Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-20
Rev. william George scandIin.

To very many of our readers the tidings of
Mr.. Scandlin's death will come as personal
sorrow. Besides his parishioners in Grafton,
the towns people among whom he had lived for
dozen years or more, and the many in this city
and neighborhood with whom his active interest
in every good work brought him frequently into
ontact, every soldier who served in the Fifteenth
regiment during the first year of the war, felt
for him a deserved affection as trusty com
rade and kind and wise counsellor.
Mr.. Scandlin was of English birth. In his
early years he served in the British navy. He
came TO this country about twenty years ago,
and studied for the ministry at the divinity
school in Cambridge, was ordained and for sew
eral years was very useful as minister at large
in Boston. In 1858 he became the pastor of the
Unitarian society in Grafton, and held that re-
lation until his death, on Friday evening last,
although his residence with his people was in
terrupted by his service of more than two years
in the army.
Mr.. Seandlin joined the Fifteenth regiment as
its chaplain just before it left Worcester for the
seat of war in the summer of 1861. The posi-
ton of chaplain in the field is one of extreme
difficulty, as many lamentable failures by men
who had been useful and esteemed in the ord-
nary pastoral relations at home, abundantly
proved. In the constant exposure and free criti-
cism of camp life, surrounded by men set free
from all the restraints of ordinary society, but
whose indifference to conventional, if not to alb
solute, morality in their own practice, does not
make them less keen 10 detect or more slow to
condemn any deviation from it on the part of
protested teacher Of morality and religion, he
must have great tact as well as sincerity if he
avoids the imputation of sanctimonious-
ness on the one hand and friyolity on
the other; to retain the respect and
affection of his comrades, and without
these he is worse than useless, he must be not
only pure and devout, but kindly and helpful, as
ready TO join in aud promote innocent mirth as
TO rebuke vice openly on occasion and to re-
strain immortality by his example and influence
In this difficult position Mr.. ScandIin bore him
self as if it. was the place for which he was
specially fitted Hearty and genial in his man
ners, irreproachably correct in all his habits of
speech and conduct, fearless of danger, indefati-
gable IN duty, which, from his point of view,
included all thathe could do to help or relieve
any, tender and sympathetic with the suffering,
he was beloved and trusted by every soldier in
the regiment and was the most valued compan.
ion of the officers, with whom from the nature
of the case his social relations were more init
mate than with the rank and file.
On the march it was his delight to change
places with the exhausted soldier, and hi.
saddle was occupied more of the time by
Others than by himself At the close o.
the disastrous day at Balls Bluff,
when the wounded were brought down to
the boat TO be carried across the river
some unframed stragglers tried to force their
way into the boat. Chaplain ScandIin stood at
the waters edge and at first tried expostulaton;
when that did not avail, he is said to have made
vigorous use of the strong muscles with which
nature provided him, and to have struck out from
the shoulder in way that was more pleasant 10
spectators than to those who felt the force of
his blows. This exploit gave him the nam. Of
the lighting chaplain" Throughout. the division
in which he served, for his name and good
deeds were known not by one regiment
only. His GOODNESS in danger was re
markable, and he was often a most val
nable auxiliary 10 the surgeons in attendin.
the wounded on the field and under Gre. Hi
army sermons were models. They were Away
brief, stirring, earnest and practical. MI
Seandlin's service with the Fifteenth regimen
ended in about year in consequence of an OF
der from the war department changing tn
status Of chaplains. He was with the regimen
at Balls Bluff, as we have just mentioned, an
during the laborious and bloody campaign o.
Tue peninsula. He was afterward appointe
chaplain al large with the army of the Potoma
by the Unitarian association. While thus en-
ployed he was taken prisoner in Maryland jus
before the battle Of Gettysburg and confined 70
several months in the Libby Prison and CASH
Thunder
Mr.. Scandlin's piety was Of robust and man
~ sort Although not without tenderness an