SHAW, Garnet Eric
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Ballarat, Vic., 13 September 1877 |
| Home Town: | Armadale, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Church of England Clerk in Holy Orders |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 1917: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
PULPIT TO TRENCH
CLERGYMAN TO ENLIST
Views of an unusual character are possessed by the Rev. G. E. Shaw. M.A., incumbent of St. James's Anglican Church, East St. Kilda, who. has resigned to go to the front as a soldier.
Born at Ballarat In 1877, Mr Shaw was educated at the Camberwell Grammar School. For ten years he was a clerk, and then went pearling on the north- west coast of Australia, where he acted as mate and master. After a break of 15 years he returned to his studies at the Melbourne University, and gained his M.A. degree at Trinity College and the divinity diploma of Th.L. at St. John's College. He was ordained priest in 1911.
Mr Shaw was the first chaplain appointed to the Royal Australian Navy. He served for 18 months on the Tingira, and he states that he resigned as he was not in sympathy with the mode in which the religion of Christ was presented. He does not believe that men and boys in the Navy should be compelled to attend worship. He considers that it is directly contrary to our Lord's life and teaching, involves the subordination of the sacrament of Holy Communion, and implies lack of faith in and honor to the Christ.
Mr Shaw is strongly opposed to pew rents, and still more strongly averse to performing the burial service, "in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life" over the body of a man who has neglected confirmation, holy communion, and the teaching of the Church generally.
''Personally," Mr Shaw remarked, in the course of conversation, "I am notable to reconcile with "my conscience the ordinary practice, and so I have resigned from parochial work. While duty as a parish priest is at present impossible for me, it does not mean that, other branches of work in the ministerial priesthood, such as teaching, are not open. I do "not wish to be misunderstood. I am not suggesting that a non-communicant, or anyone, should not have a prayer service at his death. What I am saying is that the 'sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord,' - which' is connected with the teaching of Christ and the Church with 'His body and His blood.' should not be
authoritatively pronounced without the condition having been fulfilled."
Mr Shaw, in answering the call to arms, is impressed with the need for men, and he wishes to experience reality so that he may preach It afterwards. "He believes that if clergymen stand side by side with other men in the trenches it will draw together the Church and the laity as nothing else will do."
Weekly Times Saturday 26 February 1916 page 8
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