A SOLDIER BISHOP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 72

A SOLDIER BISHOP.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham, who received Princess Ena-'s recantation of faith, is a very remarkable man. He was an army chaplain, and won the D.S.O. in Egypt—a fact which is chronicled in Army Lists and reference books for all to see. What is not there written is the character of the man, the distinct personality which makes him so great a power, not- only in his Church, but in the busy world, and in every place where men meet and matters are discussed. Dr Brindle's tall figure, flashing eyes, and resonant voice belong rather to the soHier than the priest. And yet those who know him as Provost of the new Cathedral at Westminster, or who have claimed his kindly services at the Court of the Vatican (whare he holds high office), remember him as the very type of a great Church dignitary.

It was at the battle of Atbara that Dr Brindle so greatly distinguished himself. He knew the Soudan from end to end. He had accompanied Wolseley's force to Tel-el-Kebir, and entered Cairo in the days .when England and English plans were dietrusted and disliked. The epidemic of cholera that decimated the i ty first proved to the Egyptians what manner of men were these who had come to reduce their country to order. The fellaheen — starving and wretched — bowed before the pestilence, as sent by Allah, raiding no finger to help themselves. The British officers quietly set to work, disinfecting, cleansing, burying the dead, euccouTing tfie sick ; among them the sturdy young chaplain to the forces, who seemed to know neither fatigue nor fear! The regeneration of Egypt commences from that cholera tim-o. It was in 1882.

Two years later Brindle was marching to the relief of Gordon at Khartoum; and again in 1696 he was in the Soudan with Kitchener fighting the Khalifa. Dongola in that year, and Omdurman some time later, were battlefields where th© chaplain's mettle was proved, as the wounded and dying found to their comfort.

And although these came always first with Brifldle, there was not an officer or a private in> the brigade but knew that he could reckon on the chaplain for all possible support and help. It was, we believe, at Atbara that Brindle brought up ammunition from the rear when BurnMurdoch's men were desperately defending their zareba, attacked on all sides by the Mahdi's fanatic Soudanese. Again and again he crossed the line of fire carrying the cartridge cases, "as calmly as he might have cheeses." -«*The men, face to face with death, paused to cheer him as he passed. It is momente like these that link men's hearts for ever.