With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great WarSellers, William E.
History
With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great War
Sellers, William E.
Great Britain. Army -- Military life; World War, 1914-1918 -- Religious aspects
It must be remembered also that for many years past there has been an
increasing leaven of Christian men in the Army. The Home to which I
have just referred could not have been the power it became had it not
been for this. I remember a lance-corporal who, so far as he knew, was
the only Christian in his regiment. He used to go out among the solemn
pines at night and pray for his comrades. Soon another joined him
there, and many another, and by the time the Home was opened we had a
company of Christian men ready to work among their fellows.
During my ministry in Aldershot I saw this illustrated in much larger
measure, and the Christian men were, all of them, Christian
missionaries working with great success.
I have already told the story of Christian work during the South
African war in my book "From Aldershot to Pretoria." The story is one
for which all the churches may well thank God. Though that war was
child's play compared with this, the higher war waged--the war for
Christ and His Kingdom--was one of constant victory. Large numbers of
men gave themselves to Christ, and when the war was over remembered
the vows they had vowed to Him.
Now we have witnessed a mobilisation of Christian forces, such as
would have been impossible hitherto. The Chaplaincy Department has
developed into a great and well-organised agency for good. Over two
hundred chaplains are already at the front, and the ministers of all
the churches are busily at work in the camps at home. All the old
Christian and temperance organisations are to the fore, only developed
out of all former knowledge, and the Young Men's Christian Association
has astonished and delighted the whole Christian world.
The Christian men in the Army--more numerous before the war broke out
than they had ever been--are carrying on their noble work and are
constantly receiving additions to their ranks.
We have known for years what Thomas Atkins was like--susceptible as a
child. I have heard sobs all over the room while picture slides of a
little child's story, such as "Jessica's First Prayer," were being
shown. But what will the new army be like? Will it be as susceptible
as the old? Will the men still thrill when the Gospel story is told?
They are different men--men drawn from all classes, actuated by a
common purpose to save their country. Will they think only of that, or
will their hearts also be "strangely warmed" by tidings of their
Saviour's love? Already the answer comes to us "Yes." Never before has
such deep seriousness fallen upon our men, and in their quiet moments,
and even amid the stress of battle, thoughts have turned to Christ and
hearts have been surrendered to Him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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