An Incident on the Marne.
“The above occurrence took place during the heavy fighting on the Marne, when the German right wing was crumpled up by the Allies and driven back in confusion. The incident was described in the following terms by a correspondent, to whom the story was related by the wounded soldier: ‘He was wounded by a piece of shell in the arm, by a bullet in the jaw, and a sword cut on the head, and lay on the battlefield half covered by the bodies of his dead comrades. Suddenly he felt caresses on his face. It was the regimental dog, which had been trained to carry back to the encampment the kepis of wounded men. In this case the dog hesitated. “Go and inform my mates,” urged the soldier. The dog understood and trotted off, bringing back two ambulance-bearers, who picked up the wounded man. The dog is an old hand at this work. He goes regularly into the firing-line, and when the fire is intense he digs a hole and buries himself.’” — SPHERE.
“Dear, noble dog,” I hear my reader say. Yes, he was trained to save life, and he did his duty. You have been converted to help to save souls; are you doing your duty? The command to the dog was, “Go and inform my mates.” He went, and brought the needed help. The command of your God to you is, “Go... and help poor sinners.” If you cannot go yourself, help those who are there working for God. A letter has just come to me from a worker close to the trenches: —
“If you can, I shall be glad if you can renew your dispatches to me. I think three parcels twice a week for the next two months will be needed. The opportunities are, and will be, tremendous.”
This is how you can help: These parcels must go to hundreds of others besides. The Word of God must be put in the soldiers’ hands. A wounded soldier said to a lady who gave him one of our Testaments when he was in hospital. “I would have given all I had to have had this Testament in the trenches.”
I have just heard from a dear worker among the wounded in the hospitals. He visits nine different hospitals. He pleads for Testaments for them. He tells me that not more than one percent, of the wounded men have a Testament, as their kits are all taken when they get wounded. “Can you help me,” he continues, “to give the Word of Life to those whom God has used to keep our homes in peace and rest through His grace towards us?”
If you read the last page of this number of “Message” you will see how you can help me to send to all who ask.
Read the following letter, which I call