balmy night spent in the sweet atmosphere of Palestine, where the surrounding scenery naturally lifted his thoughts to the Heaven which he had been beholding in his dreams. I think it would require more imagination and more faith than you have any right to look for in the ordinary British soldier to be able to rise to the same elevation of spirit amid the surroundings of a bare, uncongenial, unsanctified barrack schoolroom, to which he has been marched during the week for tasks not always welcome to him, and which is transformed for the time being into a chapel. Is it fair to expect him in such circumstances to realise the beauty of holiness and to worship God with reverence? Then, some of the so-called churches are big wooden structures, devoid of all ecclesiastical ornament, exceedingly uncomfortable on windy and rainy Sundays, and possessing no single recommendation save that of being constructed to hold 1,000 men. And these, you must remember, are shared by Roman Catholics and Presbyterians with the Church of England. Some years ago the following transformation scene was enacted in one of these wooden buildings every Sunday morning. Our Presbyterian brethren led the forlorn hope at 8.30, when a curtain was drawn across the Chancel to prevent them from being distracted during their service by the sight of the altar belonging to the Roman Catholics. An hour later the curtain was removed, and thus at ten o'clock our brethren of that communion were able to worship according to their more ornate and elaborate ritual. We of the English Church succeeded at 11.30. You will wonder what happened between, and perhaps the susceptibilities of some good Protestant brother may be aroused lest it should be found that we actually used the same altar as the Roman Catholics. I am able to

reassure him. That altar was ingeniously constructed to run upon wheels, and being thus removed to an adjoining vestry, our modest altar, similarly constructed, was wheeled in from the opposite vestry, and our service proceeded according to what Keble called that "sober standard" which it is the peculiar happiness of the Church of England to possess. That process of transformation is still carried on in its latter details at Aldershot every Sunday in the North Camp church, the only difference being that other arrangements have been made for the Presbyterian service. On the other hand, we have two other churches in that Division, one of them consecrated, which we are thankful for. And there are a few-but only a few-in other Stations which almost rival in beauty the fine old garrison church in this good town of Portsmouth, owing their beauty in a great measure to the private liberality of officers and men who have contributed to their restoration or adornment. That decent and wellordered churches are appreciated by soldiers is certain. Considering the general surroundings of their lives-accustomed as they are to good music and smart uniforms, and "all the pomp and circumstance of war "—it would be surprising if this were not the case. I may mention, as an instance of the interest felt in the subject, that only a few months ago it was my privilege to receive, and to present and place upon the altar at an early celebration, the sum of £7 10s., the offering of a non-commissioned officer towards clearing off a debt which remained upon a handsome white frontal for the Holy Table. He had just received a small legacy, and he thus at once testified his gratitude

to God, and his love for the place where His honour dwelleth. I do trust that this Congress will help us to get the many wretched substitutes for churches now existing abolished, and suitable chapels erected in every station in the British Army. The Convocation of Canterbury has already spoken out on the subject, and I have good reason to believe that the highest Officer in the Army would gladly see an improvement in this respect. I am sure that the Chaplain General would.

(2) More chaplains are also needed. It is impossible for one clergyman to do all that it is in his heart to do for a Brigade consisting of three regiments, especially when these regiments are constantly changing from station to station. An intelligent non-commissioned officer lately said to me, "Why should there not be a chaplain to every regiment, sir? There is a paymaster and a schoolmaster; why not a clergyman also, who should belong to us and move about with us, and thus become well acquainted with our families, and be our friend as well as our chaplain ?” He added, "I don't think his pay would be any loss to the country in the long run, for a great deal of drunkenness and vice would be prevented." This was a spontaneous expression of opinion from an old soldier, and I think you will agree with me that he had a great deal of reason on his side. The number of chaplains should be increased if the spiritual and moral condition of our soldiers is to be really improved, and the Church should strongly represent this to those who have the power to increase them.

(3) And this brings me to another very important and much to be desired object, viz. :-More direct recognition of our work in the Army by the Church as a Body, of which we are members. I know that I am here treading upon delicate ground, but as I feel strongly on the subject, I think it best not to avoid it. I remarked in the beginning of this paper that the Church's responsibility as regards the Army is indirectly discharged. Perhaps, from the nature of the case, this is unavoidable; but might we not be brought into closer relation to her without undergoing any very revolutionary process? For instance, might not the Chaplain-General and the Chaplain of the Fleet be ex-officio members of Convocation? And might not the state of religion in the Army and Navy be considered in the Sacred Synod of this nation, under their guidance, every year, instead of at long intervals? Last February some valuable resolutions were passed by both Houses— resolutions drawn up by a Committee appointed to consider and report upon the spiritual condition of our soldiers and sailors. Why should not that Committee be a standing one? Resolutions, however good, have a tendency to die away and be forgotten, unless they are looked after by those who pass them; and I am persuaded that it would inspire us with fresh life if we were brought into more immediate fellowship, through the proper channels of communication, with the Church at large.

We all know how deep an interest the Bishop of this diocese takes in the spiritual welfare of the Army and Navy; and I cannot forbear saying, with all respect, that if the bishops generally would summon chaplains to hear their Charges at their Visitations, as his lordship kindly does, it would be a help to us, making us feel that we were truly one with our brother clergy in civil life, bound by the same solemn

vows and obligations, and engaged in the same holy work. In my last station (Sandhurst) the Rural Dean called upon me as soon as I arrived, and regularly invited me to his chapters. It was a great boon to meet, and to compare notes with, the parochial and other clergy who assembled at Wokingham; and my brother chaplains at Aldershot, as well as myself, would highly prize such opportunities of meeting and conferring with the clergy of the neighbouring parishes, if it were thought good to invite us. Our Army is largely recruited from the rural districts, and many of our soldiers were not long ago boys in the village schools. It would be a mutual advantage if we who have to carry on the education commenced in those schools were brought into closer ecclesiastical relation with the clergy who have baptised and trained them in the rudiments of the Christian faith.

our work by sending us We do get hold of young hope influence them for

Parish priests can assist us materially in letters when any of their parishioners enlist. fellows now and then by this means, and I good when they are new to Army life. It is pleasant to see the face of a soldier brighten as the chaplain tells him he has heard of him from his former clergyman, and talks to him for a few moments in some quiet corner of his village home. I beg to assure the parochial clergy that such letters of introduction are highly valued by us, and are always attended to, sometimes with very happy results. One more remark upon this part of my subject, and I have done. I wish there were any chance of seeing a grave omission in the Public Prayers of the Church supplied. When the comprehensive nature of the Litany is considered, it seems surprising that our soldiers and sailors should not be mentioned. In time of war special prayers are directed to be offered for them, and the whole nation rises to the occasion, and from every church in the land there goes up to heaven earnest intercession for their safety and success. Why should the Church be silent on their behalf in time of peace? Is it too much to hope that ere long some such suffrage as is found in the book of Family Prayers, prepared and published by authority of the Upper House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury, may find its way into the public Liturgy of the Church, and thence into the hearts of her faithful people :-" On all who defend our country by land or by sea, on those who bear the sword to execute Thy wrath on evil-doers, and to maintain the right against oppression and wrong. We pray for thy blessing, O Lord."

I cannot conclude this imperfect outline of what I feel to be a very important subject without saying that I do not by any means take a gloomy view of the future. The revival of religious life in the Church has extended, notwithstanding our disadvantages, to the Army, and progress has certainly been made during the last few years. Commanding officers of garrisons, and of regiments and corps, are generally willing to support the chaplain in his work. Not a few of them are regular communicants, and show examples of godly living to their men. And religion in the Army is of a manly, straightforward type, bearing the stamp of reality-a type which enables both officers and men to live pure lives in the midst of many temptations, and also to meet death bravely and without fear. The world has admired the noble and unselfish life and death of Gordon. I believe there are many of the same spirit in the Army, and not only in the higher grades, but in the rank and file

likewise. We ask our brother churchmen to help us to increase the number of those who shall faithfully represent them, as he did, in heathen and strange lands.

With better churches, more chaplains, and a fuller recognition by the Church of the claims of our soldiers upon her sympathy and aid, I believe the British Army will become, year by year, more deeply imbued with the spirit of our holy religion; and will prove not simply as heretofore the safeguard of national liberty, but also the staunch supporter of that "peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety," which are the great elements of national greatness, and for which we are taught to pray.

ADDRESSES.

MISS WESTON.

I FEEL that I must, in a measure, apologise to the Congress for the substance of this paper, which deals with the only work about which I am fitted to express any opinion, and which I have, therefore, entitled "Twenty years personal work among the seamen and marines of the Royal Navy." My old and kind friend Admiral Grant was to have read a paper on the point more especially before the Congress, "The responsibility of the Church, as regards the spiritual and moral welfare of our sailors and soldiers," and I was to have followed with a short account of woman's work in the service. Although I am unable to grapple with the larger question, I feel that as regards the smaller I may venture to occupy the time of the Congress for a few minutes, and in giving this sketch, I hope it will be understood by the representatives of great naval societies, doubtless present here, as it is by the Chaplain of the Fleet, and the Navy clergy generally, that this work is antagonistic to none, that it is, as I hope to show, essentially woman's work; that it simply aims by every holy, Christlike, and home influence, to draw our blue jackets and marines from a life of sin and pleasures that debase and ruin them, to a sober and godly life, to the glory of God's holy name.

Nearly twenty years ago the little seed was sown, which, under God, was to grow to a great work, by a request from a Christian soldier that I would write to a blue jacket, a godly man, then serving as sick-berth steward on board H.M.S. Crocodile. "He would like a letter from a Christian lady," remarked the soldier, "because he misses his mother's letters so. She used to write to him, but she is dead and gone." To replace that mother was no easy task, and yet there was the plain duty before me to write to this man. I did so, and he has often since remarked what a help that simple letter was to him, how he took it into a dark corner of the ship, and when he had read it, how he knelt down and thanked God that He had given him a Christian friend to take his mother's place. That sick-berth steward was well known in Portsmouth. He is now in New York, where, having passed through the medical schools, he has graduated, taking the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and is now practising in that city. "Never shall I forget," he said, writing to me the other day, "the dear old Crocodile days, and never do I cease to thank God that I was your first blue jacket friend."

Thus the key-note of the work was struck-personal interest and friendship for the brave men of the sea, men who, of all others, know how to appreciate true and sincere friendship, and men, of all others, who are most frequently led down to destruction by friendship of a wrong kind.

The work continued to grow. Through the kindness of the late Rev. Richard Price, R.N., and the Naval Scripture Readers' Society, I became acquainted with other men in the service, who prized a letter of Christian counsel more than aught else; and although when I look round now and see to what a tree the little seed has grown, I can but thank God. Still the letter writing is as important a part of the work as ever. About 5,000 written letters were sent out last year, in reply to 5,000 written by officers and men from our fleet all over the world. This is a quiet work, and essentially a woman's work; but so important that I look upon it as the backbone of the whole. To supplement, and not to supersede this letter writing, I write and issue two monthly letters, one to the men and the other to the boys of our service. These letters are called "Blue Backs," and have now been circulated in the service for quite fifteen years. When first issued a few hundred copies sufficed, but the demand for them has grown so steadily, that last year the issue was 270,000 copies, distributed as follows:-Royal Navy, 135,750; boys, 49,920; officers, 11,000; mercantile, 29,520; fishermen, 26,660; United States Navy, 15,950; reprints, 21,200. The Royal Naval letters are sent to every ship-of-war and gun-boat in the service, all over the world, to our Royal Naval Hospitals, and Royal Marine Barracks, Coast-Guard Stations, etc. The boys' letters go to Her Majesty's and all the Reformatory and Industrial Ships round our coasts. The Mercantile to the great lines of steam-ships, and to the chief ports in the kingdom. The United States letters are distributed officially throughout the United States ships, and the Fishermen's are sent to our fishermen in the deep-sea fleets, and round our coasts. The Deep sea Fisheries' Society, connected with the Thames Church Mission, sending out 1,000 copies monthly. During the hostilities in the Soudan, the Naval Brigade begged a double portion of Blue Backs, that they might give to the soldiers, and many soldiers have written to say that the reading of these little messengers in that distant land has turned their thoughts and hearts to God.

A most important feature in this work is its organisation, which has grown steadily year by year, and which gives backbone and solidity to the whole. My wish from the commencement has been to grasp the Navy in its entirety, and the admirable organisation of the service has given full scope for it. In connection with the Temperance and other work, I have committees and agents, all volunteers, on board every ship-of-war and gun-boat, as well as in all shore establishments, hospitals, barracks, etc., whilst the Coast-Guard Stations are taken up and worked by men in each station. In foreign ports all over the world I have kind helpers, and in many places Sailors' Rests, worked in connection with us, and dependent on our funds for their continuance. The Temperance work is in a very prosperous condition. Officers of all ranks, from the Admiral to the Midshipman, or naval cadet, being included in its ranks. Indeed, the officers of the Navy as a body, I find willing and anxious to assist me in every way possible. The men are capital workers, full of energy, fire, and enthusiasm. As each ship commissions an agent is appointed, and a branch of our work started with the consent and approval of the commanding officer, and carried steadily forward, until that ship is paid out of commission again.

In connection with the Royal Naval Temperance Society, an admirable temperance monthly paper is issued, edited by my friend and co-trustee, Miss Wintz. It has a circulation of 122,000; it is a very bright, readable, chatty paper, heartily appreciated