The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-13
Increase OF Chaplains I'm the Army and Navy
MEETING OF PHILADELPHIA CLERGYMEN.
From the PhladelphiA Ledger, Jan. III


From the Philadelphia Ledger, Jan. IL
meeting OF the clergy of this city was held yesterday
afternoon in the lecture room Of Dr. Wadworths church,
for the purpose completing the arrangements for the
meeting to be held Monday evening next at Jayne's
Hall
The meeting was organized by calling the Rev. Mr.
Chalen to the chair and appointing Dr. Edwards Secre
ary
hear the proposed memorial TO Congress the subject Of
increasing the number Of government chapains read and
to make arrangements for the meeting.
Dr. Edwards then read the memorial TO Congress, which
sets forth
J. That while strenuousy opposing any union Of church
and State has been and is the strong conviction Of the
American people that for national freedom and pros
perty we are mainly indebted TO the principles and nst
buttons OF the Christian religion
. That our government State and national, have al
ways recognized themselves bound in simple equity
and justice to make recompense TO all those engaged IN
10 the character of the service and to the public servant
physically, Intellectually and morally.
g. The system OF chapainces Is in fact older than our
present form OF government 1t introduced by Wash
bgton himself Immediately upon taking command Of the
army Of the Revolution, and maintained and cherish
ed by Congress throughout that glorious struggle. The
adoption OF The constitution did not interfere with it,
the contrary, the administration under thai instrument
and all have recognized as both national and neces
sary. II evident therefore, that discrimination or the
prohibition Of religious tests which found IN the const
sutton has been and ought not to be interpreted to
sts prejudice Of this department (the chaplaincies
e. No objection is conceived ought to lie against such
seycS Il never exceeded the annual sum of 500 600
The memoriaists that the present system of gov
chapancies Is quite inadequate TO the public de-
mAnd for such services the report OF the Secretary Of
War, stated that the army, now constituted, com
pres 10 regiments, with total OF II 9s4 men, who
distributed hundred and thirty eight different posts
and this number of troops will be speedily Increased to
Is 000 For these men, necessarily deprived OF all hone
social and moral Influences, ana for the sick, wounded
and dying among them there are but thirty teachers Of
religion.
The navy will, when the six war steamers now under
construction completed, comprise more than one hun
dred vessels each carrying sufficient number OF men to
require the presence OF some member OF tho medical de-
partnent In these vessels, including those who are IN
receiving ships naval asyums, navy var government
EMPLOYS near 600 officers and and the number OF
chapains allowed by law rs twenty -four.
Some Of the chapiains allowed by law are not in com
NILSSON: some Of those In commission absent. The
memoasts pray that the above state OF facts may be
remedicd, and that larger number OF chaphns De al
lowed both I'm the army and in the navy.
Al the conclusion OF the reading OF the memorial com
rstee Of FIVE was appointed to secure chairman and
speakers for the meeting Of Monday evening next The
meeting then adjourned.