DIPTON

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 35

DIPTON

September 22. — A church parade of tha Wallace Mounted Rifles was held in the Presbyterian Church of Dipton on Sabbath, lOtk September. The men, under Lieutenant Gairdner, turned out in good numbers, and presented a fine appearance. The Rev. Mr Geliie, who is at present supplying Dipton pulpit, at the clcee of his sermon gave the following address:— "My Friends, — We have worshipping with us to-day a company of the Wallace Volunteers, and we are very pleased to see them. It says much for them that they have thought it right to come to the house of God and join us in the services of the sanctuary. It giveia token of a reverent frame of mind, and we hail it as a sign of grace. It has been said that soldiers and sailors are not a God-fearing class, but many bright instances of devout and God-fearing men are to be found in both services. It is remarkable that all the soldiers mentioned in the New Testament give evidence of being upright, piou3, Godfearing people. Such was the Roman cen turion, whose servant Jesus healed, and of whom he said, ' I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.' Such was Cornelius, the centurion, whom Peter admitted into the Christian Church as the first Gentile convert. Sfach, also, was the officer who had charge of the troops in the ship in which Paul sailed when, as a prisoner, ho made his voyage to Italy. Neither are instances wanting in more modern times of God-fearing men both in the army and navy. Witness Colonel Gardner in the army, who was slain in action at Prestonpans when fighting against the Highlanders under Prince Charles Stuart in 1745, and whose life Doddridge, who wrote 'The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,' has written. Witness, also, Hedley Vicars in the Crimea, whcee life has been written by Miss Marsh; witness once more Henry Havelock in the Indian Mutiny. He v was eminently a Godfearing man, and had many like-minded in his regiment. An incident in the campaign bore evidence to this. On one occasion, when the mutineers suddenly attacked the British, and some other troopers who had given way to excess were unable to turn out, the Ccmmander-in-chief, knowing on whom he could rely, at once said, ' Turn out, Havelock's saints!' As he expected, they were ready, and soon repulsed the enemy. Again, Admiral Collingwood and other? in the navy could be- instanced as meu who led godly lives, and who kept themselves unspotted from the world. There is 1 nothing to hinder anyone in the army or navy or Volunteers from witnessing for Christ and standing up for righteousness, and we believe that many both at Home and in the colonies do this. It is a mark of public spirit when young men join the Volunteers, and we commend tho young men in this district foi doing bo. Volunteer forces are becoming more and more necessary in the- Empire— in fact, the Government must enlarge and strengthen the Volunteers or have recourse to conscription,, for_ tho standing arniy is insufficient in the time of war. Conscription has never been favourably looked upon in our country, and we think rightly so. For a young man to be compelled to leave his trade or profession, and engage in military training for a number of years, must often- be detrimental to- his prospects in life aad hurtful in many ways. But if conscription is no;, to be adopted Volunteer forces must be increased and extended, for, as we have said, the standing army is insufficient to meet the exigencies of the case when a serious war breaks out. The late South African war would have been indefinitely prolonged had not the Volunteers' at Home "and in the colonies given their help. Without doubt the Volunteers from Canada, and Australia and New Ze2laiid, who were all mounted tnd excellent horsemen, did much to oheck the rapid movement of the Bcer3, and bring the "war to a successful close. The newpapers at Home were loud in their praises of the colonials, and not least in that of the 2sew Zeaknders. It was acknowledged by all that Now Zealand, considering its size and population, did excellent work in the late war. and that the young men serrt out by this colony were second to none in the field. Much may be .said in favour of one joining tHe army ana tke Volunteers. I tave known many a ne'er-do-weel come home from the army a much-improved man. In the army one has to learn obedience, orderliness, punctuality, manliness, and many other good qualities. The discipline one is put under in the army and Volunteering is well fitted to strengthen a man both in body and mind. Neither is war itself an unqualified evil. It has many compensations. Just as a thunderstorm is sometimes necessary to purify the air, so a war is sometimes necessary to stir up and purify a nation when it is sinking into sloth and luxury and vice. And though there are outrages at times in war, yet it also gives rise to more humane and nobls acts, such as succouring a wounded comrade and extending mercy and kindness to a fallen enemy when the battle is over. If war develops much that is evil, it also develops much that is heroic and self-denying and unselfish. We think Japan has proved herself a magnanimous foe in the late war with Russia, and not least in her readiness to come to peace and put a stop lo the temb'e carnage. But we trust that soon national quarrels, like private, will be settled by arbitration and oourts of justice, and that war will be unknown on the earth. Till that happy time, however, arrives it is well for the country to be preparing for emergencies; and one of the best preparations, we think, that can be made is to extend and increase our Volunteer Forces. We then wish all success to the Volunteers that have been enrolled lately here and are worshipping with u.s to-day. I am'sure if the time should come when the country would require their services they would be found as ready as were their comrades in the late South African war to go forth and uphold the honour of the Empire."