BY THE REV. NEIL MACINTYRE, STORNOWAY.
DEAR MR. EDITOR,—I shall briefly give an account of my visit to the Naval Forces at Chatham and Portsmouth. At the request of the Convener of the Committee for Naval Forces. I left home on Monday, 21st May, with the purpose of beginning my labours at the naval ports on the third Sabbath of June, but owing to certain circumstances which I need not mention, I had to postpone my visit until the fourth Sabbath. My predecessor, Rev. D. M. Macdonald, very kindly agreed to remain for the third. I willingly complied with the Convener’s request, for I considered it both a duty and privilege to do anything in my power to help those young men who are so gallantly protecting us from our enemies.
I arrived in London on Friday night, 22nd June. It was to me an awe-inspiring sight to see for the first time the innumerable searchlights at work on the outskirts of London, penetrating to the core every speck of passing cloud in search of aircraft. Mr. Malcolm M’Ewan, missionary, whose company I enjoyed during my visit, met me at the station, and we drove to Mrs. Mackay’s, 19 Bryanston Street, where I was hospitably and comfortably accommodated during my stay in England. My thanks are due to Mrs. Mackay for her kindness, and I consider it a favour from the Lord that such comfortable lodgings are provided for the deputy.
Chatham.—I shall first give an account of my visits to Chatham. To this place I gave three Sabbaths. The congregations were perhaps at their best, numerically, many of the men being ashore, and in barracks. Since the Admiralty officially recognised our services, all Gaelic-speaking men in barracks are obliged to attend the morning service on parade. The evening
service, which is not compulsory for them to attend, was equally well attended. Many changes are to be seen here since my first visit two years ago. Few of the men, who made up the congregation then, are left, and, sad to think, many of them have gone, never to return. This thought made me sad, and ought at least to make me and others who profess to be ambassadors of Christ, to earnestly plead with and for those left, to be “reconciled to God.”
It was gratifying to see in the audience many faces I recognised. These hailed from Lewis, Skye and the mainland, and it would have afforded me the greatest pleasure, had these or, indeed, any of the Highland lads, spoken to me. As this report may fall into the hands of some of them, I would ask them to make themselves known to the deputy, who will give them a hearty welcome. It is encouraging to find some, among these brave fellows, who fear the Lord and, by their precept and example, are a source of great blessing. In this connection, I would mention P.O. John MacLeod, a native of Shawbost, Lewis, who takes a fatherly interest in the younger men. He and several others hold a prayer meeting every week night, when the officiating minister is absent.
Let me, in passing, advise the younger men. Though their general conduct, and attention to the Word preached, was all that could be desired, yet I noticed that the same solemnity and seriousness did not prevail which was characteristic of the young men who attended on my former visit. I would, therefore, with the best intention and friendliness, appeal to them to take seriously to heart God’s voice in these terrible judgments, and earnestly pray that they may be blessed to their eternal salvation.
It was my sad duty to visit the Naval Hospital (Gillingham), and I was exceedingly pleased to see the patients so well attended to. There are many sad proofs of the devastating effects of the war to be seen here. There are no places where the horrors of war are to be seen more, than in hospitals, except, perhaps, the fields of battle.
I met in this hospital one of the most remarkable cases in this terrible war. He was a young man from Lewis whose ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic. The crew left the sinking vessel in two small boats. In his boat there were twenty-three. After being tossed about on the ocean for sixteen days without food or water, they were picked up, but of the twenty-three there were but two living, he and the chief officer, the rest having either died in the boat, or losing their reason, having gone over the side. The poor officer died a few hours after being landed. The other boat was never heard of, so that this young man is the sole survivor of the crew. I am pleased to say that he is progressing favourably after his terrible experience.
My last Sabbath in Chatham was rather exciting and alarming owing to an air raid. They (the Germans) did not however get our length, but as your readers know, they have managed since to bomb the Barracks, and many precious lives have been lost.
Portsmouth.—I gave two Sabbaths to Portsmouth. The morning and afternoon services were held as usual in the spacious hall kindly granted by Miss Weston, to whom we are so much indebted, not only for providing a hall but also comfortable lodgings for the deputy. The evening service was held in the Barracks. Owing to an epidemic of measles in the Barracks among the sailors, no outsiders were allowed to enter. This, of course, interfered with our attendance, but I trust this restriction may soon be removed, for many of the men are most anxious to be present. I also held a prayer meeting on Saturday at Whale Island. The congregations at Portsmouth also were large, perhaps the best we have had, as many of the Royal Naval Reserve men were in training at Whale Island. It was encouraging to notice the serious attention paid to the Word preached, particularly by some of the sailors, and we have good reason to hope that the seed sown did not all fall by the wayside. I was glad to meet a number of my own congregation and also others, and I trust, with the Apostle Paul, I can say that “my heart’s desire and prayer to God is that they might be saved,” and be preserved amidst all the dangers and sufferings to which they are exposed for our sakes.
I paid two visits to the Naval Hospital at Haslar, where many brave and gallant fellows from all parts of the Empire are suffering, and I trust the Great Physician may soon restore those in whom I was more directly interested, as well as others, to health.
It was my sad and trying experience to witness one of the most serious and daring raids yet made on London by German aeroplanes. It is impossible to describe the scene, but it occurred to me that in some small measure it resembled the Great Day. Some were running to cellars for safety, others were crying, while others still, no doubt, were praying as death threatened them on every side. I thought, like Dr. Macdonald’s (Ferintosh) father, when in danger of being lost at sea in a storm, that I pitied those who did not begin to pray until then.
As I spent the greater part of the week in London, I was able to conduct the prayer meeting connected with our Mission there each week. I was glad to see such a good attendance at the weekly meetings. Many of the young women, I understand, arrange to have their evenings “off” fixed on the prayer meeting night, so that they may be present. Since my return, this Mission has suffered a sad blow in the death of its attached and sincere friend, Mr. Donald Sutherland. May the God of Zion build up the walls!
In conclusion, I may say that I enjoyed my visit very much. No doubt, one meets with many things which will grieve him, but from the officers and men, I received nothing but kindness and consideration. My desire is that they may have the blessing of Him who dwelt in the bush, and be safely brought through all the perils and dangers they may have to meet, and that this fearful struggle in which the nation is involved, and which has
inflicted so much sorrow and misery on so many homes in our Highlands and Islands, may be soon brought to a victorious end for our country and her Allies, to the advancement of God’s cause in the earth.
N. M’T.
Brief Account of Naval Mission for August and September.
BY THE REV. D. A. MACFARLANE, M.A., LAIRG.
DURING the above period I continued the work of the former deputy, Rev. N. MacIntyre, of Stornoway.
At each of the ports, Chatham and Portsmouth, there were over or about eighty men for the greater part of the time. During the last few weeks, numbers got home on Special (Harvest) Leave—a change welcome to those acquainted with Barrack life.
It is a cause of sincere gratitude that there are a number of praying men among them who take an abiding interest in the maintenance of services. The dangers to which they are continuously exposed are seen and unseen, known and also unknown. It is most desirable that hearty efforts should be made for their highest well-being, by prayer and dividing of the Word of Truth, that they may have for life and death the sure protection of our Lord, to whom is committed all power in heaven and in earth.
The hospitals at Haslar, Gillingham, and the Chatham “Welcome,” deserve visiting. Patients there are often sent or brought in without Bible or any book, and a Bible, Testament, or any booklet worthy of perusal is in such cases a needful gift. English copies of the Scriptures do not seem to be in any evidence in these wards. A common reply, on enquiry for an English copy of the Bible, was, “I never saw such a thing since I came.” Copies of the Scriptures are also acceptable for survivors from vessels blown-up or otherwise damaged.
It is with sincere sympathy for the relatives of these brave men, that the deaths, in the great Chatham raid, are here recorded, of four of the Gaelic-speaking sailors. The handles on such of the faces of the Tower clock as remained unsmashed pointed for many days to 11.12 (p.m. at time)—a silent and solemn warning that for us all, time will soon be at an end. “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”
A word of reference may be made to our London Mission. As is known, they have difficulties of many kinds to contend with, not the least being the suspense and real danger due to the recent frequent air raids. They are deserving of the sympathy, encouragement and active support of us, as a whole, who so far do not know what it is to hear overhead the sound of the hostile engines. Both they and our deputies have much cause of gratitude to God for protection and the strength of body and mind enjoyed, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”
D. A. MACF.