HC Deb 25 February 1879 vol 243 cc1749-50
MR. COWAN

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to his statement as to sending Catholic Chaplains with the troops to South Africa, Whether, as there are now or will shortly be three Scotch regiments out there, he will consider the propriety of sending out Presbyterian Chaplains to be with some or all of the Scotch regiments?

COLONEL STANLEY

Yes, Sir; it is intended to send out one Presbyterian chaplain, but we do not intend to send more at present, unless Lord Chelmsford should express a wish that we should do so.

MR. WADDY

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as there are now or will shortly be a large number of Wesleyans in the army in South Africa for whom when in barracks at home and on foreign stations the Wesleyans provide church accommodation and clerical supply without asking for assistance or repayment from the Government, he will consider the propriety of allowing Wesleyan Chaplains to accompany the troops in proportion to the number of declared Wesleyans sent out?

COLONEL STANLEY

Sir, I have received a letter from the Wesleyan Foreign Missionary Committee, stating that they had directed four of their missionaries at the Cape to report themselves to the Commanding Officer of the Army against the Zulus. I propose to reply to this letter that, though it is most desirable to limit the number of non-combatants, I should have no objection to instructing Lord Chelmsford to admit as many of their number as he thought desirable, and to give them such opportunities as he might think proper for carrying out their ministrations.