Reading Standard Etc 02-1915

THE MORAL DOWNFALL OF GERMANY.
Rev. W. J. Farrow to Lecture in Reading.
His many friends in Reading will give a warm welcome to the Rev. W. J. FARROW, late minister of Broad-street Church, who will on Tuesday make his first public appearance in Reading since his departure three years ago.
The subject on which he will lecture in his former church is one of supreme interest at present time, viz., "The Moral Downfall of Germany and its Menace to the World."
In this lecture Mr. Farrow's command of language and wide range of thought find ample scope, and he succeeds in gripping the attention of every member of his audience. The lecturer begins by describing the Germany of Luther, Kant and Goethe, with its moral greatness on the one hand and political insignificance on the other, and shows how Russia lay prostrate before Napoleon. She was not, however, slow to learn from her conqueror the doctrine of militarism, as expounded by the great General Clausewitz and the philosopher Treitschke, and she began to dream of ousting England from her position of supremacy. Nietzsche's gospel of the superhuman was eagerly accepted by German patriots, who believed that their country was taught by the Kaiser, General von Bernhardi, Prince von Bulow, (the Chancellor) and Colonel Frobenius, and the result was that the long-prepared-for war was forced on Europe last year. The lecturer concludes by describing the German policy of "frightfulness" with its terrible results in France and Belgium, and by urging the duty of this country to crush the power of Germany beyond the possibility of recovery, and to see that, as far as may be, compensation is paid to the countries which have been so cruelly wronged by the enemies of the human race.
THE REV. W. J. FARROW, B. D.
With Our Troops in France.
TOMMY ATKINS MARKETING.
The Tommies have to prove themselves useful in a variety of directions in the course of the campaign, and our picture shows a couple of them fetching provisions from the market in a little French town. They are, it will seem, objects of interest to the market women, who find in them courteous customers, and, judging by the capacity of the sack they carry, their purchases are rather extensive.
IN THE CAVALRY LINES.
This remount scene is in the cavalry lines in a British camp - "somewhere on the Continent," of course. It is a fairly characteristic scene. The cavalrymen are much attached to their horses, and while they necessarily have rather a rough time, they are treated with all the consideration and kindliness that the arduous business of war will permit.
Fifty Years of Government Service.
For over fifty years Mr. Henry Stokes, who died recently at Croydon, had been a Government servant. Appointed messenger at Broadmoor Asylum when it opened in 1852, he held that post till he was pensioned in 1896, receiving a watch and chain from his colleagues. In his younger days he served over ten years in the Army and six-and-a-half years in the Metropolitan Police. He joined the Court Windsor Forest, Sandhurst, A. O. F., in 1866, and was the first treasurer of the Crowthorne Court.
THE LATE MR. HENRY STOKES.
Called to Higher Service.
In the death of Mr. Jabez Sharratt Horne, of Stradbroke, Brunswick Hill, Reading loses one of its best men. For a fortnight he had been seriously ill and he passed to his rest on Monday morning at the age of 56. Mr. Horne, who was the only surviving son of the late William and Elizabeth Horne, of Liverpool, lost his father when he was very young and one of a large family. Ever since he had lived a strenuous life, pursuing with unflagging zeal the path of duty. His career, had always been marked by great painstaking effort and honourable dealing, and his name as a Christian worker stands very high in the town and much further afield. An effective speaker, his earnest addresses delivered in various parts of the county always left a deep impression. He was a most broad-minded man. Although not attached to any distinctive Church, he was at all times willing to extend his sympathetic help to any Christian community. His hobby was Christ's work, and he readily gave up what little leisure he had for that great cause. But he overtaxed his strength and only desisted from his Christian labours when his medical adviser told him, after a serious illness last May, that more leisure was absolutely necessary. His last illness was a sequel to the first and he died from heart failure. His cheery presence will be greatly missed by a wide circle of friends.
Mr Sharrat Horne resided in Reading for many years. For a considerable period he had travelled for the firm of Arthur Sanderson and Sons, Ltd., wall paper manufacturers, of Berners-street, London who held him in very high esteem. He and Mrs. Horne sustained a great blow four years ago when their eldest son David, who seemed to have a brilliant scholastic career before him, was taken from them. The only surviving son is now in Rhodesia, in the civil service. Mr. Sharratt Horne also leaves a widow and daughter.
THE LATE MR. J. SHARRATT HORNE.
A Splendid Type of Officer.
Lieutenant and Adjutant Charles Watkins, of that section of the National Reserve guarding the railway between Reading and Basingstoke, died suddenly on Saturday night at Brunswick Lodge, Reading, where he had been staying. Recently he had an attack of influenza, but he appeared to have recovered. Indeed on Saturday evening, while playing a game of whist, he was as cheery as ever and the life and soul of the party. Just later, after retiring, he had a heart attack and within half-an-hour he was dead.
It was in 1887 that Lieut. Watkins joined the Gordon Highlanders, with which regiment he remained until 1910. He served right through the South African war and was in many of the hottest engagements. He had also been in India. On the outbreak of the present war he rejoined the Army and came to Reading about three weeks ago.
A strong advocate of temperance, Lieut. Watkins did a great deal of work for that cause in the Army. He gained considerable repute as a speaker and was a familiar figure on the platform at the great temperance meetings in the Caxton Hall. Keenly interested in the Boy Scout movement, he formed a troop at Leytonstone, his home, and this troop is now strong in numbers and excellent in discipline. He was a Freemason, and belonged to the Grand Lodge, Glasgow.
The embodiment of geniality and good nature, Lieut. Watkins was a fine type of a Christian gentleman. One who knew him well says:-
I have never met a more splendid man or one whom I respected more. Underlying his cheeriness and good humour was a simple child-like faith in God which seemed to guide and control his every action.
On New Year's Day, though he was feeling far from well, Lieut. Watkins insisted on going to London in order that a number of poor children, in whom he was specially interested, should have a good dinner. This little act of unselfishness, done with hardly anyone knowing it, was characteristic of the man.
Lieut. Watkins was only 48 years old and leaves a widow and three sons and a daughter. Like their father the sons are over six feet in height, and they, too, responded to their country's call and are now serving in the Army.
THE LATE LIEUT. CHARLES WATKINS.
ROYAL BERKSHIRES' LOSS.
HONOURS OF WAR FOR THE LATE LT.-COL. DEARE.
OVER 100 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 7TH AND 8TH BATTALIONS ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT ATTENDED THE FUNERAL OF THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE DEPOT.
Englefield Estate Agent Retires.
34 Years' Service.
General regret was expressed by the tenants of Mr. J. H. Benyon in Berkshire and Essex when it became known that Mr. R. TODD, of Englefield, the agent for the last 34 years, had decided to retire. Possessed of a genial character and great ability, Mr. Todd is popular with all classes of residents on the large estate which he manages with such conspicuous success. Under his direction many improvements have been carried out, and the estates are among the best managed in the country. An expert in forestry, he was formerly assistant agent for the Earl of Warwick's estate and for the Mapledurham estate. He was formerly a good cricketer, and his sons have all played for the Reading Cricket Club. His son Leslie, who assisted him, died recently, and he lost Mr. H. R. Todd, who was in the Bengal Pilot Service, some years ago. Of his remaining sons, Mr. J. C. Todd is in the Canadian Contingent, Mr. A. S. Todd holds a commission in the Madras Volunteer Artillery, and Mr. C. H. Todd is in business at Folkestone. His only daughter, Miss Todd, is a well-known lover of horses and dogs.
MR RICHARD TODD.
BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE.
They, too, Answered Their Country's Call.
While we honour the brave men who are fighting for us at the present time, we should not forget those who have served their country in years gone by. These men, returned to civil life, sometimes fall on evil days and need a helping hand.
It was for the purpose of providing means of social intercourse and mutual assistance among retired Army and Navy men that the Caversham and Reading Veterans' Association was formed in 1909, under the presidency of Sir Percy Sanderson, K.C.M.G. The idea of founding such a body was first mooted in the previous year, when forty veterans were invited to take part in the opening of the King Alfred Training Brig, on which occasion many old comrades met for the first time since serving shoulder to shoulder in the trenches before Sebastopol or in the Indian Mutiny. Colour-Sergt. Bennett accordingly undertook to keep a roster of veterans at "Weston Mead," Caversham, while the matter was under consideration. The membership, which was at that time 60, steadily grew, until there are now over 900 veterans, many of whom have served with distinction in various parts of the world. There are 75 veterans who have reached the age of 70 and upwards, their average age being 75 and average service 17 years.
Parades are held from time to time, and by means of a half-yearly tea, followed by a concert, the members are helped to keep in touch with each other and headquarters. Shooting is encouraged by the offer of cups to be competed for on miniature rifle ranges. The Association's band is often in evidence at public functions. Members in want are provided for by a benevolent fund. Military honours are paid at the funerals of members.
The association has since 1912 been practically synonymous with Reading Battalion of the National Reserve, each member also joining the other body. The object of the National Reserve is to keep men in touch with the Army and Navy and by a certain amount of discipline to enable them to maintain their military spirit. Should the authorities desire to call out any for service, they have only to give the word and out come the men. It may be mentioned that 20 members of the committee are now on active service. It is to be regretted that the War Office grant it so small that it is not possible to provide a uniform.
The Association has been fortunate in finding capable officers. The President, Sir Percy Sanderson, is a tower of strength, and Col.-Sergt. A. E. Bennett's organising ability has been of the greatest service from the first. He is now in France with the Military Railway Police. Commander P. E. M. Humphery, R. N., did splendid work in laying the foundations, and the financial side owes much to the indefatigable hon. assistant treasurer, Bandsman J. R. Cook., late 1st Volunteer Batt. Royal Berkshire Regiment, who has obtained numerous subscriptions. Q. M. S. W. Moore, late 1st Vol. Battalion Royal Berks Regt., served the Association well as chairman for four or five years. Sergt.-Major F. G. Belcher, who is now on duty with The Royal Berkshire Regiment Railway Guard, organised in 1913 and 1914 two gymkhanas and two whist drives which materially assisted the benevolent fund, and he was helped by Sergt.-Major Kibblewhite, now serving with the Border Regt. Corpl. G. Briggs, of the Military Railway Police (in France) has worked hard as district officer for East Reading, and mention should be made of the assistance rendered by his wife.
TEA ON JUNE 15th, 1912.
PARADE IN CAVERSHAM PARK, JUNE, 1913