The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-04
Confession nnd Death OF an Army Chap
1nia.


lain.
n. NJ. PoMEnoI, the editor Of the La Crosse
{Wis.) Democrat, gives tho following death bed
| scene, which he WAS called to witness in his re-
| cent vi-it to Chicago:
The Rev. Henry Clannard, an ex-army chaplain
who left off expounding Bible and recruiting for
the Saviour, and by indorsDg the Niger and aDo-
litionists became an army chaplain in ono Of the
Wisconsin regiments, passed from life to q home
beyond a blessed Immortal tho o'her day.
A physician had called on him two nr three
! times a day for q month, doctoring him for an
ague brought on while stealing cotton in Arkan-
sas while with Gen. Curtis. On learning that the
e1- minister and ex.ehaplain would hardly live the
night out, we called with the physioan.
In a little wooden looking room not over twelve
feet square, in an obscure boarding house in
Chicago We found the invalid. The room was bare
Of furniture except poor bed, little dirty wash
stand, two wood.bottom chairs, an old trunk,
pine table, On which was spread a newspaper ON
which lay an old Bible pair Of Of old snaffera,
was propped up in bod, while faithful negro
woman sat on the foot Of the bed. As we
entered, he raised little and asked the doctor
sank back, closed his eyes-rallied O little and
said: ."Perhaps it Is as wel, He might as well
know 1t as any ono."
which WAS in these words, as we took them in our
memorandum book as tho physician requested
'My name is Henry Clannard; am forty-one
years old. I am Methodist minister-at least
WAS one. WAS once happy and contented and
loved Christ my Master, with all the zeal Chris
tian ever had. At Last I grew cold in religion,
wanted to make money and to have some fun,
30 thought would be q Republican politician.
began by preaching politics from the pulpit and
lost @ iii isuence @ at the Throne Of Craze. Bnt raid
not care for that if could only have influence
with the Republican party forgot Chris. and
with few members of my church, and talked
politics to them. was paid by office-seekors to
II found politics paid better than religion, and
worked for the chaplaincy Of regiment and got
it. Then let religion 90 and went to war. There
wrote letters home denouncing Democrats as
copperheads And stole cotton, and silver ware,
and pictures, and books, and dresses for my wifo
and sisters, and horses and mnles for my brothers,
and q piano for the Governor who gave me- my
commission. and gold watch for my captain, and
a lot OF household furniture to send to my
colonel. Aud robbed the soldiers OF stuff sent
down to them to use while in hospital, and 1 had
my share Of goods stolen from the sanitary fairs,
and made lots OF money.
"But was not happy. drank whiskey with
the boys when away from home, and lndufged in
pile Of money. And was taken sick while out
stealing cotton from plantation where q widow
lady lived. had eoaxed her niggers to run away,
ended came home to Wisconsin,, but could not
stay there. SO came to Chicago. And grew
sick. And have got to die. I have called on
oannot get relief for nay spul. The door Of mercy
seems shut against me-. forsook religion for
politics. and now God has forsaken me. Ipray to
my Saviour but he don't hear me. talk to this
faithful negro woman-she says, 'Yes, -massal'
and that is all I can get ont Of her. know
can't live long. I feel that I am dying. l feel
certain that am going to hell. want these
things written down as n warning to others who
forget Christ for politics. I feel that the negro
can't Save Christ won't save me. was un-
faithful to my religion and am forgotten. Twas
faithful to the NEGRO; but, alas the negro can't
help me where want help; he can't ease my
guilty soul. am going to hell, and know it,
expect to meet many persons there who forgot re-
ligion for politics. I do not expectsto see you
again in this world or the next, but, want this
confession printed" -:
And thus died the: Rev. Henry Clannardl