously. I, therefore, had to hold the service in the evening, when no restrictions were placed upon officers or men in attending. The most convenient hour was 6 p.m.
On two successive Sabbaths I preached in Gaelic. As, however, there were many from the Northern Highlands who did not understand Gaelic, it was suggested that Gaelic and English should be held alternately. This suggestion was acted upon. On Sabbath, 16th April, there was no service. An Order came from Headquarters through the various channels to the Officers Commanding the 1/4th and 1/5th Reserve Battalions Seaforth Highlanders to shift to another part of the camp. On being informed of this, I inquired and found that it would not be suitable to meet in the Recreation Room of the 1/4th Reserve Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, kindly granted by Colonel MacFarlane. I then proceeded to arrange for another place. Colonel Johnstone willingly gave permission to use the Recreation Room of the 1/6th Reserve Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. The Sabbath, being the day appointed for units mentioned to flit, I feared that not many, if any, of those who used to attend could be present. I, however, hoped that as the 1/4th Reserve Battalion Cameron Highlanders had not the “Flitting Order” communicated to them on Saturday, that the Officers of that Battalion who attended so regularly previously would be there. When I arrived at the appointed hour I found the attendance nil. I waited for a short time, but only an Officer came. I was informed that the Cameron Highlanders had got notice later to shift, and had to do so on the Lord’s Day. I was much cast down to find that the Sabbath was so dishonoured and disregarded, notwithstanding the elasticity some would give to “works of necessity.” On the Tuesday following there was an “Isolation Order” issued. As my work of visiting was thereby impeded, I was able more conveniently to fulfil my promise to assist at the London Communion. When I returned the following week, I was pleased to know that the restrictions imposed were removed. It evidenced that the infection had abated. The two Sabbaths following my return from London, I preached in the Recreation Room of the 1/5th Reserve Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, which was kindly granted by Colonel Maclean.
The attendance at the services was gradually becoming more encouraging. It was praiseworthy to see officers and men attending the service voluntarily, for what is done voluntarily is more commendable than what is compulsory.
It was interesting to work in that place. An opportunity was given of conversing with men of the all-important matter—eternal salvation. In hospital the soldier under the rod of affliction is more subdued and willing to listen to what is said. My experience
was that it is advisable to know the soldier, by enquiring about his health, home, etc., before one begins to speak of religion. This was also the suggestion of a young Christian in the hospital. He said, “Don’t speak of religion to the soldier before you know him.”
As the National Bible Society of Scotland sent Testaments for distribution among the sick, I gave the same to those who required them. Some received them gratefully; others were indifferent.
One young soldier on being asked if he would accept a Testament replied, “I will be delighted, for we need Jesus in this terrible war.” Then we enquired if he had such a delight for the Bible, how did he do without one? He answered, “I get Bosworth’s (a fellow-soldier), and we both read it.” The Roman Catholics, to whom I offered a Testament, refused it. On one of them being asked if he would receive a Testament, the reply was, “I am an R.C.” It is lamentable that the Church of Rome forbids the laity to have or read the Word of God.
In my hospital work, I found the knowledge of Gaelic a sine qua non on two occasions. There were two Highlanders from the Outer Hebrides who could not understand English. One of them was about twenty years of age. English was quite unintelligible to him. On being asked how he did when orders were given in English, he replied, “Bha mi deanamh a ni a chunnaic mi cach a deanamh” (I did as I saw others do). As his friends were illiterate, no communication could be sent of his condition—which fortunately was not serious. It is a reflection upon the School Board of that part that such a case should exist when such facilities are granted to give an elementary education to children in remote districts.
I was deeply convinced of the need of professing Christians walking consistently, by a conversation I had with an infidel. In course of conversation he said, “I tell you frankly I do not believe in religion.” On being asked to state frankly if he arrived at that conclusion because he saw the lives of some professors of religion diametrically opposed to their profession, he replied, “That is so, sir.” This ought to give one to consider one’s ways lest they should be unbecoming the Gospel, and prove the cradle of atheism for the careless.
Interesting though the work was in many respects one could not but feel discouraged to see so much that indicated that we have not yet, after all the calamities that have come upon us, returned to the Lord. Sabbath was, generally, the day on which football matches were held. We were grieved to learn that some young men from the North departed so far from Sabbath observance that they did not hesitate to countenance those matches. We, however, are pleased to say that there are many of the soldiers—officers and men—who are truly distressed for the Sabbath desecration which they witness. May the Blessed One save them from becoming accustomed to what incurs the righteous
displeasure of God that they should ever regard it in any other light than sinful!
From what I saw and heard I was convinced of the need that a Chaplain to the Forces has of daily seeking at the Throne of Grace that he may be kept from a compromising or temporizing policy in his environment.
I had to leave Ripon sooner than I anticipated through another “Isolation Order” being issued. Although I intimated that a service would be held on the 14th instant, I was officially informed that the order was more stringent than the former in order to stamp out effectually any infection that might exist. I saw it was therefore needless for me to stay longer as the soldiers were not allowed to assemble in any public place, and so left for Scotland on the 9th instant.—Yours, etc.
A. SUTHERLAND.