vi. Preface 



is a religious thing or it is not life at all. I firmly believe that 

 religion is inherent in every human being. 



Perhaps it will be well to analyse briefly what we mean 

 when we speak of the sporting parson. Certainly not the old 

 exploded idea of the men who slapped their thighs, drank and 

 swore ; but rather the clean-minded, nature-loving, open-air- 

 loving clerics who as a rule are not blessed with a super-abund- 

 ance of this world's good things, but who seek recreation and 

 health once or perhaps twice a week by following hounds, 

 shooting, fishing — possibly ski-ing, if they can go abroad for a 

 little holiday — or in healtliful games. 



The element of sport is alive in the hearts of most men 

 worthy of the name, and it is that which makes them brave. 

 The same instinct that made them seek sport in pre-war days 

 made them anxious to go to the front and share the 

 dangers and hardships of the troops, while hoping to be of some 

 use and comfort to them. It is the sporting instinct that 

 makes men straight and true. When we hear a man called a 

 " Real Sportsman " we at once picture to ourselves an in- 

 dividual who under all circumstances can be trusted to play 

 the game fairly and squarely. 



Nearly all the soldiers I have spoken to about the army 

 chaplains, have as terms of highest praise, said, "He is a real 

 sportsman." One man whom I asked if he had found a chaplain 

 who was a help and comfort to him replied, " Yes ! I like them 

 all— at least, the most of them," and he tried to explain to me 

 how, when going into action, knowing well they were standing 

 on the borders of the Great Beyond, they could speak to a 

 chaplain of things they would not hke to say to anyone else, 

 things that would seem " sloppy-like " ; and he felt the chaplains 

 could be trusted when they were " sports " to carry out faith- 

 fully their wishes, and be kind to those who would grieve if 

 Ihey were killed. 



The terrible realities of to-day leave little room or inclination 



