THE CHURCH AND THE ARMY. 



189 



watch. They believed that it was some use asking God to do so. 

 He would hear if they spoke to Him. They believed that. 



The attendance of men at voluntary services is a certain test 

 of the value they set on religion. There are generally voluntary 

 services held both on Sundays and weekdays. Attendance at 

 these is a test of a kind. Men, one may fairly assume, will not 

 go where they need not go unless they want to go for some reason 

 or other. I do not suppose that the motive which prompts the 

 attendance is always a religious one. The service is held, we may 

 suppose, in a recreation hut of some kind. The hut is very likely 

 the only place open to the men which is warm, dry, and well 

 lighted. It is pleasanter to sit there than to shiver in a draughty 

 tent, even if you have to pay for your seat by listening to a sermon. 

 Besides there is always a great deal of hymn-singing, and some 

 hymns have tunes quite as agreeable as that of " Kee]3 the Home 

 Fires Burning.'' That a man should enjoy shouting " Onward, 

 Christian Soldiers,'' is no kind of evidence that he is a Christian 

 soldier. Yet, when we have made all possible allowance for 

 the attractiveness of a voluntary service conducted in a spirited 

 way, we cannot dismiss the attendance of the men as valueless 

 in our attempt to get evidence about the existence of a religious 

 spirit. Unfortunately, the evidence is singularly conflicting. 

 Take the question of the short evening prayers commonly held 

 in such recreation huts as are run by religious organizations, 

 Y.M.C.A. huts and Church Army huts. There is generally a 

 hymn, a prayer, perhaps a few verses of Scripture read. The 

 whole thing does not last ten minutes. I have been in huts 

 where the production of hymn-books from their hiding place, 

 the first sign of approaching prayers, is the signal for a stampede 

 of the men. By the time the pianist has reached the piano 

 the place is empty, save for a few who have been caught as they 

 fled by energetic lady workers. On the other hand, I have known 

 huts in which not only those who were present stayed for prayers ; 

 but others, who had not been in the hut all the evening, came there 

 at prayer time for the express purpose of taking part in the little 

 service. What made the difference ? Primarily, I have no doubt, 

 the nature of the service itself. If the prayers are about things 

 which seem to matter, if they are simple and straightforward, 

 men will join them. Next, nothing is more fatal than to let the 

 men get the idea that they are being trapped. I have been 

 present at concerts in recreation huts which were followed so 

 immediately by prayers that the audience had not a chance of 



