23 MARCH 1907, Page 16

(To wog EDITOR OF THE "SPRCTATOR."] notice in your editorial

note to Major-General Eustace's letter in last week's Spectator two quiet assump- tions which seem to me hardly in accord with the general fair judgment and breadth of view of the Spectator. You say : "It is of vital importance that the large number of men who are undergoing military training at Aldershot should not be without the moral and spiritual influences derived from divine worship." May I point out (1) that the men are not marched to the civilian churches of the Chtirch of England at Alder- shot, and presumably would not be marched to the new church to be erected, for there are large military churches in the camp itself in which the parade services are regularly held, and in which there are also voluntary services on the Sabbath evening ; (2) that both the appeal and your note entirely overlook the great spiritual work which is being done at Aldershot by the Free Churches ? There is a Wesleyan church ut Aldershot seating eleven hundred people with very large congregations. In connexion with this there are three Wesleyan soldiers' homes in the camp. There are also Presbyterian, Baptist, and Primitive Methodist churches. Why should such a paper as the Spectator assume that only the Church of England provides the "moral and spiritual influences derived from divine worship " P I wish our Church of England friends all success in their efforts to provide more church accommodation for the civilian town ; but let it be distinctly remembered that from the earliest history of the camp the Free Churches, and especially the Wesleyan, have taken a unique position in pro- viding for the moral and spiritual wants of the troops.-4 am, Sir, &c., W. E. SELLERS. Surrey and North Hampshire Wesleyan Mission, Godalming.

LWe must apologise for a not very happily worded note. We can assure MI'. Sellers that we are by no means unaware of the admirable work done among our soldiers by the Wesleyan and other Free Churches.—En. Spectator.]