CHAPLAIN FOR THE CONTINGENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11675, 7 March 1900, Page 3

CHAPLAIN FOR THE CONTINGENT.

At the sitting of the. Dunedin Presbyteryyesterday the matter of the appointment of Mr Tennent, a student and missionary of the church, as chaplain or Scripture reader for the contingent came up for consideration. The Moderator (the Rev! Mr M'lntyre) 'reported for the committee that they had uot been successful in gaining permission for Mr Tennent to accompany the contingent as chaplain or Scripture reader: The matter was still to be considered by the members of the Ministry, but the following telegram had been received from the Premier by the mayor: "Ke chaplain for fourth contingent. When contingent arrives in South Africa it will at once become an integral part of the Imperial army, for which chaplnins-are provided by the British Government. i'iiis question was raised in connection with the despatch of the three contingents, and the same rqply had to be given." As the way seemed to be closed to Mr Tennent going as chaplain, there were two other suggestions to be considered. One was that he should be to go to the Cape by the troopship, and they were told that permission was not likely to be granted. The other was that they shouid ask the authorities, with Mr Tennent'si approval, to accept him as a trooper—that he should go as an ordinary volunteer, and that they should get the authorities here to back up the representation of the presbytery, asking that on arrival he should receive the appointment of doctor's orderly, as in that capacity ho would have a good deal of ambulance work, and many opportunities of speaking words of spiritual comfort to the wounded.

The Rev. Mr Gibb suggested that if they could not send a chaplain tliey might devote the funds to providing a horse or something of that sort.

The Rev. Mr Scorgie was of opinion they should send Mr Tennent as. Scripture reader. Consign him to Major Robin, and ask the major to attach him to the'men, for whom ho would no doubt do much useful, work.

The Moderator said that Colonel Penton iiad promised, if they sent Mr Torment out, to send a recommendation to the officer in charge to carry out .the wishes of the presbytery, but said that of course he could not promise the recommendation would be followed. ; ..■"

Mr Tennent said that if other means failed, and ho had the approval of' the presbytery, he was prepared to do what ho believed would enable him not only to serve his counti-y, but God. He intended to volunteer for the contingent, and if he could not go in the fourth to volunteer for the fifth contingent, going as a trooper, hoping by this means to beable to work for his church; his Queen, and his country. He, however, did not want it to be said that he war, to be kept out of the fighting by being made a .doctor's orderly; but would be prepared to take his chances like a man, trusting that whatever fate God had in store for him.' whether life or death, would be for the best. If no better way showed itself, then he intended to .attempt it in this way if they approved, and he desired to have, the approval of God's neople in offering himself as a volunteer. He hoped that a definite resolution would be come to, because the uncertainty unsettled him, and interfered very much witb his work and his studies. He had passed the doctor's examination, and had no doubt he would pass the ridins? and shooting tests.

The Rev. Mr Gibb thought that was the way to do it. Let them fit Mr Tennent out' as a volunteer. '

The Rev. Mr Scorgie was of opinion' there would be no difficulty in sending Mr Tennent out as a trooper, and, of course, he would he none the less their representative, doing tho work they wanted him to do, and that he wanted to do, whenever opportunity offered.

The Moderator_ entirely disagreed with the proposal. If Mr'Tennent went as a soldier, he would haw plenty to do to discharge his own duties without, as was the object in view, being able to attend to the wants and needs of others.

The Rev. Mr Gibb considered that much good would be done by sending a'man of decided Christian convictions, and that such a man would be able to do good to nearly everyone with whom he came in contact.

The P.ev. Mr Cameron thought they ought not yet to give up the' idea of sending Mr Tennent. as a Scripture reader, even if tlicy sent him in another vessel, aud trusted to his being able to get in touch with the New Zealand m»n in South Africa. :

The Esv. lil. C. Tennent said that if it could not bo done in any other way. he quite approved of his son going as a trooper. • His (the speut&r's) second son,'who was at Broken Hill?, had joined the bushmen's contingent, giving up a very good position indeed to'fight for his Queen and his God, his idea being to do his work as a Christian man amongst them, and at the same time to-show that a. Christian is not afraid to fight for his Queen. He (the Rev. Mr Tennent) had no objection to his eldest son doing the same thing.

After a conversational discussion, during which a, number of resolutions were suggested] The Eev. Mr Gibb moved—" That in thn event of the presbytery's failing to secure Mr Tennent's acceptance by the authorities as chaplain or Scripture reader, and Mr Tennent having informed the presbytery that if he cannot go as chaplain he is prepared to volunteer ns p, trooper for the fourth contingent, the presbytery resolves, in the event of his bemg accepted, to provide him with a horse and other necessary equipment. The Rsv. Mr Dutton sreoudpd the'motion, and ii, was adapted unanimonslv.