Trinity College School - Record Yearbook (Port Hope, Ontario Canada)

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TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD 11 The Canadian destroyer Ottawa was sunk a few days ago in the battle of the Atlantic. A very young graduate in medicine of the University of Toronto was thc medical officer. When the first torpedo hit, many men were seriously Wounded. For four days and nights young Dr. Hendry attended to them, performing major operations in a tiny cabin with the ship almost turning turtle in tremendous seas. Then on their way to port, a second torpedo hit them amidships and all had to abandon ship immediately. Dr. Hendry saw that the wounded were placed on deck with life belts about them and a moment later they all found themselves in the sea, holding on to rafts. The gallant young doctor's strength had gone and he slipped away, but no one who knows the story can ever forget the wonder- ful spirit of the man, wearing himself out to save the lives of his crew. And so it goes, day by day in this terrible struggle for our survival. Almost hourly, deeds of heroism are per- formed and behind them all is that unconquerable spirit of man. What are we- fighting for? Freedom and Democracy we say. But what do these words really mean? Surely they simply mean the human spirit. We are fighting for the preservation of the human spirit. That spirit cannot live and grow in a world of brutality and slavery, in an atmosphere of perpetual torture and fear. The human spirit must have freedom to grow and expand and flourish, but it must be real freedom, not license, which means we must use self control, the human spirit needs an atmosphere of understanding, of kindly help, of tolerance and sympathy. And that is the Christian spirit wherever it is found. When we acquire that spirit and live in it, we are in harmony with ourselves and our fellows and all discordant notes are stilled.

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10 TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD It is the spirit of such people that has carried them through, the never say die spirit that makes a man alive when he really should be dead. There are unnumbered individual examples of heroism these days, many of them untold and unsung, but all testi- fying to the dauntless spirit of man. Yesterday I read of an R.A.F. pilot badly wounded over enemy territory but determined to save his observer and bring his light bomber home if it were humanly possible. Over the channel the damaged plane was dropping lower and lower, and the pilot was getting steadily weaker from loss of blood. His observer called him on the telephone and asked if they had not better jump for it, No , came the reply, hold ong I think we can make it . Later the same enquiry and again the same reply, though the voice was faint. Then they saw land, now only a bare thousand feet beneath them. Shall I open your hatch , said the observer. No, you get out while the going's good , said the pilotg 'Tm afraid I'm finished. The observer landed safely and the pilot crashed with his machine. Dead, yes, but his spirit saved a life and will inspire many others to give their all in this battle for existence. At Dieppe there were countless examples of undying spirit. Colonel Merritt led his men to a bridge over a valley in the centre of the city. The enemy had their machine guns trained on it and everyone who approached it was caught by the hail of bullets. Out walked Colonel Merritt to the centre of the bridge, head erect, swinging his steel helmet in his hand and call- ing out, Come on, fellows, see, it's all right, there's no real danger. And so they took the bridge. A Chaplain from this town, the Rev. A. J. Foote, safe on his ship after the terrible nine hours on the beaches, saw a medical officer still tending the wounded left behind. Without hesitation he leapt into the sea, swam ashore, and helped to succour the wounded, all in the face of heavy fire from the enemy.

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12 TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD The best way to know what is really meant by the Christian spirit is of course to read and study the life of Jesus. But perhaps the best summary of the Christian spirit comes in that Wonderful thirteenth chapter of Corinthians, written by St. Paul. Charity , he calls it, but I am going to use the Words Christian spirit for the word Charity . The Christian spirit suffereth long and is kindg the Christian spirit envieth notg it vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up 'or conceited. It does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own-Cnot always getting but rather giving is the sign of the Christian spiritl-is not easily provoked-f it is patientj -thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in Wrong doing but re- joiceth in the truth. The Christian spirit bears all hardships, never fails to believe in the best-Chave idealsl-hopes for the best and endures unto the end. The Christian spirit never fails. Prophecies or wisdom will fail, tongues or learning will cease, knowledge will vanish away, but the Christian Spirit never faileth . God is a Spirit , said Jesus, and they who Worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. And again: Be of good spiritg ye believe in God, believe also in me. The Christian Spirit never faileth, and we should do our utmost to let it permeate our lives, our school and our world. and so help to bring about a truly righteous life and the long sought brotherhood of man. On Sunday, October 4, the Rev. A. S. Dewdney spoke in Chapel. He chose as his text, The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are fewg pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send labourers into the harvest . He then went on to tell us about a missionary's