254 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



During the time of his episcopate the Bishop did not appear 

 much before the pubUc, but at King Edward's special request he 

 instructed Princess Ena for the change of creed necessary on her 

 marriage with King Alfonso. 



None will wish to deny that Father Brindle was an ornament 

 to his profession, an earnest servant of his Church, a man with 

 sporting instincts that appealed to the soldiers, who hke men 

 who play the game. His manner was cheerful but dignified : 

 a thorough Englishman, not entirely without some of our 

 English prejudices, which, however, in no way detracted from 

 his lovable character. 



Some of the letters received after retiring from service with 

 the army speak of the feeling entertained by the writers for him. 

 One from Lord Kitchener when staying at Combe, in Honiton, 

 dated October 2nd, runs : 



" My Dear Father, 



" I like this form of address better than your exalted 

 title of Bishop. I wonder you did not excommunicate the War 

 Office and its contents, including the staff that now rules there ; 

 perhaps you had not a bell, book, and candle with you and only 

 murmured the formula. 



"As an Irishman I much wish I could come and see your 

 Irish friends, but it is a far cry to Liverpool. Next time I stay 

 at Knowsley, which I do sometimes, I will see what can be 

 done. 



" I often look back in memory to the old Soudan days when 

 you used to lead the troops across the desert, and wish those 

 days back again. 



" I am shortly going back to Khartoum and to shoot up the 

 White Nile. 



" I was delighted to get your letter and to feel that you still 

 have a kindly remembrance of your old friend. Kitchener." 



This letter shows the affectionate side of Lord Kitchener's 

 character, which many people thought did not exist. In a 

 measure he was a hard man, and yet I have more than once seen 

 that cold frigid manner put on when he was feeling very 

 much. 



I remember seeing him walk down a room full of people wait- 

 ing to shake hands and congratulate him after his success and 



