Glimpses of Army Life from within from 1860 - 1895

Abstract

(Alas!) The treatment I received at the Congregational Church almost determined me never to enter another church, but my wife and another friend made me reconsider my decision, and t9 attend a service in the Wesleyan Methodist Church (My fatherhad not written the details of the incident, which was that, in his sergeant's uniform, sitting in a pew, the owner, a lady coming into the church had him removed before she would sit in that place. W.K.M.). Both Officials and members vied with one another in their welcome to the young sergeant and his wife. Here I discovered a new phase of practical Christianity to which I had hitherto been a stranger. From practical observations at home and abroad, I adhere to my early conviction that no section of the Christian Church takes so much interest, nor spends so much money to promote the spiritual welfare of the soldier as the Wesleyan Methodist Church. In August 1865 I was ordered to Aberdeen for duty in the Depot Battalion Hospital. I returned to the scene of my recruit days anticipating reunions with old comrades. My predecessor had been reduced to the ranks and sent to the Depot at Netley. Pending my arrival the Steward from Edinburgh Castle was sent to Aberdeen. On taking over I found a deficiency where the sheets had been cleverly folded, where every third article counted as two instead of one. Deficiency he had to make good for £5.17.0.