The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-09
THE war OF THE CHURCHES.
The Struggle for Spiritual Power and
Comfort at West Point.
The Surer Way to Salvation, Which Tho Ca
diets and Everybody Else in Quandary-
The Three Contending SeoS.

The pious people Of this military region are
troubled about their spiritual welfare. don't mean
to say that they are not always doing the best they
can Tor their salvatiOn's FAKE by leading good lives
every day in the week. but the great majority OF the
residents have an idea, like good many other peo-
pie who do not live at West Point, that 1t requires
particular mode OF procedure In the religious line 70
| make the attainment Of heavenly bliss
BEYOND THE GRAVE
| a thing OF absolute certainty. II is no wonder,
therefore, that the majority of people here should
cling to the particular church teachings they have
been brought up in from their youth and should
look upon every attempt to transplant another faith
| in their midst IN Its stead as vile machnatiOn
| prompted by his sulphureous highness below
stairs Everybody who has been at
| West Point knows that the post chapel
has always been an Episcopal church. For
very many years, up to few weeks ago, Professor
French was the Official chaplain He was always
popular as professor Of ethics and equally 30 AZ
clergyman. Some two or three years ago bis health
began to fail and he unable to oflcjate at the
chapel Ministers Of all denominations turned up
by every Sunday during his Illness, and yet
the gOod EplscOpaians said naught and sang their
hymns as sweetly as ever. The cadets, for whom
the chapel is especially intended,
"DONT PAN MUCH ON THE PROPHErs,i'
and so didn't care continental who got chance
to preach. The Catholic cadets went usual to the
Catholic chapel and the MethOdists the Methodist
chapel, which are both in the same building. So
far SO good. One fine day iG was rumored about
that Professor French was to resign. This was
bad Then came the rumor that General Grant
was determined to appoint In his place
man after his own hearr-a Methodist
This was worse, and the Episcopalians dander
rose forty degrees. The Idea OF Methodist beng
the official dispenser Of Divine grace in the official
chapel was something positively overwhelming
What would become OF them If they happened to KICK
the bucket after giving In Their adhesion to the new
dispenser2 The President was bored TO death about
the matter. He was called upon by all sorts OF
delegations, whO uhder cover Of other business,
sprung the subject upon him at every turn. But it
was all to no use. He didn't give them the salts.
faction even Of forlOrn hope. He was silent upon
the subject whenever he was spoken to about It,
and the Eplscopa!lans had In the end TO grin and
bear the horrors OF their anticipated doom the best
way they could. Meanwhile the good Professor
French waXed stronger every day. much to the
chasI possibly 1 OF ne sTng VINO
long he kent under the weather. He at last got
well enough take his old place, anu thus for
time the fears Of the Epscopaans were quoted.
However Professor Frenchs health had been broken
down to such degree by his combined labors as
professor and chaplain that he could hold out no
longer, and so, snort time ago, he resigned. HIS
resignation again opened the Old question, apd the
fear OF the appointment Of Methodist began once
more TO
TROUBLE THE DREAMS
| Of those who believed That Methodist hasn't a
strong enough pull the affairs or he other world
| to MAKE them happy 1t was necessary, under the
| circumstances, that the Episcopalians should put
for action. 1t finally leaked out that the President
| had determined to appoint a Methodist, anu Mrs.
made at once. This report created inc utmost con.
| sternat0n. Even the Presbyterians allowed them
selves to be dragged INTO the iuss ana ter d9s
| common cause against the MetnOdists. The latter
this sorely TO heart, for It indicated as plainly
as actions could indicate II thai the Presbyerans
believed Epscopaanism more certain
GuARANTEE OF ErtpNAL WELFARE
TALLY successful, a short iime ago the Rev. Mr.
| May0urn. an EpiscOpalian, was appointed as obi
enapa one e Vest Point and the Epsco
| palians know It, they are STRIVING, therefore, 10
s the went Of an Mas 5 hsre
last month efforts were made to bring the subject
before HIM, but he evidently scented the battle from
afar and gave no chance to corner him on the
question. AS things now stand the Rev. Mr.. May
burn has the odds In his favor, being In possession
pro ten',, but the EpisCOpaans fear that they have
only got one half OF what they bargained for. and
That even this will be taken from them at no distant
sidents OF the post to-day about the matter and
talked the subject over with few OF the cadets.
"What do you think OF the opposition to Metho-
dist clergyman 20 asked Of one OF the frequenters
OF the Methodist chapel.
Think or 1t why think IL Is very fulcnlous.
Methodist would certainly lead nobody astray, and
think he could have better hold on the cadets
than all the Episcopal clergymen they can get
:.But why do the Episcopaans set their face
against the appointment OF Methodistw
"Well, the reasons tor their opposition are very
many; but the chief one, think, Is that they con-
slider their Church tho only true Church and that IN
order to 1--we like Gnra and oras Of rsr 20
mony.o
"And another reasonY"
''AnOtner reason, though do not THINK all the
EpiscOpaans believe in 1t, Is That a Methodist
would not be stylish enough for the place. In fact
nxvltth 1nph and
minge TOO freely with all sorts OF people, under the
impression that by doing 50 ne would bring some
"What do you think OF this ?"
81 think Just tnis-that 10 Is minister's duty to
SS all ae Gsa he s, nc o aG s
what good he can do by being 30. On the other
hand, II he can
by being democratic and mingling freely with all
classes, particularly with those who are In the
greatest need OF spiritual help and who do not wear
as good clothes rich men, he Is In duty bound TO
"What do you suppose the Board of Visitors meant
by insInnatifg in their report that the cnapaincy
should be made less OF 'sinecureY,"
"That is more than can tell. i am sure Professor
French worked hard enough; but think could
tell who suggested that part Of the report. People
have got 1t INTO their heads that
here begins on sunday morning and ends on sun
day night. The six week days go for nothing they
Methodist oIs s Clergyman at the mead Of aaairs'
'Does General Grant really want a Methodist
CHAPLAIN"
reason TO bell We so. Mrs. Grant IL very devoted
Methodist, and she, no doubt, Will have say about
the thing.n
made it point shortly after this confab with the
Methodist layman to call upon an excellent Eplsc0-
palian VINO resides here. TO my inquiry as 10 why
he thought Methodist minister would not be sulta-
bic chaplain, he exclaimed:-
full blast within the limits before he could settle
down quietly; then we don't Ike Methodist clergy
men. They are not exactly the thing.
They make such a fuss and hurry. Just
imagine one exhorting IN the chapel and gong
round In the aises Ike Wild man and asking
every cadet VINO looked anywise scared whether
he had got relgion.'h
dist should 1nally be apponedT'
dor We'd never 40 near the chapel; we'd rather
walk all the way 10 the Falls and back and put up
with DR.. Wells
Would mat hurt anybody ?"
ut would satisfy us. We are in the majority
the post ana that TACT ought to be enough settle
the question as to what KIND OF minister We should
have.u
'Are the majority OF the cadets Epissopalan ~