THE BLOOD STAINED CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 17732, 9 August 1917, Page 3

THE BLOOD STAINED CHURCH

‘‘Passing on from the service, 1 reached a Y.M.C.A. (dace—not a hut —in the danger zone,” writes T. L. B. Westerdale, C.F. "Here were men gathered about in a passage. Suddenly from the blue sky came two shells in quick succession right among a party just outside the rear door of the church-room. Before the smoke cleared away, one por lad dashed through our little church-room, as if for sanctuary, and fell dead on the front-door step, his life’s blood actually pouring out on the floor of the church. Three other men fell, dreadfully mangled, but still alive. My men were gathering for a service to be held on this very spot, but the C.O. wisely ordered the parade to dismiss. Yet I was loth to leave that place. There was something terrible, yet something glorious, about that bloodstained church. I cycled down to the ambulance and then I cycled back —arriving once more at the haven of refuge. I found one of my lads seated at the piano not four yards from where the shells had fallen and broken down the church partition, and a dozen more of my men had drifted back on (heir own initiative and were gathered round him. The lad's fingres wandered restlessly over the ivory keys, but suddenly his face lit up and he struck out strong and dear the notes of that cvcr-popular Army hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.’ "i he men took it up, and one boy turning to me, said : “May we not have a service, sir?”

“Yes,” I replied; “we’ll have a little service for tho.se who are here, ’ for I felt that dnd had spoken, and I felt sure somehow •’sat no more shells would arrive for a lime.

1 left that Y.M.C.A. place deeply moved. !In we understand, after all, how great a Isold God has on some of our lads? These men, dismissed to do as they pleased, to dsoosc for themselves, and thirteen must return to the very place of death to seek

.irsus. As I cycled away finally, hell was let loose again on the right, close In that spot where the lads are waiting for some:lung to wad, and as I pasued through my once i vaceful little village i'll the broken Galvaire, die eorpnral stepped into the road again. “Beg pardon, sir, but there's a body

"Ves, I know”— had I not just walked V-iii-ih the pool of his life s- blood m- the ,i, .!i of I lie church ?

■ 1 will bury him to-morrow at eleven, .■orporal. Dig him a good grave, large and 'erp. "Right, sir.” Vi'as’it. not near Palm Sunday when the Master said, “Greater love hath no man dm this, that a man lay down his life for i •: friends?”

i OF VOIC£ is duo to relaxation o' the vocal chords or to catarrh-j 1 accumulations. Gargle warm \ Fluenzol which clears a«av mucous and tightens up the vocal chords. *

I Inhale NAZOL every day and coughs and ' colds will stay away. Penetrating and germ-killing, yet absolutely safe for everyone. Sixty doses 1/6. Use the Nazol i In.haler.

For Children’s Racking Cough at night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6.