SUNDAY IN CAMP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11195, 16 October 1899, Page 5

SUNDAY IN CAMP.

AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE. [lit TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. _ The camp service held at Karori this morning by the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis) was a picturesque and impressive ceremony, The scene on the green slope in the neighbourhood of the camp was a very striking one, and will not be forgotten foi many a day by those who had the pleasure of witnessing it. Though the camp is some five miles from the city, fully seven or eight hundred spectators must have been present, including His Excellency the Governor, Lady Constance Knox, Mrs. Penton, Mrs. and Miss Seddon, Captain Ward, A.D.C., the Hons. J, Carroll and W. C. Walker, and several other members of Parliament. About half-past ten the band arrived, and a fnv minutes afterwards the volunteers formed into line and marched to the spot selected for the service. They formed a hollow square around the Governor, the Bishop, and the other distinguished visitors. Two boxes covered with a Hag made an excellent desk for the Bishop, and the men, whose behaviour and soldierly appearance was all that could be desired, were supplied with books containing the order of service. Whatever theoretical difficulties some people may find in reconciling war' with the Gospel of the Prince of Peace, those who were present at the camp service this morning, with its solemn simplicity, could not help feeling that there was nothing inccngruous or inconsistent in asking the Divine blessing on those who are about to leave our shores to fight for Queen and country in a distant land. On such occasions one does not reason, but one feels at once that Kuskin had got hold of a great truth and was not merely finding an excuse for war when he said, "All great nations learned their truth of word and strength of thought in war ; that they were nourished in war and wasted in peace ; taught by war and deceived by peace ; trained by war and betrayed by peace ; in a word, that they were born in war and expired in peace." New Zealand's young soldiers showed that they recognised the seriousness of their offer to place themselves in the hands of their country as a weapon " vowed to strike when she bids, and to stay scabbarded when she bids." Men who go to war in this spirit will learn the best lessons that war tin teach, for, as the Bishop ahowed, war has its lessons as well as peace, and though some wars have been unjustifiable there are wars (to use Mr. Kuskin's words again) : "Wi led by Him, of whom, .though Prince of Peace, it is also written in righteousness, He doth judge and make war." The service opened with the hundredth psalm, followed by special prayers, the ninety-first psalm, the "Te Deum,'" and the hymn "Soldiers of Christ Arise." The Bishop then gave a short but try earnest address to the troops, basing his remarks on St. Paul's well-known words in his Epistle to the Colossians, " Whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." Dr. Wallis commenced by reminding his hearers that the Gospel of Jesus Christ meant nothing if it was not a plain rule of life for ordinary men and women living among their fellows in the world. He went on to refer to the Sermon on the Mount which he said condemned spite, retaliation, and selfishness. But what had that to do with the thought of war 'I asked the Bishop. It had nothing to do with it at all. Clmst did not mean absolutely to forbid war. Ci.r Lord's words were directed against the spirit of spitefulness, and required Christian people to be ready to forgive injuries and to fight against selfishness. The temptation to selfishness came to us in New Zealand in connection with the present crisis. When war was proclaimed we might have said : "We don't care for our brothers in Africa; we will pursue peace ; we will not tax ourselves with this expense." We might have said that and might have been content that it was God's will that we should not take any part in the war. But we had saved ourselves from such selfishness. New Zealand volunteers had come forward to fight for justice and truth. It was not a selfish war in which they were called upon to engage. They were going to fight,-because justice, fair play, and true dealing had been denied to their brothers in the Transvaal. Such being the case, it would not be in accordance with the mind of Christ that they Should allow their brothers to fight alone. That would be a most mean and selfish course. They were just beginning to understand what the Empire really meant. It was an empire, whose presence was the signal for justice, fairness, and freedom. They were fighting for their brothers to free them from the tyranny under which they were suffering. ' From the bottom of his heart, because he believed it was a good cause, he could wish them success in the war. He could not do that if he thought they were not doing God's will. The Bishop went on to say: —" We all wish you success in your enterprise. We will be watching your doings, and hoping that God will bring you safely back to us again." Dr. Wallis concluded by pointing out how the discipline and difficulties of military life helped men to- overcome that spirit of sel- ■ fishness against which all Christians were 1 called upon to fight. 1 After the sermon, the hymn, "Eternal i Father, Strong to Save," was sung, the serj vice concluding with the Benediction. | The behaviour of the onlookers was most ' respectful and reverent, soldiers and spectators joining most heartily in the psalms, . hymns, and responses. Mr. Fred Duval went out to the camp i yesterday, and, on behalf of Mr. Tom Pol-' j lard, tendered, through Major Robiiij an

invitation to the whole contingent to spend an evening at the Opera House next week. " Ali Baba," with its military tableaux, will be the piece staged, and the whole of the dress circle will be reserved for the troc-ps. Major Eobin said the invitation was a thoughtful act on the part of Mr. Pollard, and he would be only too pleased to grant facilities for the officers and men to accept the invitation. Only sufficient men to do sentry duty will be' kept in camp, and whether the occasion shall be Wednesday or Thursday will be decided this evening. This afternoon the camp was visited by an enormous crowd, including a number of the Auckland members of Parliament. It is estimated that there must have been 10,000 people in and around the camp. The greatest enthusiasm prevails among the general public, and the send-off promises, to be one of the most stirring scenes ever witnessed in Wellington. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SEND-OFF. [BY TELKGBAPII.—Fit ESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington', Saturday. Mr. Seddon has sent the following letter to Mr. Blair, Mayor of Wellington:—"l have the honour to inform you that the embarkation of the New Zealand contingent for the Transvaal will take place on Saturday, the 21st inst., and the honour of being Mayor of the city, from which they take their departure, falls to the lot of yourself. It is unnecessary for me to make any suggestion as to the manner in which our representatives, who, with the Imperial forces, are to take part in maintaining the supremacy and solidarity of the Empire, should be treated on that occasion. Their send-off will, I feel sure, be such as will reflect credit upon the City of Wellington, and upon the colony generally. I hope you will take the necessary initiative steps to celebrate the occasion by calling a meeting of citizens to arrange a suitable programme, and I would suggest that Her Majesty's representative and Lady Ranfurly be invited to be present, and that the meeting be called for Monday afternoon." Subsequently the Mayor of Wellington invited the Mayors and chairmen of county councils ifi many parts of the colony, anil the friendly societies. .Masonic bodies, trades unions, etc., of the city and suburbs, to take part in the farewell. It is expected that the gathering will be the largest ever seen in the city. The intention is to make the demonstration a colonial as far as possible. A platform is to be erected, either on the wharf or on Jervois' Quay, and will be occupied by prominent public men, some of whom will deliver speeches. The Governor and Lady Rr-nfurly have intimated their intention of being present. The Waiwera left for the South this afternoon. Lyttelton is to be her only port of call. There she will load about 4000 tons of grain and produce, and she is to be ready to leave that port on Wednesday afternoon. Already there is 1000 tons of bunker coal on board, and another 2000 tons will be shipped on her return from Lyttelton.