The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-17
4flisrellallD.
Army Chaplaills.

1t used to be thought that the more Drutai
and blasphemous a man was--othcr things
being equal--he made the better soldier.
Little provision consequently was made for
the religious interests Of soldiers, sometimes
whole army having but one chaplain, if any .
and his duties being limited almost entirely
to burial services But now that it is UNDER
stood how much more the higher qualities OF
man are worth in soldiershp ,han any de-
gree of mere animal ierocty, every regiment ,
has chaplain, and his mlnistrations arc con-
sidered indispensable. 1t becomes, therefore,
of the highest Importance that suitable men
should be employed in this Office. The COM
plexion of our best Regiments, such as the
Rhode Island, Massachusetts Eighth New
York Seventh, and others, is such that there
is comparatively little difficulty in supplying
their chaplainces. They know what they
want, and, not to speak Of gross incompetent
cy, would not tolerate a lack Of piety and
spirituality. When the Seventh assembled
for public worship at the Capitol, the mate
rial for a respectable choir was improvlsed
from the ranks. When the chaplain of the
Rhode Island Regiment gave out the hymn
every other man pulled hymn book from
his pocket. There is different class, how
ever, including among others our several
Zouave regiments, who need chaplains OF Pc
culiar calibre. The right kind of men for
them are not easily found, and while nothing
is more important, in nothing are they more
likely to be imposed upon. There is reason
to fear that some persous are seeking and
have obtained these positions, who whatever
other qualifications they may have, are en-
tirey deficient in the first requisite personal
pety.
A clergyman who is good for nothing at
homo, whose religion sits loosIy upon him
whose morals are questionable, or who is lg-
norant OR shiftless, should by no means be
admitted into the army. A selfish, tmorious
canting, or long-winded man is equally objec-
tionabIe. While the highest mental culture
is not as essential as in the charge Of church,
the army chapains should be inferior to none
in zeal, self devotion and piety. He should
be quick Of discernment, of perfect self con.
troll, apt to speak, of frank address, of un-
failing kindincss, guieless of heart yet full
of tact, and especially of great charity and
comprehension. Without mingling in the
ruder habits of the camp, he should not be
frightened by them. He should know when
to rebuke and when to hold his peace, and be
capable of discerning the true moral quality
of the acts of men under unusual circum-
) stances. Having tMs-perhaps the rarest,
as it is the most important qualification OF
the religious tcacher-,he will not be always
reproving or preaching, but will aim to secure
the confidence and affection of the wayward
flock intrustcll to him. He will become the
general depository Of the wants and wishes ol
/ the men. their nurse in sickness, their friend
at all times, aud the means Of leading many
of them to a better life The roug hest men
are by no means the most inaccessible to re-
ligious Influences, but they must be treated IN
an unprofessiona, off hand and thoroughly
human way.
There is great chance in the army fo1
Christian men of this sort to do good. 1t Is
probabe that some Of the best chaplalns
Y could be obtained among laymen. Business
men who are we'll versed in the Bible, whose
nursuits have made them familiar with hui
man nature, who are accustomed to convey
religious thoughts in the common language OF
| men, and who, being full of Christian zeal
have learned to apply it prudcntly. wouIc
S seem to have qualifications for this work
which few cergymep possess. There are
such, although they arc not many, who have
: the natural qualifications, and who, by Sun
day.school and missionary labors, have beer
better fitted for army chaplaincy than they
could have been at Andover or Princeton
The World.
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