The Rev. J. W. Adams, V.C. 3 



what the parson wants, coming poking round. I have many 

 times heard these remarks made. 



The parson must not hunt on foot or mounted ; that is 

 considered unbecoming. No, he must sit at home doing 

 nothing perhaps, and wait for some obhging person to die and 

 provide him with suitable work in burying him. It is rather 

 an impossible situation. Parishioners often look upon their 

 pastor as neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red herring, but 

 simply as a relieving officer, there for nothing else, and no 

 thanks required. 



I think the sporting parson was brought into disrepute by a 

 few who occasionally forgot their calling, and were lacking in 

 reverence and the proper performance of their duties — 

 the deserved anathema of the few descending upon the 

 many. 



Turning over the leaves of an old album a short time ago, 

 looking at the faces of those who had crossed my path and 

 those who had travelled with me, amongst my many good 

 friends and true I find sporting parsons are fairly well 

 represented. 



As I made a reflective study of each face I came to the 

 happy conclusion, remembering those lives as I have known 

 them, that they were good men — lovable men, many of them, 

 with clean hearts and minds and a consuming charity ; nothing 

 mean, narrow, or unkind about them, their only fault being that 

 sometimes their hearts were larger than their purses. 



People are familiar enough with the name of Parson Jack 

 Russell of west country sporting fame, of whom I shall write 

 later, but comparatively few have heard of the Rev. J. W. 

 Adams, V.C, Army Chaplain. There was no cleric better 

 known or better liked in India than the gaunt V.C. Padre who 

 was so human, sympathetic, truly heroic, and a great sportsman. 

 No social function was complete without him in stations 

 where he was officiating ; he was wanted because he held 

 the affections of all without cant, or " pie jaw," as the school- 

 boys call it. The Tommies adored him in a way they never 

 care for anyone who has not shared hard times and dangers 

 with them, taking the rough with the smooth, offering a helping 

 hand to all. Indeed, he was a great and good man grown old 

 with other people's sorrows. 



