The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-11
Prussia and Her Catholic soldiers.

We recommend to the consideration of
our Protestant fellow countrymen the fol-
lowing statement which has appeared in
the Berlin papers, and which we extract
from the .Unita Cattolica of Turin, with
reference to the provision made by the
Prussian- Government to supply the re-
ligious needs of the army. Not only do
liberality and even-handed justice preside
over the arrangements, but no part of the
service in the Prussian army is better con-
stituted and organized than the religious.
The Government allows absolute freedom
to its soldiers in this respect. Each garri-
son constitutes a species of parish, in
dependent of the local religious authorities
of the place where the garrison happens to
be quartered. AS regards the Protestant
soldiers, a provost is at the head of the
religious service department., assisted by
81 pastors. The chaplain of the Catholics
is prelate, Mgr. Namczanowsk:, Bishop
of Agatopolis, in partibus. His residence is
at Berlin, and is attached to the Church of
st. Michael. He is assisted by two eccle-
siastics, one of whom has the charge of the
garrison of Berlin and is Vicar-General,
the other is cure to the Catholic soldiers of
the regiments stationed between Branden-
burg and Pomerania. In the remainder of
Prussia there are twenty-five garrison
cures besides two assistant priests. In the
smaller garrisons one of the priests of the
place, at the expense of the Minister of
.W%r, acts as chaplain and military careA
receiving his faculties from the head chap
lain. In all those garrisons where mill
tary chaplain or substitute for one re-
sides, there is Mass every Sunday, and the
soldiers who are not on duty go in body,
accompanied by their respective command
joys the rank of q captain and receives a
large salary. The head chaplain, as re-
spects pay and equipage, is equal to
general of brigade and receives 5000 tina
lers (f44O). All the priests attached to
the army are Unidentified for all expenses
ted by their ministry. The military chap
lain, when the army takes the field, is pro-
besides a saddle-horse. The sacristan,
whom he is at liberty to select from amongst
the soldiers, has the rank and pay of a SER
geant-major, as has also the soldier who
serves him in the capacity of coachman.
In the war of 1866 the whole body of as
sistant-chapfains amounted to seventy in
number, reckoning secular and religious
priests together; the latter were chosen
from amongst the Jesuits, Lazarists, Do
which had military hospital, there was
one chaplain at the least, who, when neces-
sary, was assisted by the local priests. The
assistant chaplains had the same pay and
rank as the ordinary army-cures. To form
an idea of the religious zeal of the Catholic
/ sulNltlb vi IuSsldt IL SuHiCeS ~ IcuHlh
that n chaplain who had heard the confess
sions of many thousands of soldiers during
the campaign, whether in or out of ambu-
lanoes, met with only one man who had
failed to fulfil his Easter obligations. The
greater part, besides having observed this
| precept, had made their confession before
entering on the campaign. We we'll re-
member the admirable representations
which the illustrated journals of Germany
gave OF the affecting religious scenes of the
campaign of 1866, and, above all, we recall
that of High Mass being celebrated in the
camps of Silesia and Bohemia. Seven Of
fcers belonging to different regiments we're
represented as serving the Mass, while the
banners waved around the improvised al
tars; and even Protestants themselves, at
tracted by the sublimity of the worship,
were to be found foremost in the line of as
sistants. In the field, no less than in gar
rison, Mass is sung by choirs formed out of
each battalion. Before going into action,
the chaplain, on horseback, vested in his
stole, solemnly blesses and gives the general
absolution to the soldiers drawn up in Or
der of battle. Even when in the field and
when quartered in Protestant districts, the
Catholic soldiers are allowed to have q
public and solemn procession of the Blessed
| Sacrament on Corpus Christi.
Such is the lberality, say rather the
magnanimity, with which Protestant Prus-
STA treats her Catholic soldiers. If Protest.
ant England would win the hearts of her
Catholic soldiers, and, we will add with
emphasis, her Catholic sailors, as well as
| etfectually utilize their material strength
and courage, she must learn to do likewise.
The time may not be far distant when she
may need, not merely the aid, but the de-
votion of the Catholic population of Ire
land, and devotion can be secured only by
showing respect to their religious coDvfc-
tions.-LondoR Tablet.
A, old for,,e,- said to bissons 60 Rove