you see that the Government had offered one hundred and fifty thousand
men now, and more if wanted? And all classes are the same. That little
Welch preacher at Wolf Willow--Rhye, his name is, isn't it? By George,
you should hear him flaming in the pulpit. He's the limit. There won't
be a man in that parish will dare hold back. He will just have to go to
war or quit the church. And it is the same all over. The churches are
a mighty force in Canada, you know, even a political force. I have been
going to church every Sunday, Father, this last year. Believe me, God is
some real Person to those people, and I want to tell you He has become
real to me too." As Dean said this he glanced half defiantly at his
father as if expecting a challenge.

But his father only cleared his throat and said, "All right, my boy. We
won't do anything but gladly agree with you there. And God may come to
be more real to us all before we are through with this thing. Go on."

"Let's see, what was I talking about?"

"Churches."

"Yes, in Calgary, on my way down this time, the Archdeacon preached a
sermon that simply sent thrills down my spine. In Winnipeg I went with
the Murrays to church and heard a clergyman, McPherson, preach. The
soldiers were there. Great Caesar! No wonder Winnipeg is sending out
thousands of her best men. He was like an ancient Hebrew prophet, Peter
the Hermit and Billy Sunday all rolled into one. Yet there was no
noisy drum pounding and no silly flag flapping. Say, let me tell you
something. I said there was a battalion of soldiers in church that day.
The congregation were going to take Holy Communion. You know the Scotch
way. They all sit in their pews and you know they are fearfully strict
about their Communion, have rules and regulations and so on about it.
Well, that old boy McPherson just leaned over his pulpit and told the
boys what the thing stood for, that it was just like swearing in, and he
told them that he would just throw the rules aside and man to man would
ask them to join up with God. Say, that old chap got my goat. The boys
just naturally stayed to Communion and I stayed too. I was not fit, I
know, but I do not think it did me any harm." At this point the boy's
voice broke up and there was silence for some moments in the office.
Larry had his face covered with his hands to hide the tears that were
streaming down. Dean's father was openly wiping his eyes, Raeder looking
stern and straight in front of him.