DEAR MR. EDITOR,—At your request, I send you a short report of my work among the sailors at the naval stations of Portsmouth and Chatham for the months of January and February.
In the difficulty of procuring at the time a deputy to represent our Church at these stations, I judged it dutiful to take up the work again, although I had already given three periods. I left home on 10th January, and arrived in London in comfort early on the following morning. I there put up at the usual headquarters, where I experienced much kindness. In the afternoon, I proceeded to Portsmouth, and arrived there in time for the service usually held in the Royal Navy Barracks on Friday evening.
The period allotted for work at Portsmouth extended from Friday till Monday on every alternate week. During this time five services were usually held—a service on Friday evening in the R.N. Barracks, an occasional service at Whale Island on Saturday evening, and three services on Sabbaths. Of the services on Sabbath, two—the forenoon and afternoon services—were held in the Royal Sailors’ Rest, while the evening service was held in the Barracks. For one of the week-ends at Portsmouth I exchanged with Mr. Angus Fraser, of our London Mission. He suffered from a throat affection, and it was supposed that a change to the sea-side might give relief. The most largely-attended service was that held on Sabbath forenoon. The attendance at that service was never under 100. Sometimes it reached well-nigh 150; but owing to the constant movements of the men, the attendance was necessarily subject to considerable fluctuation. They come and go. They go to an unknown destination, not knowing if ever again they are destined to set their feet on dry land. They go to expose themselves to all the dangers of the mighty deep, infested, as it is, with the most horrible engines of destruction ever invented by human ingenuity. Many of them return to port to narrate their thrilling tales of adventure. They are experiences that can never be forgotten, experiences to which there can be no parallel in all the annals of naval warfare.
On each Saturday that I was at Portsmouth, it was my privilege to visit patients at Haslar Hospital, where I met with a large number of sailors connected with the Northern and Western Highlands. They suffered from a variety of ailments. They are tenderly and sympathetically nursed, and everything possible is done for their comfort and recovery. I was glad to see that some had their Gaelic Bibles beside them; and although the general apathy to serious religion is apparently very marked, I did meet with some whose delight it was to converse on topics bearing upon the everlasting welfare of their souls. One could not, however, help feeling profoundly grieved at the open carelessness of others, for in a Hospital that I visited on a Sabbath day, I found a company of patients engaged in card-playing, and I was sorry to find the very Highlander, for whom I was looking, among them. I trust and pray that the warning given may be followed with beneficial results.
The sympathetic consideration of Miss Weston, of the Royal Sailors’ Rest, Portsmouth, and also of the ladies associated with her, cannot be too highly appreciated. Miss Weston has the moral and spiritual interests of the sailors deeply at heart. They speak of her in terms of glowing admiration. Like my predecessors, I personally had a renewed experience of her kindness in her readiness to accommodate me comfortably on every occasion that I was at Portsmouth.
I was for three week-ends at Chatham, a place more exposed from its geographical situation to hostile aircraft than Portsmouth. I have had some novel experiences at Chatham, but nothing of an unpleasant character. I was generously provided with a cabin in the Barracks, and all facilities was afforded me for the discharge of my duties. Here I held a service on Saturday evening. Forenoon and evening services were held on Sabbath. In the interval between the forenoon and evening services, I, as a rule, visited Gillingham Hospital, where I met a number of sailors from the Highlands and Islands. I devoted the forenoon of Monday again to Hospital visitation. The services at Chatham were, from the outset, noted for the degree of spiritual warmth that marked them. I felt that this feature was not less distinct on this occasion. They were largely attended, the sitting accommodation provided by the hall in which we met being at times pretty well taxed. Sometimes so many of the Lord’s people met, in providence, at this naval station that they felt justified in having a fellowship meeting, when presided over by a minister, and it was conducted after the manner carried out on communion occasions in the Highlands. I parted with the sailors at both Chatham and Portsmouth with a considerable feeling of regret. But for other circumstances, I would gladly have extended the period of my activities among them. I hope and pray they may be preserved amidst the many dangers to which they are exposed, and eventually restored to their homes in the Northern Highlands to be a blessing in the land. With respect to evidences of vital godliness among our sailors in general, I fear we cannot draw much encouragement from our observations. The observance of the Lord’s Day has ever afforded the best test of a people’s devotion to the claims of the Supreme Lawgiver; but in view of the prevailing heedlessness to His righteous claims, one wonders if the words inscribed in the very heart of the decalogue are ever considered with any degree of seriousness, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” There are, however, among our gallant sailors those who are otherwise disposed, and the Church is doing a useful service in its contribution towards ministering to their spiritual needs.
I spent the remainder of my time at our London headquarters. I had there an opportunity of visiting the wounded in Hospitals, some of whom I found to be exchanged prisoners from Germany. The mangled and shattered condition of their bodies presents the horrible character of modern warfare. Although hopelessly rendered unfit for feats of valour again, they are remarkably resigned to the will of the Lord. They seem happy in the thought that they discharged their duty to their country in its hour of trial and need. I trust their sufferings may lead them to a serious contemplation of Him who suffered, the just for the unjust, and thus prove an everlasting blessing to them.
It was a pleasure to me to take part in the Prayer Meeting held every Tuesday evening in connection with our London Mission, at present ably presided over by Mr. Angus Fraser. Since I was last associated with it, it was deprived of two outstanding pillars, permanently of Mr. Donald Sutherland, who has been called to his everlasting rest; and temporarily, we sincerely trust, of Mr. William Grant, now on active service in France. I had the experience of being in five air-raids without mishap; and on reviewing all the circumstances, they are fitted to call forth feelings of profound gratitude for the Lord’s merciful protection.—Yours, etc.,
ALEX. MACRAE.