SUNDAY OBSERVANCE IN MILITARY CAMPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18627, 3 December 1928, Page 6

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE IN MILITARY CAMPS.

APPRECIATION SHOWN IN THE “ CHURCH NEWS. ” Appreciation of the attitude of the military authorities towards Sunday services in territorial and cadet camps is expressed in the “Church News,” which states that the position should be reassuring to parents. A memorandum recently issued by order of the brigadier, and circulated widely in regimental districts, areas and units, shows very clearly (the “Church News” states) that the military heads “do not regard Divine service in camp as something to be scamped over and a subsidiary thing to ordinary training.' The service is to be “the central feature of any Sunday in camp, and to this end every effort must be made to ensure that the men are cleanly turned out and that officers and men are in proper order of dress and the unit ‘falls in’ with full ceremony.” The care with which details concerning the services are dealt with in the memorandum shows that the military authorities are thoroughly and laudably keen to co-operate with the chaplains conducting the services. The band (where there is one) should play sacred music for the half-hour during which the squadrons, companies, platoons, etc., are parading in their own lines, prior to service. The band should be ready to play the hymns as selected by the chaplains, and are directed to play them at such a tempo that the singing is not dragged, it is

suggested that on Saturday evening the chaplains should hold practices of the hymns with the band and troops, officers' and men. The importance of the choice of a place for the service is noted; it should be “in a church or grove of trees or some sheltered place where the chaplain can be easily heard, and the men be comfortable ’’ Further, it is directed that every facility should be given to chaplains to hold celebrations of Holy Communion at an hour before breakfast or at any other hour desired by the chaplains. The memorandum emphasises the fact that “the principal aim of training is to produce morale and esprit de corps, and this is best done on Sunday by making a proper Sunday morning atmosphere which stimulates the imagination of the young soldier at an impressionable age.” In certain camps the chaplain is permitted to conduct morning prayers each day at parade, before the men march off to their exercises—very brief prayers, it is true, but sufficient to start the day with the recognition of God.