Page:Item 8 1860.pdf/177

From Historical Hastings
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in fervent prayer to Almighty God. The Rev. Chaplain, who had been frequently applauded, then engaged in an appropriate prayer to God for His blessing upon the Volunteers and their object in enrolling themselves. The colour was then handed to the Countess of Waldegrave for presentation, whereupon the Hon. and Rev. Samuel Waldegrave, Bishop of Carlisle, read the following address from the Countess, who was suffering from a severe cold:- “Gentlemen, for the second time I have been requested by the ladies of Hastings and St. Leonards to present to you a token of the great interest which they take in the Volunteer Corps of this borough; and again, I am happy to say the cost has been defrayed by a number of small subscriptions, thus enabling many to shew their goodwill to the Corps. We are all aware that such collections are not made without sacrifice of time; we must, therefore, first express our thanks to those ladies who so willingly undertook the work. To you, gentlemen, to whom this standard is to be entrusted, I need not say much, because I feel certain that no word of mine will enhance its value in your estimation. It is only a few months since I expressed the perfect confidence which we all felt that you would, as a body, do honour to the name by which you are distinguished – I was not mistaken. A very few weeks elapsed ere you passed before her Majesty the Queen in perfect order, and with as firm and even step as that of long trained soldiers. And here I must tell you that my noble friend Lord Hotham (himself a general officer) expressed to me his astonishment at the precision and order of your march. You passed his house in Grosvenor street where he had a full opportunity of observing your movements, and he good-naturedly added that he believed Capt. Waldegrave was so proud of his men that he brought them miles out of the way to the station on purpose to show them off to him and other friends on the ​road​. How well you have succeeded in the higher branches of your duty has been clearly shewn by the results of the shooting match on the East Hill, when, out of the five prizes given, I had the honour of presenting the four highest to the members of the 1st Cinque Ports Rifles. In reverting once more to your standard itself, I wish to draw your particular attention to the emblems by which it is emblazoned; those emblems are the red cross and the lion’s head. Well is the symbol of bodily strength coupled with that of spiritual might. The best Christian is the best soldier, and why? because he goes into the field with a mind elevated by the conviction that duty to his country is duty to his God; and is fearless of death because he fights under His -