BY THE REV. D. M. MACDONALD, NORTH UIST.
DEAR MR. EDITOR,—There will soon be three years since we began our Mission to the Forces, and few anticipated at its commencement that it would be continued up to the present time. In this mighty conflict of the nations the Lord has given precious opportunities to His people to spread His Word and make known His Gospel in many different places. Thus, while the kingdoms of the world are wasting their strength and their treasures, the Kingdom of Christ is making slow but sure progress, and the time will come when it shall triumph, and then nations shall not engage in war with one another, but “shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.”
At the urgent request of the Convener of the Mission Committee, I began my second period of service among our Naval men on the third Sabbath of March. The journey from the Hebrides was dangerous at the outset, because of mines in the Minch, but in the good providence of the Lord we crossed safely. In London I made my headquarters for a short time with our energetic missionary, Mr. Malcolm M’Ewan, and latterly with
Mrs. Mackay, 19 Bryanston Street, Portman Square, who did everything possible for my comfort.
Chatham and Portsmouth are the two ports where we conduct services. To the former I gave five Sabbaths, and to the latter seven. In Chatham there was a service on Saturday evening and two services on the Lord’s Day—one in the morning and the other at about 7.30 in the evening. These services were well attended, and it was a pleasure to notice the serious attention of the men to what was declared to them of the Word of Life. When there is no minister the men themselves conduct worship every evening. On Sabbath afternoons I usually visited Gillingham Naval Hospital, a very large and up-to-date building. Patients were here from nearly every part of the Empire. Some were surgical and some were medical cases. As an indication of the protection afforded by our country to inferior races, I may mention that there was in one of the wards an Arab who scarcely knew a word of English. There were several Highland sailors in the different wards, and when convenient I prayed with some of them. One young lad, far gone in consumption, has since died.
It was with considerable satisfaction that I heard from one of the men here the interesting career of H.M.S. “Orama,” a large auxiliary cruiser. There were up to about seventy or eighty Lewismen on board, and, every evening when suitable, they had worship in the Gaelic language. On Sabbath they had either one or two services. In Sydney, Australia, where the “Orama” happened to be stationed for a short time, the Highland sailors held Gaelic services in one of the Presbyterian churches. This was a novel experience for the people of Sydney. They never thought, perhaps, of associating religion with sailors, but now they had the rare experience of listening to one sailor preaching and another leading the praise. The emotions of some of the old Highland people present were stirred to their depths and not a few could not keep back their tears.
Discipline was so perfect among these men that there wasn’t a single defaulter among them, and they did their work so well that their captain was most reluctant to part with them. The idea of some worldly-wise people is that religion makes men effeminate and unfits them for the sterner duties of life, while others again seem to think that a man cannot be truly religious in the Navy or in the Army. The conduct of the Highlanders on the “Orama” proves both these notions to be false. “Godliness,” as the inspired Apostle says, “is profitable for the life that now is and for that which is to come.”
I am not able to say whether any of the sailors referred to heard our ministers preach in Chatham and Portsmouth when our Mission was begun, but whether or not, it is possible that some of these who did hear them may to-day be bright witnesses for Christ wherever they happen to be stationed.
Sheerness is very near Chatham, and there was a prospect of services being held in the Barracks there just about the time I left. It seems that one of the officers there conducted services for the Gaelic-speaking sailors, himself addressing them in English and they singing in Gaelic. The fervour and zeal of this officer were most commendable. It would be good for the Navy and for the country if there were many more like him in His Majesty’s Service.
The services in Portsmouth were held in the Naval Barracks, Miss Weston’s Rest, and Whale Island Gunnery School. There was a considerable number of men in Portsmouth, and the service on Sabbath morning in the Sailor’s Rest was well attended. I distributed many Testaments at these morning services and the men gladly received them. May the Word be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path! In the afternoon we had a short service at about 4.30 for those who could not attend the other diets of worship. At night there was a service in the Barracks at 7.30. Latterly, we had brief services in Whale Island Gunnery School on Friday evenings at 7 or 7.30. As in Chatham so in Portsmouth there were praying men whom it was a pleasure to meet. Miss Weston’s interest is centred chiefly in the spiritual welfare of the men, and many a sailor owes a lasting debt of gratitude to her for her beneficence. As the “Rest” has already been described in the Magazine I need not give details concerning it here, but would like to express my indebtedness to Miss Weston and her staff for their kindness while with them.
Haslar Hospital is near Portsmouth, and in it I saw several sailors from the west and north of Scotland. I hope that in their affliction they have been led to seek for their souls, as well as for their bodies, the healing power of the great Physician with whom there is nothing impossible.
To illustrate the terrible dangers to which our brave sailors are exposed, and to show how the Lord’s protecting care is signally displayed with regard to some, I mention the following two cases. Both men belong to an island which has sent a large number of men to the Navy. The first was instrumental in sinking a submarine which attacked his ship, and he was handsomely rewarded for this deed. He was less fortunate afterwards, for the vessel on which he served was torpedoed and sank in a few minutes. All on board were soon struggling in the water, but, along with several others, he managed to get into a capsized boat which they had sighted, and, for sixteen days without food or water, they drifted about helplessly. By the end of this period all were dead but this gunner and the chief officer. They were eventually picked up in a terrible condition and the gunner is now recovering.
The next case is that of a petty officer who was wrecked four times previous to the War. He obeyed the call to serve in 1914, and his first ship was blown up by a mine. He was picked up, slightly injured, and was soon back on another ship. This ship
shared the fate of the first. Several of the men were killed, and the subject of our narrative was picked up more dead than alive. His neck and one side were injured, while two fingers of one hand were shot off. A few months later he was blown up by a mine for the third time, but no one was injured. Such incidents might be multiplied, and those who experience so many hairbreadth escapes have many reasons to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord to them, and should seek to serve Him all the days of their life.
While in London, I conducted the week-night Service, in our Hall there, on behalf of Mr. M’Ewan. The most destructive air raid, so far, took place while I was in the city, but fortunately no aeroplanes attacked the quarter of the city in which I resided. I regret to record that our London congregation has suffered—since I returned home—a severe loss in the removal of Mr. Donald Sutherland, deacon, to his eternal rest. His anxiety for the cause, and his zeal in maintaining it, at all costs, practically shortened his days. Many friends will sorely miss him, and to his sorrowing widow and relatives we extend our deepest sympathy.
In concluding this report, I would desire to acknowledge the goodness of the Most High to me in sustaining me in body and soul, and in protecting me from danger during my period of service among our gallant sailors. May the Lord protect them on sea and land, and make them partakers of the eternal blessings procured by Christ for sinners!
On my own behalf, as well as on behalf of the Mission Committee, I would render thanks to my office-bearers for conducting the services during my absence from the congregation, and to Messrs. John Macdonald and John M’Aulay, Westford Inn, for free hires.
How beautifully, how satisfactorily—with what indubitable security—is our faith established on the testimony of these two witnesses—the word of promise and the word of corresponding fulfilment! How delightful to contemplate the unity of the Church of God under both dispensations—the expectant and the visited—the desolate and the sought-out not forsaken—the heir, a child under tutors and governors, till the time appointed of the Father, and the same heir, in the fulness of time, set free and rejoicing in the glorious liberty of the children of God; the first fruit holy and the lump also holy! “If ye be Christ’s, ye are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” “When,” says the Honourable Robert Boyle, “I listen to the accordant voice of all the holy prophets and of the apostles of our Lord and Saviour, methinks I stand in Jerusalem at our Lord’s triumphant entry, and hear the multitudes of those who go before and of those who follow after, crying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, to save!’”—
Dr. John Duncan (Lecture).