OUR FLYING MEN.

lTo THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Ssa,—Your correspondent " M." in the Spectator of April 28th asks: " Is there no prayer or hymn set apart for the flying men? . . . Many people seem hardly to think of their magnificent deeds and the services they render, but if they were remembered and prayed for publicly it might bring home a realization of their dangerous work and splendid sacrifices." I know of two such hymns, which you will perhaps allow me to bring to your notice. The first is taken from the Aeroplane of Aliguu 22nd, 1912. I quote the first two verses :- " A HYMN roe THOSE WHO FLY.

Lord of the last eternity, Thou by Whose breath the worlds suspire, Who rul'st the elemental three, The air, the water, and the fire, O keep within Thy gracious care Thy servants flying in the air.

God of the wind, by Thy dread laws Preserve their petb, that in their wise They, traversing the airy floors, May give Thee glory in the skies.

O keep within Thy gracious care

Thy servants flying iu the air. T. IL" This was sung at the funeral of my eon, Captain C. R. W. Allen, of the R.F.C., formerly of the Welch Regiment, who was killed while flying near Upavon on Salisbury Plain on March 11th, 1914.

The words of the second hymn were written by Miss Hamilton, sister of Captain Patrick Hamilton, R.F.C., my ec-n's friend sod brother-officer, who met his death in the same way :—

" A HYMN FOR THE Avieroas.

(' He shall defend thee under His wings.')

Almighty Father, Who canst still .

The raging of the storm at will,

And guardest all 9n land and sea, And where Thou art, no harm can be.

O God, extend Thy saving care To those in peril in the air.

Direct with Thine all-se eing .eye,

Watch each dread journey through the sky; Though tempest tossed guide with Thy hand; Bring each brave pilot safe to land O God, extend Thy saving care To those in peril in the air."

This was snug at Captain Hamilton's funeral.—I am, gir, &e.,

j We are unable to print all the letters on this subject we have received from various correspondents, one of whom calls attention to the Collect "for such as are called to tasks of special peril in the air or beneath the sea," included -in, Part III. -of the " Supplementary Forms of Prayer for Use in Time of War." It Is also pointed out that in the " bidding " before the prayer in the Ante-Communion Service for " all sorts and conditions of men " and in the Litany it is a common practice in many churches to interpolate sentences including " our soldiers, sailors, and air- men."—En. Spectator.]