26o sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



the first duly accredited and officially appointed officer chaplains 

 are preparing to join the troops in France, and they hope to go 

 to the Eastern Mediterranean. 



Two of their chaplains that I know of have been awarded 

 the Military Cross for general devoted service rather than for 

 any special act of gallantry. Captain Chaplain Green, at 

 present attached to the headquarters of the New Zealand troops 

 in London, was, I believe, the first of the Salvationists to receive 

 that distinction while in Gallipoli. 



The other chaplain, Captain Mackenzie, came over with the 

 first contingent of Australians and has by them been christened 

 " Captain Mac." Yet he is not an Australian, though he 

 passionately loves them all ; but, as may be gathered from his 

 name, he is Scotch and is proud of his Highland blood and the 

 piety of his ancestors. 



In his early youth he had wished to enlist in the Seaforth 

 Highlanders, but instead was taken to Australia, where by his 

 energy and push he soon found firm foothold. He was deter- 

 mined to get on, and quickly began to do so, but Scotland was 

 far away and the piety of his ancestors a thing of the past. His 

 idea at this time was all self and push ; he meant to make 

 money and get on in the world- nothing else mattered. 



Suddenly all his ideals and theories were upset and became 

 things of naught ; self and worldly fame lost all value in his 

 eyes. The Salvation Army was responsible for this. It so 

 happened that what I presume they would call a battalion of 

 them were visiting the place where Mackenzie was working ; 

 their earnestness appealed to him, he became interested, and 

 arrived at the conclusion, after a certain amount of spiritual 

 wrestling, that there was better work waiting for him than 

 money-making and self-advancement. He had discovered 

 hidden away in the lumber-room of his heart a precious thing 

 that every man possesses without perhaps being aware of it 

 until something happens to bring it to light— namely, his 

 religion. The Salvationists having helped him to find it, he 

 naturally thought he would like to join them and help others in 

 the same way. 



When war broke out he signed on as a chaplain. At that 

 time he was a big strong man with a huge voice and abrupt 

 manner wliich, however, covers a kind and gentle heart. The 



