[To TRH EDITOR Or THE "SPEOTATOR."1 SIR, —You are, I am
sure, desirous not only of promoting and maintaining national unity in these terribly critical days, but of rendering justice even where you strongly disagree. This leads me to hope that you will find room for this protest against the imputation contained in your article "Arraying the Nation" in your issue of the 9th inst. It is, I think, fair to state that it is therein implied that the Free Churches have been lax in their recruiting activities. I am, perhaps, not qualified to speak for Nonconformists as a whole, but I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the Free Churches in this county—the county (by inference) of your particular condemnation; and I earnestly assure you that if the denominational recruiting figures could be published, Somersetshiro Nonconformists would have no cause to hang their heads. They have given freely, and of their best ; indeed, scores of chapels literally have no young men left; and already we mourn many brave sons who have made the greatest sacrifice of all, and "given their lives for their friends." It would soothe our sorrow, and still further inspire our zeal for the national cause we so whole-heartedly believe in, to be assured that the interpretation we cannot help placing upon your article as it was printed does not really represent your considered views.—I am, Sir, &o., JNO. PITIINE. The Old Bank House, Castle Cary, Somerset.
[We are delighted to hear that the Free Churches of Bomereetshire, the county of Admiral Blake, noblest of fighting Puritans and Nonconformists, have done so well. Wo meant to prefer no charge against the Free Churches, and are very sorry indeed that our story should have given pain. On this point we repeat what we have said in our note to Mr. Bird's letter.—En. Spectator.]
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