THE FREE CHURCHES AND THE WAR.
[To THE EDITOR, OW THE "SPECTATOR:1 SIR,—In your article headed "Arraying the Nation" you insinuate that "Chapels" have not done their duty in this war. There are five Free Churches in Thornton Heath (pardon me calling them churches) and five ministers. Two have no children of military age ; the other three have five eons of military age—all are in the Army. In our church nearly all our young men are away, and some who cannot go—mostly refused for physical reasons—are breaking their hearts because they have to stay at home. What is true of this church is true of all the Croydon Free Churches. One Baptist church of only moderate size has sent a hundred and one of its members. I think the insinuation, although backed by a Somersetshire anecdote, is both unjust and untrue. I shall be obliged if you will publish this protest.—I am, Sir, &o., F. E. J. Bum Thornton Heath Congregational Church.
(Our correspondent reports a splendid record for Thornton Heath, but why he thinks we should object to the use of the word " Church " we cannot conceive. He can hardly be a reader of the Spectator if he thinks that ill-manners mark our attitude towards Nonconformists. We meant no insinuation against the Free Church clergy or the Free Churches as a whole, but only employed the story of the Somersetshire miner's wife as an illustration. The story is true, and told exactly as it was told ns. Since, however, it gives pain, we apologize most sincerely for any appearance of carelessness or injustice. We most deeply regret it if we have hurt, even in the slightest degree, the feelings of a patriotic and high-minded clergy man. —ED. Spectator.]
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