THE RELIGION OF THE ORDINARY SOLDIER.
[To THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR."] But,—The interesting letter from the Rev. J. C. Ormerod, C.F., snider the above heading in your issue of December 23rd, puts me in mind of Corporal Trim's remarks on the same subject. They are so apt and have such s curiously modern ring that I cannot help reminding your readers of them. It is difficult to remember that Trim is speaking of the fighting in Flanders in 1695 and not in our own day :—
" I thoaght, said the Curate, that you gentlemen of the army, Mr. Trim, never said your prayers at all.— . . . . A soldier, an' please your reverence, said I, prays as often (of his own accord) as a parson;—and when he is fighting for his king, and for his own life, and for his honour too, he has the most reason to pray to God of any one in the whole world.—'Twas well said of thee, Trim, said my uncle Toby.—But when a soldier, said I, an' please your reverence, has been standing for twelve hours together in the trenches, up to his knees in cold water,—or engaged, said I, for months together in long and dangerous marches;—harassed, perhaps in his rear to-day;—harassing others to-morrow;- detached here;—countermanded there;—resting this night out upon his arms;—beat up in his shirt the next ;—benumbed in his joints; —perhaps without straw in his tent to kneel on ;—must say his prayers how and when he can.—I believe, said I—for I was piqued, quoth the corporal, for the reputation of the army,—I believe, an' please your reverence, said I, that when a soldier gets time to pray,—he prays as heartily as a parson,—though not with all his fuss and hypocrisy.—Thou shouldst not have said that, Trim, said my uncle Toby,—for God only knows who is a hypocrite, and who is not :—At the great and general review of us all, corporal, at the day of judgment (and not till then)—it will be seen who has done their duties in this world,—and who has not; and we shall be advanced, Trim, accordingly.—I hope we shall, said Trim.—It is in the Scripture, said my uncle Toby; and I will show it thee to-morrow :—In the meantime we may depend upon it, Trim, for our comfort, said my uncle Toby, that God Almighty is so good and just a governor of the world, that if we have but done our duties in it,—it will never be enquired into, whether we have done them in a red coat or a black one :—I hope not, said the corporal." —Tristram Shandy, Book VI, chap. vii.
gavile Club, W.
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