METHODISTS AS SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 53

METHODISTS AS SOLDIERS.

2354 IN UNIFORM. The part that members of the Methodist Church aro playing in the great war was mentioned by tho retiring president of the conference (the Rev. J. Dawson) at the opening meeting in Auckland last week (reports tho Herald). Mr Dawson said :is figures were incomplete, but he had ihe names of 2354 men who had been accepted prior to tho end of last year. The names of many others swelled tho list credited to other churches. There were 41 sons from tho Methodist manses of New Zealand in the ranks, and some of these had been credited to other churches. The Rev. 11. Bull, G. Clement, P. W. Fairclough, C. Griffon, J. Clover, S. Griffiths, J. D. .lory, W. L. Blamires, P. M. Knight, A. C. Lawrv, J. Olphert. W. Lee. J. A. Luxford, "J. J. Mather, A. Mitchell, D. J. Murray, 8.. F. Prior, J. Pendray. G.Penny, J. S. Rishvvorth, G. W. Spence, and tho late J. N. Buttle had each given one son. The Rev. 0/ Abernethv. T. Fee, C. H. Laws. S. Lawry, G. T. Marshall, W. Ready, and M. Turner had given two sons each, J. W. Griffen and C. E. Ward three sons each, and tho Rev. W. J. Williams had given four of his sons. Amongst the 2354 mentioned, there are 25 ministers, students and homo missionaries, besides a host of local preachers, Sunday school and Bible class workers. There were still quito_ a number waiting to go in different capacities Of those who had gone, the returns show that 83 had won commissions, 201 were n.c.o.'s, and 12 were nurses. One hundred and forty-six would never return, for they had sealed their patriotism with their blood, and died the death of heroes.

Reference was mado to Chaplain-major J. A. Luxford, a Methodist, minister, who had lost hjs leg on Gallipoli while helping to save a fighting man. Mr Dawson added that Mr Luxford would be certain to receive a very warm welcome from his church when he returned to New Zealand.