STRANGE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 March 1916, Page 2

STRANGE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

* HIGBLANiDEES AND GERMANS. ■What must have been beyond question" or doubt the strangest Christmas service held throughout th e world last Christmas Day was that, at which the Bov. J. Esslemont Adams, of the West United Free Church, Aberdeen, officiated. Mr Adams is a chaplain to the forces and, attached to-*the Gordon Highlanders. Oh Christmas' morning he visited the trenches wherein his men were, a distance of about 100 yards Separating,them from the enemy. Between the firing lines lay" the dead bodies of German and British. Suddenly, to the surprise- of the Highlanders, several of the enemy appeared' on the top of their trench, but" the Gordons did- not fire on them, and, instead, an officer went out to suggest that, as they had. a "padre"' witli them, and there were also several German dead, they should have a trace for a burial service. It was arranged, and the Germans lined up on one side of the chaplain and the Gordons on the other. The. service began with the psalm. ''The Lord's 7ny Shepherd,' and' then the "padre" prayed. A'fter the burial of the dead, of whom there were about 100, Mr Adams gave an address, which was interpreted sentence by sentence by, an interpreter sent forward by a German officer. The service over, says the reof this most remarkable episode of ,the war, the German officer shook hands with Mr Adams and offered, him. a cigar. Mr Adams begged, leave not to smoke it, but to keep it as -a souvenir of that unique occasion. The officer consented, but said he should like some little memento in return. Hardly knowing what to give. Mr Adams took off his cap and .gave the officer the soldier's prayer he had carried ,in its lining since the war began. The German officer readit, put it in the lin,ing of his helmet, saying: "I value this because I believe what it says ,and when the war is over I shall take, it- cut and give .it as a keep-sake to my youngest child.'-'