THE SILENT SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 1

THE SILENT SERVICE

For nearly 800 years Canterbury Cathedral, the scene of Thomas a’Beckett’s martyrdom, lias been the Mecca of English Christendom. Services have been held there daily for centuries. Yet none are more nobly inspiring than one of quite recent origin, says the ‘ Cape Times.’ On .a recent bank holiday a woman tourist, being restrained by a verger from entering the choir of the Mother Church of England during the service, indignantly remarked: “ Fancy holding a service upon a bank holiday! ” Had that woman stood near the steps of the fifteenth century Chapel of St. Michael at 10.50 a.m, her soul would have thrilled at a most wonderful service—in which no word is spoken—performed there daily by one solitary layman. This service is born of no ancient ecclesiastical tradition; it is not sectarian ; it has no precedent. Yet it is full of beauty, simplicity, and reverence. At 10.45 we enter by the south door of the cathedral and pass up the aisle to the south transept to the little chapel dedicacd to St. Michael, the patron saint of soldiers. Hero upon a lectern against the eastern wall, in a locked glass case, rests the open Book of Life. The Book of Life represents the very best of the bookbinder’s art. The thick, vellum pages record in exquisite manuscript which no medieval monk could excel the names of the men of the Buffs Regiment who gave their lives for their country in the Great -War. We stand aside and wait. At 10.55 precisely the ring of ironshod boots on stone is heard approaching up the aisle. A young private soldier in uniform marches up. Below the steps of the chapel he hafts smartly as on parade, salutes, and comes to attention facing the Book of Life. He stands as rigid as the marble effigies around him. Only the cooing of pigeons in the close breaks the silence. The clock strikes the hour. Upon the last stroke of 11 the soldier springs to life, mounts the steps, marches to the Book, and salutes it. He removes his cap and gloves, placing them with his cane upon the tomb of Archbishop Stephen Langtoii. The atmosphere is tense; many of the spectators have tears in their eyes; all are profoundlly moved. A verger unlocks the glass case. ■ The soldier turns one leaf of the Book of Life. He reads the names, closes the glass, and dons his cap, gloves, and cane. Then, springing to attention, _he again salutes the Book, turns right about face, and marches out of the cathedral to the barracks. The service lasted exactly five minutes. . But the memory of it will remain with us for a long time. The young soldier chosen for this daily service is always a recruit.