"The truth of the matter is," wrote the Bishop of London, in the _Times_, after his visit to the front at Easter, "that the realities of war have melted away the surface shyness of men about religion; they feel they are 'up against' questions of life and death; and I have heard of more than one censor who has for the first time realised the part religion bears in a soldier's life by censoring the innumerable letters home in which the writers ask for the prayers of their relations or express their trust in God." It is the purpose of the following pages to tell, so far as it is possible, in these early months of the war, something of the Christian work attempted and accomplished among our men at the front and at sea, and to answer the questions I have just asked. WITH OUR FIGHTING MEN CHAPTER I AT THE HOME BASE Enlisting--"Good-bye"--Excitement and Drunkenness--Then came Kitchener's Army--The Churches gave of their Best--A Canvas City--Not for Pay, These--What the Churches Did--The Home Church in the Camp--A Powerful Christian Leaven--Theological Students Volunteer--What the Boys Did--Organising Religious Work--Fifty Men Stood Up--The Y.M.C.A. Tents--A Proud Boast--At Work in the Tents--A Typical Service--The Canadian Y.M.C.A.--What the Salvation Army is Doing--The Church Army at Work--Huts of Silence--W.M. Hut Homes and "Glory Rooms"--Hymn 494--Teetotal Soldiers--Lord Kitchener's Message--The Work of the Navy Chaplains--The Sailors' Homes--Work among the Wounded in Hospital--Hospital Stories. A troop train slowly passing through Winchester Station. Heads out of every window. One great shout by hundreds of eager young lads, "Are we downhearted?" And then, not waiting for those of us on the platform to answer, the emphatic response "No!" Winchester Station looked strange that morning, early in August 1914. Its dignified quiet had gone. No one would have dreamt that this was the station of an ancient cathedral city. Armed sentries were posted at every point of entrance and departure. With fixed bayonets they guarded the signal-boxes. Their beds were in the waiting-rooms. The whole station was given up to the military. And this was not the only case. All down the line it was the same, while every few yards by the side of the metals, all the way to Portsmouth and Southampton, soldiers with fixed bayonets were on guard. Here and there Boy Scouts were assisting, and enjoying themselves immensely. Portsmouth Harbour at that time was closed to ordinary traffic. The few passengers who still ventured to the Isle of Wight, in what should have been the height of the holiday season, had to betake themselves to Southampton, and be thankful if after long waiting they could get across from there.