Chapter XX 



Church of England Bishops — Roman Catholics — Nonconformists — Helpf-.l 

 Priests — Roman Catholics in 1688 — Father Finn at Sedd-el-Bahr — With the 

 Dublin Fusiliers — The Last few Words — Preparation for Death— The Clyde 

 run Aground — A Desperate Landing — ^The Colonel's Advice — Father Finn's 

 Reply — A Boat-load and what was Left — Riddled with Bullets — A Ghastly 

 Scene — Men Digging like Dogs — A Crippled Arm — The Sign of the Cross — 

 Bleeding to Death — A Last Question — The Rev. T. A.Harker Describes the 

 Scene — A Crimson Sea — Sympathy of the King and Queen — A Strong 

 Presentiment — Admiral de Roebuck's Despatch — Father Finn's Early Days — 

 Bishop of Middlesborough's Appreciation — The Late Mr. John Redmond — 

 His Letter to the Author — Father Gwynn — At the Western Front — Buried 

 Alive — Fights his Way Out — A Priestly Act — The Rev. Richard Hall — 

 Appreciates the Catholic Priests — Father Bradley's Unselfishness — In- 

 fectious Piety — " A Good Job Too " — A Service before Action — An Ex- 

 perience of German Submarines — A Rush for Life-belts — With an Eye to the 

 Future — Father Willaert — Sees his Brother Shot — Asked " Not to Look." 



I HAVE made several discoveries while writing this book, one 

 being that there is no more instructive method of observing 

 the psychology of the various great religious organisms 

 than in compiling a book of this sort. It seems to me that 

 nothing but good can come of recording the achievements of 

 some of the undeniably splendid men who have served as 

 chaplains in the great war, because the chaplains' department 

 has not received anjrthing like its share of recognition in war 

 literature, and I think it is certain that the parsons' work with 

 the armies in the field is underrated by the man in the street. 

 My views seem to be shared by the Roman Catholics and 

 Nonconformists, at any rate, for when I have applied to them 

 for any information in connection with my subjects I have 

 received nothing but kindness and prompt help. When it 

 came to the Bishops of the Church of England it was like trying 

 to get information out of the giant tortoise at the Zoo, which 

 it was impossible to say whether it was alive or dead. Dealing 

 with the Roman Catholics and Nonconformists was dealing 

 with real live people, while — and I say it with sorrow, being a 

 member of the Church of England— our ecclesiastical dignitaries 



