New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-09
ARMY CHAPLAINS.
70 as Editor Qf The N. Y. Tribune.

AhMI CHAPLAlNS.
To ths Editor Of The NJ y Tribune.
SIR: In your issue of Saturday last I notice under
lie above title memorial signed by Gilead B. Nssh
Stephen H. Tying, jr., Frank w. Ballard and P. Hare
ward Vernon, addressed to the Hon. Simon Cameron,
Secretary Of War, requesting that no commissions
be issued for any one Chaplain unless he fur
nsh sufficient evidence and satisfactory credentials Of
his oficisl character and standing Minister Of the
Gospel"
submit that these qualifications are not such %
should determine the appointment Of any person TO
spiritually guide and edify sodiers. Who does not
know that every denomination which have made II
business to make and aceredit ministers, have often
maae horrible mistakes and who does not know thss
such denominations have scores of men who hays
mistaken their calling, whom the public will not sup
port for want of ability or other reasons, and whor
the brethren in the faith and parties interested would
| earnestly urge for appointment IN the Army 7
Our soloiefs are farmers, mechanics, professional
men, citizens and Christians They have all read the
| Bible and have under ministerial instructions,
They all read, write, and speak uEdersandDgly OF
religion, of the fundamental principles Of human ma
t1re and its relations. Hence the spiritual and intel
Ia tual needs OF American army not simply that
prayers be said or read TO tbem nor TO be told that
thing il right or wrong because Christ said 30. "
these were sufficient sn and war would have ceaaed
locg ago. Our soldiers must drink from deeper fount-
aims than these and of warers which are alive to-
dsy and sparkling with the inspirations Of human ss'
persnces They need to be called up to Christ plan,
and bid 70 observe and comprehend the causes OF the
manifestations In nature, and trace human existence
aud relations through the physical into the spintuai
realm, and of themselves ka0D TtgAs and ~rons sne
| phy they are 50. ~
The tone and tests Of this assumed Christian Army
Committee show that they have too few and sterecs
typed ideas 20 comprehend the nreds aud the means %
eleyaug mankind, and truSt tie good sense Of ths
| af xNor will Give I'll leIl heed.
We deem It Of the grester Importance that the mor
and Intellectual status OF soldiers not ony DO kes
up but improved during this war. wnhou. proper 81
forts by the men and the community the tendency ot
such large collections Of men would DO dsInofsnnng,
bat with proper means great improvement may Do
made These men will soon return to their homes and
take their positions IN society and we sacaa sss
that they do not ndoent and Indifferent 70 1ss
duties, uses and proprieties OF social life.
We know very well that our Chapins and Beechen
or others press Of their quality Of mind are not gone
10 leave their congregations 70 go as chapains In tue
ermy; and we know well If the pious ests OF priesH
or their dsyoses be regarded their places viii be fse
| with pious drones.
We recommend the appointment Of men as Chsplsins
| of stirling worth and of diversified intellectual az
tsinments who are familiar with the Scrptures hitto'
ry science, ind have good share Of common sense
and can ofsciste as cereymen and give extemporanes
ouS ouS sisvste mankind We also recommend thu sfors
be made to establish system Of lectures lwheu oppef
tunity ofersl by members OF companies or resimsnti
and thus challenge thought among the soldiers ana NOV
ncucate the idea that tney have no true tnougn s1i
that others are specially commissioned 20 think foi
| them There is much of native thought and talent
each Of our regiments II not In every company, wmen
would interest and instruct their sssoeates, ana rA
| adom pulpit or Senate. Give II chance =" MANI
| fest ITSELF
The pabulem for moral and intellectual growth
the exercise aud interchange Of thought on funfamen
| tai principles. Thc soldiers In our army win thins
and talk great deal more on subject brought before
of but Dartlaly
elaborated than they will if the same subject ess
tured upcn WHO'S appointed for the purpose ns
credentalised man presumes TO know ALI; ano ZONE
20 bewilder rather than instruct tue mind. lie Gomez
10 declare phat what, rather than to invite or Pro-
! woke thought and discussion; and We may with tns
same reason expect the priests arm 70 eolarge by the
| blacksmi his welding the hammer, as to expect the
black morally and intellectually TO grow BY the
priests declarations OF right nd wrong withons
The reasons why they are so. Here, we earnestly
urge each and every Of our soldiers TO strive
| orSsnize a system Of lectures and conferences for
kindly interchange of views, ON great principles ane
moral questions. Let no one be smbiious TO over
come another by eloqueDce or by tho moitipnay Y
words but to utter simply bis own best thought ana
not try TO correct a neighbor or TO act &c 40 W.
| another's keeper. The greater diversity OF hougni
exchanged the greater Improvements, wnne uu'n Ai''
| yindicatee iteelf.
Tar cosPypyR.rE ECoaxrssIoSrRs.--The CharassI
, Msrc,v of June 25 speculatiug about the fate Of
the Southern Commissioners TO Ea,ope concludes,
al il absnfd to suppose that either France OF cree
n,a;n will run the risk Of dsagreeabe, II not bosue
Complications with the United States without sns -
curity of clear advantages 70 be gainee; mnen s,I
have fairly fought out independence OF course s
foreign nations will acknowledge us but . ehsir sss' IN.
syd when our position Ia surrounded with dodbtsla
their opinion, at least-as to future success,
nust offer such Inducements, strongly Appearing y
their interests, az viii indemnify them for all mk
taking US in their embraces BY friendly eomme''"'
| treaties. .,..,.d to oYss
| IN France and England q treaty guaranteeipe ios :
number of years low duties on their manuisctafes W.
modities imported into the Confederase STATES III
fear not; for IL they had been empowered ~ -, -
sncb treaties we are satisfied thai hey mgns navos
turned home with their mssion completely 1Tnits1
and the war on our frontier, on the part OF sAs
States reduced to weak absurdity."
The Charlestoa Courier says that South ~. Cs'I|N = y
Il as true to the Southern Confedsracy - M ~
steel Perhaps IL would be more proper sSiv q
l 4 "a true 10 Il as hammer 70 psrcueeaoa-cap-0v
! burs, up the whole thing with one blow.