[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
8314-Our parish minister being in France on Y.M.C.A. work, we are dependent on others to fill the pulpit on Sundays. It fell to my lot last Sunday to meet the minister at the train who was to officiate. I looked out for a black-coated gentleman, but seeing no one in clerical garb I returned to my motor and found a 2nd Lieutenant 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland High- landers in kilt, sporran, and glengarry awaiting me, who turned out to be the man I was looking for. He had been an assistant in a parish near Edinburgh, but had joined the Army as a combatant. In his uniform only he conducted the services from the pulpit. In discussing his sermon afterwards with some of the village " critics," I found that this young minister in uniform had appealed to them, and they were unusually favour- able in their criticism. Surely the English Church Bishop or Bishops missed a splendid opportunity of dispelling tho unfor- tunate prevailing impression of a certain effeminacy which clings to the garments of an English Church clergyman, and of driving home the object-lesson to every man to do his duty, when they discouraged their eligible young clergymen from joining the Army as combatants.—I am, Sir, &e.,
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