SIR,—Mr. Burgess asks us to learn a few lessons from
the men of the Red Army, " who are putting up a great fight without church parades." We can indeed learn many things from them. A letter from Geneva, quoted in Sobornost (June, 1942), contained the following information: In some prison camps for soldiers of the Red Army in Germany the Orthodox Eucharist was celebrated. The majority of the men were young, they had all passed through anti-religious instruction, first at school, then in the army ; no one knew what their reaction to the service would be. Nevertheless, a large number of them came to the service and received communion. In one camp there were goo communicants, in another Soo."
If, therefore, the Red Army does not have church parades, let it not be thought its fighting men have no desire for religion. Most of us would be with Mr. Burgess if he means we should abolish compulsory services in order to gain greater reality in our soldiers' worship. But from the tone of his letter it is hard to think that is his meaning.—Yours
faithfully, L. B. TOWNER. Shottermill Vicarage, Haslemere, Surrey.
Previous page
