Tárogató, 1941-1942 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1941-07-01 / 1-2. szám
14 TÁROGATÓ hausted, fell asleep. It was thus he was found by the trappers who, being in the vicinity, were directed by notes dropped from the plane. They placed him on a sleigh and dragged him twelve miles through the wood to Musgrave Harbour, helped by others whom they met on their way out. The bodies of his three companions were later brought out and placed in the I.O.A. Hall. Miss Parsons, the Public Health Nurse, stationed at Musgrave Harbour, rendered every possible assistance, indeed Capt. Mackay may owe his life to her. On Wednesday morning, Feb. 26th, our Missionary, accompanied by the Constable and five other men went to the Hall, took the bodies from the sleighs and stretched them each in a large sheet, draped a flag over them and offered a brief prayer. One of the first rescue planes to arrive, brought Dr. Erwin from the Newfoundland Airport, but Capt. Mackay was still too ill to move. Dr. Erwin, by the way, has two brothers who are United Church ministers in Canada. A public meeting was called when it was known planes were coming for the bodies, and the people were informed that Capt. Mackay had requested our Missionary to conduct a short service before the bodies were removed. The church bell was rung and Mr. Mitchinson conducted the service, assisted by Adjutant Decker of the Salvation Army. The hastily organized L.O.A. Band played the hymns, and the crowd stood at attention, with the airmen and constable at the salute for the National Anthem. The planes took off on Friday, Feb. 28th. Capt. Mackay, attended by Dr. Erwin, left later and took with them the mail retrieved from the wrecked bomber. Capt. Mackay was placed on our Missionary’s dog-sleigh and pulled to the pond by the men. Mr. Mitchinson says — “I saw him for a minute before he was placed in the plane. He seemed greatly touched by all that was done for him.” After the planes had left and a guide had been secured, Mr. Mitchinson again put his dog team at the disposal of Constable Hiscock, who had been ordered to the scene of the crash. To use our missionary’s own words again, “It was late In the afternoon before we started, and only got about half way when darkness overtook us. We camped that night in an old trapper’s hut. It was very cold. At 5 o’clock next morning, despite heavy rain, we set out, and arrived at the wrecked plane four hours later. We found military guards in charge. They had been landed by plane. Away in that solitary place with rifles stuck in snow beside them and with only sleeping bags to protect them from the weather, were the Soldiers of the King.” Lord Halifax’s Masterly Analysis Of War Issues We quote extracts touching on the spiritual issues of the war from Lord Halifax’s speech to New York Pilgrims on March 25th. “There seem to us to be certain principles that are essential to life as we wish to live it and to see it lived. These principles are now in dire peril and we believe, therefore, that we are truly fighting for our lives, since life to us is worthless if the principles on which it is built are to be destroyed. “We do well to remind ourselves of what these principles are. They, like an iceberg of which the greater part is out of sight, lie deep below the surface of man’s outward being. I would state thus what in varying forms is in many minds to-day: first, the religious principle of the absolute value of every human soul; second, the moral principle of respect for personality and conscience ; third, the social principle of individual liberty. “This finds its expression in two ways: in the sphere of politics, through equal opportunity, justice and the rule of law; economically, through the direction of national effort to the creation of conditions that may bring some real security into the daily life of the humblest citizens; and, finally, the domestic principle of sanctity and solidarity of the family which is the natural development of the individual. Unless we build on these foundations — religious, moral, social and domestic —we have no hope of finding the way of happiness. “It is only by slow process that man has learnt to apprehend these prin-
