The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-03
3O,I35WW
MR.. JoHNsoN's TRACT ON GOVERNMENT
CHAPLAINS,

/ Mr.. johnson, the author of a tract on Gov
eminent Chaplains, lately noticet in the col
Amns of the Era, requests us to repubish the
article below. We do so with pie .sure, having
20 desire to throw obstacles in Il. way of any
:snan sincerely anxious to do good
Mr.. Johnson complains of lite airy criticism
in the Era on some of his produ tons. They
appeared in our Review, and we not written
by us, but by gentleman who b IS often con-
tributed to that department, who, purpose is,
to be fair, thorough, and indepen. ent
. MIR. Johnson also complains of our notice of
his work on Government Chapls-irs, as if we
had intended to represent him as hostile to the
Chap!ains now employed. We'intended no
such thing-nor were we sctuatsd by any un-
friendly feelings whatsoever; our only purpose
was to show the total ipespediensy of his rec
ommendation of a Board Of Clerics Examiners,
and to bring to light the fact, overlooked by
Mr.. Johnson, that the Chaplainss In she Navy
and Army must, like other suboE inates, do as
they are required by their superic. =.
Hoping Mr.. johnson viii acqfis US of any
Intention to interfere with his O ,estions, we
dismiss the subject
Government Chaplain.
We have received an address, l Lorenzo d.
johnson, to the pastors and Peep of the Uni.
ted States, designed to call forth An expression
of public opinion in regard to ne choice of
Chaplaius for Congress, and also pr the United
States navy and army. The a thor gives a
brief history of the appointment IF Chaplains,
from the origin of our Governmel /, and adverts
TO the abuses which have since prung up in
connection with this subject. L q early prac-
tice, as he truly remarks, was to ,olcit the &C.
ceptance of the Office of Congrs ,sional Chap
| lain by persons competent to Fill, with honor,
and these, as far as practicable. lergymen in
the immediate neighborhood. The deviation
from this custom has, in every sespect, intro
duced worse state of things. ) The Office ia
now sought with avidity by pen ons from all
parts of the country, and, as a snsequence, a
shameful scene of electioneeriEt is enacted
every year at Washington by cleri 81 applicants.
The dignity of the ministry is co1promsed by
these individuals, pleading thei own merits
and canvassing for votes. T6>Jr eagerness
and pertinacity excite the scorn G the ungodly,
@ho well interpret them, not as : zeal to pro-
mote true religion, but as ambif9n for con-
spicuous station, covetous 6ssire for the
losves and fishes. In this rivalrS as might be
place are the most forward, oh equious, and
importunste. Surely, such sys> sm should be
abolished. The clergy of Wa, ,ington have
rendered their services gratuitous 2, alternating
with each other in opening the daily services
of Congress with prayer, and pl saching once
on the Sabbath in the Capitol. These over.
lures should be regarded by Coz gress as pre-
senting the best possible expedie..t; but if for
any reasons Congress should wisb to have the
office filled by some particular il jiyidua, then
the next best course is to make the appoint.
'ment exclusively from the resit emit clergy at
Washington, and thus to keep at, say this army
of clerical ofice-seekers from abb. ad.
In regard to army and navy fhaplains, Mr..
Johnson shows that the appointt tents are not
lJudiciously made. Those who we the power
OF appointing are not in stu, lion to know
the character of applicants; an hence, often
inefficient men are chosen, who perform little
service, and do still less to awak 10 respect for
the Office. AS remedy for this Mr.. johnson
recommends the appointment e Chaplain
Board for the examination Of ca didates. We
are doubtful if this would answt-. Perhaps a
better plan would be, that tn, Government
should give the privilege of Recommendation of
suitable persons to the leading nominations,
in just proportion, and max. the appoint,
sments from the persons thus br aght to their
notice. ms could De done by the chief au-
thorities in the respective churr pes; and thus
1.-THE churches themselves would become respon-
s:ble for the respectability and e ness of the re-
spective incumbents. This plep would also
ktend to obviate another ground of complaint,
which exists in the undue prepos 1erance of any
one denomination in securing these. appoint
ments. Each should have thu Is shire in a
! Government like ours and ye who does not
know that the Episcopelians, occupying, as to
size, q fourth place among our rffgious demon.
nations, have an undue propt rtion of these
chaplaincies? This should n64 be, and the
spirit of the different churches should be
aroused, to put an end to sue unjusti6able
favoritism. ~
4 Dorer, ~ H., Nou. 24.--At our municipal
election to-day, the Republican, carried every
ward, and elected their candiday for Mayor By
J l50 majority. I =